The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 02, 2014

Statement by the President on the First-Annual International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

History shows that a free press remains a critical foundation for prosperous, open, and secure societies, allowing citizens to access information and hold their governments accountable. Indeed, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reiterates the fundamental principle that every person has the right “to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Each and every day, brave journalists make extraordinary risks to bring us stories we otherwise would not hear - exposing corruption, asking tough questions, or bearing witness to the dignity of innocent men, women and children suffering the horrors of war. In this service to humanity, hundreds of journalists have been killed in the past decade alone, while countless more have been harassed, threatened, imprisoned, and tortured. In the overwhelming majority of these cases, the perpetrators of these crimes against journalists go unpunished.

All governments must protect the ability of journalists to write and speak freely. On this first-ever International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the United States commends the priceless contributions by journalists to the freedom and security of us all, shining light into the darkness and giving voice to the voiceless. We honor the sacrifices so many journalists have made in their quest for the truth, and demand accountability for those who have committed crimes against journalists.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 01, 2014

Remarks by The President at Rally for Gary Peters and Mark Schauer -- Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

7:09 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Detroit! (Applause.) It’s good to be back in Michigan! (Applause.) It’s good to be back at Wayne State! (Applause.) Go, Warriors!

Give it up for a Wayne State alum, your next senator, Gary Peters! (Applause.) Give it up for your next governor, Mark Schauer! (Applause.) We’ve got some outstanding lawmakers who are here today -- my friend, Carl Levin -- (applause) -- Debbie Stabenow -- (applause) -- John Conyers -- (applause) -- Sandy Levin. (Applause.) We’ve got the dean of the House, John Dingell -- (applause) -- the next representative from Michigan’s 12th, Debbie Dingell. (Applause.) We've got a full house. (Applause.) We've got folks fired up! (Applause.) We've got folks ready to go! (Applause.)

Three days. Three days, Michigan. Three days. Three days until you get to choose a new governor and a new senator. And here’s what you’ve got to do until then. If you came to this rally, I know you also are going to go vote or -- I don't worry about you. I need you to grab a friend. (Applause.) I need you to get some classmates. I need you to get some coworkers. I need you to knock on some doors and make some phone calls. (Applause.) I need you to visit Iwillvote.com, find your polling place. Take everybody you know to cast their ballots for Gary Peters and Mark Schauer. (Applause.) And then tell them to vote for Lisa Brown and Mark Totten and Godfrey Dillard and Warren Evans and Brenda Lawrence. Tell them to vote. Tell them to vote. (Applause.)

Let me tell you why.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you!

THE PRESIDENT: I love you, too. But I want to tell you why you need to vote. (Applause.) This country has made real progress since the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. Over the past four and a half years, we have seen American businesses create more than 10 million new jobs. Over the past six months, our economy has grown at the fastest pace in more than 10 years.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you!

THE PRESIDENT: I don't have to tell you the auto industry that was on the brink of collapse is back on its feet, making better cars than ever, right here in Michigan. (Applause.) It’s a testament to the grit and the resilience of American workers. (Applause.) We’ve got some leaders here who stick up for working folks every single day. We got Mary Kay Henry from SEIU. (Applause.) We've got Lily Eskelsen Garcia from the NEA. We've got Dennis Williams from the UAW. We've got some labor leaders here who know what it means to fight for working families. (Applause.)

And because of the strength and resilience of the American worker, the auto industry has come back. Housing is beginning to recover. We've seen progress on almost every economic measure. But we are here tonight because we know we’ve got more work to do. As fast as we've been moving, we know we’d be moving faster if a lot more of our politicians lived by the same values of hard work and responsibility that the ordinary people they represent take with them every single day when they go to the job. (Applause.) And over the next week, you’ve got a chance to make that happen. You have the chance to choose leaders that don’t put political ideology first, that don't put just winning an election first -- they put you first. (Applause.)

And you couldn't have a better example than Mark and Gary. (Applause.) You couldn't have a better example of the kind of leaders you want. I mean, look at these two guys. They’ve spent their entire lives in Michigan. Mark ran a non-profit that helped unemployed workers get back on their feet. Gary helped folks save for college and retirement as a financial planner. Then he served in the Navy Reserve. They ran for office for the same reason -- to fight for hardworking families like yours, because your story is their story. (Applause.)

They weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouths. They know what it's like to struggle. They know what it's like to have to work hard and piece together a budget and save. And they know what it's like when their parents or grandparents make sacrifices for them. And since they’ve taken office they’ve led. They led to clean up the Great Lakes. They helped to cut taxes for Michigan’s small businesses and invest in new, high-tech manufacturing. (Applause.) They fought to give Michigan’s minimum wage workers the raise they deserve.

