Category: May 2014

Today, Vice President Biden called President-elect of Panama Juan Carlos Varela to congratulate him on his victory.  The Vice President reaffirmed the historic ties between the United States and Panama, and reiterated our commitment to work as partners in advancing shared goals, including promoting economic prosperity, security, and greater regional integration in Central America.  The…

Today, the President declared a major disaster in the State of Florida and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of April 28 to May 6, 2014. The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals…

Oval Office 10:58 A.M. EDT PRESIDENT OBAMA:  I want to welcome President Guelleh and his delegation here today. I had an opportunity to visit Djibouti when I was a senator, before I was elected President, and saw firsthand the importance of U.S. cooperation with Djibouti.  Obviously, Camp Lemonnier is extraordinarily important not only to our…

The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, New York 11:03 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you, all.  Please. Good afternoon.  It is truly a pleasure to be here with all of you today as we inaugurate this brand new center in honor of our friend, Anna Wintour. I…

East Room 5:46 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  (Applause.)  Bienvenidos a la Casa Blanca!  (Applause.)  This is a rowdy crowd, I can tell.  (Laughter.)  They’re ready to party.  (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Love the margaritas. THE PRESIDENT:  The margaritas I hear are quite good.  (Applause.)  Be careful, though, they’ll sneak up on you.  (Laughter.) Well,…

Today at the White House, President Obama and Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh pledged to work closely together to advance their shared vision for a secure, stable, and prosperous Horn of Africa and to strengthen and deepen the strategic partnership between our two countries. Economic, Trade, and Energy Cooperation President Obama and President Guelleh discussed…

On Monday, May 5, Vice President Biden is delivering remarks to the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting in order to highlight the actions the Administration has taken to break down the barriers preventing people from getting help for mental illnesses. Nearly one in five American adults experience a mental illness in any given year.  Less…

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Luis Guillermo Solís, President-elect of the Republic of Costa Rica on May 8, 2014. The Honorable Gina McCarthy, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, will lead the delegation. Members of the Presidential Delegation: Mr. Gonzalo R. Gallegos, United States…

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Billy Frank, Jr. – Chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and a member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe.  Billy fought for treaty rights to fish the waters of the Pacific Northwest, a battle he finally won in 1974 after being arrested many times during tribal…

President Obama called President Karzai today to express his condolences for the extensive loss of life in the May 2 landslide in Afghanistan’s rural northeast province of Badakhshan. President Karzai expressed appreciation for international assistance and described to the President the ongoing Afghan government response, to include visits to the region by the Afghan Vice…