The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 12, 2012

The Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future: One-Year Progress Report

One year ago, the President put forward a comprehensive plan in the Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future that outlined the Administration’s all-of-the-above approach to American energy – a strategy aimed at reducing our reliance on foreign oil, saving families and businesses money at the pump, and positioning the United States as the global leader in clean energy.

On Monday, the President will receive a new progress report, showcasing the Administration’s historic achievements in each of these areas. The accomplishments in this report, which represent the efforts of six Federal agencies, underscore the Administration’s commitment over the past three years to promoting an all-hands-on-deck, all-of-the-above approach to American energy and building a more secure energy future. Attached please find a copy of The Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future: One-Year Progress Report.

Report Highlights:

• Increasing American Energy Independence: A year ago, the President set a bold but achievable goal of reducing oil imports by a third in a little over a decade, relative to where they were when he ran for office. Thanks to booming U.S. oil and gas production, more efficient cars and trucks, and a world-class refining sector that last year was a net exporter for the first time in sixty years, we have already cut net imports by ten percent – or a million barrels a day – in the last year alone. And with the new fuel economy standards the President announced last year, we are on pace to meet our goal by the end of the decade.

• Expanding Domestic Oil and Gas Production: Domestic oil and natural gas production has increased every year President Obama has been in office. In 2011, American oil production reached the highest level in nearly a decade and natural gas production reached an all-time high.

• Setting Historic New Fuel Economy Standards: The Obama Administration has put in place the first-ever fuel economy standards for heavy-duty trucks, and proposed the toughest fuel economy standards for passenger vehicles in U.S. history, requiring an average performance equivalent of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Over time, these new standards will save consumers more than $8,000 in lower fuel costs.

• Improving Energy Efficiency in 1 Million Homes: Since October 2009, the Department of Energy and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have completed energy upgrades in more than one million homes across the country. For many families, these upgrades save over $400 on their heating and cooling bills in the first year alone.

• Doubling Renewable Energy Generation: Thanks in part to the Obama Administration’s investment in clean energy – the largest in American history – the United States has nearly doubled renewable energy generation from wind, solar, and geothermal sources since 2008.

• Developing Advanced, Alternative Fuels: In 2010, President Obama set a goal of breaking ground on at least four commercial scale cellulosic or advanced biorefineries by 2013. That goal has been accomplished, one year ahead of schedule. Together, these projects, and associated demonstration and pilot projects will produce a combined total of nearly 100 million gallons per year of advanced biofuels capacity.

• Supporting Cutting-Edge Research: The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), which the Obama Administration funded for the first-time ever in 2009, has supported more than 120 individual projects aimed at achieving new and transformational energy breakthroughs.

Even with this progress, there is much more work to be done. Today, we are experiencing yet another painful reminder of why developing new American energy is so critical to our future. Just like last year, gas prices are climbing across the country – except this time, even earlier. While there are no silver bullets to solve these challenges, the Obama Administration will continue to build on the progress we’ve made over the past three years. Through a sustained, all-of-the-above approach to American energy we’ll work to restore middle class security, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and create an economy that’s built to last.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 11, 2012

Readout of the President's Call with President Karzai

President Obama called President Karzai to express his shock and sadness at the reported killing and wounding of Afghan civilians. President Obama extended his condolences to the people of Afghanistan, and made clear his Administration's commitment to establish the facts as quickly as possible and to hold fully accountable anyone responsible. The President reaffirmed our deep respect for the Afghan people and the bonds between our two countries.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 11, 2012

Statement by the President on Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan

I am deeply saddened by the reported killing and wounding of Afghan civilians. I offer my condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and to the people of Afghanistan, who have endured too much violence and suffering. This incident is tragic and shocking, and does not represent the exceptional character of our military and the respect that the United States has for the people of Afghanistan. I fully support Secretary Panetta’s and General Allen’s commitment to get the facts as quickly as possible and to hold accountable anyone responsible.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 10, 2012

Statement by the President on Jay Inslee's Resignation from Congress

Through the course of more than 20 years working on behalf of Washington State, including more than a decade in Congress, Jay Inslee has never forgotten where he came from.  A son of the Pacific Northwest, Jay has been a champion of our natural resources while pushing for new sources of clean energy.  Jay has supported new frontiers in technology, and worked to increase fairness in our nation’s health care system. While Jay’s voice in Congress will be missed, I know he will continue his dedicated service to the people of Washington State.  Michelle and I wish him and his family well in the future. 

