The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 14, 2012

Joint Fact Sheet: U.S.-UK Task Force to Support Our Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans and Their Families

Today, President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron reaffirmed their commitment to deliver the best possible support for the men and women of our Armed Forces, our veterans and their families through the U.S.-UK Task Force, which was established during the President’s visit to London last May.

British and American Service personnel have operated side-by-side in conflicts around the world since World War II.  British personnel serve in U.S. units, and American Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Air Force personnel operate in British units. In Afghanistan, where we and our NATO allies and partners are working side-by-side in support of the Afghan Government, our alliance is stronger than ever.

The goal of the Task Force is to build on existing cooperation and share best practice in the support of Service personnel, their families and veterans. To accomplish this goal, the Task Force has established working groups to look at four areas:

• Wounded Warrior Rehabilitation
• Supporting Service leavers transitioning to civilian life
• Mental Health
• Military Family Support

The working groups, jointly led by U.S. and UK Co-Chairs, are turning the Task Force’s strategic goals into specific outcomes and achievements. Progress so far has included:

Wounded Warrior Rehabilitation
In May, for the first time ever, a team from the UK will participate in the annual U.S. Wounded Warrior Games, to be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They will join over 200 U.S. Wounded Warriors at the Games, which offer an excellent opportunity to maximize the beneficial effects of adaptive sports in rehabilitation.  The Games are a significant competitive springboard with competing U.S. athletes attempting to qualify for the Paralympics in London later this year.

UK experts will also attend, for the first time, the U.S. Army Triad of Care Training Conference taking place in August 2012, in Oklahoma. This conference brings together primary care managers, nurse case managers, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, and transition coordinators to share and promote best practice in caring for and rehabilitating Wounded Warriors.  The U.S. will in return attend the UK Ministry of Defense’s Welfare Conference in September 2012 in London to learn about innovative practices and collaboration between State and charitable providers of support in the field of Wounded Warrior rehabilitation in the UK.

The UK and U.S. will also continue work to develop joint medical research protocols drawing on the experiences of U.S. and UK institutions, including, in the UK, the National Institute for Health Research and the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre and, in the U.S., the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the US Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine.

Transition to civilian life
President Obama has directed that the U.S. should deliver the best possible transition process for personnel returning to civilian life. The work of the Task Force has identified areas where the UK leads in best practice in this field. Using the UK’s idea of a “Personal Resettlement Plan” for each member leaving service, which includes personal training objectives, the U.S. has now developed a similar “Individual Transition Plan” to help Service personnel establish transition goals and the path to those goals.

The U.S. has also borrowed from the UK’s focus on career preparation throughout a Service career, to help move the U.S. transition system towards a military lifecycle approach rather than an end-of-career event.   Best practice being transferred from the UK includes assisting Service personnel in pursuing technical training opportunities and, during transition, developing the skills for small business ownership, as well as understanding different approaches to assessing and delivering an individual’s wider transition needs.

The Task Force has also established a partnership between the Department of Defense and the UK’s Department for Education which is allowing the UK to draw more fully on the lessons of the U.S.’s Troops to Teachers scheme in the establishment of the UK’s Troops to Teachers programme, which aims to encourage Service leavers to become teachers.

Mental Health
This critical area remains a challenging one for both nations. It is also a promising area for potential development, research and joint progress. In June 2012, speakers from the UK Ministry of Defence and the National Health Service will present their findings and experiences in the area of suicide prevention within military communities at the U.S.’s Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs suicide prevention conference in Washington, D.C.

In addition, the UK is planning to deploy a military mental health professional to Afghanistan this year with a U.S. Joint Mental Health Assessment Team.  They will participate in the team’s work to investigate causes of relevant mental health issues, such as post traumatic stress disorder, impact of tour lengths and suicide and propose pre-emptive measures to be used by policy makers and tactical Commanders to help prevent suicide amongst Service personnel returning from Afghanistan.

Military Family Support
The UK has briefed U.S. colleagues on the Ministry of Defense’s Strategic Children’s Plan, a process which is forming the basis of the U.S.’s five-year strategy for children and youth. Both sides will continue to cooperate in the development of children’s strategies.

