The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
May 14, 2012

First Lady Joins Team USA to Announce Nationwide Commitments to Get More Than 1.7 Million Kids Active This Year

Mrs. Obama, who will lead the Presidential Delegation to London, is working to turn the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games into action by getting more kids healthy and active

Dallas, Texas – Today, First Lady Michelle Obama joined U.S. Olympians, Paralympians and London hopefuls to announce a nationwide commitment to get more than 1.7 million American children active as part of her Let’s Move! initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation.   Through commitments to the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), U.S. Paralympics, the U.S. Olympians Association, and USOC National Governing Bodies for sport, including USA Cycling/USA BMX, USA Soccer, USA Swimming, USA Track & Field, US Tennis Association, USA Field Hockey and USA Volleyball, these organizations will provide beginner athletic programming to more than 1.7 million kids in 2012. PHA has also created a website, www.ahealthieramerica.org/olympics, to help families find affiliated sports programs in their area.

Mrs. Obama, who will lead the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London this summer, is working to turn the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games into action by getting more kids healthy and active. In March, Mrs. Obama welcomed Mrs. Samantha Cameron, wife of British Prime Minister David Cameron, to the United States by hosting a mini-Olympics event for local school children and two weeks ago, Mrs. Obama spoke at the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Warrior Games.

“This year, 1.7 million young people will be participating in Olympic and Paralympic sports in their communities – many of them for the very first time.  And that is so important, because sometimes all it takes is that first lesson, or clinic, or class to get a child excited about a new sport,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “So this summer, together with our children, we can support Team USA not just by cheering them on, but by striving to live up to the example they set. In the end, some of these athletes will bring home the gold, but all of them will make our country proud, and all of them will inspire a generation of young people to get active, to strive for excellence, and to pursue whatever dreams they may hold in their hearts.”

“We’re incredibly honored to have Mrs. Obama join us in Dallas to celebrate the accomplishments of America’s finest athletes and announce new ways we can all work together to increase access to sport for young children,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “The Let's Move! initiative is an important one and something the entire Olympic family in the United States is eager to support.”

“This summer, Team USA will inspire us all with their skill, their grace and their abilities. Because of today's commitments, the inspiration will not end after the closing ceremonies,” said PHA President and CEO Larry Soler. “The First Lady's leadership has brought together a group of organizations that are committed to helping more than a million young people engage in sports in ways that were previously unavailable to them.  It's important for us to remember that being active and moving more doesn't mean you have to train like our nation’s elite athletes - but being active is part of a healthy lifestyle. And the more opportunities our kids have to move, the healthier lives they will lead.”

“It was extremely important to my parents that I was active from an early age,” said Natalie Coughlin. “I started swimming competitively at age 6 to make friends, be active and be healthy.  It wasn't important to my parents that I win ribbons or trophies, but it was important that I was active and dedicated to something in addition to school.  Not only did it feed my competitive drive and help me be healthy, but it made me a better student and a better kid. To join with the First Lady and spread that message is truly an honor.”

Mrs. Obama has been leading a nationwide effort to combat childhood obesity so that children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight.  The Let’s Move! initiative is a comprehensive, collaborative, and community-oriented initiative that has sought to engage every sector of society to tackle head-on the many different factors that lead to childhood obesity.  Today’s announcement is a significant step towards providing children across the country with many different opportunities to become physically fit and stay active.

The Partnership for a Healthier America secured the following commitments from several National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). PHA and USOC will work with each of these groups to evaluate and monitor their progress with these efforts.

USA Cycling/USA BMX will offer free 30-day memberships to tracks and free races/clinics at 350 BMX tracks nationwide this summer. These efforts will engage approximately 88,000 young people, an increase of 40% from 2011.

USA Field Hockey will launch the “FUNdamental Field Hockey” program to introduce kids ages 7-11 to the sport of Field Hockey at 250 locations.  This program will engage 15,000 kids this year.

USA Gymnastics will challenge its local member clubs to host introductory clinics and events for National Gymnastics Day on September 22, 2012.  These events will reach approximately 40,000 kids – an increase of 80% over USA Gymnastics’ youth engagement last year.  

The US Olympians Association recently kicked off a “Walk to London” initiative through which 5,456 children will walk a total of 5,456 miles – the distance from Los Angeles to London – at 20 free community-based walks from April 8 through June 23. More than 250 Olympians and Paralympians will participate as walk leaders, and each walk will host other clinics and sports expos alongside the route.

