The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 28, 2011

President Obama Signs Minnesota Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Minnesota and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes during the period of July 1-11, 2011. 

Federal funding is 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, flooding, and tornadoes in the counties of Chisago, Isanti, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Pine, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Stearns, and Yellow Medicine, and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and Indian Tribes within the State.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Lawrence Sommers 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
July 28, 2011

Notice from the President Regarding the Continuation of the National Emergecy with Respect to Lebanon

NOTICE

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO ACTIONS OF CERTAIN PERSONS TO UNDERMINE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF LEBANON OR ITS DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES AND INSTITUTIONS

On August 1, 2007, by Executive Order 13441, the President declared a national emergency and ordered related measures blocking the property of certain persons undermining the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic processes or institutions and certain other persons, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706).  The President determined that the actions of certain persons to undermine Lebanon's legitimate and democratically elected government or democratic institutions; to contribute to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law in Lebanon, including through politically motivated violence and intimidation; to reassert Syrian control or contribute to Syrian interference in Lebanon; or to infringe upon or undermine Lebanese sovereignty and contribute to political and economic instability in that country and the region and constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.

Certain ongoing activities, such as continuing arms transfers to Hizballah that include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems, serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic instability in Lebanon, and continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  Therefore, the national emergency declared on August 1, 2007, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond August 1, 2011.  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 declared in Executive Order 13441.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA

THE WHITE HOUSE,
July 28, 2011.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 28, 2011

Message from the President Regarding the Continuation of the National Emergecy with Respect to Lebanon

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, 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 to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared with respect to the actions of certain persons to undermine the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic processes and institutions is to continue in effect beyond August 1, 2011.

Certain ongoing activities, such as continuing arms transfers to Hizballah that include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems, serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic instability in the region, and continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared on August 1, 2007, to deal with that threat and the related measures adopted on that date to respond to the emergency.

BARACK OBAMA

THE WHITE HOUSE,
July 28, 2011.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 28, 2011

President Obama Statement on the Passing of Richard Estrada Chavez

Michelle and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Richard Estrada Chavez yesterday. Richard spent his life in the service of others alongside his brother Cesar and his wife, Dolores Huerta, co-founders of the United Farm Workers. It was Richard who designed the UFW's iconic eagle, a symbol of hope that has helped carry the struggle for the rights of farm workers forward for almost five decades.

Throughout his years of service, Richard fought for basic labor rights but also worked to improve the quality of life for countless farm workers. And beyond his work, Richard was a family man. I was honored to have Richard visit the Oval Office last year on Cesar Chavez Day with other family members, and will never forget the stories they shared. Richard understood that the struggle for a more perfect union and a better life for all America's workers didn't end with any particular victory or defeat, but instead required a commitment to getting up every single day to keep at it.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Richard's family and loved ones. We take comfort in knowing that the work he was passionate about will be continued by all he helped to inspire.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 27, 2011

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

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

  • David Danielson – Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy
  • Dot Harris – Director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy

President Obama said, “I am honored that these talented individuals have decided to join this Administration and serve our country.  I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

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

David Danielson, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy
Dr. David Danielson has been a Program Director at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) since 2009. Prior to joining ARPA-E, Dr. Danielson was a clean energy venture capitalist at General Catalyst Partners, a Boston-based venture capital fund. He co-founded the firm’s clean energy investment practice and helped build and grow startups in various clean energy technology areas including solar power, wind power, advanced biofuels, bio-gas, carbon capture and storage, and advanced lighting. Dr. Danielson is a co-founder of the New England Clean Energy Council. He has authored more than 20 scientific articles in the field of advanced materials. While at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr. Danielson was the founder and President of the MIT Energy Club, and was a founding Director of the MIT Energy Conference. For his work in building a strong multidisciplinary energy community at MIT, he was awarded the Karl Taylor Compton Prize, MIT’s highest student award. Dr. Danielson holds a B.S., summa cum laude, in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dot Harris, Nominee for Director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy
Dot Harris is currently President and CEO of Jabo Industries, LLC, a minority-woman owned management consulting firm concentrated primarily in the energy, information technology and healthcare industries.  Previously, Ms. Harris was an executive at General Electric Company (GE) and held a number of leadership positions in GE’s Energy and Industrial Systems businesses, including Global Marketing Leader for GE’s Industrial Services business.  Before joining GE, Ms. Harris was an officer and Vice President of Operations & Production for ABB Service, Inc. She also spent twelve years as Field Services Engineer and Services Manager with Westinghouse Electric  Company. Ms. Harris currently serves as the National Secretary for the American Association of Blacks in Energy. She holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC and a M.S. in Technology Management from Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, GA.

Wounded Warriors Shoot Hoops on South Lawn

Posted by Darienne Page on July 27, 2011 at 05:57 PM EDT

Watch the 2011 Wounded Warrior Baketball Game on the South Lawn, here. 

Yesterday, a group of Wounded Warriors visited the south lawn of the White House to play a game of basketball. Ten Marines arrived from Bethesda Naval Medical Center, donned jerseys, and took some practice layups before the game. As they warmed up, they got pointers from NBA players Greg Monroe and Jeff Green, who came in from Detroit and Boston to show their appreciation for the troops. After a few minutes, the game got underway. It was off to a fast start, but a time-out was called as President Obama walked onto the court.

The President thanked the Marines for the service they had provided and the tremendous sacrifices they had made for their country. He spent some time talking with the Wounded Warriors, and then the group took a picture before the game resumed again.

Wounded Warrior basketball is an important opportunity for injured troops as they return home, according to HM1 Jason Young, a Navy Corpsman who helped organize the game. “What it allows the Wounded Warriors to do is to understand that they can still do some of the stuff that they’ve done before.”