The sharing of programmes and experiences between the UK and U.S. is proving beneficial and is helping to influence the development of UK strategy and plans. The UK is developing a personal finance awareness program for the Armed Forces community in close conjunction with the Royal British Legion and the links established with a similar U.S. program are allowing the UK development team to benefit from the U.S. experience.

The Task Force has also formed a close partnership with the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, invited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, attended the Los Angeles “Hiring Our Heroes” hiring fair on July 10, 2011, which was attended by more than 1,000 Veterans and more than 500 military spouses.  The Task Force looks forward to working with the Foundation on further initiatives on both sides of the Atlantic.

In a separate venture, under the auspices of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's "Joining Forces" initiative, which supports the military, their families and veterans in the U.S., universities in the United States and the United Kingdom are increasing and deepening their research partnerships to improve  and inform the care of our military communities. 

The University of Southern California, a leading innovator in veteran and military family care and research and King's College London’s King’s Centre for Military Health Research have committed to expand their existing relationship in this area.  They are focusing on a five-year plan for collaborative military research and related initiatives. This plan aims to improve the quality of research, interventions, and workforce development related to veterans and their families, with an emphasis on problems in the transition to civilian life and combat-related stress.  The Task Force welcomes this step and any opportunities it presents for further collaboration.

U.K. Official Visit Arrival Ceremony

March 14, 2012 | 33:05 | Public Domain

President Obama, joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, welcomes David Cameron Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to the White House for an official visit.

Download mp4 (1167MB) | mp3 (76MB)

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 14, 2012

Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom at Arrival Ceremony

South Lawn

9:33 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Good morning, everyone.

AUDIENCE:  Good morning!

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  The storied relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is steeped in tradition.  And last night, as President, I shared with the Prime Minister a uniquely American tradition of bracketology.  (Laughter.)  March Madness.  He’s learned to appreciate one of our great national pastimes.  His team has told me he has decided to install a hoop at 10 Downing Street.  (Laughter.) 

Today, we carry on another tradition -- an official visit for one of our closest friends and our dearest allies.  Prime Minister Cameron, Mrs. Cameron, members of the British delegation -- on behalf of the American people, it is my great honor to welcome you to the United States.  (Applause.)  

David, Samantha -- on behalf of Michelle and myself, we welcome you to the White House.  And, Samantha, just let me say that we are delighted that you’ve made America your first official foreign trip.  (Applause.)

It’s now been 200 years since the British came here, to the White House -- under somewhat different circumstances.  (Laughter.)  They made quite an impression.  (Laughter.)  They really lit up the place.  (Laughter.)  But we moved on.  (Laughter.)  And today, like so many Presidents and Prime Ministers before us, we meet to reaffirm one of the greatest alliances the world has ever known. 

This visit is also an opportunity to reciprocate the extraordinary and gracious hospitality shown to us by
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, by David and Samantha, and by the British people during our visit to London last year.  And we are proud that this visit comes as Her Majesty begins her Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 extraordinary years on the British throne.  (Applause.)

It is remarkable to consider:  Down the decades we've seen nations rise and fall; wars fought and peace defended; a city divided, a wall come down; countries imprisoned behind an Iron Curtain, then liberated.  We've seen the demise of a Cold War and the rise of new threats; the transition from an Industrial Revolution to an Information Age where new technologies empower our citizens and our adversaries like never before.  Our world has been transformed over and over, and it will be again.  Yet, through the grand sweep of history, through all its twists and turns, there is one constant -- the rock-solid alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom.  (Applause.)

And the reason is simple.  We stand together and we work together and we bleed together and we build together, in good times and in bad, because when we do, our nations are more secure, our people are more prosperous, and the world is a safer and better and more just place.  Our alliance is essential -- it is indispensable -- to the security and prosperity that we seek not only for our own citizens, but for people around the world.

And that is why, as President, I've made strengthening this alliance and our alliances around the world one of my highest foreign policy priorities.  And because we have, I can stand here today and say with pride and with confidence -- and I believe with David's agreement -- that the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is the strongest that it has ever been.  (Applause.) 

