By The White House

NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK, 2013

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

America's success in the 21st century depends on what we do today to reignite the true engine of our economic growth: a thriving middle class. Achieving that vision means making sure our education system provides ladders of opportunity for our sons and daughters. We need to equip all our students with the education and skills that put them on the path to good jobs and a bright future — no matter where they live or what school they attend.

Charter schools play an important role in meeting that obligation. These learning laboratories give educators the chance to try new models and methods that can encourage excellence in the classroom and prepare more of our children for college and careers. In return for this flexibility, we should expect high standards and accountability, and make tough decisions to close charter schools that are underperforming and not improving. But where charter schools demonstrate success and exceed expectations, we should share what they learn with other public schools and replicate those that produce dramatic results. Many charter schools choose to locate in communities with few high-quality educational options, making them an important partner in widening the circle of opportunity for students who need it most.

Our children are ready to write the next great chapter in the American story. As parents and teachers and citizens, it is up to all of us to provide them the tools they need to keep our country moving forward — from a degree that leads to a good job to the critical thinking skills that make our democracy thrive. This week, we recognize charter schools that are advancing those goals, and we recommit to helping our Nation's children go as far as their talents will take them.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 5 through May 11, 2013, as National Charter Schools Week. I commend our Nation's charter schools, teachers, and administrators, and I call on States and communities to support charter schools and the students they serve.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Palacio Nacional
Mexico City, Mexico

4:24 P.M. CDT

PRESIDENT PEÑA NIETO: (As interpreted.) Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon, everyone. First and foremost, after the bilateral meeting, I would like to extend the warmest welcome to President Barack Obama, his team joining him. Once again, we would like to welcome all of you with open arms, and we hope you feel at home.

We appreciate your will to have upon this meeting a relation built on mutual respect, collaboration for the benefit of our peoples.

Before we cover the areas that we have shared during our bilateral meeting, on behalf of the Mexican people, I would like to reiterate our solidarity for the regretful acts that were committed in your country — in Boston and in West, in Texas. Unfortunately, it took the lives of American citizens.

If you allow me, I would like to share with the audience and the members of the media the areas that we have addressed with President Obama during the meeting that we just have had.

First of all, we have reached an agreement that the relation between Mexico and the United States should be broad in terms of the areas that it covers. It should open up opportunity and collaboration spaces in different arenas, with a very clear purpose in mind to make the North American region a more productive and competitive region that will, end result, trigger the enormous potential that our peoples have, that our nations have. And we're well aware of the fact that we can take stock of our bilateral relation within the framework of the agreements made, we have reached a new level of understanding as our two new administrations that began roughly at the same time — the second term of President Obama and my administration.

Among the items that we covered I can speak for how relevant trade and commerce is in Mexico-U.S. relation. We have dimension of all the achievements made upon the free trade agreement and the benefits that our economies have received from it. The exports made from the U.S. to its top trade partners, Mexico and Canada, this represents one-third out of each three products that are exported from the U.S. and only the relation with Mexico is higher than the one the U.S. has with European countries like the U.K., France, the Netherlands all together, or the exports sent to China and Japan together doesn’t reach the level that the U.S. has with Mexico.

I must stand out that the integration of our economies in the last years has shown to be relevant and the content of exports sent from Mexico have 40 percent of U.S. input. Therefor I can conclude that the more growth Mexico shows and the more capacity to export, the more benefit the U.S. gets. Jobs are created in Mexico; therefore jobs are created in the United States.

Therefore, one of the first agreements that we have made was

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

At the invitation of President Enrique Peña Nieto, President Barack Obama travelled to Mexico City on May 2-3 to discuss the broad range of bilateral, regional, and global issues that bind the United States and Mexico and touch the daily lives of citizens of both countries. Building on their positive initial meeting in Washington, D.C. last November, the two Presidents renewed their commitment to the United States-Mexico relationship.

Looking ahead to the next 4 years during which their presidencies will overlap, the two leaders noted the importance of taking advantage of opportunities and harnessing the enthusiasm and optimism that a new stage in bilateral relations brings. The Presidents underscored the strategic importance of the bilateral relationship and expressed a desire for even greater cooperation between their two nations. Specifically, the Presidents focused on: 1) economic competitiveness; 2) people-to-people connections; 3) leadership on regional and global issues; and 4) citizen security.

