The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
You can view the progress report on advancing toward a clean energy future HERE.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Andrews Air Force Base
12:55 P.M. PDT
MR. SCHULTZ: Good afternoon, everyone. I have a brief announcement at the top and then I have a week-ahead as well, which I'll read out after you squeeze every last pulp out of me.
This weekend’s weekly address on Mother’s Day will be delivered by the First Lady. As the mother of two young daughters, Mrs. Obama is taking the opportunity to express outrage and heartbreak the President and she share over the kidnapping of over 200 Nigerian girls from their school. The First Lady hopes that the courage of these young girls will serve as an inspiration for every girl and every boy in our country to recommit themselves to their own education, and a call to action for people around the world to fight to ensure that every girl receives the education that is her birthright.
With that, I will take your questions.
Q Eric, Putin is heading to Ukraine for his first visit there since his annexation to Russia. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has called it a provocation, as well as the State Department. What’s the White House’s reaction to this?
MR. SCHULTZ: Sure. We do not accept Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. His visit only serves to fuel tensions. We note that the Ukrainian government has taken precautionary measures to scale back its own public celebration of Victory Day, and we call on all sides to take appropriate steps to prevent any further escalation of violence.
Q So does the White House or the U.S. plan to have a reaction to this? You’ve said in the past that any further steps towards provocation or down the same path that Russia has taken so far would result in further steps from the administration.
MR. SCHULTZ: Sure. Obviously Russia has taken steps to destabilize the region, and we call on Russia to use its influence to defuse tension and implement its commitments made in Geneva.
Q So any further sanctions that you see as a result of this, or any more specific action that might be taken as a result of Putin sort of coming out of going into Crimea?
MR. SCHULTZ: I think you heard both President Obama and Chancellor Merkel address the idea of a next round of sanctions being prepared last week when they were at the White House, and I'm not going to have anything to add to that.
Q Why did you decide to have the First Lady do the address tomorrow? And what’s the connection between the kidnappings and I think you said education is one of the themes of her speech?
MR. SCHULTZ: Clearly, this is an opportunity for the First Lady, as the mother of two young daughters, to speak out and share the heartbreak that she and her husband feel for these 200 girls and express the country’s unity for them.
Q Has she done an address before?
MR. SCHULTZ: Your question suggests you're not an avid follower of our weekly addresses. (Laughter.) The answer to that is, no, she has not done a solo weekly address, but she has joined the President before.
Q You mentioned as part of this obviously the Nigeria kidnapping. The U.S. has sent eight individuals to Nigeria with another seven, I think, that are going tomorrow. Is there a specific mission set out? I know they might not be specifically involved in any sort of rescue mission, if you will, but is there a specific mission that they are going there for?
MR. SCHULTZ: Our embassy team on the ground in Nigeria is being joined by experts who can provide technical and investigatory assistance, help with hostage negotiations, advise on military planning and operations, and assist with intelligence and information sharing. Those additional personnel have begun arriving in Nigeria and will continue to arrive in the next few days. But I'd refer you to Department of State, Department of Defense and the FBI for the latest on those movements.
Q Eric, why did the White House choose Walmart to do this energy efficiency announcement today? It seemed to generate quite a bit of reaction from labor groups who complain about low wages being paid at Walmart and that it clashes with the President’s pay equality message.
MR. SCHULTZ: As the President said today, we all have to do our job to cut carbon pollution and move America towards cleaner energy sources. Hundreds of partners across the private and public sectors are answering that call today, and Walmart is one of the companies leading that charge. They’re leading by example, combining renewable with energy efficiency, and has set an ambitious goal of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy.
Specifically today, Walmart committed to doubling the number of onsite solar energy projects at U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centers by 2020 as part of their commitment to drive the production and procurement of 7 billion kilowatts of renewable energy by the end of the decade.
Q What about the idea of a mixed message regarding the President’s pay equality program?
MR. SCHULTZ: I didn’t hear anything of a mixed message today. As we saw last week, climate change is real, it's happening now and it's affecting every region of the country. In terms of the President’s commitment to raising the minimum wage, this is well known and he’s led by example on that front, and we call on Congress to finish the job.
Q Walmart has been publicly neutral on the minimum wage push but certainly hasn’t come out in favor of it. Did the President have a chance today to talk with any Walmart officials on that topic?
MR. SCHULTZ: I don't have any private conversations of the President to read out.
Q So the House went ahead and set up the Benghazi committee. Did you have any reaction on that? And have you decided whether you will cooperate with this investigation?
