The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 23, 2014

Remarks by the President at DSCC Dinner -- Chicago, IL

Private Residence
Chicago, Illinois

8:17 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  First of all, to Fred and Dan, I’m so grateful for you guys hosting us here today.  I’m trying to remember -- was it two years ago or three years ago that I was here?

Q    Two years ago.  And you were here in --

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I’ve been here a lot, I know.  (Laughter.)  I meant most recently.  I have abused Fred’s hospitality for quite some time.  But it is wonderful to be home now that is has warmed up.  (Laughter.)  And it is wonderful to be with a lot of old friends.

There are a couple other people I just want to acknowledge real quickly.  Obviously, our Governor Pat Quinn is in the house.  Please give him a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  Pat is doing a lot of hard stuff, and he’s doing it the right way.  And I’m very appreciative for all the efforts that he’s making down in Springfield. 

We also have two of our finest public servants in the country.  The first has the thankless job of being the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Reelection Committee, and that is our outstanding senator from Colorado, Michael Bennet.  (Applause.)  And the second guy is the person who, upon my election to the United States Senate, essentially taught me everything that he knew and kept me out of trouble, and supported me every step of the way when I ran for President, and has been a great friend and champion on behalf of working families not just in Illinois, but all across the country.  He is a great friend.  I couldn’t be prouder to be associated with him -- Dick Durbin.  (Applause.) 

So the goal here is not for me to give a long speech, because I want to have a conversation with you, but let me just set the context.  A little over five years since I’ve been elected.  We’ve gone from losing 800,000 jobs a month to creating over 9 million jobs.  The unemployment rate has come down.  The housing value has come up.  The stock market -- gone up.  Trillions of dollars of wealth restored for families all across the country.  The deficit -- you wouldn’t know it always from reading the newspapers -- has been cut by more than half. 

Clean energy -- we’ve doubled.  Greenhouse gases -- we’ve lowered.  Exports -- we’re on track to double.  College enrollment hitting all-time peaks.  High school dropout rates going down.  Latino dropout rates cut in half since 2000.

We’ve ended two wars.  We are -- or we’ve ended one war and we’re in the process of ending the second.  We’re producing more energy than we ever have before, and we’re importing less foreign oil than we have in close to two decades.

So there are a whole bunch of metrics -- a whole bunch of measures by which you’d say, indisputably, that we are better off now than we were when I came into office.  And a lot of that has to do with the incredible resilience and grit and hard work of the American people.  And yet, there’s still anxiety all across America.  And some of it is that people still feel the trauma of seeing their home values drop, or their 401(k)s plunge, or losing their job, or seeing a friend of theirs lose their home.  And you don’t shake those things off right away.  It feels as if the ground is less firm under your feet.

But a lot of it has to do with the fact that we’ve got trends that have continued over the course of decades in which those of us, frankly, in this room continue to do better and better.  Folks at the top have seen their incomes and their wealth soar.  And ordinary Americans have seen their wages and incomes flat-line at the same time as the costs of everything has gone up.  And so they’re less confident that not only they will be able to retire with some dignity and maintain their standard of living; more importantly, they’re concerned that their kids are not going to be able to match their standard of living and the upward trajectory of their lives -- the idea that if you work hard, if you take responsibility in this country, you can get ahead. 

Now, there are a lot of issues that we face in this country, but nothing is more important than restoring, making real that ideal that if you work hard in this country, you can make it.  And everything I think about every single day that I’m President revolves around that issue, along with keeping the American people safe.  And the problem I’ve got right now is not that we’re on the wrong side of issues.  There’s not an issue out there in which we do not enjoy majority support.  Immigration reform -- the majority agrees with us.  Minimum wage -- the majority agrees with us.  Equal pay for equal work -- the majority agrees with us.  Increasing clean energy -- the majority agrees with us.  Invest in education, early childhood education, making college more affordable -- folks on our side.  That’s not my problem.  That’s not our problem.

Our problem is very simple:  We have a Congress that currently is controlled, at least half of it, by an ideological faction that is not representative of the traditions of the Republican Party as I understood them -- maybe because I come from the land of Lincoln.  I thought we believed in investing in infrastructure.  I thought we believed in science.  I didn’t think those were partisan issues.  I thought we believed in education.  But this crowd doesn’t believe in science; doesn’t really believe in investing in our kids to make sure that upward mobility exists; doesn’t believe in climate change; doesn’t think that there’s really a problem in terms of the pay gap between men and women; isn’t interested in providing help for families. 

They operate on a single theory -- which is, if government is dismantled and folks at the top can do more and more without restraint, that everybody else is going to benefit from it.  I don’t know if they actually believe it, but that’s what they say.  And this is not a situation of equivalence where the Democrats are this far-left crazy group and we’re not willing to meet in the middle.  And if you need a better example than that, take a look at a health care law that uses the private sector to encourage people to buy insurance and has brought health care inflation down to its lowest rate in 50 years.  And you would think that I had dismantled the entire free-market system -- despite the fact that we now have somewhere between 13 and 15 million people who have insurance now that didn’t have it before.

So I need a new Congress.  But at a minimum, I’ve got to have a Democratic Senate.  And that’s why you’re here.  Which leads me to my last point:  If, in fact, people agree with us, why is it so hard for us to get a Democratic Senate and a Democratic House?  Well, part of it is demographics.  I was in Brooklyn with de Blasio -- this is right before he was about to be elected -- and we were coming from this wonderful school that’s training kids in math and science.  And we’re driving down Brooklyn and crowds are cheering, and we go into this place to buy some cheesecake and people are hugging me -- and, oh, my uncle just got on Obamacare and it’s terrific.  And a woman yells out, what can I do to help?  And I said, move to Nebraska!  (Laughter.)  I don’t need 80 percent of the vote in New York City -- (laughter) -- or Chicago.  But Democrats tend to congregate a little more densely, which puts us at a disadvantage in the House.  Obviously, the nature of the Senate means that California has the same number of Senate seats as Wyoming.  That puts us at a disadvantage.  Gerrymandering in many of these states puts us at a disadvantage.

So there are some structural reasons why, despite the fact that Republican ideas are largely rejected by the public, it’s still hard for us to break through.  But the second reason is we have a congenital disease, which is we don’t like voting in midterms.  Our voters are younger, more minorities, more single women, more working-class folks who are busy and trying to get to work, trying to find work.  And oftentimes we opt out during midterms.  If we had the same turnout in 2012 that we had had in 2010, I might have lost.  Instead, of course, we had a very significant and solid victory.

So this is pretty straightforward -- I need more votes.  I need more people voting to reflect our values and what we care about and our stance on the issues, which, in turn, leads to senators and congressman who then vote on behalf of actually getting stuff done.  A bunch of you, because you’ve known me for a long time, came up and commiserated while we were taking pictures -- oh, these folks are so mean and there’s always slinging and hurling stones and arrows at you, and all this.  And I said, you know what, it turns out -- maybe I’m from Chicago -- I’m a tough guy.  It doesn’t really bother me too much. 

There is one thing that bothers me, which is when I hear folks saying, oh, you know, if you just play golf with John Boehner more -- (laughter) -- and we’re just trying harder to be more bipartisan, then we’d get more stuff done.  That’s not the problem.  (Laughter.)  On every issue we are more than happy to sit down in reasonable fashion and compromise.  The problem is not that we’re too mean or we’re too partisan.  The problem is I don’t have enough votes -- full stop. 

The first two years, when we had a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate, we had the most productive legislature since the 1960s, since Lyndon Johnson -- more significant, meaningful domestic legislation than any time since Medicare was passed.  House Republicans take over and we now have -- you remember Harry Truman with the do-nothing Congress?  This is a less productive Congress than the do-nothing Congress.  (Laughter.)  This Congress makes the do-nothing Congress look like the New Deal.  (Laughter.) 

So I need everybody to feel a sense of urgency.  That’s what we’re here tonight to talk about.  And whatever else I say, whatever issues you are concerned about, ultimately it translates into math -- are we turning out voters who, in turn, produce majorities that allow us to advance the values that we care about.  Everything else is just talk.  And if we don’t feel that sense of urgency in this election, we’re going to have problems.  And if we do, then in the next two and half years we can make as much progress as we did the first two years I was in office.

