Category: Dec2015

U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C. 12:02 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT:  “In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free.”  That’s what President Lincoln once wrote. “Honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve.  We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth.” Mr. Speaker, leaders and members…

Oval Office 2:27 P.M. EST PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, it is a wonderful pleasure to greet and welcome President Rivlin on his first trip to the Oval Office as the President of Israel.  This gives us an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bonds between our two countries and our two peoples.  And we are especially pleased…

East Room 4:08 P.M. EST PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Hello, everybody!  Well, welcome to the White House, and Happy Hanukkah!  Before we begin, let’s give a big round of applause to our musical guests, the Maccabeats.  (Applause.)  This is not the first time they have performed here, but they are more popular than ever.  Their latest viral…

A new report released today from the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) finds that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, is highly effective at reducing food insecurity—the government’s measure for whether households lack the resources for consistent and dependable access to food. The report highlights a growing body of research…

Vice President Joe Biden met today with Ukrainian Rada Speaker Volodymyr Hroysman to discuss economic and government reforms, anti-corruption efforts, and implementation of the Minsk agreements. The Vice President expressed strong support for Ukrainian economic reforms, as welcomed the Speaker’s support for constitutional amendments to reform the judiciary and empower local communities.  The two leaders…

TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at Washington on October 1, 2013.  I…

President Obama spoke by phone today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to discuss the ongoing Paris climate conference.  Both leaders emphasized their personal commitment to secure a strong climate change agreement this week and their interest in our countries’ working together to achieve a successful outcome.  The President, on behalf of the American…

Vice President Joe Biden met today with reformers in the Rada, civil society, and government.  The Vice President and other participants spoke about the importance of anti-corruption, governance, and economic reforms. The Vice President also spoke about the situation in the Donbas, and underscored that the costs on Russia would continue to rise until the…

Earlier today, the President, accompanied by Ambassador Samantha Power and National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, met with the ambassadors to the United Nations of the fifteen current Security Council members along with those of the five countries whose two-year elected terms on the Council begin in January 2016. The meeting covered a wide range…

The United States remains steadfast in its support of the Ukrainian people as they defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity, advance the fight against corruption, implement democratic and constitutional reforms, strengthen the rule of law, restore economic stability and growth, and respond to humanitarian needs. In pursuit of these objectives, Vice President Joe Biden announced…