By The White House

Today President Obama, together with European Commission President Barroso and European Council President Van Rompuy, announced that the United States and the European Union (EU) will be launching negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) agreement. The first round of T-TIP negotiations will take place the week of July 8 in Washington, D.C., under the leadership of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

T-TIP will be an ambitious, comprehensive, and high-standard trade and investment agreement that offers significant benefits in terms of promoting U.S. international competitiveness, jobs, and growth.

T-TIP will aim to boost economic growth in the United States and the EU and add to the more than 13 million American and EU jobs already supported by transatlantic trade and investment.
In particular, T-TIP will aim to:

• Further open EU markets, increasing the $458 billion in goods and private services the United States exported in 2012 to the EU, our largest export market.

• Strengthen rules-based investment to grow the world’s largest investment relationship. The United States and the EU already maintain a total of nearly $3.7 trillion in investment in each other’s economies (as of 2011).

• Eliminate all tariffs on trade.

• Tackle costly “behind the border” non-tariff barriers that impede the flow of goods, including agricultural goods.

• Obtain improved market access on trade in services.

• Significantly reduce the cost of differences in regulations and standards by promoting greater compatibility, transparency, and cooperation, while maintaining our high levels of health, safety, and environmental protection.

• Develop rules, principles, and new modes of cooperation on issues of global concern, including intellectual property and market-based disciplines addressing state-owned enterprises and discriminatory localization barriers to trade.

• Promote the global competitiveness of small- and medium-sized enterprises.

…read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

I am providing this supplemental consolidated report, prepared by my Administration and consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), as part of my efforts to keep the Congress informed about deployments of U.S. Armed Forces equipped for combat.

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM OBJECTIVES

In furtherance of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, the United States continues to work with partners around the globe, with a particular focus on the U.S. Central Command's and U.S. Africa Command's areas of responsibility. In this context, the United States has deployed U.S. combat-equipped forces to enhance the counterterrorism capabilities and support the counterterrorism operations of our friends and allies, including special operations and other forces for sensitive operations in various locations around the world. Specific information about counterterrorism deployments to select countries is provided below, and a classified annex to this report provides further information.

Military Operations Against al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, and Associated Forces and in Support of Related U.S. Counterterrorism Objectives

Since October 7, 2001, the United States has conducted combat operations in Afghanistan against al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, and associated forces. In support of these and other overseas operations, the United States has deployed combat-equipped forces to a number of locations in the U.S. Central, Pacific, European, Southern, and Africa Command areas of operation. Previously, such operations and deployments have been reported, consistent with Public Law 107-40 and the War Powers Resolution, and operations and deployments remain ongoing. These operations, which the United States has carried out with the assistance of numerous international partners, have been successful in seriously degrading al-Qa'ida's capabilities and brought an end to the Taliban's leadership of Afghanistan. The United States is committed to thwarting the efforts of al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, and associated forces to carry out future acts of international terrorism, and we have continued to work with our counterterrorism partners to disrupt and degrade the capabilities of al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, and associated forces. As necessary, in response to this terrorist threat, I will direct additional measures to protect U.S. citizens and interests. It is not possible to know at this time the precise scope or the duration of the deployments of U.S. Armed Forces necessary to counter this terrorist threat to the United States.

Afghanistan. United States Armed Forces continue to pursue and engage remaining al-Qa'ida and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan while transitioning to an Afghan security lead. The Afghanistan Force Management Level is approximately 62,000 U.S. forces. Approximately 49,000 of these forces are assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Further Presidentially directed force reductions will continue to the 34,000 level by February 12, 2014.

The U.N. Security Council most recently reaffirmed its authorization of ISAF for a 12-month period until October 13, 2013, in U.N. Security Council Resolution 2069 (October 9, 2012). The mission of ISAF, under NATO command and in partnership with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for international terrorists. Fifty …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

SUBJECT: Expanding America's Leadership in Wireless Innovation

A combination of American entrepreneurship and innovation, private investment, and smart policy has positioned the United States as the global leader in wireless broadband technologies. Expanding the availability of spectrum for innovative and flexible commercial uses, including for broadband services, will further promote our Nation's economic development by providing citizens and businesses with greater speed and availability of coverage, encourage further development of cutting-edge wireless technologies, applications, and services, and help reduce usage charges for households and businesses. We must continue to make additional spectrum available as promptly as possible for the benefit of consumers and businesses. At the same time, we must ensure that Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments are able to maintain mission critical capabilities that depend on spectrum today, as well as effectively and efficiently meet future requirements.

