The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 27, 2015

Statement by the President on the Retirement of Senator Harry Reid

Harry Reid is a fighter. In his five terms as a U.S. Senator, Harry has fought for good jobs, a safer environment for our kids, and affordable health care for all. He's never backed down from a tough decision, or been afraid to choose what is right over what is easy. Time and time again, Harry stood up to special interests and made sure every one of his constituents had a voice in their nation's capital.

Above all else, Harry has fought for the people of his beloved state of Nevada. The son of a miner and a maid from the tiny town of Searchlight, he never forgot where he came from, and he never stopped working to give everyone who works hard the same shot at success that he had.

As the leader of the Senate Democrats during my time in office, Harry has become not only an ally, but a friend. I'm proud of all we have accomplished together, and I know the Senate will not be the same without him. I look forward to working with him to keep fighting for every American over the next two years, and Michelle and I wish him and Landra well in whatever the future holds.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 27, 2015

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Passage of the Senate Budget

Following in the footsteps of their House colleagues, Senate Republicans today voted in favor of a budget that relies on top-down economics and gimmicks.  The Senate Republican budget refuses to ask the wealthy to contribute a single dollar to deficit reduction, putting the entire burden on the middle-class, seniors, low-income children and families, and national security.  Senate Republicans voted in favor of locking in draconian sequestration cuts to investments in the middle class like education, job training and manufacturing and also failed to responsibly fund our national security, opting instead for budget gimmicks, an approach that now faces procedural hurdles put in place by their own party.  

Meanwhile, the President has a plan to bring middle class economics into the 21st Century.  The President’s Budget builds on the progress we’ve made and shows what we can do if we invest in America's future, and end sequestration, by cutting inefficient spending and reforming our broken tax code to make sure everyone pays their fair share. It lays out a strategy to strengthen our middle class with investments in research, education, training, and infrastructure, while also fulfilling our most basic responsibility to keep Americans safe.

In 2013 Republicans came to the negotiating table and ultimately chose the responsible path by supporting the Murray-Ryan agreement, which reversed harmful sequestration cuts to both defense and non-defense equally, dollar for dollar.  Last night, Senators from both parties came together to call for building on that approach this year and to support paying for sequester relief with both spending and tax reforms.  The President has been clear that he will not accept a budget that locks in sequestration or one that increases funding for our national security without providing matching increases in funding for our economic security.  The Administration will continue to abide by these principles moving forward.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 27, 2015

FACT SHEET: The Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative

The United States is undergoing a rapid energy transformation, particularly in the power sector. Booming natural gas production, declining costs for renewable energy, increases in energy efficiency, flattening electricity demand, and updated clean air standards are changing the way electricity is generated and used across the country. These trends are producing cleaner air and healthier communities, and spurring new jobs and industries. At the same time, they are impacting workers and communities who have relied on the coal industry as a source of good jobs and economic prosperity, particularly in Appalachia, where competition with other coal basins provides additional pressure.

To help these communities adapt to the changing energy landscape and build a better future, the President’s FY 2016 Budget proposed the POWER+ Plan.  The POWER+ Plan invests in workers and jobs, addresses important legacy costs in coal country, and drives development of coal technology.

This year, the Administration will make a down payment on the POWER+ Plan by beginning implementation of a key part of the Plan - the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative.  POWER will be a coordinated effort, involving multiple federal agencies, with the goal of effectively aligning, leveraging, and targeting a range of federal economic and workforce development programs and resources to assist communities negatively impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector. The POWER initiative will coordinate use of appropriated FY 2015 funds from a range of federal programs, while following the relevant statutory and regulatory requirements for each program.

The POWER initiative will award grants on two parallel tracks to partnerships anchored in impacted communities. These grants will help communities organize themselves to respond on behalf of affected workers and businesses, develop comprehensive strategic plans that chart their economic future, and execute coordinated economic and workforce development activities based on their strategic plans.  These activities will seek to: (1) diversify economies; (2) create jobs in new or existing industries; (3) attract new sources of job-creating investment; (4) and provide a range of workforce services and skills training, including work-based learning opportunities, resulting in industry-recognized credentials for high-quality, in-demand jobs.

