The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Bruce H. Andrews, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce, vice Rebecca M. Blank, resigned.

Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, of New Jersey, 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 People's Republic of Bangladesh.

Marcus Dwayne Jadotte, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, vice Nicole Yvette Lamb-Hale, resigned.

James D. Pettit, 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 Republic of Moldova.

Laura S. Wertheimer, of the District of Columbia, to be Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, vice Steve A. Linick, resigned.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

·       Bruce H. Andrews – Deputy Secretary, Department of Commerce

·       Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat – Ambassador to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Department of State

·       Marcus D. Jadotte – Assistant Secretary for Industry and Analysis, Department of Commerce

·       James D. Pettit – Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Department of State

·       Laura S. Wertheimer – Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key administration posts:

·       Caitlin K. Cahow – Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition

·       Steven Croley – Member, Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States

·       Jane Jelenko – Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council

·       Brig. Gen. John S. Kem, USA – Commissioner, Mississippi River Commission

·       George A. Elmaraghy – Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission

·       Tom FitzGerald – Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission

·       Susan Hedman – Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission

President Obama said, “I am honored that these talented individuals have decided to join this Administration and serve our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Bruce H. Andrews, Nominee for Deputy Secretary, Department of Commerce
Bruce H. Andrews is currently the Chief of Staff for the Department of Commerce, a position he has held since 2011.  Before this, Mr. Andrews served as General Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.  From 2007 to 2009, he served as Vice President of Governmental Affairs for Ford Motor Company.  Mr. Andrews was a Partner at Quinn Gillespie & Associates from 2000 to 2007 and an Attorney at Arnold & Porter from 1997 to 2000.  Prior to that, he was a Legislative Director for U.S. Representative Tim Holden from 1994 to 1997 and a Senior Legislative Assistant from 1993 to 1994.  Mr. Andrews received a B.A. from Haverford College and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
 
Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, Nominee for Ambassador to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Department of State
Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is currently Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Human Resources at the Department of State, a position she has held since 2012.  She was previously Ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau from 2008 to 2011.  She served in the Department of State as Office Director for India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan in the Bureau of South Asian Affairs from 2006 to 2008.  From 2004 to 2006, she was the Senior-Level Director and Career Development Officer in the Bureau of Human Resources at the State Department.  Ambassador Bernicat also served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados from 2001 to 2004, and as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi from 1998 to 2001.  She was Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca, Morocco from 1995 to 1998, Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India from 1992 to 1995, and Desk Officer for Nepal and India in the Bureau of Near East and South Asian Affairs from 1988 to 1990.  Earlier in her career, she was Special Assistant to Deputy Secretary of State John Whitehead, Consular Officer in Marseille, France, and Political/Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali.  Ambassador Bernicat received a B.A. from Lafayette College and an M.S. from Georgetown University. 
 
Marcus D. Jadotte, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Industry and Analysis, Department of Commerce
Marcus D. Jadotte served as the Vice President of Public Affairs and Multicultural Development at NASCAR from 2011 to 2014.  Previously, he held various positions at NASCAR, including Managing Director of Public Affairs from 2006 to 2011 and Senior Manager of Public Relations from 2005 to 2006.  Prior to joining NASCAR, Mr. Jadotte was Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz from 2004 to 2005.  He was Deputy Campaign Manager for the Kerry/Edwards Presidential campaign from 2003 to 2004.  Mr. Jadotte was Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Peter Deutsch from 2001 to 2003 and served as Florida State Director on the Gore/Lieberman Presidential campaign in 2000.  He served at the Department of Labor in various positions, including Intergovernmental Officer from 1999 to 2000 and Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary in 2000.  Mr. Jadotte received a B.A. from Florida State University. 
 
