Category: Dec-2014

Today the White House announced the departure of Sam Kass, Executive Director of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative, the first-ever White House Senior Policy Advisor on Nutrition, and personal chef to the First Family.  Kass will leave the White House at the end of the month to live full-time in New York City.  His…

Throughout our history, the United States of America has done more than any other nation to stand up for freedom, democracy, and the inherent dignity and human rights of people around the world.  As Americans, we owe a profound debt of gratitude to our fellow citizens who serve to keep us safe, among them the…

President Obama spoke yesterday with Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz of Poland.  The President affirmed the strong partnership between the United States and Poland, and thanked the Prime Minister for Poland’s steady support for Ukraine.  The two leaders agreed on the need to assist the new Government of Ukraine to implement reforms to stabilize the economy…

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Kingdom of Belgium to attend the World War II Battle of the Bulge 70th Anniversary Commemoration in Bastogne on December 13, 2014. The Honorable Thomas Nides, Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley and former Deputy Secretary of the State Department, will lead the…

Today, the President spoke by video conference with President Ashraf Ghani of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Afghan Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah. The President commended President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah on the timely ratification of the Bilateral Security Agreement and NATO Status of Forces Agreement by an overwhelming majority in the Afghan Parliament,…

Via Conference Call 12:51 P.M. EST MS. MEEHAN:  Thank you very much, everybody, for joining us today.  This will be a background call on the Intelligence Committee’s release of this report on the Central Intelligence Agency’s detention and interrogation program.  This call will be on background.  We have five senior administration officials with us today. …

Michelle and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Illinois State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.  Judy was an institution in Illinois politics.  Her public service spanned more than 30 years, including her tenure in the State Legislature and as Chair of the Illinois Republican Party.  Judy was a fierce advocate for her constituents,…

Vice President Joe Biden met today with Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas in the White House. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, the crisis in Ukraine, NATO’s Readiness Action Plan, energy security, and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP).  The Vice President thanked Estonia for its contributions to international security, including in Iraq and…

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) I am providing this supplemental consolidated report, prepared by my Administration and consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), as part of my efforts to keep the Congress informed about deployments of U.S. Armed Forces equipped for combat. MILITARY OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM OBJECTIVES In…

On Friday, December 12, 2014, the President signed into law: H.J. Res. 130, which provides fiscal year 2015 appropriations for projects and activities of the Federal Government through Saturday, December 13, 2014.