The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 05, 2014

Statement by the President

I applaud this morning’s news that CVS Caremark has decided to stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products in its stores, and begin a national campaign to help millions of Americans quit smoking instead.  As one of the largest retailers and pharmacies in America, CVS Caremark sets a powerful example, and today’s decision will help advance my Administration’s efforts to reduce tobacco-related deaths, cancer, and heart disease, as well as bring down health care costs – ultimately saving lives and protecting untold numbers of families from pain and heartbreak for years to come.  I congratulate – and thank – the CEO of CVS Caremark, Larry Merlo, the board of directors, and all who helped make a choice that will have a profoundly positive impact on the health of our country.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 05, 2014

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on the U.S.-Iraq Energy Joint Coordination Committee Meeting

In November of last year, as part of the Higher Coordinating Committee meeting, Vice President Biden and Prime Minister Maliki committed to strengthening the U.S.-Iraq energy partnership and supporting the continued increase of Iraq’s energy supply to the global markets.  Following on that meeting, today in Baghdad, Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the State Department Carlos Pascual co-chaired the Energy Joint Coordination Committee with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Hussain Al Shahristani. These meetings provided an important opportunity for the Governments of Iraq and the United States to further our cooperation to strengthen and secure energy infrastructure, develop natural gas resources and reduce gas flaring, support improvements in electricity generation, and examine the roles efficiency and renewable energy can play in meeting Iraqi energy needs. The United States and Iraq remain committed to the development of Iraq’s electricity, oil, and gas sectors in an effort to build a strong economy that is capable of meeting the needs of the Iraqi people and bringing greater stability to world markets. We look forward to hosting the next Joint Coordination Committee on Energy meeting in Washington on a date to be agreed later.

 

The U.S.-Iraq Joint Coordination Committee on Energy statement issued today in Baghdad can be found HERE.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 05, 2014

President Obama Updates Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games

President Barack Obama today announced an updated designation of the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russian Federation. 

Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games

The Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russian Federation will be held on February 7, 2014. 

The delegation will attend athletic events, meet with U.S. athletes, and attend the Opening Ceremony.

The Honorable Janet A. Napolitano, President of the University of California, will lead the delegation.

The Honorable Michael A. McFaul, United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation.

The Honorable Robert L. Nabors, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy.

Mr. Brian A. Boitano, Olympic gold medalist, figure skating.

Ms. Caitlin Cahow, Olympic silver and bronze medalist, women’s ice hockey.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 05, 2014

President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate Four to Serve on the United States District Courts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Judge Beth Bloom, Paul G. Byron, Judge Darrin P. Gayles, and Judge Carlos Eduardo Mendoza to serve on the United States District Courts.

“Throughout their careers, these distinguished men and women have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to public service,” said President Obama. “I am confident they will serve the American people with distinction from the District Court bench.”

Judge Beth Bloom:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Judge Beth Bloom has served as a Circuit Judge in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida since 2010.  From 1995 to 2010, she was a County Judge in the same Circuit and served as the Associate Administrative Judge of the Criminal Division in 2010.  From 1988 to 1995, Judge Bloom worked at Floyd Pearson Richman Greer Weil Brumbaugh & Russomanno, P.A., where she handled a broad range of civil litigation.  While in private practice, she also served as a Traffic Magistrate Judge from 1992 to 1993.  Judge Bloom received her J.D. cum laude in 1988 from the University of Miami School of Law, her B.S. in 1984 from the University of Florida, and her A.A. in 1982 from Broward Community College. 

Paul G. Byron:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Paul G. Byron is a partner at Overchuck & Byron, P.A., where his practice focuses on civil litigation in state and federal court.  Before joining the firm, Byron worked in the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the United States Department of Justice from 2004 to 2005; was a partner at the law firm of NeJame, LaFay, Barker, Byron, P.A. from 2003 to 2004; and served as a Senior Trial Attorney on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia from 2001 to 2003.  From 1991 to 2001, Byron served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida.  He began his legal career by serving as a Judge Advocate in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the United States Army from 1986 to 1990.  Byron received his J.D. in 1986 from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, his A.B. in 1983 from the University of Michigan, and his A.A. in 1981 from Miami Dade College. 

Judge Darrin P. Gayles:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Judge Darrin P. Gayles has served as a Circuit Judge in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida since 2011.  From 2004 to 2011, he was a County Judge in the same Circuit.  From 1999 to 2004, Judge Gayles served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and from 1997 to 1999, he served as an Assistant District Counsel at the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.  Judge Gayles began his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office from 1993 to 1997.  Judge Gayles received his J.D. in 1993 from George Washington University Law School and his B.A. in 1990 from Howard University.  

