Category: Jun2014

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Madeline Cox Arleo, of New Jersey, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, vice Dennis M. Cavanaugh, retired. Amos L. Mazzant, III, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, vice T. John Ward, retired. Robert Lee Pitman, of…

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Christopher A. Hart, of Colorado, to be Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board for a term of two years, vice Deborah A.P. Hersman, resigned. John W. Leslie, Jr., of Connecticut, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation for a term expiring September…

Jill and I were saddened to hear of the passing of our friend, former Ambassador, White House Chief of Staff and Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker. And our hearts go out to his wife Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker, who partnered with me on some of the most significant pieces of legislation that I worked on…

Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Howard Baker.  Howard was many things over the course of his career – from Senate Majority Leader, to White House Chief of Staff, to Ambassador.  Yet, it was his ability to broker compromise and his unofficial role as the “Great Conciliator” that won him…

3:03 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  Please have a seat.  And welcome to the White House.  Welcome to all of you and, most of all, it’s great to welcome back the six-time NASCAR Sprint Champion, Mr. Jimmie Johnson.  Give him a big round of applause.  (Applause.) We’ve got some big NASCAR fans here today,…

7:23 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Hello!  Well, it’s good to be back.  (Applause.)  First of all, I just want to thank Carol Browner, one of my favorite people.  We miss her in the White House, but it looks like she has occupied herself.  (Laughter.)  We appreciate all the work that you do helping to protect…

Today – one year after the President laid out his comprehensive Climate Action Plan – the White House released a new report detailing progress towards cutting carbon pollution and protecting our communities and public health. In the year since the President’s speech at Georgetown University, the Administration has announced new efficiency standards, permitted renewable energy…

Yesterday, Counselor John Podesta, Secretary Jack Lew, NOAA Administrator Kathy Sullivan, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren met with a group of Insurance and Re-Insurance Industry leaders to discuss the economic consequences of increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather.   The discussion centered around opportunities to share data between the…

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Panama City, Panama to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, President-elect of the Republic of Panama on July 1, 2014. The Honorable John F. Kerry, Secretary of State, will lead the delegation. Members of the Presidential Delegation: The Honorable…

The President spoke today with Prime Minister Renzi of Italy about the latest developments in Ukraine.  They agreed on the importance of the Government of Ukraine and the separatists continuing discussions to implement the peace plan put forward by President Poroshenko.  They also stressed the need for Russia to use its influence over separatist groups…