The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 19, 2015

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:   

Francine Berman, of New York, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2020, vice Gary D. Glenn, term expired.

Richard Christman, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring October 6, 2017.  (Reappointment)

LaVerne Horton Council, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Information and Technology), vice Roger W. Baker.

Juan M. Garcia III, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, vice Jessica Lynn Wright, resigned.

Douglas J. Kramer, of Kansas, to be Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration, vice Marie Collins Johns, resigned.

Shelly Colleen Lowe, of Arizona, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2018, vice Jane M. Doggett, term expired.

Andrew J. Read, of North Carolina, to be a Member of the Marine Mammal Commission for a term expiring May 13, 2016, vice Daryl J. Boness, term expired.

David J. Shulkin, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, vice Robert A. Petzel, resigned.

Stephen P. Welby, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, vice Zachary J. Lemnios, resigned.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 19, 2015

President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Hage Geingob, President-elect of the Republic of Namibia, and the 25th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Namibia

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Namibia to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Hage Geingob, President-elect of the Republic of Namibia, and the 25th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Namibia on March 21, 2015. 

The Honorable Heather Higginbottom, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Thomas F. Daughton, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia

The Honorable Karen Bass, Member of the United States House of Representatives (CA-37)

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

The Honorable Deborah L. Birx, Ambassador-at-Large and United States Global AIDS Coordinator & Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, Department of State

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 19, 2015

FACT SHEET: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Federal Government and Across the Supply Chain

The President is committed to addressing the climate change threat – both by taking action here at home and showing leadership on the world stage. As part of his commitment to lead by example to curb the emissions that are driving climate change, today President Obama will issue an Executive Order that will cut the Federal Government’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 40 percent over the next decade from 2008 levels -- saving taxpayers up to $18 billion in avoided energy costs -- and increase the share of electricity the Federal Government consumes from renewable sources to 30 percent. Complementing this effort, several major Federal suppliers are announcing commitments to cut their own GHG emissions. Today, the Administration is hosting a roundtable that will bring some of these large Federal suppliers together to discuss the benefits of their GHG reduction targets or to make their first-ever corporate commitments to disclose emissions and set new reduction goals.

Together, the combined results of the Federal Government actions and new supplier commitments will reduce GHG emissions by 26 million metric tons by 2025 from 2008 levels, the equivalent of taking nearly 5.5 million cars off the road for a year. And to encourage continued progress across the Federal supply chain, the Administration is releasing a new scorecard to publicly track self-reported emissions disclosure and progress for all major Federal suppliers, who together represent more than $187 billion in Federal spending and account for more than 40 percent of all Federal contract dollars.

Since the Federal Government is the single largest consumer of energy in the Nation, Federal emissions reductions and progress across the supply chain will have broad impacts.  The new commitments announced today support the United States’ international commitment to cut net GHG emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, which President Obama first announced in November 2014 as part of an historic agreement with China. Additionally, the goals build on the strong progress made by Federal agencies during the first six years of the Administration under President Obama’s 2009 Executive Order on Federal Leadership on Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance, including reducing Federal GHG emissions by 17 percent — which helped Federal agencies avoid $1.8 billion in cumulative energy costs — and increasing the share of renewable energy consumption to 9 percent.  

Leading by example in the Federal Government

With a footprint that includes 360,000 buildings, 650,000 fleet vehicles, and $445 billion spent annually on goods and services, the Federal Government’s actions to reduce pollution, support renewable energy, and operate more efficiently can make a significant impact on national emissions. The President’s action today will build on the Federal Government’s significant progress in reducing emissions to drive further sustainability actions through the next decade. In addition to cutting emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy, the Executive Order outlines a number of additional measures to make the Federal Government’s operations more sustainable, efficient and energy-secure while saving taxpayer dollars. Specifically, the Executive Order directs Federal agencies to:

  • Ensure 25 percent of their total energy (electric and thermal) consumption is from clean energy sources by 2025.
  • Reduce energy use in Federal buildings by 2.5 percent per year between 2015 and 2025.
  • Reduce per-mile GHG emissions from Federal fleets by 30 percent from 2014 levels by 2025, and increase the percentage of zero emission and plug in hybrid vehicles in Federal fleets. 
  • Reduce water intensity in Federal buildings by 2 percent per year through 2025.

Encouraging progress across the supply chain

In addition to setting aggressive new efficiency standards for Federal agencies, the Administration is engaging with major Federal suppliers to encourage them to adopt similar practices.  Today, the Administration is hosting a roundtable that will bring some of the largest Federal suppliers together to discuss the benefits of their GHG emission reduction targets or to make their first-ever corporate commitments to disclose emissions and set new reduction goals. The companies attending this roundtable each do more than $1 billion a year in business with the U.S. Government and together account for about $45 billion in Federal contract spending.  Combined, they bring a total GHG reduction commitment of 5 million metric tons between 2008 and 2020, and have made the following specific commitments:

IBM
IBM, one of the world’s largest providers of IT services and solutions, today announced two new goals:

  • Reduce CO2 emissions associated with IBM's energy consumption 35 percent by year-end 2020 against base year 2005 adjusted for acquisitions and divestitures.  This represents an additional 20 percent reduction from year-end 2012 to year-end 2020 over the reductions achieved from 2005 to 2012 under the company’s second generation goal.
  • Procure electricity from renewable sources for 20 percent of IBM's annual electricity consumption by 2020. IBM will contract over 800,000 megawatt-hours per year of renewable electricity -- an amount that can power a city of 100,000 people. The company will match its purchased renewable electricity directly to its operations as opposed to purchasing renewable energy certificates as offsets, making a clear connection between purchases and consumption.  

