May 12, 2011 | 6:34 | Public Domain
Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This week the President talks clean energy and gas prices in Indiana, focuses on fixing our broken immigration system in Texas, and honors Top Cops here in the Rose Garden.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
A PROCLAMATION
Our country started as an idea, and it took hard-working, dedicated, and visionary patriots to make it a reality. Successful businesses start much the same way -- as ideas realized by entrepreneurs who dream of a better world and work until they see it through. From the family businesses that anchor Main Street to the high-tech startups that keep America on the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of America's promise.
Throughout our economic recovery, persevering small businesses have helped put our country back on track. Countless new and saved jobs have come from small businesses who took advantage of tax relief, access to capital, and other tools in the Recovery Act, the Small Business Jobs Act, and other initiatives launched by my Administration to put Americans back to work. To ensure the stability of our recovery, we must continue to provide new opportunities for small business owners and the next generation of entrepreneurs, who will help us out‑innovate our global competitors to win the future.
To support high-growth businesses, my Administration has launched Startup America, an initiative that will strengthen access to capital and mentoring while reducing barriers to growth for small businesses. Entrepreneurship is essential to the strength and resilience of our economy and our way of life. Startup America will give entrepreneurs the tools they need to build their business into the next great American company. To encourage innovation, we released the Strategy for American Innovation, a report outlining my Administration's plan to harness ingenuity. This means investing in the building blocks of innovation, like education and infrastructure, while promoting market-based growth through tax credits and effective intellectual property laws.
The National Export Initiative is working to open markets to American businesses and support small exporters, who increase American competitiveness abroad and create good jobs here at home. We continue to create opportunities for businesses in underserved communities through new lending initiatives, expanded access to counseling, and technical assistance. We are also working to provide small businesses more opportunities to compete for Federal contracts. This gives Federal agencies access to some of our country's best products and services while helping these businesses grow and employ community members. Through these and other initiatives, we are supporting the entrepreneurs and small businesses that provide work for half of American workers and create two out of every three new private sector jobs.
Small businesses embody the promise of America: that if you have a good idea and are willing to work hard enough, you can succeed in our country. This week, we honor and celebrate the individuals whose inspiration and efforts keep America strong.
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 May 15 through May 21, 2011, as Small Business Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the competitiveness of the American economy with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:
Mark D. Acton, of Kentucky, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Regulatory Commission for a term expiring October 14, 2016. (Reappointment)
Robert G. Taub, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Regulatory Commission for a term expiring October 14, 2016, vice Tony Hammond, term expired.
Mark P. Wetjen, of Nevada, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring June 19, 2016, vice Michael V. Dunn, term expiring.
May 12, 2011 | 12:31 | Public Domain
The President, along with Vice President Joe Biden, welcomes the winners of the 2011 National Association of Police Organizations TOP COPS award for law enforcement officials who have shown bravery and valor in the line of duty to the White House.
1:50 P.M. EDT
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the Rose Garden. It’s a lot safer place than -- it’s always safe, but it’s particularly safe today. (Laughter.)
Ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by saying congratulations. It’s a genuine honor to be in the presence of the best of the best. You each are -- the folks behind us -- an inspiration -- an inspiration to not only your fellow law enforcement officers, but to the whole country.
And the President and I recognize, and have for a long time recognized the bravery you display simply by putting on that shield every morning, strapping on a sidearm, kissing your husband or wife good-bye and walking out, knowing that you don't know with any degree of certainty what’s going to greet you.
The officers honored here today have been singled out for going above and beyond the call of duty. And we commend each and every one of them. But we also know that there are thousands and thousands more law enforcement officers out there today on the job, and every day, who are taking risks that are hard for ordinary people to imagine -- risks just to protect their community, to protect people they don't know, protect people they’ve never met, and in some cases, maybe protect people they don't even particularly like. But they go out there and they do it.
And today is a day for them as well; a day for every man and woman in uniform to feel proud and to feel proud of themselves. And today is the day the entire community of police officers should understand that America appreciates what you're doing, and this President and I and the Secretary, we appreciate what you're doing.
The President’s commitment to law enforcement can be seen by the unprecedented -- the unprecedented investment we've been putting in cops on the street and this administration’s plan to give you all access to what we promised a long time ago -- a wireless public safety network so you can actually -- actually communicate with all first responders.
And we're also doing everything in our power to protect the rights of workers -- including you, including law enforcement officers. You're too important to us.