All right.  Thank you very much, everybody.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END
8:32 P.M. CDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014

Remarks by the President at DSCC Reception -- Chicago, IL

Private Residence
Chicago, Illinois

6:54 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, hello, hello!  (Applause.)  Hello, everybody.  Well, it's good to be in Chicago.  (Applause.)  Good to be home -- now that it's warmed up.  (Laughter.)  It was a rough winter.  But you guys -- you look like you survived it, you're not any worse for wear. 

Let me begin by thanking Michael and Tanya.  I did not know what a significant role I played in -- (laughter) -- making sure that this thing worked out.  I was wondering, how did Michael get such a beautiful woman?  And now I realize he was basically dropping my name -- (laughter) -- and said, yeah, the President is my great buddy and -- (laughter) -- and so now I know, now I understand.  But thank you so much to both of you for hosting us in your beautiful home.

And I also want to acknowledge two people who are doing great work every single day -- one of the best public servants we have is the senator from the great state of Colorado, who is here, and also heads up the Democratic Committee to make sure that we hang on to the Senate -- Michael Bennet is in the house. So give Michael a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  Yay, Michael!

And of course, part of the reason we're here is because we have somebody who not only has always been fighting the good fight on behalf of working families here in Illinois and across the country, but also happens to be somebody who, when I first went to the Senate, taught me so much and has been such a great and loyal friend.  He is somebody whose integrity shines through on everything he does.  So please give a big round of applause to our own Dick Durbin.  (Applause.)  Dick Durbin.  Dick Durbin. 

Now, I'm looking around and I see a lot of friends, and all of you look the same and I look like Morgan Freeman.  (Laughter.) So the job has been wearing me down a little bit, I admit, grey hear and all that.  But Michelle still thinks I'm cute.  She’s not ready to trade me in yet.  (Laughter.)  But whenever I come to Chicago and I see great friends, it reminds me of why I got into politics -- because a lot of people here played a role in me becoming a state senator, becoming a U.S. senator, and ultimately becoming President. 

I know that the Manilows are here, for example.  They hosted something for me when nobody knew me.  And they’re just one of many people here who have tracked my career.  And the values I carried with me to the White House are the values that so many of you taught me.

Michael talked about his American Dream, and let’s face it, not everybody achieves that dream to the same degree that Michael does.  But the basic impulse of coming here and thinking that this is a land of opportunity and if I work hard and I've got good ideas and I take responsibility, then I can make it, regardless of where I'm from, what my last name is, what God I worship -- that's the essence of who we are.  That's the essence of Chicago.  That's the essence of America.

And when I first came into office, obviously we were in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, losing 800,000 jobs a month.  Over the last four years, we've created 9.5 million jobs.  (Applause.)  The unemployment rate has come down and housing has recovered.  The auto industry has come back. The deficits have been cut in half.  We have dug our way out of the rubble of that crisis.

The challenge we have, though, is that for too many families around the country, that recovery has not translated into higher incomes or higher wages.  We’re still having trouble making sure that they can finance a child’s college education.  We're still trying to figure out, how am I going to retire.  There are still too many people out of work, and there are too many folks who are working full-time but at the end of the month have a tough time paying the bills.  We still have challenges making sure that every child in America is getting a first-class education.  And we still have challenges with an immigration system that is broken and depriving us of enormous talent -- one of our greatest strengths as a country.  Climate change remains a generational challenge that we've got to tackle boldly.  And, unfortunately, we've got a Congress that right now just can't seem to get anything done.

Now, you'll hear if you watch the nightly news or you read the newspapers that, well, there’s gridlock, Congress is broken, approval ratings for Congress are terrible.  And there’s a tendency to say, a plague on both your houses.  But the truth of the matter is that the problem in Congress is very specific.  We have a group of folks in the Republican Party who have taken over who are so ideologically rigid, who are so committed to an economic theory that says if folks at the top do very well then everybody else is somehow going to do well; who deny the science of climate change; who don't think making investments in early childhood education makes sense; who have repeatedly blocked raising a minimum wage so if you work full-time in this country you're not living in poverty; who scoff at the notion that we might have a problem with women not getting paid for doing the same work that men are doing.

They, so far, at least, have refused to budge on bipartisan legislation to fix our immigration system, despite the fact that every economist who’s looked at it says it's going to improve our economy, cut our deficits, help spawn entrepreneurship, and alleviate great pain from millions of families all across the country.

So the problem is not Dick Durbin.  The problem is not Michael Bennet.  The problem is not that the Democrats are overly ideological -- because the truth of the matter is, is that the Democrats in Congress have consistently been willing to compromise and reach out to the other side.  There are no radical proposals coming out from the left.  When we talk about climate change, we talk about how do we incentivize through the market greater investment in clean energy.  When we talk about immigration reform there’s no wild-eyed romanticism.  We say we're going to be tough on the borders, but let’s also make sure that the system works to allow families to stay together, and that we're attracting talent like Michael who constantly replenish the American Dream. 

When we talk about taxes we don't say we're going to have rates in the 70 percent or 90 percent when it comes to income like existed here 50, 60 years ago.  We say let’s just make sure that those of us who have been incredibly blessed by this country are giving back to kids so that they’re getting a good start in life, so that they get early childhood education, so that struggling middle-class families are able to finance their education, and that if a talented young person wants to go into teaching or wants to become a social worker that they’re not burdened by hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of debt.

Health care -- we didn’t suddenly impose some wild, crazy system.  All we said was let’s make sure everybody has insurance. And this made the other side go nuts -- the simple idea that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, nobody should go bankrupt because somebody in their family gets sick, working within a private system. 

So when you hear a false equivalence that somehow, well, Congress is just broken, it's not true.  What’s broken right now is a Republican Party that repeatedly says no to proven, time-tested strategies to grow the economy, create more jobs, ensure fairness, open up opportunity to all people.

Which leads me to the reason we are here tonight -- I need a Congress that works.  And that means I need a Democratic Senate. And it would be helpful to have a Democratic House.  Now, you all know this so I'm preaching to the choir.  But here’s the challenge we have:  Democrats are not perfect and it turns out one of our great imperfections is we have a congenital tendency not to vote in midterm elections.

I don't know what it is.  Presidential elections, we're all in.  In 2008, you all went crazy; 2012, you still went crazy.  High turnout, we're motivated, donors are involved, people are active, folks are knocking on doors, people making phone calls.  And then the midterm comes and we fall asleep.

That cannot happen in this election because the stakes are too high.  And I say this mindful that in every election somebody says how high the stakes are.  But think about what’s at stake right now.  Think about it.  If we do not hang on to the Senate and make gains in the House we may not get immigration reform done, which means we could have another three, four years in which we're being deprived of talent we're training here in the United States -- they go back home and start businesses someplace else.  There are Michael Polskys right now in universities that have the possibility of creating businesses here but may end up going back home because we have a broken immigration system.  That's what’s at stake.

Basic research -- we're on the cusp of discovering -- when it comes to brain research, we've invested in a brain initiative that could discover cures for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, debilitating diseases, and as our population ages it's going to be more and more important.  And yet, if you look at the Republican House budget, it slashes the very research that promises to provide cures to families all across America and could potentially create entire new industries in this country.

Energy -- we've doubled fuel efficiency standards on cars, doubled the production of clean energy.  Solar has gone up three times since I came into office, new generation of wind power 10 times.  We're making enormous progress.  But if we don't have a Congress that has that same vision that we should be out in front, ahead, when it comes to the race for 21st century energy sources, then we're going to be stuck doing the same thing we've been doing forever.  And that means that we cannot stop the trends towards higher emissions and higher greenhouse gases and global warming. 

And I know it's hard to talk about global warming here in Chicago -- (laughter) -- after this winter.  But everybody here understands that it's changing weather patterns that are at stake here, with potentially devastating, catastrophic consequences.

Minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, the Supreme Court -- all these issues are at stake in the midterms -- not in the presidential election.  You have a President who is fighting for you in the White House.  What you do not have right now is a Congress that can function. 

And I want to make clear, by the way, because I'm in the Land of Lincoln -- the problem is not the Republican Party, per se.  I want a functioning, coherent, reasoned-based Republican Party.  And if they’ve got slightly different ideas than mine I am happy to sit down and work them out.  I'm talking about a very specific faction of the Republican Party that's taken over and cannot get anything done.

