Category: Feb2015

President Obama spoke by phone today with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan to discuss bilateral and regional issues.  The two leaders agreed to continue to work together to strengthen U.S.-Pakistan relations and advance our shared interest of a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan and region.  The President discussed his recent visit to India, and…

On Thursday, February 12, 2015, the President signed into law: H.R. 203, the “Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act” or the “Clay Hunt SAV Act,” which makes various changes to authorities related to veterans mental health care and suicide prevention.

Ash Carter served as a key leader of our national security team in the first years of my presidency, and with his overwhelming bipartisan confirmation by the Senate today, I’m proud to welcome him back as our next Secretary of Defense.  With his decades of experience, Ash will help keep our military strong as we…

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Charles C. Adams, Jr., of Maryland, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Finland. David Michael Bennett, of North Carolina, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2018, vice Thurgood Marshall, Jr.,…

When I asked Ron Klain last fall to become the Administration’s Ebola Response Coordinator, the apprehension and even fear of Ebola in the United States was at its peak. Likewise, there was more than a little skepticism from some corners at the selection of Ron to fulfill this function. But, the background noise notwithstanding, I…

On Wednesday, Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee approved H.R. 5, the Student Success Act. The legislation would lock-in sequestration funding levels, eliminate accountability for taxpayer dollars, and allow states to shift Title I funds from high-poverty schools to more affluent districts. Today, the White House is releasing a report that provides a…

Yesterday, the FBI opened an inquiry into the brutal and outrageous murders of Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, Deah Shaddy Barakat, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  In addition to the ongoing investigation by local authorities, the FBI is taking steps to determine whether federal laws were violated.  No one in the United States…

We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission welcome the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements” adopted by their original signatories on 12th February 2015 in Minsk. Implementation of the “Minsk…

The United States strongly condemns the recent Boko Haram atrocities committed against innocent civilians in Nigeria as well as in Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.  We offer our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and to those who have been displaced by these cruel acts, and we reiterate our support for these countries’ efforts to…

The President spoke with German Chancellor Merkel today about the ongoing violence in eastern Ukraine and the ceasefire scheduled to begin at midnight tonight. The President and Chancellor Merkel are particularly concerned about the intense fighting in and around Debaltseve. They also agreed on the pressing need for all signatories to implement the cease fire…