When the chips were down and our most iconic industry was on the line, they said, we shouldn’t walk away. (Applause.) If the auto industry went down, communities across this state and Midwest would have gone down, too. So Mark and Gary placed their bet on Michigan. They placed their bet on American workers, making American products. (Applause.) And thanks to the grit and ingenuity and pride of American workers, that bet that they made paid off in a big way. (Applause.)

Now some of the folks who figured we should have thrown in the towel six years ago are the same folks who are asking you for your vote next week. They got a lot of nerve. (Applause.) They got a lot of nerve. If they’re not there for you when you need them -- (laughter) -- I think you should vote for Mark and Gary instead. (Applause.) That's what I think. Because you know they had your backs, and now we got to have theirs. (Applause.)

And that’s what this election is all about, Michigan. When you step into that voting booth, you are making a choice not just about candidates or parties. You're making a choice about two different visions of what America is about. And it boils down to a simple question: Who is on your side? Who’s going to fight for you? Who’s going to fight for your future?

Now, I want to be clear. Republicans are good people, they’re patriots. They love their country. They love their family --

AUDIENCE: Booo --

THE PRESIDENT: Don't boo -- vote. (Applause.) No, but I mean what I say here. Listen, I mean what I say. We're all Americans. We're all Americans. We're Americans first. So they’re patriots. They love this country. But they’ve got bad ideas.

AUDIENCE: That's right!

THE PRESIDENT: And I always try to explain -- look, I've got members of my family who I love and have bad ideas. (Laughter.) I still love them. I just wouldn't put them in charge. (Laughter.) Right? You all have got somebody in your family like that. You're going to have them over for Thanksgiving, but you don't want to put them in charge. (Laughter.) Am I right? (Applause.)

And the worst idea they’ve got is this same economic theory that they just keep on putting out that we know undermines the middle class: More tax breaks for folks at the top. Less investment in education. Looser rules on big banks and credit card companies and polluters. A thinner safety net for folks when they fall on hard times. You know what -- we've tried those things.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: They don't work!

THE PRESIDENT: They don't work. (Applause.) Don't work. I mean, it would be one thing if we hadn’t tried them. We might say, okay, well, maybe that works. (Laughter.) But when you’ve done it again and again, and each time the middle class has a tougher time, and the folks at the top are doing better and better, I don't know why we would think it would work differently this time. (Applause.)

They’re not changing their tune either. Every time the Republican Party leaders in Washington had to take a stand this year on policies that would help the middle class, their answer was no. They said no to raising the minimum wage. They said no to fair pay legislation to make sure women get paid the same as men for doing the same job. They said no to helping young people refinance their student loans. They actually voted for rules that would make it more expensive for students when they take out student loans.

The only thing they voted yes on was another massive tax cut for millionaires. I know that's shocking, but it's true. And it's the clearest display of whose side they’re on. The same Washington Republicans who blocked a $2.85-an-hour raise for some of the hardest working people in America -- the folks who clean up your bedpans, the folks that make up and take care of seniors -- they made clear that they’re not going to do that. One of the first things they do is change the rules to jam tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans through. They’re not going to raise the minimum wage.

Their leadership said tax cuts for those at the top are “even more pressing now” than they were 30 years ago. That's what they said. When one of George W. Bush’s economic advisors took a look at how many jobs their agenda would create, he said, “not many.” That’s George W. Bush’s advisor admitting. They don't have an agenda for the middle class. They don't have an agenda for Detroit. They don't have an agenda for Michigan. At a time when nearly all the gains of this recovery are flowing to the top 1 percent, cutting taxes for those same folks doesn’t make any sense. It’s the wrong vision for the future. (Applause.)

But the good news is Mark and Gary have a different vision -- (applause) -- a vision rooted in the conviction that in America, prosperity does not trickle down from the top, it comes up from folks who are working every single day, middle-class folks, folks trying to work hard to get into the middle class. (Applause.) That's what we believe as Democrats. That's what we believe here in Michigan. (Applause.) We believe in an economy that grows for the many, not the few.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: That's right!

THE PRESIDENT: Mark and Gary are not running to give tax breaks to folks who don't need them. He’s running to build economies -- Michigan’s economy from the middle class out. (Applause.) They know that ideas to create jobs, they’re not Democrat or Republican, but they got to work. They got to work. And they know that education, for example, isn’t just the key to economic growth, it’s the surest path into the middle class. (Applause.) They’re not going to slash investments in schools, or make it harder for students to go to college. They’re going to make it easier for students to go to college, and make sure teachers are respected, and make sure we got early childhood education for our kids. (Applause.) That's what they’re going to run on. (Applause.)