And, folks, let me say -- and I will conclude with this -- what I said to the honorees in the Roosevelt Room before the President came in. We owe the families. We owe the families -- because you, other than those who have men and women deployed or work in the fire service, every single day you kiss your husband or your wife good-bye, your son or your daughter, you know; there’s that little nagging feeling inside you, that nagging feeling inside that I wonder what’s going to be there for them today. And that is a sacrifice. It’s a sacrifice that warrants recognition.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor and privilege to present to you a President whose commitment to law enforcement is in his bones and in every action he’s taken as President. Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, Barack Obama. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Thank you. Please, everybody have a seat.
Thank you, Joe, not just for being a great Vice President, but being one of law enforcement’s best friends and strongest advocates over the years. I think they’ve gotten even more love from you than the railroads -– (laughter) -- and that’s hard to -- that's hard to do.
I look forward to this event every single year. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the efforts of law enforcement officials nationwide -– not just because I’ve got several around me 24 hours a day. I have had the special honor of meeting police officers and law enforcement officials in all 50 states. Last week I had the special honor of visiting with the men and women of New York City’s First Precinct, which was the first to respond on 9/11 and serves the area encompassing Ground Zero.
And what I told them is the same thing that I’ll tell all of the law enforcement professionals here today: Thank you. We appreciate your service. You have our support. We're grateful for the sacrifices you and your families make, and my administration is committed to making sure that you get what you need.
Some of the public servants helping us do that today are here: Our excellent Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano. (Applause.) Our Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, is here -- (applause) -- a longtime police officer who also served as police chief in four different cities.
I'd also like to say that today I am seeking a two-year extension for FBI Director Bob Mueller. (Applause.) And in his 10 years at the FBI, Bob has set the gold standard for leading the Bureau. He’s improved the working relationship with local law enforcement across the country. And I hope that Democrats, led by Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy, who’s here, as well as Republicans in Congress will join together in extending that leadership for the sake of our nation’s safety and security.
We’ve also got several elected officials here today, and I'm grateful for their services and their support of law enforcement. And obviously I want to welcome the leaders of the National Association of Police Organizations, including your president, Tom Nee, and your Executive Director, William Johnson. (Applause.)
And most importantly, congratulations to the 30 officers, sheriffs, detectives, investigators, agents who are behind me -– our nation’s Top Cops -- right here. (Applause and cheering.) We've got the Montana crew hollering. (Laughter.) That was Missoula, right? (Applause.) There you go, Missoula.
I know the families are just bursting with pride for your loved ones’ accomplishments –- but your love and support has had a lot to do with those accomplishments. So, again, we are grateful to you.
This is the third year I’ve had the honor of welcoming America’s Top Cops to the White House. It’s kind of like the Heisman Trophy presentation for law enforcement. But I just spent a little time with these men and women inside, and I can tell you with certainty, they carry themselves with such humility. They don't say to themselves “This is it –- this year I made Top Cop.” “I’m going to train, put in long hours, and go to Washington and stand with the President.” That's not why they do what they do every single day.
None of them put together a PR package for our consideration. Some of them are still recovering from gunshot wounds suffered in the line of duty. Some have heavy hearts for partners who’ve been lost, and they commit themselves to their memory. And all would put forward others in their units who they would say are just as brave, or just as dedicated, or just as capable, or just as deserving of this recognition.
But, you know, a moment came when their actions earned recognition. It wasn’t talk; it was what they did. They didn’t know it that morning, as they pinned on a badge, or strapped on a vest, or holstered a weapon. But that day, something would happen that would make them worthy of this honor -– whether it was a random act of bravery, or a successful outcome that was the results of months or even years of painstaking and dangerous police work.
The men and women we honor today have responded with courage under withering fire to defend the innocent. They’ve skillfully rescued women and children from armed gang members, and have saved the life of a shooting victim when there wasn’t time for paramedics to arrive. They’ve carried out a dangerous and deadly sting operation to get drugs off the streets. They’ve burst into a white-hot building to save paralyzed senior citizens whose beds were engulfed in flames. They’ve doggedly pursued an 18-year-old cold case until justice was done. And they’ve investigated last year’s attempted Times Square bombing, successfully extracting a full confession and a wealth of actionable intelligence leading to arrests that have made this country safer.
