What Government Did Today

A year after the historic events across the Middle East and North Africa began to unfold, the aspirations of people of the region for freedom, human rights, democracy, job opportunities, empowerment and dignity are undiminished.  At the Camp David Summit, G-8 Leaders recognized the important progress that has been achieved in a number of countries undergoing transition and committed to maintaining their support for these transitions in four key priority areas: stabilization, job creation, participation/governance, and integration. Stabilization In response to transition countries’ request for support in promoting economic stabilization necessary to pursue reform, G-8 members will take the following actions: Assist transition countries in the region to stabilize their economies and pursue country-owned plans, by supporting external financing through the International Monetary Fund and bilateral assistance, as appropriate, to promote an economic environment conducive to strong, sound and sustainable economic growth

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Fact Sheet: G-8 Action on the Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama discussed Wall Street reform that he put in place to protect consumers, make Wall Street play by the same set of rules, and ensure that taxpayers are never again on the hook for the type of irresponsible behavior on Wall Street that nearly destroyed our financial system and cost the economy millions of jobs.  While Republicans in Congress are still trying to delay and dismantle these critical Wall Street reforms, President Obama continues to urgeCongress to finish implementing these reformsso that we can prevent excessive risk-taking and help create an economy that is built to last. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov  at 6:00 a.m.

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WEEKLY ADDRESS: Congress Must Move Forward, Not Back On Wall Street Reform

At the Camp David Summit, G-8 and African leaders will commit to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition , the next phase of our shared commitment to achieving global food security.  In partnership with Africa’s people and leaders, our goals are to increase responsible domestic and foreign private investments in African agriculture, take innovations that can enhance agricultural productivity to scale, and reduce the risk borne by vulnerable economies and communities.  We recognize and will act upon the critical role played by smallholder farmers, especially women, in transforming agriculture and building thriving economies. The New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition is a shared commitment to achieve sustained and inclusive agricultural growth and raise 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years by aligning the commitments of Africa’s leadership to drive effective country plans and policies for food security; the commitments of private sector partners to increase investments where the conditions are right; and the commitments of the G-8 to expand Africa’s potential for rapid and sustainable agricultural growth.  We welcome the support of the World Bank and African Development Bank, and of the United Nations’ World Food Program, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and Food and Agriculture Organization for the New Alliance .  We also welcome the successful conclusion of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the context of National Food Security and support the broad-based consultation process and pilot use of the Principles of Responsible Agricultural Investment.  The New Alliance Will Build on and Help Realize the Promise of L’Aquila Since the L’Aquila Summit, where we committed to “act with the scale and urgency needed to achieve sustainable global food security,” we have increased our bilateral and multilateral investments in food security and changed the way we do business, consistent with core principles of aid effectiveness.  Based on the findings of the 2012 G-8 Accountability Report and consistent with the Rome Principles on Sustainable Global Food Security, the G-8 will agree to:  Promptly fulfill outstanding L’Aquila financial pledges and seek to maintain strong support to address current and future global food security challenges, including through bilateral and multilateral assistance; Ensure that our assistance is directly aligned behind country plans;  Strengthen the coordination of G-8 strategies, assistance and programs in-country and with partner countries to increase efficiencies, reduce transaction burdens, and eliminate redundancies and gaps

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Fact Sheet: G-8 Action on Food Security and Nutrition

Attached is a message from the President to the Senate regarding the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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Message to the Senate from the President Regarding the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to its ratification, the Protocol Amending the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, done at Paris on May 27, 2010 (the "proposed Protocol"), which was signed by the United States on May 27, 2010. The existing Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, done at Strasbourg on January 25, 1988, entered into force for the United States on January 4, 1995 (the "existing Convention").

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Message to the Senate from the President Regarding a Tax Convention

TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to their ratification, the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Chile for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital, signed in Washington on February 4, 2010, with a Protocol signed the same day, as corrected by exchanges of notes effected February 25, 2011, and February 10 and 21, 2012, and a related agreement effected by exchange of notes (the "related Agreement") on February 4, 2010.  I also transmit for the information of the Senate the report of the Department of State, which includes an Overview of the proposed Convention, the Protocol, and related Agreement. The proposed Convention, Protocol, and related Agreement (together "proposed Treaty") would be the first bilateral income tax treaty between the United States and Chile.  The proposed Treaty contains comprehensive provisions designed to address "treaty shopping," which is the inappropriate use of a tax treaty by residents of a third country, and provides for a robust exchange of information between the tax authorities in the two countries to facilitate the administration of each country's tax laws

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Message from the President to the Senate Regarding a Tax Treaty with Chile

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

May 17, 2012 MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT:  Implementing the Prison Rape Elimination Act Sexual violence, against any victim, is an assault on human dignity and an affront to American values.  The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) was enacted with bipartisan support and established a "zero tolerance standard" for rape in prisons in the United States.  42 U.S.C.

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Presidential Memorandum — Implementing the Prison Rape Elimination Act

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

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order (the "order") declaring a national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Yemen and others to threaten Yemen's peace, security, and stability

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Message to Congress — Blocking Property of Persons Threatening the Peace, Security, or Stability of Yemen