MR. SCHULTZ: Yes, we saw that Congress has now established an eighth committee to investigate what happened before, during and after the attacks in Benghazi. Clearly House Republicans think that the preceding seven investigations have been insufficient, but maybe that's because the conspiracy theories they’ve conjured up all collapse when making contact with reality.
Q And what about the level of cooperation that you’ll have with this committee?
MR. SCHULTZ: As you know, we've seen an extraordinary amount of cooperation from this administration with the seven preceding investigations looking into Benghazi. Administration officials have testified at 13 hearings, participated in 25 interviews, 50 member and staff briefings, have produced 25,000 pages of documents. We cooperate with all legitimate oversight requests. But I think we all got a significant data point in assessing the true motives of this effort when Republicans started using it as a fundraising tool for their party’s midterm efforts.
Q So it sounds like you’re not inclined to cooperate.
MR. SCHULTZ: Well, we'll let you judge the authenticity of Republican claims that this is a non-political exercise when their fundraising efforts around it seem to be full-throttle.
Q Any view from the White House on what the Democratic participation should be on this committee?
MR. SCHULTZ: No, we defer to the House Democratic leadership on that.
Q Eric, yesterday I know there were questions about statements out of North Korea, rather insulting of the President. I believe the State Department has said something, but anything from the White House on that?
MR. SCHULTZ: Yes. While the North Korean government- controlled media are distinguished by their histrionics, these comments are particularly ugly and disrespectful.
Q The week ahead?
MR. SCHULTZ: It’s robust. (Laughter.)
On Monday, the President will host President José Mujica of Uruguay at the White House. The Vice President will also attend. The visit will highlight the close partnership we enjoy with Uruguay and our strong support for the Mujica administration’s leadership on human rights, social inclusion, and global peace and security. President Obama looks forward to discussing ways to grow our bilateral economic ties and improve market access for each other’s goods and services, expand our collaboration on science, technology and health, increase educational exchanges and consult on multilateral issues, including peacekeeping.
In the afternoon, the President will honor the 2014 National Association of Police Organizations Top Cops award winners at the White House. The Vice President is going to attend that as well.
On Tuesday, the President will award Kyle J. White, a former active duty Army sergeant, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Sergeant White will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving in the Nuristan Province in Afghanistan on November 9th, 2007. Sergeant White, as you may know, will be the seventh living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, the President and First Lady will travel to New York. While in New York, the President will host an event on the economy and attend DNC and DSCC events.
On Thursday, the President and the First Lady will tour the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. The President will deliver remarks at the dedication ceremony. Following his remarks, the President and First Lady will return to Washington, D.C.
And on Friday, the President will attend meetings at the White House.
Q In New York, on Thursday, will the President be meeting with any families of those related to the 9/11 tragedy?
MR. SCHULTZ: We’re going to put out more information on that as soon as we can.
Q Could you repeat the name of the Uruguayan President?
MR. SCHULTZ: José Mujica. (Laughter.)
Q The President said yesterday that he didn’t think that they could get everything done that they needed to without a Democratic Congress. And then he goes out today with another executive action. Without a Democratic Congress, is this basically just what the next three years will be? Is that what we should expect, just a fair amount of these just executive things that he himself admitted are not that effective -- can’t get done?
MR. SCHULTZ: I’m going to join my colleague yesterday in resisting the temptation to parse the President’s remarks. But when we’re talking about the gridlock in Washington, the President is committed to using his time in office every day to stand up for the values that he holds dear. Not every problem has an easy solution. If they did, we probably wouldn’t be talking about them. But I can tell you that as we make our way through this year of action, the President is determined to maximize every day.
That’s why, for example, today he announced more than 300 private and public-sector commitments to create jobs and cut carbon pollution by advancing solar deployment and energy efficiency. And I think that’s why you see the President marshaling the resources of the presidency, using the pen and the phone, to advance these ideals. And as you point out, take minimum wage as an example of something he’s called on Congress to do, but he’s not waiting for them. I think that’s why you’ve seen a number of states like Maryland and Hawaii take action on their own, a number of companies like The Gap, smaller companies like pizza shops and ice cream parlors around the country who share the President’s goal on this.
Q Were you surprised that Mitt Romney said he was in favor of the minimum wage?
MR. SCHULTZ: I was not surprised. I hope his Republican colleagues join him.