Think about the strong stuff that takes. Think about the character it takes to refuse to close the books on a case forgotten by all but the victims’ families; the coolness it takes to talk down an armed and hostile criminal; the courage it takes to run into flames or press forward through a hail of bullets when every natural instinct would say, “Stop. Think about yourself. Survive.”
They’ll be the first to say that they’ve been trained to do it. Some of them will argue they’re not heroes. They’ll tell you a badge doesn’t bestow courage; that special training or physical strength doesn’t make you braver; that heroism isn’t something made evident only after the chaos of a firefight. I think when you talk to most of these guys they’ll say heroism lies just as much in the action of their fellow officers and the hearts of the fellow citizens they’ve sworn to protect.
And it’s true, heroism is all around us, inside of all of us, just waiting to be summoned. But, I tell you what, when gunshots ring out and fire burns hot, when injustice goes unanswered and innocent people cry out for help, it’s one thing to talk about courage; it’s another thing to respond swiftly, decisively, heroically, with little regard for yourself and complete regard for your fellow man.
And these are the men and women who actually responded. These are America’s Top Cops -- who protect and who serve; who walk the beat; who answer the call, and do the dangerous and difficult work of forging a safer, stronger America, block by block, and neighborhood by neighborhood.
So each of you deserves this moment in the sun -- and it is sunny. (Laughter.) Because tomorrow we know that you and your fellow first responders will be back on your diligent duty -- looking out for us, looking out for one another, looking back at times with fallen partners, determined to make sure that their extraordinary sacrifices were not in vain. And we will be standing behind you, as one nation and one people, proud of your actions, awed by your courage, and grateful for your service on our behalves.
So, to all of you and to all who wear the badge, thank you for keeping us safe. (Applause.) God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) We're going to knock down this podium and let’s take a picture with America’s Top Cops. (Applause.)
END
2:05 P.M. EDT
May 12, 2011 | 8:41 | Public Domain
President Obama speaks to clergy, Administration officials, and other religious, government and community leaders about the economic, security and moral imperative of comprehensive immigration reform at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC.
Washington, D.C.
9:29 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Well, good morning. This is just an extraordinary gathering. I have to say to Reverend Cortes and all the other organizers of this prayer breakfast, I think it’s getting bigger. Huh? I think this thing is growing. (Applause.)
I just want to thank Reverend Cortes. I just got a extraordinary gift -- a bilingual Bible. It is beautiful. (Applause.) I was told this will help improve my Spanish. (Laughter.) And I said, “I’ll pray on it.” (Laughter.)
To all the clergy, lay leaders, administration officials, and distinguished guests who are here today, it is an extraordinary pleasure to join you. We’ve had a number of prayer breakfasts over the past several months, and I’ve got to say, there is no more inspiring way to begin a day than by praying with fellow believers. And so I’m grateful to all of you to give me this opportunity.
I also know that these past few days have not only been a time of prayer and a time of reflection for all of you. They’ve also been a time to lend your voices to the causes that you’re passionate about. And I want you to know that I’m listening. When you lend your voice to the cause of creating jobs and opening opportunity for all communities, I hear you. When you lend your voice to the cause of educating all of our children, not just some, to succeed in the 21st century, I’m listening. And when you lend your voice to the cause of immigration reform, I am listening.
As some of you probably heard, I flew down to El Paso a couple of days ago to give a speech on this topic. And what I said in that speech was that we define ourselves as a nation of immigrants, as a nation that’s open to anyone who’s willing to embrace America’s precepts and America’s ideals. That’s why so many men and women have braved hardship and great risk to come here, picking up and leaving behind the world that they knew, carrying nothing but the hope that here in America, their children might live a better life.
Our heritage as a nation of immigrants is part of what has always made America strong. Out of many, one -- that is our creed. And we are also a nation of laws. A nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. And what I went down to El Paso to say is that we are enforcing our laws and we’re securing our borders. In fact, we have more manpower down at the Southwest border than at any time in our history.
And so what we need to do going forward is to address some of the broader problems in our immigration system. And that means changing minds and changing votes, one at a time. I know there are some folks who wish I could just bypass Congress. (Laughter.) I can’t. But what I can do is sign a law. What you can do is champion a law. What we can do together is make comprehensive immigration reform the law of the land. That’s what we can do. (Applause.)
