The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
January 01, 2014

Statement by Gene B. Sperling, Director of the National Economic Council

This New Year’s Day, there is likely less joy and more fear and distress in the homes of 1.3 million Americans who this week have seen their unemployment insurance suddenly cut off – a vital lifeline that these Americans depend on as they fight to find a job. There would be no better New Year’s resolution for Congress to make today than to commit to making the first new legislation for the new year the restoration of emergency unemployment insurance for those who have this week just been cut off.

Failing to extend emergency unemployment insurance through 2014 will negatively impact 14 million Americans – the 4.9 million workers who will see unemployment insurance cut off and the approximately 9 million additional family members they are supporting. But if Congress does the right thing and acts to extend emergency unemployment benefits through 2014, it is estimated to lead to 200,000 jobs and a fifth of a point of additional economic growth. This emergency unemployment insurance is temporary and by design will taper off as the unemployment falls around the nation.

The claims by some that those experiencing long-term unemployment are solely at fault are belied by the countless accounts of the names, faces and stories of responsible Americans among those 1.3 million who have worked hard their whole lives and are fighting to find a new job to support their families. Because these workers are only eligible for this emergency assistance if they are actively looking for work, extension will help encourage many of the long-term unemployed to keep at it even if they are getting discouraged.

We as Americans can choose to have each other’s backs when we face serious spells of long-term unemployment. In more than 50 years, we have never cut off emergency unemployment insurance when the rate of long-term unemployment was even above 50% of its current level, even though none of those recessions were nearly as deep as the one we are now recovering from. Serious studies make clear that those who are long-term unemployed face serious barriers to getting new jobs than can lead to lasting damage to their economic future. At a time when we as a nation should be moving forward in our efforts to help those who are long-term unemployed find new jobs, we should not take a harsh step backwards by abruptly cutting off their unemployment insurance.

The President strongly supports Majority Leader Harry Reid’s commitment to bring the bipartisan Reed-Heller bill for a vote the very first day the Senate returns on January 6th. By temporarily extending emergency unemployment insurance for three months, this bipartisan bill will provide benefits for over 2 million Americans when they need it most, and we urge every member of Congress to support this vitally important bill.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 31, 2013

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on South Sudan

The United States remains deeply concerned by the fragile situation in South Sudan.  We continue to urge President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to take immediate steps to end the current conflict, and we welcome their agreement to send representatives to Addis Ababa for talks mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in the coming days.  We continue to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to stabilize the situation and permit full humanitarian access to civilian populations, which remain in dire need of assistance.  The United States will deny support and work to apply international pressure to any elements that use force to seize power.  At the same time, we will hold leaders responsible for the conduct of their forces and work to ensure accountability for atrocities and war crimes.

We also strongly support the vital work of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).  We are working closely with the UN and other partners to help further strengthen the mission and its efforts to protect civilians, and we call on all parties to the current conflict to allow UNMISS to carry out its mandate without obstruction.

Finally, the United States is deeply concerned by the continuing reports of serious human rights abuses being committed in various regions of South Sudan, allegedly by government forces and militias that have taken up arms against the government.  Human rights abuses against the civilian population are unacceptable under any circumstances, and every new human rights abuse makes South Sudan’s path toward reconciliation more difficult.  It is vital that all South Sudanese reject these acts of violence -- and that all South Sudanese leaders call upon their forces to protect civilians -- and that there be accountability for those who fail to heed these calls.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 31, 2013

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on the All-Party Talks in Northern Ireland

We are disappointed that Northern Ireland’s political leaders did not conclude an agreement today.

We commend the work of the independent chair and his team.  Through months of consultations with civil society and the political parties -- undertaken at the request of the Northern Ireland Executive -- Richard Haass and his team have done a remarkable job.

We believe that the draft text produced through the All-Party process represents real progress and makes a valuable contribution.  We urge Northern Ireland’s political leaders to continue to work together to build on this progress, including implementing the proposals where consensus already exists and as it emerges in all three areas:  parades, flags and emblems, and contending with the legacy of the past.  Engaging in a sustained dialogue with civil society can help the parties find a sustainable path forward to overcome sectarian divisions.

The United States has always stood with the people and institutions of Northern Ireland and will continue to do so.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 30, 2013

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on the National Maritime Domain Awareness Plan

Today the White House released the National Maritime Domain Awareness Plan.  This plan promotes global maritime security and prosperity through improved governance to support the effective understanding of the maritime domain.  Notably, 90 percent of the world’s commerce moves by sea, making maritime security essential to the global supply chain and international trade.

Consistent with Presidential Policy Directive 18: Maritime Security (PPD-18) and the National Strategy for Maritime Security (NSMS), the National Maritime Domain Awareness Plan merges and supersedes the National Plan to Achieve Maritime Domain Awareness and the Global Maritime Intelligence Integration Plan, each published in 2005 as supporting plans to the NSMS.  The consolidation of the two plans into a single National Maritime Domain Awareness Plan advances the foundation for the effective understanding of actual and potential threats and challenges emanating from or related to the maritime domain.  Using a whole-of-nation approach, at minimal cost, it promotes favorable conditions for integrating and sharing information, including intelligence, to better inform decisions affecting the security, safety, economy, and environment of the United States and the global maritime commons.