Q The President seemed to say that he had made a lot of calls to business leaders or to university leaders leading into today. Is that a fair -- could you just describe that to me, what went into that? It seemed like he put a lot of effort into doing them.
MR. SCHULTZ: Sure. As you know, Michael, this year 2014 has been a year of action, and the President, because of some of the gridlock in Washington, has decided to deliberately marshal the resource of the presidency, using the pen and the phone. And part of that is direct outreach to business leaders across the country to help pursue the goals that he holds dear.
And last month, the President hosted calls for commitments to support solar deployment and jobs through the expanded use of solar in our homes, businesses and schools. He also called on private and public sector leaders to join the Better Buildings challenge and continue improving the efficiency of America’s buildings. And I think today you saw the result of a lot of those efforts.
Q But is there a calculation there that the time is better spent doing that than doing that with members of Congress?
MR. SCHULTZ: No, just like our energy approach, we believe we can do all of the above.
Q Thanks, Eric.
MR. SCHULTZ: Thank you guys.
END
4:07 P.M. EDT
May 09, 2014 | 15:20 | Public Domain
President Obama announces new steps to help generate more clean energy, waste less energy overall, and leave our kids and our grandkids with a cleaner, safer planet in the process.
Walmart
Mountain View, California
9:48 A.M. PDT
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Mountain View! (Applause.) It’s good to be in California. Everybody, have a seat. Have a seat. This is actually my third day on the West Coast. On Wednesday, we went to L.A., then we went to San Diego, we’re here in the Bay Area. But I have to get back because Sunday is what?
AUDIENCE: Mother’s Day!
THE PRESIDENT: It is Mother’s Day. That is a public service announcement -- do not forget. (Laughter.) It’s Mother’s Day.
I told Michelle one time, I said, how come people put so much emphasis on Mother’s Day, and Father’s day not so much? (Laughter.) She said every day other than Mother’s Day is Father’s Day. (Laughter and applause.) Which I thought kind of quieted me down.
I want to thank your mayor, Chris Clark, for hosting us. (Applause.) I want to thank the folks at Walmart. And I know this looks like a typical Walmart, but it is different -- and that’s why I’m here. A few years ago, you decided to put solar panels on the roof of the store. You replaced some traditional light bulbs with LEDs. You made refrigerator cases more efficient. And you even put in a charging station for electric vehicles. And all told, those upgrades created dozens of construction jobs and helped this store save money on its energy bills. And that’s why I’m here today -- because more and more companies like Walmart are realizing that wasting less energy isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for business. It’s good for the bottom line.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, see, he agrees. (Applause.) And it means jobs.
Changing the way we use energy is just one of the ways Americans have been working so hard to move this country forward. In the wake of the worst financial and economic crisis in generations, our businesses now have created over 9.2 million new jobs. A housing market that was reeling is rebounding. An auto industry that was flat-lining is now booming. You’ve got a manufacturing sector that had lost a third of its jobs during the ‘90s and now is adding jobs for the first time. More than 8 million Americans have now signed up for health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act. (Applause.) Troops that were fighting two wars are coming home. And rather than create jobs in other countries, more companies are actually choosing to create jobs and invest right here in the United States of America.
But we’ve got a long way to go before we get to where we need to be -- which is an economy where everybody who works hard, everybody who takes responsibility has a chance to get ahead, and that we have a chance to build an economy that works not just for a few at the top, but for everybody. That’s our goal -- the idea that no matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter where you come from, what your last name is, if you work hard, if you take responsibility, you can make it here in America.
And that starts with helping businesses create more good jobs. One of the biggest factors in bringing jobs back to America has been our commitment to American energy over the last five years. When I took office, we set out to break our dependence on foreign oil. Today, America is closer to energy independence than we have been in decades. We generate more renewable energy than ever, with tens of thousands of good American jobs to show for it. We produce more natural gas than anyone -- and nearly everybody’s energy bill is lower because of it. So are our carbon emissions that cause climate change.
We set new fuel standards for our cars and trucks so that they’ll go twice as far on a gallon of gas by the middle of the next decade. That saves the typical family about $8,000 at the pump. And for the first time in nearly 20 years, America produces more oil here at home than we buy from other countries.
So we’re producing more traditional energy, but we’re also becoming a leader in the energy sources of the future. We’re becoming a global leader in solar, thanks in part to the investments we’ve made in the Recovery Act. Over the past few years, the cost of solar panels have fallen by 60 percent; solar installations have increased by 500 percent. Every four minutes, another American home or business goes solar, and every panel is pounded into place by a worker whose job cannot be overseas.