In my memorandum of June 28, 2010 (Unleashing the Wireless Broadband Revolution), I directed the Secretary of Commerce, working through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to collaborate with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make 500 MHz of Federal and nonfederal spectrum available for wireless broadband use within 10 years. Executive departments and agencies (agencies), including NTIA, have done an excellent job of pursuing the twin goals of advancing their agency missions and promoting innovation and economic growth. Although existing efforts will almost double the amount of spectrum available for wireless broadband, we must make available even more spectrum and create new avenues for wireless innovation. One means of doing so is by allowing and encouraging shared access to spectrum that is currently allocated exclusively for Federal use. Where technically and economically feasible, sharing can and should be used to enhance efficiency among all users and expedite commercial access to additional spectrum bands, subject to adequate interference protection for Federal users, especially users with national security, law enforcement, and safety-of-life responsibilities. In order to meet growing Federal spectrum requirements, we should also seek to eliminate restrictions on commercial carriers' ability to negotiate sharing arrangements with agencies. To further these efforts, while still safeguarding protected incumbent systems that are vital to Federal interests and economic growth, this memorandum directs agencies and offices to take a number of additional actions to accelerate shared access to spectrum.

Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, 40 U.S.C. 101 et seq., and in order to promote economy and efficiency in Federal procurement, I hereby direct the following:

Section 1. Spectrum Policy Team. (a) The Chief Technology Officer and the Director of the National Economic Council, or their designees, shall co-chair a Spectrum Policy Team that shall include representatives from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the National Security Staff, and the Council of Economic Advisers. The Spectrum Policy Team shall work with NTIA to implement this memorandum. The Spectrum Policy Team may invite the FCC to …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Aboard Air Force One
En Route Boston, Massachusetts

11:08 A.M. EDT

MR. CARNEY: Welcome aboard Air Force One this morning as we make our way to the great state of Massachusetts. I think you have a readout of the President’s events today, so I won't repeat them. I have no announcements to make, so I'm here to take your questions. Associated Press.

Q Thanks, Jay. Is the President participating today either remotely or in person in the principals meeting on Syria?

MR. CARNEY: The President is here on the plane. We tend not to send the plane with you guys in it unless the President is on board. You're making an assumption that I believe is false about a meeting that the President is chairing when in fact he’s flying to Boston and then Miami.

Q I didn’t say he was chairing it, but he could be participating ostensibly.

MR. CARNEY: We do regular meetings on Syria. I think I've mentioned that now for several days running. I have no specific meeting to read out. But the President is traveling today —

Q Do you have any reaction to the Senate vote yesterday on the early test of the immigration bill?

MR. CARNEY: We're very pleased by the significant bipartisan vote that we saw. And that reflects what the President said yesterday that the bill forged by the Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group of senators, represents a compromise — represents a compromise that sticks to the principles that he’s enunciated and that other supporters of comprehensive immigration reform have allied themselves with.

So that's an encouraging sign. But we are obviously still very much in the thick of the process in the Senate as debate gets underway and look forward to being engaged in that and in encouraging senators of both parties to keep focused on the goal here, which is broad comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens our border, makes life better for our businesses and for the middle class, holds businesses accountable when it comes to ensuring that those they hire are working legally, and provides a pathway to citizenship — a clear pathway to citizenship for the 11 million people living in this country illegally.

Those are the broad outlines of the kind of comprehensive immigration reform that the Senate bill represents and that the President supports. So we will be part of this effort every step of the way.

Q Jay, can I just go back to Syria for a second? Is this a critical week in the sense that there have been clear setbacks for the rebels combating Assad? Does the President have to make an important decision? There are all these reports about meetings that he’s having. What does he have to do this week on the Syria situation?

MR. CARNEY: We are constantly evaluating the situation in Syria and the …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:15 P.M. EDT

MR. CARNEY: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for being here. I have no announcements to make, so we'll go straight to your questions.

Julie.

Q Thank you. I wanted to see if you had anything to tell us today on the location of Edward Snowden. More generally, if he’s in Hong Kong or some other country that has an extradition treaty with the United States, is it the White House’s expectation that that country would send him back to the U.S.?

MR. CARNEY: As was the case yesterday, I am not going to discuss the subject of a recently opened investigation. So the whereabouts of this individual, his status, any details about the investigation I would refer to — questions about those matters I would refer to the Department of Justice and the FBI.

Q On the broader question, though, if he is in a country, or if someone were to be in a country that had an extradition treaty with the United States, would it be the White House’s expectation that that country would —

MR. CARNEY: Again, I think that goes to the case itself, and we're going to wait for the investigation to proceed before we weigh in with that kind of assessment.

