Statement by the President on the Observance of Juneteenth

On this day in 1865 – more than two years after President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation – word finally reached Galveston, Texas that the slaves there were free.

Juneteenth marked an important moment in the life of our nation.  But it was only the beginning of a long and difficult struggle for equal rights and equal treatment under the law.  This year, as we also mark the 50th Anniversary of Freedom Summer, we honor those who continued to fight for equality and opportunity for Americans of every race and every background.  And we recommit ourselves to the unending work of perfecting our Union.

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

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

On June 25, 2012, by Executive Order 13617, I declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the risk of nuclear proliferation created by the accumulation of a large volume of weapons-usable fissile material in the territory of the Russian Federation.
 
Full implementation of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation Concerning the Disposition of Highly Enriched Uranium Extracted from Nuclear Weapons, dated February 18, 1993, and related contracts and agreements (collectively, the "HEU Agreements") is essential to the attainment of U.S. national security and foreign policy goals.  Assets of the Government of the Russian Federation directly related to the implementation of the HEU Agreements may be subject to attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial process, thereby jeopardizing the full implementation of the HEU Agreements to the detriment of U.S. national security and foreign policy.  In order to ensure the preservation and proper and complete transfer to the Government of the Russian Federation of all payments due to it under the HEU Agreements, in Executive Order 13617 I ordered the blocking of all property and interests in property of the Government of the Russian Federation directly related to the implementation of the HEU Agreements and declared any attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial process with respect to such blocked property to be null and void, unless licensed or authorized pursuant to Executive Order 13617 or
Executive Order 13159 of June 21, 2000.
 
The risk of nuclear proliferation created by the accumulation of a large volume of weapons-usable fissile material in the territory of the Russian Federation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13617 of June 25, 2012, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond June 25, 2014.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared with respect to the disposition of Russian highly enriched uranium declared in Executive Order 13617.
  
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA
 

Remarks by the President at Export Council Meeting

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

10:30 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who are here.  Some of you have been serving on our Export Council for quite some time.  Some of you are here as new additions, but all of you have been extraordinarily successful in your various fields.  And it gives us an enormous opportunity to hear from you in very concrete terms about how we can advance not just America’s export agenda, but how we can build the kind of economic future that we want for our kids and our grandkids. 

For the last 51 months, we have created jobs here in the United States -- 9.4 million jobs in all.  But we’re going to have to create more.  And one of the best ways to do it is to boost American manufacturing and American exports.  That’s why since I came into office we have been promoting American products and businesses when I travel overseas.  It’s why we created the President’s Export Council in 2010.  There are some of the most iconic companies in the world -- Boeing being an example, Xerox being another one. 

And with your help, exports have driven one-third of the economic growth in our recovery and now support over 11 million U.S. jobs.  Last year, we exported $2.3 trillion in goods and services, which was an all-time high.  And business executives around the globe say that the United States is the best place to locate, the best place to invest, and the best place to hire.  And that’s the first time that they’ve said that, that we are number one when it comes to their desirable location to invest.  This is the first time they’ve said that in over a decade. 

So the “Made in America” brand is stronger than ever.  And as we saw yesterday at the first White House Maker Faire -- I was out there watching these 22-year-olds coming up with incredible things -- it is going to be a remarkable future that we have to look ahead to.  Because in many ways, manufacturing is becoming easier, some of the barriers to entry are lowering.  It gives inventors and entrepreneurs the opportunity to create new products and services in ways that we can’t even imagine.  And we want to make sure that all those trends accelerate here in the United States.

So this is a moment of opportunity.  We’ve got a chance to extend our competitive advantage in the world.  That’s what this meeting is about.  One thing I want to focus on today is opening up even more new markets to “Made in America” products.  We’re working very hard to finalize trade agreements with our partners in Europe and in Asia that will make us the center of a free trade hub covering two-thirds of the world economy.  And Mr. Michael Froman has been putting in a lot of miles trying to make sure that that happens.  And I know he’s consulted with some of you -- not just big companies, but a lot of small- and medium-sized businesses who have enormous opportunities if we’re able to open up these markets, and oftentimes are the ones that have the hardest time navigating through some of the barriers that are out there.

I especially want to increase trade and investment in the region.  And this is going to be one of the issues we discuss in August.  There has been some explosive growth in certain parts of the world where we’re just not doing enough, Africa as being a prime example.  You’ve got six of the 10 fastest-growing economies in Africa, a young population that is growing rapidly.  Some of these economies are doing very, very well, but we’re not penetrating those markets as well as we should. 

And I think we’ve got a great opportunity in August with an African Leaders Summit that’s going to be taking place for us to talk about trade and commerce, because that’s really what that continent is interested in.  They’re not interested in aid as much as they are trade, development, and partnering with the private sector. 

And as your businesses know well, when we export products overseas, we’re creating jobs and opportunities here at home.  That’s the focus here today and every day of my presidency -- how do we create thriving businesses that are also able to create great jobs that allow people not just to stay in the middle class, but to work their way into the middle class if they work hard and take responsibility.  And all of you have done that. 

This council is doing great work.  And with that, I’m going to turn it back over to Jay to hear about some of the ideas that you’ve come up with and how we can help advance this agenda.