These efforts in FY 2015 will lay the groundwork for a multi-year initiative with grants awarded in future years based on the availability of appropriations.  The President’s FY 2016 Budget includes over $55 million for economic and workforce development strategies across a number of federal programs, which would be used to continue and expand the POWER initiative after it begins this year.

POWER Funding and Administrative Structure

POWER will award grants using $28-$38 million in FY 2015 funds from the Department of Commerce (DOC), Department of Labor (DOL), Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).  The grants will be designed to assist communities regardless of their different levels of capacity, planning and preparation.  A two-track grant-making process is described below, with an understanding that some communities will require some form of pre-planning technical assistance in order to effectively apply for either planning or implementation grants. 

Track #1: Planning Grants

DOC and DOL will award planning grants to communities that have been or will be impacted by coal mining and coal power plant employment loss (or layoffs in the manufacturing or transportation logistics supply chains of either) and that do not have robust and/or recent comprehensive and integrated economic development strategic plans in place.  Grant funds would be available to help organize community stakeholders, analyze and inventory community assets, evaluate needs and resources, and develop comprehensive economic development strategic plans.  Grants would also go to State Workforce Agencies for in-depth labor market analysis and workforce development and dislocated worker planning connected with the provision of training and employment services.

Funding Sources:

  • DOC – Economic Development Administration (EDA), Assistance to Coal Communities, Economic Adjustment Assistance, and Partnership Planning
  • DOL – Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Dislocated Worker National Emergency Grants [1]

Track #2: Implementation Grants

DOC, DOL, SBA, and ARC will award implementation grants to communities that have been impacted by coal mining and coal power plant employment loss (or layoffs in the manufacturing or transportation logistics supply chains of either) and that have already done robust strategic planning.  Grants would support the implementation of linked economic and workforce development strategies to develop high-potential industry clusters, assist impacted communities to accelerate job creation by leveraging local assets, train and place workers in family-supporting, high-demand jobs (including Registered Apprenticeship and other on-the-job training models), and to create linkages that drive regional economic growth.

Funding Sources:

  • DOC -- EDA, Assistance to Coal Communities, Economic Adjustment Assistance, and Partnership Planning (up to $15 million total for both grant making tracks)
  • DOL – Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Dislocated Worker National Emergency Grants (up to $10-20 million total for both grant making tracks)
  • SBA, Regional Innovation Clusters and Growth Accelerators (up to $3 million combined[2])
  • ARC, Technical Assistance and Demonstration Projects (up to $500 thousand for applicants from its region)

The implementation grants will be awarded through a single POWER Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement that combines funding opportunities and activities and services from different programs and agencies but maintains the eligibility rules, permitted activities, and reporting requirements of the originating program and funding.  Partnerships will be encouraged to apply for more than one funding source where appropriate, but that will not be required.

Additional Federal Agency Participation

A number of other federal agencies will also participate in the POWER initiative by providing technical assistance and education and outreach to POWER partnerships, coordination with existing resources, and/or preference points for agency funding for applications from the partnerships.  The additional agencies will include:

  • USDA-Rural Business Cooperative Service
  • Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
  • Department of Energy
  • Department of Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund
  • DOC, SelectUSA
  • DOC, NIST-Manufacturing Extension Partnerships
  • Corporation for National and Community Service
  • Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Administration

EDA will be the administrative home for POWER given the economic development thrust of this initiative.  EDA will manage the joint FFO announcement and overall process of competitive solicitation, provide a single staff point of federal contact (with staffing assistance from other participating agencies when needed) for the selected partnerships, and coordinate cross-agency activities at the regional level that direct additional federal resources to impacted communities.  Grant selection, awards and execution will be managed by each authorized agency, with EDA playing a coordination role.

