The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 25, 2012

Statement by NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor on the National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon’s Trip to China

National Security Advisor Tom Donilon held constructive, detailed, and wide ranging discussions with senior Chinese officials during his visit to Beijing July 23-25.  Mr. Donilon met with President Hu Jintao, Vice President Xi Jinping, Vice Premier Wang Qishan, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.  He also had a productive discussion with Vice Chairman of the Military Commission General Xu Caihou.

Mr. Donilon held extensive exchanges on the goals of the bilateral relationship and the mechanisms to achieve them.  In discussing regional and global issues, Mr. Donilon underscored the shared responsibility of both countries to address such challenges as North Korea, Iran, Syria, regional security in Asia, as well as the rebalancing of the global economy.  Mr. Donilon underscored the importance of continuing to build a substantive and sustained military-to-military relationship, and underscored the continuing importance of the human rights dialogue.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 25, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Arrest of Activists in Cuba

We condemn the arrest of nearly 50 pro-democracy activists by the Cuban government during funeral ceremonies for Oswaldo Paya this week.  Some of those arrested were reportedly beaten at the time of their detention.  The fact that this occurred while hundreds of people gathered peacefully to commemorate the life of one of Cuba’s foremost human rights advocates only underscores the importance of Paya’s struggle on behalf of the Cuban people.  Unfortunately, these arrests provide a stark demonstration of the climate of repression in Cuba, as demonstrated by the June 9 arrest of Jorge Luis Garcia Perez following his testimony to a U.S. Senate Subcommittee regarding rights abuses in Cuba, and by hundreds of other arbitrary detentions in recent months. 

We call on the Cuban government to respect internationally recognized fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, rather than arresting their citizens for peacefully exercising these universal rights that are protected and promoted by governments throughout the world.  We look forward to the day when the Cuban people can live in the free society Oswaldo Paya worked so hard to bring about throughout his lifetime.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
July 25, 2012

America's Social Workers Join Dr. Jill Biden to Launch "Social Work and Service Members: Joining Forces to Support Veterans and Military Families"

National Association of Social Workers urges 650,000 professional social workers to gain education and training on mental and behavioral health, health, economic, and social challenges facing nation’s veterans and military families

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Dr. Jill Biden will join the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at their national practice conference, Restoring Hope: The Power of Social Work, to announce a new Joining Forces commitment aimed at educating all social workers, regardless of practice area or focus, to have a better understanding of issues relating to the care, culture, and lifestyle of our nation’s troops, veterans, and military families.  The Joining Forces commitment means that more than 650,000 social workers – the nation’s largest group of mental health care providers – will have access to training and resources to help meet the needs of our service men and women, veterans and military families.

“We have asked a lot of our military over the past decade, and they have responded to the need for more and frequent deployments without complaint.  Our veterans and military families are among the most resilient men and women I have ever met and I am always inspired by them.  But they have shouldered a tremendous burden and for those who need some additional support, we need to be ready to help.  Social workers are uniquely positioned to help reach our troops, veterans and military families exactly where they are, in every single county in America,” said Dr. Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States.

In addition to invisible wounds such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), which impact approximately one in six of our troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, service members and veterans have a heightened risk of substance use, unemployment, homelessness, and suicide.  Female veterans and those residing in rural areas are at an even greater disadvantage as they may find it difficult to access services or find resources that directly address their unique needs.
“Social workers are the largest provider of mental health services in the United States. We have a responsibility to ensure that service members, veterans, and their loved ones have access to the mental and behavioral health services they deserve.  In addition, social workers who provide a broad range of services in areas such as sexual assault, case management, and advocacy have expertise and skills to offer and should be leaders in these efforts,” NASW President Jeane Anastas, PhD, LMSW, said.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Biden created Joining Forces last year as a way to spark action and encourage all Americans to find ways to honor and support our service men and women, veterans and military families in their own communities.  The initiative focuses on improving employment, education, and wellness of America’s troops, veterans and military families as well as raise awareness about the service, sacrifice and needs of all who serve our country.  NASW has been a proud member of Joining Forces since 2011 and is committed to educating and training all social workers so that they are prepared to meet the needs of those who have made incredible sacrifices for the United States.

