The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2014

Presidential Nominations and Withdrawal Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Michael P. Botticelli, of the District of Columbia, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy, vice R. Gil Kerlikowske, resigned.

Seth B. Carpenter, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, vice Matthew S. Rutherford.

Gilberto de Jesus, of Maryland, to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration, vice Winslow Lorenzo Sargeant.

Russell C. Deyo, of New Jersey, to be Under Secretary for Management, Department of Homeland Security, vice Rafael Borras, resigned.

Sheila Gwaltney, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kyrgyz Republic.

Jennifer Ann Haverkamp, of Indiana, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, vice Kerri-Ann Jones, resigned.

Todd A. Fisher, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation for a term expiring December 17, 2016, vice James A. Torrey, term expired.

Colette Dodson Honorable, of Arkansas, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2017, vice John Robert Norris, resigned.

Virginia Tyler Lodge, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2019, vice William B. Sansom, term expired.

Daniel Henry Marti, of Virginia, to be Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, Executive Office of the President, vice Victoria Angelica Espinel, resigned.

Peter Michael McKinley, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Carlos A. Monje, Jr., of Louisiana, to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation, vice Polly Trottenberg, resigned.

Deven J. Parekh, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation for a term expiring December 17, 2016, vice Katherine M. Gehl, resigned.

Ronald Alan Pearlman, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board for a term expiring September 14, 2015, vice Nancy Killefer, term expired.

Nancy Bikoff Pettit, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Latvia.

Sarah R. Saldaña, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, vice John Morton, resigned.

Carlos J. Torres, of Virginia, to be Deputy Director of the Peace Corps, vice Carolyn Hessler Radelet, resigned.

Ronald Anderson Walter, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2019, vice Barbara Short Haskew, term expired.

WITHDRAWAL SENT TO THE SENATE:

Annette Taddeo-Goldstein, of Florida, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation for a term expiring September 20, 2018, vice John P. Salazar, term expired, which was sent to the Senate on February 27, 2014.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2014

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Visit of Prime Minister Modi of India

President Obama looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to the White House on September 29-30, 2014.
 
The two leaders will discuss a range of issues of mutual interest in order to expand and deepen the U.S.-India strategic partnership.  They will discuss ways to accelerate economic growth, bolster security cooperation, and collaborate in activities that bring long-term benefits to both countries and the world.  They will also focus on regional issues, including current developments in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, where India and the United States can work together with partners towards a positive outcome.
 
The President looks forward to working with the Prime Minister to fulfill the promise of the U.S.-India strategic partnership for the benefit of both our citizens and the world.
 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 08, 2014

Letter from the President -- War Powers Resolution Regarding Iraq

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

As I reported on August 8 and 17 and on September 1, 2014, U.S. Armed Forces have conducted targeted airstrikes in Iraq for the limited purposes of stopping the advance on Erbil by the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), supporting civilians trapped on Mount Sinjar, supporting operations by Iraqi forces to recapture the Mosul Dam, and supporting an operation to deliver humanitarian assistance to civilians in the town of Amirli, Iraq.

On September 6, 2014, pursuant to my authorization, U.S. Armed Forces commenced targeted airstrikes in the vicinity of the Haditha Dam in support of Iraqi forces in their efforts to retain control of and defend this critical infrastructure site from ISIL.  These additional military operations will be limited in their scope and duration as necessary to address this threat and prevent endangerment of U.S. personnel and facilities and large numbers of Iraqi civilians.

I have directed these actions, which are in the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.  These actions are being undertaken in coordination with and at the request of the Iraqi government. I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the

Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148).  I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 07, 2014

Readout of the President's Calls with Dr. Abdullah and Dr. Ghani of Afghanistan

The President spoke with Afghan presidential candidates Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani on Saturday.  The President emphasized the importance of concluding a deal on the national unity government as soon as possible in the interest of shoring up international support for Afghanistan and preserving Afghan stability.  The President reaffirmed the United States' commitment to support Afghanistan, its people, and the president and chief executive, should the agreement be formalized, in their efforts to form a new unity government.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
September 07, 2014

Op-Ed by Vice President Biden on the 20th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act

In advance of his remarks on Tuesday to commemorate next Saturday’s 20th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, Vice President Biden penned the following op-ed in Delaware’s The News Journal.

http://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/09/06/hard-fight-end-violence-women/15199597/

The hard fight to end violence against women

Even just 20 years ago, violence against women in America was an epidemic few people wanted to talk about, let alone do something about. No one denied punching a wife in the face or pushing her down the stairs was reprehensible. But most people refused to intervene. They called domestic violence a "family affair." Critics of proposed laws protecting women from this violence claimed they would lead to the "disintegration" of the family.

Today, it's hard for many people to fathom a day in which Americans ignored this violence, or worse, condoned it. But it's true. And it was against that backdrop I introduced the Violence Against Women (VAWA) in 1990, the first federal law that directly held violence against women as a violation of basic civil rights and fundamental human dignity.

It had three simple goals. Make streets safer for women. Make homes safer for women. Protect women's civil rights. It met those goals comprehensively by: increasing violence prevention, investing in shelters, enhancing services, and training police, lawyers, and even judges to better investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate domestic violence cases. But it took four years for the bill to get signed into law in 1994.

It was a struggle with setbacks, but also a journey that has changed America. Sparsely attended Senate hearings at first led to hundreds of pages of testimony by survivors, health professionals, and advocates. I issued "Violence Against Women: A Week in the Life of America," a report detailing the human tragedy of the 21,000 crimes against women that were reported every week in America at the time – a small slice of the 1.1 million assaults, aggravated assaults, murders, and rapes against women committed in the home and reported to police that year. With the help of supporters, we surveyed laws across all 50 states that implied "if you knew her, it wasn't a crime."