So today, no matter where you live or where you do business, solar is getting cheaper and is getting easier to use than before. And with more businesses and rural cooperatives and homes choosing solar, prices keep coming down, manufacturers keep getting more innovative, and more jobs are created. Last year, jobs in the solar industry increased by 20 percent.
But we’ve got more work to do. And I want to work with Congress to do it. Unfortunately, Congress has not always been as visionary on these issues as we would like. It can be a little frustrating. But in this Year of Action, wherever I can go ahead and create my own opportunities for new jobs, I'm going to take it.
And so far, I’ve taken more than 20 executive actions -- from launching new hubs to attracting more high-tech manufacturing jobs to America, to reforming our job training programs to make sure more Americans are getting the skills they need to get the jobs that exist right now.
And so today, here at Walmart, I want to announce a few more steps that we’re taking that are going to be good for job growth and good for our economy, and that we don't have to wait for Congress to do. They are going to be steps that generate more clean energy, waste less energy overall, and leave our kids and our grandkids with a cleaner, safer planet in the process.
So let me list these out. Number one, we know that making buildings more energy efficient is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to create jobs, save money, and cut down on harmful pollution that causes climate change. It could save our businesses tens of billions of dollars a year on their energy bills -- and they can then use that money to grow and hire more folks. It would put construction workers back to work installing new systems and technologies. So this is what you call a win-win-win.
So that’s why, three years ago, I announced what we called the Better Buildings Initiative. It's an ambitious plan to improve the energy efficiency of America’s commercial buildings by 20 percent by the year 2020. And already we've got 190 businesses and organizations that have signed on. On average, they’re on track to meet their goal -- cutting energy use by 2.5 percent every single year. Together, they’ve already saved $300 million in energy costs. So we know it works.
And that’s why, over the past few months, I’ve been picking up the phone and reaching out to more leaders to get them on board. And today, they’re stepping up -- from cities, school districts, businesses, universities, you're seeing folks move on energy efficiency. GM is pledging to improve energy efficiency in 31 plants. The University of Virginia is doing the same thing in its buildings. Cities like Little Rock, Kansas City and Detroit are replacing regular street lights with more efficient LEDs.
And at Walmart, you’ve committed to reducing energy consumption across 850 million square feet of space. That's a lot. That's enough to cover more than half of the city of San Francisco. Taken together, this is going to make a difference, and it's the right thing to do for the planet, but it’s also the right thing to do for the bottom line. Because when you save that money you can pass that money back to consumers in the form of lower prices, or you can use it to create more jobs.
So folks in the private sector are doing their part to create jobs and reduce pollution and cut waste. I’m making sure the federal government does its part. Two years ago, I ordered $2 billion in energy upgrades to federal buildings. Today, I’m ordering an additional $2 billion in upgrades over the next three years. And these upgrades will create tens of thousands of construction jobs and save taxpayers billions of dollars.
The Department of Energy is putting a new efficiency standard -- set of efficiency standards in place that could save businesses billions of dollars in energy costs and cut carbon pollution -- and it's the equivalent of taking about 80 million cars off the road. And I want to thank Ernie Moniz, Secretary of Energy, and Secretary Donovan -- Shaun Donovan of HUD -- who are here today because they’ve shown extraordinary leadership on these issues. That's worth applauding. (Applause.)
So that’s the first announcement. Cities, schools, businesses, the federal government -- we’re all going to pledge to waste less energy and we’ve got concrete strategies that we know work.
The second announcement is about more Americans coming together to use more clean energy. Last month, I called up leaders from a whole range of industries and made the economic case for why solar is a good idea. And they listened. And today, more than 300 organizations -- from homebuilders, to affordable housing owners, to companies like Home Depot and Apple -- announced that they are going to expand the use of solar energy, thereby creating more jobs and cutting carbon pollution.
We’ve got public banks like Connecticut’s Green Bank and private banks like Goldman Sachs ready to invest billions of dollars in renewable energy. The Treasury Department and the IRS are making it easier for renewable energy companies to operate and attract investment. And we’re going to support training programs at community colleges across the country that will help 50,000 workers earn the skills that solar companies are looking for right now.
Walmart has already got the most installed on-site solar capacity of any company in America. And now you’ve announced plans to double that capacity. And it’s all part of your goal to buy or produce 7 billion kilowatt hours of renewable energy by 2020 -- something that could save Walmart $1 billion a year in energy costs.
