The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 26, 2015

Remarks by President Obama and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after Bilateral Meeting

Oval Office

11:47 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  It is a great pleasure to welcome my friend, former Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, back to the Oval Office.  The last time he was here he came as a Prime Minister.  He’s now the Secretary General of NATO.  And we’ve had an excellent discussion.

Before I mention some of the topics that we discussed on NATO, let me just say a couple of things.  First of all, I had a chance this morning to talk to Governor Abbott of Texas to express condolences for the terrible flooding that's been taking place there.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and the communities that have been affected by some of these devastating, record-breaking floods.

I assured Governor Abbott that he could count on the help of the federal government.  We have FEMA personnel already on the ground.  They are coordinating with Texas Emergency Management authorities, and I will anticipate that there will be some significant requests made to Washington.  My pledge to him is that we will expedite those requests to make sure that both search-and-rescue operations where necessary, but also recovery operations occur as efficiently and as quickly as possible.

The second thing I want to just mention very quickly -- last week, Congress obviously was busy.  It left town without finishing necessary work on FISA and some of the reforms that are necessary to the Patriot Act. 

I said over a year ago that it was important for us to properly balance our needs for security with civil liberties.  And this administration engaged on a bipartisan, bicameral basis, talking to Republicans and Democrats about how we could preserve necessary authorities but provide the public greater assurance that those authorities were not being abused. 

The House of Representatives did its work and came up with what they’ve called the USA Freedom Act, which strikes an appropriate balance.  Our intelligence communities are confident that they can work with the authorities that are provided in that act.  It passed on a bipartisan basis and overwhelmingly.  It was then sent to the Senate.  The Senate did not act.  And the problem we have now is that those authorities run out at midnight on Sunday. 

So I strongly urge the Senate to work through this recess and make sure that they identify a way to get this done.  Keep in mind that the most controversial provision in there, which had to do with the gathering of telephone exchanges in a single government database -- that has been reformed in the USA Freedom Act.  But you have a whole range of authorities that are also embodied in the Patriot Act that are non-controversial, that everybody agrees are necessary to keep us safe and secure.  Those also are at risk of lapsing. 

So this needs to get done.  And I would urge folks to just work through whatever issues can still exist, make sure we don't have, on midnight Sunday night, this task still undone, because it's necessary to keep the American people safe and secure.

Now, with respect to NATO, obviously this is a challenging and important time for NATO, and we are very lucky to have General Secretary Stoltenberg at the helm during this time.  We had a chance to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the increasingly aggressive posture that Russia has taken, and we affirmed that NATO is the cornerstone not just of transatlantic security but, in many ways, is the cornerstone for global security.

In Wales, we were able to not only affirm the intentions of the Alliance to uphold its Article 5 obligations, but we also put in place a whole host of measures to reassure frontline states and to put in place what we call the Readiness Action plan.  That is currently being implemented, and I was pleased to hear that not only the United States but our other NATO allies have been doing what’s necessary to make sure that we have positioned the resources and assets necessary to protect all NATO members.

We also reaffirmed the importance of implementing the Minsk Agreement and ensuring that Ukraine is able to enjoy the same territorial integrity and sovereignty as any other country.  And we’ll continue to support Ukraine through the NATO-Ukraine partnership that pre-dates the crisis that occurred both in Crimea and now in eastern Ukraine.

We also had an opportunity to discuss the fact that NATO is involved not just in the fault line of East and West that has traditionally been NATO’s concern; NATO is necessarily recognizing a whole range of global challenges, particularly on what we call the Southern Front.  And we are working closely with NATO allies to make sure that we are partnering with other countries to address issues of counterterrorism; making sure that we continue to coordinate effectively in the fight against ISIL  -- because all 28 NATO members are members of the coalition to support the Iraqi government against the ISIL fight; to address the challenges that exist in Libya -- right across from the Mediterranean, and obviously there’s great concern among a number of NATO members about the spillover effects of a chaotic situation there. 

That means increased defense capacity-building with other countries like Iraq or GCC countries that are interested in working with us, as well as the African Union.  It also means that we have to think about whether we are deploying and arranging our assets effectively to meet that goal. 

And finally, we had a chance to discuss not only how NATO is positioned but also making sure that we finish the job with respect to Afghanistan.  And when we meet in Warsaw later this year, we’ll have an opportunity to assess how we will continue to support the Afghan National Security Forces, now that we have transitioned out of our combat mission, to make sure that they can do the job, that they can secure and protect their own country.  That will require resources, training, and assistance from not only the United States but also from all NATO countries. And I’m very gratified that the General Secretary I think has made this an important focus of the work that’s to be done.

So we have a busy agenda.  There are many challenges.  The one thing that we know is that NATO is going to be a central component of us being able to meet those challenges.  And as the strongest alliance in the history of the world, we need to make sure that each member country is properly resourcing and committing to the NATO missions that have been set forth.  That’s the only way that we’re going to maintain the kind of collective self-defense that has been the hallmark of peace and prosperity for many, many decades now.

Jens.

SECRETARY GENERAL STOLTENBERG:  Thank you.  It’s great to be back in the White House and to meet with the President of the United States, Barack Obama.  And, Barack, it’s great to meet you again, also because I feel that we have very much developed a common understanding that the Alliance is facing a new security environment.

And I would like to start to thank you for everything that you personally have done to show leadership in a time where we really need U.S. leadership, and also the initiative you took -- the European Reassurance Initiative -- which you launched a year ago and which has been of great importance when it comes to U.S. presence in Europe.  And the U.S. military presence in Europe is the key to provide reassurance to all allies. 

And I have traveled around the Alliance, and all the places I have gone I have met U.S. servicemen and women.  And the message they send is the same -- that America stands with Europe, Europe and America stand together, and NATO will defend and protect all allies against enemy threat.

This is even more important because we are facing new threats, new challenges, coming both from the east and from the south.  And as you stated, or as you said, we are adapting, we are responding, we are increasing the readiness and the preparedness of our forces.  European allies are taking the lead in establishing a speed of force -- in this joint task force.  And in addition, we have the great commitment and the contributions from the United States.

And altogether, this is the biggest reinforcement of our collective defense since the end of the Cold War.  And we are also setting up command-and-control units in all the eastern ally countries, underlining that NATO is present, NATO is there to protect and defend all allies.

We discussed Crimea, Ukraine, and the importance of the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.  That’s the path to peace, and I urge all parties to fully implement the Minsk Agreements, and Russia to stop supporting the separatists and to rid all its forces from eastern Ukraine.

When it comes to the south, I welcome that all NATO allies are contributing to the U.S.-led coalition against ISIL.  NATO, in addition, supports countries in the region to increase their ability to defend themselves, to create stability.  And the aim is to be able to project stability without always deploying large number of forces.

Defense capacity-building is, therefore, key to NATO.  We have increased our support for Jordan.  We are in the process of developing defense capacity-building for Iraq.  And we stand ready to do so also in Libya when the situation on the ground allows.

And of course, we will continue to support Afghanistan also after the end of our current mission, to continue to support Afghans to be able to take care of their own security also in the future.

All of this will require resources, both for collective defense, for cooperative security, for defense capacity-building. And therefore, they are high on my agenda.  The main topic I raise in all capitals always is the importance of delivering on the defense investment pledge we made to stop the cuts in defense budgets and to start, gradually to increase and to aim at 2 percent.

The U.S. is already well above that, so this is something which is about all the allies.  And I spend a lot of time urging them to increase their defense budgets because we need more resources to be able to deliver what we already promised both when it comes to collective defense and when it comes to cooperative security.

We will meet again at -- all allies will meet again at the NATO summit in July in Warsaw, 2016.  I’m looking forward to that because that will be a basis for taking stock of the progress we have made, but also to chart the course forward.  And the key issue is always the unity, the cohesion of the Alliance.  I am very grateful for your strong personal commitment to the Alliance, to transatlantic security.  And I’m looking forward to continuing to work together with you.

Thank you.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you.

Thank you, everybody. 

END
12:03 P.M. EDT    

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
May 25, 2015

Remarks By The First Lady at Oberlin College Commencement Address

Tappan Square Field

Oberlin, Ohio

11:05 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Hi!  (Laughter and applause.)  How are you all doing?  (Applause.)  Are you sure?  (Applause.)  Well, let me just tell you, it is beyond a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you today. 

I want to start by thanking President Krislov for that very kind introduction, as well as all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Oberlin.  I also want to tell you how proud and how moved I am to receive this honorary degree from this particular school -- the first college in America to officially embrace the admission of black students, and the first co-ed school to grant bachelor’s degrees to women.  (Applause.) 

I should be here today.  Oberlin is likely the only college in America that I could have attended nearly two centuries ago, and I am honored to be part of the extraordinary legacy of this great institution.  (Applause.) 

I also want to take a moment on this Memorial Day to pay tribute to all of the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives so that we could sit here today, at peace, with rights and freedoms that others around the world can only dream of.  I am so proud to honor these American heroes today –- and every day –- for their extraordinary service to our nation.  (Applause.)  

And I’m also a little giddy to be joined on stage by another one of my heroes, Marian Wright Edelman.  (Applause.)  Her moral leadership on behalf of children in this country has inspired me throughout my career, as well as my husband, the President of the United States.  (Applause.)  

And, graduates, I think we should give another shout-out to your families, of course, all the families.  (Applause.)  These are the folks who pushed you and supported you.  They answered your late-night phone calls even when you were just calling for money.  (Laughter.)  So on behalf of your students, I just want to show you all some love today, as well.  Thank you for creating these fabulous individuals.  Well done.  (Applause.) 

And finally, most of all, I want to congratulate the Oberlin Class of 2015!  (Applause.)  Look at you!  You made it!  You’re here!  You’re looking good!  (Applause.)  And I know you worked hard to make it to this moment, didn’t you?  (Laughter.)  Staying up late writing those papers, studying for exams.  Spent hours practicing and performing.  You went to countless happy hours, and happy-happy hours at the Feve I hear -- (laughter) -- I’m going to try one of those burgers for lunch today; that’s all I’m going to have -- (laughter) -- where of course, parents, that’s where they studied some more. 

And on top of all of that, you spent thousands of hours giving back to this community –- tutoring kids, playing music for seniors, serving food to folks in need, and of course, mentoring the local young people back there -- I see you all -- through the Ninde Scholars Program.  So proud of you all back there. 

And that’s, as the President said, why I’m here today.  (Applause.)  As he mentioned, my office did this wonderful competition to highlight colleges that are helping underserved young people graduate from high school and then go on to higher education.  So by providing tutoring and ACT prep classes, financial aid workshops, and so much more, your Ninde Scholars Program stood out as a shining example of how schools like Oberlin can lift first-generation students into college. 

So I’m here today because I’m proud of you all.  I really am.  I’m inspired by your commitment to service and social justice.  And I’m impressed by the community that you all have created here –- a warm, supportive, inclusive community that embodies the values that define this school.  

And even amidst the joy and excitement of graduation, I know that you may be feeling some real sadness about leaving this community behind.  You may also be feeling some real anxiety about venturing out into the world beyond these walls.  And I’m not going to lie to you -- for many of you, this is going to be a pretty big transition.  In fact, I think Dr. Martin Luther King described it well in his commencement address in ’65 when he declared, “Today you bid farewell to the safe security of the academic environment.  You prepare to continue your journey on the clamorous highways of life.”