 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 10, 2012

WEEKLY ADDRESS: Investing in a Clean Energy Future

WASHINGTON, DC— In his weekly address, President Obama spoke to the American people from a factory in Petersburg, Virginia about the growing trend of companies creating more jobs in the United States, and also making better products than ever before.  The new technologies they are developing are playing an important role in reducing our dependence on foreign oil and saving families money at the pump. Under the Obama Administration, domestic oil and gas production is up, and we are currently producing more oil at home than any time in the last eight years, but with only 2% of the world’s oil reserves, we can’t just drill our way to lower gas prices.  We need an all-of-the-above strategy that focuses on American-made energy, as well as increasing the fuel efficiency of the cars we drive, saving families money and dramatically reducing our reliance on foreign oil. The President also called on Congress to end the $4 billion in subsidies to oil companies each year so that we can invest in clean energy technologies.  There is no silver bullet to solve high gas prices, but together we can work to overcome our energy challenges as we create new American jobs.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Petersburg, Virginia
March 10, 2012

Hi, everybody. I’m speaking to you this week from a factory in Petersburg, Virginia, where they’re bringing on more than 100 new workers to build parts for the next generation of jet engines.
                                                                                                                            
It’s a story that’s happening more frequently across the country. Our businesses just added 233,000 jobs last month – for a total of nearly four million new jobs over the last two years. More companies are choosing to bring jobs back and invest in America. Manufacturing is adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s, and we’re building more things to sell to the rest of the world stamped with three proud words: Made in America.

And it’s not just that we’re building stuff. We’re building better stuff. The engine parts manufactured here in Petersburg will go into next-generation planes that are lighter, faster, and more fuel-efficient.

That last part is important. Because whether you’re paying for a plane ticket, or filling up your gas tank, technology that helps us get more miles to the gallon is one of the easiest ways to save money and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

The recent spike in gas prices has been another painful reminder of why we have to invest in this technology.   As usual, politicians have been rolling out their three-point plans for two-dollar gas: drill, drill, and drill some more.  Well, my response is, we have been drilling.  Under my Administration, oil production in America is at an eight-year high.  We’ve quadrupled the number of operating oil rigs, and opened up millions of acres for drilling.   

But you and I both know that with only 2% of the world’s oil reserves, we can’t just drill our way to lower gas prices – not when consume 20 percent of the world’s oil. We need an all-of-the-above strategy that relies less on foreign oil and more on American-made energy – solar, wind, natural gas, biofuels, and more. 

That’s the strategy we’re pursuing.  It’s why I went to a plant in North Carolina earlier this week, where they’re making trucks that run on natural gas, and hybrid trucks that go further on a single tank. 

And it’s why I’ve been focused on fuel efficient cars since the day I took office. Over the last few years, the annual number of miles driven by Americans has stayed roughly the same, but the total amount of gas we use has been going down. In other words, we’re getting more bang for our buck.

If we accelerate that trend, we can help drivers save a significant amount of money. That’s why, after 30 years of inaction, we finally put in place new standards that will make sure our cars average nearly 55 miles per gallon by the middle of the next decade – nearly double what they get today. This wasn’t easy: we had to bring together auto companies, and unions, and folks who don’t ordinarily see eye to eye. But it was worth it.

Because these cars aren’t some pie in the sky solution that’s years away. They’re being built right now – by American workers, in factories right here in the U.S.A. Every year, our cars and trucks will be able to go further and use less fuel, and pretty soon, you’ll be able to fill up every two weeks instead of every week – something that, over time, will save the typical family more than $8,000 at the pump.  We’ll reduce our oil consumption by more than 12 billion barrels. That’s a future worth investing in.