Economic Competitiveness

Underpinning our successful United States-Mexico economic relationship are trade and investment flows that support jobs in both countries. Bilateral trade was almost half a trillion dollars in 2012.

The two Presidents agreed on the need to continue forging a close and productive economic relationship to enhance their nations’ competitiveness and to create more trade and investment opportunities. With this purpose, they decided to establish a High Level Economic Dialogue, which will be chaired at the cabinet level and focus on promoting competitiveness, productivity and connectivity, fostering economic growth and innovation, and partnering for global leadership. The leaders intend for the first meeting of the Dialogue to take place later this year, include representatives from relevant agencies and departments from both governments, and engage with relevant stakeholders, notably the private sector.

The two leaders also discussed the importance of the United States and Mexico working together, and with their Canadian partners, to make North America the most dynamic and competitive region in the world. They agreed to seek a successful conclusion to a high-standard Trans-Pacific Partnership this year that includes 21st century provisions that significantly strengthen the North American Free Trade Agreement. They also reiterated their commitment to the resolution of specific trade issues between their countries, and their interest in maintaining close coordination with regards to other relevant trade negotiations.

The Presidents also underscored the importance to both countries of a secure and efficient shared border. They noted the recent meeting of the 21st Century Border Management Executive Steering Committee, the first under President Peña Nieto’s tenure, and agreed to support key projects and initiatives that improve infrastructure, support the efforts of local communities, facilitate the secure flow of legitimate trade and travel, and enhance law enforcement cooperation along the border.

President Obama and President Peña Nieto welcomed the positive steps the U.S. Congress is taking to implement the Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreement, which will enhance energy security in North America and bolster the two countries’ responsible stewardship of the Gulf of Mexico. They look forward to full implementation of the Agreement.

People-to-People Connections

The two leaders underscored the broad and deep connections that exist between the

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Aboard Air Force One
En Route Mexico City, Mexico

11:29 A.M. EDT

MR. CARNEY: Welcome aboard Air Force One as we make our way to Mexico, the first stop on our two-country tour through the region. The President is looking forward to the trip. I think you were thoroughly briefed yesterday by two of our colleagues, but if you have more questions on that trip I will take them. And I will take questions on other issues if you have them.

Q The North Koreans have sentenced an American man to 15 years hard labor. Does the U.S. see this as an attempt by the North Koreans to get some kind of high-profile visit or start any kind of talks with the U.S.?

MR. CARNEY: Well, we've seen those reports, Julie, and we're working with our protecting power, the Embassy of Sweden in Pyongyang, to confirm them. We don’t have any further information to share with you.

Separate from that issue, the issue of talks — we have made clear that there is a path open to the North Koreans that would allow for negotiations, but it is dependent upon the North Koreans demonstrating a willingness to live up to their international obligations in keeping with the 2005 — September 2005 joint statement of the six-party talks. And if they choose that path, then we and other members of that — of the six-party talks are absolutely willing to have discussions with the North Koreans.

But thus far, as you know, they have flouted their obligations, engaged in provocative actions and rhetoric that brings them no closer to a situation where they can improve the lot of the North Korean people or reenter the community of nations.

Q One of the three people arrested in connection to the Boston Marathon bombings was allowed to reenter the U.S. despite having a lapsed visa. Are you concerned — or is the President concerned that this is a sign that sort of the information sharing set up after 9/11 isn't working? And the fact that these men helped in some way even after the fact that, does that call into question his belief earlier that these guys were self-radicalized?

MR. CARNEY: Well, as I said yesterday, these arrests are related to an ongoing investigation. And I don’t have specific comments on the alleged role of these individuals.

When it comes to the question of information sharing between agencies, that is a specific subject of the review that Director Clapper announced the other day — to look specifically at the question of information sharing as regards to the Tsarnaev brothers, in particular Tamerlan Tsarnaev, and general matters regarding what we knew as a government about the Tsarnaevs before the bombing in Boston.

And I think that, more broadly, that’s the kind of review that the President considers standard operating procedure whenever we have this kind of development. He expects that we

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

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

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to Burma that was declared on May 20, 1997, is to continue in effect beyond May 20, 2013.

The Government of Burma has made significant progress in a number of critical areas, including releasing hundreds of political prisoners, achieving cease-fire talks with the 11 armed ethnic groups, taking significant steps toward eliminating press censorship, and enabling the participation of opposition parties in the country's political system.