IBM has been working on reducing GHG emissions and reporting results for 25 years, avoiding 3 million metric tons of CO2 emissions through conservation actions between 1990 and 2005 -- an amount equal to 40 percent of its 1990 emissions. With today’s announcement, IBM is embarking on its third generation goal.  

GE
GE, a global infrastructure and finance company, launched a line of environmentally responsible products in 2005 to accelerate innovation and growth in a resource constrained world through efficient and intelligent solutions. By the end of 2014, GE had invested $15 billion in R&D to develop more efficient technologies and generated approximately $200 billion in revenue from these products. In addition GE committed in 2005 to reduce its water use and GHG emissions -- by the end of 2013, GE had reduced its global GHG emissions by 34 percent from 2004 and water use by 45 percent from 2006. To continue this progress, GE has announced 2020 commitments to invest a cumulative $25 billion in R&D and reduce water and greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from a 2011 baseline.

Honeywell
Honeywell, a global technology and manufacturing company, today announced its third public goal to reduce GHG emissions throughout its global business operations. Honeywell exceeded its first public goal to reduce GHGs by more than 30 percent from a 2004 baseline in 2011, and then achieved an additional 15 percent per dollar of revenue reduction from 2011 levels by 2014, three years earlier than originally planned.  Because of this progress, the company set its latest five-year goal earlier than anticipated; by 2019 Honeywell expects to achieve an additional 10 percent per dollar of revenue reduction from 2013 levels.  Honeywell also has exceeded goals to increase energy efficiency in its businesses.  The company’s facilities have implemented more than 2,100 energy efficiency projects including building automation/controls, lighting, and mechanical upgrades since 2010.

SRA International
SRA International, a provider of IT solutions and professional services to government organizations, today announced a goal to reduce its GHG emissions by 35 percent by FY 2020 relative to a FY 2007 baseline. SRA’s FY 2007 Scope 1 and 2 GHG goal baseline is 6,267.9 metric tons CO2-equivalent (MTCO2e). SRA has further committed to reduce paper use by 75 percent per person (from FY 2007 use) and to achieve a 90 percent recycling rate by FY 2020.  SRA has committed to conducting its operations in an environmentally responsible manner and minimizing its environmental impacts. In 2007, SRA launched its Go Green initiative. Since then, the company has applied sustainability practices to many of its business operations and has identified, assessed and implemented initiatives to help it operate more efficiently and with a lighter environmental footprint.

Humana
Humana Inc., a health and well-being company, announced today that it will work to reduce its GHG emissions by 5 percent from 2015 through 2017, from a 2013 baseline.  In 2012, Humana announced energy-saving goals, identifying and investing in a variety of energy-efficiency initiatives, primarily focused on owned real estate.  By the end of 2012, the company achieved a 6 percent reduction in energy consumption.  During 2013, the company realized an 8 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 3 percent reduction in GHG emissions (approximately 3,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide) from a 2009 baseline. Humana’s facilities represent one of the company’s biggest opportunities to increase efficiencies and reduce emissions.  Humana will continue to invest in capital projects to support improvements in various owned and leased sites, including its data centers, adopting LED lighting standards, expanding waste-reduction programs, and continuing to explore renewable energy options.  In addition, Humana acknowledges that its employees play an important role in achieving a healthy planet, and pledges to continue enhancing engagement efforts with associates, helping them become better stewards of the environment in the workplace and at home.

CSC
CSC, a next-generation information technology (IT) services and solutions provider, today confirmed its intention to meet an absolute global greenhouse gas reduction target of 18 percent by 2018 (baseline 2012). Through implementing best practices in data center power and cooling, employee education and real estate footprint consolidation, CSC has already achieved 8.7 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in one year and eliminated 30,472 tons of Scope 1 (Direct), Scope 2 (Indirect) CO2e and Scope 3 (Travel) emissions across the business.  

AECOM
AECOM, a global infrastructure design, build, finance and operating services firm, today announced it will identify the GHG issues relevant to its operations by October 2015 and set reduction targets for 2018.  The firm will report progress toward those targets and the strategies employed will be reported in its annual enterprise sustainability report each year starting in 2016. Given the nature of AECOM’s business, the firm will report on GHG issues related to the energy consumed (conditioning, water and waste) in the spaces it occupies — in conjunction with its landlords — as well as in areas related to travel, purchasing and printing.

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) 
SAIC, a technology integrator for government and select commercial customers, announced today that it plans to publicly disclose its GHG emissions for calendar year 2014 to establish a baseline for emissions and to set a goal for a new GHG reduction target by March 2016. SAIC’s GHG emissions for the first three months of operations (October – December 2013) were 4,814 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. SAIC recognizes that GHG emissions are an important metric in gauging an organization’s overall environmental impact and corporate commitment to mitigate negative impacts.   

