The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 14, 2014

President Obama Signs Iowa Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Iowa and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of June 3-4, 2014.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in the counties of Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Taylor, and Wayne.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael L. Parker as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. 

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 14, 2014

White House Report: Economic Analysis of Transportation Infrastructure Investment

The White House today released a new report from the Council of Economic Advisers and National Economic Council on the long-term economic benefits of transportation investment and why conditions in the infrastructure sector are ripe for innovation, with new technologies and approaches promising significant gains in productivity, efficiency, and resilience. 

The President has been clear that we need to improve our infrastructure and rebuild our roads and bridges in a smarter, more responsible way, while supporting millions of jobs. The President will continue to urge Congress to act to avoid a lapse in funding of the Highway Trust Fund, which will go insolvent as early as August – putting numerous active projects at risk. This week Congress will consider a solution to avoid that scenario.

In addition to today’s report, the White House released an interactive transportation map detailing the condition of and consequences for each state’s roads and bridges as well as the jobs that would be put at risk, if Congress fails to act.

The report can be found HERE, and the map can be found HERE.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 13, 2014

Readout of the President's Call with Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom

The President spoke today with Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom to discuss the situations in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Iraq, as well as the status of the P5+1 talks with Iran taking place in Vienna.

On Ukraine, the President and Prime Minister expressed concern about the increasing tensions and ongoing violence in eastern Ukraine and agreed upon the need for Russia to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.  These steps have already been clearly conveyed to Russia and include the need to enforce a bilateral ceasefire to be observed by the Russian-supported separatists, an immediate halt to the flow of Russian weapons and fighters across the border, the establishment of an effective OSCE border-monitoring mechanism, a roadmap for Contact Group talks, and the release of all hostages.  So far, neither the United States nor the United Kingdom have seen progress on complying with these conditions.  The President and Prime Minister agreed Europe and the United States should take further coordinated measures to impose costs on Russia if it does not take immediate steps toward de-escalation.

Concerning Afghanistan, the President and Prime Minister welcomed recent progress toward resolving the election impasse and agreed to continue to urge all parties to play constructive and helpful roles leading to the peaceful and democratic transition of power in Afghanistan.  On P5+1 talks with Iran, the two leaders agreed on the need for Iran to take the necessary steps to assure the international community that its nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful and reaffirmed their commitment to make progress toward a sustainable agreement.  With regard to Iraq, the President and Prime Minister agreed to keep working with all parties to form an inclusive and representative government that can work to promote the interests of all Iraqis.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
July 12, 2014

Readout of Vice President Biden's Conversation with Osama al-Nujaifi

Earlier today, Vice President Biden spoke with Osama al-Nujaifi, the Speaker of the previous session of Iraq’s Council of Representatives. The Vice President underscored the United States’ support for Iraq in its efforts to isolate and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which is a threat to all Iraqis. The Vice President commended Nujaifi for his patriotism in putting aside his candidacy for a new term as speaker of the parliament in an effort to move Iraq forward and accelerate the government formation process. Both leaders agreed that all Iraqi political forces must work to form a new government that enjoys a broad national acceptance as rapidly as possible.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
July 12, 2014

Readout of Vice President Biden's Conversation with President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani

This morning, Vice President Biden spoke with Masoud Barzani, President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The Vice President and President agreed on the importance of forming a new Iraqi government as quickly as possible, consistent with the timelines set forth in Iraq’s constitution. They confirmed that one of the new government’s key tasks will be to address long-standing disputes between the central and regional governments consistent with the Iraqi constitution. Towards this end, the two leaders agreed that any territorial dispute arising due to an exigency from the current crisis must be resolved peacefully, in a fair and transparent manner, and in full consultation with all communities. They also agreed that any such process should be undertaken only pursuant to the mechanisms set forth in the Iraqi constitution. The Vice President offered his sympathy for Kurdish Peshmerga fighters recently killed in battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as well as all Iraqi soldiers fighting the same enemy, and he encouraged all political forces to unite against this serious threat to every component of Iraq.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
July 12, 2014

Readout of the Vice President's Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today regarding the situation in eastern Ukraine. President Poroshenko informed the Vice President about the latest separatist attacks using heavy weapons on Ukrainian forces and the Vice President expressed his condolences for the loss of life. The Vice President expressed support for President Poroshenko’s efforts to convene a meeting to discuss a possible ceasefire with the separatists, and informed Poroshenko of ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts to work with our international partners to impose costs on Russia if it continues on its current course of providing the separatists with heavy weapons and equipment.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2014

President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to Georgia to Attend the Funeral Service of Former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Tbilisi, Georgia to attend the Funeral Service of Former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze on July 13.    

