Letter -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Iran

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

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 the 90-day period 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 with respect to Iran that was declared in Executive Order 12170 of November 14, 1979, is to continue in effect beyond November 14, 2012.

Our relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal, and the process of implementing the agreements with Iran, dated January 19, 1981, is still under way. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared on November 14, 1979, with respect to Iran, beyond November 14, 2012.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

Readout of Presidential Briefing on Sandy Recovery Efforts

This morning, the President received an update from the National Weather Service on the high winds, rain, snow and cold temperatures associated with the coastal low that’s bearing down on the Northeast.  The President also convened a conference call with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security John Brennan and Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco.  The President heard from his team about the federal resources, personnel and expertise being used to support state and local recovery efforts in the wake of Sandy, including efforts to take additional steps to support preparedness efforts ahead of the severe weather.  At the requests of New York and New Jersey, FEMA continues to deliver commodities including food, water, blankets, generators and others resources to distribution points across the region impacted by Sandy, and FEMA continues to pre-position additional resources and supplies to ensure they are in place if needed by our state and local partners to respond to the coastal low. The President was also updated on efforts to coordinate with state and local officials on emergency housing needs and long term housing problems caused by the storm.  He was also briefed on the ongoing efforts to improve access to gasoline and restore electricity in communities impacted by Sandy.  Given the bad weather conditions caused by the coastal low, the President closed the call by expressing his concern for the safety of people who live in communities damaged by Sandy as well as the first responders, relief workers and utility crews who are working round-the-clock to help those communities recover.

Readout of the President’s Briefing on Response and Recovery Efforts

Today, aboard Air Force One, the President convened a call with members of his Cabinet, state and local officials from affected areas, and other senior members of his team to receive a briefing on ongoing response and recovery efforts. On the call the President received an update from the National Weather Service on severe weather that could be moving into the affected region in the coming days. He also heard from Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Fugate on latest efforts to meet the continuing power and fuel challenges, as well as ongoing work in support of Governors and their teams to develop long term housing solutions for affected families.
 
On the call the President was joined by Governor Cuomo, Governor Malloy, Mayors and Borough Presidents from affected areas, and heard directly about potential challenges they may see as the recovery continues. The President also spoke directly to Governor Christie by phone earlier in the day. The President made clear that he expected his team to continue to make sure all available resources were being deployed effectively and asked the state and local partners to make sure they continue to raise any concerns or problems they face that federal partners could help address. The President also expressed his concern for the potential severe weather in the area over the coming days, and directed his team to provide any additional support available to state and local partners as they work to ensure affected communities are prepared ahead of the severe weather.
 
The President will continue to receive updates overnight, and tomorrow morning will receive a briefing by phone from Secretary Napolitano, Administrator Fugate, Chief of Staff Jack Lew, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security John Brennan, and other senior members of his team on response activities as well as an update on efforts to support preparations in the region ahead of the severe weather.
 
Earlier today, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and Secretary Napolitano traveled to the affected region.
 
Secretary Solis met with business owners, volunteers, and affected individuals and saw recovery efforts in Brooklyn, Queens and other areas across New York.  Secretary Chu met with state and local leaders and industry officials to discuss ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Sandy. Secretary Napolitano visited Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens, NY where she met with state and local officials, first responders and volunteers to discuss ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Sandy. The Secretary also announced that DHS and FEMA would provide Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York with additional funding to further expedite debris removal efforts in the communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
 
Tomorrow, Secretary Napolitano will again travel to the region to hold meetings and view response activities in New York.  Additional details about Secretary Napolitano's trip to New York tomorrow will be released when they are available.
 

Readout of the President’s Briefing on Response and Recovery Efforts

Today, the President convened a call with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security John Brennan, Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco, and other senior members of his response team. On the call the President received the latest update from his team on ongoing efforts to support governors and local officials in impacted states, who continue to work to restore power and meet fuel challenges impacting communities across the affected region. Both Secretary Napolitano and Administrator Fugate are on the ground in affected areas today, New Jersey and New York respectively, and both are meeting with the Governors and other local officials to identify additional needs and ensure federal resources are being deployed most effectively to support response and recovery efforts.

The President made clear that he expects his team to stay completely focused on meeting the needs of our state and local partners, and the families that have been impacted by the storm. DOD and FEMA continue to work together to bring additional fuel to the region in support of the Governors, and federal partners continue to support power restoration activities. FEMA, working with the Red Cross, also continues to bring food, water, and other resources into affected communities and working with the states is supporting the establishment of Disaster Recovery Centers where individuals can apply for assistance and receive needed resources.

This morning, FEMA Administrator Fugate traveled to New York where he met with Governor Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, County Executives, and other local officials, to discuss the ongoing response and recovery efforts as well as longer term challenges. Fugate then traveled to the New York Office of Emergency Management to meet with Joe Bruno, commissioner for the New York Office of Emergency Management. Later in the day, the Administrator will visit the communities of Rockaway, Broad Channel and Breezy Point in Queens, NY, to meet with FEMA staff working on-the-ground to register disaster survivors for financial assistance. The Administrator will also visit with voluntary organizations working hand in hand with state and local officials to assistance disaster survivors.

Secretary Napolitano is on the ground in New Jersey today, meeting with state and local officials and review ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Sandy. As part of her visit, the Secretary will travel to Monmouth County and Hoboken, and will meet local officials including Governor Chris Christie, Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer and other state and local officials.

As of this morning, some 4,400 FEMA personnel are on the ground in the region, 164,000 residents of Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York have applied for assistance with FEMA, and the agency has approved more than $137 million in rental and other forms of financial assistance to be provided directly to the people in need. Affected individuals and families can register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or visiting www.disasterassistance.gov on a computer or mobile device.