The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 325

On Monday, February 04, 2013, the President signed into law:

H.R. 325, the "No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013," which temporarily suspends the public debt limit until May 18, 2013; and provides for depositing payments for compensation of Members of either House of Congress in an escrow account beginning April 16, 2013, unless and until that House has passed a FY 2014 budget resolution.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Eric K. Fanning, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary of the Air Force, vice Erin C. Conaton, resigned.

Michael Wayne Hail, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation for a term expiring December 10, 2017, vice Sharon Tucker, term expired.

F. Scott Kieff, of Illinois, to be a Member of the United States International Trade Commission for the term expiring June 16, 2020, vice Daniel Pearson, term expired.

Janet Lorraine LaBreck, of Massachusetts, to be Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of Education, vice Lynnae M. Ruttledge, resigned.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Notice -- National Emergency with respect to Côte d’Ivoire

NOTICE

- - - - - - -

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT

TO THE SITUATION IN OR IN RELATION TO CÔTE D'IVOIRE

On February 7, 2006, by Executive Order 13396, the President declared a national emergency, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the situation in or in relation to Côte d'Ivoire and ordered related measures blocking the property of certain persons contributing to the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire. The situation in or in relation to Côte d'Ivoire, which has been addressed by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 1572 of November 15, 2004, and subsequent resolutions, has resulted in the massacre of large numbers of civilians, widespread human rights abuses, significant political violence and unrest, and fatal attacks against international peacekeeping forces.

Since the inauguration of President Alassane Ouattara in May 2011, the Government of Côte d'Ivoire has made progress in advancing democratic freedoms and economic development. While the Government of Côte d'Ivoire and its people continue to make progress towards peace and prosperity, the situation in or in relation to Côte d'Ivoire continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared on February 7, 2006, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond February 7, 2013. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13396.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Message -- National Emergency with respect to Côte d’Ivoire

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency, unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13396 of February 7, 2006, with respect to the situation in or in relation to Côte d'Ivoire is to continue in effect beyond February 7, 2013.

The situation in or in relation to Côte d'Ivoire, which has been addressed by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 1572 of November 15, 2004, and subsequent resolutions, has resulted in the massacre of large numbers of civilians, widespread human rights abuses, significant political violence and unrest, and fatal attacks against international peacekeeping forces. Since the inauguration of President Alassane Ouattara in May 2011, the Government of Côte d'Ivoire has made progress in advancing democratic freedoms and economic development. While the Government of Côte d'Ivoire and its people continue to make progress towards peace and prosperity, the situation in or in relation to Côte d'Ivoire continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency and related measures blocking the property of certain persons contributing to the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Daily Guidance for the Vice President and DR. Jill Biden. Sunday, February 3, 2013

In the morning, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. This visit will be closed press.

Later, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart Landstuhl, Germany, en route Paris, France.

In the evening, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will arrive in Paris. The arrival at Paris Orly Airport is open press.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

Readout of Vice President Biden's Meetings with United Nations and Arab League Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi and Syrian Opposition Coalition President Moaz al-Khatib

Vice President Biden met with United Nations and Arab League Joint Special Representative (JSR) Lakhdar Brahimi today in Munich, Germany, on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. The Vice President thanked Brahimi for his steadfast work to bring resolution to the ongoing crisis in Syria and pledged that the United States would continue to support his efforts. The Vice President and JSR Brahimi discussed the dire humanitarian situation inside Syria and the regional implications of the Syria crisis. Vice President Biden also met separately with Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) President Moaz al-Khatib on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. The Vice President praised al-Khatib’s personal courage and leadership of the SOC, the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. The Vice President urged al-Khatib to continue his efforts to maintain unity among the SOC leadership, to isolate extremist elements within the broader opposition, and to reach out to, and be inclusive of, a broad range of communities inside Syria, including Alawites, Christians and Kurds. The Vice President reaffirmed the U.S. call for an end to the Assad regime and a transition that leads to a peaceful, inclusive and democratic Syria, where the rights of all Syrians are protected. The Vice President commended al-Khatib’s recent statements, including in Munich, expressing openness, under certain circumstances, to the possibility of negotiations to bring the Syrian people the leadership they deserve.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

