The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 13, 2015

Presidential Proclamation --National Poison Prevention Week, 2015

NATIONAL POISON PREVENTION WEEK, 2015

 - - - - - - - 

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION 

Household and environmental poisons pose risks to Americans of all ages.  While children under age 6 account for half of all cases of poison exposure, more than 90 percent of poisoning deaths occur among people over the age of 20.  Poisonings are more common and more deadly than many people realize -- but they are often avoidable and treatable, and every person can take action to guard against these preventable tragedies.  During National Poison Prevention Week, we raise awareness of the precautions each person can take to protect their loved ones, as well as what to do in the event of a poison emergency.

Most poisonings take place at home where cleaning products, cosmetics, and other chemicals are stored.  That is why it is important for parents and caregivers to keep poisonous items out of their children's sight and reach.  These items should be properly labeled and stored in their original containers -- especially medicine, which is a major source of poisoning among young people and adults.  Before taking medication, whether over-the-counter or prescribed, Americans should ensure they understand the instructions, including the proper dosage and how to avoid unsafe drug interactions, and discuss any questions with a doctor or pharmacist.  Everyone should also be aware of local environmental poisons, including plants, insects, and berries; practice safe food preparation and handling to avoid food poisoning; and guard against carbon monoxide by installing detectors for this colorless, odorless gas.

If you suspect someone has been poisoned, fast action is essential.  Do not wait for signs of poisoning.  You should immediately call the toll-free Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.  The Poison Help line can also connect you with experts to discuss questions about medication and other non-emergency situations.  Last year, I was proud to sign the Poison Center Network Act, which reauthorized funding for the Poison Help line and also supported poison control centers and nationwide efforts to raise awareness about poison prevention and the resources available in local communities.

Education and awareness about poisons can save lives.  I encourage all people to speak out about the importance of poison prevention and discuss these commonsense steps with their loved ones, coworkers, and neighbors.  To learn more, visit www.PoisonHelp.HRSA.gov.  Information about safe drug disposal is available at www.DEAdiversion.USDOJ.gov.

To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers of accidental poisonings and to take appropriate preventative measures, the Congress, by joint resolution approved September 26, 1961, as amended (75 Stat. 681) has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the third week of March each year as "National Poison Prevention Week."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 15 through March 21, 2015, as National Poison Prevention Week.  I call upon all Americans to observe this week by taking actions to protect their families from hazardous household materials and misuse of prescription medicines.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

BARACK OBAMA

President Obama Visits Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg

March 13, 2015 | 4:43 | Public Domain

On March 13, 2015, the President dropped by Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg’s house in Phoenix, Arizona to attend his housewarming party.

Download mp4 (172MB) | mp3 (11MB)

Mean Tweets: President Obama Edition

Tanya Somanader
Tanya Somanader
March 13, 2015
02:03 PM EDT
President Obama on Jimmy Kimmel Live

President Barack Obama talks with Jimmy Kimmel during a Jimmy Kimmel Live! video taping in Los Angeles, Calif. March 12, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Here at the White House, President Obama is always looking for new ways to engage with the public -- respond to a few letters, meet a few new faces, or read a few mean tweets. 

Last night, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel graciously offered the President that unique opportunity. Check it out: 

Related Topics: Grab Bag, California

President Obama Visits the Phoenix VA Medical Center

March 13, 2015 | 7:26 | Public Domain

On March 13, 2015, the President visited the Phoenix VA Medical Center and participated in a roundtable discussion with the Veterans Administration Secretary Bob McDonald.

Download mp4 (273MB) | mp3 (18MB)

West Wing Week: 03/13/2015 or, “The Single Most Powerful Word”

Adam Garber
Adam Garber
March 13, 2015
11:15 AM EDT

This week, the President focused on students and college affordability at Benedict College, Georgia Tech, and back at the People's House -- as did Dr. Biden, who met with community college students in Gainesville and Austin. The First Lady hosted a Nowruz celebration, and the First Family marched to mark an important anniversary.

That's March 6 to March 12, or "The Single Most Powerful Word."

