President Obama Signs Massachusetts Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm, snowstorm, and flooding during the period of January 26-28, 2015.

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, 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 winter storm, snowstorm, and flooding in the counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester.

In addition, federal funding is available to the commonwealth and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for snow assistance for a continuous 48 hour period during or proximate to the incident period in Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester Counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties within the commonwealth.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Mark H. Landry 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 commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Gabriel Camarillo, of Texas,  to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, vice Daniel Ginsberg.

Joyce Louise Connery, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board for a term expiring October 18, 2019, vice Peter Stanley Winokur, resigned.

Jonathan Elkind, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of  Energy (International Affairs), vice David B. Sandalow, resigned.

Joseph Bruce Hamilton, of Texas, to be a Member of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board for the remainder of the term expiring October 18, 2016, vice Kenneth L. Mossman.

William A. Heidt, of Pennsylvania, 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 Kingdom of Cambodia.

Dean A. Reuter, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring September 14, 2016, vice Julie Fisher Cummings, term expired.

David Malcolm Robinson, of Connecticut, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, vice Frederick D. Barton, resigned.

David Malcolm Robinson, of Connecticut, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Conflict and Stabilization Operations), vice Frederick D. Barton, resigned.

Shamina Singh, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring October 6, 2019, vice Alan D. Solomont, resigned.

First Lady Michelle Obama And Children From Across The Country To Plant Seventh Annual White House Kitchen Garden

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Washington, DC * 3:30 PM – The First Lady will join students from across the country to plant the White House Kitchen Garden for the seventh year in a row. In 2009, Mrs. Obama planted a vegetable garden on the South Lawn to initiate a national conversation around the health and wellbeing of our nation—a conversation that evolved into her Let’s Move! initiative. Since Mrs. Obama launched Let’s Move! in 2010, parents, business leaders, educators, elected officials, military leaders, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith leaders, and kids themselves have stepped up to improve the health of our nation’s children.  

Since 2010, ten programs have begun under Let’s Move! (full list below).  Mrs. Obama has invited children from schools and locations that participate in these Let’s Move! programs -- representing the millions of Americans that have been impacted by Let’s Move!—to join her at this year’s garden planting. These programs were launched in collaboration with federal agencies, businesses, and non-profits to mobilize every sector to work in alignment with the overall goals of Let’s Move! and offer solutions, objectives, and technical assistance to help kids and families lead healthier lives.

As part of the fifth anniversary of Let’s Move!, Mrs. Obama will announce a new interactive map that will be available to the public online.  The map will showcase the impact of these Let’s Move! programs across the nation and make it easier to get involved in local efforts. In addition, the First Lady will share a special #GimmeFive garden challenge as part of her Let’s Move! fifth anniversary challenge encouraging Americans to #GimmeFive things they are doing to lead healthier lives.

The First Lady’s remarks will be livestreamed at www.whitehouse.gov/live.

Children from the following Let’s Move! programs will participate in the planting:

Let’s Move! Active Schools (LMAS)

Let’s Move! Active Schools is the national solution to ensure 60 minutes of physical activity is the new norm for schools.

• Washington Elementary School – Pierre, SD
• Alice Deal Middle School – Washington, DC

Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC)

Let’s Move! Child Care is a nationwide call-to-action that empowers child care and early education providers to make positive health changes in children that could last a lifetime.

• CentroNia Daycare Center – Washington, DC

Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC)

Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties assists local elected officials as they implement policy and environmental changes to prevent childhood obesity.

• Annapolis Recreation and Parks – Annapolis, MD

Let’s Move! Faith and Communities (LMFC)

Let’s Move! Faith and Communities encourages faith-based and neighborhood organizations to initiate, expand, and coordinate activities that make their communities places of wellness for kids and families.

• Langley Park McCormick – Hyattsville, MD

Let’s Move! in Indian Country (LMIC)

Let's Move! in Indian Country seeks to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native children, who are affected by childhood obesity at some of the highest rates in the country.

• New Kituwah Academy – Cherokee, NC

Let’s Move! Museums and Gardens (LMMG)

Through Let’s Move! Museums & Gardens, museums of all types — from children’s museums and public gardens to zoos, science centers, and art and history museums — inspire healthy habits.

• New York Botanical Garden – Bronx, NY

Let’s Move! Outside (LMO)

Let’s Move! Outside was created to get kids and families to take advantage of America’s great outdoors-which abound in every city, town and community.