Q I'll try this one then. Was the President aware that this was an individual that the U.S. was looking at, or his whereabouts, when he met with President Xi during the China summit over the weekend?

MR. CARNEY: I believe the answer to that is no.

Q So this didn’t come up as part of those discussions?

MR. CARNEY: Not that I’m aware of.

Q Thank you. And then on a separate topic, can you explain a little bit of the administration’s thinking on the decision to stop pushing for changes on the morning-after pill availability?

MR. CARNEY: Julie, if I could just say on the last one, I think I mentioned yesterday, the President was made aware of the revelations about the individual taking responsibility for these leaks by senior staff aboard Air Force One after departing California.

On the other question, on Plan B, could you ask me again and I’ll —

Q I just wanted to know what the thinking behind the decision last night was.

MR. CARNEY: Well, twofold. You know what the President’s personal views are. He expressed them here in this room. And he supported the decision by Secretary Sebelius with regards to the use of this medication by young girls, ages 10 and 11, and the lack of sufficient data, in his view. And so he supported Secretary Sebelius’s decision, having not played a role in the making of the decision.

We have been through a legal process and the court has ruled against the administration — an appeals court — as you know, …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

The United States and Peru share a strong commitment to expanding economic growth, job creation and inclusion through integration into global markets. Our close cooperation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiation and our high standard United States – Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (the Agreement) are recent examples of efforts to strengthen trade and investment ties bilaterally and to expand economic links between the Americas and growing markets of the Pacific Rim. Additionally, Peru is a partner in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas initiative.

Leaders in the Trans-Pacific Partnership

The United States and Peru are two of the original members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). TPP is a comprehensive, high-standard, 21^st century trade agreement that will increase exports and jobs in both the United States and Peru, and address the issues that U.S. and Peruvian businesses and workers are facing in the 21^st century. The United States and Peru have worked closely and constructively as partners in the TPP negotiation, cooperating to open markets and deepen economic ties across the Pacific.

The TPP, one of the highest trade priorities for President Obama’s second term, is central to the U.S. – Peru economic partnership. The TPP currently includes 11 countries, and with the upcoming entry of Japan (following completion of each TPP member’s domestic procedures), TPP members will represent nearly 40 percent of global GDP. The TPP members made significant progress at the 17^th negotiating round, hosted by Peru in Lima in May, and the negotiations are on an accelerated track toward concluding in the 2013 timeframe envisioned by President Obama, President Humala and the leaders of the other TPP member countries. The next round of negotiations is set for July 15-25, in Malaysia.

A Key Bilateral Trading Partner

February 1, 2013 marked the four year anniversary of the Agreement’s entry into force. In 2012, two-way trade in goods between the United States and Peru was $15.8 billion, and the outlook for future growth is positive. In the past three years, U.S. exports to Peru have increased by 90 percent, while U.S. imports from Peru have increased by 52 percent. According to Peruvian trade statistics, Peru experienced a 10 percent increase in non-traditional exports to the United States last year.

The United States is Peru’s second largest export market and primary supplier of imports; Peru was the United States’ 32^nd largest goods export market in 2012, up from 36^th in 2009.

The United States and Peru are committed to frequent engagement under the Agreement in order to ensure its benefits are fully realized. During the week of June 3, four committees established under the Agreement convened in Washington, DC for annual meetings. The committees included the Standing Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Environmental Affairs Council, the Environmental Cooperation Commission and the Free Trade Commission. The Joint Statement from the Free Trade Commission meeting can be found here.

Environmental Achievements under …read more

By The White House

TOWARD A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR THE 21^ST CENTURY

By The White House

Oval Office

12:16 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'm very happy to welcome President Humala and his delegation to the Oval Office. We've been able to work together and interact in a wide range of multilateral forums, but this is the first time that I've been able to have the President here in Washington.

Peru is one of our strongest and most reliable partners in the hemisphere. We have a strong commercial and trading relationship. We cooperate on a wide range of security issues, including our counter-narcotics efforts. And we spent most of our discussion focused on how we can further deepen this important bilateral relationship.

I want to congratulate President Humala on being able to sustain strong growth rates in Peru, and his focus on broad-based economic growth that includes all people. As a consequence, Peru has been able to see not only increased growth but also reduced poverty and steps to reduce inequality.