The Honorable James A. Baker, III, former Secretary of State, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Richard B. Norland, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Department of State

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2014

Readout of the Vice President's Call with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades to discuss bilateral relations and other issues. President Anastasiades informed the Vice President about the latest discussions on a comprehensive settlement and the Vice President reaffirmed the United States' strong support for a settlement to reunify Cyprus as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality. The two leaders also discussed the crisis in Ukraine, and the Vice President underscored the need to impose costs on Russia if it continued on its current path and failed to actively support a ceasefire, a roadmap for peace talks, the release of hostages, an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) border monitoring mission, and a halt to the transfer of heavy weapons and equipment to the separatists.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2014

President Obama Announces New Partnership with the Private Sector to Strengthen America’s Small Businesses; Renews the Federal Government’s QuickPay Initiative

As a part of his Year of Action, the President is using the power of his pen and phone wherever he can on behalf of the American people to create jobs and help hard-working Americans get ahead. Today, the President will announce the creation of SupplierPay, a new partnership with the private sector to strengthen small businesses by increasing their working capital, so they can grow their businesses and hire more workers. 

To launch SupplierPay, the President is bringing together 26 companies – both large and small – that have committed to the initiative.  For the larger companies, joining SupplierPay demonstrates a recognition that a healthy supply chain is good for business.  For the small business suppliers, benefiting from SupplierPay means having more capital to invest in new opportunities, new equipment, and new hiring.

President Obama, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, National Economic Council Director Jeff Zients, and Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet will host a meeting at the White House today with these businesses and their suppliers to discuss what more can be done to strengthen small businesses, building on the successes of the QuickPay program.

SupplierPay builds on the success of the Federal Government’s QuickPay initiative, which President Obama launched in 2011. QuickPay requires federal agencies to expedite payments to small business contractors with the goal of paying within 15 days.  As a result of QuickPay, we have already seen well over $1 billion in cost savings for small businesses since 2011, leading to greater investment and job creation. SupplierPay is the private sector’s equivalent, where companies have committed to pay small suppliers faster or help them get access to lower cost capital.

Also today, the President is renewing QuickPay for federal small business subcontractors, where the government pays its large contractors faster and, in return, requires them to pay their small business subcontractors faster. QuickPay for small business subcontractors, which began in 2012, was only available temporarily for many small business subcontractors.  Today’s announcement means faster payment for all small business subcontractors and even more business opportunities, more investment in small businesses, and more hiring.

The following companies have signed on to SupplierPay:

Apple Lockheed Martin
AT&T Milliken
Authentix Molina Healthcare
Cardinal Health Nissan
Coca-Cola PG&E
CVS Philips
Ericsson  Rolls Royce
FedEx Rothschild North America
Honda Salesforce 
IBM Textura
Intuit    Toyota 
Johnson & Johnson  Walgreens
Kelly Services Westinghouse Electric Company
 

QuickPay and SupplierPay:  Growing our Small Businesses

  • The President’s QuickPay initiative has strengthened small contractors working with Federal Government, cutting in half the time it takes to get paid, reaching 172,000 small businesses, covering $220 billion in contract awards, and generating well over $1 billion for small businesses – freeing up capital to invest and hire new workers.
  • By renewing QuickPay for small business subcontractors, the initiative can expand its impact as large federal contractors pay their small suppliers even faster. 
  • The SupplierPay initiative builds off this successful model as large private sector companies are committing to pay small suppliers faster or help them get access to lower cost capital.  

 
 

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:

Small business play a vital role in the American economy – employing half of our country's workforce, creating nearly two out of every three new American jobs, and often being the source of the next great American innovation.  

Small businesses were disproportionately impacted by the Great Recession, losing 40 percent more jobs than the rest of the private sector combined. When the President took office small business credit markets were effectively frozen. Today, trends are moving in the right direction; according to a recent survey, small business confidence is near the highest levels since the fall of 2007 and small businesses are back to creating two of out of every three net new jobs.

Small business capital access has been an area of focus for this Administration, starting with the Recovery Act in 2009, the Small Business Jobs Act in 2010 and the JOBS Act in 2012. Collectively, this legislation has been instrumental in driving improvement from the depths of the recession. The Administration has achieved record SBA small business lending volumes and recent Federal Reserve Small Business surveys indicate improved access to financing. Yet, more can be done – too many small businesses still struggle to access the capital they need:

  • A 2014 Pepperdine and D&B study reported that 66 percent of small businesses found it “difficult to raise new business financing.”
  • Capital access challenges are magnified by the fact that small businesses are waiting longer to get paid for their products and services.  According to different estimates, small business invoices go unpaid for 55-60 days on average and payments “past due” are increasing. As a result, small businesses are spending unnecessary funds to cover cash flow issues caused by late payments. These are funds that could be otherwise spent on growing their business and creating new jobs. 