James D. Pettit, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Department of State
James D. Pettit, a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the Department of State, a position he has held since 2010.  Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine from 2007 to 2010, Consul General at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia from 2003 to 2007 and Consul General at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria from 1999 to 2003.  Mr. Pettit was Director of the Office of Post Liaison/Visa Office from 1997 to 1999, Director of the Washington Processing Center of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration from 1995 to 1997, Deputy Consul General of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 1992 to 1994, Desk Officer in the Office of Taiwan Coordination from 1990 to 1992, and Desk Officer in the Office of Cuban Affairs from 1988 to 1990.  He also served as Consular Officer at the American Institute in Taiwan in Taipei, General Services/Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and Consular Officer at the Consulate General in Guadalajara, Mexico.  Mr. Pettit received a B.A. from Iowa State University and an M.A. from the National War College.
 
Laura S. Wertheimer, Nominee for Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency
Laura S. Wertheimer is a partner in the Securities Department of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, LLP, a position she has held since 2003.  She is also a member of the firm’s Securities Litigation and Enforcement Practice Group.  Previously, she was a partner at the law firm of Shea & Gardner from 1987 to 2003 and an associate at that firm from 1983 to 1987.  From 1981 to 1983, she was a Law Clerk for Chief Judge Spottswood Robinson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  Ms. Wertheimer received a B.A. from Yale College and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Caitlin K. Cahow, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition

Caitlin K. Cahow was a member of the United States Women’s National Ice Hockey Team from 2005 to 2013.  The Team won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada and a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy.  She was Captain of the Boston Blades in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), and has served on the CWHL board of directors since her retirement in 2013.  She was the Captain of the U.S. Under-22 Select Team in 2006.  Ms. Cahow won gold medals with the U.S. Women’s National Team at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship in 2008, 2009, and 2011. She received the 2008 USA Hockey Women’s Player of the Year award.  In February 2014, she served on the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games.  She is an active advisor to the You Can Play Team.  She received the Shannon McLaughlin Advocacy Award from the Boston College Lambda Law Students Association and the Avian Soifer Award for Public Service Achievement and Leadership from Boston College Law School.  Ms. Cahow received a A.B. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Boston College Law School.

Dr. Steven Croley, Appointee for Member, Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States
Dr. Steven Croley is General Counsel of the Department of Energy. Prior to this, he was Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel to the President in the Office of the White House Counsel from 2012 to 2014.  Previously, he served as Senior Counsel to the President in the Office of the White House Counsel from 2011 to 2012 and Special Assistant to the President for Justice and Regulatory Policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council from 2010 to 2011.  Since 2010, Dr. Croley has been on leave from the University of Michigan Law School where he is the Harry Burns Hutchins Collegiate Professor of Law.  From 2006 to 2010, he served as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.  Dr. Croley was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Michigan Law School from 2003 to 2006.  He served as a Research Consultant to the Michigan Law Revision Commission from 1996 to 1999, and previously as a Research Consultant to the Administrative Conference of the United States and the U.S. Department of Labor from 1994 to 1995.  He began his teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School in 1993 before becoming a Professor of Law in 1998.  Dr. Croley served as a Law Clerk for Judge Stephen Williams of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from 1991 to 1992.  Dr. Croley received an A.B. from the University of Michigan, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and a Ph.D. from Princeton University.   

Jane Jelenko, Appointee for Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Jane Jelenko is the Founding President and a board member of Center Dance Arts, the founding support organization for Dance at the Music Center in Los Angeles, California, a position she has held since 2001.  She is the author of Portraits in Black and White: Holocaust Survivors of Café Europa, a collection of stories photographs of Holocaust survivors.  In 1983, Ms. Jelenko became the first female consulting partner at KPMG.  Prior to this, she held various roles at KPMG, including National Industry Director for the Banking and Finance group and leader of the Banking and Investment Services Consulting group.  Ms. Jelenko has been a Director of Cathay General Bancorp since 2012 and serves on the Audit and Risk Committees.  Since 2006, she has served as a Trustee of the SunAmerica Series Trust and Seasons Series Trust.  She also serves on the boards of the Dizzy Feet Foundation and the Gabriella Foundation.  She was a Director of Countrywide Bank from 2003 to 2008, and is a former board member of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, the Music Center of Los Angeles County, the Constitutional Rights Foundation, and KPMG, LLP.  Ms. Jelenko received an A.B. in Mathematics from Barnard College and an M.B.A. in Finance from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
 