So we have a choice.  Right now, some folks in Washington would rather spend another $4 billion on subsidies to oil companies each year. Well you know what?  We’ve been handing out these kinds of taxpayer giveaways for nearly a century.  And outside of Congress, does anyone really think that’s still a good idea?  I want this Congress to stop the giveaways to an oil industry that’s never been more profitable, and invest in a clean energy industry that’s never been more promising.  We should be investing in the technology that’s building the cars and trucks and jets that will prevent us from dealing with these high gas prices year after year after year.  

Ending this cycle of rising gas prices won’t be easy, and it won’t happen overnight. But that’s why you sent us to Washington – to solve tough problems like this one. So I’m going to keep doing everything I can to help you save money on gas, both right now and in the future. I hope politicians from both sides of the aisle join me. Let’s put aside the bumper-sticker slogans, remember why we’re here, and get things done for the American people.

Thank you, God bless you, and have a great weekend.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 09, 2012

President Obama Signs Indiana Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Indiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes during the period of February 29 to
March 3, 2012.

The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Clark, Jefferson, Ripley, Scott, Warrick, and Washington.
 
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
 
W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Gregory W. Eaton as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.
 
FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
 
FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 09, 2012

Readout of the President’s Call with President-Elect Putin

President Obama called Russian President-elect and Prime Minister Putin to congratulate him on his recent victory in the Russian Presidential election.  President Obama highlighted achievements in U.S.-Russia relations over the past three years with President Medvedev, including cooperation on Afghanistan, the conclusion and ratification of the START agreement, Russia’s recent invitation to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) and cooperation on Iran.  President Obama and President-Elect Putin agreed that the successful reset in relations should be built upon during the coming years.  The President said that he looked forward to hosting President-Elect Putin at the G-8 Summit in May at Camp David.  The two leaders outlined areas for future cooperation, including strengthening trade and investment relations arising out of Russia’s pending accession to the WTO. President Obama and President-Elect Putin agreed to continue discussions on areas where the United States and Russia have differed, including Syria and missile defense. President Obama and President-Elect Putin agreed to continue their efforts to find common ground and remove obstacles to better relations.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 09, 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:

  • Arthur Bienenstock – Member, National Science Board, National Science Foundation
  • Paula Gangopadhyay – Member, National Museum and Library Services Board
  • Luis Herrera – Member, National Museum and Library Services Board
  • Suzanne E. Thorin – Member, National Museum and Library Services Board
  • Dorothea-Maria (Doria) Rosen – Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, Department of State
  • Katherine C. Tobin – Governor, Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service

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

  • Sonny Ramaswamy – Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture

President Obama said, “These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of experience and talent to their new roles and I am proud to have them serve in this Administration.  I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

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

Dr. Arthur Bienenstock, Nominee for Member, National Science Board, National Science Foundation
Dr. Arthur Bienenstock is Special Assistant to the President for Federal Research Policy, Director of the Wallenberg Research Link, and Professor Emeritus of Photon Science at Stanford University.  Dr. Bienenstock has served as President of the American Physical Society, Chair of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents, and Vice Provost and Dean of Research and Graduate Policy at Stanford University from 2003 to 2006.  From 1997 to 2001, Dr. Bienenstock served as Associate Director for Science of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).  In the 20 years prior to joining OSTP, Dr. Bienenstock directed the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.  From 1963 until 1997, he maintained an active research group in the general areas of solid-state physics, amorphous materials and synchrotron radiation. He has published over 100 scientific papers in these areas.  Dr. Bienenstock received his B.S. and M.S. from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and his Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Paula Gangopadhyay, Nominee for Member, National Museum and Library Services Board
Paula Gangopadhyay is the Chief Learning Officer at The Henry Ford, where she is responsible for leadership, strategy, and education.  Ms. Gangopadhyay has held a variety of positions in education and arts policy, including Executive Director of the Plymouth Community Arts Council from 2006 to 2008; Curator of Education, Public Programs, Visitor Services and Volunteers at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids from 2002 to 2006; and Executive Director of the Great Lakes Center for Education, Research and Practice from 2000 to 2001. She was Executive Director of the Commission for Lansing Schools Success from 1998 to 2000 and Executive Director of Meridian Historical Village from 1995 to 1998.  Ms. Gangopadhyay has served as a member of many state and national boards, including the Michigan Humanities Council.  Ms. Gangopadhyay received her B.A. and M.A. from Indore University, and her post-graduate certification in archival, museum and editing studies from Duquesne University.

