The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 16, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary on Today’s Executive Order on Yemen’s Peace, Security, and Stability

Today, President Obama signed an Executive Order authorizing sanctions to be imposed on individuals and entities who threaten the peace, security, and stability of Yemen by disrupting the political transition. This Executive Order will allow the United States to take action against those who seek to undermine Yemen’s transition and the Yemeni peoples’ clear desire for change. The President took this step because he believes that the legitimate aspirations of the Yemeni people, along with the urgent humanitarian and security challenges, cannot be addressed if political progress stalls.

Yemen’s transition represents an important step forward for the Yemeni people, who deserve the opportunity to determine their future. The United States strongly supports Yemen’s political transition and will continue to work with our international partners, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, to help Yemen chart a more secure, democratic, and prosperous path forward.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 16, 2012

President Obama Calls on Congress to Act on Small Business Proposal in “To Do List” and Meets with Congressional Leadership

National Economic Council Releases Report on Moving America’s Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs Forward

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Obama will visit a small business in the Washington, DC area where he will urge Congress to act on the “To Do List,” specifically highlighting the need to invest in small businesses and jumpstart new hiring and entrepreneurship by passing legislation that gives a 10 percent income tax credit for firms that create new jobs or increase wages in 2012 and that extends 100 percent expensing in 2012 for all businesses. This stands in contrast to the proposal put forward by House Republicans, which could actually discourage hiring and new investments this year.
 
While at the small business, the President and Small Business Administrator Karen Mills will hold a roundtable discussion with a group of small business owners that would benefit from the President’s small business proposal. The roundtable is pooled press.
 
Following this visit, the President will return to the White House to meet with Congressional leadership where he will stress the importance of acting on the economic agenda he laid out last week as part of the Congressional To Do List. This meeting will include House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
 
In addition, today, the National Economic Council will release a report that highlights the investments the Obama Administration has made to keep America’s small businesses moving forward and calls on Congress to do its part to make it easier for small businesses to grow and create jobs.
 
And next week, members of the Cabinet and Senior Administration officials will be participating in National Small Business Week events and speaking about the President’s efforts to help small businesses. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner will be in Baltimore on Thursday visiting a small business; National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will speak during National Small Business Week events. Small Business Administrator Karen Mills will join Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan and Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu to highlight the role small businesses played in one million green retrofits. Federal Bureau of Investigation, NASA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Labor, Department of Justice, Department of Treasury, Department of Transportation and the General Services Administration will participate in business matchmaking sessions to find innovative small business contractors.

Congress’ To Do List

1. Reward American Jobs, Eliminate Tax Incentives To Ship Jobs Overseas: Congress needs to attract and keep good jobs in the United States by passing legislation that gives companies a new 20 percent tax credit for the cost of moving their operations back to the U.S. and pay for it by eliminating tax incentives that allow companies to deduct the costs of moving their business abroad.

2. Cut Red Tape So Responsible Homeowners Can Refinance: Congress needs to pass legislation to cut red tape in the mortgage market so that responsible families who have been paying their mortgages on time can feel secure in their home by refinancing at today’s lower rates.

3. Invest in a New Hire Tax Credit For Small Businesses: Congress needs to invest in small businesses and jumpstart new hiring by passing legislation that gives a 10 percent income tax credit for firms that create new jobs or increase wages in 2012 and that extends 100 percent expensing in 2012 for all businesses.

4. Create Jobs By Investing In Affordable Clean Energy: Congress needs to help put America in control of its energy future by passing legislation that will extend the Production Tax Credit to support American jobs and manufacturing alongside an expansion of the 30 percent tax credit to investments in clean energy manufacturing (48C Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit).

5. Put Returning Veterans to Work Using Skills Developed in the Military: Congress needs to honor our commitment to returning veterans by passing legislation that creates a Veterans Jobs Corps to help Afghanistan and Iraq veterans get jobs as cops and firefighters, as well as other jobs serving their communities.

The President’s plan for congressional action has two key components:
 
Congress needs to invest in small businesses to jumpstart new hiring by passing legislation that gives a 10 percent income tax credit for firms that create new jobs or increase wages in 2012 and that extends 100 percent expensing in 2012.
 
