The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
This week, President Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly on issues that demand the attention of the global community-- including climate change and violent extremism, we celebrated the third birthday of We the People, wished the Jewish community a Happy New Year, and said goodbye to Attorney General Eric Holder.
This week, President Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly on issues that demand the attention of the global community -- including climate change and violent extremism. We celebrated the third birthday of We the People, wished the Jewish community a Happy New Year, and said goodbye to Attorney General Eric Holder.
Interested in seeing what happened this week at the White House? Check out this week’s Weekly Wrap Up.
President Obama on Climate Change: “We Have to Answer the Call”
On Tuesday, at the U.N. Climate Summit, the President highlighted the ambitious clean energy investments and carbon emission reductions the United States has made. And while we’ve stepped up to act on climate change, President Obama made it clear that it’s time for our global partners to stand up too, because “no nation is immune to climate change”.
“We have to answer the call. We know what we have to do to avoid irreparable harm. We have to cut carbon pollution in our own countries to prevent the worst effects of climate change. We have to adapt to the impacts that, unfortunately, we can no longer avoid. And we have to work together as a global community to tackle this global threat before it is too late.”
Check out the chart below and see why we can’t wait to act on climate change:
We the People Turns 3
This Monday marked the third birthday of We the People. On September 22, 2011, we officially launched the online platform that gives Americans a way to engage with their government on issues that matter most to them!
And in those three years, participation has continued to sky-rocket:
- We’ve collected more than 22 million signatures
- We’ve issued nearly 250 responses
- Over 15 million users have engaged with their government
“We Choose Hope Over Fear”
On Wednesday, the President addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City to discuss matters that demand the urgent attention of our global partners.
During his address, he called on the U.N. to join the United States and reject the cancer of violent extremism. Here’s what the President asked of the international community:
- Degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL
- Bring the world together, especially the Muslim community, to reject the ideologies of terrorists, intolerance, and extremism
- Address the cycle of conflict that creates the conditions terrorist prey upon
- Ensure that Arab and Muslim Nations focus on the extraordinary potential of their people
"We choose hope over fear. We see the future not as something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort,” he said.
Watch more of the President’s remarks here:
Attorney General Eric Holder: “The People’s Lawyer"
On Thursday afternoon, speaking from the State Dining Room, the President announced that Eric Holder will be resigning from his current position as U.S. Attorney General. He applauded Holder’s passion and commitment to the American justice system and detailed the work he’s accomplished during his six-year tenure.
During his remarks, the President emphasized the superb job that Holder has done:
"I chose him to serve as Attorney General because he believes, as I do, that justice is not just an abstract theory. It’s a living and breathing principle. It’s about how our laws interact with our daily lives. It’s about whether we can make an honest living, whether we can provide for our families; whether we feel safe in our own communities and welcomed in our own country; whether the words that the Founders set to paper 238 years ago apply to every single one of us and not just some."
Holder will continue to serve as Attorney General until the President nominates his successor, and the successor is approved by the Senate.
President Barack Obama hugs Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., after statements announcing Holder's resignation, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Sept. 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Corporate Inversions: What Do They Mean for America’s Future?
What’s an inversion? It’s when a company relocates their tax residence overseas, while changing very little about its operations, in order to avoid paying taxes. These companies can reduce their taxes significantly—leaving hardworking Americans to pick up their tabs.
It’s simple: You don’t get to pick your tax rate, and corporations shouldn’t be able to either.
See why the President has called on Congress to act on the tax inversion loophole:
Want to see even more? Be sure to check out The White House Blog, this week's episode of West Wing Week, and the White House's official twitter account.:
