What Government Did Today

Ronald Reagan Building Washington, D.C. 10:08 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Thank you.  Well, good morning, everybody.  Thank you, Catherine Bertini, and Dan Glickman and everyone at the Chicago Council.  We were originally going to convene, along with the G8, in Chicago.  But since we’re not doing this in my hometown, I wanted to bring a little bit of Chicago to Washington.  (Laughter.)  It is wonderful to see all of you.  It is great to see quite a few young people here as well.  And I want to acknowledge a good friend.  We were just talking backstage — he was my inspiration for singing at the Apollo — (laughter) — Bono is here, and it is good to see him.  (Applause.) Now, this weekend at the G8, we’ll be represented by many of the world's largest economies.  We face urgent challenges — creating jobs, addressing the situation in the eurozone, sustaining the global economic recovery.  But even as we deal with these issues, I felt it was also important, also critical to focus on the urgent challenge that confronts some 1 billion men, women and children around the world — the injustice of chronic hunger; the need for long-term food security.

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Remarks by the President at Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security

Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Donna Summer.  A five-time Grammy Award winner, Donna truly was the “Queen of Disco.”  Her voice was unforgettable, and the music industry has lost a legend far too soon.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to Donna's family and her dedicated fans.

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Statement by the President on the Passing of Donna Summer

Attached is a message from the President to the Senate regarding the Convention on the Law Applicable to Certain Rights in Respect of Securities Held with an Intermediary.

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Message to the Senate from the President Regarding the Convention on the Law Applicable to Certain Rights in Respect of Securities Held with an Intermediary

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between the United States and Burma. Since I announced a new U.S

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Statement by the President on Burma

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Dili to attend ceremonies on May 19 – 20, 2012 commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of Independence and the Inauguration of His Excellency Taur Matan Ruak as President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The Honorable Judith R.

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President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Attend Ceremonies Commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of Independence and the Inauguration of His Excellency Taur Matan Ruak

NOTICE 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 to deal with the threat posed to the national security and foreign policy of the United States by the actions and policies of the Government of Burma, invoking the authority, inter alia , of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701 1706.

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Notice — Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Burma

The President today made additional disaster assistance available to the State of Vermont by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for Public Assistance projects undertaken as a result of Tropical Storm Irene during the period of August 27 to September 2, 2011. Under the President’s major disaster declaration issued for the State of Vermont on September 1, 2011, and subsequent amendments, Federal funding was made available to the State and local governments in multiple counties for Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation.  Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, and Other Needs Assistance under Section 408 were authorized at 75 percent Federal funding of total eligible costs.          Under the President's order today, the Federal share for Public Assistance has been increased to 90 percent of the total eligible costs.

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President Obama Amends Vermont Disaster Declaration

The White House Office of Communications ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 15, 2012 Remarks of Cecilia Muñoz, Domestic Policy Council Director, As Prepared for Delivery The Hamilton Project at Brookings National Press Club As prepared for delivery – Thank you.  And thank you to the Hamilton Project not just for inviting me to be part of the impressive group discussing this important issue, but also for holding a forum attempting to get beyond the rhetoric to examine the character and implications of the problem.  Immigration reform is all too often viewed through all kinds of lenses but rarely is it viewed through the most important one, which is a clear-eyed analysis of what’s in the country’s best interest.   I firmly believe that if policymakers in this town were using this particular lens, the divisive debate about immigration reform would be in the rear-view mirror by now.  That’s why I’m grateful that you’re hosting this forum today, and that you have invited so many thoughtful people to examine the question of how we can get back to building an immigration system that demands both responsibility and accountability through a comprehensive legislative reform.  I’m honored to be among them. I work on a broad range of domestic policy issues for the President; in this particular moment, in which we are recovering from a recession of historic proportions — a moment in which we can see significant progress with so much more progress still to be made — my job is to help advance the President’s priorities, particularly those which create jobs, and strengthen our economic future.   You have heard the President talk about his vision for an economy built to last; one that creates secure American jobs.  I have the privilege of serving on a team that is focused on priorities that are fundamental to that vision.

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Remarks of Cecilia Muñoz, Domestic Policy Council Director, As Prepared for Delivery- The Hamilton Project at Brookings

EXECUTIVE ORDER – - – - – - – BLOCKING PROPERTY OF PERSONS THREATENING THE PEACE, SECURITY, OR STABILITY OF YEMEN By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (NEA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, find that the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Yemen and others threaten Yemen's peace, security, and stability, including by obstructing the implementation of the agreement of November 23, 2011, between the Government of Yemen and those in opposition to it, which provides for a peaceful transition of power that meets the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Yemeni people for change, and by obstructing the political process in Yemen

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Executive Order — Blocking Property of Persons Threatening the Peace, Security, or Stability of Yemen

National Economic Council Releases Report on Moving America’s Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs Forward WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama will visit a small business in the Washington, DC area where he will urge Congress to act on the “To Do List,” specifically highlighting the need to invest in small businesses and jumpstart new hiring and entrepreneurship by passing legislation that gives a 10 percent income tax credit for firms that create new jobs or increase wages in 2012 and that extends 100 percent expensing in 2012 for all businesses. This stands in contrast to the proposal put forward by House Republicans, which could actually discourage hiring and new investments this year

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President Obama Calls on Congress to Act on Small Business Proposal in “To Do List” and Meets with Congressional Leadership