Category: October 2011

It was with great regret that I learned of the passing of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz of Saudi Arabia. As Minister of Defense and Aviation for almost 50 years, Crown Prince Sultan dedicated himself to the welfare and security of his people and country and was a valued friend of the United States.…

Jill and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz of Saudi Arabia. He will be remembered around the world for his extraordinary half-century of service to the Saudi people as Minister of Defense and Aviation. Saudi citizens also benefitted greatly from his philanthropy at home, which funded…

The full text of an op-ed by National Economic Council Director Gene B. Sperling is printed below. The piece, published in today’s Wall Street Journal, can be read online HERE. The Case for the President’s Jobs Act Nearly 45% of unemployed Americans have been out of work for six months or longer. By Gene Sperling…

Yesterday’s announcement by ETA in Spain that it has renounced violence holds out the prospect of a historic step toward peace, although there is a long road ahead to realize this promise. In this moment of hope, our thoughts go out to the many victims who have suffered due to ETA’s actions over many decades.…

On Friday, October 21, 2011, the President signed into law: H.R. 2832, the “Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011,” which extends the Generalized System of Preferences program through July 31, 2013, and reauthorizes the Trade Adjustment Assistance program through December 31, 2013; H.R. 3080, the “United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act,” which implements…

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, at a ceremony at the White House, President Obama honored the recipients of the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation—the highest honors bestowed by the United States government on scientists, engineers, and inventors. In addition, the President announced additional steps that will help convert more ideas…

On Friday, October 21, 2011, the President signed into law: H.R. 2944, the “United States Parole Commission Extension Act of 2011,” which extends the authority of the United States Parole Commission for an additional two years, until November 1, 2013.

We applaud the strong action taken today by the United Nations Security Council in unanimously adopting Resolution 2014, which addresses the ongoing crisis in Yemen.  The United States co-sponsored the resolution, which calls for President Saleh to sign and implement a political settlement on the basis of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative without delay,…

Earlier this afternoon, President Obama called President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and President Ricardo Martinelli of Panama to congratulate each after having signed the implementing legislation for the Colombia and Panama Trade Promotion Agreements.  The President noted that the agreements indicate the deep and enduring ties between the United States and both Colombia and…

THE PRESIDENT: Welcome, everybody. Please have a seat. It is a great pleasure to be with so many outstanding innovators and inventors. And I’m glad we could convince them all to take a day off — (laughter) — to accept our nation’s highest honor when it comes to inventions and innovation, and that is the…