And so in the sunlight of this beautiful morning, with children from both nations in attendance -- (applause) -- we reaffirm the enduring values in which our alliance is forever rooted.  We believe that every person, if they're willing to work hard, if they play by the rules, deserve a fair shot, deserve a chance to succeed.  So in these tough economic times, we stand united in our determination to create the jobs that put our people back to work, in expanding trade that is both free and fair, and in fighting for a global economy where every nation plays by the same rules. 

We believe that our citizens should be able to live free from fear.  So, like generations before us, we stand united in the defense of our countries and against those who would terrorize our people, or endanger the globe with the world's most dangerous weapons. 

We believe in the universal rights of all people, so we stand united in our support for those who seek to choose their leaders and forge their future, including the brave citizens of the Middle East and North Africa, who deserve the same God-given rights and freedoms as people everywhere. 

And we believe in the inherent dignity of every human being. So we will stand united in advancing the developments that lift people and nations out of poverty -- the new crops that feed a village, the care that saves a mother in childbirth, the vaccine that allows a child to live a long and healthy life. 

This is what we believe.  This is who we are.  This is what we do together, what we achieve together every single day.  And this is the alliance that we renew today -- guided by the interests we share, grounded in the values that we cherish not just for our time but for all time.

And finally, I would just note that while this is not the first official visit of my presidency, it is one of the few where I have not had to pause for translation.  (Laughter.)  We Americans and Brits speak the same language -- most of the time. (Laughter.)  So let me just say, David, we are chuffed to bits that you are here -- (laughter) -- and I’m looking forward to a great natter.  I’m confident that together we’re going to keep the relationship between our two great nations absolutely top-notch.  (Laughter.)  

David, Samantha -- the warmest of welcomes from Michelle and myself, but more importantly, from the American people.  We are honored to have you here.  (Applause.)

PRIME MINISTER CAMERON:  President Obama, First Lady, Mr. Vice President, members of both Cabinets, guests of honor, ladies and gentlemen:  Thank you for such an incredibly warm welcome.  And I have to say, Barack, with that spectacular command of our shared language -- (laughter) -- with all these Union flags and with so many friends at home, you are really making me feel very at home here in Washington.

So I am a little embarrassed, as I stand here, to think that 200 years ago -- (laughter) -- my ancestors tried to burn this place down.  (Laughter.)  Now, looking around me, I can see you’ve got the place a little better defended today.  (Laughter.) You’re clearly not taking any risks with the Brits this time.  (Laughter.)

And thank you also for the lessons last night.  I will leave America with some new words -- alley-oops -- (laughter) -- brackets, fast breaks, and who knows -- maybe that hoop will be installed in Downing Street after all.  It was a great evening.  Thank you very much indeed.

Now, of course, since that unfortunate episode 200 years ago, generations of British and American servicemen and women have fought together.  Our grandparents fought in the same campaign.  My grandfather, wounded a few days after D-Day, the greatest-ever British and American operation in history.  And yours, Barack, serving under General Patton as the allies swept through France.  Whether it is defeating the Nazis, standing up to the Soviets, defending the Korean Peninsula, or hunting down al Qaeda in Afghanistan, there can be no more tangible illustration of our two nations defending our values and advancing our interests than the mutual sacrifice made by our servicemen and women.  And let us once again pay tribute to their valor, their courage, their professionalism and their dedication here in Washington today.  (Applause.)

From the Balkans to Baghdad, across the world and across the decades, we have been proud to serve with you.  When the chips are down, Britain and America know that we can always count on each other because we are allies not just prepared to say the right thing, but to do the right thing, and to do it in the right way -- promoting our values, standing up for our ideals.

The partnership between our countries, between our peoples, is the most powerful partnership for progress that the world has ever seen.  That is why whenever an American President and a British Prime Minister get together, there is a serious and important agenda to work through.  And today is no different.  Afghanistan, Iran, the Arab Spring, the need for trade, for growth, for jobs in the world economy, the biggest issues in the world -- that is our agenda today.

But what makes our relationship so vigorous and so lasting is that it draws its strength from roots far deeper and broader than government or the military.  It is a meeting of kindred spirits.  When the world’s brightest minds want to generate the innovations that will make tomorrow more free and more fair, they look to our great universities like Harvard and Stanford, Cambridge and Oxford. 