For both the United States and Peru, growth is also dependent on our continued expansion in the global marketplace, and that’s why I'm very glad that Peru and the United States are working so closely together in finalizing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which offers the possibility of opening up markets throughout the Asia Pacific region with high standards and protections for labor and the environment.

We've also agreed to a number of bilateral programs that will strengthen our cooperation. For example, as part of my 100,000 Strong in the Americas program, we're going to deepen education exchange programs between our two countries, and we're also focusing on how we work together to include small businesses and medium-sized businesses in a hemisphere-wide network that allows those businesses to access markets throughout the region.

And we also talked about how we can deepen at a strategic level our work together to continue to combat the scourge of transnational drug networks that have an adverse impact not only in Peru, but throughout the region.

So overall, the state of our relationship is very strong. I think it will become even stronger as a result of some of the initiatives that we have shaped in this meeting. And I'm very glad that President Humala was able to visit us. I also wish the Peruvian soccer team the best of luck this evening. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT HUMALA: (As interpreted.) Thank you very much, President Obama. My visit here is a sign of the strength that we want to carry out in our relationships between the United States and Peru.

We have found in your administration an open environment in which we can build on all the strategic areas so as to strengthen our bonds. I am convinced that under your administration we will substantively and qualitatively fight against the scourge of drugs.

But that has not been the only topic that we have addressed during our talk. We have also discussed about education, training, science, technology, and strengthening the …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

State Dining Room

2:14 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, all of you. It’s now been nearly five years since an economic crisis and a punishing recession came together to cost far too many Americans their jobs, and their homes, and the sense of security that they had built up over time. And by the time I took office, my team and I were facing bubbles that had burst; markets that had cratered; bank after bank on the verge of collapse. And the heartbeat of American manufacturing, our auto industry, was flatlining. And all this meant that hundreds of thousands of Americans were losing their jobs each month. So this was a scary time. And nobody had any idea where the bottom would be.

Four and a half years later, our businesses have created nearly 7 million new jobs over the past 36 months. The American auto industry has come roaring back. We’re producing more of our own energy, we’re consuming less that we import from other countries. Our deficits are shrinking rapidly. The cost of health care is slowing. The housing market is rebounding. People’s retirement savings are growing. The wealth that was lost from that recession has now been recovered.

All of this progress is a testament to the grit and resolve of the American people, most of all. But it’s also due in some measurable way to the incredible dedication of the men and women who helped to engineer America’s response. And two of those people are standing next to me, two very smart economists: Alan Krueger and Jason Furman.

Today, I can announce that Alan is heading back to teach his beloved students at Michelle’s alma mater — Princeton University. When they get together all they can talk about is Princeton and they’re all very proud, and those of us who didn’t go to Princeton have to put up with it. (Laughter.) And I’m proud to say that Jason Furman has agreed to replace Alan as the Chairman of my Council of Economic Advisers.

During the crisis, Alan stepped in initially to help engineer our response as Assistant Secretary and chief economist at the Treasury Department. He was so good that we then had to beg him to come back, extend his tour, to serve as the Chairman of my Council of Economic Advisers, where he’s been the driving force behind actions that we’ve taken to help restart the flow of lending to small businesses, and create new jobs, and arm workers with the skills they need to fill them, to reduce income inequality, to rebuild our aging infrastructure, and to bring down our deficits in a responsible way.

And Alan is driven by the basic bargain at the heart of our economy — the idea that hard work should be rewarded. He’s motivated by the principle that no one who works full-time in the greatest nation on Earth should …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Vice President Biden met with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi this afternoon in Washington. The Vice President reaffirmed the United States’ close bilateral partnership with Kosovo and our enduring support for Kosovo’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The Vice President commended the leadership and political courage demonstrated by Prime Minister Thaçi and the Government of Kosovo in reaching agreement in the EU-facilitated Dialogue to normalize Kosovo’s relationship with Serbia. The Vice President underscored the importance of implementing the agreement fully and expeditiously to take advantage of this historic opportunity to secure peace and prosperity for the people of Kosovo and Serbia and to advance the European aspirations of both countries. The Vice President reiterated that the United States stands with Kosovo as a partner and friend and looks forward to deepening our partnership further in the years to come.

…read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, June 11^th, the White House will honor twelve people as museum and library “Champions of Change.” This Champions event will focus on libraries and museums who make a difference for their neighborhoods and for our nation. The honorees are providing powerful learning experiences. They are reaching young children and their families with early learning opportunities, offering exciting experiences for teens to develop skills in science, technology, engineering and math, helping immigrants learn English and pursue citizenship and providing services for hard-to-reach populations so that everyone can succeed in school and in life.

