Category: Aug2014

Michelle and I send our deepest sympathies to the family of Senator James M. Jeffords on his passing.  Jim devoted his life to service – as a Naval officer, a local leader in his hometown of Shrewsbury, and eventually as a U.S. Senator representing his beloved Vermont.  During his more than 30 years in Washington,…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Jeanne E. Davidson to serve on the United States Court of International Trade. “I am proud to nominate this outstanding candidate to serve on the Court of International Trade,” said President Obama.  “Ms. Davidson has a long and distinguished record of service, and I…

Jim Jeffords was a personal friend, a great senator, and a good man. He was not only beloved by the people of Vermont, but by anyone who ever worked with him. For the nearly four decades I served in the United States Senate, nearly half were spent with Jim as a colleague. Jim knew that…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Haywood Stirling Gilliam, Jr., to serve on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. “I am pleased to nominate Mr. Gilliam to serve on the United States District Court bench,” said President Obama. “I am confident he will serve the…

Today we mark an important achievement in our ongoing effort to counter the spread of weapons of mass destruction by eliminating Syria’s declared chemical weapons stockpile. The most lethal declared chemical weapons possessed by the Syrian regime were destroyed by dedicated U.S. civilian and military professionals using a unique American capability aboard the M/V Cape…

Today, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (WPR), the President transmitted to the Congress a report notifying the Congress that he had authorized U.S. Armed Forces to conduct targeted airstrikes in Iraq to support Iraqi Security Force operations to retake and establish control over the Mosul Dam, a critical infrastructure site, as part of their…

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE August 17, 2014 Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) On August 14, 2014, I authorized the U.S. Armed Forces to conduct targeted air strikes to support operations by Iraqi forces to recapture…

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, with schools getting ready to open their doors again over the next few weeks, the President talked directly to students and parents about the importance of preparing for an education beyond high school. In today’s economy, some higher education continues to be the surest ticket to the middle…

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko about the situation in Ukraine. President Poroshenko noted that Ukrainian humanitarian assistance had already been delivered to the International Committee for the Red Cross, but that safe passage had still not been secured from the separatists for the delivery of Russian aid. The two…

President Obama will visit the Republic of Estonia in early September to further enhance the strong relations between the two countries, and to affirm America’s commitment to our Baltic allies. In Tallinn, he will meet with President Ilves, as well as Prime Minister Roivas, to discuss bilateral ties, strategic and regional cooperation, and our shared commitment…