Brig. Gen. John S. Kem, USA, Appointee for Commissioner, Mississippi River Commission
Brig. Gen. John S. Kem is Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division, a position he has held since July 2013.  In this role, he oversees the operations of district commands in Portland, Seattle, Walla Walla, Omaha, and Kansas City, Missouri.  Previously, Brig. Gen. Kem was the Director of Engineering, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, Commander of the Europe District of the Army Corps of Engineers from 2008 to 2011, and Commander of the 16th Armored Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division in Iraq from 2003 to 2005.  His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster.  Brig. Gen. Kem received a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy, an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and an M.S. in environmental engineering from Northwestern University. 
 
George A. Elmaraghy, Appointee for Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
George A. Elmaraghy is currently Senior Project Manager at Stantec Consulting Ltd., a position he has held since October 2013.  Prior to this, Mr. Elmaraghy served in various roles at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency from 1974 to 2013, including Division Chief of the Division of Surface Water, Assistant Division Chief of the Division of Surface Water, and Assistant Division Chief of the Division of Water Pollution Control.  Mr. Elmaraghy began his career as a Graduate Research Assistant at The Ohio State University Department of Civil Engineering from 1972 to 1974.  He received a B.S. from Cairo University and an M.S. from The Ohio State University.
 
Tom FitzGerald, Appointee for Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
Tom FitzGerald is currently Director of the Kentucky Resources Council, Inc., a position he has held since 1984.  He has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Energy and Environmental Law at the Brandeis School of Law since 1986.  From 1980 to 1984, Mr. FitzGerald was a Staff Attorney and Environmental Specialist at the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky.  He was a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellow from 1980 to 1982.  Mr. FitzGerald received a B.A. from Roger Williams College and a J.D. from University of Kentucky College of Law.
 
Susan Hedman, Appointee for Commissioner, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
Susan Hedman is the Region 5 Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, a position she has held since 2010.  From 2005 to 2010, Ms. Hedman served as Environment and Energy Counsel and Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.  She was a Senior Policy Advisor on energy issues at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity from 2004 to 2005.  Ms. Hedman served as First Legal Officer for the environmental claims panel at the United Nations Compensation Commission from 2000 to 2004.  From 1993 to 2000, she was a Staff Attorney at the Environmental Law and Policy Center and an attorney at Howard & Howard in 1992.  She served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Michigan Law School in 1991 and an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs and School of Law from 1988 to 1991.  From 1984 to 1988, Ms. Hedman was an Assistant/Associate Professor at Northland College and was Public Information Officer for the Wisconsin Radioactive Waste Review Board from 1983 to 1984.  Ms. Hedman received a B.A. from Ripon College, an M.A. from the La Follette Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin, a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a Ph.D. from the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014

President Obama to Host White House Science Fair

WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, May 27th, the President will host the 2014 White House Science Fair and celebrate the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. The President will also announce new steps as part of his Educate to Innovate campaign, an all-hands-on-deck effort to get more girls and boys inspired to excel and to provide the support they need to succeed in these vital subjects.

With students from a broad range of STEM competitions, this year’s Fair will include a specific focus on girls and women who are excelling in STEM and inspiring the next generation with their work. Since day one, the President has been committed to getting more underrepresented groups, including women and girls, excited to excel at STEM subjects. For example, in the Administration’s signature education reform initiative, Race to the Top, President Obama granted states competitive preference if they demonstrated efforts to close the STEM gap for girls and other groups that are underrepresented.

The President hosted the first-ever White House Science Fair in late 2010, fulfilling a commitment he made at the launch of his Educate to Innovate campaign to inspire students to excel in math and science.  As the President noted then, “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.”