The plan can be found here.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 30, 2013

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on Attacks in Russia

The United States condemns the terrorist attacks that struck the Russian city of Volgograd and sends deepest condolences to the families of the victims with hopes for the rapid healing of those wounded.

The United States stands in solidarity with the Russian people against terrorism.  The U.S. government has offered our full support to the Russian government in security preparations for the Sochi Olympic Games, and we would welcome the opportunity for closer cooperation for the safety of the athletes, spectators, and other participants.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 29, 2013

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on the All-Party Talks in Northern Ireland

Talks led by independent chair Richard Haass with the five parties of the Northern Ireland Executive have reached a critical juncture. The goal has been and remains to reach agreement before the end of the year on new arrangements for parading, flags, and contending with the legacy of past violence. 

Initiating these talks demonstrated the commitment of the parties and people of Northern Ireland to move forward on tough issues. We are confident that a solution can be reached if there is political will on all sides. 

We call upon the leadership of the five parties to make the compromises necessary to conclude an agreement now, one that would help heal the divisions that continue to stand between the people of Northern Ireland and the future they deserve.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 27, 2013

Statement from the Director of the National Economic Council Gene Sperling

As the President has repeatedly made clear, it  defies economic sense, precedent and our values to allow 1.3 million Americans fighting to find jobs to see their unemployment insurance abruptly cut off -- especially in the middle of the holiday season. These are our neighbors, our community members and often fellow parents who depend on this as a temporary lifeline while they are actively looking for new jobs to support their families and make ends meet.  Never before have we abruptly cut off emergency unemployment insurance when we faced this level of long-term unemployment and it would be a blow to these families and our economy.

While we remain disappointed that Congress did not heed the President's call to extend emergency unemployment benefits for next year before the holidays, the President as well as the Democratic Congressional leadership have made clear the importance of extending the benefits immediately upon Congress's return. Senator Jack Reed and Senator Heller have put forward bipartisan legislation to extend emergency unemployment insurance for three months which would prevent these 1.3 million workers and their families from losing benefits while giving more time for consideration of further extension through 2014, and Leader Reid will bring it to a vote as soon as they return. The President strongly encourages both the Democratic and Republican Congressional leadership and their members to support this bipartisan solution and to pass the Reed-Heller bill. 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 27, 2013

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on the U.S.–Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission Joint Report

The United States of America and the Russian Federation launched the U.S.–Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission (BPC) four years ago to reaffirm our commitment to cooperation and collaboration based on shared interests.  Since its creation, the Commission has embraced a whole-of-government approach to advance this goal, finding common ground on arms control and international security; fostering closer defense ties; increasing bilateral trade and investment opportunities; countering terrorism and narcotics trafficking; promoting advances in science, technology, and energy; and enhancing people-to-people and cultural ties between our societies.

Today we received from Secretary of State John Kerry the submission of the 2013 BPC Joint Report, which comprehensively highlights the Commission’s accomplishments since Spring 2012.

President Obama encourages the Commission’s working groups to deepen and expand their engagement with Russia in order to remove barriers to trade and investment, increase security, and ensure that advances in science and innovation continue.  By partnering with American and Russian civil society and private enterprise, the Commission’s working groups can have an enduring impact that yields a brighter future for Russians, Americans, and people around the world.

The report can be found here.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 26, 2013

Statement from the President and the First Lady on Kwanzaa

Michelle and I extend our best wishes to all those celebrating Kwanzaa this holiday season. Today marks the beginning of the week-long celebration of African American culture through family activities and community festivities that bring attention to Kwanzaa's seven principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Though each principle represents the essence of this holiday, they also represent the shared values that bind us as Americans.

As families and communities across our country come together today to light the Kinara, our family sends our hopes for a prosperous and healthy new year.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 26, 2013

Statement by the Press Secretary on H.J. Res. 59, H.R. 623, H.R. 767, H.R. 2319, H.R. 3343, H.R. 3487

On Thursday, December 26, 2013, the President signed into law:

H.J. Res. 59, the "Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013" and "Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013," which revises discretionary spending caps for fiscal years 2014 and 2015, and makes various changes to current law regarding:  budget enforcement; prevention of waste, fraud, and abuse; natural resources; Federal civilian and military retirement; higher education programs; transportation; and miscellaneous provisions; and also provides a slight increase to Medicare payments for physicians' services that are furnished through March 31, 2014, and amends a number of other health programs;

H.R. 623, the "Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act," which transfers a specified parcel of Federal land in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium by warranty deed;

H.R. 767, which expands the Federal Permit Streamlining Pilot Project to include all of the field offices within specified jurisdictions of the Bureau of Land Management;

H.R. 2319, the "Native American Veterans' Memorial Amendments Act of 2013," which clarifies certain provisions of the Native American Veterans' Memorial Establishment Act of 1994;

H.R. 3343, which increases the annual rate of pay of the Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia from an amount equal to the rate of pay for a Cabinet Secretary to an amount that does not exceed the annual compensation payable to the Vice President of the United States; and

H.R. 3487, which extends for five years through December 31, 2018, and expands the authority of the Federal Election Commission to impose civil money penalties on the basis of a schedule of penalties established and published by the Commission.