Despite great strides that Burma has made in its reform effort, the situation in the country continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The political opening is nascent, and concerns persist regarding remaining political prisoners, ongoing conflict and human rights abuses in ethnic minority areas, and the country's continued military relationship with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The United States is committed to supporting and strengthening Burma's reform efforts to ensure that the democratic transition becomes irreversible. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

NOTICE

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CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO BURMA

On May 20, 1997, the President issued Executive Order 13047, certifying to the Congress under section 570(b) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-208), that the Government of Burma had committed large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma after September 30, 1996, thereby invoking the prohibition on new investment in Burma by United States persons contained in that section. The President also declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701-1706, to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Burma.

The actions and policies of the Government of Burma continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared on May 20, 1997, and the measures adopted to deal with that emergency in Executive Orders 13047 of May 20, 1997; 13310 of July 28, 2003; 13448 of October 18, 2007; 13464 of April 30, 2008; and 13619 of July 11, 2012, must continue in effect beyond May 20, 2013.

Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Burma declared in Executive Order 13047. This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. My name is Joe Biden, I’m Jill Biden’s husband. (Laughter.) And it’s a delight to be here with all of you.

Secretary Shinseki, Becky Blank, who is the acting Commerce Secretary, all — we have Seth Harris here, who is the acting Labor Secretary. And, Admiral, good to see you, man. Look at all the brass here. There’s no reason why we all shouldn’t be here.

Look, folks, the truth of the matter is that we’re delighted to welcome you to the White House, but all the business leaders, military leaders, it’s great to have you here — and veterans.

But the truth is we all should be here. We all should be in this spot at this time because there’s so much work to do. My colleagues are tired of hearing me say over the last 20 years, we only have one truly sacred obligation in this country. We have a lot of obligations — to our children, to the elderly, to the poor. But there’s only truly sacred obligation in my view, and that's to equip those we send to war and care for those who come home from war and their families. That's a sacred obligation.

This post-9/11 generation — and I see some folks out there — well, no one is quite my age. (Laughter.) But I see folks out there from the Vietnam generation on, and before. All made incredible contributions, but this 9/11 generation has been astounding. Over 3.4 million young women and men have joined our military since 9/11, with almost the certain knowledge that they're likely to be deployed overseas. 1.7 million of those brave women and men have walked across those scorching sands of Iraq or those barren mountains in Afghanistan. And many of them, as all of you know — and some of you are among them, including some of the brass here — didn't just serve once or twice. Some have served three and four and five deployments. Pretty incredible.

Every day I get a card, and on my schedule card I have them listed on the back — and, thanks to the Pentagon, we call every day. I want to know exactly how many lives have been lost and exactly how many people — how many of our brave soldiers, Marines, Guardsmen, et cetera, how many have been wounded. As of today, 6,564 have died in those conflicts; 50,651 have been wounded. And like all of you, I count the one.

I know how we would have felt if, God forbid, something happened to our son when he was there a year and someone said, by the way, there are around 6,000 who have died, or there are about 65,000 who have been wounded. Every single one of these women and men have families, have a

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

New announcements today total an additional 435,000 veterans and military spouses hired or trained by 2018

By the numbers:

• August 2011: President Obama challenged American business to hire or train 100,000 veterans or military spouses by 2013.
• August 2012: The First Lady announced that companies had hired or trained 125,000 veterans and military spouses, and committed to hiring or training 250,000 more by the end of 2014.
• April 30, 2013: The President, Vice President, First Lady, and Dr. Biden announce that 290,000 veterans or military spouses have been hired or trained, with an additional commitment of 435,000 veterans or military spouses hired or trained by the end of 2018.

For a video about Joining Forces’ hiring efforts, please click here.

Washington, D.C. – Today, the President, Vice President, First Lady, and Dr. Biden announced that 290,000 veterans or military spouses have been hired or trained, with an additional commitment of 435,000 veterans or military spouses hired by 2018.

At the Business Roundtable Quarterly Meeting in March 2013, the First Lady urged CEOs to: “Think outside the box. Take real risks. And work together to make big, bold commitments to hire our veterans and military spouses and help them reach their full potential within your companies.” And we’re seeing businesses get more and more creative. Wal-Mart is telling any veteran who has served honorably that if they need a job in the year after they separate from the service, they can have one at Wal-Mart. The Blackstone Group is setting up a program where each of its 50,000 managers is pledging to hire one veteran.

