President Obama Nominates Eight to Serve on the United States District Courts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama nominated Judge Cynthia Ann Bashant, Stanley Allen Bastian, Diane J. Humetewa, Justice Jon David Levy, Judge Steven Paul Logan, Judge Douglas L. Rayes, Manish S. Shah, and John Joseph Tuchi for District Court judgeships.

“These men and women have had distinguished legal careers and I am honored to ask them to continue their work as judges on the federal bench,” said President Obama. “They will serve the American people with integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice.”

Judge Cynthia Ann Bashant: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California

Judge Cynthia Ann Bashant has served on the San Diego Superior Court since 2000, where she has handled both criminal and juvenile matters.  From 2009 to 2012, she was the presiding judge for the juvenile dependency and delinquency courts.  Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Bashant served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of California from 1989 to 2000.  She practiced civil litigation as an associate with Baker & McKenzie in San Diego from 1988 to 1989 and with Macdonald Halsted & Laybourne in San Diego from 1986 to 1988.  Judge Bashant received her J.D. in 1986 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and her A.B. from Smith College in 1982.

Stanley Allen Bastian: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

Stanley Allen Bastian is the managing partner of the Wenatchee, Washington law firm Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, P.S., where he primarily handles civil employment cases.  Prior to joining the law firm in 1988, Bastian worked as an Assistant City Attorney in Seattle from 1985 to 1988, where he prosecuted criminal cases.  Bastian began his legal career by serving as a law clerk to Judge Ward Williams on the Washington State Court of Appeals from 1984 to 1985 and by working as an associate at Bergman & Bauer from 1983 to 1984.  He received his J.D. in 1983 from the University of Washington School of Law and his B.S. in 1980 from the University of Oregon.  Bastian was the President of the Washington State Bar Association from 2007 through 2009 and Chair of the Equal Justice Coalition from 2010 to 2013. 

Diane J. Humetewa: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona

Diane J. Humetewa currently serves as Special Advisor to the President and Special Counsel in the Office of General Counsel at Arizona State University.  She is also a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.  From 2009 to 2011, Humetewa was Of Counsel with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP.  She worked in the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Arizona from 1996 to 2009, serving as Senior Litigation Counsel from 2001 to 2007 and as the United States Attorney from 2007 to 2009.  During her tenure in the United States Attorney’s Office, Humetewa also served as Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General from 1996 to 1998.  From 1993 to 1996, she was Deputy Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.  Humetewa received her J.D. in 1993 from Arizona State University College of Law and her B.S. in 1987 from Arizona State University.  She is a member of the Hopi Indian Tribe and, from 2002 to 2007, was an Appellate Court Judge for the Hopi Tribe Appellate Court. 

Justice Jon David Levy: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Maine

Justice Jon David Levy has been an Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court since 2002.  Justice Levy previously served as a Maine District Court Judge from 1995 to 2002, during which time he served as Deputy Chief Judge from 2000 to 2001 and Chief Judge from 2001 to 2002.  Prior to joining the bench, Justice Levy worked in private practice in York, Maine from 1983 to 1995.  From 1981 to 1982, he was appointed by Judge William W. Justice to serve as a Special Court Monitor of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.  Justice Levy began his legal career by clerking for Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. of the United States District Court in the Southern District of West Virginia from 1979 to 1981.  He received his J.D. in 1979 from the West Virginia University College of Law and his B.S. in 1976 from Syracuse University. 

Judge Steven Paul Logan: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona

Judge Steven Paul Logan has served as a United States Magistrate Judge in the District of Arizona since January 2012.  Previously, Judge Logan served as a United States Immigration Judge from 2010 to 2012, as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Arizona from 2001 to 2010, and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Minnesota from 1999 to 2001.  From 2008 to 2009, he served as Chief of the White Collar and Public Corruption Section in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.  Judge Logan is also a 23-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, holds the rank of Colonel, and currently serves on the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.  During his military career, Judge Logan served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan.  He also spent six years as a military trial judge.  He was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Ribbon for his second tour of duty in Iraq.  Judge Logan received his J.D. in 1992 from the University of Oklahoma and his B.S. from the University of Louisville in 1988. 