POWER Partnerships

Eligibility for applicants for POWER awards will be dictated by the sources of the funds.  Regardless of the primary applicant for Implementation Grants, POWER will encourage a broader partnership to participate, including (but not limited to) representatives from government, economic development organizations, workforce development boards, community and technical colleges, businesses, labor unions, and community groups.

Timeline

April/May, 2015: Track #1 POWER Planning Grant announcement issued

April/May, 2015:  Track #2 POWER Implementation Grant FFO issued

July/August, 2015: POWER Planning and Implementation Grant awards ready to announce


[1] The DOL-ETA will solicit applications for planning activities with implementation activities as part of the combined Implementation Grant FFO

[2] Regional Innovation Clusters funding will be $500,000 for the first year for one partnership, with an option to extend funding by another $2 million over the next four years.

 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 27, 2015

FACT SHEET: Obama Administration Releases National Action Plan to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Today, the White House released a comprehensive plan that identifies critical actions to be taken by key Federal departments and agencies to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.  The National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, which was developed by the interagency Task Force for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in response to Executive Order 13676: Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, outlines steps for implementing the National Strategy on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and addressing the policy recommendations of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report on Combating Antibiotic Resistance.

Antibiotics have been a critical public health tool since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, saving the lives of millions of people around the world.  The emergence of drug resistance in bacteria is undermining our ability to treat bacterial infections and perform a range of modern medical procedures, including chemotherapy, surgery, dialysis, and organ transplantation.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that drug-resistant bacteria cause 23,000 deaths and 2 million illnesses each year in the United States. Antibiotic resistance also threatens animal health, agriculture, and the economy.

The National Action Plan provides a roadmap to guide the Nation in rising to the challenge of antibiotic resistance and potentially saving thousands of lives.  The Action Plan outlines Federal activities over the next five years to enhance domestic and international capacity to prevent and contain outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant infections; maintain the efficacy of current and new antibiotics; and develop and deploy next-generation diagnostics, antibiotics, vaccines, and other therapeutics.  These activities are consistent with investments in the President’s FY 2016 Budget, which nearly doubles the amount of Federal funding for combating and preventing antibiotic resistance to more than $1.2 billion.

Implementation of the Action Plan will require the sustained, coordinated, and complementary efforts of individuals and groups around the world, including public and private sector partners, healthcare providers, healthcare leaders, veterinarians, agriculture industry leaders, manufacturers, policymakers, and patients.  Efforts carried out as part of the Action Plan will help the Federal government curb the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria with the goal of saving lives.

To provide advice, information, and recommendations regarding programs and policies intended to support and evaluate the implementation of Executive Order 13676, including the National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, the Secretary of Health and Human Services established the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (Advisory Council). HHS is currently seeking nominations of individuals who are interested in being considered for appointment to the Advisory Council. 

National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

The Action Plan is organized around five goals for collaborative action by the U.S. Government, in partnership with foreign governments, individuals, and organizations aiming to strengthen healthcare, public health, veterinary medicine, agriculture, food safety, and research and manufacturing.  Aggressive action will move the nation towards major reductions in the incidence of urgent and serious drug-resistant threats.

These goals are:
  • Slow the Emergence of Resistant Bacteria and Prevent the Spread of Resistant Infections. 
  • Strengthen National One-Health Surveillance Efforts to Combat Resistance,
  • Advance Development and Use of Rapid and Innovative Diagnostic Tests for Identification and Characterization of Resistant Bacteria.
  • Accelerate Basic and Applied Research and Development for New Antibiotics, Other Therapeutics, and Vaccines.
  • Improve International Collaboration and Capacities for Antibiotic Resistance Prevention, Surveillance, Control, and Antibiotic Research and Development.
 