But we still have more work to do. With the one million servicemembers transitioning out of the military in the coming years, we need every business that has not yet joined this effort to make a commitment to hire or train our veterans and military spouses in the years to come. That’s how we’ll continue to serve our military families as well as they have served us.

The President, Vice President, First Lady, and Dr. Biden have noted that with the Iraq war over and the war in Afghanistan drawing to a close, more than one million service members are projected to leave the military in the next several years. Hiring our veterans and military spouses will not only help them manage the transition, but shows them that our nation truly honors their service, not simply with words, but with real, concrete action that will profoundly impact their lives long after they leave the military.

Companies are making new commitments to veteran employment every week. The following companies are among the many that recognize that hiring veterans is good for their bottom line:

• Blackstone has pledged to hire 50,000 employees across its 80 portfolio companies over the next 5 years. Some of Blackstone’s better known companies include Hilton, Sea World, The Weather Channel, La Quinta, Extended Stay, Michaels Stores, Nielsen and Allied Barton. Blackstone safeguards pensions and makes money for its investors

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

President Obama spoke by phone today with President Putin of Russia to convey his condolences on the tragic hospital fire outside of Moscow that killed dozens last week, and to reiterate his appreciation for the close cooperation that the United States has received from Russia on the Boston marathon attack. The two Leaders discussed cooperation on counterterrorism and security issues going forward, including with respect to the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. President Obama and President Putin reviewed the situation in Syria, with President Obama underscoring concern over Syrian chemical weapons. The Presidents agreed to stay in close consultation and instructed Secretary Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov to continue discussions on Syria. Finally, both Presidents noted that they look forward to meeting in person in June at the time of the G-8 meeting in Northern Ireland and again in September for a bilateral Summit in Russia.

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

East Room

2:10 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thanks. Thank you. Everybody, please have a seat.

AUDIENCE: Good afternoon.

THE PRESIDENT: Ray LaHood has said that being the Secretary of Transportation is the best job he ever had in public service. And that’s fitting because Ray may be the best Secretary of Transportation that the nation’s ever had.

From the day that he was sworn in, Ray has fought tirelessly to rebuild America’s infrastructure — creating good jobs that strengthen our economy and allow us to better compete in the global economy. Over the past four years, thanks to Ray's leadership, we’ve built or improved more than 350,000 miles of road — enough to circle the world more than 14 times. We’ve upgraded more than 6,000 miles of rail -– enough to go coast to coast and back. We’ve repaired or replaced more than 20,000 bridges, and helped put tens of thousands of construction workers back on the job. And that’s all due in no small part to Ray LaHood's leadership.

So every American can thank Ray for his dedication to make our transportation system not just stronger, but also safer. When it comes to his focused attention on the dangers of distracted driving, for example, it's saving lives.

And on a personal note, Ray LaHood has been a good friend of mine for many years. Before he served in my Cabinet, we served together in Congress. He’s a Republican; I’m a Democrat. These days, that sometimes keeps folks apart, but what always brought Ray and I together was a shared belief that those of us who serve in public service owe their allegiance not to party but to the people who elected them to represent them.

And it helps that we're from the same state — Ray is from Peoria; I'm from Chicago. But we both love the state of Illinois, and we both get out there on the golf course — and we're not that good — (laughter) — but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. He is a good man, and has been an outstanding public servant and a model for the kind of bipartisan approach to governance that I think we need so badly in this town.

So, Ray, on a personal level, I could not be more grateful to you for your service and for your friendship. (Applause.)

Now, unfortunately for us but fortunately for them, Ray is now looking forward to spending more time with his wife Kathy and their family –- especially a whole gaggle of grandchildren. And so, today, I’m proud to announce my intent to nominate another impressive leader to carry on his great work at the Department of Transportation: the Mayor of Charlotte, my friend from North Carolina, Mr. Anthony Foxx. (Applause.)

Anthony’s life reflects the values he learned growing up in West Charlotte, where he was raised by his

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

South Court Auditorium

11:11 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA: Good morning. (Applause.) Good morning, everyone. Thanks so much. (Applause.) Thank you. Please, sit, rest. Because we want you to do a lot of work today, so we don’t want you to wear yourselves out.

It is a true pleasure to be here today. I want to start by thanking Sergeant Hall for that very kind introduction, but, more importantly, for his outstanding service to this country. I also want to recognize Gene Sperling for his excellent work on this issue here at the White House.