“This announcement from America’s social workers is exactly the type of commitment we hoped to see when the First Lady and Dr. Biden launched Joining Forces last year – a major national organization stepping up and positively impacting our veterans and military families in the most meaningful of ways.  This commitment is particularly meaningful and unique because it lays a foundation that will support our troops and their families for decades to come,” said Captain Brad Cooper, Executive Director of Joining Forces.
Social work has been known as the helping profession for over a century and during that time has been an essential component of the social safety net, guiding people to critical resources, counseling them on important life decisions, and helping them reach their full potential.  The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic needs of all people, with particular attention to those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. 

NASW CEO Elizabeth J. Clark noted that, “Social workers focus on individual well-being within the social context. Fundamental to social work is attention to all of the forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living. Through this perspective, we understand that veterans and military families can experience extraordinary challenges that require extraordinary responses. We stand ready to prepare social workers to lead that response.”

Social workers have been serving veterans since 1926, when the first social work program was established in the Veterans Bureau. Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the largest employer of master’s-degreed social workers in the nation with over 9,000 social workers. Social workers also serve in and work for the Air Force, Army, and Navy providing clinical, administrative, and research services.

Key Social Work Joining Forces Commitments Include:

  • A free online five-course training module available for all social workers: It will include military culture, advocacy, direct practice, cultural competency, and standards review. This course will not be limited to social workers who specifically work with veterans and military families, but also private practitioners, clinical social workers, agency social workers, policy practitioners, educators, and researchers. This course will count toward continuing education requirements for practitioners.
  • A professional Credential for Social Work with Veterans and Military Families: Based on the training module, this credential will be offered free for one year to all NASW members and is geared towards social workers that work primarily with service members, veterans, or their loved ones.
  • Standards for Social Work Practice with Veterans and Military Families: These guidelines will be disseminated to all NASW members with the goal of providing a basic level of education on veterans and military families.

These materials will be forthcoming in fall 2012 and 2013.

For more information on NASW’s “Social Work and Service Members: Joining Forces to Support Veterans and Military Families,” visit www.socialworkers.org/military.asp or contact Elizabeth Hoffler at ehoffler@naswdc.org.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 24, 2012

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:

• Ranee Ramaswamy – Member, National Council on the Arts

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

• Tom A. Bernstein – Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
• Amy Friedkin – Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
• Susan E. Lowenberg – Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
• Deborah A. Oppenheimer – Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
• Cheryl Peisach – Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
• Richard S. Price  – Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
• Elliot J. Schrage  – Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council

President Obama said, “These dedicated and accomplished individuals will be valued additions to my Administration as we tackle the important challenges facing America. 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:

Ranee Ramaswamy, Nominee for Member, National Council on the Arts
Ranee Ramaswamy is Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Ragamala Dance Company.  She has been a master choreographer, performer, and teacher of Bharatanatyam dance since 1978.  Her work has been commissioned by the Walker Art Center, American Composers Forum, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and has been supported by the National Dance Project and the Joyce Foundation.  Ms. Ramaswamy’s tours have been highlighted by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the American Dance Festival, and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, India. Among her numerous grants and awards are 14 McKnight Fellowships, a Bush Foundation Choreography Fellowship, and an Artist Exploration Fund grant from Arts International.  She is the recipient of the 2011 McKnight Distinguished Artist Award and was named "2011 Artist of the Year" (with co-director Aparna Ramaswamy) by the Minneapolis StarTribune.  Ms. Ramaswamy earned a B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Madras, India.

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

Tom A. Bernstein, Appointee for Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Tom A. Bernstein is President and Co-Founder of Chelsea Piers, L.P., which was formed in 1992 to develop and operate the Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex along Manhattan’s Hudson River.  Mr. Bernstein was first appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council in 2002 and was designated Chairperson by President Obama in 2010.  From 1983 to 1998, he was a principal of Silver Screen Management, Inc. and the affiliated Silver Screen companies.  He has been a Board member of Human Rights First (formerly Lawyers Committee for Human Rights) since 1983, serving as Vice Chair since 2006.  In 2010, Mr. Bernstein was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of the Fund for Cities of Service in New York City.  He also serves as Chair of the Partnership for Public Service, and he is a member of the Yale University Council and the Board and Executive Committee of the Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.  Mr. Bernstein received a B.A. from Yale College and a J.D. from Yale Law School, where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal.