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014

Statement by Press Secretary Jay Carney on Terrorist Attack in China

The United States condemns the horrific terrorist attack in Urumqi, China today.  We are aware of reports that the attack resulted in the death of 31 citizens and the injury of 90 more. This is a despicable and outrageous act of violence against innocent civilians, and the United States resolutely opposes all forms of terrorism.  We offer our condolences and sympathies to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this attack.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014

FACT SHEET & REPORT: President Obama Visits Cooperstown to Highlight Travel and Tourism that is Growing our Economy and Creating Jobs

The progress report on the President’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy can be found HERE.

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 hardworking Americans get ahead. The President will travel to Cooperstown, New York to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame – an economic engine in upstate New York. The Hall of Fame draws nearly 300,000 visitors annually, helping to drive more than $160 million into the economy of Otsego County each year. In fact, it is projected that each Hall of Fame visitor generates an estimated $500 in spending into the regional economy.

The President will discuss the Administration’s efforts to support increased travel and tourism in the United States – helping local businesses and growing the economy for everyone. Before heading to Cooperstown, the President will use the power of his pen to sign a Presidential Memorandum to help welcome more international visitors to our country, making it easier for foreign tourists to see more and spend more in the United States. The President will also utilize his phone – his power to convene – and meet with travel and tourism industry CEOs and senior executives at the White House to discuss their vital industry, which supports nearly 8 million jobs across the country and is a major driver of our economy.

President Obama Visits Cooperstown to Highlight Travel and Tourism that is Growing our Economy and Creating Jobs

President Announces New Steps to Welcome More International Visitors to the United States

From our cities to national parks, every year millions of people travel across America. Those visits support nearly 8 million American jobs— jobs that can’t be outsourced at thousands of local and small businesses. 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 hardworking Americans get ahead. This week, the President has highlighted the importance of investing in America and today he is taking action to welcome more international visitors to our country – because making it easier for more foreign visitors to travel to and spend money at America’s attractions and national parks helps local businesses and grows the economy for everyone.

That is why the President launched a National Travel and Tourism Strategy in 2012 and set an ambitious goal of attracting and welcoming 100 million international visitors annually by the end of 2021. Two years later, we are on track to meet this goal, in part due to the actions taken by the President’s Administration to expand our ability to attract and welcome visitors, while maintaining the highest security standards. Today, the Administration released a new report Increasing Tourism to Spur Economic Growth: Progress on the President’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy that highlights the many economic benefits to the United States from increased travel and tourism, and the progress that the Administration has made in implementing the President’s strategy.

  • Tourism is America’s most important, and largest, services export: growth in international visitors has created roughly 175,000 American jobs over the past five years, and meeting President Obama’s goal of 100 million visitors in 2021 will support hundreds of thousands of additional jobs.

  • The number of international visitors to the United States has grown from 55 million in 2009 to 70 million in 2013, and each overseas visitor spends on average $4,500 per visit, at American hotels, shops, restaurants, and other domestic businesses.

  • Steps taken by the Administration have supported this impressive growth: The State Department issued 9.2 million visas in 2013, up 42% since 2010. Waiting periods for visas in important markets like Brazil and China have dropped from as high as several months to less than five days on average. The Department of Homeland Security has significantly expanded Trusted Traveler and expedited clearance programs that improve the experience of travelers entering the United States.

  • Through close partnership with airports and industry, we have seen dramatic improvements to the entry process and reduction in wait times for passport control and customs processing at airports. At Dallas Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare, a combination of measures such as Automated Passport Control kiosks and Global Entry services reduced average entry process wait times by nearly 40% over 12 months, and cut in half the number of visitors waiting longer than 30 minutes.