When the most audacious and entrepreneurial philanthropists, like the Gates Foundation, want not just to give out to charity but to eliminate polio and other avoidable diseases so that no child in our world should die unnecessarily, they find partners across the Atlantic in the British aid agencies, like Save the Children, Oxfam, and Christian Aid. 

And when a great innovator like Sir Tim Berners-Lee wanted a partner to make the World Wide Web a reality, he turned to America.  Why?  Because he knew that it was in America that he would find that same spirit of creativity, innovation, and risk-taking that defines our unique approach to enterprise and to business. 

He’s not alone.  In 2010, transatlantic partnerships produced eight of the nine Nobel prizes in science.  Foreign direct investment between Britain and America is the largest in the world and now stands at $900 billion.  This creates and sustains around a million jobs each side of the Atlantic.  And it provides a strong foundation for bilateral trade worth nearly $200 billion a year.  In fact, American investment in the UK is eight times larger than China; and UK investment in America is nearly 140 times that of China. 

So, yes, the world is changing at a faster rate than ever before, and the ways we will influence events are changing with it.  But one thing remains unchanged -- the ceaseless back-and-forth between our two nations through ideas, friendship, business, and shared endeavor.  And that’s why I believe that we can be sure that in 50 years’ time, an American President and a British Prime Minister will stand on this very spot, just as we do now; they will stand here, as we do, for freedom and for enterprise:  our two countries -- the united states of liberty and enterprise. 

That is why I'm so pleased to be here today, to celebrate an essential relationship that, as you say, has never been stronger, and to work with you to make sure we deliver that, and to make our countries closer and closer still.

Thank you.  (Applause.)

END 
9:49 9:49 A.M. EDT

President Obama's 2012 NCAA Tournament Bracket

Matt Compton
Matt Compton
March 14, 2012
10:00 AM EDT
President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron attend the NCAA Basketball Tournament (March 13, 2012)

President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron attend the NCAA Basketball Tournament “First Four” game between Mississippi Valley State and Western Kentucky at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, March 13, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Yesterday, President Obama took some time to fill out his brackets for the 2012 NCAA men and women's basketball tournaments, and for the fourth time, ESPN was on hand to share his predictions with the country.

Last night, he even had the opportunity to watch bit of the early round action in person when he traveled to Dayton, Ohio with British Prime Minister David Cameron to watch Brigham Young University take on Iona and Western Kentucky play Mississippi Valley State.

The President has the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Kentucky Wildcats, the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the Mizzou Tigers in the Final Four.

His National Champion? The Tar Heels.

President Obama's 2012 NCAA Tournament Bracket (March 13, 2012)

Download the full predictions here. And check back on Friday, when we’ll share the President’s pick for the women’s tournament.

Update: Check out President Obama's predictions for the 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament here.

Related Topics: Additional Issues, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio

Preparing for an Official Visit From the United Kingdom

Matt Compton
Matt Compton
March 13, 2012
05:20 PM EDT

Outside the White House, the Union Jack is flying alongside the flags of the United States and the District of Columbia on street lamps down Pennsylvania Avenue -- in preparation for a visit from British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Tonight, President Obama and the Prime Minister will travel to Dayton, Ohio -- where they'll take in an NCAA tournament game together. Tomorrow, the White House will host the arrival ceremony for the official visit. Later that night, the President and First Lady Michelle Obama will welcome the Prime Minister and his wife, Samantha Cameron, at a state dinner. In between, the day will be packed with events and policy meetings.

The United States has long had a special relationship with the United Kingdom -- as historian David Reynolds details on the Prime Minister's website.

But nowhere is that today more evident than in Afghanistan.

The Union Flag of the United Kingdom waves in the Afghanistan breeze between the Afghanistan and United States flags (March 13, 2012)

The Union Flag of the United Kingdom waves in the Afghanistan breeze between the Afghanistan and United States flags, June 1, after 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) raised it in a morning colors ceremony to signify the British Joint Aviation Group's integration with 3rd MAW (Fwd). Sgt. Jeffrey Anderson, June 1, 2010

Related Topics: Europe and Eurasia, Foreign Policy, District of Columbia, Ohio

Press Briefings

March 13, 2012 | 49:46 | Public Domain

White House Press Briefings are conducted most weekdays from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the West Wing.