And of course, I want to thank John Chambers and everyone at Cisco for their extraordinary leadership to create this new IT Training and Certification Program. So let’s just take a moment to give them a round of applause for their excellent work. Very proud, very proud. (Applause.) This is the kind of leadership that is going to make the world of difference to hundreds of thousands of veterans and military families across this country.

And finally, I want to thank all of you for taking the time. This is a big commitment on the part of everyone in this room, to work on this issue. Because, as you all know, we’re here today to address one of the most pressing issues we face — not just for our veterans and our military families, but for our economy and for the future of our country.

You all know the numbers. As John said, in the coming years, more than one million servicemembers will be hanging up their uniforms and transitioning to civilian life. And that’s on top of the hundreds of thousands of veterans and military spouses already out there looking for work.

These folks, as you have heard, you have seen, you will continue to see — they are some of the most highly skilled, best-trained, hardest-working, diligent, dedicated, proud, noble, smart people that we have in this country. And believe me, I have met with hundreds of them in the course of my service as First Lady, and it has been one of the greatest privileges — not just to work with the men and women in uniform, but with their family members who are just as outstanding.

They do everything. They are medics and engineers, they're drivers, welders. They’re folks like Sergeant Hall, with years of experience at the highest levels of our military. And they are eminently qualified to do the very jobs that employers across this country are desperate to fill.

But too often, because of red tape, or outdated rules, or simple lack of coordination, our men and women in uniform come home only to find that the training and experience they’ve gotten during their time in uniform simply doesn’t count.

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

National Academy of Sciences
Washington, D.C.

11:30 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Please, everybody have a seat.

Well, it’s good to be back. Good morning, everybody, and thank you, Dr. Cicerone, for the kind introduction and the great work that you do. The good doctor was reminding me that the first time I came here, apparently joking, I warned him and John Holdren not to age too much in their jobs. And it turns out I'm the guy who’s aged. (Laughter.) They look great.

But, as always, it’s an honor to join our nation’s preeminent scholars, including my own Science Advisor, John Holdren, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences. And since I did not do well enough in chemistry or physics to impress you much on those topics, let me instead tell a story.

One hundred and fifty years ago, the nation, as all of you know, was in the midst of the Civil War, and the Union had recently suffered a devastating defeat at Fredericksburg. The road ahead seemed long and uncertain. Confederate advances in weapons technology cast a dark shadow on the Union.

The previous spring, in the waters outside of Hampton Roads, the ironclad Confederate battleship Virginia had sunk two wooden Union ships and advanced on a third, and this endangered the Union blockade of Virginia and threatening Union forces along the Potomac River. And then, overnight, the USS Monitor, an ironclad herself, arrived and fought the Virginia to a draw in the world’s first battle between iron-sided ships.

There was no victor, but the era of ironclad warfare had begun. And it brought unexpected challenges for President Lincoln and his Navy as they expanded this fleet in early 1863, because aboard their new iron-side battleships, sailors found that the iron siding made the ships’ compasses unpredictable, so it skewed navigation, and they were bumping into things and going the wrong way. (Laughter.) So the basic physics of magnetism undermined the usefulness of the ironclad vessels, even as the Confederates were stocking up on them.

And that’s where your predecessors came in. Because in March of 1983 — 1863, rather — President Lincoln and Congress established the National Academy of Sciences as an independent and nonprofit institution charged with the mission to provide the government with the scientific advice that it needed. And this was advice that was particularly useful in the thick of battle.

The National Academy soon counted the nation’s top scientists as members. They quickly got to work. By the next year, they were inspecting the Union’s ironclads and installing an array of bar magnets around the compasses to correct their navigation. So right off the bat, you guys were really useful. (Laughter.) In fact, it’s fair to say we might not be here had you not — (laughter) — certainly I would

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Attend the Investiture of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands to attend the Investiture of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander.

Admiral James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander, United States European Command, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Fay Hartog-Levin, former Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Fact Sheet: Administration Partners with Industry to Get Service Members Credentialed for High-Demand Jobs

Today, speaking at the White House Forum on Military Credentialing and Licensing, First Lady Michelle Obama will announce the IT Training and Certification Partnership, a new public-private partnership that will enable thousands of service members to earn industry-recognized information technology (IT) certifications before they transition from military service. The Administration will also announce a new grant program through the Department of Health and Human Services that will help veterans with health care experience pursue professional nursing careers and earn a nursing license.