Building on this significant progress, as part of his Year of Action, the President is announcing new executive actions to continue to encourage and make it easier for international travelers to come to the United States:

 

New Steps to Improve the Entry Process and Welcome More
International Travelers to the United States

Signing a Presidential Memorandum to Expedite the Entry Process for Travelers, Starting With the 15 Largest Airports: Over the next 120 days, Secretary Pritzker and Secretary Johnson will lead an interagency team, in close partnership with industry, to develop a national goal to improve the entry process and reduce wait times for international travelers to the United States, and action plans at the 15 largest airports for international arrivals, consistent with progress achieved at Dallas Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare airports where, through a combination of streamlining processes and upgrading technologies, wait times were reduced significantly.

Taking Additional Steps to Improve and Streamline the Entry Process: The Department of Homeland Security is expanding the use of technology to streamline the entry process, such as Automated Passport Control kiosks.

Launching New Efforts to Encourage Travelers to Visit the United States: The Departments of Commerce, State, Agriculture, Homeland Security, Transportation and the Interior will take additional steps to encourage travelers to visit the United States, including launching coordinated strategies with BrandUSA in ten international markets, creating a “one-stop” that supports international bids for major global events and launching a new “virtual visitor services” platform to increase tourism on public lands and waters.

Background on Today’s New Steps to Increase International Visitors to the United States