We believe that in America, public servants should work for the people they represent. (Applause.) Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars on frivolous lawsuits or ideological crusades, Mark and Gary will spend their time protecting ordinary citizens, making your lives better. And by the way, as your next Attorney General, that’s what former prosecutor Mark Totten will focus on, too. (Applause.) Looking out for you.

Let me tell you something else that Mark and Gary believe in. They don't think if you're working full-time in this country you should be raising your family in poverty. They’re not backed by special interests who think that the minimum wage is something we should get rid of. They’re running because they think we should champion the efforts of folks who work hard but still have trouble paying the bills at the end of the month. That's what they believe. That's what they’re going to fight for. And if you believe that too, you’ve got to vote. (Applause.)

Mark and Gary believe that the economy is stronger when women are full participants in our economy. (Applause.) I already told you Republicans said no to a national fair pay law. One of the Republicans running for national office, he said -- I'm quoting here -- he said, “You could argue that money is more important for men.”

AUDIENCE: Nooo --

THE PRESIDENT: That's a quote. Now, I don't know what woman he talked to. (Laughter.) He didn’t talk to you. Did he talk to you? No.

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: I know he didn’t talk to Michelle. (Laughter.) No. See, if you're going to strengthen the 21st century economy, you’ve got to be in the 21st century. (Applause.) You’ve got to understand that women make up an increasing part of the workforce. They’re bringing home more of the bacon. (Applause.) They need to be paid fairly and treated fairly. (Applause.)

And just like Gary talked about, we've got to make sure that women control their own health care choices. (Applause.) Not their boss, or their insurer, and certainly not any politician. (Applause.) It’s funny, if you ask a Republican in Congress if they believe in climate change, they say, well, uh, I’m not a scientist. “I'm not a scientist” -- that's what they say. But when it comes to a woman’s right to choose, suddenly they’re a doctor. (Laughter and applause.) Come on, now. They got to update their attitudes.

AUDIENCE: Yes!

THE PRESIDENT: “Mad Men” is a good show. I like that show. But it's set in the ‘60s. We're now in the 21st century. And we got to understand that in America, when women succeed, America succeeds. (Applause.)

So, look, here’s the bottom line. I know that, as I said, if you're here you're going to vote. I get that. But I want you to feel a sense of urgency these last three days. The biggest corporations don’t need another champion. The wealthiest Americans don’t need another champion. You do. (Applause.) Opportunity for a few is not what Michigan is about -- opportunity for all is what built the middle class in this country.

And that’s why you’ve got to vote. If you want something better, you got to vote for it. You got to work for it. (Applause.) If you believe working families need a tax break, not millionaires -- you got to vote it. (Applause.) If you think we should invest in our children’s schools, and give teachers more support, and get early childhood education in place so young people get a good start in life, and young people going to college aren't burdened with tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of debt -- you got to vote for it. You got to fight for it. (Applause.) If you think that folks who work hard should get an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work -- you got to vote for it. (Applause.)

You know, I tell you, we give away our power all the time. Some of you know I started as a community organizer. And when I talked to folks in the community the first thing I'd say is, why do you give away your power? And they’d say, what do you mean? And I'd say, well, you don't bother voting. You sit at home and complain. But complaining and not voting, that means you're just giving away your power. (Applause.) That means you are -- you're giving away your precious right to help determine the course of your nation.

So, look, Michigan, you’ve had my back twice. (Applause.) You’ve had my back twice. I love this state. But here’s the problem. In recent years, Michigan has led the nation in the number of voters who vote for President but then stay home during the midterms. According to one estimate, you got 900,000 folks in Michigan who voted in 2008 and then didn’t vote in 2010 -- 900,000. I don't know what’s going on with those folks. But we've got to let them know their vote matters.

AUDIENCE: Yes!

THE PRESIDENT: Their vote could decide whether 28 million American workers get the raise they deserve. (Applause.) Whether American families continue to benefit from new health care coverage -- because, I don't know if you’ve noticed, but Obamacare works. (Applause.) Pretty soon they’re not going to call it Obamacare anymore. (Laughter.) You know that's right. (Laughter.)

Your vote will decide the course that Michigan takes from here. So Gary needs your vote, and Mark needs your vote. I need your vote. But I also need you to go out there and get involved in these closing days. Talk to one of the organizers who are in the room. Or go to Mark-Schauer.com. Or go to Peters-for-Michigan.com. Volunteer for these last three days. Make some phone calls these last three days. Knock on some doors these last three days. (Applause.) Grab somebody you know -- get them to vote for Mark. Get them to vote for Gary.