END          
10:35 A.M. EDT

FACT SHEET: The United States and Colombia

Yesterday Vice President Biden visited Bogota to meet with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Their visit underscored the close ties between the United States and Colombia, founded upon shared democratic values, deepening economic ties, and a long history of shared security goals. The visit highlighted our cooperation in the following areas:

• Free Trade: Since the 2012 entry into force of the Colombia-U.S. Trade Promotion Agreement, U.S. exports have increased 13.8 percent and U.S. foreign direct investment in Colombia has increased 30.3 percent. Colombia diversified its export base with 1,609 companies exporting goods to the United States for the first time. This growth has created jobs in both countries and assisted both small and international businesses. Through the Small Business Network of the Americas and the Latin America IDEA Network, Colombian and U.S. small businesses have developed connections and partnerships to trade internationally and take full advantage of deepening U.S.-Colombia economic relations.

• Labor Action Plan: The United States and Colombia work together closely on implementation of the Colombian Action Plan Related to Labor Rights, in which the Government of Colombia agreed to address concerns on labor issues. The United States and Colombia have agreed to continue regular meetings on the issues under the Action Plan through at least 2014. Both countries recognize the meaningful progress made under the Action Plan, as well as areas where challenges remain.

• Energy: The United States-Colombia partnership on energy is expanding, including efforts to link energy markets and develop unconventional energy sources to deliver affordable energy across the Americas. Together, the United States and Colombia launched the Connect 2022 initiative at the Summit of the Americas, which is helping to promote electrical grid interconnection across Mesoamerica. The U.S. government has also provided Colombia with technical assistance to establish strong regulatory frameworks for the development of unconventional, offshore, and coal bed methane hydrocarbons. In July, Colombian offshore oil regulators are scheduled to participate in a technical visit to Washington, DC, and New Orleans to discuss U.S. regulatory policy and practices.

• Information and Communications Technology (ICT): Building on a commitment of Presidents Obama and Santos, we will hold the inaugural high-level meeting of the ICT Steering Group in Colombia in the coming months. We are developing a robust agenda focused on identifying tangible ways high-speed internet access will provide isolated communities expanded economic opportunities, increased government presence, and better access to education and healthcare. The United States will also bring a delegation of U.S. investors to Colombia to explore business opportunities in the ICT sector.

• Expanding Opportunity for Vulnerable Populations, including Afro-Colombians: The United States and Colombia continue to work to advance the U.S.-Colombia Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality (CAPREE) to address challenges faced by indigenous and Afro-descendent communities in Colombia and the United States. One example is the Beca Program. In collaboration with the Colombian National Police, the U.S. Embassy promotes the inclusion of minorities and women into the police force through a scholarship program to provide career opportunities for historically poor and underprivileged minority women and men to increase their representation in the police force. There are more than 400 scholarships planned for both 2014 and 2015. Through the U.S. Embassy-sponsored Martin Luther King program, more than 230 talented Afro-Colombian and indigenous university students have studied English at binational centers in Colombia. Another 130 scholars will be selected in September.

• Environment: On May 28, the United States announced a new USAID deal with the Althelia Climate Fund to lend up to $133.8 million in commercial financing for forest conservation and sustainable land use globally. The Althelia program is global, but it originated in Colombia, where USAID works with 19 Afro-Colombian communities, NASA, and three private sector partners to conserve 700,000 hectares of tropical forest, expand cacao and other productive enterprises, and sequester 2.1 million metric tons per year of carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change. Benefiting more than 19,000 Afro-Colombian families in the Pacific, the project will leverage $20 million in additional investment in the region over the next 10 years.

• Bilingual Colombia: The United States and Colombia have long partnered to promote English teaching in Colombia and Spanish teaching in the United States through the Fulbright Program. Since 2007, the United States has directly supported instruction for nearly 50,000 students and over 11,000 teachers who have since reached hundreds of thousands of students. In 2013, the United States expanded English teacher training to public school teachers via teacher colleges. Currently, the United States is working with the Colombian government to provide professional development to 500 future public school teachers in English and language pedagogy. Programs for English instruction, academic advising, educational exchange, and mentoring reach hundreds of underserved youth per year at sites throughout Colombia. Local binational centers are working to reach thousands more through online programs like EnglishNet, which uses voice recognition to teach people to read, and Trace Effects, an online English-teaching video game. Highly qualified U.S. educators in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages spend two weeks to ten months each year at host institutions in Colombia training teachers and working on curriculum and materials development. Dozens of Colombian teachers of English have also benefited from online graduate-level courses through the E-Teacher Scholarship Program.

• 100,000 Strong in the Americas: The United States and Colombia are committed to expanding educational and professional exchanges between their citizens and institutions. In March 2011, President Obama launched “100,000 Strong in the Americas,” an initiative to increase international study in Latin America and the Caribbean. In academic year 2012-2013, 6,543 Colombian students studied in the United States, making it the third largest sending country in the region. To build on this and to increase two-way student exchange, two Colombian universities received 100,000 Strong in the Americas innovation grants. The funds will create institutional linkages to facilitate study abroad between the United States and Colombia. The U.S. government also supports 10 EducationUSA student advising centers in Colombia which offer accurate, current, and comprehensive information to Colombian students about study in the United States.