Watch on YouTube

Related Topics: Economy, Education, Inside the White House, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas

West Wing Week: 03/13/2015 or, “The Single Most Powerful Word”

March 13, 2015 | 6:52 | Public Domain

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and beyond. This week, the President focused on students and college affordability at Benedict College, Georgia Tech, and back at the People's House -- as did Dr. Biden, who met with community college students in Gainesville and Austin. The First Lady hosted a Nowruz celebration, and the First Family marched to mark an important anniversary. That's March 6th to March 12th, or "The Single Most Powerful Word."

Download mp4 (220MB)

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 12, 2015

President Obama Signs Maine Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Maine and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm, snowstorm, and flooding during the period of January 26-28, 2015. 

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, 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 winter storm, snowstorm, and flooding in the counties of Androscoggin, Cumberland, and York.

In addition, federal funding is available to the state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for snow assistance for a continuous 48 hour period during or proximate to the incident period in Androscoggin, Cumberland, and York Counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.  

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named James N. Russo as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. 

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT:  FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@DHS.GOV

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 12, 2015

Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz en route Los Angeles, CA, 3/12/2015

Aboard Air Force One
En Route Los Angeles, California

2:40 P.M. EDT

MR. SCHULTZ:  If everyone is ready, I have a quick announcement and then I’m happy to take your questions.

Prior to leaving the White House, the President this afternoon spoke with President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan by videoconference, along with Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.  The President encouraged to accelerate Afghan progress towards forming an inclusive national unity government, and expressed his expectation that their visit to Washington later this month will demonstrate our mutual commitment to a strengthened U.S.-Afghan strategic partnership.

The leaders discussed the ongoing efforts of the Afghan National Security Forces to improve security in Afghanistan, and the importance of countering extremist threats from groups like al Qaeda.  The President commended President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah on their leadership in promoting an Afghan peace process to end the conflict in Afghanistan and their initiative to improve Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.

With that, I’m happy to take your questions.

Q    Eric, I wanted to ask you about the March 4th Secret Service episode that was making news.  Does the President still have confidence in Director Clancy?  And does it give him a second to pause about making a decision of hiring from within the Secret Service rather than outside, as recommended by an independent group?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Not at all, Jim.  When Director Clancy was asked to return to this agency, part of the reason the President selected him was because of his well-known leadership ability and his commitment to making sure that the agency that he spent so many years serving in was being run in the most effective manner and up to the highest standards. 

As Acting Director, he took several important and bold steps to address some of those challenges the agency has been facing over the last little while, and continues to make reforms as the permanent director.

Q    But does this meet those high standards?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Well, Mike, obviously the incident you’re referencing is under investigation by the independent Department of Homeland Security inspector general, so I’m not going to be in a position to comment on those allegations.  I will say that Director Clancy has shown a commitment to addressing the issues you’ve raised and that we’ve seen as part of the Secret Service over the last little while.  And that includes implementing structural reforms, but also paying close attention to the issues that have been plaguing this agency.

Q    Was the President briefed about this incident?  And did he express any concern about it?

MR. SCHULTZ:  The President was made aware earlier this week.  He was disappointed to hear the allegations.  But everyone at the White House supports the effort by Director Clancy to make sure that the Department of Homeland Security inspector general does a thorough and exhaustive review of this.

Q    Could you just clarify -- do you know what date he was informed?  And does he have the full confidence -- does Director Clancy have the full confidence of the President?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Yes.  And I don’t have the exact date.  It was earlier this week.

Q    Eric, Ferguson is back in the news again.  The last time we saw strikes hit that town, the administration got very closely involved.  You sent top officials down there.  Are we going to see that happen again now that Ferguson is going through another round of problems?

MR. SCHULTZ:  I think you saw before we took off, the President did put out a short statement.  The Attorney General also spoke to this earlier today.  And I can tell you that the President has been briefed on the terrible shooting of two officers that took place in Ferguson.  His thoughts and prayers are with the officers and their families.  We are comforted by the reports that the injuries are not life-threatening.  And we all wish the officers a full and speedy recovery.

As the President has repeatedly said, those who protect and serve our communities have an absolute right to go home safely to their families each night.  And as the President just commemorated in Selma this past week, peaceful protests can lead to important change; violence is utterly unacceptable.

Q    Are there any plans for any top aides or officials to go down to Ferguson?