This election is too important to stay home. Don't let somebody else choose your future for you. (Applause.) When we vote, we win. (Applause.) When we vote, we win. When we vote --

AUDIENCE: We win!

THE PRESIDENT: -- we win.

The hardest thing in politics is changing the status quo. When you got a lot of people in power, they care about just keeping power, they don't care about helping you. And they count on you getting cynical. They count on you thinking you can't make a difference. They hope you don't get involved. They hope you don't organize. They hope you don't vote. And every day, they’re sending you a message that you don't count.

Don’t buy it. Despite all the cynicism, America is making progress. Despite the unyielding opposition of folks on the other side, there are workers who have jobs today who didn’t have them before. (Applause.) There are auto plants that got shifts that weren't there before. (Applause.) There are families who have health insurance who didn’t have it before. (Applause.) There are students who are going to college who couldn’t afford it before. (Applause.) There are troops who’ve been coming home from Afghanistan who weren't home before. (Applause.) There are the best car in America and in the world rolling off assembly lines right here in Michigan, right here in the United States, that weren't coming off those assembly lines before. (Applause.)

Don't let them tell you that your vote doesn’t matter. Don't get cynical. Cynicism didn’t put a man on the moon.

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: Cynicism never cured a disease, or started a business, or built a V-8 engine, or taught a young mind. Cynicism is a choice. And hope is a better choice. (Applause.) Hope is what defeated fascism. Hope is what gave young people the strength to march for civil rights, and voting rights, and gay rights, and immigrants’ rights, and women’s rights. (Applause.) Hope that there are better days ahead. Hope that we can rebuild our middle class and pass on to our kids something better. That's what built America. That's what Motor City is all about. That's what built Michigan! (Applause.)

Our best days are still ahead. Believe it. And vote for Mark, and vote for Gary. And let’s get out there and win this thing. (Applause.)

Thank you, everybody. God bless you. (Applause.)

END
7:30 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 01, 2014

Readout of the President's Call with U.S. Service Members in West Africa

The President spoke by phone on Saturday afternoon with U.S. service members in Liberia and Senegal taking part in Operation United Assistance, the U.S. military mission to contain the Ebola outbreak at its source. The President, on behalf of the American people, offered his profound gratitude to the dedicated men and women providing logistics support, engineering expertise, construction services, and other elements needed to bring the epidemic under control. The President underscored that the civilian-led, whole of government strategy to tackle Ebola on the frontlines is the most effective way to prevent further spread of the disease and protect the American people from additional cases at home. He concluded the call by noting that, while we must not relent in this campaign, initial signs of progress in Liberia were a testament to the skill and determination of these service members and their civilian counterparts. Their service embodies American leadership at its finest.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 01, 2014

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

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

  • Leon Aron – Member, Broadcasting Board of Governors
  • Jeffery S. Hall – Member, Farm Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit Administration
President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:
 
Dr. Leon Aron, Nominee for Member, Broadcasting Board of Governors

Dr. Leon Aron is Resident Scholar and Director of Russian Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a position he has held since 1993.  He was a weekly Contributor at the Voice of America’s Russian language radio and television show Gliadya iz Ameriki (Looking from America) from 1990 to 2004.  Dr. Aron was previously an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University from 1994 to 1996 and a Senior Policy Analyst at the Heritage Foundation from 1987 to 1992.  He was awarded the Peace Fellowship from the U.S. Institute of Peace from 1992 to 1993.  Dr. Aron received a B.A. from Moscow State Pedagogical Institute and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Columbia University.

Jeffery S. Hall, Nominee for Member, Farm Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit Administration

Jeffery S. Hall is the President of The Capstone Group, a firm he co-founded in 2009.  Mr. Hall was the State Executive Director in Kentucky for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency from 2001 to 2009.  Previously, from 1994 to 2001, he served as the Assistant to the Dean at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.  Prior to that, Mr. Hall was a Legislative Assistant in the Office of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell.  He has held leadership positions in a number of non-profit organizations.  Mr. Hall received a B.S. from Purdue University.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 01, 2014

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

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

  • David J. Berteau – Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness, Department of Defense
  • Leigh A. Bradley – General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Mona Dixon – Member, Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service
  • Mark Scarano – Federal Cochairperson, Northern Border Regional Commission  

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

  • Jeffrey Bleich – Member, J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
  • Michael K. Goto – United States Commissioner, Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean
  • Mary Lou Leary– Deputy Director for State, Local, and Tribal Affairs, Office of National Drug Control Policy
  • August William “Bill” Ritter – Representative of the United States, Western Interstate Nuclear Board
  • William Sabol – Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice

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

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

David J. Berteau, Nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness, Department of Defense

David J. Berteau is currently Senior Vice President and Director of the National Security Program on Industry and Resources at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a position he has held since 2013.  Previously at CSIS, he was Senior Vice President and Director of the International Security Program from 2011 to 2013, and he was Senior Adviser and Director of the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group from 2008 to 2011.  In 2008, while at CSIS, Mr. Berteau was the Chair of the Resources Working Group for the Project on National Security Reform.  From 2003 to 2008, he served as a Director at Clark & Weinstock, and from 2001 to 2003 he directed the National Security Studies Program at Syracuse University.  From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Berteau was a Senior Vice President at SAIC, and from 1993 to 1997, he was the company’s Corporate Vice President of Business Development.  In 1993, he served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Production and Logistics, and from 1992 to 1993 he was the Chairman for the Defense Conversion Commission.  From 1990 to 1993, he was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Production & Logistics and in 1989, he served as Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management and Personnel.  Mr. Berteau was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Resource Management & Support from 1986 to 1989, and he served in several roles at the Department of Defense from 1981 to 1986.  Mr. Berteau received a B.A. from Tulane University and an M.P.A. from University of Texas at Austin.

Leigh A. Bradley, Nominee for General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs

Leigh A. Bradley is currently Director of the Standards of Conduct Office in the Office of the General Counsel at the Department of Defense (DOD), a position she has held since 2008.  Since July 2014, she has served on detail from DOD to the Department of Veterans Affairs as Special Counsel to the Secretary.  Previously, Ms. Bradley was at the American Red Cross, where she served as Senior Vice President of Enterprise Risk and Chief Risk Officer from 2005 to 2007 and as Chief of Staff from 2004 to 2005.  From 2001 to 2004, Ms. Bradley was a Partner at Holland & Knight, LLP, and from 1998 to 2001 she was General Counsel at the Department of Veterans Affairs.  She served as Principal Deputy General Counsel for the Department of the Navy from 1994 to 1998 and as a senior attorney in the Office of the Deputy General Counsel at DOD from 1987 to 1994.  A veteran, she also served on active duty as a Judge Advocate for the U.S. Air Force from 1982 to 1986.  Ms. Bradley received a B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Alabama.

Mona Dixon, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service

Mona Dixon currently serves as a member on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club (BGC) of Tempe, AZ, a position she has held since 2013.  Ms. Dixon has been a Keystone Advisor for her local BGC since 2012 and in 2013, she served as a Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) Ambassador to the Military Teen Leadership conference.  Since 2009, Ms. Dixon has been engaging communities as an active motivational speaker and performing public service announcements dedicated to helping young people graduate high school.  She was a Success Coach for First Year Success at Arizona State University (ASU) from 2013 to 2014.  Ms. Dixon served as an Outreach Ambassador at ASU from 2012 to 2013.  From 2011 to 2013, she was a member of the Board of Directors for United Methodist Outreach Ministries New Day Centers.  In 2014, she was awarded the Compassion, Courage, & Advocacy Award and was selected as a Glamour Girl’s Top 10 College Women’s Reader’s Choice Award Nominee.  In 2010, she was selected as the National Youth of the Year by BGCA, and in 2011 was selected as one of the Top 28 Most Influential Black Women in America by Essence Magazine.  Ms. Dixon received a B.S. from Arizona State University. 

Mark Scarano, Nominee for Federal Cochairperson, Northern Border Regional Commission

Mark Scarano is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Grafton County Economic Development Council, a position he has held since 2006.  Previously, he was the Executive Director and Business Development Director for the Piscataquis County, Maine Economic Development Council from 1999 to 2006.  From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Scarano served as the Community Development Director for the Town of Millinocket, Maine.  He received a B.A. from the University of Southern Maine and an M.A. from Iowa State University.

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

Jeffrey Bleich, Appointee for Member, J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board

Jeffrey Bleich is a litigation partner with Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, a position he has held since 2013 and previously held from 1995 to 2009.  He is also a visiting professor at Sydney University.  Mr. Bleich served as the United States Ambassador to Australia from 2009 to 2013 and as Honorary Co-Chair of the Australia - U.S. Fulbright Board.  Mr. Bleich also served as Special Counsel to the President in 2009.  He taught Constitutional Law and International Law at University of California from 1994 to 2003.  He was also Chair of the California State University Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2009, and the President of the State Bar of California from 2007 to 2008.  Mr. Bleich clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist from 1990 to 1991, Judge Abner Mikva from 1989 to 1990, and Judge Howard Holtzman of the Iran - U.S. Claims Tribunal in the Hague from 1991 to 1992.  Mr. Bleich is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Law Institute, and the American Bar Foundation Fellows.  He received a B.A. from Amherst College, an M.P.P. from Harvard University, and a J.D. from University of California Berkeley School of Law. 

