Category: June 2011

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, prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to…

Earlier today, President Obama called Rick Carlisle, head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, to congratulate him and his team on winning the NBA Finals.  The President told Coach Carlisle that he is really proud of the way the team played and congratulated him on the job he did coaching the team.  The President highlighted the…

Today, for the first time in history, the United Nations adopted a resolution dedicated to advancing the basic human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons. This marks a significant milestone in the long struggle for equality, and the beginning of a universal recognition that LGBT persons are endowed with the same inalienable…

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Montana and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms occurring on April 3, 8, 22, 26, and 30, 2011, and on May 9-10, 18-21, and 30, 2011, and flooding resulting from those storms…

The limitations of current public safety communications systems became tragically apparent on 9/11 and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. [1] In those critical moments, law enforcement, firefighters, and other public safety officers could not talk to each other, putting the lives and mission of our first responders at risk. Almost ten years after 9/11,…

President Obama today met with Ambassador Princeton Lyman, his Special Envoy for Sudan, to discuss the status of mediation efforts to end the political and humanitarian crisis in Abyei and the humanitarian crisis and violence in Southern Kordofan. The President expressed deep concern over the violence and the lack of humanitarian access, and he underscored…

NOMINATION SENT TO THE SENATE: John Edgar Bryson, of California, to be Secretary of Commerce, vice Gary Locke.

The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, and the President of Mongolia, Elbegdorj Tsakhia, today reaffirmed their commitment to a United States-Mongolia comprehensive partnership based on common values and shared strategic interests.  They emphasized their two countries’ common interest in protecting and promoting freedom, democracy and human rights worldwide, and confirmed their…

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody! AUDIENCE:  Hello! THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to the White House.  First of all, I take full responsibility for the weather.  (Laughter.)  What a spectacular day for a congressional picnic.  This is always one of the best events of the year for us, mainly because with all the work that we do with…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, President Barack Obama’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative will kick off a year of Strong Fathers, Strong Families through events highlighting the important role fathers play in creating strong families. Over the past two years, the President’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative has helped fathers nation-wide engage with their families by providing…