Judge Douglas L. Rayes: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona

Judge Douglas L. Rayes has served as a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge since 2000.  During his tenure on the bench, Judge Rayes has presided over a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, and family law matters.  Before becoming a judge, Judge Rayes was a partner at the law firms of Tryon, Heller & Rayes from 1989 to 2000; McGroder, Tryon, Heller & Rayes from 1986 to 1989; and McGroder, Tryon, Heller, Rayes & Berch from 1984 to 1986.  From 1982 to 1984, he was an associate at McGroder, Pearlstein, Pepler & Tryon.  Judge Rayes served in the Army Judge Advocate General Corps from 1979 to 1982.  He received his J.D. cum laude in 1978 from Arizona State University College of Law and his B.S.E. summa cum laude in 1975 from Arizona State University. 

Manish S. Shah: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Manish S. Shah has been an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois since 2001.  Shah currently serves as Chief of the Criminal Division, having previously served as Chief of Criminal Appeals from 2011 to 2012.  Shah was also Deputy Chief of the Financial Crimes & Special Prosecutions Section from 2008 to 2011 and Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section from 2007 to 2008.  Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Shah clerked for Judge James B. Zagel of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 1999 to 2001 and worked as an associate at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe in San Francisco from 1998 to 1999.  He received his J.D. with honors in 1998 from the University of Chicago Law School and his B.A. with honors and distinction in 1994 from Stanford University. 

John Joseph Tuchi: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona

John Joseph Tuchi has been an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Arizona since 1998.  He currently serves as Chief Assistant United States Attorney in the office and has previously served as Interim United States Attorney in 2009, Senior Litigation Counsel and Tribal Liaison from 2009 to 2012, and as Chief of the Criminal Division from 2006 to 2009.  Tuchi also worked as an associate at the law firm of Brown & Bain, P.A. from 1995 to 1998.  He began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge William C. Canby of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  Tuchi received his J.D. magna cum laude in 1994 from Arizona State University College of Law, his M.S. in 1989 from the University of Arizona, and his B.S. in 1987 from West Virginia University. 

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

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

• Bruce A. Heyman – Ambassador to Canada, Department of State
• Kathryn Thomson – General Counsel, Department of Transportation
• Kevin Whitaker – Ambassador to the Republic of Colombia, Department of State

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post:

• Jim Powell – Representative of the United States to the Southern States Energy Board

President Obama said, “I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

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

Bruce A. Heyman, Nominee for Ambassador to Canada, Department of State
Bruce A. Heyman is Managing Director of Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs & Co., a position he has held since 1999.  Mr. Heyman first joined Goldman Sachs & Co. in 1980.  He is the Business Leaders Council Advisor for The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and Fix the Debt Coalition.  Mr. Heyman is a Civic Committee Member for Expo for Chicago and a Chicago Advisory Board Member of Facing History and Ourselves.  He serves on a number of boards, including the Executive Committee for The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute Advisory Council, and Director of the Northwestern Memorial Foundation.  Mr. Heyman received a B.A and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University.

Kathryn Thomson, Nominee for General Counsel, Department of Transportation
Kathryn Thomson has served as the Acting General Counsel at the Department of Transportation since May 2013.  She also serves as the Chief Counsel of the Federal Aviation Administration, a position she has held since January 2012.  Previously, Ms. Thomson served as Counselor to the Secretary of Transportation from 2009 to 2012. She was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP from 1998 to 2009 and an associate from 1990 to 1998.  Ms. Thomson received a B.A. from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Kevin Whitaker, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of Colombia, Department of State
Kevin Whitaker, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State (DOS), a position he has held since 2011.  From 2008 to 2011, he served as the Director of the Office of Andean Affairs in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at DOS.  From 2007 to 2008, he served as the Deputy Executive Secretary in the Office of the Secretary of State, and from 2005 to 2007, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela.  In addition, Mr. Whitaker has previously served in a number of other positions at DOS, including Office Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Cuban Affairs, Deputy Director of the Office of Mexican Affairs, and Desk Officer in the Office of Western European Affairs.  Mr. Whitaker received a B.A. from the University of Virginia.