HP
HP, one of the world’s largest providers of information technology infrastructure, software, services, and solutions, is committed to reducing GHGs across its entire value chain. HP was the first global IT company to publish and verify its complete carbon footprint and take action to reduce its GHG emissions across all three parts of its value chain: operations, supply chain and products. HP set a goal to reduce total GHG emissions from its operations (Scope 1 and Scope 2) by 20 percent by 2020, compared to 2010 levels. This built on the company’s previous goal of a 20 percent carbon reduction, which HP achieved in 2011—two years early. In 2013, HP set the industry’s first supply chain GHG emissions reduction goal: a 20 percent decrease in first-tier manufacturing and product transportation-related GHG emissions intensity by 2020, compared with 2010. In 2014, HP set a new goal to reduce the emissions intensity of its product portfolio by 40 percent by 2020 from a 2010 baseline, which will help HP and its customers worldwide reduce carbon impacts.

Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation, a global security company, is committed to environmental sustainability leadership. Northrop Grumman has announced its 2020 environmental sustainability goals: to reduce absolute GHG emissions 30 percent from 2010 levels; to reduce water consumption by 20 percent from 2014 levels; and to achieve a 70 percent solid waste diversion rate. As of year-end 2013, Northrop Grumman reduced its GHG emissions intensity by 26.5 percent relative to sales from 2008 levels and achieved its inaugural GHG reduction goal two years early. This performance resulted in the reduction of more than 260,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

United Technologies
United Technologies Corporation (UTC), a global aerospace and commercial building industries company, has reduced GHG emissions in its own operations by more than 30 percent since 2007. On the product side, the company’s Carrier business calculates that installations of its high-efficiency heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems since 2000 have avoided the release of more than 164 million metrics tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. And UTC’s Pratt & Whitney business’s innovative PurePower jet engine cuts carbon emissions by over 3,600 metric tons per aircraft per year – equal to planting more than 900,000 trees. UTC is committed to continuing its absolute GHG reduction and later this year will release new goals to be achieved by 2020.

CH2MHill
CH2M HILL, an employee-owned global consulting firm, set an absolute GHG reduction goal of 25 percent between 2012 and 2017 for global operations and is well over halfway toward meeting the 2017 target. The company’s emissions have declined through reduced energy consumption and GHG emissions for vehicles and buildings; improved efficiency of four LEED- and ENERGY STAR-certified headquarter buildings; and office energy conservation programs. Looking forward, CH2M HILL plans to continue its energy management efforts, renewable energy investments, sourcing of high-quality carbon offsets, and additional actions for management of its Scope 3 carbon footprint. In February, CH2M HILL received the Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management—Goal Setting certificate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with the Association of Climate Change Officers, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and The Climate Registry at the fourth annual Climate Leadership Awards. CH2M HILL was one of the first in its sector to publish a sustainability report in 2005.

ADS Inc
ADS Inc., one of the largest providers of operational equipment, procurement, and logistics solutions to the Department of Defense and various Federal agencies, announced today that it plans to rapidly expand its environmentally friendly product offering and to actively begin promoting green technologies such as flex-fuel and hybrid power generation, micro grid systems, solar and wind fuel systems. Furthermore, ADS plans to benchmark its internal energy and fuel consumption and put forth a reduction plan in 2015.

Battelle:
Battelle, a leading nonprofit research and development organization, announced today that it is committed to reporting GHG emissions beginning in 2016. Battelle is also setting a goal to reduce GHG emissions by 25 percent by the year 2025. Battelle has been participating in a continuous energy improvement program and will use the statistical model established in 2013 as the baseline. Battelle is committed to managing and operating corporate facilities in a sustainable manner. In harmony with reporting and reducing GHG emissions, Battelle will make every effort to apply strategies for sustainable buildings, pollution prevention, waste reduction, electronic stewardship, sustainable acquisition, renewable energy, and water efficiency. Battelle has already made significant investments in sustainability including a net-zero energy building, energy efficiency, and environmental protection. 

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2015

FACT SHEET: U.S. & Japan - Collaborating to Advance Girls Education Around The World

About 62 million girls around the world – half of whom are adolescent – are not in school. These girls have diminished economic opportunities and are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, early and forced marriage, and other forms of violence.

Yet when a girl receives a quality education, she is more likely to earn a decent living, raise a healthy, educated family, and improve the quality of life for herself, her family, and her community.  In addition, girls’ attendance in secondary school is correlated with later marriage, later childbearing, lower maternal and infant mortality rates, lower birth rates, and lower rates of HIV/AIDS. A World Bank study found that every year of secondary school education is correlated with an 18 percent increase in a girl’s future earning power.

Earlier this month, the United States, under the leadership of the President and First Lady, announced that it is expanding its efforts to help adolescent girls worldwide access school and complete their education through an initiative called Let Girls Learn.  This new effort will build on investments that the international community, including the United States, has made and successes that have been achieved in global primary school education, and expand them to help adolescent girls complete their education and fulfill their potential.

