The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 08, 2015

Notice -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Somalia

NOTICE

- - - - - - -

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH

RESPECT TO SOMALIA

On April 12, 2010, by Executive Order 13536, 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 deterioration of the security situation and the persistence of violence in Somalia, acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, which have repeatedly been the subject of United Nations Security Council resolutions, and violations of the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council.

On July 20, 2012, I issued Executive Order 13620 to take additional steps to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536 in view of United Nations Security CouncilResolution 2036 of February 22, 2012, and Resolution 2002 of July 29, 2011, and to address:  exports of charcoal from Somalia, which generate significant revenue for al-Shabaab; the misappropriation of Somali public assets; and certain acts of violence committed against civilians in Somalia, all of which contribute to the deterioration of the security situation and the persistence of violence in Somalia.

Because the situation with respect to Somalia continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on April 12, 2010, and the measures adopted on that date and on July 20, 2012, to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond April 12, 2015.  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 in Executive Order 13536.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 08, 2015

Letter -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Somalia

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536 of April 12, 2010, with respect to Somalia is to continue in effect beyond April 12, 2015.

On January 17, 2013, the United States Government announced its recognition of the Government of Somalia.  On February 24, 2015, I nominated the first U.S. Ambassador to Somalia in over two decades.  Although these developments demonstrate progress with respect to Somalia's stabilization, they do not remove the importance of U.S. sanctions, especially against persons undermining the stability of Somalia.  For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Somalia and to maintain in force the sanctions to respond to this threat.

 

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
April 08, 2015

East Wing Announcement

The White House today announced that Caroline Adler has been promoted to the role of Special Assistant to the President and Communications Director to the First Lady, replacing Maria Cristina “MC” González Noguera who will be leaving her role May 1st. 

Statement from Mrs. Obama:

“After two years leading an impressive communications operation that included the launch of two initiatives – Reach Higher and Let Girls Learn – I am sad to see MC go, but I am incredibly grateful for her passion, creativity, integrity and leadership.  MC has been a valued advisor to me and an esteemed mentor and friend to her colleagues.  We will all miss MC dearly, and I wish her well on the journey ahead. 

“While MC leaves big shoes to fill, I am thrilled to announce the promotion of Caroline Adler to Communications Director.  Caroline has done outstanding work from day one as Deputy Communications Director in my office, and before that, working for Secretary Clinton at the State Department.  I am thrilled that she will be playing a senior role on my team.

Statement from MC González Noguera:

“Serving First Lady Michelle Obama and the President has been the honor of a lifetime.  Mrs. Obama’s signature creative and innovative approach is a testament to her commitment to empowering youth, veterans and girls worldwide to achieve their fullest potential.  I am thrilled to be passing the torch to the talented and dedicated Caroline Adler.  I know she will be an incredible leader and partner to the First Lady.”

Biography of Caroline Adler:

Caroline Adler currently serves as Deputy Communications Director to the First Lady. She joined the Administration in its first days with Secretary Clinton at the Department of State, serving as the Director of the Office for Strategic Communications. Caroline’s promotion comes after more than two years in her current role, leading the communications strategy for the First Lady’s Joining Forces, Reach Higher and Let Girls Learn initiatives as well as international travel.  Before moving to Washington, Caroline worked at a New York-based management consulting firm. She is a graduate of Harvard University and a native of Southern California, where she will be married later this summer. 

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
April 08, 2015

East Wing Announcement

The White House today announced that White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard will be stepping down from his post next month following the Japan State Dinner. His replacement will be announced in the coming weeks.

Statement from Mrs. Obama:

“For the last four years, Jeremy has worked tirelessly to open the doors of the White House to as many people as possible and to make each and every event in the White House one to remember, not only for Barack and me, but for the tens of thousands of guests who pass through our doors each year.  I was lucky to have such a talented individual on my team, and I am equally lucky to have made a lifelong friend in Jeremy. Jeremy will be missed, and Barack and I wish him the very best in all of his future endeavors.” 