Luis Herrera, Nominee for Member, National Museum and Library Services Board
Luis Herrera is the City Librarian of the San Francisco Public Library, where he is responsible for the administration of the city’s 28 libraries. Previously, Mr. Herrera served as the Director of Information Services for Pasadena Public Library, the Deputy Director of the San Diego Public Library and Associate Director of the Long Beach Public Library in California.  In January 2012, Mr. Herrera was named the Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year. Mr. Herrera serves as Chair of the California Council for Humanities and was appointed to serve on the Steering Committee for the Digital Public Library of America in 2011, and served on the Library Advisory Board of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation from 1998 to 2002.  Mr. Herrera earned his B.S. from the University of Texas at El Paso, an M.L.S. from the University of Arizona, and an M.P.A. from California State University.

Suzanne E. Thorin, Nominee for Member, National Museum and Library Services Board
Suzanne E. Thorin is the Dean of Libraries and University Librarian at Syracuse University, a position she has held since 2005. She is a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet and also oversees the Syracuse University Press.  Previously, Ms. Thorin was the Ruth Lilly University Dean of Libraries and Associate Vice President for Digital Libraries at Indiana University.  She was formerly Chief of Staff to the Librarian of Congress and the official U.S. representative for the G-7 electronic libraries project, one of eleven G-7 pilot projects for the Global Information Society.  Ms. Thorin received a B.Mus. from North Park University in Chicago and an M.M. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Dorothea-Maria (Doria) Rosen, Nominee for Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, Department of State
Dorothea-Maria (Doria) Rosen, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, currently serves as the Diplomat-in-Residence for the Midwest region, based out of the University of Illinois at Chicago.  Prior to this position, she was the Deputy Principal Officer in Frankfurt, Germany.  From 2004 to 2008, Ms. Rosen served as the Consul General in Bern, Switzerland.  From 2001 to 2004, she was Deputy Chief of Mission in Reykjavik, Iceland.  Other overseas positions include: Visa Branch Chief in Frankfurt, Germany (1996-1999); Nonimmigrant Visa Chief in Manila, Philippines (1994-1996); Political Military Officer in Berlin, Germany (1991-1994); Consular Officer in Accra, Ghana (1989-1991); Deputy Chief Immigrant Visa Section in Seoul, South Korea (1988-1989); and Vice Consul in Stuttgart, Germany (1983-1986) and Bucharest, Romania (1981-1983).  In Washington, Ms. Rosen has served as Director of the Office of Public and Diplomatic Liaison in the Bureau of Consular Affairs (1999-2001) and as an analyst in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (1986-1988).  Prior to entering the Foreign Service, Ms. Rosen served as an Army Reservist from 1979 to 1981.  From 1976 to 1979, she served on active duty in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps in Heidelberg, Germany.  She holds an A.B. from Vassar College and a J.D. from Hofstra University Law School.  

Dr. Katherine C. Tobin, Nominee for Governor, Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service
Dr. Katherine C. Tobin served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Performance Improvement at the Department of Education from May 2009 to February 2011.  From 2006 to 2009, Dr. Tobin was a member of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, where she was Chairman of the Board’s Audit and Finance Committee.  She was a Senior Market Research Manager at TNS from 2003 to 2005 and at Catalyst, a nonprofit working to advance women in business, from 1998 to 2003.  In 1994, she founded the Leadership Institute, LLC, which advised corporations on market research and management issues.  Earlier in her career, Dr. Tobin worked in management and development for a diverse group of educational and corporate institutions, including Manhattanville College, the University of Nevada, Stanford University, and Hewlett-Packard.  Dr. Tobin earned a B.A. from Skidmore College, a M.A. from the University of Massachusetts’ School of Education, and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Stanford University’s School of Education.