  • Directing the Secretaries of Commerce and Homeland Security to partner with industry to improve the entry process for international travelers: The President is announcing today a new partnership with industry to dramatically improve service levels for international arrivals to airports, including the wait time for passport control and customs processing. This new effort will be consistent with the progress achieved in partnership with industry at Dallas Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare airports. The measures the Administration is taking to expedite the arrivals process will enhance our security by focusing officer time on the highest-risk passengers and facilitating the process for the vast majority of legitimate travelers.
    • Partnering with industry to develop national goal and airport specific action plans. The Secretaries of Homeland Security and Commerce will partner with industry to develop a national goal to improve service levels for international arrivals, as well as airport specific action plans that include steps that both private and public actors must take in order for the United States to meet this important national goal. Agencies, working closely with the Tourism Policy Council as well as airlines and local governments, will develop and share metrics to demonstrate service level improvement, taking into account the federal government’s responsibility to protect the safety, public health, and national security of the United States and its visitors.
  • Making progress on additional steps to improve and streamline the traveler experience at ports of entry: DHS continues to streamline and enhance the entry process. Actions include:
    • Expanding the use of Automated Passport Control kiosks to 25 airports by end of 2014. Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks provide modern touch screen technology which allows passengers to scan their passports and enter their customs declaration information. Provided through public-private partnership with airport authorities, these kiosks expedite air passenger inspection for U.S. and Canadian citizens at participating airports. They reduce officer interaction to approximately 30 seconds from 55 seconds while increasing security by allowing officers to focus on the passenger instead of paperwork. In the past year, 15 airports deployed the technology, with plans for another 10 to join by the end of the year. A number of these airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Orlando International Airport have experienced reductions in average wait times of 30% or more after APC kiosks have been installed.
    • Boosting processing capacity at ports of entry with 2,000 additional CBP officers. Congress recently granted CBP authority to hire 2,000 new CBP officers over the next two years. These new CBP officers are a welcome complement to the Global Entry program and APC kiosks, all of which are important for a faster and more secure entry and arrivals process.
    • Developing a new Loaned Executive Program to borrow private sector expertise to improve line and crowd management. DHS’ Loaned Executive Program will embed senior private sector experts within TSA and CBP, for six months to a year, to improve government customer service and operations at our ports of entry and ensure a positive first impression of the United States for visitors—while simultaneously upholding the DHS public safety mission.
    • Opening 300+ new enrollment centers nationwide in 2014 for Trusted Traveler Programs (including TSA Pre✓™, CBP’s Global Entry and NEXUS). In 2013, there were almost 1 million additional uses ofGlobal Entry and NEXUS Air kiosks representing a 34% increase over usage in 2012.
    • Creating additional public-private partnerships to defray costs of meeting increased staffing and overtime needs. In the last two budget cycles, the Administration has requested and Congress has granted new legal authorities for DHS to enter into voluntary partnerships with state, local, tribal, and private sector entities. These partnerships allow DHS to provide increased customs and immigration inspections services on a reimbursable basis at U.S. ports of entry upon request. Five agreements were signed in December 2013. In 2014, DHS will seek to enter into five additional partnerships with international gateway airports and seek additional opportunities to expand services and facilities at land and sea ports consistent with the authority granted by Congress.
    • Liberalizing Aviation Markets and Modernizing International Partnerships. The United States has 113 Open Skies agreements with partners across the world which have increased international traffic and resulted in significant benefits to the U.S. economy, aviation industry and workforce, and traveling public. Since the President took office the Administration has established 19 Open Skies agreements and is continuing to pursue new agreements, and improve existing agreements, to provide U.S. air carriers with opportunities to offer new and innovative service to travelers and shippers, as well as to strengthen the Federal government’s ability to help resolve operational issues.
  • Launching new efforts to attract more international travelers to the United States: In 2013, a record 70 million international visitors traveled to the United States, spending an all-time high of $180.7 billion, an increase of more than 9% from 2012. The Administration is undertaking new initiatives to build on the progress to date by:
    • Creating a “one-stop-shop” for federal resources to support U.S. bids for major international events such as large conferences and sporting events: A planned interagency advocacy task force would provide coordinated support that could include high-level advocacy with decision makers, expedited visa appointments for participants, special handling for customs, streamlined process for obtaining necessary federal representations, and other value-added services to support the success of U.S. bids and events.
    • Launching a coordinated federal approach to leverage multiple U.S. government resources in foreign countries to increase tourism demand. An interagency group led by the Departments of Commerce and State are organizing an initiative to target the top 10 international markets, with a pilot launched this year in the United Kingdom.
      • This effort would create an integrated strategic plan at the country level (across agencies and with Brand USA) to increase demand for legitimate travel and tourism to the United States, and to ensure that federal agencies plan for downstream effects to meet demand for services and provide a quality experience.
      • Marketing and promotional activities, communicating U.S. entry policies, increasing participation in Trusted Traveler Programs, anticipating entry volumes, and taking advantage of liberalized air service agreements could be included in the integrated approach.
    • Developing a “virtual visitor services” open data platform to enable state, local, and tribal organizations and private sector partners to build innovative trip planning resources, mobile apps, and customer--friendly digital services to increase tourism on public lands and waters. The platform, under development by the Interior Department and other land-management agencies, will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of federal agency operations, enrich the visitor experience for a diverse set of audiences, and open up opportunities for private sector innovation.
      • The data and web services platform will make key visitor and travel information for public lands available to external travel and tourism providers via open application programming interfaces (APIs). The platform will support local and regional economic development by providing key data on travel and tourism opportunities.
      • Long term plans include integration with multiple data sources to enable partners to build services that provide visitors integrated access to multiple travel options.
    • Partnering with Brand USA, the country’s nonprofit travel promotion corporation, to develop thematic tourism diplomacy campaigns. An expanded year-long global culinary tourism campaign will culminate at the World Expo in Milan, Italy, in May 2015. In preparation, agencies are coordinating a pilot public diplomacy culinary tourism campaign in five target posts in East Asia (China, Taiwan, Australia, Japan and South Korea) to promote U.S. tourism and agricultural exports around embassies’ July 4 festivities, through an integrated recipe book with articles and photos highlighting U.S. tourism destinations, a social media toolkit, promotional collateral and American chef visits.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2014

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Adam Smith Amendment

The President applauds Ranking Member Adam Smith for his continued stalwart leadership in standing up for our values and national security by advancing the cause of closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.  By eliminating unwarranted and burdensome restrictions relating to the transfer of Guantanamo detainees, his amendment would further our efforts to move past this chapter in U.S. history.   We urge the House to adopt the Smith Amendment and put an end to the ongoing harm to the nation’s security that results from the operation of the facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

This Administration has repeatedly objected to statutory restrictions that impede our ability to responsibly close the detention facility and pursue appropriate options for the detainees remaining there, including by determining when and where to prosecute detainees, based on the facts and circumstances of each case and our national security interests.   In hundreds of terrorism-related cases – and as illustrated once again this week – our federal courts have proven themselves to be more than capable of administering justice.