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post:

Jim Powell, Appointee for Representative of the United States to the Southern States Energy Board
Jim Powell is the owner and Principal Consultant at Norava Consulting, a position he has held since 2007.  Prior to this, from 1986 to 2007, Mr. Powell served in a variety of roles at the U.S. Department of Energy, including Program Manager; Regional Director for the South East; Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary; Deputy Director; Chief for Finance and Accounting; and Chief for Management Evaluation.  From 1983 to 1986, Mr. Powell held several positions with the U.S. Department of the Navy, including Audit Manager, Senior Management Consultant, Internal Review Officer, and Auditor.  Mr. Powell received a B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of North Florida.

Remarks by the President at the Meeting of the Export Council

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

11:14 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  It is good to see all of you.  I know we've got a few new members -- in fact, some folks that were just appointed and immediately got to work.  And so we're thrilled to see all of you.  And then there are the grizzled veterans of the Export Council -- (laughter) -- although you don’t look grizzled.  You guys look great.

Obviously, I want to thank Jim and Ursula at the outset for their outstanding leadership in this entire process.  This week marks the fifth anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and an incredible financial crisis that devastated not just the financial sector but the entire economy, and people lost jobs and homes and savings. 

And for the last five years, we have worked our way back because of the incredible grit and resilience of the American people; because of the outstanding dynamism of our business sectors; because of, I think, some timely work on the part of this administration and other agencies to make sure that we were responsive to the immediate needs of the American people, but also looking at how we can start initiating some structural changes that are going to make a difference over the long term and rebuild our economy.

We're not where we need to be yet.  But with 7.5 million new jobs created in the private sector, with the housing market beginning to recover, with our energy transformation continuing in a way that, I think, many people would not have anticipated 20 years ago, where we're now at a point where domestic production is actually starting to exceed imports -- across all these fronts, there are some very positive pieces of news.  But I tell you, one of the biggest bright spots in our economy has been exports; the fact that "Made in America" means something and has provided a boost to our domestic economy, and has reminded the world just how competitive we are.

This has been a top priority from the start.  Part of the reason we set up this Export Council was to make sure that we are in a position to meet our goal of doubling exports during the course of a fairly short period of time.  And we now sell more goods overseas than ever before.

Jason, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think our current account deficit and trade deficits have narrowed as significantly as we've seen in a very long time.  Now, part of that is because we're importing less foreign oil and increasing domestic production, but a lot of it is because we're selling a lot of great products all around the world.  And this council has done a great job in helping to guide our policies. 

We've got large businesses, we've got small businesses.  We've got medium-sized businesses, we've got services as well as manufacturers.  And your input has been enormously important in this entire process. 

Part of what we’ve seen is a continued transformation in American business to become more competitive and more productive.  And I would be remiss to say, since it’s in the news quite a bit, to note that one of the reasons our businesses are more competitive is because health care costs have actually stabilized relative to what we had been seeing in previous years.  Just an interesting statistic here for folks who may be interested.  (Laughter.) 

Thanks in part to the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare -- (laughter) -- the cost of health care is now growing at the slowest rate in 50 years.  Employer-based health care costs are growing at about one-third of the rate of a decade ago.  And just yesterday, CMS estimated that health care spending grew at its second-slowest rate ever in 2012; will grow at its third-slowest rate ever in 2013; grew at its slowest rate in 2011.  So the three years since Obamacare passed, we’ve seen the slowest growth in health care costs on record.

Now, I think this is critically important to recognize because one of the huge competitive disadvantages that our businesses have had is that we -- American businesses oftentimes are shouldering health care costs that their competitors are not, because they’ve had a more efficient, more effective system.  And so for us -- and when we passed the Affordable Care Act, by the way, there were all kind of arguments about how all the cost-savings weren’t very meaningful and weren’t going to do a lot, and we weren’t really bending the cost curve.  And well, it turns out actually a lot of what we’ve done is starting to bear real fruit, and it has an impact on the bottom lines of American businesses as well as the American people.

So if the current trends hold, and all estimates are that, in fact, they will -- this is not just a byproduct of or hangover from the recession -- we’re going to see a continuing slowing of increases in health care costs.  That’s going to boost our exports. 