Slow the Emergence of Resistant Bacteria and
Prevent the Spread of Resistant Infections

Judicious use of antibiotics in healthcare and agricultural settings is essential to slow the emergence of resistance and extend the useful lifetime of effective antibiotics.  The CDC estimates that up to half of all human antibiotic use is unnecessary or inappropriate. The Action Plan includes activities to foster improvements in the appropriate use of antibiotics (i.e., antibiotic stewardship) by improving prescribing practices across all healthcare settings. , preventing the spread of drug-resistant threats in healthcare facilities and communities, and continuing to eliminate the use of medically-important antibiotics for growth promotion in animals.

By 2020, significant outcomes in this area will include:
  • Establishment of antimicrobial stewardship programs in all acute care hospitals and improved antimicrobial stewardship across all healthcare settings.
  • Reduction of inappropriate antibiotic use by 50% in outpatient settings and by 20% in inpatient settings.
  • Establishment of State Antibiotic Resistance (AR) Prevention (Protect) Programs in all 50 states to monitor regionally important multi-drug resistant organisms and provide feedback and technical assistance to health care facilities.
  • Elimination of the use of medically-important antibiotics for growth promotion in food-producing animals.
 

Strengthen National-Surveillance Efforts for Resistant Bacteria

The “One-Health” approach to disease surveillance for human and animal pathogens is critical to combat antibiotic resistance.  Improved detection and control of antibiotic resistance in human and animal pathogens will be achieved through a “One-Health” approach to disease surveillance that integrates data from multiple monitoring networks.  This approach will significantly increase the currently very limited data and provide high-quality information, including detailed genomic data, necessary to track resistant bacteria in diverse settings in a timely fashion.

By 2020, significant outcomes in this area will include:
  • Creation of a regional public health network—the Detect Network of AR Regional Laboratories—for resistance testing, a specimen repository for resistant bacterial strains, and a National Sequence Database of Resistant Pathogens.
  • Routine reporting of antibiotic use and resistance data to National Health Safety Network (NHSN) by 95% of Medicare-eligible hospitals, as well as by Department of Defense  and Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities.
  • Routine testing of zoonotic and animal pathogens for antibiotic susceptibility at ten to twenty National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) and Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) member laboratories, using standardized testing methods and data sharing practices.
 

Advance Development and Use of Rapid and Innovative Diagnostic Tests for Identification and Characterization of Resistant Bacteria

With the support of funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, today’s researchers are taking advantage of new technologies to develop rapid “point-of-need” diagnostic tests that can be used during a healthcare visit to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections and identify bacterial drug susceptibilities — an innovation that could significantly reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.  The availability of new rapid diagnostic tests, combined with ongoing use of culture-based assays to identify new resistance mechanisms, will advance the detection and control of resistant bacteria.

By 2020, significant outcomes in this area will include:
  • Development and dissemination of authorized point-of-need diagnostic tests that rapidly distinguish between bacterial and viral infections.
  • Validation of diagnostic tests that rapidly determine the antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria of public health concern.
 

Accelerate Basic and Applied Research and Development for
New Antibiotics, Other Therapeutics, and Vaccines

Antibiotics that lose their effectiveness for treating human disease through antibiotic resistance must be replaced with new drugs; alternatives to antibiotics are also needed in veterinary medicine.  The Action Plan will boost basic scientific research, attract greater private investment, and facilitate clinical trials in order to advance the discovery and development of new antibiotics and alternative therapies to combat resistance.

By 2020, significant outcomes in this area will include:
  • Characterization of the gut microbiome—the communities of microorganisms that live within the gastrointestinal tract—of at least one animal species raised for food.  This outcome will help us understand how antibiotic treatments disrupt normal gut bacteria and how animal growth might be promoted—and bacterial diseases might be treated—without using antibiotics.
  • Advancement of at least two new antibiotic drug candidates, non-traditional therapeutics, and/or vaccines from pre-clinical testing to clinical trials for treatment or prevention of human disease.
  • Development of at least three new drug candidates or probiotic treatments as alternatives to antibiotics for promoting growth or preventing disease in animals.
  • Creation of a biopharmaceutical incubator—a consortium of academic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry partners—to promote innovation and increase the number of antibiotics and antibodies in the drug-development pipeline.
 

