The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 26, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the United States joins the international community in pledging to work toward the elimination of torture and all other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 

As the President has made clear since the first days of the Administration, the United States rejects torture as unlawful, counter to our values, and inconsistent with the universal rights and freedoms that should be enjoyed by all men, women, and children wherever they live.  Torture is abhorrent:  we do not practice it, and we will not countenance it or transfer individuals to any country where they will be subjected to it. 

In keeping with our laws, principles, and the Convention Against Torture, the United States continues to work with our international partners to end torture.  With the development and enforcement of strong domestic laws, effective training of law enforcement and military personnel, and systematic review of interrogation, detention, and transfer practices, together we can turn over to our children a world in which no justification for torture is accepted. We will also continue to support efforts like the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.  

We know that much work needs to be done as the international community moves toward its goal of eliminating torture.  Until then, the United States will continue to seek an end to cruel and inhuman treatment.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 26, 2012

Readout of President Obama’s Call to Florida Governor Rick Scott

This morning President Obama called Florida Governor Rick Scott to ensure the state had no unmet needs as the Governor and his team continue to respond to extreme weather and flooding as a result of Tropical Storm Debby. The President expressed his condolences for the loss of life as well as the extensive damage to homes in Florida as a result of the storm, and reiterated that his Administration – through FEMA – would remain in close contact with the state as they continued to respond to this event and stood ready to provide additional assistance if necessary. At the request of the State, a FEMA liaison officer is onsite at the Florida state emergency operations center to support state response efforts as needed. The President asked Governor Scott to continue to identify any additional support his administration could provide, and told the Governor that his thoughts and prayers are with the citizens of Florida and the emergency response officials at this difficult time.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 25, 2012

Readout of the President’s Phone Call with Prime Minister Monti of Italy

President Obama spoke with Italian Prime Minister Monti earlier today, following up on their discussions at last week’s G-20 meeting in Los Cabos.  Prime Minister Monti provided the President with an update on economic developments in Europe, and they discussed the importance of continued efforts to promote growth and stability in the Eurozone.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 25, 2012

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Sheri Polster Chappell, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, vice Gregory A. Presnell, retired.
Katherine Polk Failla, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, vice Denise Cote, retired.
Troy L. Nunley, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California, vice Garland E. Burrell, Jr., retiring.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 25, 2012

President Obama Nominates Three to Serve on the US District Court

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Judge Sheri Polster Chappell, Katherine Polk Failla and Judge Troy L. Nunley to serve on the United States District Court.

“I am pleased to nominate these distinguished individuals to serve on the United States District Court bench,” said President Obama.  “I am confident they will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice.”

Judge Sheri Polster Chappell:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Judge Sheri Polster Chappell currently serves as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Florida, a position she has held since 2003.  From 2000 to 2003, she served as a County Court Judge in Lee County, Florida.  Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Chappell served as an Assistant State Attorney in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Florida for thirteen years, from 1987 to 2000.  She received her J.D. from Nova Southeastern University Law School (formerly Nova Law Center) in 1987 and her B.A. in 1984 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Katherine Polk Failla:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Katherine Polk Failla has been an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York since 2000.  For the past four years, Failla has served as Chief of the Criminal Appeals Unit, having previously served as Deputy Chief of the Unit from 2004 to 2008.  Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Failla spent six year in private practice at the law firm of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, where she handled commercial litigation and securities enforcement and litigation matters.  From 1993 to 1994, Failla clerked for the Honorable Joseph E. Irenas of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.  She received her J.D. cum laude in 1993 from Harvard Law School and her B.A. summa cum laude in 1990 from the College of William & Mary. 

Judge Troy L. Nunley: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
Judge Troy L. Nunley has been a judge on the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2002.  Previously, Judge Nunley served as a Deputy Attorney General in the California Attorney General’s office from 1999 until 2002.  Apart from a two-year stint as a sole practitioner from 1994 to 1996, Judge Nunley spent the remainder of his legal career serving as a Deputy District Attorney, first in Alameda County, California from 1991 to 1994, and more recently in Sacramento County, California from 1996 to 1999.  He received his J.D. in 1990 from University of California, Hastings College of the Law and his B.A. in 1986 from St. Mary’s College of California.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 25, 2012

Readout of the President’s Call with Greek Prime Minister Samaras

President Obama spoke with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras earlier today.  The President congratulated Prime Minister Samaras on his election and on the formation of his coalition government.  President Obama expressed his strong support for Greece and noted the continued solidarity between the American and Greek people.  The President welcomed Prime Minister Samaras’ commitment to address Greece’s economic situation and urged the Prime Minister to work closely with the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank in the implementation of Greece’s reform program.  The President also wished the Prime Minister a speedy recovery as he recuperates from his recent eye surgery.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 25, 2012

Obama Administration Awards “Vets to Cops” Hiring Grants

Grants awarded to hire veterans for law enforcement positions as part of President Obama’s Veterans Job Corps initiative

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) today announced funding awards to over 220 cities and counties, aimed at creating or saving approximately 800 law enforcement positions.  The grants will fund over 600 new law enforcement positions and save an additional 200 positions recently lost or in jeopardy of being cut due to local budget cuts.  All new law enforcement positions funded in the COPS 2012 Hiring Program must be filled by recent military veterans who have served at least 180 days since September 11, 2001.  In his State of the Union Address, President Obama called for a new Veterans Jobs Corps initiative to help put veterans back to work on a range of projects that leverage skills developed in the military, including first responder jobs. In February, the President announced that preference for this year’s COPS and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants would be given to communities that recruit and hire post-9/11 veterans to serve as police officers and firefighters.