Additionally, the event will feature four roundtables that will lay plans for the launch of additional public-private initiatives that will streamline the ability of service members and veterans to earn the civilian certifications and licenses required for high-demand jobs in emergency medical services, healthcare, and transportation sectors as well as streamline the ability for service members and veterans to translate military experience into academic credit. Key stakeholders from the private sector, the military services, industry trade associations, unions, educational institutions, state legislatures, veteran service organizations, and state licensing boards will participate in the sector-specific roundtables.

Today’s announcement builds upon President Obama’s June 2012 announcement of partnerships with the manufacturing sector that enable service members to earn high-demand advanced manufacturing certifications, and the establishment of the Department of Defense’s Military Credentialing and Licensing Task Force. Additionally, the event is an extension of the First Lady’s challenge to our Nation’s Governors in February 2013 to take executive or legislative action to help our troops get the credentials they need to successfully transition to the civilian labor market by the end of 2015. Mrs. Obama also recently attended the bill signing with Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley for that state’s Veterans Full Employment Act of 2013 and met with sailors at the U.S. Naval Academy who stand to benefit from the legislation.

A New Public-Private Partnership to Connect Veterans with High-Tech Jobs

Last June, the Department of Defense (DoD), at the President’s direction, established a Military Credentialing and Licensing Task Force. The Task Force has focused its initial efforts on: (1) identifying military specialties that readily transfer to high-demand jobs; (2) working with civilian credentialing and licensing associations to address gaps between military training programs and certification and licensing requirements; and (3) providing service members and veterans with greater access to necessary certification and licensing exams. The Task Force’s work is focused on industries that have an identified need for more skilled workers and stand to benefit from military expertise and training, including manufacturing, first responders, healthcare, information technology, and transportation and logistics.

Today’s announcement is the second major partnership developed through the Task Force, and will provide opportunities for up to 161,000 service members to gain industry-recognized, nationally-portable certifications necessary for 12 high-demand technology professions, including computer programmers, quality assurance engineers, and IT security analysts. The technology professions targeted through this partnership are expected to generate more than 1.8 million job opportunities by 2020, and have an average annual salary of more than

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

On behalf of the American people, President Obama warmly congratulates Prime Minister Enrico Letta of Italy and the new Italian government on their swearing-in. The United States and Italy share an enduring and essential friendship — one built on shared values and common commitment to promote peace, liberty, and prosperity both regionally and across the globe, including as NATO allies. The President looks forward to working closely with Prime Minister Letta and President Napolitano as our two countries jointly seek to promote trade, jobs, and growth on both sides of the Atlantic and tackle today’s complex security challenges.

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Oval Office

2:07 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: I want to welcome to the Oval Office once again King Abdullah. His Majesty is a great friend of the United States. Jordan is a great partner to the United States on a whole host of issues. And obviously, although we just recently saw each other — and I want to thank again His Majesty for the extraordinary hospitality that he showed during our visit — there remain a host of very urgent issues in the region that we’re going to have an opportunity to discuss.

First of all, I want to congratulate His Majesty on a series of reforms that he’s initiating inside of Jordan, and we want to find out how we can continue to be supportive and helpful in creating greater economic opportunity and prosperity in the area.

We have been supportive with respect to loan guarantees and other efforts, in part because we’ve also seen King Abdullah take some very important steps to further open democratization and entrepreneurship and economic development inside of Jordan. We want to encourage that because we think Jordan can be an extraordinary model for effective governance in the region.

We’re also going to have an opportunity to talk about the Middle East peace process. And the last time I saw King Abdullah, I’d just come out of Israel and the West Bank in consultations with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas. And Jordan, like the United States, has an enormous stake in peace. And we do think that there’s a window of opportunity that needs to be seized, and so we will both consult in how we can jumpstart serious conversations that could lead to a peaceful settlement and both a secure Israel with normalized relations with its neighbors and a Palestinian state that was sovereign.

Of great urgency right now obviously is the situation in Syria. Jordan has experienced a huge influx of refugees coming into the country from Syria, people who’ve been displaced. Jordan historically has maintained open borders and allowed these refugees on a humanitarian basis to come in, but it’s an enormous strain on a small country. And we are mobilizing international support to help with these refugees, but obviously our goal is to create a stable Syria, where civilians are not at risk.