So we know that generating more clean energy, using less dirty energy, and wasting less energy overall can be good for business and consumers. And it’s also good for the world that we leave for our children.
So together, the commitments we’re announcing today prove that there are cost-effective ways to tackle climate change and create jobs at the same time. So often, when we hear about how we’re going to deal with this really serious issue, people say we can’t afford to do it; it won’t be good for the economy. It will be good for the economy long term -- and if we don’t, that will be bad for the economy. Rising sea levels, drought, more wildfires, more severe storms -- those are bad for the economy. So we can’t afford to wait. And there’s no reason why we can’t even go further than we are so far by working with states and utilities, and other organizations to change the way we power our economy. Climate change is real and we have to act now.
Earlier this week, I issued -- or we issued a report that was years in the making called the National Climate Assessment. Hundreds of scientists, experts and businesses, not-for-profits, local communities all contributed over the course of four years. What they found was unequivocally that climate change is not some far-off problem in the future. It’s happening now. It’s causing hardship now. It’s affecting every sector of our economy and our society -- more severe floods, more violent wildfires. It’s already costing cities and states and families and businesses money.
Here in California, you’ve seen these effects firsthand. You know what’s happening. And increasingly, more and more Americans do -- including, by the way, many Republicans outside of Washington.
So unfortunately, inside of Washington we’ve still got some climate deniers who shout loud, but they’re wasting everybody’s time on a settled debate. Climate change is a fact.
And while we know the shift to clean energy won’t happen overnight, we’ve got to make some tough choices along the way. And we know that if we do, it’s going to save us ultimately money and create jobs over the long term. That's what Walmart understands, and Walmart is pretty good at counting its pennies.
So that’s why this fight is so important. That’s why the sooner we work together to adapt the economy to this reality of climate change, the more likely it is that we do right by our kids and leave a more stable world. And ultimately that's what motivates a whole lot of us.
As Americans, we don’t look backwards. We look forward. We don’t fear the future, we seize it. We shape it. And when it comes to energy, we have a chance to shape that sector that is probably going to have more to do with how well our economy succeeds than just about any other. We are blessed when it comes to energy, but we’re much more blessed when it comes to the innovation and the dynamism and the creativity of our economy.
If we do our part right now to rebuild an economy and transition to a clean energy future, we will create new jobs, we will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we will leave our children with a better America and a better future.
So thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. (Applause.) Thanks to all the companies who are doing the great work, and the not-for-profits. We appreciate your leadership.
Thank you, guys. Happy Mother’s Day, moms! (Applause.)
END
10:02 A.M. PDT
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:
President Obama said, “The extraordinary dedication these men and women bring to their new roles will greatly serve the American people. I am grateful they have agreed to serve in this Administration and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”
President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:
Julie Ann Petty, Appointee for Chair, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Julie Ann Petty is a Project Trainer at Partners for Inclusive Communities at the University of Arkansas. She has worked in the violence prevention and intervention field since 2008. She was the State Coordinator for Arkansas People First from 1998 to 2007. Ms. Petty has served as National Chairperson for Self Advocates Becoming Empowered and Co-Chair of the Alliance for Full Participation. She was first appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2011. Ms. Petty received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Arkansas.
Peter V. Berns, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Peter V. Berns is CEO of The Arc, a position he has held since 2008. Previously, he was Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations from 1992 to 2008. He was CEO of the Standards for Excellence Institute from 2004 to 2008. Earlier in his career, he held positions in the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, including Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Chief of Consumer Protection. Mr. Berns was first appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2011. He has been named to The Nonprofit Times’ Power and Influence Top 50 list five times over the past decade. Mr. Berns received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and an L.L.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Jack Martin Brandt, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Jack Martin Brandt is the Disability Policy Specialist for the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University, a position he has held since 2010. He is also an accomplished artist. Previously, he was a Disability Rights Advocate at the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy from 2008 to 2010, and a Disability Policy Consultant for the State of Virginia from 2006 to 2008. He was also a Virginia Governor’s Fellow at the Office of Community Integration for People with Disabilities in 2006. He was first appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2010. Mr. Brandt served on the Virginia Community Integration Advisory Commission and the Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council until 2012. He received the Colorado Award from the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services in 2013, the Participatory Action Research Award from The Arc of the U.S. in 2012, and the Jackie Crews Award for Excellence in Leadership from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities in 2006. Mr. Brandt received a B.A. from James Madison University and an M.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Kenneth Capone, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Kenneth Capone is Public Policy Coordinator for People on the Go of Maryland, a position he has held since 2010. Previously, he served as Director of the Cross Disability Rights Coalition of Maryland from 2004 to 2010 and also as a Legislative Intern with People on the Go of Maryland from 2004 to 2007. He was an Interviewer at The Arc Maryland from 2002 to 2006. He is a member of the Developmental Disabilities Coalition, the Civil Rights Coalition, and Community First Choice. Mr. Capone received a Certificate in Computer Technology/Programming from The Johns Hopkins University.
