The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2013

Readout of the President’s Meeting with the Co-Chairs of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue

The President met today with China’s Special Representatives to the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, Vice Premier Wang Yang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi.  The President underscored the importance of increasing practical cooperation on regional and global challenges while constructively managing our differences and areas of competition.  The President discussed the economic reforms underway in China and their compatibility with policies the Administration is pursuing at home.  He also welcomed China’s important new commitment to open its economy to U.S. investment in a bilateral investment treaty that it is negotiating with the United States.

 

The President and the Chinese Special Representatives agreed on the fundamental importance of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and welcomed efforts to deepen cooperation to achieve that shared goal.  The President reiterated concerns about cyber-enabled theft of trade secrets, and welcomed joint efforts to develop rules and norms of behavior in cyberspace.  The President urged China to manage its maritime disputes with its neighbors peacefully, without the use of intimidation or coercion. He added that the United States would continue to speak out in support of international norms such as the protection of universal human rights. The President expressed his disappointment and concern with China’s handling of the Snowden case.

 

A photo of the meeting is available HERE.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2013

Readout of the Vice President’s Phone Calls with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani

Today, Vice President Biden spoke separately with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani.  He congratulated both Prime Minister Maliki and President Barzani on their recent exchange of visits, which marked an important warming in relations between Baghdad and Erbil.  He spoke with both leaders about the prospects for further progress and underscored the United States’ commitment to a united, federal, and democratic Iraq.  The Vice President consulted with the Prime Minister and President on regional developments, and he congratulated Prime Minister Maliki on his efforts to build closer ties between Iraq and Arab neighbors such as Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.   The Prime Minister and Vice President agreed on the need for greater cooperation against Al Qaeda, consistent with the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement.   The Vice President sent his best wishes to Prime Minister Maliki, President Barzani and their families on the occasion of Ramadan, and congratulated Iraq’s under-20 soccer team for their inspiring performance in the youth World Cup.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2013

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

William Ward Nooter, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice A. Franklin Burgess, retiring.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2013

President Obama Nominates Judge William Ward Nooter to Serve on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama nominated Judge William Ward Nooter to serve on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

“I am pleased to nominate Judge William Ward Nooter to serve on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia,” said President Obama.  “I am confident he will serve with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice.”

Judge William Ward Nooter:  Nominee for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia

William Ward Nooter is a Magistrate Judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  Since his appointment in 2000, he has served in the Criminal and Civil Divisions, the Domestic Violence Unit and the Family Court.  He is currently the Presiding Magistrate Judge and serves on the Chief Judge’s Judicial Leadership Team.  Prior to his appointment to the Court, Judge Nooter worked at the law firm Jordan Coyne & Savits LLP, and from 1982 to 1989, he served as a trial attorney with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (formerly known as the Office of Corporation Counsel), defending the District of Columbia in numerous civil actions in the local and federal courts.  Judge Nooter began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Tim Murphy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  Judge Nooter earned his B.A. from St. John’s College and his J.D., with honors, from the George Washington University Law School.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2013

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Visit of President Truong Tan Sang of Vietnam

On Thursday, July 25, President Obama will host President Truong Tan Sang of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the White House.  The President welcomes this opportunity to discuss with President Sang how to further strengthen our partnership on regional strategic issues and enhance our cooperation with ASEAN.  The President also looks forward to discussing human rights, emerging challenges such as climate change, and the importance of completing a high standard Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2013

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Visit of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of the Hellenic Republic

On Thursday, August 8, President Obama will welcome Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of the Hellenic Republic to the White House.  The visit will highlight the strength of the U.S.-Greek relationship today – bound together through enduring ties of kinship, common interests, and the NATO Alliance – and underscore the United States’ ongoing support for Greece’s efforts to reform its economy and promote a return to prosperity.   The President also looks forward to discussing with the Prime Minister a broad array of mutual interests and challenges, including U.S.-Greek defense cooperation, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, regional cooperation, mutual counterterrorism efforts, prospects for a settlement in Cyprus, developments in North Africa, and Syria.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 10, 2013

Readout of the President’s Meeting with Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC)

This morning, President Obama met with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) at the White House to discuss the Administration’s efforts to urge the House to take action and pass commonsense immigration reform. Last month, the Senate passed historic legislation with a strong bipartisan vote and the President encouraged the CHC to enlist their colleagues in the House to finish the job on immigration reform at the earliest possible opportunity.