Harry Truman used to talk about the “do-nothing” Congress.  This Congress has done less than the “do-nothing” Congress that Harry Truman talked about.  I'm serious. 

So the bottom line is we have to feel a sense of urgency in this election.  And that means that every one of you, many of whom are great supporters and have backed me for a long time and are happy to come to Michael and Tanya’s house and participate -- it means I need you to push a little further than you're doing right now.  I'm going to need you to help to activate and mobilize folks throughout this town and your contacts across the country to say it is not good enough simply to sit back and complain.  Cynicism is not an option.  Cynicism is not wisdom. 

I've now been President for a little over five years; I've got two and a half years to go.  I will make every moment count. It has been the great privilege of my life.  But it's interesting, the longer I'm in this job the more I feel as if we get one moment, one life to really make a difference on behalf of Malia and Sasha, and Michael and Tanya’s kids, and all of our kids and grandkids.  And the time goes by really quick.  And if we fritter away opportunities on stuff that we know is right, that we know is right -- if we don't fight for it, understanding that there are going to be times where we have setbacks and progress is never smooth -- if we're not willing to really dig down and make things happen at this moment, then they don't happen.

So I don't take my job for granted.  But I hope you don't take for granted the opportunities that brought Michael to these shores and allowed him to succeed.  We have to fight for that stuff.  And we're on the right side on every single issue and the majority of the American people agree with us on every single issue.  But we've got to make sure those folks go out to vote.  We've got to make sure we get our message out.  And the only way we do that is if all of you are active and involved in this election.  Don't wait till 2016.  I need you to be active in this election.

I've run my last campaign.  But I'm going to be working just as hard in this one as I was in 2008 and 2012, because my goal in running for President was never simply to have the title.  My goal was to get something done.  And I cannot do it alone. 

So I want to thank all of you for everything you’ve done for me, but I'm asking you, I need you to it for a Democratic Senate and a Democratic House.  And if you feel that same sense of urgency, we're going to continue to make change not just through my presidency but for years to come.

Thank you so much, everybody.  God bless you.  God bless America and God bless Chicago!  (Applause.) 

END
7:14 P.M. CDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014

Remarks by National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice at the Chicago Council Global Food Security Conference

Food Security Challenges for the 21st Century
As Delivered

Good afternoon everybody.  I want to begin by thanking my good friend, Ivo, for that very kind introduction.  Ivo and I have had the opportunity to work together in various different capacities inside government and outside government--and in every circumstance, it has been a great pleasure and an intellectual challenge, and I want to thank you for continuing your very good work on complex global issues now with the Chicago Council.  I also want to thank Doug Bereuter, Dan Glickman, and everyone at the Chicago Council for inviting me to join you today. 

Throughout human history, the world has struggled with hunger and famine.  For as long as mankind has cultivated crops, we’ve contended with drought and blight.  But, in the past few decades, we’ve gained the tools to write a different future for humanity.  At the World Food Congress in 1963, President Kennedy stated the cause very clearly:  “As members of the human race, we have the means, we have the capacity to eliminate hunger from the face of the earth in our lifetime. We need only the will.” 

Since then, we’ve turned our will to reshaping our planet.  The scientific achievements of the Green Revolution averted mass famines and saved more than a billion people from starvation.  By adopting new seeds and agricultural techniques, countries that once relied on aid can now feed themselves.  It’s a compelling reminder of just how much we can accomplish with focus, ingenuity, and the will to get things done.  So many of you here today have been instrumental in this progress, and I want to thank all of you for your extraordinary contributions.  

I’m here because I want you to know that you have an enduring partner in President Obama and this administration.  Not only Administrator Shah and Secretary Vilsack, whom you’ll hear from later, but our food security team includes Tjada McKenna of USAID, Jonathan Shrier from State, Suzanne Palmieri from USDA, and many, many other dedicated public servants.  [Applause]

They know, and you know, that ending food insecurity is profoundly in the interests of the United States.  It’s an outrage when children starve or when hard-working families can’t afford to fill their most basic nutritional needs. We’ve seen what can happen when a spike in food prices plunges tens of millions of people into poverty—riots break out; conflicts for scarce resources cost lives; economies falter; instability increases.  On the other hand, investing in agriculture is one of the surest ways to reduce poverty, expand economic activity, and grow the middle class.  And that’s why President Obama has made food security a top priority in our global development efforts. 

When the President spoke here two years ago, he stated his conviction that the United States has “a moral obligation to lead the fight against hunger and malnutrition.”  That means it’s not enough to simply keep responding to crises after they happen.  We need to break the cycle of hunger by empowering more people to feed themselves. 

And that’s why President Obama put food security high on the world’s agenda.  In his first months in office, he announced a global food security initiative at the G-20 in London.  In his first meeting with the G8 at L’Aquila, he galvanized an international commitment that put billions of dollars into the cause and outlined a new set of core principles for fostering greater food security.  At every step, he has ensured America’s commitments are matched by support from partner nations, from private sector entities, and from the public.  Already the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, which President Obama announced two years ago, has grown to include ten African countries. It has united more than 160 companies and yielded more than $7 billion in responsible, planned investments in African agriculture. 

At the President’s direction, we have centered our signature, interagency development initiative—Feed the Future—around smallholder farmers, particularly women.  Our commitments build on the leadership of African nations that have pledged to increase their agricultural spending and develop comprehensive, country-led food security strategies.  And, through all of our joint efforts to increase production, improve farmers’ access to markets, and bolster natural resource management, we’re relying on data to determine what works. 

In just the past year, we helped 6.8 million more farmers put new technologies or management practices to work, up 30 percent from 2012.  That translates to more than 4 million hectares of land—an area greater than the size of Massachusetts and New Jersey combined—are now benefiting from new seeds or increased soil fertility.  Thanks to these improvements, farmers saw more than $50 million in new horticultural sales.  And, last year, with our partners, we helped more than 12.5 million children under the age of 5 to get the nourishment that they need. 

Our government-wide investments in agricultural productivity are helping create economies that work.  The Millennium Challenge Corporation is working with other agencies to develop compacts with countries that invest in agriculture, land tenure, and road development.  The Peace Corps has fielded more than 1,200 enthusiastic Feed the Future volunteers to help people make sustainable changes in how they--those folks who are in developing countries--cultivate crops, address water shortages, and feed their families. 

And today, I’m pleased to announce that we’ve completed a new USAID nutrition strategy.  It’s a 360-degree approach that brings together our work on food security, health, water, hygiene and sanitation into an ambitious plan to reduce child stunting by 20 percent over five years—that’s 2 million more children who will get a stronger, healthier start in life.  

And yet, as you know well, for all our progress, there are still millions who go to bed hungry, millions more scrabbling to sustain daily life.  So, our next challenge is taking these promising beginnings and knitting them together to achieve a sustainable, food-secure future.  Our aim is nothing short of bringing about a total transformation.   

What will it take to achieve food security on a global scale?  Our answer cannot just be more money or more aid—focusing on more won’t get us where we need to be.  We need to do better.  In addition to making sure that agricultural innovations like drought-resistant seeds and fertilizers are widespread, we must ensure that better practices become routine.  Farmers should have better information about which seeds are best suited to their soil.  Mothers should be able to grow and purchase nutrient-rich foods to feed their children.  For agricultural workers, earning a living wage should be the rule rather than the exception.  So today, I’d like to suggest four areas that need our focus, if we are to achieve food security on a global scale.      

First, we have to get our collective house in order.  With Feed the Future, the United States made a commitment to change the way we do business—bringing together expertise from across the government; building on the leadership of countries that invest in their own food security; and partnering with anyone doing meaningful work to defeat hunger.  We need to apply that same cooperative approach across the board.  The private sector, academia, and NGOs should be collaborating more—both with each other and with governments—to unite our efforts and close gaps in the food security architecture.