US Paralympics will facilitate 300 Paralympic Ambassador visits to schools and community centers and provide training for an additional 1,000 local leaders. US Paralympics will also work with local partners to establish 80 new Paralympic Sports Clubs to reach a total of 250 clubs by the end of this year.  The organization estimates that they will engage a combined 87,500 young people through these programs, an increase of 40% over last year.

The US Soccer Federation will engage 12,000 youth in 13 cities through the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Soccer for Success program, which provides free, afterschool programming to urban youth.  In 2011, the program reached 8,000 kids in 8 cities.

USA Swimming will enroll 530,000 new learn-to-swim participants in its “Make a Splash” program at more than 500 local partner sites.  Additionally, USA Swimming will engage 70,000 new youth members through its local chapters.  In all, USA Swimming will provide beginner programming to 600,000 young people in 2012. 

The US Tennis Association (USTA) will introduce 620,000 youth to tennis by training 4,000 physical education professionals in the “10 & Under Tennis” curriculum.  USTA will also expand its National Junior Tennis and Learning Network (NJTL) to reach 100,000 youth through local partner sites.  Additionally, USTA will involve 30,000 youth in Kids Tennis Clubs that provide afterschool and summer programming in communities across the country.  In all, USTA will reach 750,000 new kids this year.

USA Track& Field will expand its youth programming by 35% this year to reach 120,000 kids across the country.  USATF will do this by engaging 80,000 youth in local track clubs and by facilitating beginner clinics and Olympian visits for 40,000 students through its Win with Integrity and Track in a Box programs for schools.

USA Volleyball will introduce 30,000 children to volleyball in 2012 by enhancing their “Grow the Game Together” programming, launching a new “Move with a New Player” program,  and expanding its existing youth outreach with partners including the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) and the YMCA.

In addition, USA Basketball, as part of its Hoops for Troops initiative, will host a series of events and clinics for military families this summer in collaboration with Let’s Move!, the First Lady’s Joining Forces Initiative, and the Department of Defense.  These efforts will coincide with the 2012 USA Basketball Men's and Women's National Team tour and the World Basketball Festival in July.

The USOC will support its National Governing Bodies as they work to fulfill these commitments throughout the year.  In addition, the USOC will utilize the platform of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to promote active, healthy lifestyles through multiple communications channels, events, and media opportunities.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 13, 2012

Statement by the President on Afghan Transition

I welcome President Karzai’s announcement today of the third tranche of areas to transition to Afghan security lead, which is an important step forward in our effort to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan. As transition proceeds in these areas, nearly 75 percent of the population of Afghanistan will be living in provinces, districts and villages where Afghan forces are leading. The Afghan National Security Forces are strengthening their capacity as we remain on track to meet our goal of having the Afghan government fully responsible for security across the country by the end of 2014.  A week from now, world leaders will gather at the NATO Summit in Chicago to discuss how we can effectively advance the transition process as our forces move from combat to a support role, and demonstrate our enduring support for the Afghan Government and Afghan National Security Forces. I look forward to meeting with President Karzai and my fellow leaders in Chicago to discuss these critical steps that will strengthen Afghan sovereignty while responsibly winding down the war.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2012

Weekly Address: Congress Must Act on “To-Do List”

Washington, DC

In this week’s address, President Obama called on Democrats and Republicans to come together and act on his Congressional “to-do list,” which will create jobs and help restore middle class security. In this make-or-break moment for the middle class, these five initiatives have bipartisan support and will help create an economy that is built to last.  While some believe we should return to the same policies that led to the worst recession since the Great Depression, the President believes we must take action to speed up the recovery and ensure that our economy once again rewards hard work and responsibility as we keep our country moving forward.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
May 12, 2012

We all know the past few years have been difficult for this country.  After the worst recession of our lifetimes, it will take longer than any of us would like for the economy to fully recover.  But there are plenty of steps we can take to speed up the recovery.  There are things we can do – right now – to help create jobs and restore some of the financial security that so many families have lost. 

Now, the other side isn’t so optimistic.  They think all we can do is cut taxes – especially for the wealthiest Americans – and go back to letting banks and corporations write their own rules again.  That’s their plan. 