“The guys here all have really great attitudes about everything,” said Corporal Tony Mullis, who played on the Red Team. “They’re not down – that’s why they decided to come here and play basketball at the White House. It’s a great experience.” Mullis was injured by an IED blast while performing combat operations in Afghanistan.

“One of the things I’ve always wanted to do was meet the President,” he added. “It was awesome.”

Ten Wounded Warriors were able to come to the White House yesterday, but all veterans and their families deserve our thanks and our support. To find out what you can do to pitch in, check out joiningforces.gov.

Darienne Page is Assistant Director of the Office of Public Engagement.

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The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 27, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--World Hepatitis Day

WORLD HEPATITIS DAY, 2011

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Across our Nation, millions of Americans are living with viral hepatitis.  As many as three-fourths of Americans living with the disease are unaware of their status and are not receiving care and treatment for their condition.  Raising awareness about hepatitis is crucial to effectively fight stigmas, stem the tide of new infections, and ensure treatment reaches those who need it.  On World Hepatitis Day, we join with people across our country and around the globe in promoting strategies that will help save lives and prevent the spread of viral hepatitis.

Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, and can cause a lifetime of health issues for people who contract it.  Hepatitis B and C viruses are the cause of a growing number of new liver cancer cases and liver transplants.  In the United States, hepatitis is a leading infectious cause of death, claiming the lives of thousands of Americans each year.  While we have come far, work still needs to be done to prevent and treat this disease.

Viral hepatitis touches Americans of all backgrounds, but certain groups are at greater risk than others.  Past recipients of donated blood, infants born to mothers infected with viral hepatitis, and persons with sexually transmitted diseases or behaviors such as injection-drug use have risks for viral hepatitis.  Baby boomers and African Americans have higher rates than others of contracting hepatitis C.  Half of all Americans living with hepatitis B today are of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent, and one-third of people living with HIV also have either hepatitis B or hepatitis C.  Worldwide, one in twelve people is living with viral hepatitis.

We must make sure that this "silent epidemic" does not go unnoticed by health professionals or by communities across our country.  Under the Affordable Care Act, services including hepatitis immunizations for adults and hepatitis screenings for pregnant women are fully covered by all new insurance plans.  My Administration has also released a comprehensive Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis.  The plan brings together expertise and tools across government to coordinate our fight against this deadly disease.  Our goal is to reduce the number of new infections, increase status awareness among people with hepatitis, and eliminate the transmission of hepatitis B from mothers to their children.

The first step toward achieving these goals is raising public awareness of this life-threatening disease.  We must work to reduce the stigma surrounding hepatitis, and to ensure that testing, information, counseling, and treatment are available to all who need it.  The hard work and dedication of health-care professionals, researchers, and advocates will help bring us closer to this goal.  On this day, we renew our support for those living with hepatitis, and for their families, friends, and communities who are working to create a brighter, healthier future.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 28, 2011, as World Hepatitis Day.  I encourage citizens, Government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and communities across the Nation to join in activities that will increase awareness about hepatitis and what we can do to prevent it.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA

2011 Wounded Warriors Basketball Game

July 27, 2011 | 1:25 | Public Domain

President Obama welcomes Wounded Warriors to the White House for a game of basketball.

Download mp4 (43.6MB)

Read the Transcript

Wounded Warriors Shoot Hoops on South Lawn

Watch the 2011 Wounded Warrior Baketball Game on the South Lawn, here. 

Yesterday, a group of Wounded Warriors visited the south lawn of the White House to play a game of basketball. Ten Marines arrived from Bethesda Naval Medical Center, donned jerseys, and took some practice layups before the game. As they warmed up, they got pointers from NBA players Greg Monroe and Jeff Green, who came in from Detroit and Boston to show their appreciation for the troops. After a few minutes, the game got underway. It was off to a fast start, but a time-out was called as President Obama walked onto the court.

The President thanked the Marines for the service they had provided and the tremendous sacrifices they had made for their country. He spent some time talking with the Wounded Warriors, and then the group took a picture before the game resumed again.

Wounded Warrior basketball is an important opportunity for injured troops as they return home, according to HM1 Jason Young, a Navy Corpsman who helped organize the game. “What it allows the Wounded Warriors to do is to understand that they can still do some of the stuff that they’ve done before.”

“The guys here all have really great attitudes about everything,” said Corporal Tony Mullis, who played on the Red Team. “They’re not down – that’s why they decided to come here and play basketball at the White House. It’s a great experience.” Mullis was injured by an IED blast while performing combat operations in Afghanistan.

“One of the things I’ve always wanted to do was meet the President,” he added. “It was awesome.”

Ten Wounded Warriors were able to come to the White House yesterday, but all veterans and their families deserve our thanks and our support. To find out what you can do to pitch in, check out joiningforces.gov.

Darienne Page is Assistant Director of the Office of Public Engagement.

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The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 27, 2011

President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Peru to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Ollanta Humala Tasso

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Peru to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Ollanta Humala Tasso on July 28, 2011.

The Honorable Daniel A. Restrepo, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, National Security Council, will lead the delegation.

Member of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Rose M. Likins, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Peru, Department of State

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President Drops by Florida Community Leaders Briefing

Posted by Anne Filipic on July 27, 2011 at 12:54 PM EDT
Download Video: mp4 (101.6MB)

This summer, the White House Office of Public Engagement is hosting Community Leaders Briefings. These events, held weekly at the White House, bring together leaders and activists from communities all across the country for an opportunity to discuss common challenges and learn how the government can help them as they work to improve their neighborhoods. Recently, a group of community leaders from Florida were pleasantly surprised when President Obama dropped by to speak to them.

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