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News, Politics, Government

Remarks by the President on the Impact of the Sequester – Newport News, VA

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By The White House

Newport News Shipbuilding
Newport News, Virginia

1:23 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Newport News! (Applause.) Well, it is good to see all of you here today.

I want to thank your CEO, Mike Petters, for showing me around. I usually don’t get a chance to hang out with nuclear submarines, especially submarines that my wife has sponsored. (Applause.) So right there, that was worth the trip.

But most importantly, it’s a great chance to see the incredible men and women who, every single day, are helping to keep America safe and are just the bedrock of this country’s manufacturing base. Thank you to all of you. (Applause.)

I want to thank our outstanding Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, who’s here. (Applause.) There he is right there — the good-looking guy over at the end. (Laughter.) I want to thank your Mayor, McKinley Price, who served this nation bravely in the U.S. Army. (Applause.) I want to thank two outstanding Congressmen who care about this facility, care about Virginia and care about the country — Congressman Bobby Scott is here — (applause) — and Congressman Scott Rigell is here as well. (Applause.)

Now, the reason I came here today, in addition to seeing just some incredible stuff — it’s true, every time I come to these places, I don't know how you all do it. It is just amazing work. But the main reason I'm here is to call attention to the important work that you’re doing on behalf of the nation’s defense, and to let the American people know that this work, along with hundreds of thousands of jobs, are currently in jeopardy because of politics in Washington.

In a few days, Congress might allow a series of immediate, painful, arbitrary budget cuts to take place — known in Washington as the sequester. Now, that's a pretty bad name — sequester. But the effects are even worse than the name. Instead of cutting out the government spending we don’t need — wasteful programs that don't work, special interest tax loopholes and tax breaks — what the sequester does is it uses a meat cleaver approach to gut critical investments in things like education and national security and lifesaving medical research.

And the impact of this policy won’t be felt overnight, but it will be real. The sequester will weaken America’s economic recovery. It will weaken our military readiness. And it will weaken the basic services that the American people depend on every single day.

Already, the uncertainty around these cuts is having an effect. Companies are starting to prepare for layoff notices. Families are preparing to cut back on expenses. And the longer these cuts are in place, the greater the damage.

So here at Newport News Shipbuilding, you guys have made an enormous investment, because we've said in order to maintain the finest Navy that the …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at The White House Press Office

News, Politics, Government

Keeping Up the Demand for Action on Gun Violence

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By Maureen Tracey-Mooney

It’s been two weeks since President Obama released his plan for reducing gun violence, and during that time, the President and the Vice President have kept on pushing for Congress to take common-sense steps to protect our children and our communities by reducing gun violence. They’ve spoken to those who are on the front lines dealing with gun violence every day, like mayors and law enforcement officers; heard from ordinary Americans; continued to meet with experts about effective steps that cities and states have taken; and talked to members of Congress about how to move forward on common-sense legislation to prevent gun violence.

On January 17, the day after the President released his gun violence prevention plan, the Vice President spoke to the U.S. Conference of Mayors about the plan. Earlier this week, the Conference officially endorsed the President and Vice President’s proposals.

Vice President Biden Addresses Conference of Mayors

Vice President Joe Biden addresses the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, at the Capital Hilton, in Washington, DC, Jan. 17, 2013. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann).

On January 24th, the Vice President participated in a “Fireside Hangout” hosted by Google, talking with ordinary Americans from across the country concerned about how to reduce gun violence. It was a lively discussion about how we can meaningfully reduce the violence in our communities. Catch up on that conversation now:

On January 25th, the Vice President traveled to Richmond, Virginia, where, along with Secretaries Napolitano and Sebelius, Senator Tim Kaine, and Congressman Bobby Scott, he held a roundtable discussion with experts who helped improve Virginia’s background check system after the Virginia Tech shooting and about what still needs to be done to make sure that there is a criminal background check for every gun sale. We need to make sure states and the Federal government are making complete information available to our background check system about those who aren’t allowed to have guns, and the President’s gun violence plan includes four executive actions to do just that. But that is not enough; to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, we need Congress to pass new legislation requiring background checks for all gun sales, with common-sense exceptions for cases like transfers between family members.

On Monday, January 28th, the President and Vice President, along with members of the Cabinet, met with police chiefs and sheriffs from across the country about their work on the ground to reduce gun violence. Police chiefs from Aurora, Oak Creek, and Newtown shared their personal stories and the lessons they have learned from responding to and recovering from a mass shooting. Our plan would give law enforcement additional tools to prevent and prosecute gun crime by making gun trafficking a Federal crime with serious penalties, helping communities put 15,000 cops on the street, and taking other common-sense steps.

Senator Patrick Leahy chaired a hearing last week at which several witnesses explained why the President’s proposals are so important. And two of the key witnesses, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly, came down to meet with President Obama on Wednesday.

President Obama and Gabby Giffords in the Oval Office

President Barack Obama greets former Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, in the Oval Office after they testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence, Jan. 30, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Finally, Vice President Biden personally called on Congress to act last Thursday when he traveled to the Hill to meet with Democratic Senators. Congress is already making progress on passing key components of the President’s plan; multiple bills that would take steps to reduce gun violence have been introduced in the Senate. The Vice President challenged his former colleagues to continue this progress, work quickly, and take the bold action this moment demands.

There is more activity to come. In fact, today the President travels to Minnesota to discuss his plan. We will continue to provide updates as we go forward.

For more information:

Source: FULL ARTICLE at The White House