The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 30, 2013

Message to the Congress -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Sudan

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
 
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 the 90-day period 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 Sudan emergency is to continue in effect beyond November 3, 2013.
 
The crisis constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Sudan that led to the declaration of a national emergency in Executive Order 13067 of November 3, 1997, and the expansion of that emergency in Executive Order 13400 of April 26, 2006, and with respect to which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 13412 of October 13, 2006, has not been resolved. These actions and policies are hostile to U.S. interests and continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared with respect to Sudan and maintain in force the sanctions against Sudan to respond to this threat.
 
BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 29, 2013

President Obama Signs North Carolina Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides on July 27, 2013.

Federal funding is available to state 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 storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in the counties of Ashe, Avery, Catawba, Lincoln, Watauga, and Wilkes.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael Bolch 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 state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT:  FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@DHS.GOV

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 29, 2013

Readout of the President’s Meeting with CEOs on Cybersecurity

The President met today with a group of CEOs from the information technology, financial services, and energy sectors to discuss our shared efforts to improve the cybersecurity of our nation's critical infrastructure.

The conversation highlighted the importance of the voluntary Cybersecurity Framework that is being created by the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology in partnership with a range of public and private stakeholders. The framework is part of Executive Order 13636 on Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, which was introduced in the President’s 2013 State of the Union Address. The preliminary version of the framework was released in the Federal Register today for a 45 day comment period. 

The framework is intended to raise the level of cybersecurity across the U.S. critical infrastructure.  To do so, the framework will lay out a set of core practices for organizations to manage their cybersecurity risk. The CEOs expressed appreciation for the way the framework was developed in partnership with the private sector and support for the process moving forward.  The conversation focused on how to encourage its adoption.  Participants discussed the need for framework adoption by both critical infrastructure and by their suppliers -- and the difficulties involved in helping small and medium sized business to adopt best practices.  Both companies and government officials also expressed the strong desire to have Congress pass information sharing legislation that protects privacy and civil liberties. 

Attendees included:
* Ajay Banga, President and CEO, MasterCard
* Steve Bennett, President and CEO, Symantec
* Wes Bush, Chairman, President and CEO, Northrup Grumman
* Marilyn Hewson, President and CEO, Lockheed Martin
* Renée James, President, Intel
* Brian T. Moynihan President and CEO, Bank of America
* Joseph Rigby, Chairman, President and CEO, Pepco Holdings
* Charles W. Scharf, Director and CEO, Visa

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 29, 2013

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Passing of Tadeusz Mazowiecki

We were saddened yesterday to learn of the passing of Tadeusz Mazowiecki, a tireless and devoted advocate for human rights and democracy who persevered through imprisonment and hardship to become the first Prime Minister of a free Poland.  For decades, Mazowiecki worked to build a movement in opposition to the oppression and injustice of Communism.  When strikes broke out at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk in August 1980, Mazowiecki helped forge the lasting ties between shipyard workers and anti-communist intellectuals that propelled the Solidarity movement to become a transformational force in Polish society. 

Mazowiecki subsequently endured prison during Poland’s martial law, but he inspired millions in August 1989, when he was approved by the Sejm to become the first non-Communist Prime Minister behind the Iron Curtain in more than four decades.  His contributions to freedom and human rights live on today and will never be forgotten.  We extend our condolences to Mazowiecki’s family and all those in Poland and around the world who remain inspired by his example.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 29, 2013

President Obama Signs New Mexico Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of New Mexico and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, and mudslides during the period of September 9-22, 2013.

Federal funding is available to state 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 storms, flooding, and mudslides in the counties of Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Eddy, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, and Torrance.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide. 

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Nancy M. Casper 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 state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT:  FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@DHS.GOV

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 29, 2013

Statement by the President on the One Year Anniversary of Hurricane Sandy

One year ago, Hurricane Sandy’s landfall devastated communities up and down the East Coast – a tragedy that demanded massive rescue, recovery, and rebuilding efforts.  Today, we remember our fellow Americans who lost their lives to that storm, and we comfort the families who grieve them still.  And while there are still homes to rebuild and businesses to reopen, the last year has also served as a reminder of the strength and resilience of the American people.  We’ve seen first responders act with heroism, strangers lend a helping hand, and entire communities come together to heal.  There’s more work to do, but that’s the spirit with which we’ll continue to do it for our fellow Americans who still need a hand.

Over the past year, my Administration has fought for these communities throughout the response, and the federal government will remain by their side as our fellow citizens rebuild.  We’ve provided billions of dollars of assistance to hundreds of thousands of people and small business owners through direct aid, grants, and loans.  We’ve helped thousands of families stay in their homes, communities cut through red tape and bureaucracy to receive the help they need, and worked with state and local officials to open 97% of public beaches before Memorial Day, sending a strong message to the country that the shore was open for business. Through a federal commitment to a long-term rebuilding effort, our roads, bridges, hospitals and businesses are coming back stronger than before.  

That’s who we are as Americans – we take care of our own.  We leave nobody behind.  And as long as our fellow Americans continue to travel the long and sometimes difficult road to recovery, their country will stay with them every step of the way.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 28, 2013

Statement by the President on the Passing of Former Congressman Ike Skelton

For 34 years, Ike Skelton served the people of Missouri in the United States Congress. He was beloved and respected by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Ike was a devoted advocate for our men and women in uniform. To many in Congress and across Missouri, Ike was a mentor and a friend, and he will be missed. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to his wife Patty, his family and loved ones.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
October 28, 2013

Readout of Vice President Biden's Call with Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani

Vice President Biden spoke today with President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani.  The Vice President expressed his condolences to the recent victims of terrorist violence in Iraq, including the September 29 attack in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil.  Both leaders discussed the political and security challenges facing Iraq, and agreed on the need for close coordination between Iraqi political and security leaders to isolate al Qaida networks.  The Vice President emphasized the importance of holding 2014 parliamentary elections on time, and urged all Iraqi leaders to finalize a compromise as soon as possible on the law to govern those elections.  

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 28, 2013

Presidential Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Alfredo J. Balsera, of Florida, to be a Member of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy for a term expiring July 1, 2014, vice Elizabeth F. Bagley, term expired.

Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security, vice Janet Ann Napolitano, resigned.            

WITHDRAWAL SENT TO THE SENATE:

Ronald J. Binz, of Colorado, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the term expiring June 30, 2018, vice Jon Wellinghoff, term expiring, which was sent to the Senate on June 27, 2013.     

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 28, 2013

Readout of the President's Call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke by phone today as part of their regular consultations.  The two leaders discussed recent developments related to Iran, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and other regional issues.   The two leaders agreed to continue their close coordination on a range of security issues.