Japan is also a global leader in international education.  Through its “School for All” concept, Japan seeks to advance education through improving educational facilities, teaching practices, community participation, administration, and health and nutrition.   Japan understands that the international community shares this concept, and believes that a comprehensive approach by other donors including the United States, international organizations, NGOs, governments of developing countries and local communities is the key to ensuring the sustainability of girls’ education.

Today we are pleased to announce that the United States and Japan will partner in this critical area, elevating the issue of girls’ education on their shared development agenda.  Japan and the United States, through this initiative, will cooperate in improving the learning environment for girls by collaborating with schools, communities and educational administration.

As two of the largest economies in the world, our combined efforts can make a difference. The President’s FY 2016 Budget request includes $250 million in new and reallocated funds in support of the Let Girls Learn Initiative.   Japan will commit Official Development Assistance (ODA) in excess of 42 billion yen over three years starting from 2015 for girls’ empowerment and gender-sensitive education.

Under this partnership:

  1. Peace Corps and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which directs Japan’s Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), will formalize cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies.
    • This strategic partnership between Peace Corps and JOCV will be broad and encompass a variety of activities, and will focus in particular on advancing girls’ education through cooperation on the ground in countries around the world, including Cambodia.  JOCV will enhance cooperation with the Peace Corps to facilitate girls’ participation in the field of primary and secondary education, sports and physical education.
  2. With counterpart governments around the world, the United States and Japan will increase focus on girls’ education in our respective bilateral assistance programs.
    • Building on current funding and programs at USAID, the State Department, the Peace Corps, and across the US government, the United States will work to improve access to quality education and healthcare, help address violence and other barriers to education that adolescent girls face around the world. 
    • Japan will prioritize girls’ education in its new international education cooperation policy starting from 2016.  In addition, in Southeast Asia, Japan will further provide assistance for constructing and expanding elementary, middle, and high school buildings, which is expected to benefit 20,000 adolescent girls with a good educational environment.
  3. The United States and Japan support girls’ education through strong commitments to international organizations and non-governmental organizations focused on these issues.
    • For example, the President’s FY 2016 Budget request includes an increase for the U.S. contribution to the Global Partnership for Education by 40% over current funding levels, to $70 million.  Japan will double its contribution this year to United Nations Women, to $20 million.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2015

Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The Vice President welcomed the Rada’s adoption of implementing measures relating to the law on special status for certain areas of eastern Ukraine, as called for in the September 2014 and February 2015 Minsk agreements. The two leaders discussed the upcoming multinational training program for Ukraine’s National Guard forces, which the United States will support.  Finally, the two leaders agreed that sanctions on Russia imposed in response to its actions in eastern Ukraine should be tied to full implementation of the Minsk agreements, and that as long as Russia continues to fuel violence and instability in Ukraine, the international community must be prepared to increase the costs to Russia for pursuing such actions.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 18, 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:

  • Douglas J. Kramer – Deputy Administrator, Small Business Administration
  • David J. Shulkin – Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • LaVerne Horton Council – Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Juan Garcia – Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of Defense
  • Andrew Read – Member, Marine Mammal Commission, and upon appointment to be designated Chairman
  • Stephen P. Welby – Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Department of Defense

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

  • General Larry R. Ellis, USA (Ret.) – Member, National Commission on the Future of the Army
  • Kathleen H. Hicks – Member, National Commission on the Future of the Army
  • Thomas R. Lamont – Member, National Commission on the Future of the Army
  • Lieutenant General Jack C. Stultz, USAR (Ret.) – Member, National Commission on the Future of the Army
  • Chad Dickerson – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations
  • Gary Hirshberg  – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations
  • Dennis D. Williams – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations

President Obama said, “I am grateful these accomplished men and women have made the decision to serve our country.  I look forward to working with them.”

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

Douglas J. Kramer, Nominee for Deputy Administrator, Small Business Administration
Douglas J. Kramer is General Counsel at the United States Agency for International Development, a position he has held since 2013.  Prior to this, he served in the White House as Deputy Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary from 2012 to 2013.  From 2009 to 2012, Mr. Kramer served in the Office of the White House Counsel, first as Deputy Associate Counsel for Presidential Personnel, and then as Special Assistant to the President and Associate Counsel to the President.  Prior to serving in the White House, he served as Counsel in the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice.  From 2006 to 2009, he worked as an Associate and then Shareholder at the law firm Polsinelli PC.  From 2001 to 2006, he worked as an Associate at the law firm Covington & Burling.  From 2000 to 2001, Mr. Kramer served as a Judicial Clerk in the Chambers of the Hon. Walter L. Carpeneti of the Alaska Supreme Court.  Mr. Kramer received a B.A. from Georgetown University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

Dr. David J. Shulkin, Nominee for Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs
Dr. David J. Shulkin is President of Morristown Medical Center, a position he has held since 2010.  He has served concurrently as President of Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and as a Vice President of Atlantic Health.  From 2005 to 2009, Dr. Shulkin was President and CEO of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, and from 2004 to 2005 he was Chief Medical Officer of Temple University Hospital.  Dr. Shulkin served concurrently as Chief Medical Officer of the Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital and Chief Quality Officer of the Drexel University School of Medicine from 2002 to 2004.  Dr. Shulkin was Chairman and CEO of DoctorQuality, Inc. from 1999 to 2002.  Dr. Shulkin was the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Quality Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System from 1993 to 1999.  From 1992 to 1993, Dr. Shulkin was the Director of Clinical Outcome Assessment and Quality Management at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Shulkin received a B.A. from Hampshire College and an M.D. from the Medical College of Pennsylvania.
 