Statement from Jeremy Bernard:

“It has been an honor to serve the President and Mrs. Obama as Social Secretary for the last four years.  From State Dinners to Student Workshops to celebrating the holiday season, Mrs. Obama has welcomed every guest to the White House with her signature warmth, grace and style.  I feel so privileged to have worked for such an extraordinary President and First Lady.” 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 07, 2015

President Obama Announces Smart Cities – Smart Growth Presidential Trade Mission to the People’s Republic of China

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of the Smart Cities – Smart Growth Business Development Mission as a Presidential Trade Mission to the People’s Republic of China.

The Honorable Penny Pritzker, Secretary of Commerce, and The Honorable Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, will lead the trade mission.

Members of the Presidential Trade Mission:

The Honorable Max Baucus, Ambassador of the United States of America to the People’s Republic of China, Department of State.

The Honorable Penny Pritzker, Secretary of Commerce, and the Honorable Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Deputy Secretary of Energy, will lead the trade mission.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 07, 2015

Statement by the Press Secretary on Bipartisan Efforts to Replace the No Child Left Behind Act

Today’s announcement from Senator Alexander and Senator Murray is an important step in their bipartisan effort to replace the No Child Left Behind Act. As Congress continues its work, President Obama will continue to insist on providing our schools with greater flexibility to invest in what works, making sure that teachers aren’t confined to teaching to the test, putting resources behind innovation in our education system, and expanding opportunities for America’s children to attend high-quality preschool. We believe that any bill should ensure that teachers and parents know how their schools are doing every year, reject harmful proposals that would let states take away funding from schools that need it most, and make sure we remain committed to closing troubling achievement and opportunity gaps in America’s schools and driving progress in those that are the lowest-performing.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 07, 2015

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:

  • Gabriel Camarillo – Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of Defense
  • William A. Heidt – Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Department of State
  • David Malcolm Robinson – Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations and Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, Department of State
  • Joyce Connery – Member, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, and upon appointment to be designated Chair

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post:

  • Kevin Griffis – Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services

President Obama said, “These fine public servants bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their important roles. I look forward to working with them.”

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

Gabriel Camarillo, Nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of Defense
Gabriel Camarillo is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, Logistics & Technology (AL&T), a position he has held since 2012. From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Camarillo served as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for AL&T. Since 2011, Mr. Camarillo has been an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. During the 2008 presidential election, Mr. Camarillo was the Deputy Voter Protection Coordinator in New Mexico for Obama for America. From 2004 to 2010, he practiced campaign finance and government ethics law in California. Mr. Camarillo began his legal career as an Associate at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Mr. Camarillo received a B.A. from Georgetown University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.

William A. Heidt, Nominee for Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Department of State
William A. Heidt, a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the Department of State, a position he has held since 2012. Mr. Heidt served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland from 2009 to 2012, Counselor for Economic and Social Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York from 2007 to 2009, Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia from 2004 to 2007, and Special Assistant in the Office of the Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs from 2003 to 2004. Prior to that, he served as a Finance and Development Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta from 2000 to 2003 and Economic and Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 1997 to 1999. Earlier assignments with the Department included Economic Officer in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Economic Officer in the Office of Korean Affairs, Economic Officer in the Office of Bilateral Trade Affairs, and Consular Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Poznan, Poland. Mr. Heidt received a B.A from Pennsylvania State University and an M.A. from The George Washington University.

Ambassador David Malcolm Robinson, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations and Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, Department of State
Ambassador David Malcolm Robinson, a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as Principal Deputy High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a position he has held since 2014. Previously, Ambassador Robinson was Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan from 2013 to 2014, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration from 2009 to 2013, and Special Coordinator for Venezuela in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs from 2008 to 2009. Ambassador Robinson served as U.S. Ambassador to Guyana from 2006 to 2008 and as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana from 2003 to 2006. He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion, Paraguay from 2000 to 2003. His earlier assignments included posts in El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Iceland. Ambassador Robinson received a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. from the National War College, and a Master of Divinity from Christ the King Seminary.