But I think they’re wrong.  We tried their ideas for nearly a decade, and it didn’t work out so well.  We can’t go back to the same policies that got us into this mess.  We’ve got to move forward.  We need to build an economy where hard work and responsibility are rewarded – where you can find a good job, own your own home, maybe start a businesses, and give your kids the chance to do even better. 

That’s where we need to go.  And I’ve been pushing Congress to help us get there by passing a few common-sense policies that would make a difference.  Democrats and Republicans have already done some important work together – from passing tax cuts for workers, to opening up new markets for American products, to reforming our patent system.  But now we need to do more. 

That’s why we made Congress a handy “To-Do” list – just like the kind I get from Michelle.  It’s short, but each of the ideas on this list will help create jobs and build a stronger economy right now. 

First, Congress should stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and use that money to cover moving expenses for companies that bring jobs back to America. 

Second, Congress should help the millions of Americans who have worked hard and made their mortgage payments on time refinance their mortgages at lower rates and save at least $3,000 a year.  

Third, Congress should help small business owners by giving them a tax break for hiring more workers and paying them higher wages.  Small businesses are the engine of economic growth in this country.  We shouldn’t be holding them back – we should be making it easier for them to succeed.  

Fourth, if Congress fails to act soon, clean energy companies will see their taxes go up and could be forced to lay off employees.  These companies are putting Americans to work and helping break our dependence on foreign oil.  Congress should extend these tax credits.  

And finally, Congress should help our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan by creating a Veterans Job Corps.  Our men and women in uniform have served this country with honor.  Now it’s our turn to serve them.  

So that’s Congress’s “To-Do” List.  But now we need them to start crossing things off.  I need you to call your Members of Congress, write an email, tweet, and let them know we can’t afford to wait any longer to get things done.  Tell them now is the time to take steps we know will grow our economy and create jobs. 

You’re working harder.  You’re meeting your responsibilities.  Your representatives in Washington should do the same.  Let’s push Congress to do the right thing.  Let’s keep moving this country forward together. 

Thanks, and have a great weekend. 

###

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2012

Readout of the Vice President's Meeting with Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain

Vice President Biden met this afternoon with Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain. The Vice President reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to our long-standing partnership with the Government of Bahrain and discussed with the Crown Prince steps to strengthen those ties. The Vice President expressed concern about the recent escalation of street violence, including attacks against security forces. The Vice President also underscored the importance of ensuring fundamental rights for all Bahrainis and the need for greater progress by the government on accountability for past abuses, police reform and integration, and inclusive political dialogue.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 11, 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:

  • Thomas Hart Armbruster – Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Department of State
  • David Bruce Wharton – Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe, Department of State

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

  • William J. Shaw – Member, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

President Obama said, “Our nation will be greatly served by the talent and expertise these individuals bring to their new roles.  I am grateful they have agreed to serve in this Administration, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

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

Thomas Hart Armbruster, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Department of State
Thomas Hart Armbruster, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, currently serves as a Diplomat-in-Residence at City College in New York.  Previously, from 2007 to 2010, he was the Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Vladivostok, Russia.  From 2004 to 2006, he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.  Other overseas assignments include: Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico (2000-2003); Political Affairs Officer (1999-2000) and Nuclear Affairs Officer (1997-1999) at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia; and Vice Consul at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba (1991-1993).  Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he was a reporter for the CBS affiliate KGMB-TV in Hawaii.  Mr. Armbruster holds a B.A. from McDaniel College, an M.A. from St. Mary’s University, and an M.S. from the Naval War College.

David Bruce Wharton, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe, Department of State
David Bruce Wharton, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is currently Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of African Affairs at the Department of State.  He joined the Bureau of African Affairs in 2009 as Director of the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, after a two-year assignment as Deputy Coordinator of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs.  From 2006 to 2007, he served in the Department’s Bureau of Human Resources and from 2003 to 2006, he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala.  A member of the Foreign Service since 1985, Mr. Wharton’s additional overseas assignments include posts in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.  He received a B.A. from the University of Texas in Austin.