Nearly a half billion dollars per year is an unacceptable price to pay for a facility that wastes our resources, creates friction with our allies, and undermines our standing in the world.    This needs to be the year Congress lifts the remaining restrictions and enables the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.  We call on Members of both parties to work together to ensure the United States meets this goal.  If this year's Defense Authorization bill continues unwarranted restrictions regarding Guantanamo detainees, the President will veto the bill.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2014

Readout of the President’s Call with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan

President Obama spoke with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan today.  They discussed the situation in Syria and its impact on neighboring countries, including Jordan. The two leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment to continued close cooperation between our governments to advance shared goals.

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The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2014

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Armando Ormar Bonilla, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, vice Edward J. Damich, term expired.

Patricia M. McCarthy, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, vice Emily Clark Hewitt, retired.

Jeri Kaylene Somers, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, vice George W. Miller, retired.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2014

President Obama Nominates Three to Serve on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Obama nominated Armando Omar Bonilla, Patricia M. McCarthy, and Judge Jeri Kaylene Somers to serve on the United States Court of Federal Claims.

“Throughout their careers, these individuals have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to public service,” said President Obama.  “It is with full confidence in their ability, integrity, and independence that I nominate them to serve on the Court of Federal Claims.”

Armando Omar Bonilla:  Nominee for the United States Court of Federal Claims

Armando Omar Bonilla currently serves as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice.  Bonilla has worked at the Department of Justice for nearly 20 years: he served as a prosecutor in the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division from 2002 to 2010 and in the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Criminal Division from 2001 to 2002, and as a trial and appellate attorney in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch from 1994 to 2001.  He began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Garrett E. Brown, Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1992 to 1994.  Bonilla received his J.D. magna cum laude in 1992 from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A. in 1989 from West Virginia University. 

Patricia M. McCarthy:  Nominee for the United States Court of Federal Claims

Patricia M. McCarthy is currently an Assistant Director in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the United States Department of Justice’s Civil Division, a position she has held since 2003.  She joined the Commercial Litigation Branch in 1994 and was promoted to Senior Trial Counsel in 2001.  Over the course of her career, McCarthy has litigated a wide variety of cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the United States Court of International Trade.  From 1989 to 1994, McCarthy worked at the law firm of Bingham, Dana & Gould in Boston, Massachusetts.  She received her J.D. in 1989 from Cornell Law School, and her A.B. cum laude in 1984 from Colby College.

Judge Jeri Kaylene Somers:  Nominee for the United States Court of Federal Claims

Judge Jeri Kaylene Somers has served as Vice Chair of the United States Civilian Board of Contract Appeals since 2008 and as a Board Judge since 2007.  Previously, Judge Somers served as an Administrative Judge for the United States Department of Transportation’s Board of Contract Appeals from 2003 to 2007.  From 2001 to 2003, she worked at the law firm of Miller & Chevalier.  Judge Somers served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia from 1994 to 2001 and worked as a Trial Attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the United States Department of Justice’s Civil Division from 1991 to 1994.  Judge Somers began her legal career as a Judge Advocate with the United States Air Force from 1986 to 1991.  She continued her military service until 2007, serving as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force Reserves from 1991 to 1993, as a Judge Advocate in the District of Columbia Air National Guard from 1993 to 2004, and as a Military Judge with the United States Air Force Reserves from 2004 to 2007.  She received her J.D. in 1986 from the American University Washington College of Law and her B.A. in 1983 from George Mason University.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2014

President Obama Designates Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

WASHINGTON, DC — As part of his commitment to make 2014 a year of action using his pen and phone, President Obama will sign a proclamation today to establish the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in south-central New Mexico, an action that, according to independent analysis, could generate $7.4 million in new economic activity each year.  Using his authorities under the Antiquities Act, the President’s action will permanently preserve approximately 496,000 acres to ensure that the prehistoric, historic, and scientific values of this area remain for the benefit of all Americans while preserving access for sportsmen, ranchers, and recreational users. The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument joins the ten other national monuments President Obama has designated across the country to permanently protect sites that are significant to our nation’s rich history and natural heritage. 