MR. SCHULTZ:  I don’t have any travel announcements for you at this time.  I know the Attorney General both released a written statement and I believe addressed this a little while ago.

Q    Back to the Secret Service.  One of the issues apparently was that uniformed officers wanted to provide a field sobriety test, and a supervisor intervened and sent the Secret Service officials home.  What does that say about whether Director Clancy or anybody in the hierarchy of the Secret Service has addressed the culture that the President wanted to change?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Jim, it's critically important to us to protect the integrity around the independent investigation looking into this.  So I, for reasons I hope you can understand, am not going to be in a position to weigh in on any specifics of these allegations.  So we're going to wait for that investigation to be completed, and then we might be in a better position to weigh in on the specifics of the allegation.

Q    I remembered my question.  If I could just -- and it sort of follows on that, which is part of what the Secret Service was criticized so much about in some of the previous incidents was not being forthcoming, was not -- kind of waiting for stuff to dribble out and not telling the full truth.  Does the White House have concerns that once again this was a news organization breaking the news to both us and I guess maybe even to some of you guys that this had happened, and not being forthcoming when it happened last week and putting out a press release and saying, here it is, this happened, we're not happy about it?  I mean, that seems to be part of what Jim was talking about with the culture, and is that still the same?  I’m trying to get to the details of the incident.

MR. SCHULTZ:  Sure.  I will say again that the White House learned of this incident earlier this week.  So I don't want anyone to take away from your question that we learned about this from news reports.  That said, Director Clancy is in this position because the President -- because he does have the full confidence of the President to not only institute the structural reforms he believes are needed at the Secret Service, but also the cultural changes that both Director Clancy believes are necessary and the President has talked about.

Nobody has higher standards for the Secret Service than Director Clancy.  And it's important to the President and the Director to make sure that everyone throughout the agency observes them.

Q    You said the President was disappointed.  Was he or the White House generally disappointed that you didn’t hear about it before earlier this week, if it happened March 4th?

MR. SCHULTZ:  I don't have any reactions to give you in terms of our internal communications or conversations with senior staff.

Q    Is it fair to say that the White House is tired of having to deal with Secret Service crises every few months?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Jeff, I never get tired of your questions.

Q    That wasn’t my question.  (Laughter.)  But thank you. 

MR. SCHULTZ:  This is not a guy who is tired.

Q    Can you help us understand whether the President, in fact, learned about what had happened preemptively either before news reports or before they were about to be news reports?

MR. SCHULTZ:  It was absolutely before news reports.  I will try and see if we can unpack more of a tick-tock here, but that's not something we generally get into.

Q    Do you know where exactly the incident -- like how close to the White House it took place?  Was it right off 15th, exactly where it was?

MR. SCHULTZ:  I don't have those details.

Q    The President is going to visit the Phoenix VA facility on Friday.  And the VA still doesn’t have a permanent inspector general.  Do you know if there’s going to be any announcement on that or any movement?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Yes, thank you.  Tomorrow the President will travel to Phoenix, Arizona, to discuss veterans issues.  The President and Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Bob McDonald, will visit the Phoenix VA Medical Center.  During the course of this visit, the President will hear about progress made to improve the VA’s ability to serve veterans in a timely and effective manner, areas where more progress is needed and further steps that are planned.

I think we'll have more specifics about tomorrow’s visit for you tomorrow, or maybe later.  I don't know of any specific announcement regarding an inspector general.  I would say it's my understanding that the administration profoundly respects and admires the work of inspector generals across the administration and throughout various agencies, whether they are Senate-confirmed or not. 

Q    On that point, Eric, can you talk a little bit about concerns that not a lot of veterans are availing themselves of private health care centers, as provided for in the new law?

MR. SCHULTZ:  I think tomorrow the President is going to have an opportunity to meet with veterans, VA employees, veterans groups, and elected officials to hear about both the progress made to improve the VA’s ability to serve veterans in a timely and effective manner, but also areas where more progress is needed and further steps are planned. 

Q    Is that one of those areas where more progress is needed?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Without getting too specific on what conversations to preview for tomorrow, I think we’ll have more on this.  But I would say that everything is on the table in terms of this discussion.

Q    Eric, in the readout of your call that the President had with the leader of Afghanistan, did they discuss troop withdrawals or any potential plans to leave U.S. troops longer than previously said?

