The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 17, 2013

Statement by the Press Secretary on Postponement of the State Visit of President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil

Yesterday, the President spoke by telephone with President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil to follow-up on their meeting in St. Petersburg and Ambassador Rice’s meeting with the Foreign Minister of Brazil last week.

The United States and Brazil enjoy a strategic partnership rooted in shared democratic values and in the desire to advance broad-based economic growth and job creation.  President Obama’s invitation to President Rousseff for the first State Visit of his second term is a reflection of the importance he places on this growing global partnership and the close bonds between the American and Brazilian people. 

The President has said that he understands and regrets the concerns disclosures of alleged U.S. intelligence activities have generated in Brazil and made clear that he is committed to working together with President Rousseff and her government in diplomatic channels to move beyond this issue as a source of tension in our bilateral relationship.  As the President previously stated, he has directed a broad review of U.S. intelligence posture, but the process will take several months to complete.  President Obama and President Rousseff both look forward to the State Visit, which will celebrate our broad relationship and should not be overshadowed by a single bilateral issue, no matter how important or challenging the issue may be.  For this reason, the presidents have agreed to postpone President Rousseff’s State Visit to Washington scheduled for October 23.

President Obama looks forward to welcoming President Rousseff to Washington at a date to be mutually agreed. Other important cooperation mechanisms, including the presidential dialogues on political, economic, energy, and defense cooperation, will continue. 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 17, 2013

President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Mali to Attend the Inaugural Ceremony of His Excellency Ibrahim Boubacar Keita

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Mali to attend the Inaugural Ceremony of His Excellency Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on September 19, 2013.

The Honorable Mary Beth Leonard, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Mali, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs

The Honorable Jack Leslie, Chairman, United States African Development Foundation

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 16, 2013

Readout of President Obama’s Call with FBI Director James Comey

Today the President called FBI Director James Comey to express his gratitude for the quick response of Bureau personnel to this morning’s tragic shooting at the Washington Navy Yard. The President also received an update on the ongoing investigation, being led by the FBI. The President commended the FBI and all of the federal agencies involved for their close coordination with the local officials during the ongoing response. 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 16, 2013

Readout of President Obama’s Call to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus

Today the President called Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus to express his condolences to the families and colleagues of the victims of today’s mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard.  The President also commended the brave Navy personnel and local law enforcement who worked in concert with federal authorities to respond to this tragedy.

The President has been briefed throughout the day by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco and Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco about the ongoing situation and he continues to remain in contact with his team. 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 16, 2013

Statement by National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice on the UN’s Report on Chemical Weapons Use

We welcome the report made public today by the United Nations mission established by Secretary-General Ban to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria. The U.N. report adds even more evidence to what we have already concluded – that sarin was used by the Syrian regime on a large scale on August 21 in the suburbs of Damascus.  The U.N. team collected a wealth of evidence – including surface-to-surface rockets, dozens of environmental and soil samples, and biomedical samples – that tested positive for signatures of sarin.  Although the team’s mandate was not to determine who was responsible for these heinous attacks, the technical evidence included in the report and in today’s briefing by the U.N. – including the statement that the sarin was high-quality and that a particular type of rocket was used in the attack – reinforces our assessment that these attacks were carried out by the Syrian regime, as only they had the capability to mount an attack in this manner.  We deeply appreciate the thorough work of Dr. Ake Sellstrom and his team, who carried out this difficult mission at significant personal risk.

This weekend’s talks in Geneva developed a framework that could bring about the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons in a transparent, expeditious, and verifiable manner, which would end the threat these weapons pose to the Syrian people, the region and the world.  We will continue working urgently with Russia, the United Kingdom, France, the United Nations, the OPCW, and others to ensure that this process is verifiable, and that there are consequences should the Assad regime not comply with the framework agreed.  And, if diplomacy fails, the United States remains prepared to act.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 16, 2013

President Obama to Award Medal of Honor

On October 15, 2013, President Barack Obama will award William Swenson, a former active duty Army Captain, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.  Captain Swenson will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as an Embedded Trainer and Mentor of the Afghan National Security Forces with Afghan Border Police Mentor Team, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, during combat operations in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on September 8, 2009.

Captain Swenson will be the sixth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.  He and his family will join the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND: 

Captain William D. Swenson separated from the Army on February 1, 2011 and currently resides in Seattle, Washington.  He is single.

Captain Swenson was commissioned as an Army Officer upon completing Officer Candidate School on September 6, 2002.  His military training and education includes: Infantry Maneuver Captains Career Course, Ranger Course, Infantry Officer Basic, Infantry Mountain Leader Advanced Marksmanship Course, Airborne, Officer Candidate School.

