The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 24, 2013

Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day

Today we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and honor those who perished in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.  Ninety-eight years ago, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire.  We pause to reflect on the lives extinguished and remember the unspeakable suffering that occurred.   In so doing, we are joined by millions across the world and in the United States, where it is solemnly commemorated by our states, institutions, communities, and families.   We also remind ourselves of our commitment to ensure that such dark chapters of history are not repeated.
 
I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed.  A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests.  Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future.  We appreciate this lesson in the United States, as we strive to reconcile some of the darkest moments in our own history.   We recognize those courageous Armenians and Turks who have already taken this path, and encourage more to do so, with the backing of their governments, and mine.
 
The history and legacy of the Armenian people is marked by an indomitable spirit, and a great resiliency in the face of tremendous adversity and suffering.  The United States is stronger for the contributions Armenian-Americans have made to our society, our culture, and our communities.  In small measure we return that contribution by supporting the Armenian people as they work toward building a nation that would make their ancestors proud: one that cherishes democracy and respect for human liberty and dignity. 
 
Today we stand with Armenians everywhere in recalling the horror of the Meds Yeghern, honoring the memory of those lost, and affirming our enduring commitment to the people of Armenia.
 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 23, 2013

Readout of Vice President Biden's Meeting with Amir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar

The Vice President held a breakfast meeting with Amir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues.  The Vice President affirmed the importance of the United States’ strategic cooperation with Qatar in a changing Middle East.  They discussed how best to advance U.S. and Qatari efforts in Syria to hasten Bashar Assad’s departure while also empowering moderate elements of Syria’s opposition and marginalizing extremists.  They spoke about ongoing U.S. and Arab efforts to support Israeli and Palestinian progress toward peace.  The Vice President underscored both the enduring U.S. commitment to peacemaking and the pivotal role of Arab nations in the process.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 23, 2013

President Obama Signs New York Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of New York and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of February 8-9, 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 winter storm and snowstorm in Suffolk County.

In addition, federal funding is available to the state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for snow assistance for a continuous 48-hour period during or proximate to the incident period in Suffolk County.

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 F. Byrne 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.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 23, 2013

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

David Michael Bennett, of North Carolina, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2018, vice Thurgood Marshall, Jr., term expired.

Roberto R. Herencia, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation for a term expiring December 17, 2015.  (Reappointment)

Carlos Pascual, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Energy Resources), vice John Stern Wolf.

Yvette Roubideaux, of Maryland, to be Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, for the term of four years.  (Reappointment)

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 23, 2013

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:

  • D. Michael Bennett – Governor, Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service
  • Roberto R. Herencia – Member, Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
  • Yvette Roubideaux – Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services

President Obama said, “I am grateful these accomplished individuals have agreed to join this Administration, and I’m confident they will serve ably in these important roles.  I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years.”

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

D. Michael Bennett, Nominee for Governor, Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service
D. Michael Bennett is Senior Vice President of Information Management and Chief Information Officer of BAE Systems, a position he has held since 2010.  Previously, Mr. Bennett was Vice President and General Manager of the Enterprise Solutions Business Area of BAE System’s Information Solutions Line of Business.  He worked at Northrup Grumman, ultimately becoming Vice President for Contracts, Pricing, Procurement and Risk Management for Northrop’s Information Technology Sector in 1999.  From 1980 to 1999, Mr. Bennett practiced law in various positions with Northrup Grumman, EDS Corporation, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.  He serves on the Board of Visitors of the Howard University School of Business, Vice President of Duke University Alumni Association Board of Directors, and Chair of the Manna Ventures Board of Directors.  In 2012, he received the Minority Business Leader Award from the Washington Business Journal.  Mr. Bennett received a B.A. from Duke University and a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