Joyce Connery, Nominee for Member, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, and upon appointment to be designated Chair
Joyce Connery serves as Director of Nuclear Energy Policy within the Office of International Economics on the National Security Council (NSC) in the White House, a position she has held since 2012. Prior to this, she served as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy Secretary at the Department of Energy (DOEn) from 2010 to 2012. From 2009 to 2010, Ms. Connery served as the Director of Cooperative Threat Reduction and Nuclear Energy Cooperation and in 2008 served as Director of Nonproliferation Policy at the NSC. From 2006 to 2008, Ms. Connery served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Proliferation at the DOEn. Before that position, she was a Policy Advisor to the Assistant Deputy Administrator at DOEn from 2004 to 2006. From 1999 to 2004, Ms. Connery served in various positions at Argonne National Laboratory for the DOEn including Program Analyst and Foreign Affairs Specialist from 2001 to 2004, Technical Program Coordinator from 2000 to 2001, and Nuclear Nonproliferation Program Representative from 1999 to 2000. Ms. Connery received a B.A. and M.A. from Tufts University.

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post:

Kevin Griffis, Appointee for Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services
Kevin Griffis serves as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a position he has held since May 2014. Since December 2014, he has also served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at HHS. Prior to this, Mr. Griffis served as Communications Director for Senator Cory Booker from 2013 to 2014 and as Senior Advisor and Communications Director for Cory Booker’s Senate campaign in 2013. From 2012 to 2013, he was a Principal at the Podesta Group. Mr. Griffis served as Senior Advisor in the Office of Public Affairs at the Department of Commerce (DOC) in 2012. From 2009 to 2012, he was Director of Public Affairs at DOC. Prior to this, Mr. Griffis was Spokesman for the Presidential Inaugural Committee in 2009, and a State Communications Director for Obama for America from 2007 to 2008. He was Communications Director for the Pedersen for U.S. Senate campaign in 2006. In 2005, Mr. Griffis was Communications Director for Virginia Victory 2005, and from 2005 to 2006, he was Communications Director at the Democratic Party of Virginia. Mr. Griffis was Communications Director at America Coming Together-Nevada and was Press Secretary for Cliff Oxford for U.S. Senate in 2004. From 2000 to 2004, he was Staff Writer at Creative Loafing, a newspaper in Atlanta. Mr. Griffis began his career as a Staff Writer at the Carroll County Times, a position he held from 1998 to 2000. He received a B.A. from Beloit College.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 07, 2015

President Obama Announces a Key Administration Post

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post:

  • Bruce Hamilton – Member, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post:

Bruce Hamilton, Nominee for Member, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

Bruce Hamilton serves as a consultant to the nuclear industry, a role he has held since 2013.  Prior to this, he was the President of Fuelco LLC from 2009 to 2013.  From 2003 to 2008, Mr. Hamilton was the Director of Luminant Power at Comanche Peak NPP.  From 1978 to 2002, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Navy.  Mr. Hamilton serves on a variety of boards, including as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Military Officers Association of America and as a Member of the American Nuclear Society. Mr. Hamilton received a B.S. from Texas A&M University, an M.A. from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Ph.D. from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.  

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
April 07, 2015

Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden to Travel to California

On Thursday, April 9th, the Vice President will travel to San Francisco, California to attend a political event. On Friday, April 10th, the Vice President will travel to Oakland, California to visit a Pacific Gas & Electric center where he will discuss the importance of workforce development and investing in job-training programs across the country. Additional details about the Vice President’s travel are forthcoming.

While in California, Dr. Biden will visit De Anza College in Cupertino to highlight the Administration's commitment to community colleges and their importance to America’s future. Additional details about Dr. Biden’s visit are forthcoming.

 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 07, 2015

Statement by the President on the 21st Anniversary of the Genocide in Rwanda

Twenty-one years ago today, a genocide began that would claim the lives of more than 800,000 Rwandan men, women, and children and mark the beginning of one hundred days of horror for Rwanda’s people.  Today is a day to commemorate those who lost their lives, to honor the courage of those who risked their lives to save others, and to grieve with the Rwandan people.  It is also a day to reaffirm what our common humanity demands—that we stand together to prevent mass atrocities and continue to do all we can to make good on the pledge of “never again.”  We also renew our commitment to help finish the task of bringing to justice those who inflicted such tragedy upon such a beautiful land.     

While we remain haunted by the genocide, we also draw hope and inspiration from the people of Rwanda, who are building a brighter future.  We commend their determination to continue to make important progress toward healing old wounds and lifting people out of poverty.  The United States will continue to work tirelessly in partnership with Rwanda and with other nations to help prevent such atrocities and advance dignity and peace for all.