Comprehensive reform is not only an economic imperative or a security imperative, it’s also a moral imperative. It’s a moral imperative when kids are being denied the chance to go to college or serve their military because of the actions of their parents. It’s a moral imperative when millions of people live in the shadows and are made vulnerable to unscrupulous businesses or with nowhere to turn if they are wronged. It’s a moral imperative when simply enforcing the law may mean inflicting pain on families who are just trying to do the right thing by their children.
So, yes, immigration reform is a moral imperative, and so it’s worth seeking greater understanding from our faith. As it is written in the Book of Deuteronomy, “Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” To me, that verse is a call to show empathy to our brothers and our sisters; to try and recognize ourselves in one another.
And it’s especially important that we try to do that when it comes to immigration -- because this is a subject that can expose raw feelings and feed our fears of change. It can be tempting to think that those coming to America today are somehow different from us. And we need to not have amnesia about how we populated this country. What this verse reminds us to do is to look at that migrant farmer and see our own grandfather disembarking at Ellis Island, or Angel Island in San Francisco Bay; and to look at that young mother, newly arrived in this country, and see our own grandmothers leaving Italy or Ireland or Eastern Europe in search of something better.
That sense of connection, that sense of empathy, that moral compass, that conviction of what is right is what led the National Association of Evangelicals to shoot short films to help people grasp the challenges facing immigrants. It’s what led the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to launch a Justice for Immigrants campaign, and the Interfaith Immigration Coalition to advocate across religious lines. It’s what led all the Latino pastors at the Hispanic Prayer Breakfast to come together around reform.
Ultimately, that’s how change will come. At critical junctures throughout our history, it’s often been men and women of faith who’ve helped to move this country forward. It was in our Episcopal churches of Boston that our earliest patriots planned our Revolution. It was in the Baptist churches of Montgomery and Selma that the civil rights movement was born. And it’s in the Catholic and Evangelical and mainline churches of our Southwest and across our entire continent that a new movement for immigration reform is taking shape today.
So I’ll keep doing my part. I’ll keep pushing and working with Congress. But the only way we are going to get this done is by building a widespread movement for reform. That’s why I’m asking you to keep preaching and persuading your congregations and communities. That’s why I’m asking you to keep on activating, getting involved, mobilizing. That’s why we all need to keep praying. I’m asking you to help us recognize ourselves in one another. And if you can do that, I’m absolutely confident that we will not only make sure America remains true to its heritage as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws, but we’ll make sure we remain true to our founding ideals, and that we build a beloved community here on this Earth.
God bless you, and God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END
9:39 A.M. EDT
Watch the President's and the Vice President's full remarks here.
It was a beautiful day in the Rose Garden to honor the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) TOP COPS. The Vice President spoke first, reiterating the commitment that he and the President have to supporting America's law enforcement, from giving states the funding they need to keep them on the job, to better communication resources, to supporting their rights as workers. The President spoke to that commitment as well, and also commended the outstanding officers who had earned this year's title of "Top Cops":
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
1:50 P.M. EDT
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the Rose Garden. It’s a lot safer place than -- it’s always safe, but it’s particularly safe today. (Laughter.)
Ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by saying congratulations. It’s a genuine honor to be in the presence of the best of the best. You each are -- the folks behind us -- an inspiration -- an inspiration to not only your fellow law enforcement officers, but to the whole country.
And the President and I recognize, and have for a long time recognized the bravery you display simply by putting on that shield every morning, strapping on a sidearm, kissing your husband or wife good-bye and walking out, knowing that you don't know with any degree of certainty what’s going to greet you.
The officers honored here today have been singled out for going above and beyond the call of duty. And we commend each and every one of them. But we also know that there are thousands and thousands more law enforcement officers out there today on the job, and every day, who are taking risks that are hard for ordinary people to imagine -- risks just to protect their community, to protect people they don't know, protect people they’ve never met, and in some cases, maybe protect people they don't even particularly like. But they go out there and they do it.
And today is a day for them as well; a day for every man and woman in uniform to feel proud and to feel proud of themselves. And today is the day the entire community of police officers should understand that America appreciates what you're doing, and this President and I and the Secretary, we appreciate what you're doing.
The President’s commitment to law enforcement can be seen by the unprecedented -- the unprecedented investment we've been putting in cops on the street and this administration’s plan to give you all access to what we promised a long time ago -- a wireless public safety network so you can actually -- actually communicate with all first responders.
And we're also doing everything in our power to protect the rights of workers -- including you, including law enforcement officers. You're too important to us.