And the truth is, graduates, after four years of thoughtful, respectful discussion and debate here at Oberlin -– those seminars where you explored new ideas together, those late-night conversations where you challenged each other and learned from each other -- after all of that, you might find yourself a little dismayed by the clamor outside these walls -- the name-calling, the negative ads, the folks yelling at each other on TV.  After being surrounded by people who are so dedicated to serving others and making the world a better place, you might feel a little discouraged by the polarization and gridlock that too often characterize our politics and civic life.  

And in the face of all of that clamor, you might have an overwhelming instinct to just run the other way as fast as you can.  You might be tempted to just recreate what you had here at Oberlin -– to find a community of like-minded folks and work with them on causes you care about, and just tune out all of the noise.  And that’s completely understandable.  In fact, I sometimes have that instinct myself -- run!  (Laughter.) 

But today, graduates, I want to urge you to do just the opposite.  Today, I want to suggest that if you truly wish to carry on the Oberlin legacy of service and social justice, then you need to run to, and not away from, the noise.  (Applause.)  Today, I want to urge you to actively seek out the most contentious, polarized, gridlocked places you can find.  Because so often, throughout our history, those have been the places where progress really happens –- the places where minds are changed, lives transformed, where our great American story unfolds.  

For example, think back to the struggle for women’s suffrage and the story of a leading suffragist and Oberlin alum named Lucy Stone.  (Applause.)  People screamed at her.  They spat on her.  They even threw prayer books at her as she tried to speak.  Her opponents declared that letting women vote was “unnatural,” would lead to child neglect and all kinds of social ills.  So I’d say that debate was pretty polarized, wouldn’t you?

And think about President Roosevelt’s struggle to pass the New Deal a few decades later.  FDR’s plan for Social Security was called “socialist,” a “fraud on the workingman.”  One opponent even stated that it would “end the progress of a great country.”  So that debate was pretty contentious, too.

And in the years before Dr. King addressed those Oberlin graduates in ‘65, he and his colleagues faced fire hoses and dogs in Montgomery, beatings on a bridge in Selma, insults and assaults as they sat quietly at lunch counters and marched peacefully down public streets.

And if you think today’s gridlock is bad, let me remind you that it was a good century between the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the passage of the civil rights legislation of the 1960s.  And of all the women at the Seneca Falls women’s suffrage convention in 1848, just one lived to see women cast their votes.  Just one. 

But these folks didn’t let the ugliness and the obstacles deter them.  They didn’t just give up and retreat to the comfortable company of like-minded folks, because they understood that this is how democracy operates.  It is loud and messy, and it’s not particularly warm and fuzzy.  And believe me, I know this from personal experience.  (Laughter.)  Over the years, I’ve occasionally run into the noise myself.  But I’ve come to realize that most of that clamor is really coming from just a handful of very loud folks out on the fringes. 

See, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of people in this country are open-minded and big-hearted.  They are smart enough to see through that noise, and they are so hungry for voices that rise above it –- smart, compassionate, thoughtful voices like yours. 

Now, the process of democracy might not always be as fast or as smooth as we’d like.  But the fact is, it works.  Generation after generation, this country has become more equal, more inclusive, more fair, more free.  My life and so many of your lives are a testament of that truth.  But that has only happened because folks like all of you left their comfort zones and made their voices heard. 

Just look at the story of Oberlin College.  The founders of this school didn’t just decide to admit women and African American students and then pat themselves on the back and say “job well done.”  No, even in those early days, folks here at Oberlin were attending anti-slavery meetings, shivering on rough wooden benches in unheated, unfinished buildings.  They were joining the Equal Suffrage League and speaking out for women’s right to vote. 

They were leading civil rights marches and sit-ins, organizing exchange programs with historically black colleges and universities, and so much more.  Because they knew it wasn’t enough to welcome women and African American students to Oberlin if they would only graduate in four years to be second-class citizens in their own country.  They knew that our policies matter.  They knew that our laws matter.  And I know, as President Krislov understands, that electing the right folks matters –- it matters a lot.

Now, I don’t know whether your President knows what I was going to say today, but I know that he had some kind words for you all about this issue.  But it’s no coincidence that we’re both urging you to get involved in civic life.  Because we both know that you cannot fully achieve your goals of service and social justice if you turn away from politics and public policy.   

You see, it’s wonderful to volunteer at your local homeless shelter -- please do that -- but you also need to attend the city council meetings and make sure the zoning laws don’t shut that shelter down.  (Applause.)  Are you thinking of teaching in an under-served school?  If so, I’m glad to hear that.  So many kids need you.  But you’ve also got to elect good people to your school board and state legislature, because they decide whether you have the resources you need to inspire and empower your students.  (Applause.) 

Are you planning to rally for marriage equality on the steps of the Supreme Court?  I certainly hope so.  (Applause.)  But I also hope you will knock on doors and make some calls to elect a President who shares your values.  Because that President will ultimately choose the justices who decide those cases in the first place.  (Applause.) 

And finally, while peaceful protest can be powerful, if we truly want to reform our criminal justice system, then we need to come together and do the hard work of changing our laws and policies to reflect our values.  (Applause.)

Now, will this be easy?  No, of course not.  It will be hard.  It will be stressful and frustrating, and you’ll probably have to make some painful compromises along the way.  After all, Lucy Stone spent years speaking out for partial suffrage -– for allowing women to vote only on things like school issues and local issues -– because she realized that full suffrage was just too controversial. 

And FDR?  Well, after facing all kinds of opposition, he eventually agreed to a Social Security plan that covered only 60 percent of workers.  Was he thrilled about that?  Probably not.  But in the end, FDR realized that 60 percent was a whole lot better than zero percent. 

Now, did these compromises make these leaders sellouts?  Traitors to their cause?  I don’t think so.  Instead, I think they knew that if they could just get everyone to take that first step, then folks would keep on moving in the right direction.  And they also understood that often, the biggest, most dramatic change happens incrementally, little by little, through compromises and adjustments over years and decades.

And I know that these days, that can seem counterintuitive, because we live in such an instantaneous age.  We want everything right away –- whether it’s an Uber or your favorite TV show -– and we want it tailored to our exact preferences and beliefs.  We fill our Twitter feed with voices that confirm, rather than challenge, our views.  If we dislike someone’s Facebook post, we just un-follow them, we un-friend them. 

And even here at Oberlin, most of the time you’re probably surrounded by folks who share your beliefs.  But out in the real world, there are plenty of people who think very differently than you do, and they hold their opinions just as passionately.  So if you want to change their minds, if you want to work with them to move this country forward, you can’t just shut them out.  You have to persuade them, and you have to compromise with them.  That is what so many of our heroes of history have done.

Folks like Lucy Stone and FDR, they didn’t get caught up in their egos or their ideology.  They didn’t say “it’s my way or the highway.”  Instead, they knew where they wanted to go, and they were strategic and pragmatic about getting there.  Because in the end, they understood, as the political scientist Joseph Nye once said, that “The absolutist may avoid the problem of dirty hands, but often at the cost of having no hands at all.” 

And, graduates, with a degree from this amazing school, and all the status and connections that degree confers, you don’t get to have no hands.  No, you don’t get to be precious or cautious or cynical.  No, not when the earth is warming and the oceans are rising.  You don’t get to be cynical.  Not when too many young people still languish in communities ripped apart by violence and despair.  Not when women still make less than men for the same work.  Not when millions of girls across the globe never set foot inside a school.  (Applause.)  No, not when many young people just like you -- the men and women we honor this Memorial Day –- have sacrificed their lives for your freedom to make your voice heard.  You don’t get to have no hands.

You see, in his speech to those Oberlin graduates 50 years ago, Dr. King urged them, as Julia said, not to sleep through the civil rights revolution that was raging across this country.  And, graduates, climate change, economic inequality, human rights, criminal justice -– these are the revolutions of your time.  And you have as much responsibility and just as much power to wake up and play your part in our great American story.  Because it is absolutely still possible to make a difference.  The great moments of our history are not decades in our past; they’re happening right now, today, in our lifetimes.

Just think about the folks who are winning those battles state by state, city by city to ensure that everyone in this country can marry the person they love.  (Applause.)  Think about how just 10 years ago, gay marriage was legal in just one state in this country –- just one -- and today, it is legal in 37 states and Washington, D.C.  (Applause.)   

Think about those elections in 2008 and 2012 when idealistic young people like all of you worked long hours for little money and less sleep, pounding the pavement for months, talking to folks about what was at stake.  Think about the millions of folks who got out to vote on Election Day, waiting in the cold and rain in lines that stretched for hours, refusing to leave until they made their voices heard.

And finally, think about how even with all the gridlock and polarization in Washington, we have made so much change these past six years:  12 million new jobs.  Sixteen million people who finally have health insurance.  Historic agreements to fight climate change.  Epic increases in college financial aid.  More progress on LGBT rights than any time in our history.  (Applause.)  And today, it is no longer remarkable to see two beautiful black girls walking their dogs on the South Lawn of the White House lawn.  That’s just the way things are now.  (Applause.) 

See, graduates, this is what happens when you turn your attention outward and decide to brave the noise and engage yourself in the struggles of our time.  And that’s why, in his remarks 50 years ago, Dr. King urged the class of ‘65 to “stand up” and “be a concerned generation.”  And, graduates, that call to action applies just as much to all of you today. 

And I want to be very clear:  Every city ordinance, every ballot measure, every law on the books in this country –- that is your concern.  What happens at every school board meeting, every legislative session –- that is your concern.  Every elected official who represents you, from dog catcher all the way to President of the United States –- they are your concern.

So get out there and volunteer on campaigns, and then hold the folks you elect accountable.  Follow what’s happening in your city hall, your statehouse, Washington, D.C.  Better yet, run for office yourself.  Get in there.  Shake things up.  Don’t be afraid.  (Applause.)  And get out and vote in every election -– not just the big national ones that get all the attention, but every single election.  Make sure the folks who represent you share your values and aspirations. 

See, that is how you will rise above the noise and shape the revolutions of your time.  That is how you will have a meaningful journey on those clamorous highways of life.  And, graduates, that is how you will carry on the proud legacy of this great institution for generations to come. 

So, again, I’m proud of you all.  I am confident in your ability to do amazing things.  And I’m honored to be here to share the beginning of the next phase of that journey with you.  We will be there with you every step of the way.  So go out there and make it happen. 

Thank you all.  I wish you the best of luck.  God bless.  (Applause.) 

 

                             END                11:29 A.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 25, 2015

Remarks by the President on Memorial Day

Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia

11:32 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everybody.  Thank you, Secretary Carter, for your leadership of our men and women in uniform.  General Dempsey; Major General Buchanan; Mr. Patrick Hallinan, Executive Director of Army National Military Cemeteries; Chaplain Studniewski; members of our armed services, veterans, and, most of all, families and friends of our fallen -- it is my deep honor to share this day with you again.

For 147 years, our nation has set aside this day to pay solemn tribute to patriots who gave their last full measure of devotion for this country that we love.  And while the nature of war has changed over that time, the values that drive our brave men and women in uniform remain constant:  Honor, courage, selflessness.  Those values lived in the hearts of everyday heroes who risked everything for us in every American war -- men and women who now rest forever in these quiet fields and across our land.

They lived in the patriots who sparked a revolution, and who saved our union.  They lived in the young GIs who defeated tyranny in Europe and the Pacific.  And this year, we mark a historic anniversary -- 70 years since our victory in World War II.   More than 16 million Americans left everything they knew to fight for our freedom.  More than 400,000 gave their lives.  And today I ask all the family and friends of our fallen World War II heroes -- spouses, children, brothers and sisters, and fellow veterans of World War II -- to please stand if you can, or raise your hand, so that our country can thank you once more.  (Applause.) 

These same values lived in those who braved the mountains of Korea, the jungles of Vietnam, the deserts of the Middle East.  And in the past decade, we’ve seen these values on display again in the men and women of our 9/11 Generation. 

For many of us, this Memorial Day is especially meaningful; it is the first since our war in Afghanistan came to an end.  Today is the first Memorial Day in 14 years that the United States is not engaged in a major ground war.  So on this day, we honor the sacrifice of the thousands of American servicemembers -- men and women -- who gave their lives since 9/11, including more than 2,200 American patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. 

As an Arizona kid, Wyatt Martin loved the outdoors.  He started fishing when he was two years old.  His dad says he was pretty good for a toddler.  Wyatt grew to 6-foot-4, became a hunter and wore flannel shirts every day -- so his friends nicknamed him Paul Bunyan.  He planned to go to college and work in the Arizona Game and Fish Department so that he could protect the land and waters he loved so much.

Wyatt’s life was animated by the belief that the blessings that he and his family enjoyed as Americans came with an obligation to give back, an obligation to serve.  So before he pursued his dream of being a good steward of the great outdoors, he enlisted in the Army.  And when he deployed to Afghanistan as a combat engineer, there was no doubt in his mind that he was doing the right thing.  Last summer, Wyatt told his sister, “If something happens to me, know that I went happy.” 

Ramon Morris was born in Jamaica.  He moved to Queens as a teenager.  Like so many proud immigrants, he was called --compelled -- to serve his new country.  He, too, enlisted in the Army, and he even recruited his older brother Marlon to join, as well.  He served five tours, including several in Iraq.  Along the way, he fell in love with an Army Reservist named Christina.  And they had a little girl, and named her Ariana.  Ramon was the kind of leader who would do anything for his men, on and off the battlefield.  But nothing was more important to him than being a great father to his little girl. 

Specialist Wyatt Martin and Sergeant First Class Ramon Morris were 15 years apart in age.  They traveled greatly different paths in life.  But those paths took them to the same unit.  Those paths made them brothers-in-arms, serving together in Afghanistan.  In December, an IED struck their vehicle.  They were the last two Americans to give their lives during our combat mission in Afghanistan.  Today, here in Arlington, in Section 60, Ramon lies in eternal rest.  And we are honored to be joined by his brother, Sergeant First Class Marlon Laidley, who is deploying for Germany tonight.  Thank you, Marlon.  Thank you to your family.  (Applause.)  

These two men, these two heroes, if you saw them passing on the street, you wouldn’t have known they were brothers.  But under this flag, in common cause, they were bonded together to secure our liberty, to keep us safe. 

My fellow Americans, this hallowed ground is more than the final resting place of heroes; it is a reflection of America itself.  It’s a reflection of our history -- the wars we’ve waged for democracy, the peace we’ve laid to preserve it.  It’s a reflection of our diversity -- men and women of all backgrounds, all races and creeds and circumstances and faiths, willing to defend and die for the ideals that bind us as one nation.  It’s a reflection of our character, seen not only in those who are buried here, but also in the caretakers who watch over them and preserve this sacred place; and in the Sentinels of the 3rd Infantry Regiment who dutifully, unfailingly watch over those patriots known only to God, but never forgotten.  Today, a grateful nation thanks them as well.   

Most Americans don’t fully see, don’t fully understand the sacrifice made by the one percent who serve in this all-volunteer armed forces -– a sacrifice that preserves the freedoms we too often take for granted.  Few know what it’s like to take a bullet for a buddy, or to live with the fact that he or she took one for you.  But our Gold Star families, our military families, our veterans -- they know this, intimately. 

Whenever I meet with our Gold Star families, like I did this morning, I hear their pride through their tears, as they flip through old photos and run their fingers over shiny medals.  I see that their hearts are still broken, and yet still full of love.  They do not ask for awards or honors.  They do not ask for special treatment.  They are unfailingly humble.  In the face of unspeakable loss, they represent the best of who we are. 

They’re people like Ramon’s mother, who could carry hate for the people who killed her son -- but she says, “I have no anger, no bitterness, even for the person who did this.  I feel sorry for them, and I ask God to change their hearts.”  That’s one Gold Star mother’s amazing grace.

Folks like Wyatt’s parents, Brian and Julie Martin, who said of their son, “He’s not just our kid, he’s everybody’s.  He’s an American soldier.  And as an American soldier, he belongs to everybody.”

They are siblings, like the Gold Star sister who wrote to me of her brother, Private First Class Stephen Benish, who gave his life in Iraq in 2004:  She said, “Remember him not as the 1,253rd war casualty, but the 6-foot-7 burst of light and positive influence he was on the world.”  

These sons and daughters, these brothers and sisters who lay down their lives for us -- they belong to us all.  They’re our children, too.  We benefit from their light, their positive influence on the world.  And it’s our duty, our eternal obligation, to be there for them, too; to make sure our troops always have what they need to carry out the mission; to make sure we care for all those who have served; to make sure we honor all those whom we’ve lost; to make sure we keep faith with our military families; to make sure we never stop searching for those who are missing, or trying to bring home our prisoners of war.  And we are grateful for the families of our POW/MIAs. 

This may be the first Memorial Day since the end of our war in Afghanistan.  But we are acutely aware, as we speak, our men and women in uniform still stand watch and still serve, and still sacrifice around the world. 

Several years ago, we had more than 100,000 troops in Afghanistan. Today, fewer than 10,000 troops remain on a mission to train and assist Afghan forces.  We’ll continue to bring them home and reduce our forces further, down to an embassy presence by the end of next year.  But Afghanistan remains a very dangerous place.  And as so many families know, our troops continue to risk their lives for us.

Growing up in Massachusetts, John Dawson was an honor student who played varsity soccer.  He loved the Bruins, loved the Pats, and was always up for fun -- running into a room while spraying silly string, or photobombing long before it was in style.

And John was passionate about service.  He shared the same convictions of so many we honor today, who wanted nothing more than to join a common cause and be part of something bigger than himself.  He channeled his love of cycling into charity bike rides with his church.  He joined the Army.  And as a combat medic, he fulfilled his dream of helping people.  He loved his job.

In April, an attacker wearing an Afghan uniform fired at a group of American soldiers.  And Army Corporal John Dawson became the first American servicemember to give his life to this new mission to train Afghan forces.  The words on John’s dog tag were those of Scripture:  “Greater love has no other than this, than to lay down your life for your friends.”   

The Americans who rest beneath these beautiful hills, and in sacred ground across our country and around the world, they are why our nation endures.  Each simple stone marker, arranged in perfect military precision, signifies the cost of our blessings.  It is a debt we can never fully repay, but it is a debt we will never stop trying to fully repay.  By remaining a nation worthy of their sacrifice.  By living our own lives the way the fallen lived theirs -- a testament that “Greater love has no other than this, than to lay down your life for your friends.” 

We are so grateful for them.  We are so grateful for the families of our fallen.  May God bless our fallen heroes and their families, and all who serve.  And may He continue to bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

END
11:47 A.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 23, 2015

Weekly Address: Honoring Our Fallen Heroes this Memorial Day

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President commemorated Memorial Day by paying tribute to the men and women in uniform who have given their lives in service to our country.  The President will spend the first Memorial Day since the end of the war in Afghanistan at Arlington Cemetery, remembering the more than 2,200 American patriots who gave their lives in that conflict, as well as all of our fallen soldiers.  The President asked that all Americans spend Monday honoring the memory and sacrifice of those heroes, and remain committed to the cause of freedom and the country for which they fought. 

The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, May 23, 2015.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
May 23, 2015 

Hi, everybody.  This weekend is Memorial Day—a time to pay tribute to all our men and women in uniform who’ve ever given their lives so that we can live in freedom and security.  This year, the holiday is especially meaningful.  It’s the first Memorial Day since our war ended in Afghanistan. 

On Monday, at Arlington Cemetery, I’ll join our Gold Star families, veterans, and their loved ones to remember all our fallen heroes, including the more than 2,200 American patriots who gave their lives in Afghanistan.  And I plan to share a few of their stories.

Growing up in Arizona, Wyatt Martin loved the outdoors.  To him, a great day was a day spent fishing.  After high school, he enlisted in the Army because he believed that the blessings he enjoyed as an American came with an obligation to give back to his country.

Ramon Morris was born in Jamaica, and as a teenager came to Queens.  Like so many proud immigrants, he felt a calling to serve his new country and joined the Army.  He fell in love, got engaged, and the thing he wanted most was to make the world safer for his three-year-old daughter.

In their lives, Specialist Wyatt Martin and Sergeant First Class Ramon Morris travelled different paths.  But in December, their paths intersected as the final two Americans to give their lives during our combat mission in Afghanistan.

This weekend also reminds us that, around the world, our men and women in uniform continue to serve and risk their lives.  In Afghanistan, our troops now have a new mission—training and advising Afghan forces.  John Dawson was one of them.  From Massachusetts, he loved the Bruins and the Pats.  In April, he gave his life as an Army combat medic—the first American to give his life in this new mission.  This Memorial Day, we’ll honor Corporal Dawson as well.

Like generations of heroes before them, these Americans gave everything they had—not for glory, not even for gratitude, but for something greater than themselves.  We cannot bring them back.  Nor can we ease the pain of their families and friends who live with their loss. 

But we are the Americans they died to defend.  So what we can do—what we must do—is fulfill our sacred obligations to them, just like they fulfilled theirs to us.  We have to honor their memory.  We have to care for their families, and our veterans who served with them.  And as a nation, we have to remain worthy of their sacrifice—forever committed to the country they loved and the freedom they fought for and died for.

Thank you, have a wonderful weekend, and may God bless our fallen heroes and their families.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2015

Commencement Address by the Vice President at the United States Naval Academy

United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland

10:20 A.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I don't want to give the wrong speech here.  (Laughter.)  You already heard one, you don't need two. 

Folks, it’s an honor to be here.  Governor McAuliffe, special congratulations to you, old buddy.  Your son Jack, top 10 percent, head of an honors committee, captain of the Rugby team.  Terry, are you sure he’s your son?  (Laughter.)  I don't know, man.  This is a talented young man.  I can understand him being Dorothy’s son, but I don't know.  Congratulations to you, to the McAuliffes.

Secretary Mabus, Admiral Greenert -- the Admiral is always nice to me in spite of the fact that I live in his house.  The Vice President’s home is referred to as NAVOBS.  It’s 78 beautiful acres sitting on the highest point of Washington.  It used to be the CNO’s home.  The Navy still runs it.  I live there, and he still speaks to me.  And I appreciate it.  (Laughter.)  I live on Navy property, I am Navy property.

General Dunford, congratulations.  And Vice Admiral Carter, Captain Byrne, faculty, staff, family, friends, and midshipmen, most of all -- the Class of 2015.

Before I begin I’d like to again mention and honor Midshipman Justin Zemser, Class of ‘17.  Justin was a top student, a gifted athlete -- remembered as a young man of quiet strength and a man of his word.  He would have made a great Navy SEAL.  And he will be missed.  My heart goes out to his family.  No child should predecease a parent.

Class of 2015, you’re among the most promising -- you were among the most promising high school students on the planet.  No one would have blamed you for choosing an easier path.  But you chose service.  You chose honor.  You chose to join the real 1 percent that protects the 99 percent of the rest of us here in America.  (Applause.)

And we owe you.  We're proud of you.

Today, you graduate from one of the most venerated military and academic institutions on the entire Earth.  In the time since you reported for I-Day four years ago, you’ve earned your place.  Enough zero-five-thirty PTs will do that to you.

On the one hand, you’ve been subjected to unflattering haircuts.  On the other hand, though, you get to wear dress whites.  And you all look terrific. 

You’ve spent your summer abroad on real ships rather than internships.  (Laughter.)  And the specter of living in your parents’ basements after this graduation day is not likely to be your greatest concern.  (Laughter and applause.)

And that’s true across the board even for you history and English majors like me.  (Laughter.)  I see all the English majors nodding.  (Laughter.)

And as a point of personal privilege, I’d like to recognize one graduate today, Sarah Behm.  The reason I do, I appointed her father to the academy.  He was the Class of ’78.  Dad, you done real well with this girl.  Congratulations to you.  (Applause.)

And I know all of you parents are just bursting with pride.  Class of 2015, you've been an outstanding class, surpassing even the academy’s high standards.  You excelled on the field -- 13 straight wins against Army football.  (Applause.)  Not bad.  Not bad, except you’re the father of an Army major, Iraqi War veteran with a Bronze Star, who doesn't like it at all.  It’s hard.  We always go to the Army-Navy game, and I tell you what, it’s a devastating thing to sit next to my son.  But congratulations.  (Laughter.)  It makes it very uncomfortable at home, though.  (Laughter.)

You’ve excelled as a community and in the community.  You mobilized midshipmen to perform over 26,000 hours of community service.  You've registered over 2,000 new bone marrow donors, collected and donated over 60,000 pounds of food for those in need. 

And you excelled in the classroom.  You didn't just win the Annual Cyber-Defense Exercise, you became the first graduating class at any school in the United States of America to ever have had every student complete the comprehensive cyber-security curriculum.  (Applause.)

You know, back in 1845, the Secretary of the Navy’s name was Bancroft, and he chose this site for its seclusion -- its seclusion from temptation and distractions of the big cities.  I wonder what the hell/heck he would have done had he known about McGarvey’s and O’Briens and just Armadillo’s.  (Laughter.)  I doubt whether he would have picked this place.

And a few of you, some as a consequence of those temptations, have engaged in minor infractions.  (Laughter.)  So in the spirit of a long-standing tradition, I hereby absolve all midshipmen presently on restriction for minor conduct offenses.  (Applause.)

And I say to all the parents, you notice a few of them didn't cheer initially.  They're afraid they’d be identified as those on restriction.  (Laughter.)  But I say to all those on restriction, or had been on restriction till a moment ago, don't worry, John McCain and I can tell you, it’s never gotten in the way of real talent.  (Laughter.)   You think I’m kidding, don't you?  (Laughter.)  I went to the University of Delaware.  It wasn’t called restriction; it was called social probation.  Oh, God forgive me for what I’ve done.  Anyway.  (Laughter.)

In 15 minutes, you’re about to become part of this long continuum of Naval and Marine officers who have graduated from this incredible institution, a legacy that goes back 170 years.  And as someone who did not graduate from here, but has been in the midst of all of you for my entire professional career, I can tell you, you will join now a fraternity, a sorority that binds you together like nothing I have ever seen in my life -- and I mean this. 

As my military aide, Lieutenant Commander Brett Elko, and thousands of others of men and women who have graduated from the academy will tell you, this legacy will stay with you whether you're in or out of uniform.

You’ll find Annapolis graduates everywhere in the world and know -- you will just know that they will always have your back, whether or not they’ve ever met you before.  It is an incredible thing to see.

And I would now like to ask all those veterans with us today, including the 37 in the Class of 2015, please stand up and be recognized.  Please stand.  (Applause.)  We owe you every breath of our liberty to the sacrifices you have made.  This place has given you, the graduates of 2015, bonds that will last your entire lifetime.  And you've earned it. 

There are no other bonds except one deeper.  And those are the bonds with those who came here today to see you.  Your moms, your dads, your grandparents, brothers and sisters -- they're the ones responsible for your character.  You owe them and America owes them.  So, Graduating Class of 2015, stand up and show your appreciation for your parents.  (Applause.)

Usually when I address a graduating class, I say to the parents, congratulations.  You’re about to get a pay raise.  No more tuition.  But you settled that four years ago.  (Laughter.)

You know, Graduating Class, this path you’ve chosen is not for everyone.  It’s not an easy ride.  It will require much, but it will reward much.  As you know, the true measure of an officer is not only how you sail on calm waters, but how you navigate the storm.  And we, your fellow Americans, expect a great deal from you -- not just your physical courage, but your moral courage as well, which at times can be even harder to muster.

You will be measured by this account as well.  And as officers in the United States military, you must demand that every one of your fellow sailors and Marines is afforded the dignity and respect that they deserve, no matter race, gender, faith, or sexual orientation.

As leaders in the United States Navy, we count on you to refuse to tolerate sexual harassment or sexual assault in any form, under any circumstances.  It’s a matter of honor that you prevent that.  (Applause.) 

And as we look to the future, we look to you to be the forward-deployed face of America, projecting power in every corner of the world.  Because as President Theodore Roosevelt declared in an address to Congress, “A good Navy is not a provocation to war; it’s the surest guarantee of peace.”  A good Navy is the surest guarantee of peace.  The United States is in the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Arctic.  We are an Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic power, as well as a nation.

The seas cover seven-tenths of the globe.  Six-tenths of our borders are seacoast.  Nine out of ten people on the planet live on the coasts.  This maritime domain, the oceans you will roam, will be as important as ever to our national strength and security in the 21st century.  And let me tell you why.

First, the oceans continue to be an arena of potential conflict.  There’s nothing new about events on the seas driving conflict.  But what is new?  As the great powers have stepped back from the brink of mutual assured destruction, there are new fault lines.  These new fault lines will continue to divide the great powers, and they reside in the straits, in the sea lanes that you will come to know so well.  Tensions run high.  As I speak, they run high.  But you will be there to keep the peace. 

U.S. foreign policy is rebalancing toward the vast potential of the Asia Pacific region.  But we can’t succeed if you don’t show up.  That’s why 60 percent of the United States Naval forces will be stationed in the Asia Pacific by 2020 -- P-8s, Zumwalt-class destroyers, littoral combat ships, forward-deployed forces, Marines in Darwin -- all and many more are headed to the Pacific, and so are many of you.  And it matters -- because Pacific peace and prosperity, to a great extent, has depended on and will continue to depend on U.S. Naval power, just as it has for the past 60 years.

President Xi of China, when I was meeting with him, asked me why do I continue to say America is a Pacific power?  And I said because we are.  (Laughter.)  And, Mr. President, you owe your stability over the last 30 years to the United States Navy and military.  And he acknowledged it.  You are a force for peace and security.  We’ve used your power to reinforce and update the international rules and cooperation that benefit all nations to manage the emerging challenges of the century ahead before they devolve into conflict.

In the disputed waters of the South China Sea, the United States does not privilege the claims of one nation over another.  But we do –- unapologetically –- stand up for the equitable and peaceful resolution of disputes and for the freedom of navigation. 

And today, these principles are being tested by Chinese activities in the South China Sea.  They’re building airstrips --the placing of oil rigs, the imposition of unilateral bans on fishing in disputed territories, the declaration of air-defense zones, the reclamation of land, which other countries are doing, but not nearly on the massive scale the Chinese are doing.

We are going to look to you to uphold these principles wherever they are challenged, to strengthen our growing security partnerships, and to make good on our unshakable commitment to the mutual defense of our allies.

You will serve in ships and on squadrons deployed everywhere from these very Pacific sea lanes to the Strait of Hormuz,

where Iranian fast-boats threaten a vital marine chokepoint -- maritime chokepoint. 

In the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, you will play a major role in protecting a Europe whole, free and at peace at a time when Russian aggression threatens Europe’s frontier.  Around the world, your presence will be felt, convincing potential adversaries that the cost of aggression against us or our allies would be devastating. 

We will look to you to guarantee our strategic nuclear deterrence serving in Navy ballistic missile submarines, the most secure and survivable element of our nuclear triad.  From the offensive firepower of the Marine Expeditionary Force to our Carrier strike forces to our multi-nation ballistic missile defense capable ships [sic], woe betide the foe who decides to challenge the United States of America or our Navy.  (Applause.)  

And the truth that you know as well as I do is it’s not only are you on the seas.  I have been in and out of Afghanistan and Iraq over 27 times.  I’ve seen you.  I’ve seen young Navy captains in FOBs high up in the Kunar Valley.  I’ve watched Marines throw themselves in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Thirty-five thousand of you Marines, 5,000 sailors at this moment are deployed ashore, in conflict areas.  You are everywhere.

There’s a second reason why you remain so vital to us.  As if what I’ve just said were not enough, we also look to you to keep the global economy afloat, because the oceans are the vital avenue of commerce, and we depend on the United States Navy to protect the sea lanes.  

People sometimes think in this day and age of global commerce, think in terms of the Internet and air travel.  But you know the reality.  At this moment, 80 percent of all the commerce in the world is on the back of a container ship.  That remains the backbone of world commerce -- 90 percent of it.  And that's only going to increase.

As you all know too well, the world’s sea lanes do not police themselves.  You, United States Navy, police them -- protecting against piracy and coercion.  And you do it not just for our own ships, but for all who seek to freely navigate the seas.

And in the century ahead, we will look to the oceans you roam -- not just as an arena for potential conflict, not just as avenues of commerce, but as arenas of cooperation to deal with the challenges no other country in the world can solve alone, and few can solve without us.  We'll rely on you, the United States Navy, to lead in solving these emerging problems.

When millions of lives were ravaged by nature, as we saw after the devastating typhoon in the Philippines, the United States Navy filled the void, saving countless lives.  Our presence -- your presence -- matters.

As President Obama discussed at the Coast Guard Academy graduation a couple days ago, a changing climate means “more extreme storms will mean more humanitarian missions to deliver lifesaving help.  Our forces will have to be ready.”  You remain indispensable.

America’s command of the oceans is the measure and the symbol of our diplomatic and military primacy in the world.  As George Washington remarked during the Revolutionary War, "It follows then as certain as that night succeeds day that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive.  And with it, everything honorable and glorious."  That hasn’t changed one single bit. 

So I say to you all, we continue to count on you to protect the world’s security on the high seas, to project the presence required to sustain the United States as a global superpower -- to be where it matters, when it matters most.

We cannot promise you fame or money.  We cannot promise you a calm or quiet passage.  But I can promise you, without and beyond the exception of your mother, father, husband and wife -- there will be no titles you will more proudly bear than being an officer in the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. (Applause.) 

In a different context, in a different century, John Kennedy said something that applies today, as well.  He said, “Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think he can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction -- ‘I served in the United States Navy.’”  (Applause.)

In the weeks, months and years to come, you’ll be asked to bear burdens and make sacrifices you will never have dreamed of and you wondered whether you would be capable of.  When those moments arise -- and they will -- remember all you’ve learned, all you’ve felt, all you’ve breathed here at the Naval Academy.  And you will rise to the moment.  And know one thing for sure -- you are not alone.  You will never, ever be alone.  You will be surrounded by a family that raised you and a family that made you an officer in the finest military in the history of the world, without exception. 

So, congratulations, Class of 2015.  May God bless and protect the brigades of the Navy and the Marine Corps.  And may you have fair winds and following seas.  And may God protect all our troops in harm’s way.  God bless America.

END
10:46 A.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2015

Remarks by the President on Jewish American Heritage Month

Adas Israel Congregation
Washington, D.C.

10:57 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Well, good morning, everybody!

AUDIENCE: Good morning!

THE PRESIDENT:  A slightly early Shabbat Shalom.  (Laughter.)  I want to thank Rabbi Steinlauf for the very kind introduction.  And to all the members of the congregation, thank you so much for such an extraordinary and warm welcome. 

I want to thank a couple of outstanding members of Congress who are here.  Senator Michael Bennet -- where did Michael Bennet go?  There he is.  (Applause.)  And Representative Sandy Levin, who is here.  (Applause.)  I want to thank our special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, Ira Forman, for his important work.  There he is.  (Applause)  But as I said, most of all I want to thank the entire congregation of Adas Israel for having me here today. 

Earlier this week, I was actually interviewed by one of your members, Jeff Goldberg.  (Applause.)  And Jeff reminded me that he once called me “the first Jewish President.”  (Laughter.)  Now, since some people still seem to be wondering about my faith -- (laughter) -- I should make clear this was an honorary title.  (Laughter.)  But I was flattered. 

And as an honorary member of the tribe, not to mention somebody who’s hosted seven White House Seders and been advised by -- (applause) -- and been advised by two Jewish chiefs of staff, I can also proudly say that I’m getting a little bit of the hang of the lingo.  (Laughter.)  But I will not use any of the Yiddish-isms that Rahm Emanuel taught me because -- (laughter) -- I want to be invited back.  (Laughter.)  Let’s just say he had some creative new synonyms for “Shalom.”  (Laughter.) 

Now, I wanted to come here to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month because this congregation, like so many around the country, helps us to tell the American story.  And back in 1876, when President Grant helped dedicate Adas Israel, he became the first sitting President in history to attend a synagogue service.  And at the time, it was an extraordinarily symbolic gesture -- not just for America, but for the world. 

And think about the landscape of Jewish history.  Tomorrow night, the holiday of Shavuot marks the moment that Moses received the Torah at Mount Sinai, the first link in a chain of tradition that stretches back thousands of years, and a foundation stone for our civilization.  Yet for most of those years, Jews were persecuted -- not embraced -- by those in power.  Many of your ancestors came here fleeing that persecution. 
The United States could have been merely another destination in that ongoing diaspora.  But those who came here found that America was more than just a country.  America was an idea.  America stood for something.  As George Washington wrote to the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island:  The United States “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” 

It’s important for us to acknowledge that too often in our history we fell short of those lofty ideals -- in the legal subjugation of African Americans, through slavery and Jim Crow; the treatment of Native Americans.  And far too often, American Jews faced the scourge of anti-Semitism here at home.  But our founding documents gave us a North Star, our Bill of Rights; our system of government gave us a capacity for change.  And where other nations actively and legally might persecute or discriminate against those of different faiths, this nation was called upon to see all of us as equal before the eyes of the law.  When other countries treated their own citizens as “wretched refuse,” we lifted up our lamp beside the golden door and welcomed them in.  Our country is immeasurably stronger because we did.  (Applause.) 

From Einstein to Brandeis, from Jonas Salk to Betty Friedan, American Jews have made contributions to this country that have shaped it in every aspect.  And as a community, American Jews have helped make our union more perfect.  The story of Exodus inspired oppressed people around the world in their own struggles for civil rights.  From the founding members of the NAACP to a freedom summer in Mississippi, from women’s rights to gay rights to workers' rights, Jews took the heart of Biblical edict that we must not oppress a stranger, having been strangers once ourselves. 

Earlier this year, when we marked the 50th anniversary of the march in Selma, we remembered the iconic images of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marching with Dr. King, praying with his feet.  To some, it must have seemed strange that a rabbi from Warsaw would take such great risks to stand with a Baptist preacher from Atlanta.  But Heschel explained that their cause was one and the same.  In his essay, “No Religion is an Island,” he wrote, “We must choose between interfaith and inter-nihilism.”  Between a shared hope that says together we can shape a brighter future, or a shared cynicism that says our world is simply beyond repair.

So the heritage we celebrate this month is a testament to the power of hope.  Me standing here before you, all of you in this incredible congregation is a testament to the power of hope.  (Applause.)  It’s a rebuke to cynicism.  It’s a rebuke to nihilism.  And it inspires us to have faith that our future, like our past, will be shaped by the values that we share.  At home, those values compel us to work to keep alive the American Dream of opportunity for all.  It means that we care about issues that affect all children, not just our own; that we’re prepared to invest in early childhood education; that we are concerned about making college affordable; that we want to create communities where if you’re willing to work hard, you can get ahead the way so many who fled and arrived on these shores were able to get ahead.  Around the world, those values compel us to redouble our efforts to protect our planet and to protect the human rights of all who share this planet. 

It’s particularly important to remember now, given the tumult that is taking place in so many corners of the globe, in one of the world’s most dangerous neighborhoods, those shared values compel us to reaffirm that our enduring friendship with the people of Israel and our unbreakable bonds with the state of Israel -- that those bonds, that friendship cannot be broken.  (Applause.)  Those values compel us to say that our commitment to Israel’s security -- and my commitment to Israel’s security -- is and always will be unshakeable.  (Applause.) 

And I’ve said this before:  It would be a moral failing on the part of the U.S. government and the American people, it would be a moral failing on my part if we did not stand up firmly, steadfastly not just on behalf of Israel’s right to exist, but its right to thrive and prosper.  (Applause.)  Because it would ignore the history that brought the state of Israel about.  It would ignore the struggle that’s taken place through millennia to try to affirm the kinds of values that say everybody has a place, everybody has rights, everybody is a child of God.  (Applause.) 

As many of you know, I’ve visited the houses hit by rocket fire in Sderot.  I’ve been to Yad Vashem and made that solemn vow:  “Never forget.  Never again.”  When someone threatens Israel’s citizens or its very right to exist, Israelis necessarily that seriously.  And so do I.  Today, the military and intelligence cooperation between our two countries is stronger than ever.  Our support of the Iron Dome’s rocket system has saved Israeli lives.  And I can say that no U.S. President, no administration has done more to ensure that Israel can protect itself than this one.  (Applause.) 

As part of that commitment, there’s something else that the United States and Israel agrees on:  Iran must not, under any circumstances, be allowed to get a nuclear weapon.  (Applause.)  Now, there’s a debate about how to achieve that -- and that's a healthy debate.  I’m not going to use my remaining time to go too deep into policy -- although for those of you who are interested -- (laughter) -- we have a lot of material out there.  (Laughter.)  But I do want everybody to just remember a few key things. 

The deal that we already reached with Iran has already halted or rolled back parts of Iran’s nuclear program.  Now we’re seeking a comprehensive solution.  I will not accept a bad deal.  As I pointed out in my most recent article with Jeff Goldberg, this deal will have my name on it, so nobody has a bigger personal stake in making sure that it delivers on its promise.  (Applause.)  I want a good deal. 

I'm interested in a deal that blocks every single one of Iran’s pathways to a nuclear weapon -- every single path.  A deal that imposes unprecedented inspections on all elements of Iran’s nuclear program, so that they can’t cheat; and if they try to cheat, we will immediately know about it and sanctions snap back on.  A deal that endures beyond a decade; that addresses this challenge for the long term.  In other words, a deal that makes the world and the region -- including Israel -- more secure.  That’s how I define a good deal.

I can’t stand here today and guarantee an agreement will be reached.  We’re hopeful.  We’re working hard.  But nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.  And I’ve made clear that when it comes to preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, all options are and will remain on the table. 

Moreover, even if we do get a good deal, there remains the broader issue of Iran’s support for terrorism and regional destabilization, and ugly threats against Israel.  And that’s why our strategic partnership with Israel will remain, no matter what happens in the days and years ahead.  And that’s why the people of Israel must always know America has its back, and America will always have its back.  (Applause.)   
 
Now, that does not mean that there will not be, or should not be, periodic disagreements between our two governments.  There will be disagreements on tactics when it comes to how to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and that is entirely appropriate and should be fully aired.  Because the stakes are sufficiently high that anything that's proposed has to be subjected to scrutiny -- and I welcome that scrutiny. 

But there are also going to be some disagreements rooted in shared history that go beyond tactics, that are rooted in how we might remain true to our shared values.  I came to know Israel as a young man through these incredible images of kibbutzim, and Moshe Dayan, and Golda Meir, and Israel overcoming incredible odds in the ’67 war.  The notion of pioneers who set out not only to safeguard a nation, but to remake the world.  Not only to make the desert bloom, but to allow their values to flourish; to ensure that the best of Judaism would thrive.  And those values in many ways came to be my own values.  They believed the story of their people gave them a unique perspective among the nations of the world, a unique moral authority and responsibility that comes from having once been a stranger yourself. 

And to a young man like me, grappling with his own identity, recognizing the scars of race here in this nation, inspired by the civil rights struggle, the idea that you could be grounded in your history, as Israel was, but not be trapped by it, to be able to repair the world -- that idea was liberating.  The example of Israel and its values was inspiring.   

So when I hear some people say that disagreements over policy belie a general lack of support of Israel, I must object, and I object forcefully.  (Applause.)  For us to paper over difficult questions, particularly about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or about settlement policy, that’s not a true measure of friendship. 

Before I came out here, the Rabbi showed me the room that’s been built to promote scholarship and dialogue, and to be able to find how we make our shared values live.  And the reason you have that room is because applying those values to our lives is often hard, and it involves difficult choices.  That’s why we study.  That’s why it’s not just a formula.  And that’s what we have to do as nations as well as individuals.  We have to grapple and struggle with how do we apply the values that we care about to this very challenging and dangerous world.

And it is precisely because I care so deeply about the state of Israel -- it’s precisely because, yes, I have high expectations for Israel the same way I have high expectations for the United States of America -- that I feel a responsibility to speak out honestly about what I think will lead to long-term security and to the preservation of a true democracy in the Jewish homeland.  (Applause.)  And I believe that’s two states for two peoples, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.  (Applause.)  Just as Israelis built a state in their homeland, Palestinians have a right to be a free people on their land, as well.  (Applause.)

Now, I want to emphasize -- that’s not easy.  The Palestinians are not the easiest of partners.  (Laughter.)  The neighborhood is dangerous.  And we cannot expect Israel to take existential risks with their security so that any deal that takes place has to take into account the genuine dangers of terrorism and hostility.

But it is worthwhile for us to keep up the prospect, the possibility of bridging divides and being just, and looking squarely at what’s possible but also necessary in order for Israel to be the type of nation that it was intended to be in its earliest founding.  (Applause.) 

And that same sense of shared values also compel me to speak out -- compel all of us to speak out -- against the scourge of anti-Semitism wherever it exists.  (Applause.)  I want to be clear that, to me, all these things are connected.  The rights I insist upon and now fight for, for all people here in the United States compels me then to stand up for Israel and look out for the rights of the Jewish people.  And the rights of the Jewish people then compel me to think about a Palestinian child in Ramallah that feels trapped without opportunity.  That’s what Jewish values teach me.  That’s what the Judeo-Christian tradition teaches me.  These things are connected.  (Applause.) 

And in recent years, we’ve seen a deeply disturbing rise in anti-Semitism in parts of the world where it would have seemed unthinkable just a few years or decades ago.  This is not some passing fad; these aren’t just isolated phenomenon.  And we know from our history they cannot be ignored.  Anti-Semitism is, and always will be, a threat to broader human values to which we all must aspire.  And when we allow anti-Semitism to take root, then our souls are destroyed, and it will spread.   

And that’s why, tonight, for the first time ever, congregations around the world are celebrating a Solidarity Shabbat.  It’s a chance for leaders to publicly stand against anti-Semitism and bigotry in all of its forms.  And I’m proud to be a part of this movement, and I’m proud that six ambassadors from Europe are joining us today.  And their presence here -- our presence together -- is a reminder that we are not doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.  (Applause.)  Our traditions, our history, can help us chart a better course as long as we are mindful of that history and those traditions, and we are vigilant in speaking out and standing up against what is wrong.  It’s not always easy, I think, to speak out against what is wrong, even for good people.  

So I want to close with the story of one more of the many rabbis who came to Selma 50 years ago.  A few days after David Teitelbaum arrived to join the protests, he and a colleague were thrown in jail.  And they spent a Friday night in custody, singing Adon Olam to the tune of “We Shall Overcome.”  And that in and of itself is a profound statement of faith and hope.  But what’s wonderful is, is that out of respect many of their fellow protestors began wearing what they called “freedom caps” -- (laughter) -- yarmulkes -- as they marched. 

And the day after they were released from prison, Rabbi Teitelbaum watched Dr. King lead a prayer meeting before crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge.  And Dr. King said, “We are like the children of Israel, marching from slavery to freedom.” 

That’s what happens when we’re true to our values.  It’s not just good for us, but it brings the community together.  (Applause.)  Tikkun Olam -- it brings the community together and it helps repair the world.  It bridges differences that once looked unbridgeable.  It creates a future for our children that once seemed unattainable.  This congregation -- Jewish American life is a testimony to the capacity to make our values live.  But it requires courage.  It requires strength.  It requires that we speak the truth not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard. 

So may we always remember that our shared heritage makes us stronger, that our roots are intertwined.  May we always choose faith over nihilism, and courage over despair, and hope over cynicism and fear.  As we walk our own leg of a timeless, sacred march, may we always stand together, here at home and around the world. 

Thank you.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

END
11:26 A.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2015

Remarks by the Vice President at Center for American Progress Gala

Andrew Mellon Auditorium
Washington, D.C.

8:01 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, if anyone needs a break, I think you all need a break.  You sounded like you were having a great time before we walked out on this stage.

And I want to thank you, Madam President.  And I understand Senator Gillibrand is here, a great senator.  Lee Saunders, AFSCME, I was told is going to be here.  And Mary Kay Henry of SEIU.  (Applause.)  And by the way, Mary Kay, will tell you she loves me better than anybody.  (Laughter.)  My mother said if someone loves you, you've got love them back.  That's why she likes me.  And Randi is here, as well, I think for the AFT.  (Applause.)  And my buddy Rich Trumka and Ambassador Murphy.

Look, I want to thank everyone at Generation Progress for everything you've done to stop sexual assault on campuses with It’s On Us.  (Applause.)  No, that is a big deal.  That really is a big, big deal.  And we're changing things.  We're changing the culture.  We really are and we really can.  But we have to change the culture.

But look, it’s an honor to be with you tonight.  I spoke to this organization when it was founded, 12 years ago, when John Podesta was 20 years old.  (Laughter.)  And I’ve had the chance to speak with you many, many times.  But what I value most about all of you that are here tonight is your deep passion, always driven by the concern for others.  And that's what distinguishes you among all the groups here in the city of Washington that have consequence and impact on policy.

Your dedication represents, quite frankly, the fuel that has energized everything the President and I have done and continue to try to do.

And together I think we’ve accomplished extraordinary things -— bringing the economy from crisis to recovery to the cusp of genuine resurgence -- as Neera said, 12 million jobs; 1 million manufacturing jobs; longest private sector growth on record; unemployment cut almost in half from when we took office.

But one of the things I want to make clear that I don't think we Democrats do enough, we got to make clear why the economy recovered, and what -- no, no, I tell you why.  Not for credit, for credibility -- for credibility.  Republicans I promise you in this election are going to claim the recovery was related to them.  I know that sounds bizarre, but they are.  (Laughter.) 

You heard immediately when the Majority Leader said -- he acknowledged there’s been a genuine recovery.  And he said it was because of the anticipation and the expectation of a Republican Congress.  Now, you guys make fun of these guys, but guess what, they’ve been better than us in messaging.  They’ve been better than us.  And if they say it enough, and we don't speak out, it will seep back in.

Because look, the way this recovery is perceived is going to set the terms of the debate for years to come, but particularly for this next year.  And the country now faces and will continue to face a stark choice.  And it really is stark:  A return to the failed policies of the Republican Party, the vision that caused the Great Recession; or we're going to continue on a path that will allow us to really have genuine resurgence and bring the middle class back in the game.

Republicans have learned nothing.  They passed a budget -- a congressional budget -- that's essentially the same one they passed six years in a row.  But they passed it in both houses this time.  It’s important to keep this mind, folks.  It’s important to keep this in mind.  The budget they passed attempts to do all that you helped get done to bring about this recovery.

They’re doubling down on the failed economic policies that caused the recession in the first place and crushed the middle class.

The FY16 budget they just passed -- I won’t go into any detail -- but it calls for cuts of $5.3 trillion over the next 10 years.  It ends Medicare, makes it a voucher program.  It cuts $500 billion from Medicaid.  It repeals the Affordable Care Act.  It requires a $500 billion across-the-board cut on everything from manufacturing to education, to NIH, to job training, to law enforcement, to Head Start.  Across the board.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Vote them out!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, we got to vote, but you got to convince people to vote them out.  Wishing it is not going to happen.

And let me say what I said back to you in 2009 when you invited me to speak after we were elected.  I said, we want to make it possible for everyone who aspires to the middle class to have a fighting chance to get in it, and those who are in the middle class to have a fighting chance to stay there.  I said that’s the goal of our administration.

That was not hyperbole.  When the President asked me to join the administration, to join him in the race, I asked him one question, I mean this sincerely.  I know no one doubts what I say.  The problem is I sometimes say all that I think.  (Laughter and applause.)  But I make no damn apology for that.  (Applause.) 

But I literally asked him, I wanted to know one thing because I’d only worked with him for a couple years.  I said, do you mean what you say about the middle class?

Everybody thinks I’m always preoccupied my last -- my entire career with the middle class.  And by the way, in this town being referred to as Middle Class Joe is meant as an insult.  No, I really mean it.  Because you're not sophisticated if you're middle class.  Because even among some of our -- we Democrats, we're sophisticated jerks lots of times.  No, I really mean it. 

Now, here’s the deal, though.  The reason why I always talk about the middle class -- the reason why we have been the most stable, political and socially stable country in the world is because we’ve had an aspiring and growing middle class.  That's the glue that has held this country together.  And that's why it’s so important.

And the middle class was in dire straits, hemorrhaging over 700,000 jobs a month.  Foreclosures were rampant.  The generation of wealth that middle-class families had built in pensions, savings accounts, home equity —- they were wiped out overnight.

And as the recovery came, as the stock grew from 6,000 to 18,000, they weren’t in on the deal because they had been wiped out.  And so, folks, look, we know we had to take some immediate action, and the action we took was really very unpopular -- even among some Democrats it was unpopular.

And we started off with the Recovery Act.  The Recovery Act turned out to be over an $800 billion expenditure in less than two years.  John Boehner called it “another run-of-the-mill, cumbersome, undisciplined, wasteful Washington spending bill.”

And one of the leading conservative economist Doug Holtz-Eakin said, “If -- even if one believed that countercyclical fiscal policy -- stimulus -- could be executed precisely and had multiplier effects, it’s time to learn by experience that this strategy is not working.”

Well, guess what, I executed it -- we executed it precisely.  The GAO found the program was implemented with less than .2 percent of waste.  (Applause.)  Here’s the deal.  Here’s the deal.   The Chairman of Oversight, Darrell Issa, a really conservative guy, called it “a proven spending transparency approach.”

The reason why it’s important to remind people of that is what is the mantra of the Republican Party?  Government spending is wasteful.  We don't know how to do it.

We do.  And it worked.  (Applause.)

The University of Chicago ran a poll and asked leading economists across the spectrum if they thought the Recovery Act was worth doing; only 12 percent said no.  In other words, 88 percent said yes; 93 percent of those economists agreed that it lowered the nation’s unemployment rate.

Michael Grunwald, a leading reporter, well-respected journalist who was skeptical of the act at first and wrote skeptically, but he ended up writing a book called “The New New Deal” in which he said, “The Recovery Act helped ease a lot of pain, and help avert a depression that would have cause immeasurable pain.”

We came along with TARP.  Talk about the least popular things for anyone to vote for -- bail out the guys who caused the problem.  Ryan called TARP “an ad-hoc, opaque, bailout of a slush fund for large private institutions.” 

But guess what, banks are stable.  They’re lending again.  They paid back everything they owed plus $15 billion more to the Treasury.

Dodd-Frank -- Gingrich -- incredibly unpopular.  Gingrich called it -- he said it would kill the banking industry.  It was attacked on left because we didn't nationalize.  Actual results:  transparency, accountability, compliance, renewed confidence in the business community in Wall Street, which they had lost confidence in.   It took us a long way toward ensuring that our country is never again going to face a banking crisis that destabilizes the economy and destroys livelihoods.

The auto “bailout” -- I know I get blamed for being the guy who pushed that.  I was proud to push it.  Romney called it, “crony capitalism on a grand scale.”  Six out of 10 Americans and a lot of Democrats opposed it.  We were told that we’d never sell more than 13 million automobiles again.  Last year we sold 21.6 million automobiles.  (Applause.)  We saved a million jobs down the supply line, and we added 572,000 new jobs.

Health care.  Boehner said, it would ruin the best health care system in the world.  It would bankrupt our nation and ruin our economy.

Sixteen million people gained insurance since that law was signed.  The lowest inflation rate in increase in health care costs in 50 years.  (Applause.)  And we settled the fight that I’ve been involved in since I was a 29-year-old kid running for Senate -— health care is now a right not a privilege.  It was important.  (Applause.)

Taxes.  We knew we had to bring back fairness to the tax code to get the middle class back in the game.  Because guess what’s happened -- look at all the incentive has gone to the wealthy.  They're not bad guys.  They're just dealing with the system, man.  And so we reward -- we reward unearned income in such a disproportionate way relative to earned income.  We’ve never done it since 1922.  That's why everything we did from expanding the Earned Income Tax Credits for families with children, cutting the payroll taxes to put more money in the pockets of 160 million people.  Now we’re calling for the elimination of over 10 years -- over the next 10 years of $1.1 trillion of tax loopholes that no longer have any productive utility.  None.  They cannot be defended.

If we do this, it will allow us to give the middle class a break, by tripling child care tax credit for working families, providing a $500 tax credit for two-wage-earner families.  It will allow us to strengthen the economy as well as lower the deficit, which we have done by two-thirds.

Look, we’re doing these things not because they're just fair, we're doing it because they provide economic growth for the middle class.  You read The New York Times today, look at what Standard & Poor’s said, the greatest threat to the growth of the world economy is the concentration of wealth.  (Applause.)

If you make the widgets and no one can buy them, things don't grow.  It’s not coming from a liberal, Democratic think tank.  No, I’m serious.  This is important.  We’ve got to change the direction.

Because we know how to grow the economy.  It grows from the middle out -- you invest in education, infrastructure, research and development, that's when the country grows.

And we know that in order to continue to lead the world in the 21st century, we need to do two important things -- and by the way, business is coming back to the United States.  Look at all of the data.  Your generation -- I can see these young people in front of me -- you're not going to hear about outsourcing.  It’s going to be about insourcing.  I’m serious. 

Look at what A.T. Kearney has said.  They do a survey every single year for the last I think 17 years.  They ask the 300 largest industrialists in the world:  Where is the best place in the world to invest?  By a margin larger than any time they’ve kept this -- they’ve had this survey, it said the United States in everything from manufacturing to IT to the service industry.

Secondly, you take a look at -- there’s an outfit called the Boston Economic Group [sic] -- that does this survey every year, of every country -- every company invested in China.  And they ask the same question every year for the last decade or more:  What are your plans for next year?  This year 53 percent said they plan on coming home.  They're coming home for a simple reason, folks.  We have the most agile venture capitalists in the world.  We have a transparent system where your intellectual property is protected.  We have the lowest energy cost of anyplace in the world because we’ll be the epicenter of energy for the remainder of this century.  And we also have the most productive workforce in the world.

But they're not going to keep coming home unless we do two things.  We the best-educated workforce on Earth; and the most modern infrastructure.  And we lack both now. 

That’s why we use the savings from this $1.1 trillion over the next 10 years to invest in providing a fair shot in education -- two years of free community college.  Twelve years is no longer enough.  It simply is not enough.  (Applause.)  Maintain the maximum Pell grants; make college affordable for everyone.  Americans by extending the $2,500 tax credit; limit the payback to 10 percent of disposable income.  This is not doing anybody a favor.  This is doing America a favor.  This is what we need to do.

We have to make sure we have the most modern infrastructure in the world.  Folks, we rank 26th in the world -- the United States of America ranks 26th in the world in transportation infrastructure.

I got criticized for saying La Guardia was like a third-world airport.  (Laughter.)  Guess what, the governor and everybody else, including The New York Times, calls it a third-world airport.  And they're changing it.

We have to invest.  Think about it.  I really mean it.  How can your generation sustain the growth of the United States of America with the infrastructure we now have.  So we’re proposing to invest over $500 billion in highways, rail, ports, canals, as well as modernizing the energy infrastructure.  The American Society of Civil Engineers says we need to invest $3.6 trillion by 2020.  We're not going to get there.

As I said, we rank 28th in the world.  This is not acceptable.  These critical infrastructure investments do a couple things, though.  They immediately provide good jobs for a good purpose. And they start a virtuous cycle.  They attract and keep business, which creates other good jobs because it puts communities to work. 

We proved that in the Recovery Act.  For every dollar we invested, we brought $4 off the sidelines.  That's what this is about.  Growth -- I don't understand how they don't understand this.  (Laughter.)  I really don't.  I didn't used to be this way, folks.   It didn't used to be this way.  Up until 15 years ago, the Republicans were all about infrastructure. 

Look, folks, we're now in a situation where we can't back up.  We can't walk away.  I know -- again, I get criticized for being too straightforward, but, damn it, we ought to stand up and say what we believe and stand by it.  Defend it.  Don't back away from it.  (Applause.) 

We should run on what we’ve done -- whoever is running should also talk about what the resurgence in place in the future is and talk about in 2016 what we’ve done.

Some say this amounts to a third President -- a third term for the President Obama.  I call it sticking with what works and expanding on it to restore the middle class because standing up for the middle class -- (applause) -- look there used to be -- I’ll end with this.  There used to be a basic bargain in the country, and I’m not joking about this.  Since the ‘30s, there was a basic bargain in country, a view shared by Democrats and Republicans.  They differed in degree, but they shared in this view that if you participated in an enterprise where you were part of the reason of the productivity of the enterprise, you got to share in the benefits that flowed from that enterprise.

Today, $4.6 billion over the last five years made by corporate America -- a good thing -- but guess what, 54 percent of it went to buy back their own stock, 37 percent went to pay dividends, leaving 9 percent for everything from salary, expansion, research and development.  We cannot sustain.  We cannot sustain the economy for everyone or anyone if we keep on this path.

Look, dealing with dealing the middle class back in -- because look, when the middle class does well, the wealth do very well.  And the poor have a leg up.  They have a chance. 

And middle class isn’t a number.  I have some leading economists, as John Podesta -- can tell you working for me in the White House.  They’ll end to tell you that middle class is a number.  Is it $51,900 -- it’s not a number.  It’s a value set, guys.

And the value set is to believe that someday you can be able to own your own home and not rent it, send your kid to a park where you know they're going to be safe and come home safe, be able to send them to a high school that if they do well, they can get to college, and if they get to college, you can find a way to get them there because it is the only ticket to the middle class in the 21st century -- be able to take care of your mom when your dad dies, and hope your children never have to take care of you.  That's middle class.  That's where we mostly come from.  That's what this is about. 

And guess what, they're losing faith.  Go home to your old neighborhoods, to the people who didn't do as well as you've done.  Ask them when they look their kids in the eye, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, ask them whether they feel confident they can look their kids in the eye and say, honey, it’s going to be okay.  I promise you. 

That's what it used to be.  That's what it used to be.  And that's what we're about.  That's why we're in this, aren’t we?  Isn’t that who we are as a party?  It’s who we are as a people.  (Applause.) 

Folks, you read probably the same article I did in The New York Times saying the middle class -- the phrase middle class is disappearing from the vocabulary of Democrats.  Well, it’s not disappearing from the vocabulary of this Democrat.  (Applause.) 

I know there’s a view among the “sophisticated” people that the middle class in America, those dreams and aspirations of today just aren’t within striking distance anymore, and that the American people are shorting their dreams.  But they may -- it’s not because they don't want those dreams, it’s they're beginning to doubt whether or not they're within their reach.

But I don't buy that they’ve given up on any of this.  I don't think the American people have given up on dreaming about being able to restore the place they had or their parents had. 

As I said, it’s a value set.  It’s not a number.  And it matters.  It matters.  It matters.  It matters.

So I just think we have to stop being apologetic -- apologetic for anything we’ve done because what we’ve done has been correct.  And if we don't explain to people why this happened, then we are going to lose the bumper sticker war.  And we always do lose the bumper sticker war with the Republicans.  When you don't think government matters, it’s easy to denigrate it.  It’s harder to make the case to build something. 

Look, I really -- I am more optimistic -- when I got here as a 29-year-old kid, I was labeled the young idealist and the young optimist.  And ironically as John Podesta will tell you, if you notice in the press, when they refer to -- they call me the Optimist in the White House, as if I’m the new kid on the block.  I’ve been there longer than all of them, but I am more optimistic today about our chances as a country than I’ve ever been in my life.

We are so much better positioned than any other place in the world.  I want to see China grow.  I want to see Europe grow.  But as they say in my old neighborhood of Claymont, Delaware, they're not a patch on our jeans, guys.  They got problems that exceed ours cubed.

God love China.  They not only don't have enough energy, they don't have enough water.  We got to help them get it.  We want them to grow.

But, folks, we are so well-positioned.  Just don't get caught up in Washington too much.  No, I mean this sincerely -- and not focus on as the economy begins to explode, and it will, we got to deal the middle class back in.  I really mean this.  You got to deal the middle class back in because it is the social fabric.  It is the thing that knits us together as much as sophisticated people make fun of middle-class values. 

And so, guys, ordinary people can and have done extraordinary things.  Never, never, never, never in the history of this country when we’ve given people an even shot -- ordinary people -- have they ever let the country down.  So don't give up on them.  Understand their collective strength.   And their collective wisdom.  They're smarter than we are.  They really are.

As I said at a graduation, I said, don't confuse knowledge with wisdom.  Don't confuse knowledge with wisdom.

Guys, I just think that all we got to do is make our case, give them a shot, keep fighting.  As my grandfather would say -- every time I’d walk out my Grandpop Finnegan’s door, he said, Joey, keep the faith.  And my grandmother would yell, no, Joey, spread it.  (Laughter.)  Go spread the faith. 

Thank you all so much for all that you do.  (Laughter and applause.)  Thank you, see you.  (Applause.)

END
8:25 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2015

Remarks by the President before Cabinet Meeting

Cabinet Room

2:21 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, today, I have the opportunity to welcome two of the newest members of our Cabinet who haven't had a chance to be at a Cabinet meeting before -- our new Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, and our new Attorney General Loretta Lynch.  We want to give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)   

Each of the men and women around this table have a very simple mission -- although it's hard to execute -- and that is how do we make sure that we are continually expanding opportunity, prosperity, and security for the American people.  The good news is, about halfway through 2015, we've already seen some significant progress.  The unemployment rate is now at its lowest in almost seven years.  Businesses created 3 million jobs over the past 12 months, nearly the fastest pace in over a decade.  On the health care front, the uninsured rate has now fallen by the largest amount in four decades, even as health care inflation continues to be lower than it has been in a very long time. 

So our work is paying off.  But we've got to build on that progress.  And our overarching goal remains the same, which is how do we make sure everybody in this country gets opportunity.  That means that we're going to keep fighting to make sure that community colleges are as free and as universal as high school.  It means we're going to go after issues of poverty and inequality, both urban and rural.  It means that we're going to continue to expand on our job training agenda and our apprenticeship agenda so that people of all ages have the skills that they need to succeed in this economy. 

It means we're going to continue to go after ISIL, get a strong deal that prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.  And as part of our agenda for middle-class economics, it means that we're going to continue to pursue strong trade agreements that benefit American workers and American businesses.

And I want to thank the bipartisan group of senators who took a big step forward this morning on the trade agenda that is consistent with strong labor standards, strong environmental standards, and is going to open up access to markets that too often are closed even as these other countries are selling goods here in the United States.  It's an agenda that's good for U.S. businesses, but most importantly, good for American workers.

So we've got a lot to do over the next year and a half.  We're going to run through the tape.  And I'm going to be hearing from everybody around this table in terms of how we are going to make sure that all of our agencies are working on all cylinders to accomplish these goals.

Thank you very much, everybody.

END          
2:25 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2015

Remarks by President Obama and President Essebsi of Tunisia after Bilateral Meeting

Oval Office

11:40 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  It is a great pleasure to welcome back President Caid Essebsi to the Oval Office.  We had the opportunity to meet early in the aftermath of the political transition that had begun in Tunisia.  And it was very gratifying to hear about the excellent progress that's been made in Tunisia’s transformation into an inclusive and functioning democracy.

It is important to recognize that the place where the Arab Spring began is a place where we have seen the most extraordinary progress in allowing all parties and all parts of the population, including women and minorities, participate fully in the civic and political life of the nation.  And it bodes well for Tunisia’s future and for the future of its children.  And I emphasized to the President that the United States is fully committed to working with Tunisia so that it can continue to build on this success.

The friendship between the United States and Tunisia dates back centuries.  But at this critical time in world history, we think it's very important for us to continue to expand the economic assistance that we're providing so that ordinary Tunisians can feel the concrete benefits of a change to a more open and competitive economy; committed to continuing to work to expand the education scholarship and exchange programs that have already been established between our two countries, so that young Tunisians can continue to access the skills they need to get good jobs and compete in the international economy.

We discussed the importance of security and the recognition that given the instability in the region, it is important for us to continue to partner effectively in counterterrorism efforts, but also in our efforts to stabilize Libya and bring the parties together so that we don't have a failed state and a power vacuum that ends up infecting the situation in Tunisia, as well.

And in recognition of the importance that we place on the security and diplomatic relationship with Tunisia, I indicated to the President my intention to designate Tunisia as a major non-NATO ally of the United States.  And I committed that as Tunisia continues to embark on important structural reforms to the economy that we will not only provide short-term aid, but also try to provide the kind of bridge and support that's necessary to complete those reforms and make sure that they’re effective and benefitting the people of Tunisia.

So, overall, this was an excellent discussion, but it was reflective of what had been ongoing consultations and a lot of work by our diplomatic and military and economic and intelligence teams during the course of this incredible transformation of Tunisia.  And I want the President and the people of Tunisia to know that the United States believes in Tunisia, is invested in its success, and will work as a steady partner for years to come.

PRESIDENT ESSEBSI:  (As interpreted.)  I have taken to heart what Mr. President have kindly said.  In this meeting, we have discussed all issues related to Tunisia-U.S. cooperation, in all fields.  And I felt that there is the opportunity to continue this foothold to ensure the success of the democratic choice that Tunisia has opted for.

However important the milestone that Tunisia has reached in the democratic process, we are still in midway.  We have a long way ahead of us.  To reach the conclusion of the democratic system and the final consolidation of the system, there’s still a lot to be done. 

The democratic process is always fragile and threatened by chaos, by parties that do not believe in democracy, that do not follow democratic policies and discourse, but also by our regional environment, which could represent a threat to the democratic process. 

Fortunately, the Tunisian people are very much aware about the importance of the gains it has acquired and about protecting these gains and continuing to work with the U.S.

We have a process of performance that is underway.  We have achieved a milestone in these reforms.  We are almost midway. We are committed to these reforms and within this year we are going to finalize all reforms that we need to implement.  The objective is to reform the economy, but also to send an important message to the world, to investors, and to tell them that Tunisia is a favorable site for investment and for growth.

Mr. President Obama has underscored during our discussion his faith in Tunisia, his belief in Tunisia’s chances for success.  We, too, in Tunisia have faith in the friendship of the U.S., and with the longstanding history and the friendship between our two countries.  We are integrating a new phase, a new chapter in our bilateral relations, and we need the support of the U.S., and maybe the U.S. needs Tunisia, too, now.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you. 

END
12:54 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
May 20, 2015

Remarks by The First Lady at Elizabeth Dole Foundation Caregiver Summit

Reagan Building
Washington, D.C.

3:39 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Well, hello.  I think Kat is a hard act to follow.  She’s pretty amazing.  (Applause.)  Yes, absolutely. 

But I want to start by thanking Senator Dole for her remarks, but more importantly, for her extraordinary leadership on such an important issue in this country.  And I also have to recognize Secretary McDonald for all of his efforts on behalf of our veterans and their families, as well as everyone from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, especially all of your tremendous Caregiver Fellows that we have here with us today. 

And again, finally, I have to thank one of those Fellows -- Kat -- for sharing her remarkable story.  I met Kat a couple of weeks ago at the White House, and as you just heard, her story, it exemplifies the dedication and the courage and the resilience that defines our nation’s caregivers.  She blew me away back then.  And I told her, I told Kat -- I said, she’s in.  We're going to suck her up and -- (laughter.)  She didn’t believe me, but I was like, this won't be the last time you see me.  (Laughter.)  She’s pretty amazing.  And she’s been through a lot even today.  And she’s here, and I'm so proud of you.  You’ve got an amazing voice on this issue.   

Although there are just over one million caregivers for our post-9/11 veterans in this country -- they are spouses and parents, siblings, friends, neighbors who serve and sacrifice, hour after hour, day after day, right alongside our wounded warriors. 

While our country has become familiar with the inspiring stories of servicemembers who’ve risked their lives for this country -- we honor these men and women with parades and ceremonies, we have begun to tell their stories in movies and on TV -- the stories of our caregivers too often go untold.  We don’t always hear about the quiet courage of a spouse like Kat, who’s there for her husband almost every hour of every single day.

We don’t always see the sister who quits her job to support her brother as he learns to stand again, and walk again, and run again.  Or the father who retires early so he can drive his daughter to her rehab appointments, and consult with her doctors, and assist with the painstaking work of recovery. 

All of the caregivers here today understand how your life can be flipped upside down in an instant.  You know the feeling that Kat described to me a couple of weeks ago -- this is what she said.  She said:  “Everything from before is gone.  Any dreams you had, any plans,” she said, “it’s burned up.  It’s in a house that’s on fire, and there’s no going back to it.”  Those words hit me deeply.  

But Kat wasn’t angry, and she wasn’t looking for sympathy when she said those words.  It’s simply how she felt.  It was her truth.  It was her reality.  Because she knows she’s lucky to have her husband alive at all.  As she says, as a caregiver, at least “you get to rebuild together.”  That was beautiful.  

And as you all know, the rebuilding process is not easy for your loved one -- or for you.  You love your warrior with all your heart, and you’re proud to help them recover.  But as the days become months, and the months become years, the constant giving, and giving, and giving can become its own heavy weight.  You might have trouble sleeping, or finding some time for yourself.  Your marriage might suffer.  You might worry about your job security because of all the time you need to take off.  Or you might begin to feel distant from friends or family -- folks who mean well, but they don’t quite understand everything you’re going through.

It can be isolating, and physically and emotionally exhausting.  Kat told me she’s never felt worse than those nights she’d go to bed and tell herself that she was just too tired, that she didn’t have anything more to give.  And as we know from the RAND study that Senator Dole commissioned last year, those emotional lows are not uncommon.  Our caregivers are more likely than the general population to face mental health challenges like depression.

But here’s what makes caregivers like you all so inspiring for me.  No matter what you're going through, you always find a way to dig just a little deeper.  You always find more to give.  You always keep moving forward and rebuilding for your families. 
And we are here today because we want to show you that you're not alone in this journey -- because here in America, caring for our wounded warriors cannot be a one-person assignment.  It’s a solemn obligation for our entire country to be there for you.  It’s a crucial part of securing our nation.  (Applause.)

You all are a part of that security that helps keep us all safe.  And it’s a way for the rest of us to fulfill our duty to those who’ve sacrificed so much.  But we can’t just say those things –- we’ve got to do something that makes a real difference in our caregivers’ lives. 

And that’s why, five years ago, my husband signed a groundbreaking law that supports caregivers with financial stipends and travel reimbursements, as well as access to health care, respite care, and so much more.  And it’s why our Joining Forces initiative has been working hand in hand with the Dole Foundation to rally folks across the country to support our caregivers. 

And last April, as many of you know, we hosted an event at the White House to launch the Hidden Heroes coalition -– as you know, a collection of public and private partners who were stepping up to address this issue.  Throughout this day, you’ve heard about all the incredible progress this coalition has made in the time since on issues like employment and education, community support.  And every step of the way, the Dole Foundation and their partners kept asking themselves:  How can we make an even bigger impact?  What gaps are we missing?  Who else can we get involved?

And that’s led to an even deeper focus on the area of mental health because we know that mental health is an issue that’s too often swept under the rug; that in our country, there’s sometimes a reluctance to talk about these issues or to get the help that we need. 

So today I’m proud to announce a series of new commitments from the Dole Foundation and Give an Hour, which is a wonderful  -- yes, Give an Hour.  (Applause.)  Give an Hour is an amazing nonprofit that’s leading a nationwide mental health awareness effort called The Campaign to Change Direction. 

First, they’re teaming up with Easter Seals on a training webinar to educate caregivers on the campaign’s five signs of mental distress –- signs like withdrawal, or agitation, a decline in personal care –- so that caregivers can identify those signs when they see them, and then get their warriors, their families, or themselves the help they need. 

Second, they’re training faith leaders all across the country on those five signs -- because we know that clergy are often the first people caregivers will turn to for help.

And then, third, they’re educating community mental health providers on military culture, so that if a caregiver or a warrior seeks help outside of the VA system, it’s easier to find a provider who understands the unique stresses and demands of military life. 

So this is a wonderful series of commitments, and I’m especially excited about them because they’re not simply focused on caregivers and their families, but on the communities that surround them as well.  Because if we’re going to tell our caregivers that they’re not alone, then we’ve got to enlist others who can be there to support them -- folks who truly understand what they’re going though.  And we know that one of the best ways we can do that is to help you guys connect with those folks.

You might remember a story I told last year about when I visited with a group of caregivers at Fort Belvoir -- how those five women opened up to each other and started troubleshooting, connecting each other with resources, and offering tips and advice on the things they figured out along the way.  It was the first time the folks at Fort Belvoir had convened a group like this, and they immediately saw the value in it and made a commitment to expand the program at their base. 

And today, that group is serving more than 100 caregivers at Fort Belvoir alone.  And building from that success, I'm proud to announce that the Department of Defense has launched peer support groups like that same one at more than 60 military facilities around the world.  (Applause.)

And they’re holding monthly online forums for folks who aren’t able to make it to an in-person meeting.  So this is the thing -- in just a little more than a year, we’ve gone from a single meeting of five women to a worldwide network of in-person groups and online resources that serve caregivers no matter where they live.

And here at the Dole Foundation, you all are facilitating the same kind of connection with your online peer support network.  And many of your fellows are reaching out online and in their own communities as well.  For example, one of your fellows -- Blair Hughes -- facilitates an online community of more than 1,000 members that reviews products and resources online.  It’s kind of like a Yelp for the caregivers.  (Laughter.)  So it’s good stuff.  (Applause.)

So every day we’re seeing more and more resources and programs specifically designed for those who care for our wounded warriors.  And now we’ve got to make sure that our caregivers out there understand that those resources exist.  We got to make sure that they know where to find them, how to connect with folks who want to support them. 

So to all the caregivers out there, I just want to make sure you know that you can go to whitehouse.gov/caregivers where you can get connected to support through the VA, the DOD, and many other resources.  That’s just one place you can go. 

Or if you’re looking for in-person support, you can go to your local VA -- one of your vet centers.  I visited one of those centers -- they’re amazing.  They’re more state of the art.  Or if you’re living on base, I want you to go to your Recovery Care Coordinator -- or anyone on base who can connect you with the resources that you need.

And that’s really what Joining Forces is all about.  We want to connect you to the people, resources, and opportunities that can make a difference in your daily lives so that as you rebuild with your families, you never have to do it alone.  You’ll have employers, and health care providers, and neighbors who better understand your experience and how they can help.  That’s what we’re working toward.  Not just today, and not just for these next couple of years -- but for the long haul. 

Because this isn’t just something I’m doing as First Lady -- it’s something I'm doing as an American.  And I look forward to working with whichever family follows ours in the White House to keep on addressing these caregiver issues and all the issues our veterans and military families are facing.  Because as we see right here in this room today, this is an issue that everyone can get behind, no matter what political party you belong to. 

So to all the caregivers here today, and you’re families, I want you to know that we’re not done yet.  We know that we have more work to do.  And as I said last year, I think if we’re falling short, if there are any gaps that we need to keep filling, we want to know about it and we want to try to keep getting better.  Because we want to serve you as well as you have served us. 

You’re some of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met in my life.  And all of us here in this room, and all across this country, want you to feel all of our love and our support every single day.  Not just when we gather you here in Washington -- but every single day.  This is nice, too, right?  (Laughter.)  It’s not bad. 

So, again, I want to thank you.  Thank you all for your service, your commitment to this country.  And I look forward to continuing our work together in the years ahead. 

God bless you all.  (Applause.)

END 
3:54 P.M. EDT