The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature groups of Americans – individuals, businesses and organizations – who are doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities.

To watch this event live, visit www.whitehouse.gov/live at 4:00 pm ET on June 11. To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program and nominate a Champion, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions.

Elizabeth Babcock, Ph.D.
San Francisco, California

Chief Public Engagement Office and Roberts Dean of Education, California Academy of Science – Elizabeth Babcock oversees the creation and implementation of the museum’s exhibits and education programs, including developmental resources and engagement opportunities for teachers, youth, families, and adults. She leads a team of dedicated educators, designers, and biologists who deliver a variety of programs aimed at increasing scientific literacy, developing digital skills, communicating critical science topics, and inspiring public engagement both at the museum and in the Bay Area.

David Becker
Chicago, Illinois

Senior Manager of Learning Experiences, Chicago Zoological Society – Dave Becker is an educator and museum professional who leads NatureStart, the Chicago Zoological Society’s groundbreaking early childhood initiative. For the past 12 years, he and his team have consistently expanded the boundaries of early childhood environmental education within the Brookfield Zoo, as well as within the national and international zoo and aquarium community. Becker first began working with children as a 16-year-old youth volunteer and has continued to work with children and families in informal settings throughout his career, including 15 years as a social worker and nearly 20 years in the museum profession.

Leslie Bushara
New York, New York

Deputy Director, Education and Guest Services, Children’s Museum of Manhattan — For 20 years, Leslie Bushara has played a leadership role in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Museum’s educational programming and curricula, which have made a lasting impact city-, state- and nationwide. She is currently working on major initiatives with the National Institutes of Health to create an early childhood health curriculum, NYC Housing Authority to develop a first-of-its-kind learning hub in NYC public housing, and the U.S. Department of Education on a trans-media math property for use in museums, libraries, schools and community-based organizations.

Harriet Henderson Coalter
Richmond, VA

Director of Richmond Public Library – Harriet Coalter is a driving force pursuing innovative library efforts to serve children and parents and work toward school readiness. In Richmond, …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Sunnylands Retreat
Rancho Mirage, California

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Everybody ready? Well, I know we’re a little behind, but that’s mainly because President Xi and I had a very constructive conversation on a whole range of strategic issues, from North Korea to cyberspace to international institutions. And I’m very much looking forward to continuing the conversation, not only tonight at dinner but also tomorrow.

But I thought we’d take a quick break just to take a question from both the U.S. and Chinese press. So what I’ll do is I’ll start with Julie Pace and then President Xi can call on a Chinese counterpart.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. How damaging has Chinese cyber-hacking been to the U.S.? And did you warn your counterpart about any specific consequences if those actions continue? And also, while there are obviously differences between China’s alleged actions and your government’s surveillance programs, do you think that the new NSA revelations undermine your position on these issues at all during these talks?

And President Xi, did —

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Why don’t you let the interpreter —

Q And President Xi, did you acknowledge in your talks with President Obama that China has been launching cyber attacks against the U.S.? Do you also believe that the U.S. is launching similar attacks against China? And if so, can you tell us what any of the targets may have been? Thank you.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, Julie, first of all, we haven’t had, yet, in-depth discussions about the cybersecurity issue. We’re speaking at the 40,000-foot level, and we’ll have more intensive discussions during this evening’s dinner.

What both President Xi and I recognize is that because of these incredible advances in technology, that the issue of cybersecurity and the need for rules and common approaches to cybersecurity are going to be increasingly important as part of bilateral relationships and multilateral relationships.

In some ways, these are uncharted waters and you don’t have the kinds of protocols that have governed military issues, for example, and arms issues, where nations have a lot of experience in trying to negotiate what’s acceptable and what’s not. And it’s critical, as two of the largest economies and military powers in the world, that China and the United States arrive at a firm understanding of how we work together on these issues.

But I think it’s important, Julie, to get to the second part of your question, to distinguish between the deep concerns we have as a government around theft of intellectual property or hacking into systems that might disrupt those systems — whether it’s our financial systems, our critical infrastructure and so forth — versus some of the issues …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

2:27 P.M. PDT

MR. RHODES: Hey, everybody. Thanks for coming to this briefing to wrap up the meetings over the last two days between President Obama and President Xi. I’ll turn it over here to our National Security Advisor Tom Donilon to give a readout of those meetings. Afterwards we’ll take questions.