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

The Reverend William J. Shaw, Appointee for Member, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
The Reverend William J. Shaw has served as Pastor of the White Rock Baptist Church in Philadelphia since 1956.  He is a Member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, having been appointed by President Obama in June 2010.  Reverend Shaw served as President of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. from 1999 to 2009.   He currently sits on the Board of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and has served as President of The Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity, The Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia, and the Union Theological Seminary National Alumni Association.  From 1981 through 1994, he served as Director of the Ministers’ Division of the National Congress of Christian Education.  Reverend Shaw has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Unitas Award, given by the Alumni Association of the Union Theological Seminary and the T. B. Maston Foundation Christian Ethics Award from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Reverend Shaw has a B.A. from Bishop College, an M.A. from Union Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from Colgate Rochester Divinity School.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2012

President Obama Announces Impact of October Refinancing Actions, Calls on Congress to Act on “To Do List”

Today, President Obama will travel to Reno, Nevada, where he will continue to push Congress to act on a “To Do List” he laid out earlier this week with initiatives that have bipartisan support and will create jobs and help restore middle class security.  While in Reno, the President will discuss the impact of refinancing changes he announced last October and meet with Val and Paul Keller, Reno homeowners who have since taken advantage of these changes. He will also highlight the next initiative on the “To Do List” which calls on Congress to cut the red tape so that responsible homeowners across the country who have been paying their mortgage on time can feel secure in their home and refinance at today’s lower rates.

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 Job Corps to help Afghanistan and Iraq veterans get jobs as cops, firefighters, and serving their communities.

In 2009, the Administration announced the Home Affordable Refinance Program which was designed to help more responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages. In its first two years it helped nearly 1 million homeowners refinance and save thousands of dollars a year. Unfortunately, eligibility regulations and costs associated with the program kept it from having a wider impact.
That’s why, in October of 2011 the President announced, as part of his We Can’t Wait effort, that Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (GSEs) and their regulator, the Federal Finance Housing Agency (FHFA), would work with lenders to remove barriers to allow more responsible families to benefit from refinancing their mortgages at historically low rates.  These were important changes, which made it possible for homeowners who had been locked out of the market because they didn’t have enough equity in their home, to refinance - so long as they have a loan backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, have not been late on their mortgage in the last six months, and have not made more than one late payment in the past year. The group that manages the program, the FHFA also waived a set of unnecessary costs and fees that were dissuading some from taking advantage of the program and worked to get rid of certain restrictions in order to increase competition among lenders.

Today, the President will announce that these changes have had a significant impact on responsible homeowners looking to refinance. Nationwide, refinancing applications have increased by 50% since the announcement in the fall. 
 
 
• Much of this increase is driven by a spike in HARP participation. Roughly one in three borrowers applying for refinancing today is applying for a loan through HARP, up from less than one in ten a year ago.


 

 

• The impact in states with the highest share of homeowners who are deeply underwater has been even more dramatic.
• Refinancing applications in Nevada are up 237% since the first changes were put into place.
• In Arizona refinancing applications have increased 181%.
• In Florida refinancing applications have increased 126%.
• These state-level increases are also being driven almost entirely by HARP 2.0. Informal surveys suggest that two in every three refinancing applications in these states are for HARP loans.  
 

Refinancing Activity in States with Highest Share of Underwater Borrowers

 

Today, the President will meet with Val and Paul Keller who live in Reno, Nevada and have personally benefitted from the refinancing changes the President announced in October. Val is an Operations Assistant for a lender that makes loans to farmers and ranchers and Paul is a retired Electrical Contractor who started a family business with their son. The Kellers have lived in their home in Reno for over 14 years. Their home is now worth $100,000, less than they paid for it back in 1998 and less than their $168,000 loan. Because they owe substantially more on their home than it is worth they have long been unable to refinance. But on October 24, 2011, Valerie was watching the President on TV and saw him announce that the Administration had worked with lenders to remove that barrier for responsible borrowers. Val and Paul realized that they were precisely the kind of borrower the President had intended to help - they were current on their mortgage with no late payment in the past six months, but nonetheless had been unable to get refinancing for years. Seeing this as an opportunity to finally get out from under their high interest rate Val called her lender. A few months later the Kellers were in a loan that reduced their monthly payments by $240.00 saving them money they are now using to pay down debt, including the principal on their home.
 
The Kellers story and today’s data make clear that the executive actions announced by the President last fall are having an outsized impact – bringing refinancing relief to tens of thousands of families across the country. However, there are still critical barriers that still stand in the way of the President’s goal that every responsible family that has been paying their mortgages on time should have an opportunity to save thousands of dollars by refinancing at today’s historically low interest rates. That is why the President is urging Congress as part of his “To-Do List” to take action to remove these remaining barriers.
 