Improve International Collaboration and Capacities for
Antibiotic Resistance Prevention, Surveillance, Control, and
Antibiotic Research and Development

Antibiotic resistance is a global problem that requires global solutions.  The United States will engage with international ministries and institutions to strengthen national and international capacities to detect, monitor, analyze, and report antibiotic resistance; provide resources and incentives to spur the development of therapeutics and diagnostics for use in humans and animals; and strengthen regional networks and global partnerships that help prevent and control the emergence and spread of resistance.

By 2020, significant outcomes in this area will include:
  • Elevation of antibiotic resistance as an international priority for global health and security.
  • Enhanced capacity to identify antimicrobial resistant pathogens in more than 15 partner countries.
  • Establishment of a common U.S.-European Union (EU) system for sharing and analyzing bacterial resistance patterns for priority pathogens.
  • Development of a global database to collect harmonized quantitative data on the use of antibacterial agents in animals.
  • Development of national plans to combat antibiotic resistance and improve antibiotic stewardship in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Strengthened regulatory and supply chain systems that assure the quality, safety, and efficacy of antibiotics used in low- and middle-income countries.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 26, 2015

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan on National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice’s Meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice met today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss transatlantic security issues, progress on commitments from the 2014 Wales Summit, and plans for the next NATO Summit in 2016.  The two reviewed the status of NATO’s Readiness Action Plan, which will bolster collective defense within the alliance, and discussed the President’s recent decision to maintain approximately 10,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan through the end of 2015 and NATO’s ongoing Resolute Support Mission to train, advice and assist the Afghan National Security Forces.  The two discussed the alliance’s expanding role in building the defense capacities of NATO partner nations.  They also reiterated their commitment to moving allies toward the defense investment targets agreed at Wales.  Ambassador Rice thanked the NATO Secretary General for his strong leadership of the alliance at a critical period for European security, and was pleased to convey the President’s invitation for him to visit in May.  

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 26, 2015

Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Masahiko Komura, Vice President of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party

The Vice President spoke today with Masahiko Komura, Vice President of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party. They agreed that Prime Minister Abe’s official visit to Washington on April 28 was an opportunity to celebrate the U.S.-Japan alliance and its contributions to regional and global peace and security. They also agreed on the importance of concluding the revision of U.S.-Japan defense guidelines and bilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, including resolving differences on autos and agriculture, as soon as possible.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 26, 2015

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:   

Thomas A. Burke, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, vice Paul T. Anastas, resigned.

Atul Keshap, of Virginia, 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 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Maldives.

Julieta Valls Noyes, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Croatia.

Franklin R. Parker, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy, vice Juan M. Garcia III.

Alaina B. Teplitz, of Illinois, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 26, 2015

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

John Michael Vazquez, of New Jersey, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, vice Joal A. Pisano, retired.

Paula Xinis, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland, vice Deborah K. Chasanow, retired.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 26, 2015

President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Courts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated John Michael Vazquez and Paula Xinis to serve on the United States District Courts.

“I am pleased to nominate these distinguished individuals to serve on the United States District Court bench,” said President Obama.  “I am confident they will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice.”

John Michael Vazquez: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

John Michael Vazquez has been a partner at Critchley, Kinum & Vazquez, LLC since 2008, where he practices both civil and criminal litigation. Previously, from 2006 to 2008, Vazquez worked in the Office of the Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, serving first as Special Assistant to the Attorney General and subsequently as First Assistant Attorney General. From 2001 to 2006, Vazquez was an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of New Jersey. Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Vazquez was an associate in the Law Offices of Michael Critchley and Associates from 1997 to 2001. He began his legal career by serving as a law clerk to Judge Herman D. Michels on the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division. Vazquez received his J.D. summa cum laude in 1996 from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A. in 1992 from Rutgers University. 