The truth is, we already have much of what we need to reach our goal.  Between us, we’ve got pipelines and distribution networks that circle the world.  We’ve got experts in every subject.  We just need to connect them.  Everyone comes at food security through their own lens, but we’re all working on aspects of the very same problem, and we’ll certainly be more effective if we are working together.  And that’s why the Obama administration has put such an emphasis on building partnerships.  And, I want to thank Interaction and the civil society groups who recently added another $500 million to their pledge to advance food security in cooperation with Feed the Future.  [Applause]

So these innovative partnerships, especially public-private partnerships, are essential to the future of food security.  I know some have raised questions about private sector involvement.  But, we won’t improve food security on a global scale without the innovation, expertise, and reach that only the private sector can bring to sustainable agricultural productivity.  Just ask any one of the 2.6 million smallholder formers who benefited from the services, training, and production contracts the New Alliance and the Grow Africa partnership brought to Africa last year. 

A second area where we can make an outsized impact is by stepping up our efforts to collect and share data.  In the United States, farmers employ micro-level data on how the soil and weather differs between furrows even in the same field in order to optimize their crop production.  In much of the world, however, we lack even the most basic information.     

When we do have data, often we don’t share it broadly enough.  Sometimes, that’s because data is proprietary.  More often, it’s because we simply haven’t aggregated what we know.  In both cases, our ability to innovate and to address global agricultural challenges is thus limited.  Imagine the benefit to a farmer in Southeast Asia if she could use her phone to determine which crops would be most profitable.  To do that, she needs data about the soil, the weather, seeds and appropriate fertilizers, as well as data about regional market demands—and she needs it to be available so a technology designer can build an app to translate that information into clear-cut recommendations. 

And that’s why the USDA has taken the lead in releasing genetic and genomic data for the new seeds we’ve developed such as drought-tolerant maize, rust-resistant wheat, and high-yielding rice.  Last October, the United States also helped launch the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition Initiative to help make critical data available for unrestricted use worldwide.  I hope all of you will join with us in this effort—by contributing your own data, by using it to improve your projects, and by encouraging others to make open data the new norm. 

As we focus on these organizational challenges, we also need to tackle the toughest issues in the hardest places.  So, the third area we must focus on is making an impact in fragile and conflict-affected states, where poverty and hunger are most extreme and populations are most vulnerable.     

The U.S. and other donors spend much, much more money responding to humanitarian disasters than we do in investing in building more resilient communities.  Chronic poverty and periodic external shocks too often propel the same communities into crisis again and again.  In fact, during the past decade, almost 50 percent of international humanitarian assistance has gone to addressing crises in just nine countries—like Sudan, South Sudan, and Haiti.  The United States will continue to lead humanitarian efforts whenever disasters strike, but when we are repeatedly responding to the same problems, in the same places, we have do more than stop the bleeding.  We have to start healing the deeper wound.          

And, that’s why USAID is working with its counterparts to change the way we approach crisis relief.  Rather than walling off our humanitarian assistance from our development programming, we’re bringing them together to help countries become more resilient—so they can recover from crises and emerge all the stronger.  Most of this work is still in the early stages, but it’s already having an impact.  In Ethiopia, we’ve invested in the government’s social safety net to help it quickly scale-up food distribution in crises.  When indicators of drought emerged in early 2011, the government added more than 3 million citizens to the safety net so that people could feed themselves until the November harvest.  This fast intervention helped ensure that communities did not respond to drought in ways that could make future crises more likely, such as selling off land or livestock to buy food.  

Finally, we have to confront the growing impacts of climate change on our ability to feed ourselves.  For agricultural societies, even small changes in climate matter a great deal.  Crop yields are extremely sensitive to changing rainfall patterns, the intensity of storms, and temperature extremes.  In fragile states, climate change only amplifies existing stresses and puts additional pressure on scarce resources.      

The latest IPCC report, the recently released U.S. National Climate Action Assessment, and today’s report from the Chicago Council all say the same thing.  Climate change affects every aspect of food security, from production to pricing.  Climate change is not some distant threat.  We’re already dealing with its impacts.  Globally, the 14 warmest years on record have all been since 1998.  Droughts and wildfires have become more frequent and more intense in some regions, while flooding has intensified in others.  Deserts are expanding.  Water quality and quantity are being affected by changes in precipitation and runoff.  Sea level rise is now increasing at about twice the average rate it was in the 20th century. 

These are the facts.  Observable, undeniable facts.  And, President Obama is taking action to combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions and increasing our use of renewable and clean energy resources.    

In the near-term, we have to compensate for the impact climate changes are having on our ability to feed a population—a  global population—that is expected to break 9 billion by 2050.  Already we’ve launched seven new “climate hubs” to help farmers and ranchers across the United States adapt, and Feed the Future is helping food producers around the world to adjust their practices.  For example, USAID has helped farmers on the storm-prone coast of Bangladesh to adopt higher-yielding varietals of rice that were also salt- and flood-tolerant.  These farmers increased their crop by about 20 percent, all while using less fertilizer and pesticide. 

Our Climate and Clean Air Coalition is promoting better ways to manage manure from livestock to reduce methane emissions and boost incomes.  The United States is also working with our partners to launch an international Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture, which will help farmers increase their productivity and income while simultaneously building resilience to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  But, as you know all too well, there is much more to do, and the Chicago Council’s report offers several recommendations to keep us moving in the right direction.  

The good news is:  we know we can make a difference.  We already have.  I think of those heart-breaking stories from 2008, during the food crisis, when hunger ran rampant, and children in places like Haiti ate mudcakes to quiet their bellies.  Today, Haiti’s farmers have doubled their harvest of rice and beans; corn production is up more than 300 percent; and acute malnutrition has been cut in half.  It didn’t happen overnight.  It took strategic investments and sustained partnerships.  And, slowly but surely, we’ve proved that progress is possible.

Confronting entrenched poverty in fragile states and meeting the challenges of climate change is necessarily work that must continue over generations, just as we are carrying forward the task that President Kennedy set for us 50 years ago.  We have the means.  We have the capacity.  And, I can assure you, on behalf of President Obama, we have the will.  Our commitment will endure. 

The United States will continue to lead the rest of the world toward the food-secure future we all seek.  We’ll continue to work with partners who are stepping up to address food security in their own countries.  We’ll keep bringing nations and organizations together so that millions more people can benefit from agricultural adaptations. We’ll continue to seek new ways to withstand extreme weather and climate change.  As President Obama announced in March during his visit to Italy, the United States will sponsor a pavilion at the Milan Expo next year to raise awareness about food security and nutrition.  And, as we work toward a post-2015 development agenda to replace the Millennium Development Goals, we will ensure that all these issues—including boosting climate resilience, improving environmental sustainability, and ending extreme poverty—remain a global priority.  And, as we do, we will make sure the world’s most vulnerable populations are not left behind. 

In all our efforts, those of us in government will look to all of you.  Yours are the passionate hands that will remake the world.  And, the United States will always be a reliable and steady partner to you in our common cause.  

Together, we can imagine the day when the farmer who toils in the field has plenty—both to feed his family and to sell at the market.  We can imagine when those who herd flocks or fish the sea won’t have to wonder about their next meal.  When mothers can regularly feed their children nutritious food that will help their family grow strong and healthy.  That’s the future we’ll continue to seek, through every challenge and every obstacle:  the day when the scourge of hunger and malnutrition is finally and forever banished from the earth.  

Thank you very, very much. 

A link to the USAID Fact Sheet U.S. Government Initiative Reduces Hunger and Poverty for Millions can be found HERE
A link to the new USAID Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy can be found HERE

The President Talks Tourism at the Baseball Hall of Fame

David Hudson
David Hudson
May 22, 2014
07:23 PM EDT

Watch on YouTube

This afternoon, President Obama became the first sitting President in U.S. history to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

After taking some time to enjoy the baseball history and memorabilia at the Hall -- which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this summer -- he talked about the impact that travel and tourism has on our country.

Today, I’m here in Cooperstown to talk about some new steps that will lead to more tourism not just within America but getting more folks to come and visit the treasures, the national treasures that we have all across this country, including the Baseball Hall of Fame right here in Cooperstown -- because tourism translates into jobs and it translates into economic growth.

Related Topics: Jobs, Economy, New York, New York

President Obama Speaks at the Baseball Hall of Fame

May 22, 2014 | 15:45 | Public Domain

President Obama visits the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, to talk about the Administration’s efforts to increase travel and tourism in the United States

Download mp4 (580MB) | mp3 (15MB)

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Bruce H. Andrews, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce, vice Rebecca M. Blank, resigned.

Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, of New Jersey, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

Marcus Dwayne Jadotte, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, vice Nicole Yvette Lamb-Hale, resigned.

James D. Pettit, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Moldova.

Laura S. Wertheimer, of the District of Columbia, to be Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, vice Steve A. Linick, resigned.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 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:

·       Bruce H. Andrews – Deputy Secretary, Department of Commerce

·       Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat – Ambassador to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Department of State

·       Marcus D. Jadotte – Assistant Secretary for Industry and Analysis, Department of Commerce

·       James D. Pettit – Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Department of State

·       Laura S. Wertheimer – Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency

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

·       Caitlin K. Cahow – Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition

·       Steven Croley – Member, Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States

·       Jane Jelenko – Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council

·       Brig. Gen. John S. Kem, USA – Commissioner, Mississippi River Commission

·       George A. Elmaraghy – Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission

·       Tom FitzGerald – Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission

·       Susan Hedman – Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission

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

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

Bruce H. Andrews, Nominee for Deputy Secretary, Department of Commerce
Bruce H. Andrews is currently the Chief of Staff for the Department of Commerce, a position he has held since 2011.  Before this, Mr. Andrews served as General Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.  From 2007 to 2009, he served as Vice President of Governmental Affairs for Ford Motor Company.  Mr. Andrews was a Partner at Quinn Gillespie & Associates from 2000 to 2007 and an Attorney at Arnold & Porter from 1997 to 2000.  Prior to that, he was a Legislative Director for U.S. Representative Tim Holden from 1994 to 1997 and a Senior Legislative Assistant from 1993 to 1994.  Mr. Andrews received a B.A. from Haverford College and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
 
Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, Nominee for Ambassador to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Department of State
Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is currently Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Human Resources at the Department of State, a position she has held since 2012.  She was previously Ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau from 2008 to 2011.  She served in the Department of State as Office Director for India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan in the Bureau of South Asian Affairs from 2006 to 2008.  From 2004 to 2006, she was the Senior-Level Director and Career Development Officer in the Bureau of Human Resources at the State Department.  Ambassador Bernicat also served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados from 2001 to 2004, and as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi from 1998 to 2001.  She was Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca, Morocco from 1995 to 1998, Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India from 1992 to 1995, and Desk Officer for Nepal and India in the Bureau of Near East and South Asian Affairs from 1988 to 1990.  Earlier in her career, she was Special Assistant to Deputy Secretary of State John Whitehead, Consular Officer in Marseille, France, and Political/Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali.  Ambassador Bernicat received a B.A. from Lafayette College and an M.S. from Georgetown University. 
 
Marcus D. Jadotte, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Industry and Analysis, Department of Commerce
Marcus D. Jadotte served as the Vice President of Public Affairs and Multicultural Development at NASCAR from 2011 to 2014.  Previously, he held various positions at NASCAR, including Managing Director of Public Affairs from 2006 to 2011 and Senior Manager of Public Relations from 2005 to 2006.  Prior to joining NASCAR, Mr. Jadotte was Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz from 2004 to 2005.  He was Deputy Campaign Manager for the Kerry/Edwards Presidential campaign from 2003 to 2004.  Mr. Jadotte was Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Peter Deutsch from 2001 to 2003 and served as Florida State Director on the Gore/Lieberman Presidential campaign in 2000.  He served at the Department of Labor in various positions, including Intergovernmental Officer from 1999 to 2000 and Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary in 2000.  Mr. Jadotte received a B.A. from Florida State University. 
 
James D. Pettit, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Department of State
James D. Pettit, a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the Department of State, a position he has held since 2010.  Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine from 2007 to 2010, Consul General at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia from 2003 to 2007 and Consul General at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria from 1999 to 2003.  Mr. Pettit was Director of the Office of Post Liaison/Visa Office from 1997 to 1999, Director of the Washington Processing Center of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration from 1995 to 1997, Deputy Consul General of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 1992 to 1994, Desk Officer in the Office of Taiwan Coordination from 1990 to 1992, and Desk Officer in the Office of Cuban Affairs from 1988 to 1990.  He also served as Consular Officer at the American Institute in Taiwan in Taipei, General Services/Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and Consular Officer at the Consulate General in Guadalajara, Mexico.  Mr. Pettit received a B.A. from Iowa State University and an M.A. from the National War College.
 
Laura S. Wertheimer, Nominee for Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency
Laura S. Wertheimer is a partner in the Securities Department of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, LLP, a position she has held since 2003.  She is also a member of the firm’s Securities Litigation and Enforcement Practice Group.  Previously, she was a partner at the law firm of Shea & Gardner from 1987 to 2003 and an associate at that firm from 1983 to 1987.  From 1981 to 1983, she was a Law Clerk for Chief Judge Spottswood Robinson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  Ms. Wertheimer received a B.A. from Yale College and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

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

Caitlin K. Cahow, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition

Caitlin K. Cahow was a member of the United States Women’s National Ice Hockey Team from 2005 to 2013.  The Team won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada and a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy.  She was Captain of the Boston Blades in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), and has served on the CWHL board of directors since her retirement in 2013.  She was the Captain of the U.S. Under-22 Select Team in 2006.  Ms. Cahow won gold medals with the U.S. Women’s National Team at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship in 2008, 2009, and 2011. She received the 2008 USA Hockey Women’s Player of the Year award.  In February 2014, she served on the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games.  She is an active advisor to the You Can Play Team.  She received the Shannon McLaughlin Advocacy Award from the Boston College Lambda Law Students Association and the Avian Soifer Award for Public Service Achievement and Leadership from Boston College Law School.  Ms. Cahow received a A.B. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Boston College Law School.

Dr. Steven Croley, Appointee for Member, Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States
Dr. Steven Croley is General Counsel of the Department of Energy. Prior to this, he was Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel to the President in the Office of the White House Counsel from 2012 to 2014.  Previously, he served as Senior Counsel to the President in the Office of the White House Counsel from 2011 to 2012 and Special Assistant to the President for Justice and Regulatory Policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council from 2010 to 2011.  Since 2010, Dr. Croley has been on leave from the University of Michigan Law School where he is the Harry Burns Hutchins Collegiate Professor of Law.  From 2006 to 2010, he served as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.  Dr. Croley was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Michigan Law School from 2003 to 2006.  He served as a Research Consultant to the Michigan Law Revision Commission from 1996 to 1999, and previously as a Research Consultant to the Administrative Conference of the United States and the U.S. Department of Labor from 1994 to 1995.  He began his teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School in 1993 before becoming a Professor of Law in 1998.  Dr. Croley served as a Law Clerk for Judge Stephen Williams of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from 1991 to 1992.  Dr. Croley received an A.B. from the University of Michigan, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and a Ph.D. from Princeton University.   

Jane Jelenko, Appointee for Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Jane Jelenko is the Founding President and a board member of Center Dance Arts, the founding support organization for Dance at the Music Center in Los Angeles, California, a position she has held since 2001.  She is the author of Portraits in Black and White: Holocaust Survivors of Café Europa, a collection of stories photographs of Holocaust survivors.  In 1983, Ms. Jelenko became the first female consulting partner at KPMG.  Prior to this, she held various roles at KPMG, including National Industry Director for the Banking and Finance group and leader of the Banking and Investment Services Consulting group.  Ms. Jelenko has been a Director of Cathay General Bancorp since 2012 and serves on the Audit and Risk Committees.  Since 2006, she has served as a Trustee of the SunAmerica Series Trust and Seasons Series Trust.  She also serves on the boards of the Dizzy Feet Foundation and the Gabriella Foundation.  She was a Director of Countrywide Bank from 2003 to 2008, and is a former board member of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, the Music Center of Los Angeles County, the Constitutional Rights Foundation, and KPMG, LLP.  Ms. Jelenko received an A.B. in Mathematics from Barnard College and an M.B.A. in Finance from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
 
Brig. Gen. John S. Kem, USA, Appointee for Commissioner, Mississippi River Commission
Brig. Gen. John S. Kem is Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division, a position he has held since July 2013.  In this role, he oversees the operations of district commands in Portland, Seattle, Walla Walla, Omaha, and Kansas City, Missouri.  Previously, Brig. Gen. Kem was the Director of Engineering, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, Commander of the Europe District of the Army Corps of Engineers from 2008 to 2011, and Commander of the 16th Armored Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division in Iraq from 2003 to 2005.  His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster.  Brig. Gen. Kem received a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy, an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and an M.S. in environmental engineering from Northwestern University. 
 