• Petrified Forest National Park – Arizona
• Channel Islands National Park – California

Let’s Move! Salad Bars to Schools (LMSB2S)

Let’s Move! Salad Bars to Schools has a simple, yet lofty goal, for every school in the United States to have a salad bar so that every child -- from elementary school, to middle school, to high school -- has daily access to healthy foods.

• Foothill Elementary School – Boulder, CO

Let’s Read! Let’s Move! (LRLM)

Let’s Read! Let’s Move! is an initiative that aims to increase awareness about the critical importance of learning, nutrition, and physical activity through reading. 

• Carlin Springs Elementary School – Arlington, VA

Chefs Move to Schools (CMTS)

Chefs Move to Schools encourages chefs to volunteer in schools and partner with teachers, parents, school nutritionists, food service directors, and administrators.

• Holly Springs Primary School – Holly Springs, MS

In addition, Mrs. Obama will be joined in the garden by students from Bancroft Elementary School and Harriet Tubman Elementary School, who have been active participants in the White House Kitchen Garden since the very first planting.

FACT SHEET: U.S. Participation in the 7th Summit of the Americas

At the 7th Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama, President Obama highlighted the commitment of the United States to upholding the essential role independent civil society and the private sector play in contributing to a shared democratic agenda that benefits all of the people of the Americas.

The 2015 Summit of the Americas demonstrated the global importance of the region and the progress we have made over the last two decades to improve people’s lives.  Our region’s leaders must continue to work together, focusing on pressing issues that need our attention and action, so that we redouble our commitment to a more prosperous, safe, sustainable, equal, and democratic Western Hemisphere.

President Obama worked with his counterparts to build on partnerships introduced at the 2009 Summit in Trinidad and Tobago and the 2012 Summit in Colombia to launch a series of initiatives:

Democracy and Citizen Participation

In his meeting with civil society leaders, the President announced the support of the United States for civil society’s effort to establish a permanent public consultative mechanism and role in the Summits of the Americas.

• The President further highlighted the importance of updating transparency laws in the region to strengthen access to information and public disclosure regimes in law and practice, and making a priority transparent and accountable public institutions in the post-2015 development agenda.  He supported Mexico’s proposal to establish a network of “Open Government Reformers.”

Economic Growth and Opportunity

Building from the Broadband Partnership of the Americas that President Obama launched in 2012, the United States will work with its partners to increase the adoption of fixed and mobile broadband service the deployment of broadband infrastructure as necessary.

• The United States joined a shared commitment among the region’s World Trade Organization (WTO) Members to accept the Trade Facilitation Agreement prior to the December 2015 WTO Ministerial by submitting letters of acceptance to the WTO so that the agreement can enter into force.
• In his meeting with the Americas Business Dialogue at the 2nd CEO Summit of the Americas, President Obama encouraged governments and business to work together to increase economic opportunities for youth, particularly in Central America.  He announced $68 million in new programs to increase training, educational, and job opportunities for at-risk youth in Central America and the Caribbean. 
• The President emphasized the contribution small businesses make to creating jobs and growth, particularly for women.  President Obama highlighted successes of the Small Business Network of the Americas (SBNA) and Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Americas initiatives since 2012 and announced the United States will work with its partners to expand SBNA so that it can independently help micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and entrepreneurs, and increase opportunities for growth.
• President Obama also encouraged the region’s business leaders to get involved in advancing the 100,000 Strong in the Americas initiative to prepare young people with the linguistic and cultural competencies they will need to succeed in our increasingly interconnected region.  The President applauded those of his counterparts who have adopted their own national plans to increase student exchanges within the hemisphere, and urged those who have not, to do so as well.

Clean and Sustainable Energy Future

In his meeting with leaders, the President sought to ensure that all countries in the hemisphere have open access to climate data and information that enhance their capabilities for resilient development by 2020.  The United States will contribute to achieving the President’s goal by applying for accreditation as a Regional Climate Center by the end of 2015.

• President Obama addressed the challenge of combating climate change and securing a clean energy future by setting ambitious targets for climate-resilient energy development.  The President and several leaders committed double the collective share of non-hydro renewable energy (including solar, wind, geothermal, and sustainable, non-traditional biomass) in the Americas’ electricity mix by 2030.
• The President also called on leaders to aggressively phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, and recommended the 2015 meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas consider additional fossil fuel subsidy reforms. 
• The President welcomed the leadership of other governments that seek to share their expertise in a spirit of partnership to strengthen citizen security, fight transnational organized crime, improve the health of our people, and coordinate on disaster response.