The President’s plan for congressional action has three key components:
 
1. Remove the final barriers for borrowers with GSE insured loans: Common sense reforms that come at no cost to taxpayers and would apply to approximately 12 million borrowers, unlocking competition between banks for borrowers’ refinancing business and eliminating fees and appraisal costs. These steps will increase the number of families who can save on average $3000 a year by refinancing.
 
Cutting red tape: Some borrowers still need manual appraisals to determine if they are eligible for refinancing, which can take lots of time and cost up to $1,000. Under the President’s plan, the GSEs would be directed to expand their automated valuation processes, eliminating a significant barrier that will reduce cost and time for borrowers and lenders alike.
 
Increasing competition so borrowers get the best possible deal: Today, lenders looking to compete with the current servicer of a borrower’s loan for that borrower’s refinancing business continue to face barriers to participating in HARP. This lack of competition means higher prices and less favorable terms for the borrower. The President’s plan would extend the same streamlined underwriting currently enjoyed by the borrower’s existing lender to the rest of the market, leveling the playing field and unlocking competition between banks for borrowers’ business.
 
Extending streamlined refinancing for all GSE borrowers: The President’s plan would finally extend these steps to streamline refinancing for homeowners to all GSE borrowers. Those who have significant equity in their home – and thus present less credit risk – should benefit fully from all streamlining, including lower fees and fewer barriers. This will allow more borrowers to take advantage of a program that provides low-hassle, low-cost access to today’s low interest rates – and make it easier and more automatic for servicers to market and promote this program for all GSE borrowers.
 
2. Providing simple, low-cost refinancing opportunities for non-GSE borrowers: The President’s proposal would also extend access to streamlined refinancing for borrowers who’ve been paying their mortgages on time to those who currently do not have a loan backed by the GSEs to FHA.  This would be run through the FHA and open up today’s low rates to another 3-4 million families.
 
Open to borrowers who are current on their mortgages: The refinancing program will be open to all non-GSE, non-FHA borrowers with standard loans who are current on their mortgage, meet a minimum credit score, meet FHA loan limits, and live in a single-family home that they own.
 
Streamlined process: Borrowers will apply through a streamlined process designed to make it simpler and less expensive for borrowers and lenders to refinance.
 
Example of how this works: A borrower has a non-GSE mortgage originated in 2005 with a 6 percent rate and an initial balance of $300,000 – resulting in monthly payments of about $1,800. The outstanding balance is now about $272,000 and the borrower’s home is now worth $225,000, leaving the borrower underwater (with a loan-to-value ratio of about 120%). Though the borrower has been paying his mortgage on time, he cannot refinance at today’s historically low rates. Under the President’s legislative plan, the borrower would be eligible to refinance into a 4.25% percent 30-year loan, which would reduce monthly payments by about $460 a month.
 
3. Giving Borrowers an Incentive to Rebuild Equity in their Homes: All underwater borrowers who decide to refinance will have a choice: they can take the benefit of the reduced interest rate in the form of lower monthly payments, or they can apply that savings to rebuilding equity in their homes. The latter course will give the majority of underwater borrowers the chance to get back above water in five years or less. 
 
Covered closing costs: To encourage borrowers to make the decision to rebuild equity in their homes, we are proposing that legislation that would cover the closing costs of borrowers who chose this option – a benefit averaging about $3,000 per homeowner.
 
Example of how this works: A borrower has a 5.5 percent $216,000 30-year mortgage originated in early 2007. The loan now has an outstanding balance of $200,000, but the house is worth $167,000 (a loan-to-value ratio of 120%). The monthly payment on this mortgage is $1,228. While this homeowner is responsibly paying her monthly mortgage, she is locked out of refinancing. By refinancing into a 4.0 percent 20-year mortgage loan, this borrower keeps her monthly payments effectively the same. After five years her mortgage balance would decline to $165,000, bringing the homeowner above water.
 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2012

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Deborah Ruth Malac, of Virginia, 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 Liberia.

Thomas Skerik Sowers II, of Missouri, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Public and Intergovernmental Affairs), vice Ladda Tammy Duckworth.