And we both agree that at this point, President Assad has lost legitimacy and that we need to find a political transition that allows a multi-sect, democratic transition to take place so that Syria can be a place where all people can live in peace and harmony.

This will be difficult to accomplish. And yesterday, some of you saw that I asked my people to brief Congress about the fact that we now have some evidence that chemical weapons have been used on the populations in Syria. Now, these are preliminary assessments; they’re based on our intelligence gathering. We have varying degrees of confidence about the actual use, but

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

University of Baylor
Waco, Texas

3:54 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. Please. Thank you, Senator Cornyn, Governor Perry, President Starr, gathered dignitaries, the community of Baylor and Waco — most of all, the family and the friends and neighbors of West, Texas.

I cannot match the power of the voices you just heard on that video. And no words adequately describe the courage that was displayed on that deadly night. What I can do is offer the love and support and prayers of the nation.

The Book of Psalms tells us, “For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us. We went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. “We went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.”

For this state, for our country, these have been trying and difficult days. We gather here in Texas to mourn the brave men who went through fire and all those who have been taken from us. We remain mindful of our fellow Americans in flooded states to the north who endure the high waters. We pray for those in Boston who have been tested, and the wounded whose greatest tests still lie ahead.

But know this: While the eyes of the world may have been fixed on places far away, our hearts have also been here in your time of tribulation. And even amidst such sorrow and so much pain, we recognize God’s abundance. We give thanks for the courage and the compassion and the incredible grace of the people of West.

We're grateful for Mayor Muska and Mayor Duncan, and all those who have shown such leadership during this tragedy. And to the families and neighbors grappling with unbearable loss, we are here to say, you are not alone. You are not forgotten. We may not all live here in Texas, but we're neighbors, too. (Applause.) We're Americans, too, and we stand with you, and we do not forget. And we'll be there even after the cameras leave and after the attention turns elsewhere. Your country will remain ever ready to help you recover and rebuild and reclaim your community. (Applause.)

Until last week, I think it’s fair to say that few outside this state had ever heard of West. And I suspect that’s the way most people in West like it. (Laughter and applause.) Now, it is true that weary travelers, and now the wider world, know they can rely on the Czech Stop for a brief respite in the middle of a long stretch of highway. I want to say, by the way, all the former Presidents in Dallas send their thoughts and prayers, and George W. and Laura

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House

Bush Presidential Center
Dallas, Texas

10:42 A.M. CDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you so much. (Applause.) Thank you. Please be seated. To President Bush and Mrs. Bush; to President Clinton and now-former Secretary Clinton; to President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Bush; to President and Mrs. Carter; to current and former world leaders and all the distinguished guests here today — Michelle and I are honored to be with you to mark this historic occasion.

This is a Texas-sized party. And that’s worthy of what we’re here to do today: honor the life and legacy of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.

When all the living former Presidents are together, it’s also a special day for our democracy. We’ve been called “the world’s most exclusive club” — and we do have a pretty nice clubhouse. But the truth is, our club is more like a support group. The last time we all got together was just before I took office. And I needed that. Because as each of these leaders will tell you, no matter how much you may think you’re ready to assume the office of the presidency, it’s impossible to truly understand the nature of the job until it’s yours, until you’re sitting at that desk.

And that’s why every President gains a greater appreciation for all those who served before him; for the leaders from both parties who have taken on the momentous challenges and felt the enormous weight of a nation on their shoulders. And for me, that appreciation very much extends to President Bush.

The first thing I found in that desk the day I took office was a letter from George, and one that demonstrated his compassion and generosity. For he knew that I would come to learn what he had learned — that being President, above all, is a humbling job. There are moments where you make mistakes. There are times where you wish you could turn back the clock. And what I know is true about President Bush, and I hope my successor will say about me, is that we love this country and we do our best.

Now, in the past, President Bush has said it’s impossible to pass judgment on his presidency while he’s still alive. So maybe this is a little bit premature. But even now, there are certain things that we know for certain.

We know about the son who was raised by two strong, loving parents in Midland, famously inheriting, as he says, “my daddy’s eyes and my mother’s mouth.” (Laughter.) The young boy who once came home after a trip to a museum and proudly presented his horrified mother with a small dinosaur tailbone he had smuggled home in his pocket. (Laughter.) I’ll bet that went over great with Barbara.

We know about the young man who met the love of his life at a

Source: White House Press Office

By The White House