And, folks, let me say -- and I will conclude with this -- what I said to the honorees in the Roosevelt Room before the President came in. We owe the families. We owe the families -- because you, other than those who have men and women deployed or work in the fire service, every single day you kiss your husband or your wife good-bye, your son or your daughter, you know; there’s that little nagging feeling inside you, that nagging feeling inside that I wonder what’s going to be there for them today. And that is a sacrifice. It’s a sacrifice that warrants recognition.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor and privilege to present to you a President whose commitment to law enforcement is in his bones and in every action he’s taken as President. Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, Barack Obama. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Thank you. Please, everybody have a seat.
Thank you, Joe, not just for being a great Vice President, but being one of law enforcement’s best friends and strongest advocates over the years. I think they’ve gotten even more love from you than the railroads -– (laughter) -- and that’s hard to -- that's hard to do.
I look forward to this event every single year. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the efforts of law enforcement officials nationwide -– not just because I’ve got several around me 24 hours a day. I have had the special honor of meeting police officers and law enforcement officials in all 50 states. Last week I had the special honor of visiting with the men and women of New York City’s First Precinct, which was the first to respond on 9/11 and serves the area encompassing Ground Zero.
And what I told them is the same thing that I’ll tell all of the law enforcement professionals here today: Thank you. We appreciate your service. You have our support. We're grateful for the sacrifices you and your families make, and my administration is committed to making sure that you get what you need.
Some of the public servants helping us do that today are here: Our excellent Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano. (Applause.) Our Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, is here -- (applause) -- a longtime police officer who also served as police chief in four different cities.
I'd also like to say that today I am seeking a two-year extension for FBI Director Bob Mueller. (Applause.) And in his 10 years at the FBI, Bob has set the gold standard for leading the Bureau. He’s improved the working relationship with local law enforcement across the country. And I hope that Democrats, led by Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy, who’s here, as well as Republicans in Congress will join together in extending that leadership for the sake of our nation’s safety and security.
We’ve also got several elected officials here today, and I'm grateful for their services and their support of law enforcement. And obviously I want to welcome the leaders of the National Association of Police Organizations, including your president, Tom Nee, and your Executive Director, William Johnson. (Applause.)
And most importantly, congratulations to the 30 officers, sheriffs, detectives, investigators, agents who are behind me -– our nation’s Top Cops -- right here. (Applause and cheering.) We've got the Montana crew hollering. (Laughter.) That was Missoula, right? (Applause.) There you go, Missoula.
I know the families are just bursting with pride for your loved ones’ accomplishments –- but your love and support has had a lot to do with those accomplishments. So, again, we are grateful to you.
This is the third year I’ve had the honor of welcoming America’s Top Cops to the White House. It’s kind of like the Heisman Trophy presentation for law enforcement. But I just spent a little time with these men and women inside, and I can tell you with certainty, they carry themselves with such humility. They don't say to themselves “This is it –- this year I made Top Cop.” “I’m going to train, put in long hours, and go to Washington and stand with the President.” That's not why they do what they do every single day.
None of them put together a PR package for our consideration. Some of them are still recovering from gunshot wounds suffered in the line of duty. Some have heavy hearts for partners who’ve been lost, and they commit themselves to their memory. And all would put forward others in their units who they would say are just as brave, or just as dedicated, or just as capable, or just as deserving of this recognition.
But, you know, a moment came when their actions earned recognition. It wasn’t talk; it was what they did. They didn’t know it that morning, as they pinned on a badge, or strapped on a vest, or holstered a weapon. But that day, something would happen that would make them worthy of this honor -– whether it was a random act of bravery, or a successful outcome that was the results of months or even years of painstaking and dangerous police work.
The men and women we honor today have responded with courage under withering fire to defend the innocent. They’ve skillfully rescued women and children from armed gang members, and have saved the life of a shooting victim when there wasn’t time for paramedics to arrive. They’ve carried out a dangerous and deadly sting operation to get drugs off the streets. They’ve burst into a white-hot building to save paralyzed senior citizens whose beds were engulfed in flames. They’ve doggedly pursued an 18-year-old cold case until justice was done. And they’ve investigated last year’s attempted Times Square bombing, successfully extracting a full confession and a wealth of actionable intelligence leading to arrests that have made this country safer.
Think about the strong stuff that takes. Think about the character it takes to refuse to close the books on a case forgotten by all but the victims’ families; the coolness it takes to talk down an armed and hostile criminal; the courage it takes to run into flames or press forward through a hail of bullets when every natural instinct would say, “Stop. Think about yourself. Survive.”