LaVerne Horton Council, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, Department of Veterans Affairs
LaVerne Horton Council is the CEO of Council Advisory Services, a position she has held since 2012.  She has also served as Chairperson of the National Board of Trustees for the March of Dimes Foundation since 2011.  From 2006 to 2011, Ms. Council served as Corporate Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Johnson & Johnson.  She worked at Dell in several roles as a Vice President and Global Vice President from 2000 to 2006.  Ms. Council worked at Ernst & Young as Global Partner for the Supply Chain, Life Sciences, and Hi Tech Practice from 1998 to 2000 and as National Leader for the Supply Chain Strategy Team from 1997 to 1998.  Earlier in her career, she held positions at Mercer Management Consulting, Accenture, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and State Farm Insurance.  Ms. Council received a B.B. from Western Illinois University and an M.B.A. from Illinois State University.
 
Juan Garcia, Nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of Defense
Juan Garcia is the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, a position he has held since 2009.  In 2006, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, where he represented the 32nd District from 2007 to 2009.  He also served as an attorney at Hartline, Dacus, Barger, Dreyer & Kern, L.L.P. in Corpus Christi, TX from 2005 to 2009.  After leaving active duty, Mr. Garcia commanded a unit of Flight Instructors in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and he continues to serve as a Reservist today.  From 1992 to 2004, Mr. Garcia was a Naval Aviator in the U.S. Navy.  From 1999 to 2000, he served as a White House Fellow at the Department of Education.  Mr. Garcia received a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, an M.P.P. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
 
Dr. Andrew Read, Nominee for Member, Marine Mammal Commission, and upon appointment to be designated Chairman
Dr. Andrew Read is the Stephen A. Toth Professor of Marine Biology in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, a position he has held since 2012.  He has held various positions at the Nicholas School of the Environment, including Rachel Carson Associate Professor from 2004 to 2012, Rachel Carson Assistant Professor from 2001 to 2004, and Assistant Professor of the Practice from 1995 to 2001.  Dr. Read served as President of the Society for Marine Mammalogy from 2008 to 2010 and on the Marine Mammal Commission’s Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals from 2003 to 2008.  He has been a member of the Editorial Boards of Marine Mammal Science, the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, and Endangered Species Research.  Dr. Read is active in the conservation of marine vertebrates and serves on the Cetacean Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission.  He received a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from the University of Guelph.
 

Stephen P. Welby, Nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Department of Defense
Stephen P. Welby is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Systems Engineering at the Department of Defense, a position he has held since 2011.  From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Welby was Director of Systems Engineering at the Department of Defense.  Mr. Welby worked at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency from 1997 to 2008, where he served as Director and Deputy Director of the Tactical Technology Office from 2004 to 2008, Deputy Director of the Information Exploitation Office from 2001 to 2004, and Program Manager from 1997 to 2001.  He was a Project Engineer and Team Leader at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory from 1988 to 1997.  Mr. Welby received a B.S. from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, an M.S. from Texas A&M University, and two M.S. degrees from The Johns Hopkins University.

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

General Larry R. Ellis, USA (Ret.), Appointee for Member, National Commission on the Future of the Army
General Larry R. Ellis, USA (Ret.) has been President and CEO of VetConnexx, LLC since 2013, a company that provides career opportunities for veterans.  He was President and CEO of Point Blank Solutions, Inc. from 2005 to 2009.  General Ellis served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 2004, where he achieved the rank of General in 2001.  During his tenure in the Army, he served in a number of command and leadership positions in the United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, South Korea, and Vietnam.  General Ellis was appointed to the American Battle Monuments Commission in 2014.  General Ellis received a B.S. from Morgan State University and an M.S. from Indiana University.

Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks, Appointee for Member, National Commission on the Future of the Army
Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks is Senior Vice President, Kissinger Chair, and Director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a position she has held since 2013.  From 2012 to 2013, she was Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and from 2009 to 2012 she was Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Forces.  From 2006 to 2009, she was a Senior Fellow at CSIS.  Between 1993 and 2006, Dr. Hicks served in a variety of career civil service positions within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, including Director for Policy Planning and Director for Homeland Defense Strategic Planning and Program Integration.  Dr. Hicks received an A.B. from Mount Holyoke College, an M.P.A. from the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
 