And throughout I met true heroes: women, like Carol Post here in Delaware, who ran shelters, coalitions, and rape crisis centers supported by no more than bake sales and good intentions. Survivors who had their arms broken with hammers and their heads hit with pipes by their partners, but who still summoned absolute courage to stand up and share their story.

It is because of them that VAWA is a law that has saved lives – yearly domestic violence rates dropped 64 percent from 1993-2010. It has saved the country money – one study shows the law saved an estimated $12.6 billion in averted social costs in its first six years alone. It has improved justice – higher rates of prosecution for special-victims units, like the Family Division established by Attorney General Beau Biden, and new waves of state law reforms. Services, technology and forensic collection, and education and prevention efforts have all dramatically improved.

Fundamentally, the Violence Against Women Act has changed a prevailing culture from a refusal to intervene to a responsibility to act – where violence against women is no longer accepted as a societal secret and where we all understand that even one case is too many.

This law is my proudest legislative accomplishment, and it was based on something my Dad taught me growing up in Wilmington: that the cardinal sin is an abuse of power, and the ultimate abuse of power is someone physically raising a hand to strike and beat a woman or child.

We know there is still more to do, but years of struggle and progress have spurred a national understanding that you can't talk about human rights and human dignity without talking about the right of every woman on this planet to be free from violence and free from fear.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 07, 2014

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on Airstrikes Around the Haditha Dam

Yesterday, at the direction of the President and in coordination with the Government of Iraq, the U.S. military conducted airstrikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) positions in Iraq, in support of Iraqi Security Forces’ efforts to retain control of and defend the critical infrastructure of the Haditha Dam in Anbar province. 

The Haditha Dam is the second largest hydroelectric contributor to the power system in Iraq, and destruction of the dam or release of water would create a level of flooding that would potentially pose a catastrophic threat to thousands of Iraqis along the Euphrates valley from Anbar province into parts of Baghdad, including possible flooding in areas in and around the Baghdad International Airport, where hundreds of U.S. personnel reside.  The dam remains under the control of the Iraqi Security Forces, with assistance from Sunni tribes.  Our actions, which are in the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, support Iraqi efforts to defend this critical infrastructure from ISIL.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
September 06, 2014

Readout of Vice President Biden's Call with Iraqi Kurdistan Regional President Masoud Barzani

This afternoon, Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Iraqi Kurdistan Regional President Masoud Barzani.  The Vice President and President Barzani discussed the ongoing effort to complete the formation of the Iraqi government.  The Vice President emphasized the urgency of work to put in place a new government as quickly as possible.  The Vice President underscored longstanding U.S. support for the Kurdish people and for the security of Iraq. 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 06, 2014

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco’s Trip to Yemen

 

Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco traveled to Sana'a, Yemen, on September 6 to underscore the United States' enduring support for President Hadi and the people of Yemen as they pursue peace, stability, and prosperity through the country's historic political transition and economic reform process. Ms. Monaco’s trip is also an opportunity to reaffirm the strong partnership between the  United States and Yemen to counter the shared threat from al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).  Her visit to Yemen was part of a broader visit to the region to consult with partners on shared security and counterterrorism challenges, including the terrorist threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In addition to Yemen, she is consulting with counterparts in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.  

In her meeting with President Hadi, Ms. Monaco commended the President for his continued leadership in implementing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative and economic reforms to improve the lives and meet the aspirations of all Yemenis.  She emphasized that the United States will stand firmly behind the Yemeni government in confronting challenges to progress in the peaceful transition process.  Ms. Monaco reiterated the United States' and United Nations Security Council's condemnation of the Houthis’ provocative and destabilizing incitement and actions against Sana'a and praised President Hadi's ongoing efforts to find a sustainable resolution consistent with the GCC Initiative and National Dialogue.

The meetings also provided an opportunity to review the comprehensive bilateral partnership on security and economic issues.  In meetings with Yemen's military and security leadership, Ms. Monaco discussed ongoing and future efforts to strengthen Yemen's counterterrorism capabilities.  Finally, during a roundtable with senior economic officials, she discussed options to enhance U.S. and international support for Yemen's continued economic reform and development.

           

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The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 05, 2014

Letter from the President -- War Powers Resolution Regarding Iraq

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

As I previously reported on June 16 and June 30, 2014,

U.S. Armed Forces personnel have deployed to Iraq to provide security and support for U.S. personnel and facilities.  On September 2, 2014, I authorized up to approximately 350 additional U.S. Armed Forces personnel to deploy to Iraq to provide support and security for U.S. personnel and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.  The first of these additional personnel arrived in Iraq on September 4, 2014.  This force is deploying for the purpose of protecting U.S. citizens and property, if necessary, and is equipped for combat.  This force will remain in Iraq until the security situation becomes such that it is no longer needed.

This action is being undertaken in coordination with the Government of Iraq and has been directed consistent with my responsibility to protect U.S. citizens both at home and abroad, and in furtherance of U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in these actions.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 05, 2014

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on the President’s Meeting with President Erdogan

The President met with Turkish President Erdogan today in Newport, Wales, where both leaders were attending the NATO Summit. They exchanged views on how best to cooperate in the struggle against ISIL and violent extremism in Iraq and Syria, and on the need for strengthened measures against foreign fighters transiting to and from the battlefield.  They discussed the urgent need for effective pressure and diplomacy aimed at bringing to an end the conflicts in Ukraine and Libya. The President and President Erdogan also discussed the importance of building tolerant and inclusive societies and combating the scourge of anti-Semitism.