Micah Fialka-Feldman, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Micah Fialka-Feldman is a Teaching Assistant/Peer Trainer with Peer2Peer at Syracuse University, a position he has held since 2012. He was an intern at the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2013. He has served on a number of boards, including the Governing Board for National Youth Leadership Network, the National Project Advisory Committee for the Center for Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, and the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service. Additionally, he maintains a blog about challenges he faces as an adult with intellectual disabilities. In 2009, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Family Voices. Mr. Fialka-Feldman graduated from the Options Program at Oakland University.
Zachary W. Holler, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Zachary W. Holler is a graduate student and 2014 candidate for a Masters in Divinity at the United Theological Seminary. Previously, he was Youth Development Coordinator at Access Center for Independent Living in Dayton, Ohio from 2011 to 2013. He worked as a Deaf Role Model at the Sinclair Community College ASL Lab from 2010 to 2011, as a Human Resource Assistant Intern at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 2009, and as an intern at the American Association of Persons with Disabilities in Washington, D.C. Mr. Holler has served as a member of the Consumer Advisory Committee of the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and as a Delegate for the Ohio Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities at the Ohio Governor’s Council Youth Leadership Forum. At Wright State Unviersity, he was President of Abilities United and Associate Director of Disability Affairs, a position with the student government. Mr. Holler received a B.A. from Wright State University.
Lisa Pugh, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Lisa Pugh is Public Policy Director at Disability Rights Wisconsin, the state’s protection and advocacy agency, a position she has held since 2010. Ms. Pugh also coordinates Wisconsin’s Disability Policy Partnership. Previously, she was a State Policy Analyst at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, a Disability Policy Advisor with the U.S. Department of Education, and a Legislative Fellow with the Committee on Education and Labor in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009 to 2010. She was a founding member of the Madison Partners for Inclusive Education, and she was appointed to the Dane County Human Services Board. In 2013, she was the recipient of Wisconsin's Elliott Shaw Distinguished Professional Award. Ms. Pugh received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin.
Michelle C. Reynolds, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Michelle C. Reynolds is a Research Associate with the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Institute for Human Development, a position she has held since 1997. At UMKC, she serves as the Director of the Individual Advocacy and Family Support and Missouri Family-to-Family Disability Resource Center programs. She holds additional leadership roles with various grant programs, including the National Community of Practice for Support to Families, the Division of Developmental Disabilities at the UMKC Department of Behavioral Health, and at the Health Resources and Services Administration. Ms. Reynolds received a B.A. and an M.A. from Rockhurst University and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
Dr. Deborah M. Spitalnik, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Dr. Deborah M. Spitalnik is the Executive Director of The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at Rutgers University’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS), a position she has held since 1983. She is also a Professor of Pediatrics at RWJMS. Dr. Spitalnik chairs the New Jersey Medical Assistance Advisory Council, is past chair of the National Council on Quality and Leadership, and is also a past President of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. Dr. Spitalnik was appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2011, having previously served on the Committee from 1994 to 2001 and as Chair from 2000 to 2001. She received the Dybwad Humanitarian Award from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in 2000. Dr. Spitalnik received a B.A from Brandeis University, an Ed.M. from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. from Temple University.
Elizabeth Weintraub, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Elizabeth Weintraub works for the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and for the Council on Quality and Leadership. She is the past Chair of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, and a former board member of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities and Self Advocates Becoming Empowered. She was first appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2011. She was the recipient of the Elizabeth Monroe Boggs Award for Young Leadership in 1998.