MR. SCHULTZ:  I don’t have any more specific detail to read out to you from that conversation, but I do know that that will be definitely a topic of their agenda for their visit in a few weeks.

Q    As for the visit to the Phoenix VA, he didn’t go in January and caught a fair amount of flak.  There were photos of the motorcade nearby and stuff.  Can you talk about why the decision to go now and why he had decided, in part, not to go in January?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Well, Margaret, you’ll hear directly from the President tomorrow on why he is visiting the Phoenix VA Medical Center.  But this is part of the President’s ongoing efforts to improve care for veterans.  Improving timely access to care for our veterans is an issue that the administration has been working on diligently.

Long after it fades from the headlines, this is something that a lot of people have been working on and that the President feels strongly about.  So even though it might not be generating front page news every day, this is something that the President has been focused on.  So I think you’ll hear more about his visit and the impetus for it tomorrow.

Q    Eric, there’s a bill -- a trafficking bill -- stuck in the Senate right now.  It's a bipartisan bill that there’s an issue over abortion language in it.  If that language remains in it, would the President veto it?  And what does the President believe should be done with the bill right now?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Jim, I saw some public reports on this, that there’s a lot of moving parts and a lot of conversations around that bill in both parties.  So I'm going to not weigh in at this point. 

Q    Do you want a Hillary email question?  (Laughter.)

MR. SCHULTZ:  Have a good flight.

Q    No, No.  We’re not quite done. 

MR. SCHULTZ:  Okay, okay.  Anything else?

Q    Sorry, I thought you were just joking.  So there is some legislation by Chuck Grassley that would prevent beneficiaries of the President’s executive actions from receiving certain benefits, and I'm just wondering if the administration has any initial reaction.

MR. SCHULTZ:  I don’t have a particular direct comment for you on that piece of legislation.  What I can tell you is that under the President’s executive actions, deferred action recipients can apply for a Social Security number, join the legal workforce, pay taxes, and come out of the shadows and be held accountable.  But for more details on what you’re asking about, I’d refer you to the IRS. 

Q    Can I ask you one more question?  We have the President’s schedule, or at least part of the President’s schedule for tonight and for tomorrow, and I just wanted to ask, does he have any plans while he is at his hotel or somewhere else in Los Angeles to meet with any other actors, celebrities, movie executives, or anyone else that we might be interested in, in an event that’s not currently on the schedule?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Am I not good enough?  You have the latest version of the President’s public schedule.  If anything on that changes, I will let you know. 

Q    Eric, I’ll try one Hillary question.  Sorry.  Does the President have any concern about the fact that the field of Democrats who could be running to be his successor is pretty much narrowed down to one person, and that that person is a little weakened by this email issue?

MR. SCHULTZ:  Jeff, I assume there will be ample opportunity over the next 18 months to weigh in on the 2016 presidential race.  This is not going to be one of those times. 

Q    All right.  I'm not even going to follow up. 

MR. SCHULTZ:  Thank you all.  Have a good flight.

END
2:54 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 12, 2015

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan on National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice’s Meeting with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice met today with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany.  Germany is playing an increasing and valuable role in global affairs, and this is a development that the United States, as a long-time friend an ally, warmly welcomes.  Ambassador Rice expressed appreciation for Foreign Minister Steinmeier’s efforts to address the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.  Ambassador Rice and Foreign Minister Steinmeier agreed on the need for all parties to fully implement the Minsk agreements, including ceasing all military action, cooperating with the OSCE so that its monitors can verify a full pull back of heavy weapons, and releasing all prisoners.  They stressed that there will be significant increased costs for Russia if additional violations of the Minsk agreements occur or if Russian-backed separatists seek to gain new territory.  They also agreed on the need to support Ukraine as it takes steps needed to stabilize its economy and lay the groundwork for future growth.  As fellow members of the P5+1, Ambassador Rice and Foreign Minister Steinmeier also discussed Iran and our shared efforts to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.  

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 12, 2015

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

  • Ian C. Kelly – Ambassador to Georgia, Department of State
  • Patricia M. Loui-Schmicker – Member, Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

  • Brandon McBride – Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture
  • Loren Kieve – Member, Board of Trustees of the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
  • Princess Daazhraii Lucaj – Member, Board of Trustees of the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development

President Obama said, “These fine public servants bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their important roles.  I look forward to working with them.” 