The President thanked the CHC for their continued and longstanding leadership on this critical issue and expressed the need to pass immigration reform now to help grow the economy, create jobs and reduce the deficit.  He pointed to a new report released by the White House today, detailing the key benefits to the U.S. that would result from signing commonsense reform into law. The report, titled The Economic Benefits of Fixing Our Broken Immigration System, shows that the economic costs of inaction are simply too high to delay.

The President also emphasized that during the next few weeks, members of his Cabinet and Senior Administration officials will bring this economic argument to key stakeholders, including business leaders, state and local lawmakers, law enforcement officials,  faith and evangelical leaders, and the American people to call upon the House to do the right thing on immigration. The President expressed his willingness to continue working with both parties to make sure that commonsense immigration reform becomes a reality as soon as possible.

The President was pleased to hear from CHC members and noted that they share the same priorities, including that any enacted reform legislation must include a path to earned citizenship. The President said that he looks forward to working with them and other Members of Congress to pass this important legislation. In the meeting, the President and the CHC members also engaged on Affordable Care Act implementation and discussed voting rights.

A photo of the meeting is available HERE.

 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 10, 2013

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Matthew Winthrop Barzun, of Kentucky, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Margaret Louise Cummisky, of Hawaii, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, vice April S. Boyd, resigned.      

John Hoover, of Massachusetts, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Sierra Leone.       

Crystal Nix-Hines, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

John R. Phillips, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Italian Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of San Marino.    

Michael Keith Yudin, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education, vice Alexa E. Posny.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 10, 2013

Readout of the President’s Meeting with Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC)

This morning, President Obama met with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) at the White House to discuss the Administration’s efforts to urge the House to take action and pass commonsense immigration reform. Last month, the Senate passed historic legislation with a strong bipartisan vote and the President encouraged the CHC to enlist their colleagues in the House to finish the job on immigration reform at the earliest possible opportunity.

The President thanked the CHC for their continued and longstanding leadership on this critical issue and expressed the need to pass immigration reform now to help grow the economy, create jobs and reduce the deficit.  He pointed to a new report released by the White House today, detailing the key benefits to the U.S. that would result from signing commonsense reform into law. The report, titled The Economic Benefits of Fixing Our Broken Immigration System, shows that the economic costs of inaction are simply too high to delay.

The President also emphasized that during the next few weeks, members of his Cabinet and Senior Administration officials will bring this economic argument to key stakeholders, including business leaders, state and local lawmakers, law enforcement officials,  faith and evangelical leaders, and the American people to call upon the House to do the right thing on immigration. The President expressed his willingness to continue working with both parties to make sure that commonsense immigration reform becomes a reality as soon as possible.

The President was pleased to hear from CHC members and noted that they share the same priorities, including that any enacted reform legislation must include a path to earned citizenship. The President said that he looks forward to working with them and other Members of Congress to pass this important legislation. In the meeting, the President and the CHC members also engaged on Affordable Care Act implementation and discussed voting rights.

A photo of the meeting is available HERE.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 10, 2013

President Obama Signs Montana Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Montana and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by flooding during the period of May 19 to June 3, 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 flooding in the counties of Blaine, Chouteau, Custer, Dawson, Fergus, Garfield, Hill, McCone, Musselshell, Petroleum, Rosebud, and Valley and the Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, and Rocky Boy’s Reservations. 

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

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Thomas J. McCool 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.