Category: Nov 2015

President Obama has made clear that climate change is one of the greatest threats facing our country and our planet. With a changing climate comes more extreme weather, including droughts and wildfires. The increase in wildfires is particularly dangerous in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), where houses, structures and people are at risk of structure loss,…

The following op-ed by Vice President Joe Biden will appear in college newspapers and online outlets this week for the It’s On Us Week of Action. Schools running the op-ed include: Clemson University, Purdue University, The George Washington University, University of Northern Iowa, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, University of Pennsylvania, Western Connecticut State University,…

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Robert Annan Riley III, of Florida, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federated States of Micronesia. Karen Bevard Stewart, of Florida, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of…

Michelle and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Jacqueline Berrien, former Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Jackie’s leadership and passion for ensuring everyone gets a fair chance to succeed in the workplace has changed our country for the better. She spent her entire career fighting to give voice to underrepresented…

Tonight at 8pm, Women of Honor, a one-hour documentary that shares the stories of a female active duty servicemember, veteran, and caretaker will air on Lifetime. Earlier this year, these three women joined the First Lady and Dr. Biden for a roundtable at the White House; this roundtable is featured in the documentary. Learn more…

The President spoke separately today by phone with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey to congratulate the Turkish people on the November 1 elections and to preview the upcoming G-20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey. The leaders discussed the situation in Syria and the importance of expanding joint efforts to strengthen…

Oval Office **Please see below for a correction, marked with an asterisk. 10:34 A.M. EST PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, it is very good to welcome once again Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to the Oval Office.  There’s no foreign leader who I’ve met with more frequently, and I think that’s a testimony to the extraordinary bond between…

“The G-20 and the Global Economy” As Prepared for Delivery Deputy National Security Advisor Caroline Atkinson November 4, 2015 Peterson Institute for International Economics Thank you Adam for the kind introduction. As most of you are aware, in just over a week President Obama will be travelling to Antalya, Turkey, for the G-20 summit—the 10th…

St. Regis Hotel Washington, D.C. 5:18 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT:  I got to sign Trina’s remarks here real quick.  Everybody have a seat while I’m doing this.  (Laughter.) How’s it going, everybody?  (Applause.)  Well, listen, I just gave a big speech, so I’m not going to give a long one here.  Usually, in these kinds…

St. Regis Hotel Washington, D.C. 4:50 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, OFA!  (Applause.)  Everybody give Jordan a big round of applause.  (Applause.) All right, everybody, sit down.  Sit down.  Settle down.  This is a rowdy crowd, as usual. It’s always good to be with OFA.  It’s a little bit like coming home.  And we’ve got…