At the time of the September 8, 2009 combat engagement, Captain Swenson was an Embedded Trainer and Mentor of Afghan National Security Forces.   His actions were performed as part of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, 10th Mountain Division. 

His military decorations include: Bronze Star Medal with Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with One Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

THE MEDAL OF HONOR:

The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguishes themselves conspicuously by gallantry above and beyond the call of duty while:

  • engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
  • engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
  • serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. 

The meritorious conduct must involve great personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. There must be incontestable proof of the performance of the meritorious conduct, and each recommendation for the award must be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 16, 2013

Statement by the NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on the Presidential Determination with Respect to Syria

Today, the President signed a Presidential Determination exercising his authority to waive certain restrictions under the Arms Export Control Act.  This action will allow the U.S. Government to provide or license, where appropriate, certain non-lethal assistance inside or related to Syria.  This includes:  1) chemical weapons-related personal protective equipment to international organizations, including the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, for the conduct of their operations; 2) chemical weapons-related life-saving assistance for organizations implementing Department of State or U.S. Agency for International Development programs to strengthen local Syrian health care providers’ ability to prepare for and respond to any use of chemical weapons; and 3) defensive chemical weapons-related training and personal protective equipment to select vetted members of the Syrian opposition, including the Supreme Military Council, to protect against the use of chemical weapons.  This action is part of longstanding and ongoing efforts to provide life-saving chemical weapons-related assistance to people in need in Syria.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 16, 2013

Presidential Determination -- Syria

September 16, 2013

Presidential Determination
No. 2013-15

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT: Provision of Defense Articles and Services to Vetted Members of the Syrian Opposition for Use in Syria to Prevent the Use or Proliferation of Chemical Weapons and Related Materials, Organizations Implementing U.S. Department of State or U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Programs Inside or Related to Syria, and International Organizations for their Use Inside or Related to Syria

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including sections 40(g) and 40A(b) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), I hereby:

  • determine that the transaction, encompassing the provision of defense articles and defense services to vetted members of the Syrian opposition; organizations implementing U.S. Department of State or USAID programs inside or related to Syria; and international organizations necessary for the conduct of their operations inside or related to Syria, or to prevent the preparation, use, or proliferation of Syria's chemical weapons, is essential to the national security interests of the United States;

  • waive the prohibitions in sections 40 and 40A of the AECA related to such a transaction; and

  • delegate to the Secretary of State the responsibility under section 40(g)(2) of the AECA to consult with and submit reports to the Congress for proposed exports, 15 days prior to authorizing them to proceed, that are necessary for and within the scope of this waiver determination and the transaction referred to herein.

You are authorized and directed to publish this determination in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
September 16, 2013

The White House to Host Convening on Food Marketing to Children

Mrs. Obama will call on stakeholders to leverage the power of marketing to promote healthy products and decrease the marketing of unhealthy products to kids

The White House * September 18, 2013 * 1:20 PM ET – On the heels of the First Lady joining the Partnership for a Healthier America’s launch of a new “Drink Up” campaign to promote water as the healthiest choice, the White House, led by Mrs. Obama and the White House Domestic Policy Council, will host a convening about food marketing to children. Let’s Move!, the First Lady’s initiative to ensure all our children grow up healthy, works to make the healthy choice the easy choice for American families.  Mrs. Obama will speak to key stakeholders engaged on the issue of food marketing to children, including food and media industry executives, advocates, parent leaders, government agency representatives and researchers. The convening’s goal is to create a constructive dialogue and collaborative process for developing real solutions that support families in making healthier choices, including leveraging the power of marketing to promote healthy products and decreasing the marketing of unhealthy products to kids.

Last year, the First Lady joined Disney in their announcement that by 2015 they would require all food and beverage products advertised, sponsored, or promoted on various Disney-owned media channels, online destinations and theme parks to meet nutritional guidelines in order to promote fruit and vegetables and limit calories, sugar, sodium, and saturated fat. The First Lady has also praised Birds Eye for their marketing and advertising efforts designed to encourage children to consume and enjoy vegetables, including a major marketing campaign featuring characters from iCarly.

The First Lady’s remarks will be open press, but space is limited. Members of the media who wish to cover this event must RSVP to firstladypress@who.eop.gov by Tuesday, September 17 at 10:00 AM ET. Press who do not have a White House hard pass must include a social security number, date of birth, country of citizenship, current city/state of residence, and gender.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 15, 2013

White House Report -- The Financial Crisis: Five Years Later

Attached please find a copy of the White House Report entitled “The Financial Crisis: Five Years Later.”