Michael K. Goto, Appointee for United States Commissioner, Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Michael K. Goto has served as a member of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council since 2012.  He has served as the Chair of the Committee on Pelagic and International Fisheries since 2012.  Mr. Goto has held various positions for the United Fishing Agency, Ltd., including Auction Manager since 2014, Executive Assistant to the General Manager since 2007, and Sales Manager from 2009 to 2014.  He currently serves as a Director and Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Longline Association.  He also serves as a Director on the Board of Directors for the Domestic Commercial Fishing Village Association at Pier 38, Honolulu Harbor.  Mr. Goto received a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University.

Mary Lou Leary, Appointee for Deputy Director for State, Local, and Tribal Affairs, Office of National Drug Control Policy

Mary Lou Leary is currently the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice (DOJ), a position she has held since 2009.  Previously, Ms. Leary served as the Executive Director for the National Center for Victims of Crime from 2005 to 2009.  From 2004 to 2005, she was Senior Counsel to the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, and from 2001 to 2004 she served as Principal Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.  Ms. Leary served as Acting Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Justice Programs from 2000 to 2001 and was Deputy Associate Attorney General from 1998 to 2001 at DOJ.  She served as Acting Director for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services at DOJ in 1999, after serving as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1997 to 1998.  From 1985 to 1998, Ms. Leary served in several positions in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Chief of the Superior Court Division, Executive Assistant for the U.S. Attorney for Operations, Deputy Chief of the Superior Court Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney.  She was a Law Clerk for Judge Frank J. Murray at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and for Judge Fred B. Ugast at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  Ms. Leary received a B.A. from Syracuse University, an M.A. from Ohio State University, and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.

August William “Bill” Ritter, Appointee for Representative of the United Sates, Western Interstate Nuclear Board

August William “Bill” Ritter currently serves as the Director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University, a position he has held since February 2011.  From 2007 to 2011, Mr. Ritter served as the 41stGovernor of Colorado.  Prior to this, he was the District Attorney for the City and County of Denver from 1993 to 2005. Mr. Ritter worked in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Denver from 1990 to 1992.  From 1987 to 1990, Mr. Ritter and his wife served as missionaries for the Catholic Church in Zambia.  Mr. Ritter worked as a Deputy District Attorney from 1981 to 1987.  He currently serves on the board of the Energy Foundation.  Mr. Ritter received a B.A. from Colorado State University and a J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in Boulder.   

William Sabol, Appointee for Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice

William Sabol is currently the Principal Deputy Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice (DOJ), a position he has held since 2010.  Since 2013, Mr. Sabol has served as the Acting Director of BJS.  From 2006 to 2010, he was the Chief of the Corrections Statistics Unit in BJS.  Before joining DOJ, Mr. Sabol served as the Associate Director of Homeland Security and Justice at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from 2003 to 2006; this was his second role with GAO, having previously served as Senior Social Scientist from 1991 to 1995.  From 2000 to 2004, he was Associate Director of the Center on Urban Poverty and Social Change at the Mandel School of Applied Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.  From 1995 to 2000, he was the Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute.  From 1990 to 1991, he was a Project Director at Cosmos Corporation.  He began his professional career at the University of Maryland, serving first as a Faculty Research Associate in the Afro-American Studies Program from 1987 to 1988, and then as an Assistant Professor of Afro-American Studies and Criminal Justice from 1988 to 1991. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge from 1986 to 1987.  Mr. Sabol received a B.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 01, 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- National Family Caregivers Month, 2014

NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH, 2014

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Each day, courageous individuals step forward to help care for family members in need, their quiet acts of selflessness and sacrifice telling a story of love and devotion. Across our country, parents and children, siblings and spouses, friends and neighbors heroically give of themselves to support those in their lives affected by illness, injury, or disability. During National Family Caregivers Month, we salute the people who play difficult and exhausting roles, and we recommit to lifting up these Americans as they care for their loved ones while protecting their dignity and individuality.

In the United States, more than 60 million caregivers provide invaluable strength and assistance to their family members, and as the number of older Americans rises, so will the number of caregivers. Many of these dedicated people work full time and raise children of their own while also caring for the needs of their loved ones. Caregivers support the independence of their family members and enable them to more fully participate in their communities, and as a Nation, we have an obligation to empower these selfless individuals.