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

Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, Appointee for Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture
Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy is Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University and Director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. Previously, Dr. Ramaswamy was Associate Dean of the Purdue University College of Agriculture and directed the University's agricultural research programs from 2006 to 2009.  Prior to joining the Purdue faculty, Dr. Ramaswamy was head of the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University from 1997 to 2006, where he held the title of Distinguished Professor.  He also served on the faculty of Mississippi State University, was a research associate at Michigan State University, and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Entomological Society of America.  Dr. Ramaswamy received a B.S. and M.S. in Entomology from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore, India, and a Ph.D. in Entomology from Rutgers University.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
March 09, 2012

White House Announces New Chief Technology Officer

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama appointed Todd Park as Assistant to the President and U.S. Chief Technology Officer (CTO), filling a vacancy created by last month’s departure of Aneesh Chopra, the Nation’s first CTO. Mr. Park has served as CTO of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) since August 2009, where he has been an agent for change. Hired as the department’s “entrepreneur-in-residence,” Park has been helping HHS harness the power of data, technology, and innovation to improve the health of all Americans. The President has asked him to bring that same approach to a broader mission – helping to replicate those and other best practices across government and bring them to scale.

President Obama created the position of U.S. Chief Technology Officer on his first day in office, noting that corporate leaders have long recognized the value of having a person responsible for ensuring that technology is being used as effectively as possible to gain operational efficiencies and ensure internal coordination and communication.  The U.S. CTO is responsible for ensuring the adoption of innovative technologies to support Administration priorities, including job creation, broader access to affordable health care, enhanced energy efficiency, a more open government, and national and homeland security.

“Todd Park has demonstrated a remarkable talent for enlisting innovative technologies to modernize government, reduce waste, and make government information more accessible to the public,” said President Obama. “In his new position he will bring those skills to the entire Federal enterprise, ensuring that government will serve all Americans fairly, effectively, and efficiently.”   

In his work at HHS, Mr. Park led the successful execution of an array of breakthrough initiatives, including the creation of HealthCare.gov, the first website to provide consumers with a comprehensive inventory of public and private health insurance plans available across the Nation by zip code in a single, easy-to-use tool; the development and launch of the Health Data Initiative, which is making vast amounts of information from the vaults of HHS easily downloadable by the public and third-party apps developers via Health.Data.gov; and HHSinnovates, an awards program that identifies and recognizes innovators across HHS who have improved Department operations.  In 2010, he was named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business for his work as HHS CTO.        

The U.S. CTO’s office is situated within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), where Mr. Park will work closely with U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Telecommunications Tom Power. OSTP Director and Presidential science advisor John P. Holdren announced today that Power will perform the duties of OSTP’s Associate Director for Technology—a position previously held by Chopra in conjunction with his role as U.S. CTO—while a search is conducted for a permanent replacement.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 09, 2012

Statement by the Vice President on the One Year Anniversary of 3/11 in Japan

On Sunday we will mark the first anniversary of the terrible disaster that shook an island, surged an ocean and cracked a reactor in the Tohoku region of Japan.  As we remember the nearly 16,000 lives that were lost and the 3,000 still missing, we also honor the Japanese people, who over the past year have reminded the world that the human spirit is as formidable as the forces of nature, particularly when we join together in trying times.

I had the privilege of visiting Japan five months after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.  The survivors I met in Natori and Sendai made clear to me that the disaster met its match in the resilience and fortitude of the Japanese people.  While struck by the scale of the devastation, I also witnessed remarkable and inspiring progress in rebuilding homes, schools, and workplaces. 

The American people were proud and honored to assist Japan, just as Japan has done for countless others around the world, in their times of need.  Within hours of the disaster, we launched an unprecedented civilian and military relief effort – Operation Tomodachi.  In Sendai, I visited an airport that had been flooded and later became a home to more than 1,000 weary survivors with nowhere else to go.  A week after the tsunami, Japanese and American forces reopened a runway, allowing the arrival of hundreds of relief workers and more than two million tons of humanitarian supplies. 

We are proud to have continued our support over the past year. As Japan rebuilds, America will stand with them as long as it takes.  We join the Japanese people today in honoring the memories of those lost as they continue to work for a better future.