Tom, of course, has been very focused on this China meeting as a lead person for the President on U.S.-China relations, so he can speak to anything associated with that or other foreign policy questions. I’m happy to also take questions on the FISA-related stories that have been in the news recently. In that regard, I would draw your attention to a fact sheet that we sent to our press on the collection of intelligence pursuant to Section 702 of FISA, as it provides a very good baseline of details on that program.

But with that, I’ll turn it over to Tom to give you an opening presentation. Then we’ll take questions.

MR. DONILON: Thank you, Ben. Good afternoon, everybody. I’m sorry to be a little late. I wanted to talk today about the quite unique and important meetings that took place between President Obama and President Xi Jinping of China over the last couple of days here in California.

I’d say at the outset that the President had very good discussions in an informal atmosphere, uniquely informal atmosphere, with President Xi over the last two days. The discussions were positive and constructive, wide-ranging and quite successful in achieving the goals that we set forth for this meeting.

Before I turn to the specifics on the meeting, I wanted to give some context for this. The meeting, of course, is an important part of the President’s broad national security strategy we’ve outlined since the beginning of this administration, underscoring the importance of the United States having productive and constructive relationships with the important powers in the world. And our strategic observation that if those relationships are constructive and productive, then in fact the United States could more effectively pursue its national interest and that we could, with others, solve global problems more effectively.

This meeting is also central to our Asia Pacific rebalancing strategy. As I’ve said many times, the President believes that Asia’s future and the future of the United States are deeply and increasingly linked, and we judged early during our term in office — actually during the transition — that we were under-weighted in Asia, and we had been over-weighted in other parts of the world in the prior six or seven years, particularly with respect to our military operations in the Middle East and in South Asia.

So we undertook a determined strategy aimed at sustaining a stable security environment …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Mooresville, North Carolina

3:03 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: (Applause.) Hello, Mooresville! (Applause.) Hello, Mooresville. It is good to be back in North Carolina. (Applause.) Now, first of all, I want to thank my staff for being smart enough to schedule a visit right before school lets out. (Laughter.) Because that means everybody is in a good mood. (Laughter.) However, Principal Tulbert told me that if I wanted to visit, I had to follow school rules. And since we just recited the Pledge of Allegiance, let me say that, “It’s always a great day to be a Red Imp.” (Applause.) I gather some of you are going to be Blue Devils next year. (Applause.) Being an Imp is okay, but I guess being a Devil — (laughter.)

I want to thank Maureen for the wonderful introduction, but more importantly, for the great work that she and all the staff at this school are doing. I could not be more impressed with the teachers and the administrators. So give it up for them. Students, clap for your teachers. (Applause.) You may not realize how lucky you are to have great, dedicated teachers, but as a parent, I realize how important that is. And so we can’t thank them enough.

I want to make sure everybody knows that we’ve got one of the finest Secretaries of Education we’ve ever had in Arne Duncan, who’s here. (Applause.) Your Mayor, Miles Atkins, is in the house. (Applause.) And Superintendent Edwards is here, who’s doing such great work. So give him a big round of applause. (Applause.) So I want to thank you for inviting me here today. I know it’s a little warm in here, as it always is in a school gym. But I was spending a lot of time talking to the students, and they were showing me such incredible work that I got kind of carried away.

I’ve come here to Mooresville to announce an important step that we’re taking to grow our economy and to reignite the engine that powers our economy — and that’s a rising and thriving middle class where everybody has opportunity.

Over the past four and a half years, we have been fighting back from the worst recession since the Great Depression, which cost millions of Americans their jobs and their homes and the sense of security that they’ve worked so hard to build. And North Carolina got hit worse than a lot of states.

But thanks to the grit and the determination of the American people, folks are starting to come back. Our businesses have created nearly 7 million new jobs over the past 38 months; 530 [thousand] of those jobs are new manufacturing jobs that help us sell goods made in America all around the world. We’re producing more of our own energy. …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

As the Senate prepares to debate bipartisan commonsense immigration reform next week, House Republicans chose to spend today passing an extreme amendment to strip protections from “Dreamers.” These are productive members of society who were brought here as young children, grew up in our communities, and became American in every way but on paper. This amendment, sponsored by Representative Steve King, runs contrary to our most deeply-held values as Americans. It asks law enforcement to treat these Dreamers the same way as they would violent criminals. It’s wrong. It’s not who we are. And it will not become law.

…read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:15 P.M. EDT

MR. CARNEY: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for being here today, on another glorious day. And fortunately, we will all be outside soon. We need a hard stop — I'm looking at my friend from the Associated Press — at 2:00 p.m. so that people can get out to the Rose Garden for the announcement the President is making from there at 2:15 p.m. Because of that, I will refrain from opening statements and go straight to questions.

