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WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, July 10, 2013 President Obama will award the 2012 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal in the East Room.  The First Lady will also attend.  Further details will be released closer to the event. The National Endowment for the Arts was established by the Congress in 1965 as…

As I have said since the Egyptian Revolution, the United States supports a set of core principles, including opposition to violence, protection of universal human rights, and reform that meets the legitimate aspirations of the people.  The United States does not support particular individuals or political parties, but we are committed to the democratic process…

President Obama spoke by phone today with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who offered condolences on the tragic deaths of 19 firefighters in Arizona.  The President and the Chancellor discussed the recent reports of surveillance activities allegedly conducted by the U.S. National Security Agency.  The President assured the Chancellor that the United States takes seriously…

President Obama called President Morsy on Monday, July 1, to convey his concerns about recent developments in Egypt.  The President told President Morsy that the United States is committed to the democratic process in Egypt and does not support any single party or group.  He stressed that democracy is about more than elections; it is…

The following op-ed by Vice President Joe Biden appeared today in print in The Financial Times. Let Croatia lead the Balkans into the EU Every country that binds itself to the union advances the cause of peace By Vice President Joe Biden James Joyce wrote that “history is a nightmare from which I am trying…

Bill Gray was a trailblazer, proudly representing his beloved Philadelphia in Congress for over a decade as the first African-American to chair the Budget Committee and to serve as the Majority Whip. Bill’s extraordinary leadership, on issues from housing to transportation to supporting efforts that ended Apartheid in South Africa, made our communities, our country…

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 storms, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of May 19 to June 14, 2013. Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and…

Ubungo Plaza, Symbion Power Plant Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 10:58 A.M. EAT PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Good morning, everybody.  Please have a seat.  It is wonderful to be here with President Kikwete.  I want to thank everybody from Ubungo Power Plant for this visit.  We are here today to focus on one of the biggest hurdles to…

Serena Hotel Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 9:56 A.M. SAT MS. ROBERTS:  What a great occasion, and what a tremendous honor for me to be here.  Thank you so very, very much for inviting me to come to Tanzania.  And thank you, Mrs. Kikwete, for hosting this.  This is very — it’s important to do. President…

Yesterday, nineteen firefighters were killed in the line of duty while fighting a wildfire outside Yarnell, Arizona. They were heroes — highly-skilled professionals who, like so many across our country do every day, selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to protect the lives and property of fellow citizens they would never meet. In recent days,…