Amy Friedkin, Appointee for Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Amy Friedkin is currently the President of the Board of Directors of ISRAEL21c, an online news and educational magazine.  She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Foundation of the East Bay and the Hadassah Foundation.  She served as the National Chair of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) Board of Directors from 2004 to 2006 and was AIPAC’s first female president from 2002 to 2004.  Previously, Ms. Friedkin was president of the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay from 1988 to 1990.  She received a B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Susan E. Lowenberg, Appointee for Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Susan E. Lowenberg is President of Lowenberg Corporation, an industrial real estate investment firm.  Currently, she serves on several philanthropic boards, including the American Jewish World Service; the Holocaust Memorial Education Fund; the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco; and the Horizons Foundation Advisory Board.  In addition, she has been a director of the Bank of San Francisco since 2007.  Ms. Lowenberg served on the City and County of San Francisco Planning Commission from 1991 to 1997, serving as President from 1996 to 1997.  In 1993, she received the Harry S. Rosen Young Leadership Award from the Jewish Agency for Israel.  Ms. Lowenberg is the child of a Holocaust survivor.  She holds a B.S. from the University of Oregon.

Deborah A. Oppenheimer, Appointee for Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Deborah A. Oppenheimer is Executive Vice President of NBCUniversal International Television Production.  She created and produced the critically-acclaimed documentary, "Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport,”for which she won an Academy Award in 2000.  Ms. Oppenheimer co-authored the film’s companion book and oversaw the writing of the teachers’ Study Guide.  She has judged documentaries for the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust and the Producers Guild of America.  In addition, Ms. Oppenheimer has volunteered in various capacities with the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the Hollygrove Orphans Home Society, and the Los Angeles Unified School District. Ms. Oppenheimer is the daughter of two Holocaust survivors.  She received a B.S. and an honorary D.F.A. from the State University College of New York at Buffalo.

Cheryl Peisach, Appointee for Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Cheryl Peisach is the founder and CFO of Passion Growers, LLC, an importer and distributor of fresh cut roses founded in 2002.  From 1998 to 2001, she was the Manager of the Premium Rose Division of Dole Fresh Flowers.  Previously, Ms. Peisach was a partner, CFO, and Director of Procurement of Finesse Farms.  Ms. Peisach is a board member of the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation and Memorial Foundation and serves on the University of Pennsylvania’s Trustee’s Council of Penn Women.  Ms. Peisach is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.  She graduated with a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Richard S. Price, Appointee for Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Richard S. Price is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mesirow Financial, a diversified financial services firm.  He was named President of the company in 2006.  Mr. Price joined Mesirow Financial in 1972, serving in various capacities, including President of the firm’s insurance agency.  Since 1987, Mr. Price has been a member of Mesirow Financial’s Board of Directors and he joined the Executive Committee in 1997.  He is on the Board of Directors of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, The Executives’ Club of Chicago, and the Big Shoulders Fund.  Mr. Price also sits on the Board of Trustees for Rush University Medical Center and is a national board member of the American Friends of the Israel Sport Center for the Disabled. 

Elliot J. Schrage, Appointee for Member, United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Elliot J. Schrage is the Vice President of Communications and Public Policy at Facebook.  From 2005 to 2008, he was the Vice President of Global Communications and Public Affairs at Google, Inc.  Prior to joining Google, Mr. Schrage was the Bernard L. Schwarz Senior Fellow in Business and Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations from 2002 to 2006, the Senior Vice President of Global Affairs for Gap, Inc. from 2000 to 2001 and an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School from 1990 to 2002.  He has served on the board of the International League for Human Rights and was a trustee for the Harvard Law School Association of New York.  He received a B.A. from Harvard University, an M.P.P. from the Kennedy School of Government, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
July 24, 2012

Readout of Vice President Biden’s Meeting with Arab-American Leaders

Vice President Biden and other Senior Administration Officials met today with a group of Arab-American thinkers and community leaders. In a wide-ranging discussion, members of the group shared their views on developments unfolding across the Middle East and the Vice President outlined the Administration’s approach to this period of profound change. The Vice President expressed his appreciation for the valuable ideas and insights that participants offered on the challenges and opportunities we face.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 24, 2012

Statement by the President on the Death of President John Evans Atta Mills of Ghana

It was with great regret that I learned of the passing of President John Evans Atta Mills of Ghana. I will always remember my trip to Ghana in 2009, and the hospitality that President Mills and the people of Ghana showed to me, Michelle, Malia, Sasha and our entire delegation. I was also pleased to host President Mills in the Oval Office earlier this year.  President Mills tirelessly worked to improve the lives of the Ghanaian people.  He helped promote economic growth in Ghana in the midst of challenging global circumstances and strengthened Ghana’s strong tradition of democracy. Under his leadership, the United States and Ghana deepened our partnership in the promotion of good governance and economic development. He was also a strong advocate for human rights and for the fair treatment of all Ghanaians.  On behalf of the American people, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the people of Ghana, and reaffirm the deep and enduring bonds between our democracies that President Mills helped to strengthen.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 24, 2012

Message -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Actions of Certain Persons to Undermine the Sovereignty of Lebanon or its Democratic Processes or Institutions

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 with respect to the actions of certain persons to undermine the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic processes and institutions is to continue in effect beyond August 1, 2012.