Readout of Vice President Biden's Meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Vice President Joe Biden met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Munich today, on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. The Vice President emphasized the importance of the two countries working together in the interest of international peace and security, including in Syria. The Vice President noted that while the United States and Russia will continue to have serious differences - including, among other things, on human rights and Russia's recent ban on U.S. adoptions - U.S. and Russian leadership is necessary to achieve practical solutions to the challenges facing the world today.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Statement by the President on United States Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan

I want to thank Mark Sullivan for nearly 30 years of service to our nation at the United States Secret Service, a tenure that saw the agency protect five first families including my own.  Mark started out in the Detroit Field Office before joining the Presidential Protective Division.  And since 2006, as Director, Mark has led the Agency with  incredible dedication and integrity.  The Secret Service is best known for protecting our nation’s leaders, but every day they also protect the American people.  From securing large events such as Presidential Inaugurations to safeguarding our financial system, the men and women of the agency perform their mission with professionalism and dedication.  That is a testament to Mark and his steadfast leadership, which will be missed.  Michelle and I wish him all the best.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post:

• Janet L. LaBreck – Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of Education

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

• Jonathan Safran Foer – Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
• Robert Listenbee, Jr. – Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice
• James Stock – Member, Council of Economic Advisors

President Obama said, “I am pleased to announce that these experienced and committed individuals have agreed to join this Administration, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post:

Janet L. LaBreck, Nominee for Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of Education
Janet L. LaBreck is the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), a position she has held since 2007.  Ms. LaBreck joined the MCB in 1985 as Consumer Advocate.  She has served in a number of positions at the MCB since then, including Independent Living Coordinator, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and Regional Director of Central Massachusetts.  Since 2005, she has worked as an Adjunct Professor at Assumption College, where she teaches courses in rehabilitation of the blind and case management in rehabilitation.  She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the New England College of Optometry.  She received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts and an M.Ed. from Springfield College.

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

Jonathan Safran Foer, Appointee for Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Jonathan Safran Foer is a professor in the Graduate Creative Writing Program at New York University.  He is also an author of numerous publications, including the New York Times bestsellers Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Everything is Illuminated, which received the National Jewish Book Award and the Guardian First Book Award.  He was a visiting professor at Yale University in 2008, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Farm Forward.  In 2010, he was selected as one of The New Yorker’s “20 Under 40” writers to watch.  Mr. Foer received a B.A. from Princeton University.

Robert Listenbee, Jr., Appointee for Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice
Robert Listenbee,  Jr. is Chief of the Juvenile Unit of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, a position he has held since 1997.  He has also been a trial lawyer at the Defender Association of Philadelphia since 1986.  Previously, from 1991 to 1997, Mr. Listenbee was Assistant Chief of the Juvenile Unit.  He is a member of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which advises the Governor of Pennsylvania on juvenile justice policy.  Mr. Listenbee serves on the policy committees of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association and the National Center for Juvenile Justice. He serves on the advisory board of the National Juvenile Defender Center and is a board member and former President of the Juvenile Defenders Association of Pennsylvania.  Mr. Listenbee received a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. James Stock, Appointee for Member, Council of Economic Advisers
Dr. James Stock is the Chief Economist for the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), a position he has held since 2012.  Before joining CEA, he worked at Harvard University, where he has held a number of positions since 1983, including service as the Harold Hitchings Burbank Professor of Political Economy with a dual appointment in the Kennedy School of Government.  In addition, Dr. Stock chaired the Harvard Economics Department from 2006 to 2009.  He is formerly a member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the National Bureau of Economic Research Business Cycle Dating Committee, and the Massachusetts Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors.  He received a B.S. from Yale University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Statement from the Press Secretary on the explosion in Mexico City

We offer our condolences to the Mexican people, particularly those who lost family and loved ones in yesterday’s explosion in Mexico City. We will stand with the people of Mexico at this difficult time, and are ready to provide the assistance that may be required by the Mexican Government.