Download mp4 (475MB) | mp3 (46MB)

President Obama Speaks on Enforcing Trade Rights with China

March 13, 2012 | 6:31 | Public Domain

President Obama discusses a new trade case against China involving rare earth minerals that are used by American manufacturers to make high-tech products like advanced batteries that power everything from hybrid cars to cell phones, and other products like steel and chemicals.

Download mp4 (62MB) | mp3 (6MB)

Read the Transcript

Remarks by the President on Fair Trade

Rose Garden

11:35 A.M. EDT 

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everybody.  Before I make an announcement about our efforts to stand up for U.S. businesses and U.S. workers, I’d like to say a few words about the situation in Afghanistan.

Over the weekend, as many of you know, there was a tragic incident in which a number of Afghan civilians were killed.  What I’ve made to President Karzai when I spoke to him is that the United States takes this as seriously as if it was our own citizens and our own children who were murdered.  We’re heartbroken over the loss of innocent life.  The killing of innocent civilians is outrageous and it’s unacceptable.  It’s not who we are as a country, and it does not represent our military.

And for that reason, I’ve directed the Pentagon to make sure that we spare no effort in conducting a full investigation.  I can assure the American people and the Afghan people that we will follow the facts wherever they lead us, and we will make sure that anybody who was involved is held fully accountable with the full force of the law.

Yesterday, I met with General Allen and Ambassador Crocker, who were here in Washington, and I’ve extraordinary confidence in them and in the many Americans who are serving in Afghanistan and who have made extraordinary sacrifices to be there.  Today I’ll be meeting with Prime Minister Cameron, who is part of our broad coalition serving in Afghanistan, and we’ll have an opportunity to consult about the way forward as we prepare for the NATO summit in Chicago later this spring.

So make no mistake, we have a strategy that will allow us to responsibly wind down this war.  We’re steadily transitioning to the Afghans who are moving into the lead, and that's going to allow us to bring our troops home.  Already we’re scheduled to remove 23,000 troops by the end of this summer, followed by -- following the 10,000 that we withdrew last year.  And meanwhile, we will continue the work of devastating al Qaeda’s leadership and denying them a safe haven.

There’s no question that we face a difficult challenge in Afghanistan, but I am confident that we can continue the work of meeting our objectives, protecting our country and responsibly bringing this war to a close.

Now, one of the things that I talked about during the State of the Union address was making America more competitive in the global economy.  The good news is that we have the best workers and the best businesses in the world.  They turn out the best products.  And when the playing field is level, they’ll always be able to compete and succeed against every other country on Earth. 
 

But the key is to make sure that the playing field is level.  And frankly, sometimes it’s not.  I will always try to work our differences through with other countries.  We prefer dialogue.  That’s especially true when it comes to key trading partners like China.  We've got a constructive economic relationship with China, and whenever possible, we are committed to working with them to addressing our concerns.  But when it is necessary, I will take action if our workers and our businesses are being subjected to unfair practices.

Since I took office, we’ve brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration, and these actions are making a difference.  For example, we halted an unfair surge in Chinese tires, which has helped put over 1,000 American workers back on the job.  But we haven't stopped there. 
 

Two weeks ago, I created a Trade Enforcement Unit to aggressively investigate any unfair trade practices taking place anywhere in the world.  And as they ramp up their efforts, our competitors should be on notice:  You will not get away with skirting the rules.  When we can, we will rally support from our allies.  And when it makes sense to act on our own, we will. 

I just signed a bill to help American companies that are facing unfair foreign competition.  These companies employ tens of thousands of Americans in nearly 40 states.  Because of subsidies from foreign governments, some of their foreign competitors are selling products at an artificially low price.  That needs to stop.
 

This morning, we’re taking an additional step forward.  We’re bringing a new trade case against China -- and we’re being joined by Japan and some of our European allies.  This case involves something called rare earth materials, which are used by American manufacturers to make high-tech products like advanced batteries that power everything from hybrid cars to cell phones. 
 