George A. Elmaraghy, Appointee for Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
George A. Elmaraghy is currently Senior Project Manager at Stantec Consulting Ltd., a position he has held since October 2013.  Prior to this, Mr. Elmaraghy served in various roles at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency from 1974 to 2013, including Division Chief of the Division of Surface Water, Assistant Division Chief of the Division of Surface Water, and Assistant Division Chief of the Division of Water Pollution Control.  Mr. Elmaraghy began his career as a Graduate Research Assistant at The Ohio State University Department of Civil Engineering from 1972 to 1974.  He received a B.S. from Cairo University and an M.S. from The Ohio State University.
 
Tom FitzGerald, Appointee for Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
Tom FitzGerald is currently Director of the Kentucky Resources Council, Inc., a position he has held since 1984.  He has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Energy and Environmental Law at the Brandeis School of Law since 1986.  From 1980 to 1984, Mr. FitzGerald was a Staff Attorney and Environmental Specialist at the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky.  He was a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellow from 1980 to 1982.  Mr. FitzGerald received a B.A. from Roger Williams College and a J.D. from University of Kentucky College of Law.
 
Susan Hedman, Appointee for Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
Susan Hedman is the Region 5 Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, a position she has held since 2010.  From 2005 to 2010, Ms. Hedman served as Environment and Energy Counsel and Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.  She was a Senior Policy Advisor on energy issues at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity from 2004 to 2005.  Ms. Hedman served as First Legal Officer for the environmental claims panel at the United Nations Compensation Commission from 2000 to 2004.  From 1993 to 2000, she was a Staff Attorney at the Environmental Law and Policy Center and an attorney at Howard & Howard in 1992.  She served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Michigan Law School in 1991 and an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs and School of Law from 1988 to 1991.  From 1984 to 1988, Ms. Hedman was an Assistant/Associate Professor at Northland College and was Public Information Officer for the Wisconsin Radioactive Waste Review Board from 1983 to 1984.  Ms. Hedman received a B.A. from Ripon College, an M.A. from the La Follette Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin, a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a Ph.D. from the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin.

60 Seconds About SelectUSA

David Hudson
David Hudson
May 22, 2014
05:52 PM EDT

Three years ago, President Obama launched SelectUSA – an initiative to encourage U.S. businesses to bring jobs back home, and to urge foreign companies to invest in America.

Fast forward to 2014, and here's the result: more than $18 billion of investments across 17 different states, resulting in new jobs for American workers, and growth for our nation's economy.

And Tuesday, the President announced we're holding a second SelectUSA summit early next year, where more than 2,000 business executives, mayors, and governors will meet to encourage even further investment in the U.S.

Watch Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council, go "On the Clock" to talk about SelectUSA – and the importance of investing in the United States:

Watch on YouTube

Related Topics: Jobs, Economy

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014

Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney en route Cooperstown, NY, 5/22/2014

Aboard Air Force One
En route Cooperstown, New York

1:44 P.M. EDT

MR. CARNEY:  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.  Thanks for being here aboard Air Force One as we make this exciting trip to Cooperstown, New York and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

As you know, we’re heading to the Baseball Hall of Fame to discuss the new steps we are taking to welcome international visitors to the United States and to highlight the job growth and other economic benefits generated by this increased travel and tourism. 

As you know, earlier today, the President met with several CEOs and executives from leading travel and tourism companies.  And as a part of this Year of Action, the President is urging the power of his -- is using, rather, the power of his pen and phone, whenever he can and wherever he can, on behalf of the American people to create jobs and help hardworking Americans get ahead.

Today, the President signed a presidential memorandum to expedite the entry process for travelers, starting with the 15 largest airports.  We also are taking additional steps to improve and streamline the entry process, including expanding the use of technology to streamline the -- that’s repetitive -- including expanding the use of technology to streamline the entry process, such as Automated Passport Control kiosks.  Additionally, we are launching new efforts to encourage travelers to visit the United States. 

This builds on the National Travel and Tourism Strategy in 2012 the President launched.  He set an ambitious goal of attracting and welcoming 100 million international visitors annually by the end of 2021.  Two years later, we are on track to meet this goal, in part due to the actions taken by the President and the administration to expand our ability to attract and welcome visitors while maintaining the highest security standards.

And with that, I’ll take your questions.

Q    Jay, was it a coup in Thailand?  And what does that mean for the United States if it was?

MR. CARNEY:  I think as you heard Secretary Kerry say, the United States is disappointed by the decision of the Thai military to suspend the constitution and take control of the government after a long period of political turmoil.  And there is no justification for this military coup.  We are also very concerned by reports that senior political leaders of Thailand’s major parties have been detained, and we call for their release.  And we are concerned that media outlets have been shut down.

The U.S. urges the restoration of civilian government immediately, a return to democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as press freedoms.  The path forward for Thailand must include early elections that reflect the will of the people.  While we value our long friendship with the Thai people, this act will have negative implications for the U.S.-Thai relationship, especially for our relationship with the Thai military.  We are reviewing our military and other assistance and engagements consistent with U.S. law.

Q    Does U.S. law require the United States to take certain actions or withdraw certain benefits that we provide Thailand?  And if so, is the United States initiating those actions?

MR. CARNEY:  Well, we're reviewing the assistance and engagements that we have with and for Thailand, consistent with U.S. law.  But I don't have answers yet in terms of the effect of this development in Thailand on those programs.

Q    Have any U.S. officials been in touch with military leaders over there?

MR. CARNEY:  I would refer you to the State Department, where Secretary Kerry has addressed this.  I don't know of -- well, I can tell you that we are working to maintain contact with the civilian government and to deliver the message that there is no excuse for a military coup.  We're concerned by reports that senior political leaders have been detained, and we call for their release.

Q    Can I ask you a little bit more about Chad?  If you could give us some more details about that decision -- when it was made, why it was made, what you think you can do now to help those Nigerian girls.  And also, are there any other steps other than that that the U.S. is contemplating?

MR. CARNEY:  The presence of U.S. personnel in Chad is related specifically to the use of unmanned surveillance vehicles as part of the effort to conduct reconnaissance missions in search of the missing or abducted Nigerian girls.  As we notified Congress yesterday, we’ve deployed 80 U.S. military personnel to Chad in support of Nigeria’s search for the girls, and that's in addition to the disciplinary team we already have in place at our embassy and the intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance support we have already been providing. 

Specifically, the team in Chad is there to support one of our -- in support of one of our intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance assets -- ISR assets -- an unarmed, unmanned aerial vehicle supporting the search for the girls.  As our colleagues at the Pentagon said yesterday, roughly half of the team consists of maintenance and support personnel; the other half provides security for that team. 

More broadly, the search for the girls is ongoing.  The Nigerians, of course, remain in the lead and we continue to lend our unique assets and capabilities to assist the search.  We'll continue to evaluate what additional resources we might bring to bear in support, in close consultation with the Nigerian government.

Q    There may be additional steps, but none that you're prepared to announce at this time?

MR. CARNEY:  There are none to announce at this time.  We've obviously stood up an interdisciplinary team based out of our embassy, and we have the personnel in Chad who are there in support of the unmanned, unarmed aerial vehicle.

Q    Are you able to take us at all behind the scenes on that decision in terms of whether there were leaders of other countries you consulted with or any other officials?

MR. CARNEY:  You’d have to ask State and DOD, specifically. But again, this is consistent -- this is the implementation of what we said we were going to do, which is provide unique assets, including personnel, in assistance -- as part of our assistance to the Nigerian government as they search for the abducted girls.  And we've already talked about the fact that we have both manned and unmanned aircraft involved in the search, and these personnel are there to support one of the unmanned, unarmed aircraft.

Q    -- has generated any leads or new information yet?

MR. CARNEY:  I am not aware of any new information as to the whereabouts of the girls.

Q    And I just want to talk about Ukraine really quickly.  Yesterday you mentioned there was some troop movement.  Have you seen any -- is there any updates or anything to report on?