More than $111 million is being awarded to local public safety agencies across the country.  The list of this year’s grantees includes Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Atlanta, GA; Trenton, NJ; Alameda County and Los Angeles, CA; Akron, OH; and Tacoma, WA.  The COPS Office will work with transition centers across the country to connect veterans with the new grant-funded law enforcement opportunities.  For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2012 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.

"Since we got into office, the President and I have been committed to helping our returning heroes find jobs and transition back into civilian life. A lot of them want to keep serving now that they’re back, and these COPS Grants help give them that chance," said Vice President Joe Biden.

“Today, we step up our support for recent veterans by offering them the chance to pursue meaningful careers in law enforcement,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. "At a time of budget shortfalls, these grants will provide opportunities for much-needed, highly-trained professionals – with a proven commitment to service - to continue their careers in communities all across the country.”

“This new opportunity for veterans is a commitment to support those who are coming home from their tour of duty,” said Bernard Melekian, COPS Office Director.  “We sincerely hope this effort encourages our veterans to continue to protect and serve the United States through new law enforcement careers.”

The COPS Hiring Program makes grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers.  The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.  Along with the pledge to hire military veterans, grantees for the 2012 Hiring Program were selected based on fiscal need and local crime rates.  An additional factor in the selection process was each agency’s strategy to address specific problems such as increased homicide rates and gun violence. 

Today’s announcement builds on several steps President Obama has taken to support veterans in developing skills and finding work, including by: creating new tax credits for businesses that hire veterans; challenging the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and their spouses by 2013; helping veterans obtain industry-recognized credentials and licenses; increasing access to intensive reemployment services; developing online tools to boost veteran employment; and increasing hiring of veterans in healthcare-related fields.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 25, 2012

Statement by the President on the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Arizona v. the United States

I am pleased that the Supreme Court has struck down key provisions of Arizona's immigration law.  What this decision makes unmistakably clear is that Congress must act on comprehensive immigration reform.  A patchwork  of state laws is not a solution to our broken immigration system – it’s part of the problem.

At the same time, I remain concerned about the practical impact of the remaining provision of the Arizona law that requires local law enforcement officials to check the immigration status of anyone they even suspect to be here illegally.  I agree with the Court that individuals cannot be detained solely to verify their immigration status.  No American should ever live under a cloud of suspicion just because of what they look like.  Going forward, we must ensure that Arizona law enforcement officials do not enforce this law in a manner that undermines the civil rights of Americans, as the Court’s decision recognizes.  Furthermore, we will continue to enforce our immigration laws by focusing on our most important priorities like border security and criminals who endanger our communities, and not, for example, students who earn their education – which is why the Department of Homeland Security announced earlier this month that it will lift the shadow of deportation from young people who were brought to the United States as children through no fault of their own.
 
I will work with anyone in Congress who’s willing to make progress on comprehensive immigration reform that addresses our economic needs and security needs, and upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.  And in the meantime, we will continue to use every federal resource to protect the safety and civil rights of all Americans, and treat all our people with dignity and respect. We can solve these challenges not in spite of our most cherished values – but because of them.  What makes us American is not a question of what we look like or what our names are.  What makes us American is our shared belief in the enduring promise of this country – and our shared responsibility to leave it more generous and more hopeful than we found it.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 24, 2012

Readout of the President's Call with Ahmed Shafiq of Egypt

President Obama called General Ahmed Shafiq today to commend him on a well-run campaign.  The President encouraged General Shafiq to continue to play a role in Egyptian politics by supporting the democratic process and working to unify the Egyptian people.  The President emphasized his interest in working together with the new Egyptian President and all Egyptian political groups to advance the shared interests between the United States and Egypt. 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
June 24, 2012

Readout of the President’s Call with President-Elect Morsi of Egypt

President Obama called Dr. Mohamed Morsi today to congratulate him on his victory in Egypt’s presidential election.  The President underscored that the United States will continue to support Egypt’s transition to democracy and stand by the Egyptian people as they fulfill the promise of their revolution.  He emphasized his interest in working together with President-elect Morsi, on the basis of mutual respect, to advance the many shared interests between Egypt and the United States.  President-elect Morsi expressed appreciation for the call and welcomed U.S. support for Egypt’s transition.  The two leaders affirmed their commitment to advancing the U.S.-Egypt partnership and agreed to stay in close touch in the weeks and months ahead.