Category: Nov2014

Dear Mr. Speaker: Today, I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed emergency appropriations request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 that includes $6.18 billion to implement a comprehensive strategy to contain and end the Ebola outbreak at its source in Africa, enhance domestic preparedness, speed the procurement and testing of vaccines and therapeutics, and accelerate…

Today, President Obama met with Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald and Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson to discuss ongoing efforts to improve care for veterans. The President emphasized the need to continue building on key reforms, including strengthening management and accountability at the VA, improving timely access to high quality medical care for all…

The President on Wednesday morning spoke by phone with the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps who are staffing the Monrovia Medical Unit (MMU), the 25-bed hospital constructed by the U.S. Military that will open its doors later this week. The President underscored the indispensability of the MMU’s mission—to treat national and international healthcare…

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Nevada and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding during the period of September 7-9, 2014. Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private…

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Arizona and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding during the period of September 7-9, 2014. Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private…

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice met today with the United Nations’ Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.  Mr. de Mistura updated Ambassador Rice on his recent regional consultations related to seeking a resolution to the Syria conflict and expanded on his October 30 briefing to the UN Security Council.  Ambassador Rice emphasized the…

I want to congratulate our Sikh friends in the United States and around the world on the anniversary of the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. During his lifetime in the 15th and 16th centuries, Guru Nanak traveled throughout the region and world promoting equality, diversity, compassion, and tolerance, which became…

The Vice President called President Dilma Rousseff this morning to congratulate her on her re-election. The two reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral relationship and agreed to work together to advance U.S.-Brazil cooperation. The Vice President noted the importance of the growing global partnership between our two countries, as well as the close bonds between the…

Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Assistant to the President Benjamin Rhodes met today with representatives of non-governmental organizations working to promote human rights and democracy in Burma.  Mr. Rhodes noted that human rights and democracy are at the core of our bilateral agenda with Burma, engaged the group on their concerns about…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:          Michael A. Strautmanis – Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities          Lorna M. Johnson – Member, Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts          Lisa…