Certain ongoing activities, such as continuing arms transfers to Hizballah that include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems, undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic instability in the region, and continue to constitute 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 declared on August 1, 2007, to deal with that threat and the related measures adopted on that date to respond to the emergency.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 24, 2012

Notice -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Actions of Certain Persons to Undermine the Sovereignty of Lebanon or its Democratic Processes or Institutions

NOTICE

- - - - - - -

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE
ACTIONS OF CERTAIN PERSONS TO UNDERMINE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF LEBANON OR ITS DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES OR INSTITUTIONS

On August 1, 2007, by Executive Order 13441, the President declared a national emergency and ordered related measures blocking the property of certain persons undermining the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic processes or institutions and certain other persons, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706). The President determined that the actions of certain persons to undermine Lebanon's legitimate and democratically elected government or democratic institutions; to contribute to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law in Lebanon, including through politically motivated violence and intimidation; to reassert Syrian control or contribute to Syrian interference in Lebanon; or to infringe upon or undermine Lebanese sovereignty contribute to political and economic instability in that country and the region and constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.

Certain ongoing activities, such as continuing arms transfers to Hizballah that include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems, serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic instability in Lebanon, and continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, the national emergency declared on August 1, 2007, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond August 1, 2012. 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 13441.

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

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 24, 2012

Fact Sheet: Administration Releases Final Version of Financial Aid Shopping Sheet

Earlier this year, at the University of Michigan, President Obama outlined the steps that his Administration is taking to make college more affordable and to ensure that students “know before they owe.”
 
Today, as part of that ongoing effort, the Administration unveiled the final version of the model financial aid award letter, or “Shopping Sheet” — an individualized standard financial aid letter that will help students understand their costs before making the final decision on where to enroll.  The shopping sheet will allow students to easily compare aid packages offered by different institutions. To develop the Shopping Sheet, the U.S. Department of Education partnered with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a new independent agency established in the wake of the financial crisis.
 
Too often, students and families face the daunting task of deciding where to enroll, whether to write a check, or whether to sign for a student loan, without a clear explanation of what the costs mean, or how these costs compare to other colleges they are considering.  As a result, too many students leave college with debt that they didn’t understand at the time that they entered school.  While many financial aid award letters provide this information, some can be confusing, lacking clear distinctions between grants and loans, as well information about post-graduate outcomes associated with the institution. These obscurities make the task of comparison-shopping for the most affordable and appropriate college even more difficult.
 
The Shopping Sheet makes clear the costs and responsibilities of student loans upfront – before students have enrolled – outlining their total estimated annual costs, institutional rates of completion and default, and information about a student’s potential monthly loan payments after graduation.  Ultimately, this tool provides students and their families with useful information that can help them make a more informed decision about where to attend college and to help them better understand the debt burdens that may be face after graduation.
 
Secretary Duncan today will publish an open letter to college and university presidents, asking them to adopt the Shopping Sheet as part of their financial aid awards starting in the 2013-14 school year. Additionally, colleges who agree to the Principles of Excellence for Serving Military and Veterans will begin using this form during the 2013-14 school year. Institutions of higher education interested in adopting the Shopping Sheet may contact the Department of Education at ShoppingSheet@ed.gov for additional information.
 
While states and colleges share responsibility to keep down the rising cost of college, improved consumer disclosures can ensure that students and families make wise decisions when investing in higher education.  To learn more about President Obama’s comprehensive proposal to make college more affordable, please visit: http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/27/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-blueprint-keeping-college-affordable-and-wi
 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 24, 2012

New White House Report Highlights the Effects of the President’s Proposal for Middle Class Tax Cuts

WASHINGTON -- Today, the White House released a new report by the National Economic Council highlighting how President Obama’s proposal to keep taxes from rising for 98 percent of families will help the middle class, and outlining what the effects would be if Congress fails to act to extend these tax cuts.  The report can be found HERE.