• Encourage an additional $200 billion to $300 billion in new wages and jobs this year with a Small Business Jobs and Wages Tax Credit:
 
o Credit for New Wages:  The plan would provide firms with a 10 percent income tax credit for new wages added in 2012. This would encourage both new hiring and providing raises to existing workers. The credit would be limited to $500,000 per firm in order to focus the benefit on small businesses. 
 
o Focused on Middle Class Workers: Because the credit is based on Social Security wage base, companies would receive no credit for increasing wages above $110,100. Unlike the House Republican proposal, the President’s proposal ensures that companies that offer raises only to already well-paid executives would be ineligible for the tax relief. 
 
o Directly tied to new hires and pay increases:  Because the credit is tied to increases in payroll, the benefit is only available only to companies that make new hires or offer employee pay-raises – directly encouraging growth and jumpstarting hiring. This stands in contrast to proposals put forward by Congressional Republicans that would cut taxes of hedge fund managers, law partners and many of the wealthiest Americans regardless of whether they employed or hired a single worker.
 
o Helps 2 Million Small Businesses: This credit would help nearly 2 million actual small businesses with employees.
 
o More than $20 billion in tax relief to encourage an additional $200 to $300 million in new wages and jobs: The President’s plan will provide more than $20 billion in direct tax relief targeted to small businesses in 2012 and 2013, according to a score from the independent, non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation. This $20 billion in direct tax relief could encourage an additional $200 billion to $300 billion in new wages and jobs this year.
 
• Support business investment this year with 100 percent expensing for 2012:  The President is proposing an extension of the 100 percent expensing provision that he signed into law in December 2010, which rewards firms for making investments by allowing them to deduct the full value of those investments through 2012. Extending 100 percent expensing for an additional year would put an additional $50 billion in the hands of businesses in 2012 and 2013. Most of this relief would be recouped by the Treasury as businesses regain their strength. 
 
o What Others Have Said About Expensing:
 
 The National Federation of Independent Business called expensing a “big victory” for small business: “Bottom line – just about every small business can write-off the full amount of investments they want to make in 2010 and 2011.” (December 2010).
 
 In a 2010 letter signed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, more than 80 business groups – representing industries from aerospace and wireless to builders, contractors, and retail stores – wrote that “bringing back bonus depreciation will encourage companies of all sizes to invest in newer, more efficient, and more environmentally-friendly equipment, which will help large and small businesses alike.”
 
• President Obama’s plan would help 2 million actual small businesses with employees, in contrast to the “small business” tax cut proposed by Republicans in the House, which is an unacceptable giveaway to wealthiest Americans: President Obama small business tax cuts focus on wages and investment – tangible steps firms are taking to hire workers, raise wages or invest to grow whereas the House Republicans provide across-the-board tax cuts (a 20 percent deduction) to anyone with self-employment income – and even to companies that lay off workers or reduce pay.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2012

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

The President spoke by phone today with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti.  The President thanked the Prime Minister for Italy’s many significant contributions to NATO and discussed the continued transition to Afghan-led responsibility for Afghan security, and the sustainment of the Afghan National Security Forces, which will be on the agenda of the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago.  The President and Prime Minister Monti also discussed the current economic situation in Europe and agreed on the need to intensify efforts to promote growth and job creation.  The President looks forward to discussing these topics in further detail with the Prime Minister during the upcoming meeting of G-8 leaders at Camp David this weekend.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2012

Statement by the President on the Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank

I’m pleased that Members of Congress from both parties have come together to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank.  This important step will help American businesses create jobs here at home and sell their products around the world – all at no cost to taxpayers. 

Last year marked the highest level of financing in the Bank’s 77-year history, as they supported thousands of U.S. companies, hundreds of thousands of jobs, and brought us closer to the goal I set of doubling our nation’s exports by the end of 2014.  Over the last several months, I’ve met with business leaders here in Washington, visited workers at companies like Boeing, and urged Congress to reauthorize the Bank to keep building on this progress.  And I’m glad to see it get done.

Now Congress needs to keep going.  Last week, I proposed several common-sense ideas that will help small businesses, reward companies that bring jobs back to America, invest in clean energy and veterans, and help responsible homeowners save money on their mortgages.  Congress should continue to do the right thing by acting on proposals we know will grow our economy and create jobs.  In the meantime, I look forward to signing this bill into law.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 298, H.R. 1423, H.R. 2079, H.R. 2213, H.R. 2244, H.R. 2660, H.R. 2668, H.R. 2767, H.R. 3004, H.R. 3246, 3247, H.R. 3248, and S. 1302

On Tuesday, May 15, 2012, the President signed into law:

H.R. 298, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Cedar Park, Texas, as the Army Specialist Matthew Troy Morris Post Office Building;

H.R. 1423, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Ardmore, Oklahoma, as the Specialist Micheal E. Phillips Post Office;

H.R. 2079, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in East Rockaway, New York, as the John J. Cook Post Office;

H.R. 2213, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Iuka, Mississippi, as the Sergeant Jason W. Vaughn Post Office;

H.R. 2244, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Geneva, New York, as the Corporal Steven Blaine Riccione Post Office;

H.R. 2660, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Tomball, Texas, as the Tomball Veterans Post Office;