Thomas R. Lamont, Appointee for Member, National Commission on the Future of the Army
Thomas R. Lamont is Principal at LAMONT Consulting Services. Mr. Lamont served as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs from 2009 to 2013.  Previously, Mr. Lamont was Special Counsel at the University of Illinois from 2005 to 2009 and Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education from 2004 to 2005.  Prior to that, Mr. Lamont was a partner at the firm of Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP from 2002 to 2004.  Before entering private practice, he served as Executive Director of the Office of the Illinois State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor and Director of Civil Litigation in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.  Mr. Lamont was appointed to the American Battle Monuments Commission in 2014 and has served as Chair of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. After serving in the Illinois National Guard in various roles over 25 years, including most recently State Staff Judge Advocate General, he retired in 2007 as Colonel. Mr. Lamont
 
Lieutenant General Jack C. Stultz, USAR (Ret.), Appointee for Member, National Commission on the Future of the Army
Lieutenant General Jack C. Stultz, USAR (Ret.) currently serves on the Board of Directors of VSE Corporation, a position he has held since 2013.  He was Chief of the U.S. Army Reserve and Commanding General of the United States Army Reserve Command from 2006 to 2012.  Lieutenant General Stultz served as Deputy Chief of the Army Reserve from 2005 to 2006 and as Commander of the 143rd TRANSCOM from 2004 to 2005.  Previously, he was the Director of Movements, Distribution and Transportation for Combined Forces Land Component Command Kuwait from 2003 to 2004, Commander of the 143rd TRANSCOM (Forward) in Iraq from 2002 to 2003, and Deputy Commanding General of the 143rd TRANSCOM from 1999 to 2002.  Lieutenant General Stultz served in the Army Reserve from 1979 to 2012 and as an active duty Army officer from 1974 to 1979.  He worked at Procter and Gamble for 28 years and retired as an operations manager in 2007.  Lieutenant General Stultz received a B.A. from Davidson College.
 
Chad Dickerson, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations
Chad Dickerson is CEO of Etsy, a position he has held since 2011.  He was Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Etsy from 2008 to 2011.  Previously, Mr. Dickerson was Director of the Brickhouse and Advanced Products teams at Yahoo! from 2007 to 2008, and was Senior Director of the Yahoo! Developer Network from 2006 to 2007.  He also served as CTO of InfoWorld Media Group from 2001 to 2005 and was CTO of Salon.com from 1998 to 2001.  Mr. Dickerson received a B.A. from Duke University.
 
Gary Hirshberg, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations
Gary Hirshberg is Chairman of Stonyfield Farm, Inc., a position he has held since 1999.  He was CEO of Stonyfield Farm, Inc. from its founding in 1983 to 2012, and has been Managing Director of Stonyfield Europe since 2008.  Mr. Hirshberg has been a member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations since 2011.  He is Chairman and member of the Board of Directors of Just Label It, a project of Organic Voices.  Mr. Hirshberg serves as a member of several corporate boards including Late July, Orgain, Applegate Farms, Peak Organic Brewing, and Sweetgreen.  He is also a member of the board of Danone Communities Fund.  Mr. Hirshberg received a B.A. from Hampshire College.

Dennis D. Williams, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations
Dennis D. Williams is President of United Automobile Workers (UAW), a position he has held since 2014.  Previously, he was UAW Secretary-Treasurer from 2010 to 2014.  Mr. Williams has served as a member of the Governing Committee of the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust since 2011.  He has also been a Director of Navistar International Corporation since 2006.  Mr. Williams has been Director of UAW Region 4 since 2001 and he was Assistant Director from 1995 to 2001.  Mr. Williams was a Salvage Welder at J.I. Case Company from 1977 to 1988.  He joined UAW Local 806 in 1977 and served as member and Chairman of the Bargaining Committee. In 1988, he was appointed international representative to the National Organizing Department.  Mr. Williams served in the United States Marine Corps from 1972 to 1975.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2015

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Attack at Tunisia’s National Bardo Museum

We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims of today’s heinous violence in Tunisia and condemn in the strongest terms this terrorist attack, which took the lives of innocent Tunisians as well as visiting tourists. American officials are in touch with Tunisian authorities, and the United States is prepared to offer assistance to their investigation.  

While we do not yet know the identities of the attackers or their motives, what we do know is that their cowardly acts will not intimidate the Tunisian people, whose storied heritage is showcased at the site of this attack, the National Bardo Museum. The United States is proud of our robust cooperation with Tunisia on counterterrorism and broader security issues, and we will continue to stand with our Tunisian partners against terrorist violence. 

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2015

Readout of the Vice President’s Calls with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Presidential Candidate Muhammadu Buhari

Vice President Biden spoke today with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the Nigerian presidential election, which is scheduled for March 28. The Vice President commended President Jonathan and General Buhari for signing the Abuja Accord in mid-January as a show of their commitment to non-violence throughout the election process. The Vice President further expressed the United States’ support for the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission and its work to deliver free, fair, and credible elections, in part through its essential efforts to distribute Permanent Voter Cards and help ensure that electronic voter card readers are in place and fully operational. He also noted his concern about the violence during some recent election-related events and reiterated the need for both candidates to make clear that such violence has no place in democratic elections. Vice President Biden affirmed that the United States stands with the Nigerian people in support of credible and peaceful elections, and will continue to stand with the Nigerian people whatever the outcome.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2015

Readout of the President’s Call with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany

The President spoke today with Chancellor Merkel of Germany regarding developments in Ukraine.  The two leaders agreed on the need for full and prompt implementation of the three Minsk agreements in order to reach a lasting and peaceful resolution to the conflict.  They reiterated their agreement that there will be no easing of sanctions imposed on Russia until it has fulfilled all of its Minsk commitments.  The President and the Chancellor also agreed on the continued importance of providing economic support for Ukraine as it implements necessary reforms.  They also reviewed recent developments in Greece and efforts to reach a pragmatic agreement that builds upon recent reforms to return the country to growth within the euro area.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2015

FACT SHEET: President Obama Launches Competition for New Textiles-Focused Manufacturing Innovation Institute; New White House Supply Chain Innovation Initiative; and Funding to Support Small Manufacturers

In Cleveland, Ohio, the President launches ninth manufacturing hub competition and announces measures to strengthen the small manufacturers that power America’s supply chains.

WASHINGTON, DC  – Today the President is announcing nearly $500 million in public-private investment to strengthen American manufacturing by investing in cutting-edge technologies through a new, textiles-focused manufacturing institute competition led by the Department of Defense, and by sharpening the capabilities of small manufacturers through Manufacturing Extension Partnership competitions in twelve states. The White House, as detailed in a new report, is also launching a Supply Chain Innovation Initiative focused on building public-private partnerships to strengthen the small U.S. manufacturers that anchor the nation’s supply chains.

The President’s Fiscal Year 2016 Budget, to create jobs and strengthen America’s leadership in advanced manufacturing technology, provides the resources to double the number of manufacturing innovation institutes nationwide to 16 by the end of 2016 and fulfills the President’s goal of building a network of up to 45 institutes over the decade. In contrast, the House Republican Budget released yesterday entrenches the harmful sequester levels of funding and proposes to eliminate the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, putting at risk critical investments in advanced manufacturing, workforce development and training, and innovation proposed in the President’s Budget.

After a decade of decline in the 2000s when 40 percent of all large factories closed their doors, American manufacturing is adding jobs at its fastest rate in decades, with 877,000 new manufacturing jobs created since February 2010. Ohio alone has added nearly 70,000 manufacturing jobs over that period. Manufacturing production is up by almost a third since the recession and the number of factories manufacturing across the United States is growing for the first time since the 1990s.

In addition to announcing new competitions for nearly $500 million in public and private investment the President is calling on Congress to do its part to make the bipartisan investments needed to strengthen manufacturing across the United States, including in places like Ohio.

Click here to find the new White House and Department of Commerce report on strengthening small manufactures: LINK

Investing Nearly $500 Million to Strengthen U.S. Advanced Manufacturing:

  • More than $150 Million in Public-Private Investment through a New Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competition
    • Today, the Department of Defense is launching a competition for leading manufacturers, universities, and non-profits to form a new manufacturing hub focused on revolutionary fibers and textiles technologies. The $75 million federal investment will be matched by more than $75 million of private sector resources.
    • This is the ninth competition for a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation institute, and the first of eight new institutes that the President’s budget proposes to fund by the end of 2016. Returning to sequestration levels for appropriations, as the House Republican Budget proposes, would put this expansion at risk.
    • The first institute awarded is in Youngstown, Ohio. Only in its third year, it is already drawing investment to Ohio—including a $32 million job-creating investment in the region from GE—and advancing research that will help accelerate the speed of 3-D printing in metals by a factor of ten.
  • $320 Million Competition to Strengthen Small Manufacturers in 12 States
    • Non-profits in 12 states will compete for $158 million in Federal funds matched by $158 million or more in private investment over five years to provide technology and engineering expertise to small manufacturers through the latest round of competitions to strengthen the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)’s network of centers in these states.
    • Today, the President will tour MAGNET’s Manufacturing Innovation Center at Cleveland State University, the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership affiliate.
    • In contrast, the House Republican Budget proposes to end funding for the MEP, dealing a blow to the 30,000 small manufacturers the program serves, including the more than 450 Ohio manufacturers served by MAGNET, the Ohio MEP affiliate, in recent years.
  • New White House Supply Chain Innovation Initiative
    • The President will unveil a White House Supply Chain Innovation Initiative focused on building public-private partnerships to strengthen the small U.S. manufacturers and a new report on the need to further strengthen small manufacturers that form the backbone of America’s supply chains and play an increasingly important role in creating and retaining manufacturing jobs and investment in the United States.

More than $150 Million for a New Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competition:

As part of a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, each manufacturing institute serves as a regional hub for leadership in emerging manufacturing technologies, bridging the gap between early research and product development by bringing together companies, universities and other academic and training institutions, and Federal agencies to co-invest in key technology areas that can encourage investment and production in the United States.

The new competition, kicked off by the Department of Defense is the ninth manufacturing innovation institute competition launched by the Administration to date, joining the eight institutes already underway. The Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute will ensure that America remains at the leading edge of fiber science, through a $75 million public investment matched by more than $75 million of private investment in researching, prototyping, and commercializing fibers with extraordinary properties. Known as technical textiles, these modern-day fabrics and fibers boast novel properties ranging from being incredibly lightweight and flame resistant, to having exceptional strength and electronic sensors. With wide-ranging applications, technical textiles can forge the foundation of protective gear for firefighters impervious to the hottest flames, replicate the sensing capabilities of a smart watch into a lightweight fabric, or detect when a wounded soldier needs to be treated with an antimicrobial compression bandage.