My Administration continues to work to improve many of the resources on which caregivers depend. The Affordable Care Act invested in programs that expand home and community-based services. To lift up a new generation of service members -- our 9/11 Generation -- we are fighting to ensure those who care for them have access to the support they need, including financial assistance, comprehensive caregiver training, mental health services and counseling, and respite care. Many caregivers rely on workplace flexibility and reasonable accommodations, and this year my Administration held the first-ever White House Summit on Working Families to develop a comprehensive agenda that ensures hard-working Americans do not have to choose between being productive employees and responsible family members. And next year, we will host the White House Conference on Aging, which will focus on the needs of older Americans and those who care for them.

Not only this month, but every month, let us work alongside our Nation's caregivers and make certain they are able to provide the best possible care for their loved ones for as long as necessary. Together, we recognize those who place service above self, including the women and men looking after our veterans. By offering them the same comfort, social engagement, and stability they bring to others, may we remind them that they are not alone.

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 November 2014 as National Family Caregivers Month. I encourage all Americans to pay tribute to those who provide for the health and well-being of their family members, friends, and neighbors.

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

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 01, 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- National College Application Month, 2014

NATIONAL COLLEGE APPLICATION MONTH, 2014

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

With hard work and determination, a great education should be within everyone's reach. At the heart of America's promise is the belief that we all deserve an equal opportunity to get ahead, and today more than ever -- as we face greater global competition in a knowledge-based economy -- a college degree is the surest path to a stable, middle-class life. During National College Application Month, we come together to encourage all students to take control of their own destiny by applying to continue their education beyond high school and to let them know that no matter where they come from or who they are -- it does not matter if they are the first in their family to apply to college or if they have been told that they are simply not college material -- there is an opportunity for them.

This fall, high school seniors across our Nation are making the decision to invest in their future by earning a post-secondary degree or credential, and as they navigate the college admissions process, my Administration is dedicated to supporting them with the tools and resources they need to succeed. To help more families afford a college degree, we have expanded grants, tax credits, and loans and invested in programs that help students manage and reduce the burdens of debt after they graduate. We created the College Scorecard to make it easier for students and families to compare colleges and find ones that are well-suited to their needs. And to help students better understand the costs of college and more easily compare aid packages offered by different institutions, we developed the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet. To access these and other resources -- including College Navigator and a tool that helps determine the net price of any given college -- Americans can go to www.WhiteHouse.gov/ReachHigher.

Applying to college is hard work, but it is only the beginning of a journey that requires persistence and focus. A college degree unlocks pathways to opportunity; it prepares today's students for the jobs of the future and is a requirement for the educated workforce and informed citizenry our country needs to create growth, bolster our economy, and strengthen our democracy. That is why as a Nation, we must lift up our students, help them achieve their greatest potential, and work together toward an important goal: to lead the world in college completion.

This month, we celebrate the limitless possibility within every child. We honor the teachers, school counselors, and parents who help students apply to college. We recognize the institutions that are taking steps to ensure they reach the best and brightest students, regardless of their background, and all those who ensure the next generation is prepared for success, including businesses who open their doors to interns and the alumni, foundations, and faith-based organizations that provide scholarships. Let us remind all students that it is never too early to start planning for their future or reaching for their dreams.

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 November 2014 as National College Application Month. I call upon public officials, educators, parents, students, and all Americans to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs designed to encourage students to make plans for and apply to college.

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

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 01, 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, 2014

NATIONAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH, 2014

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Across our Nation, as many as 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease -- currently an irreversible, incurable, and fatal disease. Together with their loved ones, these individuals experience the tragic realities of a disease that gradually erases cherished memories, affects behavior, and destroys the ability to live independently and carry out the simplest daily tasks. This month, we recognize all those whose lives have been touched by Alzheimer's, and we renew our commitment to making progress in the war against it.

The Federal Government is the world's leading funder of Alzheimer's research, and we are dedicated to finding ways to prevent and effectively treat this devastating disease by 2025. Guided by the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease, my Administration is working to enhance care for Alzheimer's patients, expand support for all people with dementia, and strengthen public-private partnerships to support the Alzheimer's community. We have funded major new clinical trials, helped train health care providers to diagnosis and manage dementia, and launched a new website that serves as a one-stop resource on Alzheimer's issues. And this year, as part of our Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, we announced new investments to support the research that could unlock the answers to this disease. To learn more about Alzheimer's disease -- including risk factors and early signs and symptoms -- and to access resources for patients and caregivers, Americans can visit www.Alzheimers.gov.