Dr. Sheryl White-Scott, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Dr. Sheryl White-Scott is the Medical Specialist for the Metro Office of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, a position she has held since 2013. Previously, she was the Medical Director of the Brooklyn Office of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities from 2009 to 2013. She is also Associate Director of Community Health Services for the Medically Frail at AHRC/New York City. She has worked at several New York hospitals, including St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers of New York, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Mary Immaculate Hospital/Caritas Health System Inc., and New York Medical College, where she has been an Assistant Clinical Professor since 1993. Dr. White-Scott was first appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2011, and is a member of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. She is a former President of the American Association of University Affiliated Programs. Dr. White-Scott received a B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University and an M.D. from SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine.
This week, the President attended the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner; the most comprehensive report on the effects of climate change was released, Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan met with educators at the White House; and more. Check out what else you may have missed in this week's wrap up.
Over the weekend, the President attended the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner and, in keeping with the dinner's tradition, assumed the role of Comedian-in-Chief in his remarks. From poking fun at the administration to jabs at the news media, many were roasted and few were spared.
President Obama ended his remarks on a high note, thanking the White House Correspondents' Association for all of their hard work as the organization celebrated its 100th anniversary.
And in case you missed it, two Vice Presidents opened the White House Correspondents' Dinner in a great new video.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
MOTHER'S DAY, 2014
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
For over a century, Americans have come together to celebrate our first friends and mentors, our inspirations and constant sources of strength. Our mothers are breadwinners, community leaders, and pillars of family. They pioneer scientific discoveries, serve with valor in our Armed Forces, and represent our Nation in the loftiest halls of Government. Whether biological, adoptive, or foster, they play a singular role in our lives. Because they so often put everything above themselves, on Mother's Day, we put our moms first.
Through centuries of organizing, marching, and making their voices heard, mothers have won greater opportunities than ever before for themselves and their children. Their victories brought our Nation closer to realizing a sacred founding principle -- that we are all created equal and each of us deserves the chance to pursue our own version of happiness.
Today, there are more battles to win. Working mothers increasingly provide the majority of their family's income, yet even now, discrimination prevents women from earning a living equal to their efforts. My Administration is proud to fight alongside women as they push to close the gender pay gap, shatter glass ceilings, and implement workplace policies that do not force any parent to choose between their jobs and their kids. Because when women succeed, America succeeds.
By words and example, mothers teach us how to grow and who to become. They shape lasting habits that can lead to healthy living and lifelong learning. They demonstrate what is possible when we work hard and apply our talents. Without complaint, they give their best every day so they and their children might achieve the scope of their dreams. Today, let us once again extend our gratitude for our mothers' unconditional love and support -- during years past and in the years to come.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 8, 1914 (38 Stat. 770), has designated the second Sunday in May each year as "Mother's Day" and requested the President to call for its appropriate observance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 11, 2014, as Mother's Day. I urge all Americans to express love and gratitude to mothers everywhere, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
BARACK OBAMA
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
In today's global economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure. A sound transportation system allows businesses to safely move their goods to market, and maintaining that system creates jobs upgrading ports, unclogging commutes, and repairing roads and rails. During National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week, we underscore the importance of infrastructure to our economy, security, and way of life.
This summer, the Congress will need to protect more than three million jobs by finishing transportation and waterways bills that provide at least 4 years of funding for extensive infrastructure repairs and investments. Because accessible roads, safe bridges, and good jobs should transcend politics, I am hopeful our representatives will do right by the American people. In the meantime, I am taking executive action to slash bureaucracy and streamline the permitting process for key projects. Earlier this year, I launched a competition for 600 million dollars in transportation grants. Cities and States can win this funding by creating plans that both modernize transportation infrastructure and stimulate the economy.
Infrastructure also plays a vital role in America's security. Fluid, dependable, and efficient transportation systems allow first responders and service members to swiftly arrive on the scene of an emergency. When natural disasters strike, we rely on these systems to bring food and first aid to victims. In order to safeguard our Nation, we must ensure our infrastructure is resilient enough to withstand disaster and keep supply lines open.
Today, America has ports that are not prepared for the next generation of supertankers. We have more than 100,000 bridges that are old enough to qualify for Medicare. And we have a world-class labor force ready to tackle this challenge. Let's put them to work.