After a decade of decline in U.S. manufacturing during the 2000s, the American textile industry is adding jobs for the first time in two decades, increasing shipments by nearly a fifth since the recession, and winning globally with a 45 percent increase in exports since 2009. Today’s announcement builds on this momentum in American textile manufacturing and lays the foundation for future leadership in the production of sophisticated fibers and textile technologies.

For the latest on the new institute competition, please visit Manufacturing.gov.

$320 Million Public-Private Manufacturing Extension Partnership Competition to Expand Services to Strengthen Small Manufacturers:

The more than 230,000 small manufacturers in the U.S. employ 42 percent, or almost half, of all manufacturing workers. However, small manufacturers often trail their larger peers in adopting the latest technologies and practices to increase their competitiveness and productivity, with many small manufacturers in need of access to capital and expertise to adopt the latest innovations in manufacturing – like 3-D printing, advanced sensors, and digital design – that can help sharpen their edge. 

Across the country, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a state-federal network of 60 centers and 1,200 manufacturing experts, helps small manufacturers improve their production processes, upgrade their technological capabilities, and bring new products to market.

Today’s MEP competition will award nearly $32 million annually for five years across twelve states – an expected total of $158 million matched at least dollar-for-dollar by $158 million or more of non-federal funding – to strengthen and reinvest in this nationwide network of manufacturing expertise. Non-profits working with manufacturers in each of the twelve states will have the opportunity to compete for cooperative agreements to operate MEP centers and expand the range of lean production and technology acceleration services offered to small manufacturers, and help bring their products to market. Annual funding is subject to continued performance and the availability of appropriations. New MEP competitions are being launched in 12 states: Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

For more on the competition, applicants should visit the NIST MEP competition website. A public webinar for applications will be conducted on Monday, March 30th, 2015 at 2:00 pm EST.

A public-private partnership, the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership helps small manufacturers compete, increasing employment and investment across the country and generating a high return on public investment. Every dollar of federal investment in the MEP translates into $19 dollars of new sales for small manufacturers, or almost $2.5 billion annually across the 30,000 small manufacturers that MEP serves. Since it was founded in 1988, MEP has worked with nearly 80,000 manufacturers, leading to $88 billion in sales and $14 billion in cost savings, and helping small manufacturers create more than 729,000 new jobs. Today’s announcement represents the second round of competitions as part of a multi-year plan to launch new competitions to strengthen the MEP network of centers in every state. 

New White House Supply Chain Innovation Initiative:

The new White House Supply Chain Innovation Initiative announced today follows on the President’s State of the Union commitment to improve the access of small- and medium-sized manufacturers to technologies and resources they need to improve their innovation and productivity through public private partnerships and new federal efforts.

As discussed in depth in a new White House and Department of Commerce report, a dense network of small manufacturers makes up the backbone of America’s supply chains, contributing more than 40 percent of all manufacturing employment. However, even as their share of U.S. manufacturing employment grows, small firms continue to face stiff challenges in innovation. As the new report finds –

  • Small manufacturers are playing an increasingly important role in U.S. supply chains and the manufacturing sector overall. Today, small manufacturers employ 42 percent - or nearly half of all U.S. manufacturing workers - up ten percentage points from their share in the 1980s. 
  • Dense networks of these small manufacturers are vital to the process of taking a product from concept to market, and the exchange of manufacturing know-how across suppliers is essential for the diffusion of the new product ideas and innovative processes that give U.S. manufacturing its cutting edge.
  • However, because of the unique barriers they face, small manufacturers often lag their larger peers in adopting critical new technologies. For example, a recent survey found that fewer than 60 percent of small manufacturers were experimenting in any way with 3-D printing, a potentially transformative technology that is especially beneficial for small companies due to its flexibility. In contrast, over 75 percent of large firms were using the technology.
  • The White House Supply Chain Innovation Initiative will focus on public-private partnerships and new federal efforts to strengthen U.S. manufacturing overall by closing this gap.

Later this year, the Administration will convene a Supply Chain Innovation Roundtable of CEOs and representatives of leading manufacturers committed to partnering with the small businesses in their supply chains to accelerate technology adoption, strengthen the linkages within domestic supply chains, and to improve product design and process engineering. In addition, the Departments of Commerce, Energy, and Defense, as well as the Small Business Administration, will announce additional Federal efforts to help small firms adopt cutting-edge technologies and improve information flow within supply chains. 

The Supply Chain Innovation Roundtable builds on the Administration’s successful SupplierPay initiative which has brought together close to 50 companies, including Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce, and IBM, to strengthen small businesses by increasing their working capital.

While strengthening our capabilities at home, the Administration is also taking key steps to provide U.S. manufacturers with new markets and new consumers throughout the world. Through trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Administration is breaking down barriers to U.S. exports, leveling the playing field when it comes to labor and environmental standards, and, for the first time, focusing on improving the ability of small businesses to export to these new markets.