Now, we can still do more when it comes to exports, and thanks in part to new trade deals that I’ve signed as well as obviously really great products and services that you’ve all designed, America now exports more to the rest of the world than ever before.  We’re on track to export even more this year.  Last year, $1 billion in exports supported nearly 50,000 jobs -- or 5,000 jobs in the United States.  So for every billion dollars that we sell, that’s 5,000 new jobs right here in the United States.

And so we’re really focused on how do we keep that momentum going.  Our new Trade Rep, our new Ambassador, Michael Froman, who many of you have had a chance to work with when he was in the White House, is in the process of trying to complete negotiations around a Trans-Pacific Partnership.  You’re talking about the largest, most dynamic, fastest-growing market in the world. 

And because of some incredibly hard work by Michael and the previous Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, we are very far along in trying to get that deal done -- raising standards; opening up markets that previously have been closed; getting the kinds of protections, like IPR protections, that are so important to American businesses since we typically are the best innovators; making sure that services are allowed to compete in many of these markets, because we do services better than anybody else and those are markets that oftentimes are the most parochial, most encumbered by regulation and have most frequently been closed.

So we’re going to be pushing ahead not only on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but we also have now our Transatlantic effort, where we can see if we can enhance what is already robust trade with Europe.  It amounts to the largest trading relationship in the world by far, and we think we can do even better.  And so we’re going to be moving on that front as well. 

We’re going to need trade promotion authority through Congress.  And this is an area where, so far at least, Mitch McConnell says he’s for it, and that’s good.  And so we may be able to get some good bipartisan support to get that done.

But let me just make a couple of closing comments about how important this Export Council has been.  One thing that I think a lot of people aren’t aware of, at least until they get involved in policymaking around exports, is tourism is an export.  When foreign visitors come here and spend money, that is tallied as a U.S. export.  And thanks to people like Bob Iger at Walt Disney, and others, we have made enormous progress over the last several years in boosting tourism in the United States, making it easier for foreign visitors to get visas, making it easier for them to come here and enjoy the incredible attractions that we have here in the United States.  That’s making a big difference.  A lot of the ideas about how we could do that were generated from initially these efforts.

So I use that as an example just to say this is not just a bunch of show horses here; these are some work horses.  And I believe it’s fair to say -- and I think Jim and Ursula will confirm -- that if any of you have good ideas about how we can further promote exports, put them on the table.  You will find an administration that is ready and willing to put their shoulder behind the wheel to actually get it done.

And I know that our new Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, who is coming directly from the business world, understands how important it is for us to be able to execute and not just generate a bunch of white papers that get filed off in some dusty file somewhere.  We want to make sure that we’re moving on all fronts very aggressively.

So with that, I just want to say how much I appreciate all your participation.  I want to make a special note to some of the small businesses that are represented here, because what we’ve seen is that when small- and medium-sized businesses can cut through the red tape and understand how to export, actually they can compete pretty well.  And that’s an area where we can make significant progress.

Obviously, big companies like Xerox or Boeing, we want to keep on growing them because small businesses are up and down the supply chain, and when we sell a bunch of airplanes, a lot of small businesses and medium-sized businesses are benefiting from that as well.

But I am very enthusiastic about this.  I think Jim, at least, will confirm that I’m happy to go out and make sales.  I’m expecting a gold watch -- (laughter) -- from Boeing at the end of my presidency, because I know that I’m on the list of top salesmen at Boeing.  And that applies to all of you. 

And I also noticed that we've got some wonderful elected officials here, folks like Governor Fallin.  Part of what we want to do is also coordinate state and federal and local efforts, because right now our competitors -- the Germanys, a lot of the European companies -- they have a very tight, very aggressive, very well-coordinated effort to make sales around the world.  Sometimes, because we're so big and, frankly, we've been such a dominant economy for a long time, that our sales pitches and efforts have been a little more scattered and a little more diffuse.

So one of the functions that this Export Council can serve is as a clearinghouse and a coordinating mechanism to make sure that if Oklahoma is trying to pitch something or help one of their businesses that they are in touch with federal counterparts and they can do a much more effective job. 

So what I think we're going to do now is we're going to clear out the press.  I'm going to have a chance to come around and say hello to everybody and say thank you.  And then the conversation will continue.

END
11:30 A.M. EDT