The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
August 02, 2012

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

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

Christopher J. Meade, of New York, to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury, vice George Wheeler Madison, resigned.

William J. Mielke, of Wisconsin, to be Member of the Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, vice George D. Milidrag.

Iqbal Paroo, of Florida, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation for a term expiring September 22, 2017, vice Julius E. Coles, term expired.

Arthur H. Sulzer, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, vice Charles E. Dorkey III.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
August 02, 2012

Presidential Nomination Sent to the Senate

NOMINATION SENT TO THE SENATE:

Pamela Ki Mai Chen, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, vice Raymond J. Dearie, retired.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
August 02, 2012

President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to Kingston, Jamaica to Attend the Celebration Marking the Fiftieth Independence Anniversary of Jamaica

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Kingston, Jamaica to attend the Celebration marking the Fiftieth Independence Anniversary of Jamaica on August 6, 2012. 

The Honorable General Colin L. Powell, USA (Retired), Former U.S. Secretary of State, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Pamela Bridgewater, U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica

The Honorable Yvette D. Clarke, U.S. House of Representatives, New York

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
August 02, 2012

President Obama Nominates Pamela Chen to Serve on the US District Court

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Pamela Ki Mai Chen to serve on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

“I am proud to nominate this outstanding candidate to serve on the United States District Court bench,” said President Obama.  “Pamela Chen has a long and distinguished record of service, and I am confident she will serve on the federal bench with distinction.”

Pamela Ki Mai Chen:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Pamela Ki Mai Chen has been an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York since 1998, with the exception of a four-month period in 2008 when she served as Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement for the New York State Division of Human Rights.  During her time at the United States Attorney’s Office, Chen has held many supervisory positions, including Chief of the Civil Rights Section and Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Section.  From 1991 to 1998, Chen was a trial attorney in the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division at the United States Department of Justice.  She began her legal career in Washington, D.C., at the criminal defense firm of Asbill, Junkin, Myers & Buffone from 1989 to 1991, and at the law firm of Arnold & Porter from 1986 to 1989.  Chen received her J.D. in 1986 from the Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A. in 1983 from the University of Michigan.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
August 02, 2012

President Obama Signs Montana Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Montana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a wildfire during the period of June 25 to July 10, 2012. 

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, 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 wildfire in Powder River and Rosebud Counties and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and Tribes within the State of Montana.

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

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
August 02, 2012

President Obama Signs Maryland Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Maryland and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and straight-line winds during the period of June 29 to July 8, 2012.

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 storms and straight-line winds in the counties of Calvert, Charles, Kent, Montgomery, and St. Mary’s and the Independent City of Baltimore.

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 Regis Leo Phelan 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
August 02, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary on Cybersecurity Legislation Vote

Today, despite the strong leadership of Senators Reid, Lieberman, Collins, Rockefeller and Feinstein, an overwhelming majority of Senate Republicans blocked consideration of the Cybersecurity Act of 2012, the only comprehensive piece of cybersecurity legislation that would have begun to address vulnerabilities in the nation’s critical infrastructure systems.  Senate Republican opposition to this vital national security bill, coupled with the deeply-flawed House information sharing bill that threatens personal privacy while doing nothing to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure, is a profound disappointment.  The Administration sent Congress a legislative package in May 2011 that included the new tools needed by our homeland security, law enforcement, intelligence, military and private sector professionals to secure the nation, while including essential safeguards to preserve the privacy rights and civil liberties of our citizens. Since that time, Administration officials have testified at 17 hearings on cybersecurity legislation and presented over 100 briefings, including two all-Member Senate briefings and one all-Member House briefing. Despite the President’s repeated calls for Congress to act on this legislation, and despite pleas from numerous senior national security officials from this Administration and the Bush Administration, the politics of obstructionism, driven by special interest groups seeking to avoid accountability, prevented Congress from passing legislation to better protect our nation from potentially catastrophic cyber-attacks.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
August 02, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary on Additional $12 Million in U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to Syria

Today, on behalf of the American people, the President approved an additional $12 million in U.S. humanitarian assistance to support those most affected by the crisis in Syria.  After nearly 17 months of conflict, the humanitarian situation is dire and rapidly deteriorating.  The United Nations estimates that over 1.5 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, over 1 million people are internally displaced, and more than 130,000 people have sought refuge in neighboring countries.  With these additional funds, the United States is now providing over $76 million in assistance for food, water, medical supplies, clothing, hygiene kits, and other humanitarian relief to those most urgently in need.

The United States applauds the generosity of Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and others who are hosting and providing assistance to refugees fleeing the horrific atrocities perpetrated by Bashar al-Asad’s regime.  Syria’s neighbors, along with the United Nations and international and local non-governmental organizations, are delivering humanitarian aid wherever possible within Syria and in the region.  Our additional assistance will help their efforts to provide lifesaving assistance and reduce human suffering.  As a leading provider of humanitarian relief to those affected by the crisis in Syria, the United States urges all countries around the world to contribute to the United Nations Syria humanitarian appeal.  We also call on all parties to ensure the safety of civilians and aid workers, and the safe and unimpeded delivery of relief supplies to those in need.

The quickest way to end the bloodshed and suffering of the Syrian people is for Bashar al-Asad to recognize that the Syrian people will not allow him to continue in power, and to step aside to enable a peaceful political transition to a government that is responsive to the aspirations of the Syrian people.  We call on all members of the international community to support a political transition in Syria, and we will continue to work with the opposition and our allies and partners to support an inclusive transition that guarantees the Syrian people their universal rights.