SupplierPay Case Studies:

Company Commitment: Intuit

  • By signing onto the White House’s Small Business Supplier Financing Pledge, Intuit commits to taking active steps to lower the working capital costs of its small business suppliers.
  • 10 percent of Intuit’s suppliers are small businesses – approximately 315 companies. Most of its small business suppliers are creative agencies, product development partners and marketing services firms, including many that are women-owned, minority-owned, or veteran-owned.
  • In 2009, when the economy was down and the impact was especially hard on small businesses, Intuit temporarily changed payment terms to pay its small business suppliers more quickly. Since then, the accelerated payment terms were adjusted back as the economy started recovering.
  • In support of the White House’s pledge, Intuit is making a permanent change to its payment term policy to accelerate the payment terms for its small business suppliers who will now be paid within 10 days. This will help those small businesses get the cash they need faster.
 

Company and Small Business Supplier Case Study:
Molina Healthcare and March Vision Care

  • Molina Healthcare’s commitment to SupplierPay and the White House’s Small Business Supplier Financing Pledge is an outgrowth of the company’s experience working with March Vision Care, one of its small business suppliers.
  • In 2005, Glen March and his wife Cabrini started March Vision Care, a minority and woman owned business, with the idea of providing vision care plans primarily to Medicaid participants.  March Vision was able to land Molina as its first customer, but struggled to access financing as they were turned down by banks and investors.
  • Molina recognized Glen and Cabrini’s potential and provided seed capital directly to them as a new supplier.
  • Today, March Vision Care has grown to over 100 employees, contracts with several healthcare providers and members in 18 states and the District of Columbia. 
  • In response to the President’s call to action, Molina is expanding its commitment to its small business suppliers, and in addition to providing favorable working capital, will be creating a seed investment fund to back the launch of other small business suppliers.
 

Company and Small Business Supplier Case Study:
Apple and Metal Impact

  • Metal Impact, in Elk Grove Village, Illinois is a small supplier working with Apple as part of its domestic manufacturing initiative for the Mac Pro. Metal Impact provides components to the cylindrical aluminum enclosure and is one part of Apple’s $100 million Mac Pro Project, which relies on component and equipment suppliers from 23 states.
  • This partnership represents 18 new jobs and millions of dollars in revenue to Metal Impact.
  • Building the Mac Pro would not have been possible without the manufacturing expertise of dozens of U.S. small businesses, and Apple is supporting the White House’s commitment to ensuring that small businesses get paid faster and have reasonable financing rates so they can continue to hire and grow.
 

Impact of the QuickPay Initiative:

QuickPay Has Delivered Meaningful Results: QuickPay has accelerated more than $220 billion in payments to federal contractors and generated savings well over $1 billion for small suppliers, increasing growth and jobs.  When businesses get paid faster, their financial footing gets stronger. And with nearly $90 billion each year in federal contracts going to small businesses, cutting in half the time it takes for them to receive payment is a powerful way to help businesses make the decision to go ahead and buy another piece of equipment or hire another worker.

Examples of QuickPay’s Impact

The ELOCEN Group

  • The ELOCEN Group offers consulting services in construction management, interior design, information technology, and facilities/logistics.  ELOCEN’s work has totaled over 40 million square feet in new construction and renovation space managed. 
  • “QuickPay has had an incredible impact on the ELOCEN Group.  It has resulted in more working capital, a greater number of satisfied subcontractors and a more profitable overall bottom line for the company.” Necole Parker, CEO of The Elocen Group

Sarakki Associates, Inc.

  • Sarakki Associates Inc. is a multi-disciplinary engineering firm that specializes and provides services to local, State and Federal Governments in Systems Engineering, Information Technology, Border Crossing System, and Intelligent Transportation Systems. SAI started as sole proprietor in 1995 and was incorporated in 2001.
  • “Our company has been a prime contractor to the Federal Government for the past eight years and has experienced firsthand the difference QuickPay has made on the business.  It has improved our bottom line by reducing the cost of doing business and has allowed the company to pay our subcontractors faster.  I no longer have to dip into my personal savings when managing cash flow.”
 

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
July 10, 2014

Readout of Vice President Biden’s Meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan

This morning, the Vice President hosted His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan for a meeting at the Naval Observatory. The King and Vice President discussed a wide range of regional issues, including the Gaza crisis. They spoke about Iraq and agreed on the need for Iraqis to quickly form a government capable of uniting all of Iraq’s communities in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Regarding Syria, they discussed efforts to create the conditions for a comprehensive political solution, address the threat of violent extremism, and meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the Syrian people as well as those of host communities, including Jordan. The King and Vice President reaffirmed the value both countries place on the U.S.-Jordan partnership.