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Ian C. Kelly, Nominee for Ambassador to Georgia, Department of State
Ian C. Kelly, a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as the Department of State’s Diplomat in Residence at the University of Illinois at Chicago, a position he has held since 2013.  Prior to that, Mr. Kelly served as U.S. Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Vienna, Austria from 2010 to 2013.  Mr. Kelly was Spokesperson in the State Department’s Bureau of Public Affairs from 2009 to 2010, Director of the Office of Russian Affairs in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs from 2007 to 2009, and Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from 2004 to 2007.  He was an Information Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy from 2000 to 2004, an Information Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey from 1997 to 2000, and a Program Officer in the Office of the Coordinator of Newly Independent States Assistance from 1994 to 1996.  Prior to that, Mr. Kelly held positions at U.S. Missions in Austria, Serbia, the former USSR, and Italy.  Before joining the Foreign Service in 1985, he taught Russian language in the former USSR and at Barnard and Columbia Colleges in New York City.  Mr. Kelly received a B.A. from Saint Olaf College, an M.A. from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University.

Patricia M. Loui-Schmicker, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States
Patricia M. Loui-Schmicker is currently a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, a position she has held since 2011.  Ms. Loui-Schmicker founded OmniTrak Group Inc. in 1984, where she consulted on market expansion strategies in Asia.  She served as President and CEO of OmniTrak from 1984 to 2010 and Chair from 2010 to 2011.  Prior to this, Ms. Loui-Schmicker was Vice President and Director of Market Planning and Development at the Bank of Hawaii. Ms. Loui-Schmicker served as a development planner and training officer for the United Nations Development Programme.  She has also served on the Board of Directors of The East-West Center Association, University of Hawaii Foundation, and the Kapiolani Hospital Foundation. Ms. Loui-Schmicker received a B.S. from Northwestern University and an M.S. from the University of Hawaii.

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Brandon McBride, Appointee for Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture
Brandon McBride serves as a Senior Professional Staff on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, a position he has held since 2009.  Prior to this, he served as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Blanche Lincoln from 2003 to 2009.  From 2001 to 2003, Mr. McBride was the Grants Specialist for Senator Lincoln. Mr. McBride received a B.A., B.S., and M.P.A. from Arkansas State University. 

Loren Kieve, Appointee for Member, Board of Trustees of the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
Loren Kieve founded Kieve Law Offices in 2008.  Previously, he was a Partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP from 2002 to 2008.  Mr. Kieve was Principal Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Manager of Legal Department, and Head of Legal Department’s Litigation and Claims Group at Bechtel Group, Inc. from 2000 to 2002.  He was a Partner at Debevoise & Plimpton from 1987 to 2000, and was an Associate and Partner at Steptoe & Johnson from 1974 to 1987.  Mr. Kieve has served on the Board of Trustees of the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development since 1994.  He is the current Chair and previously served as Chair from 1997 to 2001 and again from 2007 to 2011.  Mr. Kieve is a Sustaining Life Fellow of the American Bar Association and is a Founding Member of the Northern California Chapter of the American Constitution Society.  Mr. Kieve He received a B.A. and an M.A. from Oxford University and a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Princess Daazhraii Lucaj, Appointee for Member, Board of Trustees of the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
Princess Daazhraii Lucaj is a director and actor.  She is the former Executive Director of the Gwich’in Steering Committee, a position she held from 2011 to 2014.  Previously, Ms. Lucaj served as Alaska Director at the Indigenous Leadership Institute from 2009 to 2011.  She was a Production Manager with Native Voices at the Autry National Center from 2005 to 2006, and was a producer with Lucaj Films, Inc. from 2004 to 2005.  Ms. Lucaj is a member of the Board of Dancing with the Spirit.  She has been a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 2006, and has been a member of the SAG-AFTRA Native American Committee since 2007.  Ms. Lucaj was a Sundance Fellow for the 1999 Filmmakers, Producers and Screenwriters Lab, and she was a 2002 Emerging Voices Rosenthal Fellow with the PEN Center.  Ms. Lucaj received a B.A. from The George Washington University.