Fernando Torres-Gil, of California, to be a Member of the National Council on Disability for a term expiring September 17, 2014. (Reappointment)

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2012

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Caitlin Durkovich – Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security
• Ellen M. Peel – United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
• Russell F. Smith III – United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas

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

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

Caitlin Durkovich, Appointee as Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security
Caitlin Durkovich is the Chief of Staff of the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security.  Prior to joining the Administration in 2009, she was the Director of Emergency Management Programs for Abrams Learning & Information Systems, Inc. in Arlington, Virginia.  From 2003 to 2006, she worked as an associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, where she worked on pandemic planning and preparedness, as well as the Federal Enterprise Architecture Security and Privacy Profile.  From 2001 to 2003, she was the Director of Business Development and Marketing at the Internet Security Alliance.  From 1998 to 2001, she was Vice President of iDefense, now known as Verisign, Inc.  Ms. Durkovich was Executive Producer of Policy.com for A2S2 Digital Products, Inc. from 1996 to 1998.  She received a B.A. in Public Policy from Duke University.

Ellen M. Peel, Appointee for United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
Ellen M. Peel is currently President of The Billfish Foundation, a non-profit sportfishing conservation corporation. Prior to this position, she served as Acting Regional Director for the Center for Marine Conservation in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she developed and implemented conservation strategies for all fish species in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic. Ms. Peel is a member of the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Advisory Panel for Highly Migratory Species, the International Women’s Fishing Association, and the Advisory Committee to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Ms. Peel holds a B.A. from the University of West Florida, a J.D. from the University of Mississippi, and an LL.M from the University of Washington.

Russell F. Smith III, Appointee for United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
Russell F. Smith III is Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce.  In July 2011, President Obama appointed Mr. Smith as a U.S. Commissioner on the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.  He is also an Alternate U.S. Commissioner on the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. From 2002 to 2010, Mr. Smith worked in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), serving first as Director for the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and then as Director for International Environmental Policy and Multilateral Environmental Agreements.  Before joining USTR, he was a senior attorney with the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He began his legal career as an associate at Spiegel & McDiarmid.  He received a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2012

Commitments to Promote Financial Empowerment Across the Country

Today, Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the Domestic Policy Council, joined by businesses and community leaders from across the country at the White House Summit on Financial Capability and Empowerment, announced new private- and public-sector commitments to improve financial literacy and capability for all Americans. The Administration also unveiled a new resource guide for schools, colleges and universities, employers, and community leaders to help them create their own capability initiatives aimed at empowering Americans to better understand and address financial matters, from saving for retirement to managing credit.

“Across our country, millions of Americans work hard and play by the rules to protect the gains they have made and secure a brighter future for their loved ones” said Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the Domestic Policy Council. “The resilience and ingenuity of our people are driving our economic recovery, and as we lay the foundation for an America built to last, we must also promote the ability of all Americans to make financial decisions that help them gain a footing into the middle class, kinder their entrepreneurial spirit, and sustain our long-term economic stability.”

“After what we’ve learned from the Great Recession, now more than ever we know the importance of empowering more Americans with both financial literacy and clear, basic financial information to not only protect them from devastating personal outcomes but also to prevent dynamics that can harm the entire economy,” said Gene Sperling, Director of the National Economic Council.  

In addition to the resource guide, a new, interactive tool for youth and parents to learn important financial lessons from ages 3 to 18+ was officially launched. Money as You Grow, created by the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability, uses easy-to-understand language and includes behavior-changing activities around 20 key money concepts.

Studies show young Americans, low-income households, Latinos and African-Americans present particular vulnerabilities in financial capability. Approximately one in three Latinos and African-Americans do not have a bank account and nearly a quarter approach retirement with less than $1,000 in total net worth, excluding pensions and Social Security.  Young adults, ages 18-29,  are more likely to pay the minimum payment only on their credit cards, rapidly accruing debt.

The 14 new commitments, aimed at helping thousands of Americans access information and tools they need to make responsible financial decisions, were made by companies and organizations across the public, private and non-profit sectors, including:


REACHING CITIES & COMMUNITIES

• National Conference of Black Mayors: The National Conference of Black Mayors (NCBM) announced that more than 80 Mayors have committed to stand up local Financial Literacy Councils before the end of 2012 with goal of 100 cities.  These Financial Literacy Councils will serve as a local one-stop shop for financial dignity, financial capability and empowerment, for youth, consumers, and businesses.  For the full list of cities, please click here.