H.R. 2668, the "Brian A. Terry Memorial Act," which designates the station of the United States Border Patrol in Bisbee, Arizona, as the Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station;

H.R. 2767, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Westfield, Massachusetts, as the William T. Trant Post Office Building;

H.R. 3004, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Yountville, California, as the Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Post Office Building;

H.R. 3246, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Ballwin, Missouri, as the Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building;

H.R. 3247, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office Building;

H.R. 3248, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service in Saint Charles, Missouri, as the Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver Post Office Building; and

S. 1302, which authorizes the General Services Administration to convey a reversionary interest in a parcel of real property to the city of Tracy, California.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2012

Presidential Nominations and Withdrawal Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Thomas Hart Armbruster, of New York, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

David Bruce Wharton, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Zimbabwe.

WITHDRAWAL SENT TO THE SENATE:

Arunava Majumdar, of California, to be Under Secretary of Energy, vice Kristina M. Johnson, resigned, which was sent to the Senate on November 30, 2011.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2012

Readout of the President’s Call with Prime Minister Gillard of Australia

The President spoke on the phone with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard late last evening, to continue their regular consultations on Afghanistan ahead of the May 21 ISAF Summit in Chicago.  The President updated Prime Minister Gillard on recent key developments in the U.S. relationship with Afghanistan, including his recent trip to Afghanistan and the signing of the U.S.-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement.  During their discussion, the President and Prime Minister confirmed their shared goals for the ISAF meeting, to include moving forward with our effort to transition to Afghan lead responsibility, and agreeing on sufficient and sustainable Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) that can continue the progress the international community has already made.  The President noted that Australia is one of our closest partners in Afghanistan, and expressed appreciation for Australia’s significant contributions and Prime Minister Gillard’s leadership.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 14, 2012

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Frank Paul Geraci, Jr., of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of New York, vice David G. Larimer, retired.

Fernando M. Olguin, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California, vice Jacqueline H. Nguyen, elevated.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 14, 2012

President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the US District Court

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Judge Frank Paul Geraci, Jr. and Judge Fernando M. Olguin to serve on the United States District Court.

“I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for the federal bench,” President Obama said.  “They will be distinguished public servants and valuable additions to the United States District Court.”


Judge Frank Paul Geraci, Jr.: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Western District of New York
Judge Frank Paul Geraci, Jr. has served as a Monroe County Court Judge in Rochester, New York since 1999, where he primarily handles criminal felony matters.  From 1992 through 1998, he was a judge on the Rochester City Court, where he presided over various types of civil cases, criminal misdemeanors, and pre-trial felony matters.  Judge Geraci was a partner at the Law Firm of Geraci & Feldman from 1987 until his election to the bench.  Previously, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of New York from 1983 to 1987 and as a Special Assistant District Attorney in the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office from 1978 to 1983.  Judge Geraci received his J.D. in 1977 from the University of Dayton Law School and his B.A. in 1973 from the University of Dayton. 

Judge Fernando M. Olguin: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Central District of California
Judge Fernando M. Olguin currently serves as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Central District of California, a position he has held since 2001.  Previously, he spent six years as a named partner in the firm of Traber, Voorhees & Olguin, where he primarily handled housing and employment matters.  From 1994 to 1995, he was the Education Program Director at the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund.   Judge Olguin was a Trial Attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice from 1991 to 1994.  He began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Carl A. Muecke of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.  Judge Olguin received his J.D. and M.A. in 1989 from the University of California at Berkeley and his B.A. with honors in 1985 from Harvard University.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 14, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary on Uganda’s Capture of a Senior Commander in the Lord’s Resistance Army

The United States congratulates the Government of Uganda on the capture of one of the senior commanders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) by the Ugandan military.  The capture of Maj. Gen. Ceasar Acellam is a testament to the resolve of Uganda and its military forces to work with regional forces to end the threat posed by the LRA.

Ugandan and other regional forces continue to pursue the LRA and keep its leadership on the run.  The United States joins regional governments and the African Union in calling on abductees and remaining members of the LRA to depart the ranks of the LRA and peacefully surrender.  Support is available to help those who defect and peacefully surrender to return to their home communities and build a new life.

While the capture of Acellam is an important step forward, the LRA continues to pose a deadly threat to civilians.  The United States is committed to supporting the people and governments of the region in their collective efforts, in coordination with the African Union and United Nations, to protect civilians and end this threat.  A small number of U.S. military advisors continue to assist Uganda and other regional forces pursuing the LRA and seeking to protect local populations.  As President Obama has said, “it is part of our regional strategy to end the scourge that is the LRA, and help realize a future where no African child is stolen from their family and no girl is raped and no boy is turned into a child soldier.”