Roberto R. Herencia, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Roberto R. Herencia is the President and CEO of BXM Holdings, a position he has held since 2010.  He was first appointed as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation by President Obama in 2011.  He has served as an independent director of SKBHC Holdings and its two subsidiary banks since 2010.  Since 2011, Mr. Herencia has served as an independent director and Chairman of the board of First BanCorp and its subsidiary bank, FirstBank Puerto Rico.  Between 2009 and 2010, Mr. Herencia was the President and CEO of Midwest Banc Holdings Inc. and Midwest Bank and Trust.  Previously, he spent 17 years with Popular Inc. as Executive Vice President and as President of Banco Popular North America.  Mr. Herencia received a B.S. from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, Nominee for Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. Yvette Roubideaux is currently the Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) at the Department of Health and Human Services, a position she has held since 2009.  Prior to this, Dr. Roubideaux worked at the University of Arizona from 1998 to 2009 in a number of roles, most recently as Assistant Professor in the College of Medicine’s Department of Family & Community Medicine.  Previously, Dr. Roubideaux worked in the IHS as a Medical Officer and Clinical Director on the San Carlos Indian Reservation and as a Medical Officer in the Gila River Indian Community.  Dr. Roubideaux is a recipient of the American Diabetes Association’s 2008 Addison B. Scoville Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service and the 2004 Indian Physician of the Year Award from the Association of American Indian Physicians.  She is co-editor of the American Public Health Association’s book entitled Promises to Keep: Public Health Policy for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the 21st Century.  Dr. Roubideaux received a B.A. in Biology from Harvard University, an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and an M.P.H. from the Harvard School of Public Health.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 23, 2013

Statement by the President on Senator Baucus

I want to thank Max Baucus for his nearly 35 years of service to the people of Montana.  Max has made small businesses a top priority, often taking “Work Days” to visit local businesses across Montana and spend a day working alongside his constituents to gain perspective and help bolster the local economy.  As Finance Committee Chairman and a senior member of both the Agriculture and the Environment and Public Works Committees, Max has been a leader on a broad range of issues that touch the lives of Americans across the country.  Michelle and I commend Senator Baucus on his career, and wish him and his family well in the future.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 22, 2013

President Obama Signs Texas Emergency Declaration

The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Texas and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from an explosion beginning on April 17, 2013, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in McLennan County.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding. 

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Kevin L. Hannes as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 22, 2013

President Obama Signs Massachusetts Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered Federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by the severe winter storm, snowstorm, and flooding during the period of February 8-9, 2013.

Federal funding is available to commonwealth 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 winter storm, snowstorm, and flooding in the counties of Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester.

In addition, federal funding is available to the commonwealth and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for snow assistance for a continuous 48-hour period during or proximate to the incident period in Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Worcester Counties. 

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

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named James N. Russo 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 commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 22, 2013

Readout of the President’s Calls to Special Agent in Charge Deslauriers and Commissioner Davis

Today, the President placed calls to FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Deslauriers and Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis to express his appreciation to the men and women of the Boston Field Office, Boston Police Department, and all the members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. The President hailed the professionalism and bravery demonstrated by officers since Monday, and praised the impressive coordination between these federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who together were able to bring this chapter of this tragedy to a close. While the President acknowledged there is still much work ahead, he thanked Special Agent in Charge Deslauriers and Commissioner Davis for their leadership and told them that the law enforcement officials, the citizens of Boston, and all affected by this tragedy were in his thoughts and prayers.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 22, 2013

Presidential Message -- South Pacific Fisheries Convention

TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:

I transmit herewith the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean (the "Convention"), done at Auckland, New Zealand, November 14, 2009, with a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of the Secretary of State on the Convention that includes an article-by-article analysis.

The Convention establishes a regional fisheries management organization through which Parties will give effect to their duty to cooperate in the conservation and sustainable use of the high seas fishery resources in the South Pacific Ocean and to safeguard the marine ecosystems in which these resources occur.

The Convention requires Parties to apply specific conservation and management principles and approaches in giving effect to the objective of the Convention. These principles and approaches are enshrined in existing international instruments to which the United States is a party, such as the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of December 10, 1982, relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks of December 4, 1995. In addition, the Convention requires that Parties design and adopt specific conservation and management measures, such as limitations on catch or effort, time or area closures, and gear restrictions.

The Department of State, Department of Commerce, U.S. Coast Guard, and relevant U.S. stakeholders strongly support the Convention. The legislation necessary to implement the Convention will be submitted separately to the Congress for its consideration. I therefore recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to this Convention and give its advice and consent to ratification.

BARACK OBAMA