MR. CARNEY:  We still have not seen anything conclusive.  We’ve seen some movement, but it is not yet --

Q    Moving away?  Moving closer?

MR. CARNEY:  Again, the movement is not definitive enough to say that it represents a withdrawal of any kind.  We certainly hope that President Putin and the Defense Secretary are true to their word and that this is the beginning of a withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukrainian border.  The presence of those many, many troops has clearly had an effect on the stability of Ukraine and has at the very least caused intimidation and tension in the relations between Russia and Ukraine.

So we monitor very closely the situation on the border and hope that Russia follows through on its promise, or its announcement, that it would be withdrawing those troops.  And we also urge Russia to use its influence with separatists in eastern Ukraine to get them to cease their efforts aimed at undermining the upcoming elections, cease their engagement in violence and intimidation and occupation of official buildings.

Q    Jay, do you have any sense of timing in terms of the elections this weekend and how quickly you guys would be able to assess how those elections went and then make a determination on sectoral sanctions?  I mean, is that something that can happen on Sunday?  Is that something that takes a week to figure out, or something in between?

MR. CARNEY:  I think it depends, of course, on how the process unfolds.  There will be international observers in most parts of the country, as I understand it, organized by the OSCE.  And the OSCE continues to report good progress in the preparations for balloting across the country.  And most of the country, of course, is calm, and we expect that election -- that the balloting on election day will be able to proceed effectively and peacefully and freely.

We obviously have concerns about the efforts by separatists to disrupt the ability of Ukrainians to engage in free and fair elections in Luhansk and Donetsk and those regions of eastern Ukraine, and we call on Russia to use its influence on the separatists to get them to cease in that effort. 

In terms of how soon we’ll know, it just depends on how it goes.  Again, I think OCSE may have a better sense of what their expectations are, but much of it depends on what takes place on election day.

Q    Do you have an assessment now of how things are shaping up in terms of the potential for a fair election?  You mentioned the disruptions by the separatists.  How disruptive are they? 

MR. CARNEY:  Right.  As I think I mentioned the other day, it’s important to remember that most of the country remains calm and that a smooth election process should be able to take place.

We do have concerns about the efforts to undermine the electoral process in eastern Ukraine, especially in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.  I would point out that it is certainly possible, and there are precedents for it, to see Ukraine carry out free and fair elections even if there are pockets of the country where there is violence or there are successful efforts to prevent people from voting and having a free and fair election. 

We’ve seen reports of election offices raided, ballots taken, and the like.  And again, if Russia were serious about wanting to use its influence on separatists to allow for a free and fair election, we believe they could do so.

Q    The House passed the Defense Authorization bill today.  Is the White House threatening to veto that because of the Gitmo restrictions in it?

MR. CARNEY:  Let me see if I have anything on that.  I’ll have to take the question.  Sorry.

Q    -- on VA, could you talk about just two brief things?  One, is there any more light you can shed on how the White House views the VA Accountability Act and what discussions you’ve had with the Senate Democratic leadership in terms of whether they would bring that up?

And also, when the President said that Rob Nabors’s report would happen next month, can you give us a little more information on when next month he expects to get that comprehensive review?

MR. CARNEY:  I would only point you to what the President said in terms of the timing of Rob’s more comprehensive review and his expectation that Rob will have it for him next month. 

On the issue of the legislation, the administration shares and supports the goals of the bill, ensuring accountability at the VA.  We do have some concerns that some provisions could result in significant litigation, which would defer valuable time and resources from VA’s accountability efforts and its core mission of delivering quality services to our veterans.

But we’ve been very clear we want to work with Congress on specific language issues and look forward to discussing the bill going forward.  And I would note that the President has also directed Secretary Shinseki to make sure that the VA is making maximum use of its existing authorities and looking at whether the VA needs any additional tools in this area.  I think the President made clear that not only -- that if there’s evidence of misconduct, if individuals are engaged in misconduct, and there is evidence of that established, that he wants to see folks suffer consequences for that.

Q    Jay, has the U.S. formally asked China to turn over the five military officials that were charged with cyber espionage earlier this week?

MR. CARNEY:  For the specifics of that conversation I think I would refer you to Justice.

Q    We’ve gone to Justice, and they're not saying --

MR. CARNEY:  I think what I talked about earlier when the announcements were made is that consistent with routine practice when individuals, foreign nationals in foreign countries are charged with crimes in U.S. courts, we as a routine matter seek the assistance of the foreign government.  But the specifics of that conversation and that communication are not available to me.

Q    One last thing on the VA.  Next week, when he goes to West Point, do we expect him to talk about the situation with the vets at all? 

MR. CARNEY:  I don't have a preview of the President’s commencement address at West Point at this time.

Q    Do you expect he will?  I mean, he has used those to make -- no, I mean he’s used those to set policy or shape our view of policy going forward in the past.

MR. CARNEY:  Margaret, I just don't have a preview of those remarks.  I would note since we’re now -- you’re now asking me when is the next time he’s going to talk about the VA, that it has been 24 hours since he spoke about the VA. 

Q    (Laughter.)  Actually, that's not what I was asking you.

MR. CARNEY:  But it is essentially the question. 

Q    That wasn’t my question.

Q    Her question was if there’s a broader policy --

Q    I’m asking you if he’s going to use the commencement speech to make policy, not on the VA.

MR. CARNEY:  As I said when I answered the question moments ago, I don't have a preview of the speech.

Q    When you fly to Chicago, can you talk us through that a little bit, what he’ll do, besides the fundraisers?

MR. CARNEY:  He has a couple -- I just said he has a couple of events for -- I’m not sure if they're -- which committee, I think DCCC.  I can find out. 

END
2:05 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014

Remarks by the President on Creating Jobs Through Tourism

Baseball Hall of Fame
Cooperstown, New York

3:50 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you. Thank you.  There must be some White Sox fans here somewhere.  (Laughter.)  It is great to be here in Cooperstown.  And I have to say that in addition to just wonderful people, those of you all across America and around the world who have not been here, this is a gorgeous place.  We came in by helicopter and had a chance to see the landscape and it looks like a spectacular place to spend a few days, a week -- however long you want to stay. I'll bet people will be happy to have you.   

And although he is not here yet, I want to acknowledge the Governor of New York.  He had a conflict and he’s on his way up. But he is really focused on jobs in Upstate New York -- your Governor, Andrew Cuomo.  I want to thank your Mayor, Jeff Katz, for having me, and his great hospitality, and everybody who was involved in arranging the visit.  We’ve also got, by the way, our Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Ali Mayorkas, who is here. And he’s important because he’s helping bring travelers to America.  (Applause.) 

It is a great honor to be the first sitting President ever to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame.  (Applause.)  The timing could not be better.  First off, summer marks the 75th anniversary of the Hall of Fame.  I also promised Frank Thomas I’d check the place out before he’s inducted in July.  (Laughter.)  

And I’m so glad I did.  Obviously I didn’t have a chance to roam around as long as I wanted, but thanks to the wonderful hospitality here, I saw the ball that William Howard Taft threw at the first-ever presidential opening day pitch.  I saw the “White Sox locker” of memorabilia, and got to bask in the glory of the 2005 World Series win.  (Applause.)  Yes! 

At the Hall’s request, I contributed something of my own, which was the jacket I wore when I threw out the first pitch at the 2009 All-Star Game.  I hear that with all the media attention about it, there was also some interest in the jeans I wore that night.  (Laughter.)  But Michelle retired those jeans quite a while back.  (Laughter.)

So I love baseball; America loves baseball.  It continues to be our national pastime.  And for any baseball fan out there, you’ve got to make a trip here.  But as much as I'd love to talk baseball all day -- and with a Chicago legend, Andre Dawson, the “Hawk,” here today, it’s hard not to want to talk baseball all day long -- I’m actually here to talk about jobs -- good, middle-class jobs.  And believe it or not, places like this institution, the Hall of Fame, have something to do with jobs and economic growth. 