We want our companies building those products right here in America.  But to do that, American manufacturers need to have access to rare earth materials -- which China supplies.  Now, if China would simply let the market work on its own, we’d have no objections.  But their policies currently are preventing that from happening.  And they go against the very rules that China agreed to follow. 

Being able to manufacture advanced batteries and hybrid cars in America is too important for us to stand by and do nothing.  We've got to take control of our energy future, and we can’t let that energy industry take root in some other country because they were allowed to break the rules.  So our administration will bring this case against China today, and we will keep working every single day to give American workers and American businesses a fair shot in the global economy. 

We're going to make sure that this isn’t a country that’s just known for what we consume.  America needs to get back to doing what it's always done best -- a country that builds and sells products all over the world that are stamped with the proud words:  "Made in America."  That’s how we create good, middle-class jobs at home, and that’s how we're going to create an economy that’s built to last. 

Thank you very much, everybody.

END
11:42 A.M. EDT

Close Transcript

The U.S. Will Bring a New Trade Case Against China

Matt Compton
Matt Compton
March 13, 2012
02:41 PM EDT
President Barack Obama delivers a statement on exports and trade from the Rose Garden (March 13, 2012)

President Barack Obama, flanked by Commerce Secretary John Bryson (L) and Trade Representative Ron Kirk (R), delivers a statement to the press on exports and announces new efforts to enforce U.S. trade rights with China, in the Rose Garden of the White House, March 13, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Two weeks ago, President Obama formed the Trade Enforcement Unit to investigate unfair economic practices by other countries.

But even as that organization comes online, the President is taking additional steps to ensure that American products are competing on a level playing field with the rest of the world.

That's why he made an announcement this morning in the White House Rose Garden: 

We’re bringing a new trade case against China -- and we’re being joined by Japan and some of our European allies. This case involves something called rare earth materials, which are used by American manufacturers to make high-tech products like advanced batteries that power everything from hybrid cars to cell phones.

We want our companies building those products right here in America.  But to do that, American manufacturers need to have access to rare earth materials -- which China supplies.  Now, if China would simply let the market work on its own, we’d have no objections.  But their policies currently are preventing that from happening.  And they go against the very rules that China agreed to follow. 

The reasoning behind this effort is simple: President Obama believes that it's too important for American manufacturers to be able to compete in these growing industries for the U.S. government to stand by and do nothing.

"We're going to make sure that this isn’t a country that’s just known for what we consume," the President said. "America needs to get back to doing what it's always done best -- a country that builds and sells products all over the world that are stamped with the proud words: 'Made in America.' "

Related Topics: Global Economy, Economy, East Asia Pacific , Foreign Policy

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 13, 2012

Message -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Iran

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

March 13, 2012

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent the enclosed notice to the Federal Register for publication stating that the national emergency with respect to Iran that was declared on March 15, 1995, is to continue in effect beyond March 15, 2012.

The crisis between the United States and Iran resulting from the actions and policies of the Government of Iran has not been resolved. The actions and policies of the Government of Iran are contrary to the interests of the United States in the region and continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared with respect to Iran and maintain in force comprehensive sanctions against Iran to respond to this threat.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 13, 2012

Notice -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Iran

NOTICE

- - - - - - -

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO IRAN

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12957

On March 15, 1995, by Executive Order 12957, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Iran, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Iran. On May 6, 1995, the President issued Executive Order 12959, imposing more comprehensive sanctions to further respond to this threat; on August 19, 1997, the President issued Executive Order 13059, consolidating and clarifying the previous orders; and I issued Executive Order 13553 of September 28, 2010, Executive Order 13574 of May 23, 2011, Executive Order 13590 of November 20, 2011, and Executive Order 13599 of February 5, 2012, to take additional steps pursuant to this national emergency.

Because the actions and policies of the Government of Iran continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, the national emergency declared on March 15, 1995, must continue in effect beyond March 15, 2012. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Iran. Because the emergency declared by Executive Order 12957 constitutes an emergency separate from that declared on November 14, 1979, by Executive Order 12170, this renewal is distinct from the emergency renewal of November 2011. This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA