The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 05, 2015

Remarks by the President at National Prayer Breakfast

Washington Hilton
Washington, D.C.

9:13 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Well, good morning.  Giving all praise and honor to God.  It is wonderful to be back with you here.  I want to thank our co-chairs, Bob and Roger.  These two don’t always agree in the Senate, but in coming together and uniting us all in prayer, they embody the spirit of our gathering today. 

I also want to thank everybody who helped organize this breakfast.  It’s wonderful to see so many friends and faith leaders and dignitaries.  And Michelle and I are truly honored to be joining you here today.

I want to offer a special welcome to a good friend, His Holiness the Dalai Lama -- who is a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion, who inspires us to speak up for the freedom and dignity of all human beings.  (Applause.)  I’ve been pleased to welcome him to the White House on many occasions, and we’re grateful that he’s able to join us here today.  (Applause.)  

There aren’t that many occasions that bring His Holiness under the same roof as NASCAR.  (Laughter.)  This may be the first.  (Laughter.)  But God works in mysterious ways.  (Laughter.)   And so I want to thank Darrell for that wonderful presentation.  Darrell knows that when you’re going 200 miles an hour, a little prayer cannot hurt.  (Laughter.)  I suspect that more than once, Darrell has had the same thought as many of us have in our own lives -- Jesus, take the wheel.  (Laughter.) Although I hope that you kept your hands on the wheel when you were thinking that.  (Laughter.)   

He and I obviously share something in having married up.  And we are so grateful to Stevie for the incredible work that they’ve done together to build a ministry where the fastest drivers can slow down a little bit, and spend some time in prayer and reflection and thanks.  And we certainly want to wish Darrell a happy birthday.  (Applause.)  Happy birthday.

I will note, though, Darrell, when you were reading that list of things folks were saying about you, I was thinking, well, you're a piker.  I mean, that -- (laughter.)  I mean, if you really want a list, come talk to me.  (Laughter.)  Because that ain’t nothing.  (Laughter.)  That's the best they can do in NASCAR?  (Laughter.)        

Slowing down and pausing for fellowship and prayer -- that's what this breakfast is about.  I think it's fair to say Washington moves a lot slower than NASCAR.  Certainly my agenda does sometimes.  (Laughter.)  But still, it’s easier to get caught up in the rush of our lives, and in the political back-and-forth that can take over this city.  We get sidetracked with distractions, large and small.  We can’t go 10 minutes without checking our smartphones -- and for my staff, that's every 10 seconds.  And so for 63 years, this prayer tradition has brought us together, giving us the opportunity to come together in humility before the Almighty and to be reminded of what it is that we share as children of God. 

And certainly for me, this is always a chance to reflect on my own faith journey.  Many times as President, I’ve been reminded of a line of prayer that Eleanor Roosevelt was fond of. She said, “Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven to Thee for strength.”  Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven to Thee for strength.  I’ve wondered at times if maybe God was answering that prayer a little too literally.  But no matter the challenge, He has been there for all of us.  He’s certainly strengthened me “with the power through his Spirit,” as I’ve sought His guidance not just in my own life but in the life of our nation.
 
Now, over the last few months, we’ve seen a number of challenges -- certainly over the last six years.  But part of what I want to touch on today is the degree to which we've seen professions of faith used both as an instrument of great good, but also twisted and misused in the name of evil. 

As we speak, around the world, we see faith inspiring people to lift up one another -- to feed the hungry and care for the poor, and comfort the afflicted and make peace where there is strife.  We heard the good work that Sister has done in Philadelphia, and the incredible work that Dr. Brantly and his colleagues have done.  We see faith driving us to do right.

But we also see faith being twisted and distorted, used as a wedge -- or, worse, sometimes used as a weapon.  From a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris, we have seen violence and terror perpetrated by those who profess to stand up for faith, their faith, professed to stand up for Islam, but, in fact, are betraying it.  We see ISIL, a brutal, vicious death cult that, in the name of religion, carries out unspeakable acts of barbarism  -- terrorizing religious minorities like the Yezidis, subjecting women to rape as a weapon of war, and claiming the mantle of religious authority for such actions. 

We see sectarian war in Syria, the murder of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, religious war in the Central African Republic, a rising tide of anti-Semitism and hate crimes in Europe, so often perpetrated in the name of religion.

So how do we, as people of faith, reconcile these realities -- the profound good, the strength, the tenacity, the compassion and love that can flow from all of our faiths, operating alongside those who seek to hijack religious for their own murderous ends? 

Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history.  And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ.  In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.  Michelle and I returned from India -- an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity -- but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs -- acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation. 

So this is not unique to one group or one religion.  There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith.  In today’s world, when hate groups have their own Twitter accounts and bigotry can fester in hidden places in cyberspace, it can be even harder to counteract such intolerance. But God compels us to try.  And in this mission, I believe there are a few principles that can guide us, particularly those of us who profess to believe. 

And, first, we should start with some basic humility.  I believe that the starting point of faith is some doubt -- not being so full of yourself and so confident that you are right and that God speaks only to us, and doesn’t speak to others, that God only cares about us and doesn’t care about others, that somehow we alone are in possession of the truth. 

Our job is not to ask that God respond to our notion of truth -- our job is to be true to Him, His word, and His commandments.  And we should assume humbly that we’re confused and don’t always know what we’re doing and we’re staggering and stumbling towards Him, and have some humility in that process.  And that means we have to speak up against those who would misuse His name to justify oppression, or violence, or hatred with that fierce certainty.  No God condones terror.  No grievance justifies the taking of innocent lives, or the oppression of those who are weaker or fewer in number.

And so, as people of faith, we are summoned to push back against those who try to distort our religion -- any religion -- for their own nihilistic ends.  And here at home and around the world, we will constantly reaffirm that fundamental freedom -- freedom of religion -- the right to practice our faith how we choose, to change our faith if we choose, to practice no faith at all if we choose, and to do so free of persecution and fear and discrimination.

There’s wisdom in our founders writing in those documents that help found this nation the notion of freedom of religion, because they understood the need for humility.  They also understood the need to uphold freedom of speech, that there was a connection between freedom of speech and freedom of religion.  For to infringe on one right under the pretext of protecting another is a betrayal of both. 

But part of humility is also recognizing in modern, complicated, diverse societies, the functioning of these rights, the concern for the protection of these rights calls for each of us to exercise civility and restraint and judgment.  And if, in fact, we defend the legal right of a person to insult another’s religion, we’re equally obligated to use our free speech to condemn such insults -- (applause) -- and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with religious communities, particularly religious minorities who are the targets of such attacks.  Just because you have the right to say something doesn’t mean the rest of us shouldn’t question those who would insult others in the name of free speech.  Because we know that our nations are stronger when people of all faiths feel that they are welcome, that they, too, are full and equal members of our countries.

So humility I think is needed.  And the second thing we need is to uphold the distinction between our faith and our governments.  Between church and between state.  The United States is one of the most religious countries in the world -- far more religious than most Western developed countries.  And one of the reasons is that our founders wisely embraced the separation of church and state.  Our government does not sponsor a religion, nor does it pressure anyone to practice a particular faith, or any faith at all.  And the result is a culture where people of all backgrounds and beliefs can freely and proudly worship, without fear, or coercion -- so that when you listen to Darrell talk about his faith journey you know it's real.  You know he’s not saying it because it helps him advance, or because somebody told him to.  It's from the heart.   

That’s not the case in theocracies that restrict people’s choice of faith.  It's not the case in authoritarian governments that elevate an individual leader or a political party above the people, or in some cases, above the concept of God Himself.  So the freedom of religion is a value we will continue to protect here at home and stand up for around the world, and is one that we guard vigilantly here in the United States.

Last year, we joined together to pray for the release of Christian missionary Kenneth Bae, held in North Korea for two years.  And today, we give thanks that Kenneth is finally back where he belongs -- home, with his family.  (Applause.)

Last year, we prayed together for Pastor Saeed Abedini, detained in Iran since 2012.  And I was recently in Boise, Idaho, and had the opportunity to meet with Pastor Abedini’s beautiful wife and wonderful children and to convey to them that our country has not forgotten brother Saeed and that we’re doing everything we can to bring him home.  (Applause.)  And then, I received an extraordinary letter from Pastor Abedini.  And in it, he describes his captivity, and expressed his gratitude for my visit with his family, and thanked us all for standing in solidarity with him during his captivity.

And Pastor Abedini wrote, “Nothing is more valuable to the Body of Christ than to see how the Lord is in control, and moves ahead of countries and leadership through united prayer.”  And he closed his letter by describing himself as “prisoner for Christ, who is proud to be part of this great nation of the United States of America that cares for religious freedom around the world.”  (Applause.)

We’re going to keep up this work -- for Pastor Abedini and all those around the world who are unjustly held or persecuted because of their faith.   And we’re grateful to our new Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Rabbi David Saperstein -- who has hit the ground running, and is heading to Iraq in a few days to help religious communities there address some of those challenges.  Where’s David?  I know he’s here somewhere.  Thank you, David, for the great work you’re doing.  (Applause.)

Humility; a suspicion of government getting between us and our faiths, or trying to dictate our faiths, or elevate one faith over another.  And, finally, let’s remember that if there is one law that we can all be most certain of that seems to bind people of all faiths, and people who are still finding their way towards faith but have a sense of ethics and morality in them -- that one law, that Golden Rule that we should treat one another as we wish to be treated.  The Torah says “Love thy neighbor as yourself.”  In Islam, there is a Hadith that states: "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”  The Holy Bible tells us to “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”  Put on love.

Whatever our beliefs, whatever our traditions, we must seek to be instruments of peace, and bringing light where there is darkness, and sowing love where there is hatred.  And this is the loving message of His Holiness, Pope Francis.  And like so many people around the world, I’ve been touched by his call to relieve suffering, and to show justice and mercy and compassion to the most vulnerable; to walk with The Lord and ask “Who am I to judge?”  He challenges us to press on in what he calls our “march of living hope.”  And like millions of Americans, I am very much looking forward to welcoming Pope Francis to the United States later this year.  (Applause.)

His Holiness expresses that basic law:  Treat thy neighbor as yourself.  The Dalai Lama -- anybody who’s had an opportunity to be with him senses that same spirit.  Kent Brantly expresses that same spirit.  Kent was with Samaritan’s Purse, treating Ebola patients in Liberia, when he contracted the virus himself. And with world-class medical care and a deep reliance on faith -- with God’s help, Kent survived.  (Applause.) 

And then by donating his plasma, he helped others survive as well.  And he continues to advocate for a global response in West Africa, reminding us that “our efforts needs to be on loving the people there.”  And I could not have been prouder to welcome Kent and his wonderful wife Amber to the Oval Office.  We are blessed to have him here today -- because he reminds us of what it means to really “love thy neighbor as thyself.”  Not just words, but deeds. 

Each of us has a role in fulfilling our common, greater purpose -- not merely to seek high position, but to plumb greater depths so that we may find the strength to love more fully.  And this is perhaps our greatest challenge -- to see our own reflection in each other; to be our brother’s keepers and sister’s keepers, and to keep faith with one another.  As children of God, let’s make that our work, together.

As children of God, let’s work to end injustice -- injustice of poverty and hunger.  No one should ever suffer from such want amidst such plenty.  As children of God, let’s work to eliminate the scourge of homelessness, because, as Sister Mary says, “None of us are home until all of us are home.”  None of us are home until all of us are home.

As children of God, let’s stand up for the dignity and value of every woman, and man, and child, because we are all equal in His eyes, and work to send the scourge and the sin of modern-day slavery and human trafficking, and “set the oppressed free.”  (Applause.)

If we are properly humble, if we drop to our knees on occasion, we will acknowledge that we never fully know God’s purpose.  We can never fully fathom His amazing grace.  “We see through a glass, darkly” -- grappling with the expanse of His awesome love.  But even with our limits, we can heed that which is required:  To do justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.

I pray that we will.  And as we journey together on this “march of living hope,” I pray that, in His name, we will run and not be weary, and walk and not be faint, and we’ll heed those words and “put on love.” 

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may He bless this precious country that we love. 

Thank you all very much.  (Applause.)

END               
9:37 A.M. EST

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
February 04, 2015

Remarks by Senior Administration Officials in a Conference Call on the Vice President's Trip to Belgium and Germany

Via Teleconference

11:05 A.M. EST

MR. SPECTOR:  Hey, everybody.  Thank you for joining today’s call.  We appreciate your time. 

As you know, the Vice President will travel to Brussels, Belgium and Munich, Germany starting tomorrow, Thursday, February 5th through Sunday, February 8th.  So this call is to inform you about the trip and answer a few questions that you might have.

This call is going to be on background from senior administration officials.  And with that, I’d like to turn it over to our first senior administration official.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Great, thank you very much.  And thanks, everyone, for joining the call.  I think it would make sense for us just to introduce ourselves by name at the beginning just so you know who is on the call, but, of course, this call will be on background from a senior administration official.

So I will just at the top here briefly walk through the agenda, the schedule for the trip and a little bit about what we're hoping to accomplish and then turn it to my colleagues to take your questions.

So the Vice President is going to be departing tomorrow on Thursday, February 5th for a three- to four-day trip to Brussels, Belgium and Munich, Germany. 

In Brussels on Friday, the Vice President will meet with the full range of European leaders, including the European Parliament President, Martin Schulz; the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament, which consists of the heads of the main political groupings in the European Parliament, the European Council President Donald Tusk; and then we’ll meet jointly with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Vice President Federica Mogherini.

This will be the first trip to Brussels at this level since the President was in Brussels for a summit with European leaders last March, and in particular since the new leadership in Europe assumed office in December.

And obviously given our close partnership across a range of critical issues, and in particular, given a series of recent events, including the terrorist attacks in Paris, the current escalation of the conflict in Ukraine by Russia and its proxies, the economic concerns across Europe and the globe, this is a particularly important time to check in with our European counterparts. 

So we expect that in all of his meetings with European Union leaders, the Vice President will have the opportunity to compare notes on the situation in Ukraine, on critical issues of energy security that Europe is facing in particular and that obviously we all share in common, including on climate change; on a range of economic issues, including the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP negotiations and other policies designed to promote economic growth, and of course, our counterterrorism cooperation, our common efforts to counter violent extremism and a range of other global issues. 

Let me just say a couple words about a few of the issues we expect will come up in some of these meetings.  On Ukraine, the Vice President will certainly want to discuss both the current escalation of the conflict by Russia and the need to impose additional costs on Russia for its ongoing aggression in eastern Ukraine, as well as the economic reforms that Ukraine is undertaking and how the European Union and the United States, along with the international community can continue to galvanize additional financial support for Ukraine.

On energy security, the Vice President will want to discuss with the EU leadership, plans for diversifying fuel types, sources of energy, and transit routes to reduce the ability of any one country to use energy as a political weapon; and of course, they’ll likely consult on an ongoing negotiations around the world on climate change and our efforts in that respect, as well. 

On TTIP, where negotiators are meeting this week, we feel a real opportunity for a fresh start in the negotiations.  And the Vice President will want to underscore that this agreement is really in the geostrategic interests of both the United States and Europe and the importance of our efforts to update the rules of the road globally, and set the standards for trade, in addition to bolstering growth and job creation on both (inaudible).

He’ll also likely address other ways that we can work together to strengthen the economic recovery in Europe and the United States.  And, of course, given the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and in Brussels, the Vice President will begin discussing and continue discussing our efforts to counter violent extremism, stem the flow in financing for foreign terrorist fighters to travel, and better share information on such individuals.

Finally, there’s a whole range of global issues where the United States, of course, is working very closely with our European allies and partners, and those include the negotiations on Iran, the coalition against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.  And we’ll obviously be checking in on those issues as well.

While in Brussels, the Vice President will also meet with the Belgian Prime Minister, where he’ll discuss of course our very close economic partnership, our bilateral relationship, and some of these same issues as well.
 
In Munich, on Saturday and Sunday of this week, the Vice President will attend the annual Munich Security Conference, where he’ll deliver remarks on European and global security challenges.  The Vice President has spoken before at the Munich Security Conference, including in 2009, just after the President and the Vice President took office.  And his visit will come just a day after our administration releases the President’s 2015 National Security Strategy as part of our effort to further define America’s foreign policy agenda and vision for U.S. global leadership. 
So this will be a particularly appropriate moment to revisit some of the themes the Vice President has addressed in this particular forum in the past, as well as discuss how much has changed in the world and how the transatlantic community must adapt to the current challenges.

I’ll let the Vice President speak for himself at the conference, but I think we can expect he will use his remarks and his discussions with other leaders at the conference to address some of the enduring and emerging priorities and approaches to a range of global challenges.

As we see it, in many cases, the international order that we’ve worked together with our European partners to build over the previous decade coming under assault.  And since the United States and Europe have been the traditional guardians of the international institutions that govern international relations and international trade and commerce, we have a special responsibility to address these challenges.  And the Vice President will want to talk a little bit about what we’ve been doing and how the President and the Vice President have a vision for American leadership over the next couple of years and well beyond.  But again, I’ll let the Vice President speak to that while he’s in Munich.

We’ll also have an opportunity in Munich for a number of other meetings with leaders who are also attending the conference.  We’re still working to put the final touches on the schedule.  And, of course, in a large event with a lot of leaders like this, you can expect there will be a number of informal opportunities for meetings and conversations on the sidelines.  But let me just mention a couple of the highlights of the schedule and then turn to your questions.

First, we expect the Vice President will hold a joint meeting in a trilateral format with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.  This will obviously give the three leaders an opportunity to discuss the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and international support for Ukraine’s reform efforts, including through financial assistance.
 
Chancellor Merkel obviously has been a strong, important support of Ukraine within Europe.  And Germany has played a critical role diplomatically and financially in supporting a peaceful resolution of the conflict and in supporting our efforts to enable a democratic, free Ukraine, and its people to determine their own future.  So we’ve worked closely with our German allies during the course of this crisis.  And, of course, the Vice President has been engaging extensively with President Poroshenko and Prime Minister Yatsenyuk since the start of the conflict.

Secretary Kerry will, of course, be in Ukraine on Thursday, a day or two before this meeting.  And of course, this meeting will give the Chancellor and the Vice President a chance to consult with President Poroshenko in advance of the Chancellor’s very important visit to Washington to meet with the President and Vice President on February 9th.  So we have a very intensive period of diplomacy on Ukraine and the full range of transatlantic issues over the course of the next few days.

Just briefly, the Vice President will also meet with the NATO Secretary General to discuss European security and in particular NATO’s Readiness Action Plan, as well as other ongoing efforts to strengthen the Alliance. 

In Munich, the Vice President will also meet with a number of other European and international leaders, and we expect meetings with the President of Bulgaria, the Prime Minister of Georgia, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, among others, on the sidelines of the conference. 

And we also expect to see Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi and the Kurdistan regional government President Barzani while in Munich as well.  And that's an opportunity for the Vice President to discuss with both leaders our work together in the ongoing fight against ISIL and the ongoing effort to unite Iraq’s communities through a more inclusive approach to governance, as reflected most recently in the successful passage of the budget in Iraq.

You can expect the Vice President will have a chance to consult with Prime Minister Abadi on our ongoing efforts to enlist Sunnis in the fight against ISIL through both tribal mobilization under the Iraqi government and work that's ongoing on the national guard law. 

So let me just say, in addition to the Vice President, of course, Secretary Kerry and a number of other senior U.S. officials will also be at the conference, including a very substantial congressional delegation.  And I'm sure we'll have opportunity to say more about their engagement in other meetings during the course of the trip itself.

So -- let me just open it up for your questions about the trip and some of the issues we expect will come up during the course of the next few days.  Thank you.

Q    Last week, President Obama urged less austerity in Greece recovery, stressing that one could not keep squeezing countries that were in the midst of depression.  Will Vice President Biden pass that message to the European leaders in general and to German Chancellor Merkel in particular?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So as you know, we have supported Europe as it has been moving to strengthen its economy and strengthen its recovery.  We do believe that in the case of Greece it is very important for the Greek government to work cooperatively with its European colleagues, as well as with the IMF.  And we have advised it to do so, and we are hopeful that these conversations are now moving to a place with some cooperation and mutual understanding.  We very much favor a strong Europe with a strong euro and the integrity of the eurozone.  So that’s as far as Greece is concerned.

We also over a number of years have suggested, have been arguing in the G20 that it’s important to have a focus on growth and jobs.  We believe that the G20 and the G7 have moved over time to put that as a higher priority and that that is something that there is increasing support for.  Of course, then you have to figure out what is the best way to achieve that.

And we are fairly confident about the state of the United States economy now after the immediate response to the financial crisis and then the following fiscal and monetary policies that we put in place and we are obviously supportive of others looking to develop policies that will support that kind of growth.

Q    I am wondering whether the Vice President expects to talk about new antiterrorism measures in the wake of the Paris attacks and in particular whether he expects to talk about the visa waiver program and the discussions that at least in the Congress are being held right now about changing the rules and demanding for additional information exchanges.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, let me just say briefly on that I think all of the issues that you mentioned are under active discussion in our ongoing discussions about counterterrorism policies and practices, and ways that we can work together to more effectively combat terrorist threats between the United States and Europe and around the globe.

So I think you would expect that while the Vice President is obviously not going to negotiate any new agreements or programs between our countries, we have a number of discussions that are ongoing.  There are a number of issues that we’re trying to deal with actively, both in light of the recent attacks but as an ongoing matter, because this is obviously a very important issue that we both share in common and both need to continue to work more closely together to try to address.

And so I expect that these issues will come up in particular in Brussels in the discussions between the Vice President and European leaders, but also throughout the course of the trip.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I would simply add that we have a long-running dialogue across the Atlantic about counterterrorism and about getting the right balance between privacy and security, and data-sharing and technology.  That debate has been intensified as a consequence of the events in Paris and heightened concern in Europe about security, about foreign fighters.

And therefore, we are intensifying our discussion with the Europeans on a wide range of issues, including the sharing of intelligence, the whole question of no-fly lists and data-sharing, and other issues that we can pursue to make sure that we do a better job, particularly when it comes (inaudible) extremism, violent extremism.  And it’s because of that heightened concern that we will be holding here in Washington in a couple of weeks a summit on the issue of combatting violent extremism. 

Q    Hi.  I’m wondering if there’s going to be opportunity for Vice President Biden to discuss the changes to bulk collection of foreign data that was announced yesterday.  And if not, why not?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, let me just say a couple of words about that.  As implicit in your question, yesterday, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco gave some remarks and also released the update on some of our own series of reforms to intelligence programs that were initiated by the President’s Policy Directive 28 on signals intelligence activities.  That was about a year ago. 

And in those remarks, she laid out a number of additional steps that we’ve taken over the course of the year -- over the course of the last year, and steps that we’re taking and that are ongoing.

And obviously as my colleague mentioned in response to the question about counterterrorism cooperation, there are a range of issues related to striking the appropriate balance between privacy and security that we have as part of our ongoing dialogue with our European counterparts.  So while there’s no specific agenda item to discuss these issues in particular, it’s very possible they could come up.  And I’m sure the Vice President would be prepared to both give an update on what we have been doing in this area over the course of the last year and also continue the discussion about how best to strike that balance going forward and how to continue to work with our European partners across a range of these issues.  So thank you very much for the question.

Q    Hey, guys, thanks for doing the call.  I’m wondering in the meeting with Merkel and Poroshenko whether the Vice President will be discussing the possibility of the U.S. sending lethal assistance to Ukraine.  And on the TTIP discussions, what will be his message to European countries that are wondering whether the Obama administration can get such a deal through Congress and past the opposition of members of his own party?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  On your first question, since the very beginning of the crisis in Ukraine, the United States has put a premium on staying in lockstep with our European allies when it comes to the response to Russia.  And that means that on financial assistance, on sanctions and the isolation of Russia and on security assistance, we have always discussed in advance of any action our options with the Europeans, and we will continue that tradition moving forward.  And in that respect, I think there’s no question that during the Vice President’s meetings -- not just the one that you mentioned with Poroshenko and Merkel but also in Brussels and other meetings in Munich -- all of these issues will be on the table:  financial assistance, increasing pressure through sanctions, and how we can most effectively provide security assistance to Ukraine. 

On the security assistance front, we have from the very beginning freshened our look at how best to support Ukraine’s integrity and its sovereignty, and we have had all options on the table from the beginning.  In light of the recent escalation in fighting, exemplified by the fact that the separatists have pushed beyond the line of control and that Russia is resupplying the separatists in a very significant way, we are reevaluating our security assistance again.

But let me just say that our goal here is to find a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.  We do not see a military resolution in the offing.  And in that respect, our sanctions policy as well as our security assistance are aimed at changing the incentive structure facing Russia and encouraging them to settle this conflict at a negotiating table. 

Do you want to say something about TTIP?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yes, thank you.  So we are very determined and keen to move forward with the President’s and the Vice President’s trade agenda.  I think that the President has made that clear in recent comments.  And the most immediate part is the Trans Pacific Partnership, TPP, which began sooner -- the negotiations of that began sooner, which is with the dynamic region of Asia.

But the TTIP, as was mentioned earlier, is also a crucial part of both our drive to have high quality (inaudible) for American workers and companies around the world, but also strengthen our foreign policy and national security and diplomatic ties.  And obviously these are very deep with Europe but TTIP would deepen them still further in a very helpful way.  And I think there is quite a lot of support for that and these are negotiations that, as was mentioned earlier, are proceeding even this week and that we’re very focused on completing.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  And I would just add, since one of my colleagues mentioned that we see TTIP not just in geo-economic terms but in geostrategic terms, that we think the agreement is an important symbolic step forward in consolidating the transatlantic relationship.  And we also think that the benefits to growth and to jobs that TTIP would bring is of geostrategic importance in that it will help consolidate public support for greater European integration, it will help re-legitimate the European project in the eyes of the Europeans.  Because, after all, it is the sluggish economic conditions that are in many respects creating discontent among the public.  And the stronger Europe is the better the relationship with the United States, and the more we have in Europe to partner with which we can more effectively work.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I would just add one more sentence to that, which is just to say that obviously our European counterparts are also looking for a signal of the level of our support and the political dynamics, frankly, in the United States.  And the Vice President, obviously given his many years of serving in the Senate and deep understanding of the political dynamics between the administration and Capitol Hill, and in particular, the long history of bipartisan agreement on and support for trade and efforts to promote economic development between the U.S. and its partners around the world is particularly well positioned to answer some of the questions his counterparts may have and to give them a sense of our game plan going forward.

Q    I just wanted to follow up on the earlier question on aid to Ukraine.  Will the Vice President be making any specific asks or engaging dialogue on the sidelines of the Munich Security Summit to ask specific countries to increase their nonlethal aid or training efforts with Ukraine?  Is that part of the agenda here?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, I think that as I mentioned, the Vice President will be consulting with European allies across the board, because we do have three different issue areas in play.  One is the potential to increase the costs to Russia through economic measures.  The second is to make sure that Ukraine has the financial support it needs moving forward.  And the third is to enhance Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and thereby give the Russians and the separatists a greater incentive to negotiate an end to the conflict. 

And so in that third basket of issues, the Vice President will be engaged in discussions about how most effectively to achieve that end.  And working bilaterally with the United States, bilaterally with individual European countries, and also multilaterally through NATO, we are in the process of giving both training assistance to the Ukrainians as well as equipment that enhances their defensive capability.  So that will definitely be part of the conversation. 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I would just add one additional note on that.  As I mentioned earlier, we're entering obviously what is a very intensive period of diplomacy.  With the Vice President being in Brussels and Munich, we'll have a number of conversations on this topic and the range of issues that my colleague just mentioned.  Secretary Kerry will obviously be in Ukraine on Thursday, and then of course, Chancellor Merkel will be here in Washington on Monday for a very important set of discussions and consultations here at the White House with the President and the Vice President and others.  So we obviously have a lot of work we can do over the next few days on this range of issues that my colleague pointed out.

MR. SPECTOR:  I think this will wrap it.  We appreciate your time.  And as a friendly reminder, this call was on background from senior administration officials.  If you have any follow-up questions, you can reach us at press@ovp.eop.gov.  Thanks again.

END
11:32 A.M. EST

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 04, 2015

Remarks by the President in Meeting with DREAMers

Oval Office

11:47 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I've just had a chance to meet with these six wonderful young people who represent the very best that this country has to offer.  And what sets them apart is that they all came here, were brought here by their parents, and up until recently have had a very difficult situation because of their immigration status.

The stories you hear from these young people are parents who aspired for a better life for their children; these folks coming here at the age of four months, or seven months, or 9-year-olds or 10-year-olds, oftentimes not realizing that their status was any different than their classmates and their friends and their neighbors.  In some cases, they didn’t discover until they were about to go to college that there was a difference that might prevent them from giving back to their community and their country.

And because of the executive actions that we took with respect to DREAM Act kids, and because of the executive actions that I announced late last year with respect to many of their parents, what I've heard is life is transformed.  Young people who didn’t think it would be possible for themselves to go to college suddenly are going to college.  Young people who didn’t think that it might be possible to start a business suddenly find themselves in a position to look at starting a business.  Young people who have memories of their mothers weeping because they couldn't go to the funeral of their parent now have seen the prospect, the hope, that their lives can stabilize and normalize in some way. 

I don't think there’s anybody in America who’s had a chance to talk to these six young people who or the young DREAMers all across the country who wouldn’t find it in their heart to say these kids are Americans just like us and they belong here and we want to do right by them.

And so often in this immigration debate it's an abstraction and we don't really think about the human consequences of our positions.  And part of the reason that I wanted to hear from these young people today, and part of the reason why I've heard from young DREAMers in the past is because it's a constant reminder to me of why this is important.

Now, the House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would have these six young people deported.  I think that's wrong.  And I think most Americans would think it was wrong if they had a chance to meet these young people.  And legislation is going to be going to the Senate that, again, tries to block these executive actions.  I want to be as clear as possible:  I will veto any legislation that got to my desk that took away the chance of these young people who grew up here and who are prepared to contribute to this country that would prevent them from doing so.  And I am confident that I can uphold that veto.

So as we move forward in this debate over the next several months, the next year, the next year and a half, I would call on members of Congress to think about all the talent that is already in this country, that is already working in many cases, is already making contributions -- in some cases, are joining up in our military, or are already starting businesses, are already attending school -- and let’s be true to our tradition as a nation of immigrants and as a nation of laws. 

My strong preference is going to be to pass comprehensive immigration reform.  And I know that there are Republicans out there who want to pass comprehensive immigration reform.  In the Senate, they’ve shown that they are prepared to do the right thing.  And rather than continue trying to go back to a system that everybody acknowledges was broken, let’s move forward with the incredible promise that these young people represent.

The last point I’ll make:  There have been suggestions that we will not fund the Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for patrolling our borders, as well as keeping our air travel safe, as well as patrolling our coasts -- there’s been talk about not funding that department because of the disagreement around immigration reform.  There’s no logic to that position.  Particularly for Republicans who claim that they are interested in strong border security, why would you cut off your nose to spite your face by defunding the very operations that are involved in making sure that we’ve got strong border security, particularly at a time when we’ve got real concerns about countering terrorism?

So my strong suggestion would be that Congress go ahead, fund the Department of Homeland Security.  We’re doing a tremendous amount of work at the borders.  The concerns that people had about unaccompanied children tragically traveling from Central America, that spike has now diminished.  We are below the levels that we were two years ago.  We are working diligently with the Central American countries to make sure that young people there have hope and that their parents are getting a clear message of not sending them on this extraordinarily dangerous journey. 

Let’s make sure the Department of Homeland Security is properly funded, we’re doing the right things at the borders, we’re doing the right things with respect to our airports.  And then let’s get back to first principles; and remind ourselves that each of these young people here are going to be doing incredible things on behalf of this country. 

And to all the DREAMers who are out there and all those who qualify for my executive action moving forward, I want you to know that I am confident in my ability to implement this program over the next two years, and I’m confident that the next President and the next Congress and the American people will ultimately recognize why this is the right thing to do.  So I’m going to want all of you to get information so you can sign up if you qualify as well.  All right? 

Thank you very much, everybody.  And thank you, guys, for sharing your incredible stories.

END
11:56 A.M. EST

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 03, 2015

Remarks by the President Before Cabinet Meeting, 2/3/2015

Cabinet Room

2:13 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  This is my first opportunity to bring all the Cabinet here together for this year.  And, first of all, I’m going to be thanking all of them for the outstanding work they did last year to make 2014 a breakthrough year for America.  What we saw was job growth, unemployment coming down, energy production up, clean energy production up, reduction in deficits, continued expansion of exports. 

And as I said at the State of the Union, we are now poised to not just have recovered from the recession, but really to move forward in the 21st century in a better position than just about any country on Earth.  But that requires we make some smart choices.  Are we going to have a country where just a few do spectacularly well, or are we going to have a country where prosperity is broad-based and we’re making sure everybody has got a shot if they’re willing to work hard?  And that middle-class economics is going to be a central theme of the work that every single agency does not just in the coming weeks or in the coming months, but for the remainder of my presidency.

The budget that we put forward reflects those priorities.  It makes sure that we’re investing in infrastructure, in research, to continue to make us grow.  It makes sure that we are providing tax credits and tax breaks to middle-class families for their child care expenses, to make sure that they’re able to afford college education for their kids.  That includes the proposal I put forward for free community college, which can reduce the debt burdens for young people who know that they need the skills to succeed in the 21st century. 

It’s fully paid for through smart spending cuts, as well as tax reforms.  It fully reverses the arbitrary cuts of recent years to domestic priorities in 2016 with dollar-per-dollar increases for defense.  It’s full of ideas that Republicans should embrace, like cutting taxes for middle-class families.  And one idea that they need to embrace right away is making sure that we’re funding the Department of Homeland Security. 

I talked about this yesterday; I want to reemphasize it today:  The Department of Homeland Security contains numerous agencies that every single day are keeping the American people safe.  They’re our front lines at our borders, at our airports, along our coasts.  And they need certainty in order to do their jobs.  The notion that we would risk the effectiveness of the department that is charged with preventing terrorism, controlling our borders, making sure that the American people are safe, makes absolutely no sense.  The idea that we would have members of the Coast Guard, or our Border Control, or TSA not being paid, and expect them to still be able to perform as effectively as we need them to perform, makes no sense.  And the idea that we would do that because of a separate disagreement between myself and the Republicans about the need for comprehensive immigration reform, certainly is something that is not going to make sense to the American people.

So I’m encouraging Congress to go ahead and get a budget done for the Department of Homeland Security and make sure it’s properly funded.  And then I’m looking forward to engaging with all of them so that we can make sure that we’ve got a government that is delivering for the American people, and making sure that we are giving middle-class families and everybody who’s willing to work hard to get into the middle class the chance to get ahead.

And we’re also going to have an opportunity in our Cabinet to talk about some administrative actions that we’re taking to continue to make government more efficient, more effective and more customer-friendly.  And we’ve made some real progress on that front in every single agency, from the Veterans Administration to the Small Business Administration.  I’m really excited about some of the things that we’re going to be doing -- saving taxpayers money and making sure that our organizations are tight, streamlined and effective. 

So I appreciate all the good work that all of you are doing.  And I want to thank our press pool very much so we can get to work. 

Thank you, guys.

END          
2:18 P.M. EST

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 03, 2015

Remarks by the President at the ACA Letter Writer Roundtable

Roosevelt Room

12:25 P.M. EST
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we are here with a bunch of folks who took the time to come to Washington, D.C. and tell me face-to-face stories that they have told me in letters that they’ve written over the course of the last year.  Everybody here has directly benefitted from the Affordable Care Act, and it’s a pretty good representative sample of people whose lives have been impacted in powerful ways. 
 
You have folks like Tonya and Regina and Don, who had cancer, in some cases, before the Affordable Care Act was passed and were having trouble getting insurance.  And because we no longer allow insurance companies to bar people because they’ve got preexisting conditions, they were now able to get health insurance and have the security and relief that was needed. 
 
Regina said, for the first time since she was 12 years old, when she was first diagnosed with cancer, she felt free and now is planning her wedding with her fiancé.  Tonya, who shortly after signing up for the ACA, in a checkup was diagnosed with a brain tumor, would not have even discovered it had it not been for the Affordable Care Act, and certainly would not have been able to afford treatments.  The same is true for Don, who, as a consequence of regular check-ups, in a colonoscopy that was part of the prevention regimen in the Affordable Care Act, was able to catch a tumor early and is now cancer-free.
 
We also have people who were able to benefit from Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.  So, Ann in Connecticut, Derrick in California, both were able to get on a plan that they could afford, even as they were working, even as they were taking care of families, and as a consequence are healthier for it.  Ann was able to catch breast cancer early.
 
We have small business people, like Lynette over here and Darlene, who because they weren’t working for a company, had a tough time affording the premiums.  And Lynette saved herself about $300-and-something a month in premiums and Lynette was able to cut her premiums in half.  And she’s got a cupcake company I think and she says she brought some samples, but Secret Service may have gotten them.  (Laughter.)
 
Maria, a teacher in Fairfax, Virginia; Naomi, a farmer down in Roberta, Georgia -- both of them were able to benefit from greatly reduced premiums and, as a consequence, are able to maintain their health and pay their bills at the same time. 
 
And then Susanne has got a wonderful story.  She’s a doctor in rural Virginia -- rural West Virginia.  And not only are her and her sister able to benefit from the Affordable Care Act, but, more importantly for her, patients that she had been seeing for years who would forego critical treatments are now able to pay for the tests and the medication that they need to maintain their health.
 
And so the bottom line is that the Affordable Care Act is not an abstraction.  The debate about making sure that every person in America is able to get basic, high-quality, affordable health care is not some political, ideological bet.  It’s about people.  And for someone like Regina, who was diagnosed at the age of 12 with cancer, to have a sense of security so that she was able to finish college and is able now to plan her life -- that is something that we should expect a country as wealthy as ours is providing to every person, to every citizen.  And the idea that we would even consider taking that away from Regina, or Tonya, or Susanne’s patients, makes absolutely no sense. 
 
Now, the good news is that we have over 10 million people who’ve now signed up under the federal exchanges, and millions more who are signing up from the expanded Medicaid that’s taking place in states all across the country.  Those are millions of people who are saving money, millions of people who are getting preventive care, millions of people who feel for the first time, in some cases, the security of knowing that if something goes wrong in their families or with them that they’re covered, that somebody has got their backs, that they’re not going to be bankrupt, that they’re not going to have to split the pills that have been prescribed in half because that’s all they can afford. They can continue with their professions or their schooling.  And it makes this country more productive.  It’s good for all of us.
 
So my understanding is the House of Representatives has scheduled yet another vote today to take health care away from the folks sitting around this table.  I don’t know whether it’s the 55th or the 60th time that they are taking this vote.  But I’ve asked this question before:  Why is it that this would be at the top of their agenda, making sure that folks who don’t have health care aren’t able to get it? 
 
It was maybe plausible to be opposed to the Affordable Care Act before it was implemented, but now it is being implemented and it is working.  And people are being covered, just as anticipated.  The premiums on average are less than $100 when you take into account the tax credit, so it is affordable for the people that it was designed to help.  Health care inflation is at its lowest rate in 50 years.  The overall tab for the Affordable Care Act is costing less than the original projections. 
 
In every respect, this is working not just as intended but better than intended.  And so the notion that we would play politics with the lives of folks who are out there working hard every single day, trying to make ends meet, trying to look after their families, makes absolutely no sense.  And that’s a message that I want to send very directly, today. 
 
I’ve got a second interest here, and that is that we still have the opportunity for millions of more people to sign up.  The deadline for signing up for 2015 is February 15th.  So we’ve got a little over a week for people to sign up.  For the cost of less than your cell phone bill or your cable bill, you can have the same kind of health security that the folks around this table do.
 
And I want to remind everybody -- Ann told the story that she really didn’t think she needed health insurance, ended up getting it because she heard that there was a fee involved if she didn’t get it, ended up purchasing it -- or ended up finding out she was qualified for Medicaid because of the expanded Medicaid in Connecticut, and it was only after she signed up that she discovered through a mammogram that she had breast cancer.
 
So it turns out that even if you think out there that you’re not going to need health insurance, you very may well need it at some point in your life.  And here’s an opportunity to sign up. 
 
So I want everybody to get on healthcare.gov, find out what options are available to you in your state and in your community. We have people around this table who are paying as little as $30 or $20 a month for premiums.  Some are paying more, but, again, the average is less than $100 a month.  And that is something that a lot of folks out there can afford.  And we’ve got millions of people who are still qualified who have a chance to sign up, but you’ve got to do it by February 15th.
 
So get on healthcare.gov, look at what your options are. Don’t take my word for it.  But understand that this is something that can give you the kind of security and peace of mind that is priceless. 
 
And to my friends up on Capitol Hill, I would just ask them once again to consider why they would think it an important priority to take away health care for some 10 million people -- people who are working hard and, in many cases, through no fault of their own, got dealt a bad hand. 
 
Regina, at the age of 12, wasn’t asking to have a series of cancers.  And anybody who has a chance to talk to her would know we want her to succeed.  She’s overcome incredible odds.  Why would we want to take health care away from her?  Why would we want to make it impossible for her to live out her life with some sense of security and peace of mind?  It doesn’t make any sense.
 
So I just want to thank everybody here for sharing their stories.  I’m very proud of them, and I'm proud of the work that they’re doing to help spread the word.  But I hope all of you -- since you’ve got a lot of cameras and microphones -- spread the word as well.  You’ve got to sign up by February 15th.
 
Thank you very much, everybody. 
 
Q    Any reaction to the Jordanian pilot that was burned alive, according to the ISIS video?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I just got word of the video that had been released.  I don’t know the details of the confirmations.  But should, in fact, this video be authentic, it's just one more indication of the viciousness and barbarity of this organization. And it, I think, will redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of a global coalition to make sure that they are degraded and ultimately defeated.
 
And it also just indicates the degree to which, whatever ideology they’re operating off of, it's bankrupt.  We’re here to talk about how to make people healthier and make their lives better, and this organization appears only interested in death and destruction.
 
Thank you very much, everybody.

END   
12:37 P.M. EST

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 02, 2015

Remarks by the President Honoring 2014 Stanley Cup Champions the L.A. Kings and 2014 MLS Cup Champions the L.A. Galaxy

East Room

2:22 P.M. EST
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to the White House!  After Super Bowl Sunday, we thought we’d help America ease back into the work week with some more sports.  So let’s give it up for the Stanley Cup Champion, L.A. Kings.  (Applause.)  And the Major League Soccer champion, L.A. Galaxy.  (Applause.) 
 
We have NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman here, give him a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  MLS Commissioner Don Garber is in the house.  We’ve got also Dan Beckerman, the President and CEO of AEG, the company that owns both of these championship teams.  (Applause.)  And of course, we’ve got Kings and Galaxy management, and Kings Coach Darryl Sutter and Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena.  Give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)   
 
Now, as a Chicago fan, I’m a little resentful.  (Laughter.)  You guys have an embarrassment of riches.  Today feels a little like Groundhog Day.  If you’re feeling a little déjà vu, you’re not alone.  Two years ago, we had the Galaxy and the Kings here together.  So if you see Bill Murray playing the piano in the foyer, you know something weird is going on, and we’re probably going to do this again.
 
This is actually three titles in four years for the Galaxy.  (Applause.)  It is their fifth Cup overall, more than any other franchise in MLS.  And it will be the last one for one the greatest soccer players America has ever produced -- Landon Donovan, who unfortunately couldn’t make it today.  But everybody knows this team is a whole lot more than just Landon.  There’s league MVP Robbie Keane and Robbie Rogers.  (Applause.)  Apparently there’s some other guys not named Robbie -- (laughter) -- like Omar Gonzalez from Team USA.  (Applause.)  And Juninho and Leonardo, two guys who’ve got that Brazilian one-name thing going, which is always very cool.  (Laughter.)  
 
Now, this season wasn’t a perfect storybook.  The Galaxy started out the season in the cellar, then fought their way back into the playoffs.  And then in the MLS Cup against New England, the game went into extra time when Robbie Keane’s goal gave them their latest title.
 
And I was just telling these guys backstage the degree to which they represent their sports so well, and America is starting to realize what the Beautiful Game is all about.  And it is wonderful to see not just what’s happening at the highest levels of professional sports, but how legions of young people are going to be continuing the traditions here in the United States with soccer for many years to come.
 
Now, like the Galaxy, the Kings needed overtime to win their championship -- they needed two of them, in fact.  And that was the easy part -- just to get to the Finals, the Kings had to win three straight Game 7s -- all on the road.  They dug themselves out of a 3-0 hole against San José in the first round -- they’re laughing because they’re thinking, man, let’s try to do it easier next time.  (Laughter.)  In the Conference Final, they beat my Blackhawks, which is unfortunate.  (Laughter.)  I mean, first of all, in L.A., there’s not even any ice really.  (Laughter.)  So you’d think, like, Chicago, where it’s probably 10 degrees below zero today, at least we’d get some hockey.  But we’ve won a couple so I can’t complain.
 
The Kings have done the unthinkable -- they have turned a city with no snow and no ice and no winter into a hockey town -- (laughter) -- complete with an outdoor game in Dodger Stadium.  They have done it with a team that L.A. fans have embraced -- guys like goalie Jonathan Quick, playoff MVP Justin Williams.  The first line of Brown and Kopitar and Gaborik, and Jeff Carter and his “hockey smile.”  And of course, Coach Sutter and his one-liners with the press.  (Laughter.)  I’ve tried the one-liners, by the way, with the press and it never seems to work.  (Laughter.)
 
I’ve also got to mention that in the middle of their season, a lot of these guys played for their national teams at Sochi, and we were proud to have Jonathan Quick and Dustin Brown wearing the red, white and blue on behalf of team USA.  Very proud of them.
 
And that’s just one example of how these teams represent more than the colors they wear for the Kings or the Galaxy.  Both teams are major supporters of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.  The Kings have partnered with Discovery Cube L.A., a local museum, on an exhibit called “the Science of Hockey” to give kids a mental and physical workout.  Galaxy players served meals to more than 2,000 families at Thanksgiving, and the organization built a soccer field for the community to use in South L.A. 
 
And finally, I want to recognize what Robbie Rogers of the Galaxy has done for a lot of people by blazing a trail as one of professional sports’ first openly gay players.  My guess is that, as an athlete, Robbie wants to win first and foremost -- that’s what competition is all about.  But, Robbie, you’ve also inspired a whole lot of folks here and around the world, and we are very proud of you.  So where’s Robbie?  There he is.  (Applause.)
 
So congratulations to both of these teams, to the City of Los Angeles and its fans.  And best of luck when you are not playing Chicago.  (Laughter.) 
 
Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)
 
END  
2:31 P.M. EST
 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 02, 2015

Remarks by the President on the FY2016 Budget

Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C.

11:27 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  Please, have a seat.  Well, good morning, everybody.   It is good to be here at the Department of Homeland Security.  And let me thank Jeh Johnson not only for the outstanding job that’s he’s doing as Secretary of DHS, but also for a short introduction.  I like short introductions.  (Laughter.)  Give him a big round of applause.  (Applause.)
 
This is a great way to start the week, because I get to do something I enjoy doing, which is saying thank you.  Nobody works harder to keep America safe than the people who are gathered here today.  And you don’t get a lot of attention for it -- that’s the nature of the job.  But I know how vital you are, and I want to make that sure more Americans know how vital you are.  Because against just about every threat that we face -- from terrorist networks to microscopic viruses to cyber-attacks to weather disasters -- you guys are there.  You protect us from threats at home and abroad, by air and land and sea.  You safeguard our ports, you patrol our borders.  You inspect our chemical plants, screen travelers for Ebola, shield our computer networks, and help hunt down criminals around the world.  You have a busy agenda, a full plate.  And here at home, you are ready to respond to any emergency at a moment’s notice.  
 
It is simply extraordinary how much the Department of Homeland Security does every single day to keep our nation, our people safe.  It’s a critical job, and you get it done without a lot of fanfare.  And I want to make sure that you have what you need to keep getting the job done.  Every American has an interest in making sure that the Department of Homeland Security has what it needs to achieve its mission -- because we are reliant on that mission every single day. 
 
Now, today, I’m sending Congress a budget that will make sure you’ve got what you need to achieve your mission.  It gives you the resources you need to carry out your mission in a way that is smart and strategic, and makes the most of every dollar.  It’s also a broader blueprint for America’s success in this new global economy.  Because after a breakthrough year for America -- at a time when our economy is growing and our businesses are creating jobs at the fastest pace since the 1990s, and wages are starting to rise again -- we’ve got some fundamental choices to make about the kind of country we want to be. 
 
Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well?  Or are we going to build an economy where everyone who works hard has a chance to get ahead?
 
And that was the focus of my State of the Union Address a couple weeks ago -- what I called middle-class economics.  The idea that this country does best when everybody gets a fair shot, and everybody is doing their fair share, and everybody plays by the same set of rules.
 
The budget that Congress now has in its hands is built on those values.  It helps working families’ paychecks go farther by treating things like paid sick leave and childcare as the economic priorities that they are.  It gives Americans of every age the chance to upgrade their skills so they can earn higher wages, and it includes my plan to make two years of community college free for responsible students.  It lets us keep building the world’s most attractive economy for high-wage jobs, with new investments in research, and infrastructure and manufacturing, as well as expanded access to faster Internet and new markets for goods made in America.

It’s also a budget that recognizes that our economy flourishes when America is safe and secure.  So it invests in our IT networks, to protect them from malicious actors.  It supports our troops and strengthens our border security.  And it gives us the resources to confront global challenges, from ISIL to Russian aggression. 
 
Now, since I took office, we have cut our deficits by about two-thirds.  I’m going to repeat that, as I always do when I mention this fact, because the public oftentimes, if you ask them, thinks that the deficit has shot up.  Since I took office, we have cut our deficits by about two-thirds.  That’s the fastest period of sustained deficit reduction since after the demobilization at the end of World War II.  So we can afford to make these investments while remaining fiscally responsible.  And, in fact, we cannot afford -- we would be making a critical error if we avoided making these investments.  We can’t afford not to.  When the economy is doing well, we’re making investments when we’re growing.  That’s part of what keeps deficits low -- because the economy is doing well.  So we’ve just got to be smarter about how we pay for our priorities, and that’s what my budget does.

At the end of 2013, I signed a bipartisan budget agreement that helped us end some of the arbitrary cuts known in Washington-speak as “sequestration.”  And folks here at DHS know a little too much about sequestration -- (laughter) -- because many of you have to deal with those cuts, and it made it a lot harder for you to do your jobs. 

The 2013 agreement to reverse some of those cuts helped to boost our economic growth.  Part of the reason why we grew faster last year was we were no longer being burdened by mindless across-the-board cuts, and we were being more strategic about how we handled our federal budget.  And now we need to take the next step.  So my budget will end sequestration and fully reverse the cuts to domestic priorities in 2016.  And it will match the investments that were made domestically, dollar for dollar, with increases in our defense funding. 

And just last week, top military officials told Congress that if Congress does nothing to stop sequestration, there could be serious consequences for our national security, at a time when our military is stretched on a whole range of issues.  And that’s why I want to work with Congress to replace mindless austerity with smart investments that strengthen America.  And we can do so in a way that is fiscally responsible. 

I'm not going to accept a budget that locks in sequestration going forward.  It would be bad for our security and bad for our growth.  I will not accept a budget that severs the vital link between our national security and our economic security.  I know there’s some on Capitol Hill who would say, well, we’d be willing to increase defense spending but we’re not going to increase investments in infrastructure, for example, or basic research.  Well, those two things go hand in hand.  If we don’t have a vital infrastructure, if we don’t have broadband lines across the country, if we don’t have a smart grid, all that makes us more vulnerable.  America can’t afford being shortsighted, and I'm not going to allow it.
 
The budget I’ve sent to Congress today is fully paid for, through a combination of smart spending cuts and tax reforms.  Let me give you an example.  Right now, our tax code is full of loopholes for special interests -- like the trust fund loophole that allows the wealthiest Americans to avoid paying taxes on their unearned income.  I think we should fix that and use the savings to cut taxes for middle-class families.  That would be good for our economy. 
 
Now, I know there are Republicans who disagree with my approach.  And I’ve said this before:  If they have other ideas for how we can keep America safe, grow our economy, while helping middle-class families feel some sense of economic security, I welcome their ideas.  But their numbers have to add up.  And what we can’t do is play politics with folks’ economic security, or with our national security.  You, better than anybody, know what the stakes are.  The work you do hangs in the balance. 

In just a few weeks from now, funding for Homeland Security will run out.  That’s not because of anything this department did, it’s because the Republicans in Congress who funded everything in government through September, except for this department.  And they’re now threatening to let Homeland Security funding expire because of their disagreeing with my actions to make our immigration system smarter, fairer and safer. 

Now let’s be clear, I think we can have a reasonable debate about immigration.  I'm confident that what we’re doing is the right thing and the lawful thing.  I understand they may have some disagreements with me on that, although I should note that a large majority -- or a large percentage of Republicans agree that we need comprehensive immigration reform, and we’re prepared to act in the Senate and should have acted in the House.  But if they don’t agree with me, that’s fine, that’s how our democracy works.  You may have noticed they usually don’t agree with me.  But don’t jeopardize our national security over this disagreement.
 
As one Republican put it, if they let your funding run out, “it’s not the end of the world.”  That’s what they said.  Well, I guess literally that’s true; it may not be the end of the world.  But until they pass a funding bill, it is the end of a paycheck for tens of thousands of frontline workers who will continue to get -- to have to work without getting paid.  Over 40,000 Border Patrol and Customs agents.  Over 50,000 airport screeners.  Over 13,000 immigration officers.  Over 40,000 men and women in the Coast Guard.  These Americans aren’t just working to keep us safe, they have to take care of their own families.  The notion that they would get caught up in a disagreement around policy that has nothing to do with them makes no sense.  

And if Republicans let Homeland Security funding expire, it’s the end to any new initiatives in the event that a new threat emerges.  It’s the end of grants to states and cities that improve local law enforcement and keep our communities safe.  The men and women of America’s homeland security apparatus do important work to protect us, and Republicans and Democrats in Congress should not be playing politics with that.
 
We need to fund the department, pure and simple.  We’ve got to put politics aside, pass a budget that funds our national security priorities at home and abroad, and gives middle-class families the security they need to get ahead in the new economy.  This is one of our most basic and most important responsibilities as a government.  So I’m calling on Congress to get this done.
 
Every day, we count on people like you to keep America secure.  And you are counting on us as well to uphold our end of the bargain.  You’re counting on us to make sure that you’ve got the resources to do your jobs safely and efficiently, and that you’re able to look after your families while you are out there working really hard to keep us safe.

We ask a lot of you.  The least we can do is have your backs.  That’s what I’m going to keep on doing for as long as I have the honor of serving as your President.  I have your back.  And I’m going to keep on fighting to make sure that you get the resources you deserve.  I’m going to keep fighting to make sure that every American has the chance not just to share in America’s success but to contribute to America’s success.  That’s what this budget is about. 

It reflects our values in making sure that we are making the investments we need to keep America safe, to keep America growing, and to make sure that everybody is participating no matter what they look like, where they come from, no matter how they started in life, they’ve got a chance to get ahead in this great country of ours.  That’s what I believe.  That’s what you believe.  (Applause.)  Let’s get it done. 
 
Thank you.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.) 
 
END
11:43 A.M. EST

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
January 31, 2015

Weekly Address: A Path Towards a Thriving Middle Class

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President described the progress our economy has made, laying a foundation for a future that prioritizes middle-class economics. This week, the President will send a budget to Congress centered on the idea that everyone who works hard should have the chance to get ahead. His plan will reverse harmful sequestration cuts and instead make paychecks go further, create good jobs here in the United States, and prepare hardworking Americans to earn higher wages. The President made the case for his Budget, and affirmed his commitment to doing everything he can to ensure more Americans can get ahead in this new economy.

The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, January 31, 2015.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
January 31, 2015

Hi, everybody.  At a moment when our economy is growing, our businesses are creating jobs at the fastest pace since the 1990s, and wages are starting to rise again, we have to make some choices about the kind of country we want to be.

Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well?  Or will we build an economy where everyone who works hard has a chance to get ahead?

That was the focus of my State of the Union Address – middle-class economics.  The idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. 

This week, I will send a budget to Congress that’s built on those values. 

We’ll help working families’ paychecks go farther by treating things like paid leave and child care like the economic priorities that they are.  We’ll offer Americans of every age the chance to upgrade their skills so they can earn higher wages, with plans like making two years of community college free for every responsible student.  And we’ll keep building the world’s most attractive economy for high-wage jobs, with new investments in research, infrastructure, manufacturing, and expanded access to faster internet and new markets. 

We can afford to make these investments.  Since I took office, we’ve cut our deficits by about two-thirds – the fastest sustained deficit reduction since just after the end of World War II.  We just have to be smarter about how we pay for our priorities, and that’s what my budget does.  It proposes getting rid of special interest loopholes in our tax code, and using those savings to cut taxes for middle-class families and reward businesses that invest in America.  It refuses to play politics with our homeland security, and funds our national security priorities at home and abroad.  And it undoes the arbitrary, across-the-board budget cuts known as “the sequester” for our domestic priorities, and matches those investments dollar-for-dollar in resources our troops need to get the job done. 

Now, I know that there are Republicans in Congress who disagree with my approach.  And like I said in my State of the Union Address, if they have ideas that will help middle-class families feel some economic security, I’m all in to work with them.  But I will keep doing everything I can to help more working families make ends meet and get ahead.  Not just because we want everyone to share in America’s success – but because we want everyone to contribute to America’s success.

That’s the way the middle class thrived in the last century – and that’s how it will thrive again.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
January 30, 2015

Remarks by the First Lady at the Presentation of the School Counselor of the Year Award

East Room

1:42 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you guys so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everyone.  Welcome to the White House!  Here we are! 
 
(Child cries.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  I know.  (Laughter.)  Let him run free, it’s the White House!  (Laughter.)  We’ve done worse in this room.  I am so thrilled to be here with all of you today. 
 
And I want to start by thanking the one and only Connie Britton for that wonderful introduction.  Yes.  (Applause.)  But more importantly, I want to thank her for bringing us Tami Taylor.  Now, Tami might be a fictional character, but she showed us the extraordinary compassion and commitment that school counselors bring to the students every day in real life, and for that we’re really grateful.  And she’s also been just a tremendous friend and advocate, and she’s very cool and funny and all that good stuff.  (Laughter.)  So we’re thrilled to have her shed some light on all of you guys.
 
I also want to thank the American School Counselor Association and its Executive Director, Richard Wong, for sponsoring the School Counselor of the Year award.  And I want to recognize our semi-finalists and finalists who are up here on stage with me today.  And I want to give a special shoutout to our School Counselor of the Year, Mr. Cory Notestine.  (Applause.)  Hey, mom.  (Laughter.) 
 
My husband and I, we’re so proud of all of you –- all of you.  And we are so excited to host the first-ever White House School Counselor of the Year Award Ceremony at the White House.  Yes!  (Applause.)  This is good.  You’re a lively bunch.  (Laughter.)  I don’t know what that says about the school counselors, but I like your spirit.  (Laughter.)
 
Now, as you all know, for decades, we’ve held the National Teacher of the Year Award Ceremony here at the White House, and we do this to send a clear message that we value our teachers.  And we do it because we believe that good teaching is the key to achieving our national goals.  It’s how we prepare our kids for good jobs and fulfilling lives.  It’s how we ensure that our workers can compete in a global marketplace.  And it’s also how we create a new generation of informed, engaged citizens and leaders. 
 
But as I started working on my Reach Higher initiative to inspire young people to complete their education beyond high school, I got to know another group of school professionals who are also critical for achieving these national goals. 
 
See, one of the very first meetings that we held about Reach Higher was with a group of school counselors.  And they told us how they’re working hard to keep kids from falling through the cracks, and how they’re supporting overwhelmed parents.  They told us how they track students down who don’t think they’re college material, or who don’t think they can afford it, and they shake them up and they tell them, you have what it takes, I believe in you, now fill out those FAFSA forms and sign up for those AP classes, get started on those college essays.  (Laughter.) 
 
And the more that I learned about our school counselors, the more I realized that often, America’s school counselors are truly the deciding factor in whether our young people attend college or not.  And in today’s global economy, higher education is essential for good jobs with good wages.  You all know that.  That is why my husband has set a goal that America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.  That’s what we’re working for. 
 
So we know that higher education isn’t just critical for our students’ future, it’s also critical for the future of this country.  And that’s why we thought it was about time we started giving our school counselors the support and recognition they deserve.  (Applause.)  And not just with words, but with meaningful action –- with resources, programs and partners to help them do their jobs.  That’s why we issued a challenge to universities, foundations, school districts, nonprofits and others to step up.  And in the past year alone, they’ve answered our call with tens of millions of dollars of new efforts to support school counselors and the students they serve. 
 
Universities are creating college and career-readiness centers in their masters programs for school counselors.  Nonprofits are working to improve student-to-counselor ratios and to provide more professional development opportunities.  With the help of the U.S. Department of Education, over half the states in this country are giving school counselors new tools to help students fill out those FAFSA forms and college applications.  And then we finally moved the School Counselor of the Year ceremony to where it truly belongs -- right here in the White House.  (Applause.)
 
So we’re raising the bar for you guys.  And while we still have a long way to go, we’re beginning to make some real progress on this issue, and that’s due in large part to the passion and dedication of school counselors across this country -– folks like this year’s School Counselor of the Year Award recipient, Cory Notestine.  I’m going to take a few moments just to tell you a little bit about Cory.  I’m sure many of you know him, but let me give you just a taste of what’s happened in the Alamosa High School counseling department under Cory’s leadership. 
 
Over the past couple of years, Cory’s department has more than doubled the amount of financial aid that seniors receive, growing from $500,000 to more than $1.3 million in money that’s going to seniors.  (Applause.)  They’ve raised the graduation rate by targeting students most at risk for falling behind.  They’ve expanded access to college courses, and students have earned nearly 1,200 college credits in just one school year. 
 
They brought together community leaders to create the Alamosa Parent Academy to provide skills and support to parents.  They helped train student mediators to resolve school conflicts.  They created a mentoring program for underserved freshmen.  They helped start a gay-straight alliance.  And then in his ample spare time –- (laughter) -- Cory also manages to mentor interns, to serve on the board of the Colorado School Counselor Association, and –- yes -– (applause) -- and also to participate in an array of trainings and conferences throughout the year.
 
But as impressive as all these achievements are, they don’t even begin to show the impact that Cory has had during his career.  And for that, you need to hear directly from the people whose lives Cory has transformed –- his students.  And here is just a small sampling of the kind of praise that Alamosa students have for Cory. 
 
One said that Cory -- and this is a quote -- “served as a true inspiration for me in all endeavors.”  That was one of his students.  Another called Cory “a man of great integrity.”  Another said that -– and this is another quote – said, Cory “inspires me to become a better student and overall person.”
 
Now, I could do this for hours –- (laughter) –- because as -- my staff found that there were so many kids who were singing Cory’s praises that we could do this all day.  But despite all of these accomplishments and all these accolades, Cory, I have learned, is one of the most humble, unassuming, down-to-earth people that you will ever meet.  The man is so modest that in the School Counselor of the Year application video, he spends most of his time on that video talking about how wonderful his colleagues are, and he hardly mentions any of his own achievements. 
 
He does, however, allow himself a brief moment of reflection on what it means to be a school counselor.  And he says that the most important part of his job –- and this is his quote, his words –- “being able to make an impact on students’ lives and have them be successful and finally get to the place where they want to be in their lives.”
 
And I really can’t think of a better description of the mission of our school counselors, because that’s really what they, all of you, do every single day –- they help our young people get to where they want to be in their lives.  And they do it with patience and compassion, and sometimes even a little tough love.  Our school counselors convince students that they have something special, each of them, to offer, and they push those students to dig deep and fulfill every last bit of their potential. 
 
So really, every day, our school counselors help young people become the people they’re meant to be and achieve what they were put on this earth to achieve.  And that is truly an awesome responsibility –- and it’s also a tremendous privilege. 
 
So today, on behalf of myself and my husband and a grateful country, I want to just say thank you.  I want to share in Connie’s thanks -- thank you guys.  Thank you!  (Laughter and applause.)  The work you do is extraordinary.  Thank you for all that you do to support our kids and our country.  We are proud.  We’re incredibly grateful.  And we look forward to continuing our work together to support all of you in the months and years ahead.
 
So it is now my great pleasure and my great honor to introduce this year’s National School Counselor of the Year, Cory Notestine!  (Applause.)
 
END  
1:54 P.M. EST

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
January 30, 2015

Remarks by the First Lady at Got Your Six Screenwriters Event - Conversation on the Power of Telling Veterans' Stories

National Geographic Society
Washington, D.C.

11:21 A.M. EST
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Good morning.  (Applause.)  Thank you all.  Thanks so much.  You all, rest yourselves.  We want you well-rested so you can get to work on this initiative.
 
I want to start by thanking Chris for that wonderful introduction, for his leadership of Got Your Six, and for his tremendous service to our country.  I also want to thank National Geographic for hosting us here today, and for highlighting the strength and courage of our men and women in uniform in their latest issue.  And I’ve got to give a big thank you to our panel from earlier today, especially Bradley Cooper, as well as my dear friend, Bruce Cohen, who has been such a tremendous ally in this effort from the very beginning.
 
And most of all, I want to thank all of you -- the writers, the content creators, and leaders from across the industry.  Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to be here today.  This is very important. 
 
Every day, through the movies and TV shows and ads you all create, you have the power to shape our understanding of the world around us.  You challenge our most strongly held beliefs.  You influence our opinions on current events.  You bring ideas and perspectives into our lives that we might not be exposed to otherwise.  So the fact is, in many ways, you all are in a unique position to help us address some of the most challenging issues that we face as a nation.
 
Just take an issue like gay rights.  It wasn’t all that long ago that this was a third-rail kind of issue, not just in politics, but in entertainment as well.  It was considered sensitive, even controversial.  But in the early ‘90s, that started to change.  Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his portrayal of a gay character in “Philadelphia.”  “The Real World” included an openly gay cast member.  And over the years, there was “Ellen” and “Will and Grace,” “Milk” and “Brokeback Mountain.”   And today, “The Imitation Game” is up for Best Picture at the Oscars, and Cam and Mitchell –- two of my favorites -- are raising their daughter on “Modern Family,” one of the top-rated shows on TV.  And at the same time, we’ve seen gay rights advance in real life as well.  As my husband said, we’ve seen gay marriage go from a wedge issue into a civil right in states all across this country.
 
And that’s just one issue.  From women’s rights to interracial marriage, to combatting drunk driving –- as our nation has evolved and changed for the better, the entertainment industry has not only reflected that evolution, in many cases, Hollywood has inspired and accelerated it.  You all have told the real, honest, true stories that for too long went untold.
 
And that’s what brings us all here today.  See, there’s another great untold story in this country right now, one that is crying out for our attention -– and that is the story of our troops, veterans, and their families.  Now, as Chris mentioned, I think most folks have at least a broad idea of who those folks are.  But often, it stops there –- just a rough sketch, a superficial image.
 
As Got Your Six has found, people generally see veterans in one of two ways –- either the broken, downtrodden vet who is homeless or on drugs or has such severe PTSD that he can’t even function, or the saintly hero who lives with such courage and moral clarity that the only thing the rest of us can do is shower him with awe and amazement.  And of course, it’s always a “he.”  We sort of forget about the 1.5 million women veterans who have served in uniform.  (Applause.)
 
But these two images –- one broken, one perfect –- they’re just caricatures.  They simply don’t reflect the real, human complexity of our veterans’ lives.  They don’t reflect the real courage and struggle and sacrifice our veterans make, and all the skills they can offer.  So often we only see the emotional homecomings, but not the rest of the story.  And having had the privilege of meeting so many of our troops and veterans, I can tell you that the real stories are much more complicated –- and much more inspiring.
 
For example, take the story of Jim Zenner, who was an Army intelligence analyst during the Iraq War.  Jim is sharp, thoughtful -- but not long after he came home, his father died, and Jim says that’s when “things kind of fell apart.”  He struggled to control his emotions, got into shouting matches with his wife, and one night it got so bad he had to move out of the house.  He was suddenly homeless, with nowhere to go.
 
But Jim quickly got back on his feet.  He earned his social work degree.  He is now back with his wife and kids -- and this is the kicker -- the nonprofit that helped get Jim into housing ended up hiring him to run a veterans center in LA.  See, they didn’t see him as somehow damaged.  They saw how much of an asset he could be.  And today, he’s in charge of about 30 staffers.  He’s launched a veteran-to-veteran mentoring and training initiative.  And all together, his facility has given shelter and counseling and job training to hundreds of his fellow veterans.
 
And then there’s Trish Freeland, who served for 30 years in the Air Force, doing everything from logistics to broadcasting to career counseling.  She earned her bachelor’s and her master’s degrees along the way.  When she left the service, she went home to be with her family and struggled to find a job.  Sometimes she talked herself out of even applying for jobs if she lacked just one qualification on the posting.  Other times folks told her that she had too many skills.  And finally, more than a year after she retired from the Air Force, Trish landed a meaningful career at the Small Business Administration, and she’s putting all the skills she learned in the military to good use and she loves everything she’s doing.
 
And then there’s Melissa Meadows, whose husband sustained severe brain and nerve injuries in Afghanistan.  It was so serious that one of his doctors described him as an “advanced Alzheimer’s patient.”  So Melissa ended up leaving her job as a nurse, and today, she’s a full-time caregiver, helping her husband in and out of bed, making sure he takes all of his medications, managing his finances and offering emotional support every step of the way.  But Melissa doesn’t want sympathy.  She’s proud to be there for her husband.  She’s proud to serve her country as a military spouse.  She even helped organize a support network to help other caregivers share information and ideas -– a model that’s now being replicated at institutions around the country.
 
Now, when I think about folks like the ones I just described, I think about how easily their stories could be misrepresented.  Jim could be just the homeless vet with emotional issues; Trish, the down-on-her-luck vet that can’t find a job; Melissa, the downtrodden military wife.
 
But these men and women are nothing like those stereotypes.  They are dynamic, skilled professionals.  They’re loving sons and daughters and spouses and parents.  They’re proud of their country, and want to do their part to help make it better.  And you shouldn’t have to be First Lady to have the opportunity to see all of that.
 
So today, I’m calling on all of you and folks across the entertainment industry to change the conversation about our veterans and military families.  Give us the full story.  Show us veterans like Jim –- veterans who were born to serve and keep giving back long after they hang up their uniform.  Give us characters like Trish –- strong female veterans with skills and experience who can thrive in any kind of business or organization.  Show us the courage of people like Melissa -– spouses whose strength and passion for their family and their country can inspire us all.
 
And let’s be clear -- I’m not saying that you should tell these stories just because it’s the nice thing to do or the right thing to do.  You should do it because these are good stories, period.  They make for tremendous TV and movies that people want to see.  So these stories are good for business as well. 
 
Just look at the latest box office numbers.  The number-one movie in America right now is a complex, emotional depiction of a veteran and his family.  And I had a chance to see “American Sniper” this week on that long flight we took – (laughter) -- and while I know there have been critics, I felt that, more often than not, this film touches on many of the emotions and experiences that I’ve heard firsthand from military families over these past few years.
 
Now, I’m not going to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but this movie reflects those wrenching stories that I’ve heard -- the complex journeys that our men and women in uniform endure.  The complicated moral decisions they are tasked with every day.  The stresses of balancing love of family with a love of country.  And the challenges of transitioning back home to their next mission in life.
 
And here’s why a movie like this is important:  see, the vast majority of Americans will never see these stories.  They will never grasp these issues on an emotional level without portrayals like this.  Like I said, I’m lucky -– I have had the   chance to visit our wounded warriors at Walter Reed, go to base after base.  I’ve been able to sit down with groups of caregivers and military spouses and hear about their struggles and their triumphs.
 
And let me tell you, those experiences have changed me.  They have changed me.  They’ve made me want to do everything I can to support our troops, veterans and their families.  But for all those folks in America who don’t have these kinds of opportunities, films and TV are often the best way we have to share those stories.
 
And here’s the thing -- you don’t have to center an entire movie or create a special episode on these issues.  These folks can just be ordinary characters in the communities you create -- a neighbor who once saw combat, a teacher whose son is deployed.   See, that’s the way we hope our country will welcome back our veterans -- not by setting them apart, but by fully integrating them into the fabric of our communities.
 
Those are the kinds of stories you can tell.  Just like the pioneers who pushed the envelope and added an interracial couple on “The Jeffersons” -– (laughter) -- or who convinced the folks at “Cheers” and “L.A. Law” to take on the issue of drunk driving -- just like all those folks, you can change the game for our newest generation of veterans and their families.  And that’s why I’m so thrilled that organizations from across the entertainment industry are coming together through Got Your Six and Six Certified to encourage writers and producers to tell our veterans’ stories.
 
But it’s not just about writing about these stories.  It’s about taking that next step and actually hiring or even casting a veteran, or bringing veterans into the writers’ room.  Because that’s how you get a real, true understanding of what it means to be an American veteran.  And this effort is really just the latest example of Hollywood answering the call to action that Jill Biden and I made back in 2011.
 
Shows ranging from “Nashville” to “Doc McStuffins” have shared the stories of our veterans in new and meaningful ways.  Disney’s “Jessie” and Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” each have military parents as recurring characters.  HBO put on that wonderful Concert for Valor on the Mall on Veterans Day.  And our Joining Forces initiative has worked with Dreamworks and iHeartRadio to create a series of powerful PSAs -– including one I did with some animated penguins.  That was new.  (Laughter.)
 
Now, I know that some of you might be thinking to yourselves, well, this all sounds great, but I don’t know anything about veterans issues so how am I going to get this done?  You might be wondering about doing our veterans a disservice by taking on something that you don’t fully understand.  And believe me, I understand that feeling -- in fact, that’s exactly how I felt when I first started working on military-family issues.
 
But what I want you to know is that you don’t have to do this on your own.  There are so many wonderful people and organizations who are ready and willing to connect you with veterans and family members who can help you tell these stories -– organizations like the Mission Continues, Team Rubicon, Blue Star Families, and so many more.
 
So with their help, any one of you can share the stories of our veterans and military families.  You can help show this country who our veterans really are.  And right now, with our combat mission over in Afghanistan and more of our veterans transitioning home, this work couldn’t be more important.  Because if we do this right, it can mean real change for how our veterans are treated in their communities.  It can mean that employers are more likely to hire a veteran or military spouse.  It can mean that teachers are reaching out to military kids in their classrooms.  It can mean that veterans are more willing to engage with their friends, families, neighbors about the challenges they face, because they know they’ll be talking to someone who maybe understands their experience just a little bit more.
 
Now, it’s not like a single episode or a movie will mean that everyone in America will immediately understand the full experience of what it’s like to wear our country’s uniform or serve in combat.  No, that’s not it.  But just like we’ve seen on other issues, bit by bit, if we can familiarize the country with who these folks truly are, if we can give folks a better picture of everything our veterans have to offer, then we can make a real difference in the lives of these folks and their families.
 
That’s what this effort is about.  It’s about making the transition home just a little easier.  It’s about serving our men and women in uniform as well as they’ve served us.  For so many years, these men and women have had our backs -- and now it’s our turn to step up for them.
 
We’ve got to join forces with them.  We’ve got to show them that we’ve truly got their six.  And I know that you all can do that.  I know that you have the talent and creativity, and, more importantly, the humanity to succeed in this mission.  And I can’t wait to see all the extraordinary stories you’re going to tell in the months and years ahead.
 
So thank you all so much for everything you do, everything you will do.  And God bless.  Take care.  (Applause.)
 
END
11:39 A.M. EST