During National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, we join with researchers, health care providers, and patient advocates across our country to lift up all those who are battling this disease every day. As we come together to raise awareness about Alzheimer's, we honor the individuals who lost their lives to it, as well as the devotion and selflessness of the millions of caregivers who endure the financial and emotional strains of this disease. In their spirit, let us continue our work to end this debilitating ailment and its devastating effects.

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 November 2014 as National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and support the individuals living with this disease and their caregivers.

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

BARACK OBAMA

Weekly Address: It's Time to Help Women and Working Families

Lindsay Holst
Lindsay Holst
November 01, 2014
06:00 AM EDT
President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address in the Map Room of the White House, Oct. 30, 2014.

President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address in the Map Room of the White House, Oct. 30, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

In this week’s address, the President highlighted the progress our economy is making, and the commonsense policies that could make it even stronger by ensuring that everyone who works hard has the opportunity to get ahead, especially women and working families.

This commitment has been a core part of the President’s Year of Action and a priority since the start of his administration, which is why he has put forth a range of policies that would help women and working families get ahead, from raising the minimum wage, to ensuring equal pay for equal work, to increasing access to high-quality child care and paid family leave. This week’s address follows remarks the President delivered on Friday at Rhode Island College, where he discussed the importance of harnessing our economy’s momentum by making policy choices that will help women and all working parents fully participate in and contribute to our economy.

Transcript | mp4 | mp3

Related Topics: Women, Working Families, Rhode Island

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 01, 2014

Weekly Address: It’s Time to Help Women and Working Families

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President highlighted the progress our economy is making, and the commonsense policies that could make it even stronger by ensuring that everyone who works hard has the opportunity to get ahead, especially women and working families. This commitment has been a core part of the President’s Year of Action and a priority since the start of his administration, which is why he has put forth a range of policies that would help women and working families get ahead, from raising the minimum wage, to ensuring equal pay for equal work, to increasing access to high-quality child care and paid family leave. This week’s address follows remarks the President delivered on Friday at Rhode Island College, where he discussed the importance of harnessing our economy’s momentum by making policy choices that will help women and all working parents fully participate in and contribute to our economy.

The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, November 1, 2014.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
November 1, 2014

Hi, everybody.  On Friday, I had a discussion with working women in Rhode Island about the economic challenges they face in their own lives -- challenges shared by many of you.

Thanks to the work we’ve all put in, our economy has come a long way these past six years. Over the past 55 months, our businesses have added 10.3 million new jobs. For the first time in six years, the unemployment rate is below 6 percent. And on Thursday, we learned that over the past six months, our economy has grown at its fastest pace since 2003.

But the gains of a growing economy aren’t yet felt by everyone. So we’ve got to harness this momentum, and make the right choices so that everyone who works hard can get ahead.

In recent weeks, I’ve talked about these choices, from raising the minimum wage to creating new jobs in construction and manufacturing. Today, I want to focus on what I discussed with those women -- the choices we need to make to help more women get ahead in today’s economy.

Right now, women make up almost half of our workers. More women are their family’s main breadwinner than ever before. So the simple truth is, when women succeed, America succeeds. And we should be choosing policies that benefit women -- because that benefits all of us.

Women deserve fair pay. Even though it’s 2014, there are women still earning less than men for doing the same work. We don’t have second-class citizens in this country -- we shouldn’t in the workplace, either. So let’s make sure women earn equal pay for equal work, and have a fair shot at success.

Women deserve to be able to take time off to care for a new baby, an ailing parent, or take a sick day for themselves without running into hardship. So let’s make sure all Americans have access to paid family leave.

Pregnant workers deserve to be treated fairly. Even today, women can be fired for taking too many bathroom breaks, or forced on unpaid leave just for being pregnant. That’s wrong -- and we have to choose policies that ensure pregnant workers are treated with dignity and respect.

New parents deserve quality, affordable childcare. There’s nothing like the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your kids are safe while you’re at work. And the benefits that children get out of early enrichment can pay off for a lifetime. But in many states, sending your kid to daycare costs more than sending them to a public university. So let’s start demanding Pre-K for our kids.

And when most low-wage workers are women, but Congress hasn’t passed a minimum wage increase in seven years, it’s long past time that women deserve a raise. About 28 million workers would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage to ten dollars and ten cents an hour. And more than half of those workers are women. The local businesses where these workers spend their money would benefit, too. So let’s do this -- let’s give America a raise.

All of these policies are common sense. All of them are within our reach. We’ve just got to speak up and choose them. Because they’ll build a stronger America for all of us.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.