The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 21, 2013

White House Announces New Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs

Today, President Obama announced the appointment of Caroline Atkinson to be Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics, replacing Michael Froman, who was recently sworn in as United States Trade Representative.  Atkinson has served as Special Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs since August 2011. 

For the last two years, Atkinson has played a central role in the Administration's response to the European financial crisis, supported work in the G-8 and G-20 and led the interagency efforts on the economic response to the Arab Spring.  In her new role, Atkinson will be the President’s personal representative to major international economic summits, including the G-8 and the G-20.  She will serve as the President’s senior international economic advisor, coordinating the policy-making process and driving the execution of policy on international economic affairs, including financial, trade and investment, development, energy and environmental issues.

“Caroline is respected around the world for her understanding of how the global economy works, her tireless efforts to promote strong, balanced and sustainable growth and her experience in managing international financial crises,” said President Obama. 

Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Atkinson was a senior executive in the International Monetary Fund.  She has previously served in the United States Department of the Treasury as Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Monetary and Financial Policy from 1997-2001, as a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, as a Senior Director at Stonebridge International and as a Head of Division on Regulatory Policy at the Bank of England.  Atkinson began her career as a journalist for the Washington Post, the Economist, and the Times of London.

Atkinson was born in Washington, D.C. She received her undergraduate degree from Oxford University.

West Wing Week: 06/21/13 or "What's the Craic?"

Adam Garber
Adam Garber
June 21, 2013
12:00 AM EDT

This week, the President honored Father's Day and the WNBA Champion Indiana Fever at the White House before embarking on a four-day trip to the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland and to Berlin. 

Related Topics: Inside the White House, Indiana

West Wing Week: 06/21/13 or "What's the Craic?"

June 20, 2013 | 05:53 | Public Domain

This week, the President honored Father's Day and the WNBA Champion Indiana Fever at the White House before embarking on a four-day trip to the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland and to Berlin.

Download mp4 (193MB)

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2013

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

James Donato, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California, vice James Ware, retired.

Beth Labson Freeman, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California, vice an additional position in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 133(b)(1).

Jennifer Prescod May-Parker, of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina, vice Malcolm J. Howard, retired.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2013

President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate Three to Serve on the United States District Court

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama nominated James Donato, Judge Beth Labson Freeman and Jennifer Prescod May-Parker for District Court judgeships.

“I am pleased to nominate these distinguished individuals to serve on the United States District Court bench,” said President Obama.  “I am confident they will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice.”

James Donato:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California

James Donato is a litigation partner in the San Francisco office of Shearman & Sterling LLP, where he has worked since 2009.  His practice concentrates on antitrust litigation and class action lawsuits.  Previously, Donato worked at Cooley LLP from 1996 to 2009 and served as a Deputy City Attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office from 1993 to 1996.  Beginning in 1990, he spent three years working as an associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP.  He began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Procter Hug, Jr., on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1988 to 1989.  Donato received his J.D. in 1988 from Stanford Law School, where he was an Executive Board member of the Stanford Law Review.  He received his A.M. in 1984 from Harvard University and his B.A. in 1983 from the University of California at Berkeley.  In 2008, he was President of the Bar Association of San Francisco. 

Judge Beth Labson Freeman:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California

Judge Beth Labson Freeman has been a Judge on the San Mateo County Superior Court since 2001 and was elected by her colleagues to serve as Assistant Presiding Judge from 2009 to 2010 and Presiding Judge from 2011 to 2012.  In her role as a judge, Judge Freeman has presided over a broad array of civil and criminal matters.  Prior to her appointment to the bench, she was Deputy County Counsel at the San Mateo County Counsel’s Office from 1983 to 2001.  She began her legal career by working at the law firms of Lasky, Haas, Cohler and Munter, from 1981 to 1983, and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver, and Jacobson, from 1979 to 1981.  Judge Freeman received her J.D. in 1979 from Harvard Law School and her B.A. in 1976 from the University of California at Berkeley. 

Jennifer Prescod May-Parker:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Jennifer Prescod May-Parker is the Chief of the Appellate Division at the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina, a position she has held since 2010.  She has served as an Assistant United States Attorney since 1999 and, in that capacity, has prosecuted a broad spectrum of cases at both the trial level and on appeal.  From 1998 to 1999, May-Parker worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Environmental Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice.  She began her legal career by serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office from 1991 to 1998.  May-Parker received her J.D. in 1991 from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School and her B.A. in 1988 from the State University of New York at Geneseo.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2013

Statement from the President on World Refugee Day

On World Refugee Day, the United States stands with the more than 45 million people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict and political violence.

This year, I want especially to thank countries and communities working to meet the needs of those who have fled the ongoing violence in Syria.  In word and deed, countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt have taken on extraordinary burdens as they host people displaced by horrific violence.  We are grateful for their generosity, and pleased to support their efforts in addressing this humanitarian crisis.

Today, we reaffirm our commitment to working with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and our partners and Allies to protect and assist all those displaced as they work to rebuild their lives in peace and dignity.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2013

Message to Congress -- Continuation of the National Emergency on Russian Fissile Material

 TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the emergency declared in Executive Order 13617 of June 25, 2012, with respect to the disposition of Russian highly enriched uranium is to continue in effect beyond June 25, 2013.

The risk of nuclear proliferation created by the accumulation of a large volume of weapons-usable fissile material in the territory of the Russian Federation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13617 with respect to the disposition of Russian highly enriched uranium.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2013

Notice to Congress -- Continuation of the National Emergency on Russian Fissile Material

 

NOTICE
- - - - - - -
CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT
TO THE DISPOSITION OF RUSSIAN HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM

 On June 25, 2012, by Executive Order 13617, I declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the risk of nuclear proliferation created by the accumulation of a large volume of weapons-usable fissile material in the territory of the Russian Federation.

Full implementation of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation Concerning the Disposition of Highly Enriched Uranium Extracted from Nuclear Weapons, dated February 18, 1993, and related contracts and agreements (collectively, the "HEU Agreements") is essential to the attainment of U.S. national security and foreign policy goals. Assets of the Government of the Russian Federation directly related to the implementation of the HEU Agreements may be subject to attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial process, thereby jeopardizing the full implementation of the HEU Agreements to the detriment of U.S. national security and foreign policy. In order to ensure the preservation and proper and complete transfer to the Government of the Russian Federation of all payments due to it under the HEU Agreements, in Executive Order 13617 I ordered the blocking of all property and interests in property of the Government of the Russian Federation directly related to the implementation of the HEU Agreements and declared any attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial process with respect to such blocked property to be null and void, unless licensed or authorized pursuant to Executive Order 13617 or Executive Order 13159 of June 21, 2000.

The risk of nuclear proliferation created by the accumulation of a large volume of weapons-usable fissile material in the territory of the Russian Federation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13617 of June 25, 2012, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond June 25, 2013. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared with respect to the disposition of Russian highly enriched uranium declared in Executive Order 13617.

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

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2013

Readout of Vice President Biden’s Call with President Michel Martelly of Haiti

Vice President Biden spoke yesterday with Haitian President Michel Martelly, continuing their dialogue at the recent meeting of Caribbean leaders in Trinidad and Tobago and furthering the enduring relationship between the United States and Haiti. The Vice President reiterated the United States’ continued long-term support for Haiti’s reconstruction and development as well as its democratic progress. The Vice President commended President Martelly for his leadership in addressing Haiti’s many challenges and encouraged his continued efforts to pursue economic and social development through a Haitian-led approach.  They discussed progress and challenges in key areas of mutual interest, including infrastructure development, police and security issues, strengthening the capacity of Haitian Government institutions, and promoting transparency and human rights. Vice President Biden commended Haiti on the successful and peaceful election that brought President Martelly to power and encouraged President Martelly to hold senatorial and local elections this year.  The Vice President underscored the importance of elections in solidifying Haiti’s democratic foundation.  Vice President Biden reaffirmed that the United States is a committed friend and partner of Haiti and noted that he looks forward to deepening our cooperation to help Haiti build a more prosperous and secure country for its people.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 19, 2013

Statement from the President on the Confirmation of Michael Froman as United States Trade Representative

I am pleased that the Senate took bipartisan action today to confirm Michael Froman as the United States Trade Representative.  Mike has been my closest advisor on a broad range of international economic issues and will continue to play a key role on my economic team.  He’s trusted and well-respected by our partners around the world, and for the last several years, he’s been a driving force behind our international economic agenda.  In his new position, Mike will stay focused on our primary economic goals – promoting growth, creating jobs and strengthening the middle class.  And he will continue to help open new markets for American businesses, level the playing field for American workers, farmers and ranchers, and fully enforce our trade rights.