Yes, sir.

Q Thanks, Jay. Are you concerned at all that by selecting Susan Rice that it will be more fuel in the debate over Benghazi, just as the White House is trying to look at other things other than that issue?

MR. CARNEY: Not at all. Let me say a couple of things. Ambassador Rice is one of the most qualified and experienced experts in the field of foreign policy in the country. She has served with distinction as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She has served in various capacities in the National Security Council and at the State Department. She is extremely smart, she’s extremely experienced, and she is extremely tough. And she has been a principal on the President’s foreign policy team throughout his presidency and as a foreign policy advisor prior to that.

When it comes to Benghazi, I would say a couple of things. First, what we learned through the revival of this story and the release of emails and talking points was what we had said all along, which is that Ambassador Rice went out to the Sunday shows and conveyed what was the intelligence community’s best assessment of what had happened in Benghazi at the time. It is fully apparent from any fair review of the talking points and their evolution that that was the case. The one factual issue that was ever a matter of dispute and concern was clearly drafted by the intelligence community — and I would point you to statements by the DNI Director and the Director of the CIA and Deputy Director of the CIA to back that up.

So finally I would say that we've seen an enormous amount of positive reaction to the President’s decision to make Ambassador Rice his National Security Advisor, and that includes we've also seen statements from Senators McCain and Graham and Ayotte, who obviously have played a role in the discussions about the Benghazi talking points, saying that they will be working with her as National Security Advisor. So we think — we're very pleased by that and by the reception to this announcement that we're seeing today.

Q Both Ambassador Rice and Samantha Power have had a major role when it comes to Syria. …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Rose Garden

2:17 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Thank you. Please, everybody have a seat. Well, good afternoon. It is a beautiful day, and it's good to see so many friends here.

Of all the jobs in government, leading my national security team is certainly one of the most demanding, if not the most demanding. And since the moment I took office, I've counted on the exceptional experience and insights of Tom Donilon. Nearly every day for the past several years I've started each morning with Tom leading the presidential daily brief, hundreds of times, a sweeping assessment of global developments and the most pressing challenges. As my National Security Advisor his portfolio is literally the entire world.

He has definitely advanced our strategic foreign policy initiatives while at the same time having to respond to unexpected crises, and that happens just about every day. He's overseen and coordinated our entire national security team across the government, a Herculean task. And it's non-stop — 24/7, 365 days a year.

Today, I am wistful to announce that after more than four years of extraordinary service, Tom has decided to step aside at the beginning of July. And I am extraordinarily proud to announce my new National Security Advisor, our outstanding Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice — (applause) — as well as my nominee to replace Susan in New York, Samantha Power. (Applause.)

When I first asked Tom to join my team, I knew I was getting one of our nation's premier foreign policy leaders, somebody with a deep sense of history and a keen understanding of our nation's place in the world. He shared my view that in order to renew American leadership for the 21st century, we had to fundamentally rebalance our foreign policy. And more than that, he knew how we could do it.

See, Tom is that rare combination of the strategic and the tactical. He has a strategic sense of where we need to go, and he has a tactical sense of how to get there.

Moreover, Tom’s work ethic is legendary. He began his public service in the Carter White House when he was just 22 years old — and, somehow, he has been able to maintain the same drive, and the same stamina, and the same enthusiasm and reverence for serving in government. He has helped shape every single national security policy of my presidency — from forging a new national security strategy rooted in our economic strength here at home to ending the war in Iraq. Here at the White House, Tom oversaw the operation that led us to bin Laden. He’s helped keep our transition on track as we wind down the war in Afghanistan.

At the same time, Tom has played a critical role as we’ve bolstered the enduring pillars of American power — strengthening our alliances, from Europe to Asia; enhancing …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

South Lawn

12:11 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Welcome to the White House. (Applause.) And welcome to the Super Bowl Champion — world champion — Baltimore Ravens. (Applause.) Everybody can have a seat. That’s why we set up chairs. (Laughter.)

Now, I suspect that these guys are wondering, what kind of introduction is that? No smoke machine. (Laughter.) No fire cannons. Obama didn’t even tear up chunks of turf and rub them on his suit. (Laughter.) That reminds me, by the way — please don’t do that on the South Lawn. (Laughter.)

I want to congratulate Coach John Harbaugh, an outstanding coach; and general manager, Ozzie Newsome, outstanding general manager. (Applause.) I know there’s some very proud Ravens fans in the house today, including — you got the entire delegation from Maryland here, and they’re a little puffed up.