In recognition of the importance of our Nation's transportation infrastructure, and of the men and women who build, maintain, and utilize it, the Congress has requested, by joint resolution approved May 16, 1957, as amended (36 U.S.C. 120), that the President designate the third Friday in May of each year as "National Defense Transportation Day," and, by joint resolution approved May 14, 1962, as amended (36 U.S.C. 133), that the week during which that Friday falls be designated as "National Transportation Week."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Friday, May 16, 2014, as National Defense Transportation Day and May 11 through May 17, 2014, as National Transportation Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the importance of our Nation's transportation infrastructure and to acknowledge the contributions of those who build, operate, and maintain it.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
BARACK OBAMA
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, 2014
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Small businesses represent an ideal at the heart of our Nation's promise -- that with ingenuity and hard work, anyone can build a better life. They are also the lifeblood of our economy, employing half of our country's workforce and creating nearly two out of every three new American jobs. During National Small Business Week, we renew our commitment to helping these vital enterprises thrive.
From day one, my Administration has been focused on cultivating an environment where small businesses can succeed. During my first term, we added 18 direct tax breaks for small businesses, including new tax credits for hiring unemployed workers and veterans and for investing in new equipment. Through the Small Business Administration (SBA), we have supported hundreds of thousands of loans. And to ensure small businesses have a voice in economic decisions, I elevated the Small Business Administrator to a Cabinet level position.
My Administration is also working to ease burdens on businesses. We cut in half the time it takes for the Federal Government to pay small business contractors, freeing up more resources for growth. To provide a boost to the smallest new businesses, we have eliminated SBA fees on loans under 150,000 dollars and waived fees for veterans who take out loans under 350,000 dollars. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, it is now easier for small business owners to purchase quality health insurance, and they are now eligible for tax credits that cover up to half of the cost of providing coverage for their employees. And we continue to implement patent reforms that are reducing the application backlog, protecting American intellectual property abroad, and helping entrepreneurs roll out their inventions sooner.
Yet we have more work to do. In the years to come, we must protect tax credits that help small businesses hire and add incentives for paying workers higher wages. We must ensure entrepreneurs -- even those who are not rich -- have the resources to take their businesses to the next level. Because if we create a more level playing field, the best ideas will rise to the top, opportunity will flourish, and America will prosper.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 12 through May 16, 2014, as National Small Business Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the competitiveness of the American economy with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
BARACK OBAMA
President Barack Obama delivers remarks on energy efficiency, at the Walmart in Mountain View, California, May 9, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Today in Mountain View, California President Obama stopped by a business that's making big changes to the way it uses energy.
It's a big store in fact, and one that millions of Americans have in their own hometowns: Walmart.
But this isn't your typical Walmart, President Obama said.
"A few years ago, you decided to put solar panels on the roof of the store," he explained. "You replaced some traditional light bulbs with LEDs. You made refrigerator cases more efficient. And you even put in a charging station for electric vehicles."
Those upgrades are helping Mountain View's Walmart save money on its energy bills -- and created dozens of construction jobs in the process.
"More and more companies like Walmart are realizing that wasting less energy isn't just good for the planet. It's good for business," he said. "And it means jobs."
Today President Obama announced several new steps that build on the 20 executive actions he's already taken this year to create jobs and opportunity for more Americans -- new steps that will help generate more clean energy, waste less energy overall, and leave our kids and grandkids a cleaner, safer planet in the process.
In his State of the Union address, President Obama pledged to make 2014 a year of action. And today, we announced new ways we’re taking action to advance clean energy and create opportunity for hardworking Americans. The Obama Administration has made historic investments in the research, development, and deployment of clean energy. And these investments are paying off; solar power provides a strong example.
Since President Obama took office, U.S. solar generation has grown more than ten-fold. Since 2011 alone, the cost of a solar energy system has dropped by more than 50 percent. And last year, about one quarter of new power generation capacity came from solar.
We know that solar is winning in America: It’s good for our environment, our economy, and our energy security. But it’s not alone. Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and cheapest tools we have for combating climate change while expanding opportunity. That’s why the Obama Administration has developed efficiency measures, such as new appliance standards, that will cut carbon pollution and save consumers billions on their utility bills in the next two decades. The Energy Department has partnered with 190 organizations through the Better Buildings Challenge to advance energy efficiency over the next 10 years – and they are making tremendous progress. And fuel economy standards for our cars and trucks mean we are – and will continue to be – less reliant on foreign oil.
But there’s more we can do. That’s why today we announced new executive actions to cut energy waste, create jobs, and reduce carbon pollution. These initiatives will help build a skilled solar workforce, provide innovative financing for deploying solar, improve appliance efficiency, strengthen building codes, and drive investment in energy upgrades to federal buildings. You can read more about our announcements on this fact sheet.
We’re making great progress. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we asked leaders from every sector to build on the momentum that’s driving solar deployment and efficiency investments throughout the country – and make a commitment to do more.