They’ll be the first to say that they’ve been trained to do it. Some of them will argue they’re not heroes. They’ll tell you a badge doesn’t bestow courage; that special training or physical strength doesn’t make you braver; that heroism isn’t something made evident only after the chaos of a firefight. I think when you talk to most of these guys they’ll say heroism lies just as much in the action of their fellow officers and the hearts of the fellow citizens they’ve sworn to protect.
And it’s true, heroism is all around us, inside of all of us, just waiting to be summoned. But, I tell you what, when gunshots ring out and fire burns hot, when injustice goes unanswered and innocent people cry out for help, it’s one thing to talk about courage; it’s another thing to respond swiftly, decisively, heroically, with little regard for yourself and complete regard for your fellow man.
And these are the men and women who actually responded. These are America’s Top Cops -- who protect and who serve; who walk the beat; who answer the call, and do the dangerous and difficult work of forging a safer, stronger America, block by block, and neighborhood by neighborhood.
So each of you deserves this moment in the sun -- and it is sunny. (Laughter.) Because tomorrow we know that you and your fellow first responders will be back on your diligent duty -- looking out for us, looking out for one another, looking back at times with fallen partners, determined to make sure that their extraordinary sacrifices were not in vain. And we will be standing behind you, as one nation and one people, proud of your actions, awed by your courage, and grateful for your service on our behalves.
So, to all of you and to all who wear the badge, thank you for keeping us safe. (Applause.) God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) We're going to knock down this podium and let’s take a picture with America’s Top Cops. (Applause.)
END
2:05 P.M. EDT
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
Today, President Obama announced he is seeking a two-year extension for the 10-year term of FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III which expires on September 4, 2011.
President Obama said, “In his ten years at the FBI, Bob Mueller has set the gold standard for leading the Bureau. Given the ongoing threats facing the United States, as well as the leadership transitions at other agencies like the Defense Department and Central Intelligence Agency, I believe continuity and stability at the FBI is critical at this time. Bob transformed the FBI after September 11, 2001 into a pre-eminent counterterrorism agency, he has shown extraordinary leadership and effectiveness at protecting our country every day since. He has impeccable law enforcement and national security credentials, a relentless commitment to the rule of law, unquestionable integrity and independence, and a steady hand that has guided the Bureau as it confronts our most serious threats. I am grateful for his leadership, and ask Democrats and Republicans in Congress to join together in extending that leadership for the sake of our nation’s safety and security.”
Robert Mueller was originally nominated by President George W. Bush as FBI Director on July 5, 2001 and was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on August 2, 2001. Mueller also served as Acting Deputy Attorney General, and was sworn in as FBI director on September 4, 2001. Since that time, Mueller has led a transformation of the Bureau from a pre- 9-11 law enforcement agency, to an agency whose primary mission is national security. President Obama is the fourth President to ask Mueller to serve in a Senate-confirmed position.
Mueller is the sixth person to have served as FBI director. At the time of his 2001 appointment, Mueller was serving as the United States Attorney in San Francisco, the culmination of 12 years in United States Attorney’s Offices where he investigated and prosecuted major financial fraud, terrorist, and public corruption cases, as well as narcotics conspiracies and international money launderers. Mueller served as an officer for three years in the United States Marine Corps, leading a rifle platoon of the Third Marine Division in Vietnam. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals, the Purple Heart, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Mueller graduated from Princeton University, earned a master’s degree in International Relations at New York University, and a law degree from the University Of Virginia Law School.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
“National Security Advisor Tom Donilon looks forward to welcoming Dr. Mahmoud Gibril and the delegation from the Libyan Transitional National Council to the White House on Friday afternoon. This is Dr. Gibril’s first official visit to Washington as President of the Transitional National Council’s Executive Bureau. Dr. Gibril will also be meeting senior administration officials and members of Congress during his visit.”
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
Washington, D.C.
9:29 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Well, good morning. This is just an extraordinary gathering. I have to say to Reverend Cortes and all the other organizers of this prayer breakfast, I think it’s getting bigger. Huh? I think this thing is growing. (Applause.)
I just want to thank Reverend Cortes. I just got a extraordinary gift -- a bilingual Bible. It is beautiful. (Applause.) I was told this will help improve my Spanish. (Laughter.) And I said, “I’ll pray on it.” (Laughter.)