• Allstate: Allstate committed to providing $1 million to support state domestic violence coalitions in their work to provide innovative financial services to survivors of domestic violence in order to help empower them to make financial decisions on their own.

• Charles Schwab Foundation: The Charles Schwab Foundation committed $1 million over two years to co-develop with AARP Foundation a financial education and mentoring pilot program designed to help vulnerable older workers and job-seekers set goals and implement action plans to reduce debt, repair credit, build savings and regain control of their finances. The program will be delivered through select nonprofit partners in six cities – Washington, D.C. metro area, Austin, Denver, Phoenix, New Orleans and San Francisco.  Launching this summer, the pilot program has a goal to mobilize 300 volunteers and reach 6,000 participants in the first year.

• HelloWallet and Marsh & McLennan Companies: In cooperation with Marsh & McLennan Companies, HelloWallet, a technology start-up that provides unbiased financial guidance to workers at leading U.S. employers, has committed to donating 20,000 two-year subscriptions to non-profit and government organizations to help a variety of Americans in need improve their well-being and manage their financial responsibilities. The value of these memberships is worth more than $4 million, which HelloWallet expects to generate at least an estimated $20 million in new savings for individuals and families in need.

• MasterCard: MasterCard is making two new community-based announcements: 1) the creation of ‘Your Money Smarter’, which is a new regional financial inclusion and education program that delivers basic and useful tips about budgeting, tracking, saving and spending money and understanding financial management tools to communities in the US via text message and is a scalable platform that will be tested with 18 community organizations in the U.S. and then eventually rolled out nationally; and 2) the ‘PayPerks for Public Sector’ program, which is an optional feature of MasterCard’s federal, state and local government prepaid card programs that fuses online education with sweepstakes-based incentives in order to provide consumers with information on the most effective use of their government-sponsored prepaid cards.


REACHING AMERICA’S YOUTH

• Chicago Public Schools and Discover: The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is announcing a K - 12 Financial Literacy Framework that will launch during the upcoming 2012-2013 school year with a 12th Grade Personal Finance Capstone Course. Once fully operation, the initiative will begin equipping more than 400,000 students each year with the knowledge, skills and tools to become informed and active citizens in a global society and to make wise financial decisions. Funding for the course is being provided by a $1 million grant from Discover Financial Services as part of the company's effort to bring financial education curriculum into public high schools across the country.

• Denver Public Schools and Operation HOPE: Denver Public Schools is launching a new effort to increase student financial literacy in Far Northeast Denver to connect more than 1,500 low and moderate-income middle and high school students with business executives from across the city. Students will learn the ins and outs of running a small business through these mentorships, and then will get their chance to start their own operation. Student businesses will then be tracked by Gallup using the Gallup-HOPE Index throughout the year to determine how successful their individual projects are. The goal is to teach students how to create financial goals, set budgets and then work within their means as they try to accomplish their goals in a project-based environment.

• Oakland Unified School District and Operation HOPE: Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is expanding their partnership to deliver “Banking on Our Future” financial literacy education to every 4th - 12th grade student, approximately 14,000 students, in the Oakland Public Schools. This project will launch the Gallup HOPE Index and the HOPE Business-in-a-Box initiative. The project will consist of small businesses and entrepreneurial endeavors run by students which are easy to start, fund and operate and tailored for the interests and capabilities of Oakland youth. The Gallup HOPE Index will measure each student's level of hope, well-being, engagement, financial literacy, and economic energy.

• AOL and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship:  AOL’s Cambio.com is launching a new content hub focused on helping teens create businesses and learn to make smart financial choices throughout their lives. The destination has the potential to reach 1 million teens monthly through the Cambio Network. At the outset, Cambio and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) will collaborate to allow teens access to NFTE’s soon to launch MakeYourJob.org – a five step process to start a summer business – that includes inspiring videos of fellow teen entrepreneurs on Cambio.com.  AOL will also give a select number of teen entrepreneurs competing in NFTE’s National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge the opportunity to present their business ideas on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt-NY in September 2012.

• Bank of America and National College Advising Corps: Bank of America is investing $1 million over the next three years in the National College Advising Corps (NCAC) to assist more than 100,000 students and their families to better understand FAFSA resources and financial management, with the goal of helping students manage financial debt more effectively and decrease the burden of student loans.  NCAC’s primary goal is to raise college enrollment and completion rates among low-income, first-generation-college, under-represented high school students.

