Category: Dec-2014

I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed Antony Blinken as our next Deputy Secretary of State. Over decades of dedicated public service, Tony has displayed extraordinary integrity, judgment, and inclusiveness as he has implemented America’s foreign policy priorities. Under the leadership of Secretary Kerry and now Deputy Secretary Blinken – and thanks to the…

The President convened a meeting with his National Security Council today to review potential threats to the U.S. homeland and U.S. personnel overseas ahead of the busy travel period and the large public gatherings expected during the upcoming holidays. He received an update on security preparations planned and underway throughout the country, and also reviewed…

On Tuesday, December 16, 2014, the President signed into law: H.R. 83, the “Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015,” which provides fiscal year 2015 full-year appropriations through September 30, 2015 for all agencies except the Department of Homeland Security, for which appropriations are provided instead through February 27, 2015.

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) In accordance with section 6 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (the “Act”), I hereby designate for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism all funding (including the rescission of funds) and contributions from foreign governments so designated by the Congress in the Act pursuant to section…

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) In accordance with section 6 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (the “Act”), I hereby designate as emergency requirements all funding so designated by the Congress in the Act pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended,…

President Obama spoke last evening with Japanese Prime Minister Abe to congratulate him on his party’s impressive victory in last Sunday’s elections and to thank him for his strong leadership on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues over the last year.  The two leaders discussed the ambitious agenda in U.S.-Japan relations for 2015,…

The President called Prime Minister Abbott last night regarding the Sydney hostage tragedy.  The President expressed condolences on behalf of the American people to the families that lost loved ones, and his wishes for a speedy recovery to those who were injured.  He conveyed admiration for the strength, resilience, and compassion of the Australian people…

For the past five years, Raj Shah has been at the center of my Administration’s efforts to advance our global development agenda as the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). To be sure, his tasks have never been easy—responding to natural disasters, epidemics, and famine, to name just a few examples. But…

President Obama spoke by phone last night with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan to express the United States’ deepest condolences and unwavering support for the Pakistani people in the aftermath of yesterday’s horrific terrorist attack against Peshawar’s Army Public School.  The President underscored that the American people stand with Pakistan in the face of…