I notice, though, I’m the only one wearing purple. (Laughter.) Some of you guys didn’t get the memo.

Now, I imagine there were times last year when these players were the only ones who knew that they’d make it here to show off this trophy. Because, during the year, they lost player after player to injury; they dropped four of their last five regular season games. In the playoffs, they trailed Denver by a touchdown with 70 yards and less than a minute to go. And I still don’t know how — well — (laughter). And then, in the Super Bowl, just when it looked like they had the momentum, the lights went out for a half hour. (Laughter.)

But these Ravens always pulled through. In that playoff game against the Broncos, Jacoby Jones — (applause) — those are all fans of “Dancing with the Stars” — (laughter) — he slipped behind the defense to catch a Joe Flacco Hail Mary to force overtime. I’m trying to figure out whether he was doing the Two-Step or the Fox Trot. But somehow he got open and Joe got him the ball.

And then in the Super Bowl, after the lights came back on and the 49ers came storming back, this team’s defense — the pride and joy of Baltimore — stopped a fierce offense four straight times inside the 10-yard line. One of the most dramatic goal-line stands in Super Bowl history. (Applause.)

Joe was named the game’s MVP. Where’s Joe? There he is. (Applause.) Good timing with that contract up. (Laughter.) That was some good timing. (Laughter.) Capped off one of the greatest post-seasons ever by a quarterback — more than 11,000 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, no interceptions. I don't know about you, Joe, but I would say that qualifies as a leap. (Laughter.) And I’d say that if you keep on playing like that, you’re going to challenge Biden for the most popular person …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

The following op-ed by Vice President Joe Biden appeared today in print in The Wall Street Journal.

Biden: The Americas Ascendant
The spread of free trade and democracy has been a boon to the hemisphere.
By Vice President Joe Biden

Last week, during a five-day trip through Latin America and the Caribbean, I visited a cut-flower farm outside Bogota, Colombia, an hour’s drive from downtown that would have been impossibly dangerous 10 years ago. Along the way I passed office parks, movie theaters and subdivisions, interspersed with small ranches and family businesses. At the flower farm, one-quarter of the workers are female heads of households. The carnations and roses they were clipping would arrive in U.S. stores within days, duty free.

What I saw on the flower farm was just one sign of the economic blossoming in the year since a U.S. free-trade agreement with Colombia went into force. Over that period, American exports to the country are up 20%.

The U.S. experience with Colombia reflects a larger economic boom across the Western Hemisphere that offers many exciting partnership opportunities for American business. In Rio de Janeiro, I met with Brazilian and American business leaders—representing the aerospace, energy, construction and manufacturing sectors—who laid out a remarkable vision for prosperity that spans the Americas. As these business leaders made clear, Latin America today is a region transformed. Elections that once were exceptions are now largely the norm. In a growing number of places, conflicts between left and right have given way to peaceful, practical governance. And in the process, Latin America’s middle class has grown 50% in the past decade alone. By some estimates, it is nearly the size of China’s.

There is enormous potential—economically, politically and socially—for the U.S. in its relations with countries of the Western Hemisphere. And so the Obama administration has launched the most sustained period of U.S. engagement with the Americas in a long, long time—including the president’s travel to Mexico and Costa Rica last month; my own recent trip to Colombia, Trinidad, and Brazil; Secretary of State Kerry’s participation in the Organization of American States’ annual meeting in Guatemala; the president of Chile’s visit to Washington this week and a planned visit to Washington by the president of Peru. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff arrives in Washington in October for the first state visit of the second term.

As leaders across the region work to lift their citizens out of poverty and to diversify their economies from commodity-led growth, the U.S. believes that the greatest promise—for Americans and for our neighbors—lies in deeper economic integration and openness.

The process is further along than you might think. Not only is the U.S. deepening what is already a trillion-dollar trading relationship with Mexico and Canada—we also have free-trade agreements that stretch nearly continuously from Canada to Chile.

One of the most promising developments is the year-old Alliance of the Pacific among Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico. This pact, involving four of the region’s fastest-growing countries, now has nations across the world seeking to participate or to …read more

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

During his visit to Berlin, Germany, on June 19, at the invitation of Chancellor Merkel, President Obama will speak at the Brandenburg Gate. President Obama will speak about the deep and enduring bonds between the United States and Germany, the vital importance of the transatlantic alliance, and the values that bind us together. The President looks forward to meeting with Chancellor Merkel, and speaking directly to the German people. Further details will be provided at a later date.

…read more

Source: White House Press Office