Paula Xinis: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland

Paula Xinis joined the law firm of Murphy, Falcon & Murphy in Baltimore in 2011 as a senior trial attorney and became a partner in 2013. At Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, Xinis practices both civil and criminal litigation. Previously, Xinis served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Maryland from 1998 to 2011, where she also served as the Director of Training for the office from 2006 to 2011. Xinis began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge Diana Gribbon Motz of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1997 to 1998.  She received her J.D. in 1997 from Yale Law School and her B.A. with highest distinction in 1991 from the University of Virginia.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 26, 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:

  • Franklin R. Parker – Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of Defense
  • Atul Keshap – Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives, Department of State
  • Julieta Valls Noyes – Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, Department of State
  • Alaina B. Teplitz – Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Department of State

President Obama said, “I am honored that these talented individuals have decided to serve our country.  They bring their years of experience and expertise to this Administration, and I look forward to working with them.”

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

Franklin R. Parker, Nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of Defense
Franklin R. Parker is currently Chief Counsel of the Maritime Administration in the Department of Transportation, a position he has held since 2012.  From 2009 to 2012, Mr. Parker served as Attorney Advisor in the Office of the General Counsel of the Navy, Department of Defense.  From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Parker worked as an Associate at Winston & Strawn LLP.  In 2004, Mr. Parker worked as a member of the Policy and Research staff for Obama for Illinois.  He began his career as an Associate at Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro LLP and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.  Mr. Parker received a B.A. from Yale University, a J.D. from Stanford Law School, and an M.P.P. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
 
Atul Keshap, Nominee for Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives
Atul Keshap, a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Counselor, currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the Department of State, a position he has held since 2013.  Previously, he served at the Department of State as a U.S. Senior Official for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2012 to 2013.  From 2010 to 2012, he was the Director for India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Maldives in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.  Prior to that, Mr. Keshap was Director for United Nations Human Rights in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs from 2008 to 2010 and Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India from 2005 to 2008.  He served as Director for Near Eastern and North African Affairs in the National Security Council from 2003 to 2004 and as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs from 2002 to 2003.  Mr. Keshap’s earlier assignments with the Department of State included postings in Morocco and Guinea.  Mr. Keshap received a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Virginia.
 
Julieta Valls Noyes, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, Department of State
Julieta Valls Noyes, a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State, a position she has held since 2013.  Previously, Ms. Noyes served as Deputy Executive Secretary at the Department from 2011 to 2013 and as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See from 2008 to 2011.  She also was Deputy Director of the Department’s Operations Center from 2007 to 2008 and Director of the Office of Multilateral and Global Affairs in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor from 2005 to 2007.  Prior to that, Ms. Noyes served as Deputy Director in the Office of Policy Planning and Coordination in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs from 2002 to 2004.  After joining the Foreign Service in 1985, her early assignments included posts in Panama, Spain, Mexico, and Guatemala.  Ms. Noyes received a B.A. from Wellesley College and an M.S. from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
 
Alaina B. Teplitz, Nominee for Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Department of State
Alaina B. Teplitz, a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as the Director of the Office of Management Policy, Rightsizing, and Innovation at the Department of State, a position she has held since 2012.  Previously, Ms. Teplitz served as the Management Minister Counselor at the U.S. Mission in Kabul, Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, Deputy Executive Director in the Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs from 2009 to 2011, and Director of Management Tradecraft Training at the Department’s Foreign Service Institute from 2007 to 2009.  Prior to that, she was the Deputy Director of Joint Administrative Services at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, Belgium from 2004 to 2007, Management Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 2002 to 2004, and Program Analyst at the Center for Administrative Innovation at the Department from 2001 to 2002.  After joining the Foreign Service in 1991, she served in the State Department’s Bureau of Administration, as well as in posts in Australia, Albania, and Mongolia.  Ms. Teplitz received a B.A. from Georgetown University.