White House

September 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for New York and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding during the period of August 8-10, 2009.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said the president's action makes federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Erie Counties.    » read more »

Washington, DC, July 17, 2009 -- Pre-K Now, a campaign of the Pew Center on the States, applauded the promise this week by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller to act on a legislative package containing a $10 billion, 10-year investment to strengthen state early learning programs, including pre-kindergarten. The proposal, if enacted, would fulfill a pledge by President Obama and arrives at a critical juncture for state leaders working diligently to protect early education funding.    » read more »

Fulfilling the promise of Prague at the L’Aquila Summit

July 8, 2009 -- On April 5, 2009, in Prague, President Obama presented an ambitious three-part strategy to address the international nuclear threat: 1) proposing measures to reduce and eventually eliminate existing nuclear arsenals; 2) strengthening the Non-proliferation Treaty and halting proliferation of nuclear weapons to additional states; and 3) preventing terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons or materials.

Today, the G8 leaders endorsed that strategy and released a statement that:

Moving Toward a World Without Nuclear Weapons

* Calls on all States to meet in full their arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation commitments,    » read more »

Remarks by the President in an online town hall on health care

July 1, 2009 -- Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia -- THE PRESIDENT: Good to see you guys. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, Northern Virginia. Thank you very much. What a wonderful welcome. And I'm so grateful to all of you for taking the time to be here.

A couple of quick acknowledgments. First of all, I want to thank President Templin and Chancellor DuBois for their wonderful hospitality. We are grateful to both of them.    » read more »

Long-sought decision on waiver allows California, other states to slash oil dependence, tackle warming

June 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.--The Environmental Protection Agency today reversed one of the most controversial decisions of the previous administration and granted California the Clean Air Act "waiver" that it and more than a dozen other states need to move forward with their landmark global warming emissions standards for vehicles. Today's announcement will be followed by a rulemaking process for the Obama administration's comprehensive national plan for clean cars.    » read more »

Biggest energy saver in history of Energy Department

June 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.—New national minimum energy efficiency requirements for light bulbs will save more energy than any other standard ever issued by any administration, according to a coalition representing environmental and consumer organizations, state government, and utilities. The new standards, announced by President Obama today, will make the hundreds of millions of fluorescent tube lamps that light offices, stores, and factories more efficient.

They also will phase out conventional incandescent reflector lamps, effectively extending the phase out of inefficient incandescent products initiated by Congress in 2007 to the common cone-shaped bulbs used in recessed light fixtures and track lighting.    » read more »

Will save billions for consumers, business while helping to create new jobs and strengthen American competitiveness

June 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Building on the action by the U.S. House of Representatives in passing historic legislation that will pave the way for the transition to a clean energy economy, President Barack Obama and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced aggressive actions to promote energy efficiency and save American consumers billions of dollars per year.

Today's announcement underscores how the clean energy revolution not only makes environmental sense, but it also makes economic sense - creating jobs and saving money.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Oklahoma and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by record snow and near record snow during the period of March 27-28, 2009.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to the State and eligible local governments in the counties of Beaver, Ellis, Woods, and Woodward.

Assistance is available to State and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures that were undertaken to save lives and protect public health, safety and property over a continuous 48-hour period during or proximate to the incident period.    » read more »

June 24, 2009 -- The President spoke with President Adamkus on Tuesday morning, June 23. The two Presidents discussed a range of issues of common concern, including NATO issues and our shared commitment to collective defense.

President Obama expressed appreciation to President Adamkus for Lithuania’s important contributions to alliance operations and affirmed the commitment of the United States to Lithuania’s security.

The President also updated President Adamkus on our plans for the upcoming July Summit in Moscow between President Obama and President Medvedev.

Source: White House

June 24, 2009 -- The President spoke with Prime Minister Rudd on Tuesday evening, June 23rd. They discussed the North Korea nuclear issue, including ways in which the United States and Australia can work together to ensure full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1874.

They noted their upcoming July travel to Italy, where they will see each other at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, and discussed ways to cooperate on the Forum’s issues.

Source: White House

June 23, 2009 -- James S. Brady Press Briefing Room -- THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Good afternoon, everybody. Today, I want to start by addressing three issues, and then I'll take your questions.

First, I'd like to say a few words about the situation in Iran. The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats, the beatings, and imprisonments of the last few days. I strongly condemn these unjust actions, and I join with the American people in mourning each and every innocent life that is lost.    » read more »

PERRYSBURG, OH – As part of the administration’s commitment to support manufacturing communities and workers, Vice President Biden today chaired the fifth meeting of the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families, called "Promoting American Manufacturing in the 21st Century."

The Vice President, who was joined by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers Ed Montgomery, discussed new initiatives to prepare the manufacturing economy for the 21st century at Willard & Kelsey Solar Group in Perrysburg.

During the meeting, the Vice President also announced an Executive Order creating the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers.    » read more »

Obama administration awards first three auto loans for advanced technologies to Ford Motor Company, Nissan Motors and Tesla Motors

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, the Obama Administration announced $8 billion in conditional loan commitments for the development of innovative, advanced vehicle technologies that will create thousands of green jobs while helping reduce the nation’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil.    » read more »

Stabenow statement on President Obama’s Executive Order to create White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today made the following statement regarding President Obama’s executive order to create a White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers.

“Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Obama Administration’s commitment to helping communities that are most affected by restructuring in our automotive industry. With a new White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers in place, Dr. Montgomery and his team will have the resources they need to provide additional federal support to workers and families who need it most.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The Delaware congressional delegation, Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), issued the following statement in response to Vice President Joe Biden’s announcement today of an Executive Order creating the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers and naming Ed Montgomery as the executive director of recovery for auto communities and workers.

The goal of this new inter-agency council is to help communities and workers hit hardest by auto plant closings.    » read more »