To all the clergy, lay leaders, administration officials, and distinguished guests who are here today, it is an extraordinary pleasure to join you. We’ve had a number of prayer breakfasts over the past several months, and I’ve got to say, there is no more inspiring way to begin a day than by praying with fellow believers. And so I’m grateful to all of you to give me this opportunity.
I also know that these past few days have not only been a time of prayer and a time of reflection for all of you. They’ve also been a time to lend your voices to the causes that you’re passionate about. And I want you to know that I’m listening. When you lend your voice to the cause of creating jobs and opening opportunity for all communities, I hear you. When you lend your voice to the cause of educating all of our children, not just some, to succeed in the 21st century, I’m listening. And when you lend your voice to the cause of immigration reform, I am listening.
As some of you probably heard, I flew down to El Paso a couple of days ago to give a speech on this topic. And what I said in that speech was that we define ourselves as a nation of immigrants, as a nation that’s open to anyone who’s willing to embrace America’s precepts and America’s ideals. That’s why so many men and women have braved hardship and great risk to come here, picking up and leaving behind the world that they knew, carrying nothing but the hope that here in America, their children might live a better life.
Our heritage as a nation of immigrants is part of what has always made America strong. Out of many, one -- that is our creed. And we are also a nation of laws. A nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. And what I went down to El Paso to say is that we are enforcing our laws and we’re securing our borders. In fact, we have more manpower down at the Southwest border than at any time in our history.
And so what we need to do going forward is to address some of the broader problems in our immigration system. And that means changing minds and changing votes, one at a time. I know there are some folks who wish I could just bypass Congress. (Laughter.) I can’t. But what I can do is sign a law. What you can do is champion a law. What we can do together is make comprehensive immigration reform the law of the land. That’s what we can do. (Applause.)
Comprehensive reform is not only an economic imperative or a security imperative, it’s also a moral imperative. It’s a moral imperative when kids are being denied the chance to go to college or serve their military because of the actions of their parents. It’s a moral imperative when millions of people live in the shadows and are made vulnerable to unscrupulous businesses or with nowhere to turn if they are wronged. It’s a moral imperative when simply enforcing the law may mean inflicting pain on families who are just trying to do the right thing by their children.
So, yes, immigration reform is a moral imperative, and so it’s worth seeking greater understanding from our faith. As it is written in the Book of Deuteronomy, “Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” To me, that verse is a call to show empathy to our brothers and our sisters; to try and recognize ourselves in one another.
And it’s especially important that we try to do that when it comes to immigration -- because this is a subject that can expose raw feelings and feed our fears of change. It can be tempting to think that those coming to America today are somehow different from us. And we need to not have amnesia about how we populated this country. What this verse reminds us to do is to look at that migrant farmer and see our own grandfather disembarking at Ellis Island, or Angel Island in San Francisco Bay; and to look at that young mother, newly arrived in this country, and see our own grandmothers leaving Italy or Ireland or Eastern Europe in search of something better.
That sense of connection, that sense of empathy, that moral compass, that conviction of what is right is what led the National Association of Evangelicals to shoot short films to help people grasp the challenges facing immigrants. It’s what led the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to launch a Justice for Immigrants campaign, and the Interfaith Immigration Coalition to advocate across religious lines. It’s what led all the Latino pastors at the Hispanic Prayer Breakfast to come together around reform.
Ultimately, that’s how change will come. At critical junctures throughout our history, it’s often been men and women of faith who’ve helped to move this country forward. It was in our Episcopal churches of Boston that our earliest patriots planned our Revolution. It was in the Baptist churches of Montgomery and Selma that the civil rights movement was born. And it’s in the Catholic and Evangelical and mainline churches of our Southwest and across our entire continent that a new movement for immigration reform is taking shape today.
So I’ll keep doing my part. I’ll keep pushing and working with Congress. But the only way we are going to get this done is by building a widespread movement for reform. That’s why I’m asking you to keep preaching and persuading your congregations and communities. That’s why I’m asking you to keep on activating, getting involved, mobilizing. That’s why we all need to keep praying. I’m asking you to help us recognize ourselves in one another. And if you can do that, I’m absolutely confident that we will not only make sure America remains true to its heritage as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws, but we’ll make sure we remain true to our founding ideals, and that we build a beloved community here on this Earth.
God bless you, and God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
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9:39 A.M. EDT