For more details on how U.S. humanitarian aid is reaching Syria and neighboring countries, click here.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
August 01, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary

House Republicans tonight voted to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest few and shower millionaires and billionaires with a $1 trillion tax cut that will inevitably be paid for by gutting investments in critical programs needed to create jobs and strengthen the economy.  At a time when we need to make tough choices to reduce the deficit, we can't afford another massive tax break for the wealthiest two percent of Americans. We’ve tried this approach, and it didn't grow the economy or strengthen the middle class. And we certainly can't afford to raise taxes on 25 million middle class families like the Republican plan would do. The President called for a bill that would extend tax cuts for 98% of Americans and ensure taxes don't go up by an average of $2,200 for the typical family at the beginning of next year. He will continue to call on Republicans in the House to stop holding the middle class tax cuts hostage and the House needs to follow the Senate's lead and get this done.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
August 01, 2012

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:

• Eric K. Fanning – Under Secretary of the Air Force, Department of Defense
• Christopher J. Meade – General Counsel, Department of the Treasury
• William J. Mielke – Member, Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
• Captain Arthur H. Sulzer, USN (ret) – Member, Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
• Iqbal Paroo – Member, Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation

The President also announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post:

• Hill Harper – Member, President’s Cancer Panel

President Obama said, “It gives me great confidence that such dedicated and capable individuals have agreed to join this Administration to serve the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

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

Eric K. Fanning, Nominee for Under Secretary of the Air Force, Department of Defense
Eric K. Fanning has served as Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy since 2009.  Prior to joining the Administration, he was Deputy Director of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.  Previously, Mr. Fanning worked for Business Executives for National Security (BENS), first as the Washington Regional Director in 2001, and then as Senior Vice President for Strategic Development from 2001 to 2007.  Prior to joining BENS, Mr. Fanning held a number of positions, including Senior Associate at Robinson, Lerer & Montgomery in New York and Associate Producer at CBS News.  Mr. Fanning began his career in public service, serving as an Associate Director of Political Affairs at The White House (1996), a Special Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (1993-1996), and as a Research Assistant and Professional Staff Member for the Committee on Armed Services in the U.S. House of Representatives (1991-1993).  He received a B.A. from Dartmouth College.

Christopher J. Meade, Nominee for General Counsel, Department of the Treasury
Christopher J. Meade is Principal Deputy General Counsel at the U.S.  Department of the Treasury and, since June 2012, has served as Acting General Counsel.  From 2005 to 2010, Mr. Meade was a partner with the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr (WilmerHale), where he was a member of the Litigation and Securities Departments, as well as the Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Group.  During this time, he argued four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.  Mr. Meade served as a law clerk to Justice John Paul Stevens from 1997 to 1998, and Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1996 to 1997. He received his A.B. from Princeton University, magna cum laude, and his J.D. from New York University School of Law, magna cum laude, where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review.

William J. Mielke, Nominee for Member, Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
William J. Mielke is Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Ruekert/Mielke, a consulting engineering company located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. He has been a director of Bank Mutual Corporation since 2000, and its subsidiary, Bank Mutual, since 1988.  Mr. Mielke is also a Fellow of the American Consulting Engineers Council and served as a diplomat of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. From 2006 to 2007, he was a member of the Special Committee on Great Lakes Water Resources Compact.  Prior to that, he was a member of the Wisconsin Task Force on State and Local Government from 2002 to 2003. He served as Vice Chairman of the Wisconsin Land Council from 1998 to 2003, and was a member of the Joint Architect-Engineer Committee on Federal Procurement of Engineering services from 1987 to 1995, serving as Chairman for his last year on the Committee. Mr. Mielke earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a registered Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor.

Captain Arthur H. Sulzer, USN (ret), Nominee for Member, Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Captain Arthur H. Sulzer, USN (ret), is President of Arthur H. Sulzer Associates, Inc., a position he has held since 2001.  From 1974 to 2005, Captain Sulzer served in the United States Navy. His active duty assignments included Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, where he commanded the U.S. Naval Ship Comet.  In 2003, Captain Sulzer joined several colleagues to open Maritime Academy Charter High School.  He was the Manager of Industrial Relations for Keystone Shipping Company from 1996 to 2003, and was Vice President of Operations for the Sea Line Company from 1987 to 1988.  Captain Sulzer has taught at various institutions over the last 30 years including Great Lakes Maritime Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  He is a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Ships Master and Third Assistant Engineer with extensive commercial sailing experience. Captain Sulzer earned a B.S. in Marine Transportation and an M.S. in Transportation Management & Maintenance from the State University of New York Maritime College.  He received an M.B.A. in Finance from Hofstra University and a Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Iqbal Paroo, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation
Iqbal Paroo is the Managing Partner of Paroo and Associates, a health care consulting firm that advises academic health care institutions. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Paroo served as the President and CEO of Omidyar Network, a philanthropic investment firm. Prior to that, he was Chairman and CEO of Qualitas Healthcare International, a company that developed, owned, and managed health care systems in emerging economies and transforming markets. Mr. Paroo served as President of Hahnemann University from 1987 to 1994. He received a B.S. in Business Administration and an MHA from Georgia State University.

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

Hill Harper, Appointee for Member, President's Cancer Panel
Hill Harper is a film, television, and stage actor.  He is currently a cast member on the CBS television program CSI: NY, where he plays the role of Dr. Sheldon Hawkes.  During his career, Mr. Harper has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and plays, and has received seven NAACP Image Awards for his writing and acting.  Mr. Harper is also a survivor of thyroid cancer.  In 2011, he authored The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in Its Place, a New York Times bestseller which chronicles his diagnosis with thyroid cancer and his journey to health.  He received a B.A. from Brown University, an M.P.A. from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.