What Government Did Today

August 20, 2010 Dear Madam Speaker: I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget amendments for the Department of Health and Human Services.  Overall, the discretionary budget authority proposed in my FY 2011 Budget would not be increased by these proposed requests. Included are proposed increases for healthcare workforce enhancement activities; HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention; State health insurance consumer assistance programs; and existing State high-risk health insurance pools.  Also included are requests for necessary changes to appropriations language that support the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasure Enterprise Review described in the report issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on August 19, 2010. The details of these amendments are set forth in the enclosed letter from the Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

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Letter from the President Regarding Budget Amendments for HHS

Four Appointees Have Waited an Average of 303 Days for Senate Confirmation WASHINGTON – President Obama announced today his intent to recess appoint four nominees to fill key administration posts that have been left vacant for an extended period of time.   “At a time when our nation faces so many pressing challenges, I urge members of the Senate to stop playing politics with our highly qualified nominees, and fulfill their responsibilities of advice and consent,” President Obama said. “Until they do, I reserve the right to act within my authority to do what is best for the American people.” The President announced his intent to recess appoint the following nominees:   Maria del Carmen Aponte, Nominee for Chief of Mission, Republic of El Salvador Maria del Carmen Aponte is currently an attorney and independent consultant with Aponte Consulting and serves on the Board of Directors of Oriental Financial Group.

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President Obama Announces Recess Appointments to Key Administration Posts

 1:28 P.M.

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Press Gaggle by Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton aboard Air Force One en route Cape Cod, MA

  By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, in order to ensure the proper safeguarding of information shared with State, local, tribal, and private sector entities, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1.

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Executive Order–Classified National Security Information Programs for State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Entities

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER SUPERVISION AGENCY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SUBJECT: Designation of Officials of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency to Act as Director By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., it is hereby ordered that: Section 1.  Order of Succession.  Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this memorandum, the following officials of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (Director) during any period in which the Director has died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of the Director, until such time as the Director is able to perform the functions and duties of that office: (a)  Deputy Director; (b)  Associate Director, Legislative, Intergovernmental, and Public Affairs; (c)  Associate Director, Management and Administration; (d)  Associate Director, Community Supervision Services; (e)  Associate Director, Community Justice Programs; (f)  General Counsel; (g)  Chief Information Officer, Information Technology; and (h)  Associate Director, Human Resource Management.

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Presidential Memorandum–Designation of Officials to Act as Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency

 1:03 P.M. PDT       THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you!  It is good to be in Washington! (Applause.)  It is good to be in Washington — it is good to be in Seattle.  Seattle just looks terrific

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Remarks by the President at Luncheon for Senator Patty Murray

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Scott C. Doney, of Massachusetts, to be Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, vice Kathryn D.

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Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate, 8/5/10

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY SUBJECT: Designation of the National Science and Technology Council to Coordinate Certain Activities Under the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (Title I of Public Law 98 373) (the "Act"), I hereby assign to the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) responsibility to coordinate activities assigned in sections 107 and 108 of the Act to the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, including through committees of the NSTC. The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

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Presidential Memorandum–Arctic Research and Policy Act

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key administration posts: • Howard L. Gottlieb, Member, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities • Elaine Wynn, Member, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts President Obama said, “Both Howard and Elaine will bring sound judgment and tremendous dedication to these important roles, and I am grateful they have agreed to lend their talents to this administration

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President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 7/22/10

New and expecting mothers and fathers across the country will have a helping hand in those first, crucial years of child rearing thanks to the Affordable Care Act.  Today, Secretary Sebelius announced $88 million in grants for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.  These grants will help new and expecting parents by providing in-home visits by professionals who can teach them the important skills every new parent should know.  The concept is simple and the results are strong.  Research shows home visits can yield substantial improvements in school readiness, father involvement, and parent employment as well as reductions in child abuse, neglect, and dependence on public supports.  Home visits can actually reap Medicaid savings through fewer preterm births and emergency room use.  Independent non-partisan organizations estimate that every dollar spent on evidence-based home visitation yields between $3-6 of savings to federal, state, and local governments. By building on models that have been developing  across the country, we’re working to support this crucial service and, at the same time, reaping long-term savings and rewards as children grow up in healthier environments. For more information on Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting, go to: www.hrsa.gov Melody Barnes is the President’s Domestic Policy Advisor and Director of the Domestic Policy Council 

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Helping New Parents and Gaining Long-Term Savings