“Whether they’re hiking or camping or fishing, visitors to our parks and public lands are not only enjoying the bounty of our natural resources, but also promoting jobs and growth. And continuing to set aside federal land for outdoor recreation will drive critical revenue for those local communities, and preserve our pristine land for generations to come,” said President Obama.  

“Today is the culmination of a community-led effort to preserve, protect and promote these public lands, but it’s the beginning of a new chapter for the businesses that will benefit from the tourism and recreation, and the wildlife that rely on this unique habitat,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. “The Organ Mountains and surrounding Desert Peaks are steeped in culture, history, wildlife and opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors – from hunting to hiking to gazing at ancient petroglyphs and fossils  – and the President’s action ensures that these cherished landscapes are celebrated and passed on to the generations of New Mexicans and Americans to come.”

The President’s proclamation honors years of work by the local community and businesses seeking increased protection and recognition for the area. Senators Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall have championed legislation to protect and preserve the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks region. Conservation groups and sportsmen’s organizations, local tribal governments, veterans and ranchers, faith leaders and Latino leaders, historic preservationists, the nearby cities of Las Cruces and El Paso, and over two hundred local businesses have also expressed support for permanent protection.

The area is home to a high diversity of animal life, including deer, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions, peregrine falcons and other raptors as well as rare plants, some found nowhere else in the world, such as the Organ Mountains pincushion cactus. Hundreds of  archeologically and culturally significant sites are found within the new monument, including some limited Paleo-Indian artifacts, extensive rock art sites and the ruins of a ten room pueblo, among other ancient dwellings. More recent history is memorialized with Geronimo’s Cave, Billy the Kid's Outlaw Rock, and sites related to early Spanish explorers. The Organ and Doña Ana Mountains are popular recreation areas, with multiple hiking trails, a popular campground, and opportunities for hunting, mountain biking, rock climbing, and other recreation.

Today’s action builds on steps the Administration has taken over the past five years as part of the America's Great Outdoors initiative, which fosters a 21st century approach to conservation that responds to the priorities of the American people. When he signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, President Obama marked the most extensive expansion of land and water conservation in more than a generation, designating more than 2 million acres of federal wilderness, thousands of miles of trails, and protecting more than 1,000 miles of rivers. 

Wilderness, parks, forests, monuments, and other public lands help support local economies through tourism. Recent estimates also show that over $50 billion were added to the economy from visits to public lands in 2012 alone. In fact, a recent study says that this national monument could double the number of visitors to the region and help grow the local economy by more than 70%. Protected public lands also attract businesses interested in relocating to areas with beautiful scenery, outdoor opportunities, and a high quality of life. These businesses can bring high paying jobs, which helps explain why, on average, western non-metro counties’ per capita income increases when there is more protected public land in the area. The outdoor recreation industry supports 6.1 million jobs nationwide.

First exercised by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to designate Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, the authority of the Antiquities Act has been used by 16 presidents since 1906 to protect unique natural and historic features in America, such as the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Colorado's Canyons of the Ancients.

The monument will continue to be managed by the Bureau of Land Management as part of the system of National Conservation Lands. The Bureau of Land Management currently manages the federal land within the national monument for multiple uses, including conservation of natural and archeological resources and outdoor recreation, such as hiking, biking, camping and hunting.  Recreation on BLM-managed lands and waters in New Mexico supported more than 1,900 jobs and contributed more than $170 million to the state’s economy in fiscal year 2012.