Category: Jun2014

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice met yesterday with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore at the White House.  Ambassador Rice and Prime Minister Lee discussed our excellent bilateral military, economic, and political cooperation, as well as a number of our shared regional and global priorities.  In particular, they discussed concerns over a pattern…

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Federative Republic of Brazil to attend the Final Match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Rio de Janeiro on July 13, 2014. The Honorable Heather Higginbottom, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, will lead the delegation. Members of the Presidential…

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE June 26, 2014 Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) As I reported on June 16, 2014, U.S. Armed Forces personnel have deployed to Iraq to provide support and security for U.S. personnel…

Thirty years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention Against Torture. Three years later, on this very day, the Convention entered into effect, memorializing the international community’s condemnation of this practice.  From the first days of his Administration, President Obama has made his position on torture clear: it is abhorrent, an instrument of…

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 26, 2014 Dear Mr. Speaker: I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Budget amendments for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State and Other International Programs (State/OIP) to fund Overseas Contingency…

The Administration’s Fiscal Year 2015 Overseas Contingency Operations budget request to Congress builds on the President’s West Point Speech to seek the resources necessary to build, facilitate and strengthen the capacity of our partners to counter terrorist organizations, particularly across the Middle East and North Africa. These resources will be an important step forward in…

Today, Massachusetts joins a growing coalition of states that have taken up the President’s call to increase wages and ensure no American working full-time has to support a family in poverty.  Taking action to benefit the working men and women in the Commonwealth, Governor Patrick today signed a law raising the state’s $8 per hour…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts: Christopher Hart – Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board John W. Leslie, Jr. – Member, Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation, and upon appointment to be designated Chairperson President Obama also announced his intent to…

Today, the Vice President met with faith leaders and refugee advocates for a roundtable discussion on the influx of unaccompanied minors migrating to the southwest border of the United States.  The Vice President also met with members of the “Bibles, Badges and Business” coalition for a roundtable discussion on commonsense immigration reform. In his meeting…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Judge Madeline Cox Arleo, Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, Robert Lee Pitman, and Robert William Schroeder III to serve on the United States District Courts. “Throughout their careers, these nominees have displayed unwavering commitment to justice and integrity,” said President Obama.  “Their records of public service are distinguished…