It’s been about five and a half years since the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes hit.  And thanks to the grit and determination of the American people, we’ve been steadily fighting our way back.  Over the last four years, our businesses have created 9.2 million new jobs.  We had an auto industry that was flat-lining; it's come roaring back.  A manufacturing sector that had lost about one-third of its jobs in the last decade is now adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s.  And rather than create jobs in other countries, more and more companies are recognizing that it makes sense to invest right here in America. We've got great workers.  We've got the largest market in the world.  We've got a whole bunch of stuff going for us and we're starting to see insourcing rather than outsourcing of jobs.

So we’ve made progress, but here’s the thing -- too many Americans out there are still working harder than ever and can’t seem to get ahead.  And so we have to do more to spur growth and economic development, and create more jobs that pay a good wage.

We should be making it easier, not harder, for businesses to invest and create jobs here in the United States.  We should be making sure that people are rewarded for hard work and responsibility, rather than see their wages and salaries stagnate.  And we should be making it easier, not harder, for striving young students to afford the higher education that's going to be the key to a lot of 21st century jobs, and make sure that they can repay that loan debt that too often they’re taking on when they go to college.

There’s a new bill, by the way, being introduced in Congress in the coming weeks that’s going to really do more to make sure that college students are getting a fair shot.  Of course, unfortunately, we’ve got a Congress that all too often spends a few days blocking initiatives to create jobs and raise wages and help young people go to college.  They seem to be more interested in politics right now than performance.  And that’s a challenge.

I’ll work with anybody who’s focused on what we need to be focused on and what all the people who sent us to Washington are focused on, and that is how do we improve the economy and create more jobs.  But if Congress isn’t going to act, then I’m going to do whatever and any steps I can take to create jobs and opportunity for more working families.

So far, we’ve seen, for example, the House Republicans blocked legislation that would raise America’s minimum wage.  So I’ve been working with states and cities and businesses to go ahead and raise their minimum wage anyway.  And I issued an executive order making sure that if you are contracting with the federal government, you’ve got to pay your workers a higher minimum wage -- at least $10.10 an hour -- because I believe that if you work full-time you shouldn’t be in poverty.

We saw Senate Republicans block an up-or-down vote on ensuring equal pay for women.  I went ahead and took action on my own to make it easier for women to find out whether they’re being treated fairly at the workplace and to be able to take action. 

And when it comes to creating jobs, last week I was down in Tarrytown, where workers were able to break ground on the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge ahead of schedule because my administration fast-tracked that project and a lot of major projects across the country.  On Tuesday, I met with CEOs from around the world who are investing and hiring in America because we’ve made our country more competitive. 

And today, I’m here in Cooperstown to talk about some new steps that will lead to more tourism not just within America but getting more folks to come and visit the treasures, the national treasures that we have all across this country, including the Baseball Hall of Fame right here in Cooperstown -- because tourism translates into jobs and it translates into economic growth.  When visitors come here, they don’t just check out the Hall.  They rent cars; they stay in hotels; they eat at restaurants.  And that means for Upstate New York, the Baseball Hall of Fame is a powerful economic engine. 

Last year alone, travel and tourism were responsible for $1.5 trillion in economic activity across the country.  Think about that -- $1.5 trillion supporting nearly 8 million jobs in communities like this one.  And when tourists come from other countries and spend money here, that’s actually considered a type of export.  We don’t always think about it that way, but we should.  Nothing says “Made in America” better than the Empire State Building or the Hoover Dam.  Folks who work at restaurants and hotels that serve fans in Cooperstown have the kinds of jobs that can’t be offshored.  And obviously it’s tough to ship the Rocky Mountains or the Grand Canyon overseas.  You can’t do it.

When it comes to tourism, the good news is we’ve got a great product to sell.  People want to come here.  I was reminded of that yesterday.  I took a walk from the White House to the Department of the Interior building.  Keep in mind, I don’t get a chance to take walks very often.  (Laughter.)  Secret Service gets a little stressed.  But every once in a while I’m able to sneak off.  I’m sort of like the circus bear that kind of breaks the chain, and I start taking off, and everybody starts whispering, the bear is loose!  (Laughter.) 

So I got out, take a walk -- it was a beautiful day.  And even though I went for several blocks -- it was probably about a 10-minute walk -- in that little span of time, I met tourists from Germany, and Israel, and Brazil, and China, and Ukraine on the National Mall.  The fact that people come from all over the world to see our parks, to see our monuments, is something we should take great pride in as Americans.  And it’s good for our economy. 

So just like we’re helping our businesses to sell more goods made in America in markets all across the world, we’re spending a lot of time and focus trying to make it easier for folks from around the world to come see America and spend money here.  Four years ago, I signed a law that set up a nonprofit organization with one mission, and that is to pitch America as a travel destination.  And two years ago, I went down to Disney World to announce new action to make it simpler for travelers to visit America, without compromising security at our borders. 

And those efforts are paying off.  Since its low point after the recession, our travel and tourism industry has added nearly 580,000 new jobs.  Last year, a record 70 million tourists visited America from other countries –- more than the populations of Texas, Florida, and New York combined.  And they spent their money here.  No country on Earth earns more money from international tourism than we do.  And the growth of international tourism created about 175,000 new jobs over the last five years, and helped drive American exports to an all-time high. 

So we’re making great strides in welcoming more visitors to America in places like Cooperstown, but we can do even better.  I want to turn the 70 million tourists that came last year into 100 million each year by the beginning of the next decade.  (Applause.)  And meeting that goal is going to help create jobs here in New York.

And that’s why, earlier today, I took new actions to meet that goal.  I met with several CEOs of travel and tourism companies, and building on the progress that we’ve made, I directed my administration to work with airports, airlines, hotel groups, states, and cities to do more to improve the traveler experience, and reduce wait times for folks entering into the United States, all without compromising our security.

We have some folks here today who are already showing us what’s possible.  Scott Donohue is the CEO of the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.  Where’s Scott?  There he is, right here.  We’ve got, from my own hometown, Rosie Andolino, the Aviation Commissioner from Chicago.  Rosie is right there.  The two of them are responsible for two of the busiest airports in America. But the average wait times through customs and passport control at DFW and O’Hare has fallen to just 15 minutes.  You get off your plane, it’s takes you 15 minutes to get through if you’re an international traveler.  And that is a big deal.  If folks spend less time at the airport, they’re more likely to come back for a return trip.  And when they go back home they tell their friends, you know what, America was there to greet us. 

And I’ve made it clear that national security remains our top priority, and that’s not going to change.  But there’s no reason we can’t replicate the success stories of places like Dallas and Chicago all around the country.  We can automate passport controls.  We can bring in top talent from the private sector to find best practices to help move lines faster.  We can add new staff at customs.  We want to bring in more visitors faster and more jobs faster.  If they come into JFK faster, they come into La Guardia faster, then they can get to Cooperstown faster.  (Applause.)  And they can start seeing Joe DiMaggio’s glove faster.  They can see Babe Ruth’s bat faster.  (Applause.) 

So creating good jobs isn’t always easy.  But standing here and looking back on more than 150 years of our country’s history, baseball describes our history in so many ways.  We’re reminded of all the obstacles that we’ve overcome to get there.  This Hall has memories of two world wars that we fought and won.  It has memories of color barriers being broken; Jackie Robinson’s uniform, the record of his first season as a Dodger.  It shows us the history of communities that we built across a new continent and the ways that we connected with our country and our world, and how women athletes started getting the recognition that they deserved.

So we’ve faced challenges before, but we don’t respond with cynicism and we can’t respond with gridlock.  Every generation faces tough times.  But, in the words attributed to the great Yogi Berra, they’re just “déjà vu all over again.”  (Laughter.)

We know we are up to these challenges.  And just as our parents and our grandparents faced challenges a lot tougher than the ones we face, and just as they went ahead and built an economy where hard work was rewarded and responsibility was rewarded, and opportunity was open to all people, we can do the same.  They passed those values on down through the generations. They passed them down to us.  And when you come to the Baseball Hall of Fame, part of what you’re learning is that there is some eternal, timeless values of grit and determination and hard work and community, and not giving up, and working hard.  Those are American values -- just like baseball.

And there’s no reason we can’t do the same.  That’s what I’m going to be working on as long as I’m President of the United States.  I’m going to be fighting to make sure that those values live out in better jobs, higher wages, stronger economy, stronger communities.  And I hope you’ll join me.

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

END
4:06 P.M. EDT