Judge Carlos Eduardo Mendoza:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Judge Carlos Eduardo Mendoza has served as a Circuit Judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida since 2011.   Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Mendoza served as an Assistant City Attorney for St. Augustine, Florida from 2008 to 2011.  From 2005 to 2008, he was an Assistant State Attorney in the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.  He began his legal career by serving as a Judge Advocate in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the United States Navy from 1997 to 2005.  He earned his J.D. in 1997 from West Virginia University College of Law, his B.A. magna cum laude in 1993 from West Virginia University, and his A.A. in 1991 from Central Florida Community College.  Judge Mendoza enlisted in the United States Marine Corps upon graduating from high school and participated in combat operations during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 05, 2014

President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate Cheryl Ann Krause to Serve on the United States Court of Appeals

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Cheryl Ann Krause to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

“Cheryl Ann Krause has displayed exceptional dedication to the legal profession through her work and I am honored to nominate her to serve the American people as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals,” President Obama said. “She will be a diligent, judicious and esteemed addition to the Third Circuit bench.”

Cheryl Ann Krause:  Nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Cheryl Ann Krause has been a partner in the Philadelphia office of Dechert LLP since 2006.  She is also a lecturer in law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. 

Krause was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up outside Philadelphia.  She received her B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 1989 and her J.D. with highest honors from Stanford Law School in 1993.  After graduating from law school, Krause clerked for Judge Alex Kozinski of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1993 to 1994, and then for Justice Anthony M. Kennedy of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1994 to 1995.  From 1995 to 1996, Krause worked as a lecturer and visiting scholar at Stanford Law School, as well as a law clerk at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP in San Francisco.  Krause was an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York City from 1996 to 1997, and then served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1997 to 2002.  Krause returned to Philadelphia in 2003, where she joined Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin as a shareholder.  In 2006, she became a partner at Dechert LLP, where she specializes in white-collar criminal defense and government investigations.

Since 2003, she has regularly taught courses at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she founded and leads an appellate litigation externship program.  She also founded the Philadelphia Project in 2011, a partnership between Dechert LLP and the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia to improve the quality of education for children with disabilities.  Since 2007, Krause has served as outside counsel for the City of Philadelphia’s Board of Ethics and on the Board of Directors of the Committee of Seventy, a non-partisan civic organization focused on fair elections and government integrity. 

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
February 04, 2014

Readout of Vice President Biden's Call with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych

In a call today with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Vice President Biden urged President Yanukovych to take advantage of every opportunity, including offers of international support, to reduce tensions and build trust with the people of Ukraine in order to find a political solution to the crisis.  This includes taking immediate steps such as pulling back riot police, releasing detained protesters, and establishing accountability for those responsible for beatings and attacks on journalists and protesters.  Vice President Biden emphasized that the only viable path to peace and stability in Ukraine is through continued dialogue and genuine compromise to form a new government that can earn the confidence of the Ukrainian people.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 04, 2014

Readout of President Obama’s Meeting with the House Democratic Caucus

Today the President met with the House Democratic Caucus where he expressed the importance of working together on numerous priorities to strengthen the economy, create jobs, and expand opportunity for all.  In this year’s State of the Union Address, the President declared 2014 a year of action.  While he will continue to take action through executive authority, he stressed the importance of working with Congress on their shared priorities to help the middle class.  The President discussed the importance of increasing the minimum wage, strengthening education, passing commonsense immigration reform, fighting to make sure women get equal pay for equal work, extending unemployment benefits, as well as other measures that will create jobs and help middle class families.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 04, 2014

Visit to Monticello by President Obama and President Hollande of France

Since the time of our founding fathers, the United States and France have been allies and friends.  To mark this historic partnership, President Obama and President Hollande of France will tour Monticello on Monday, February 10, as part of the State Visit.  As the residence of Thomas Jefferson, one of the United States’ earliest envoys to France, Monticello reflects Jefferson’s affection for the people of France, the long-standing relations between our two democracies, and the shared values we hold dear:  life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  President Obama looks forward to sharing this piece of our shared history with President Hollande.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 04, 2014

Readout of the President’s Briefing on Olympic Security

Today the President convened a meeting in the White House Situation Room to receive an update from his team on the U.S. Government’s efforts to support security for the Olympic Games in Sochi.  The United States has offered its full support and cooperation to Russian authorities, which are responsible for the Games.  The President was briefed on the security environment, our cooperation with Russian authorities, and on the full range of U.S. Government support for our athletes, delegation, and Americans attending the Olympics.  He was assured by his team that they are taking all appropriate steps regarding the safety of Americans.  He directed them to continue to work closely with the Russian Government and other partners toward a secure and successful Sochi games, and to review carefully and act on any new information that might affect the security of the Games.

The President was joined by Vice President Biden, National Security Advisor Rice, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Monaco, Director of National Intelligence Clapper, Director of Central Intelligence Brennan, National Counterterrorism Center Director Olsen, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Comey, Secretary of State Kerry, Secretary of Defense Hagel, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dempsey, Secretary of Homeland Security Johnson, Deputy Attorney General Cole and other senior members of the President's team.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 04, 2014

Readout of the President's Call with the Seattle Seahawks’ Coach Carroll

Today, the President called head coach Pete Carroll to congratulate the Seattle Seahawks on their decisive victory in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday night.  On the call, the President commended Coach Carroll and his team for a great game, and expressed how exciting it has been to watch the team play all season.  The President told Coach Carroll that he looks forward to congratulating him and the team at the White House in the coming months.