• MasterCard and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship: MasterCard and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) are announcing the expansion of its partnership in order to help realize the goal of providing entrepreneurial training and resources to more than one million children by 2017.  With an expanded grant of more than $1,000,000 for the 2012-2013 school year, MasterCard will support the modernization of NFTE’s core curriculum.  MasterCard will also serve as founding sponsor of the inaugural NFTE 2.0 Innovation Incubator to be unveiled in St. Louis later to help youth develop innovative businesses. 


REACHING WORKING AMERICANS

• Allstate: Allstate has committed to providing each of its more than 30,000 employees with a financial wellbeing self-assessment tool, which is currently under development. Not unlike a health assessment tool, this program will enable Allstate’s employees to gain a better understanding of their personal financial situation. In addition to the tool, Allstate will provide its employees with free financial capability services, such as credit counseling, that will be tailored to their needs.

• American Express: American Express has committed to create a Virtual Smart Saving Fair to encourage employees and their families to engage in the financial tools and resources provided by American Express.  The initial rollout to American Express’ 4,000 plus employees that do not work from an office (virtual employees) will be followed by a broader rollout to 27,000 U.S. employees and their families. 

• Visa Inc.: Visa is committing to provide comprehensive personal finance education resources to all 7,500 of their employees by the end of 2013. Every Visa employee will receive their own financial literacy tool kit, a comprehensive collection that will include a broad array of tutorials, interactive calculators, videos and podcasts for them and their family. Visa will also create a web-based financial education resource center on the company’s Intranet site. Finally, Visa will provide free educational materials to all other organizations participating in the Summit who are making similar workplace-based financial capability pledges.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2012

Administration Officials Announce National Strategy to Increase Travel and Tourism in the United States to 100 Million Visitors Annually by 2021

WASHINGTON, DC – Commerce Secretary John Bryson and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today announced the Administration’s National Tourism and Travel Strategy – delivering on President Obama’s call in January for a national strategy to promote domestic and international travel opportunities throughout the United States.

The National Strategy is a blueprint for expanding travel to and within the U.S., laying out concrete steps to be taken in five key areas.  It sets out a goal of increasing American jobs by attracting and welcoming 100 million international visitors annually by the end of 2021, more than a 50 percent increase over the number expected this year. These international visitors would spend an estimated $250 billion per year, creating jobs and spurring economic growth in communities across the country.

“Tens of millions of tourists from all over the world come and visit America every year.  They stay in our hotels, they eat at our restaurants, they visit our attractions, and they help create jobs.  At a time when too many Americans are still looking for work, we need to make it easier for more people to visit this country and keep our economy growing,” said President Obama.

“This Administration will continue to do everything we can to support travel and tourism – our number one services export – which will help support millions of American jobs,” Secretary Bryson said. “I am proud of our work on the National Strategy, a product of a strong private-public partnership, which will make the U.S. even more welcoming to visitors and reinforce our message to the world: the United States is open for business.” 

“As our nation’s economy continues to gain strength, tourism - especially international tourism - holds the promise of being an economic engine for the country,” Secretary Salazar said. “These recommendations will help make the United States a more attractive travel destination for people around the globe, and I look forward to working with our partners across government and industry to turn this strategy into action.”

The U.S. tourism and travel industry is a substantial component of U.S. GDP, exports, and employment.  Efforts to make America the top tourist destination in the world offer a tremendous opportunity to create jobs and strengthen the U.S. economy.  In 2011, the travel and tourism industry generated $1.2 trillion from domestic and international travel and supported 7.6 million jobs – with international travel to the United States resulting in a record $153 billion in receipts and supporting 1.2 million jobs. The Commerce Department recently released a travel and tourism forecast projecting that the U.S. can expect 4-5 percent average annual growth in tourism over the next five years, and that 65.4 million foreign travelers are projected to visit the U.S. in 2012 alone.

In January 2012, President Obama signed an Executive Order and announced new administrative initiatives to significantly increase travel and tourism in the United States. He charged Secretaries Bryson and Salazar with leading a Task Force for Travel and Competitiveness to create the National Strategy. Today’s strategy reflects input from local government and business leaders, including the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB), as well as ongoing initiatives throughout the Federal government, to ensure that the government leverages all of our national assets and resources to fully support the travel and tourism industry.