The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
NOMINATION SENT TO THE SENATE:
Patty Shwartz, of New Jersey, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, vice Maryanne Trump Barry, retired.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
WASHINGTON- Today, President Obama nominated Judge Patty Shwartz for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
President Obama said, "Judge Shwartz has a long and impressive record of service and a history of handing down fair and judicious decisions. She will be a thoughtful and distinguished addition to the 3rd circuit and I am extremely pleased to put her forward.”
Judge Patty Shwartz: Nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Judge Patty Shwartz has served as a Magistrate Judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey since 2003. She also teaches as an adjunct professor of law at Fordham University School of Law, where she has taught since 2009.
Judge Shwartz was born in Paterson, New Jersey. She received her B.A. in 1983 from Rutgers University, graduating with highest honors. She received her J.D. in 1986 from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was named the Outstanding Woman Law Graduate of her class. After graduating from law school, she worked as an associate at Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz (now Pepper Hamilton LLP) before serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Harold A. Ackerman of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1987 to 1989.
In 1989, Judge Shwartz joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, where she prosecuted a wide range of criminal cases. During her time at the United States Attorney’s Office, Judge Shwartz held the following leadership positions: Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, from 1995 to 1999; Chief of the Criminal Division, from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2002 to 2003; and Executive Assistant United States Attorney, from 2001 to 2002.
Since becoming a Magistrate Judge in 2003, Judge Shwartz has handled more than 4000 civil and criminal cases. She has issued opinions and orders resolving pre-trial disputes in civil cases, written reports and recommendations to district court judges on a variety of issues, conducted preliminary proceedings in criminal cases, and presided over 14 trials with the consent of the parties.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Maryland and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee during the period of September 6-9, 2011.
Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee in the counties of Anne Arundel, Cecil, Charles, and Prince George’s.
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 Regis Leo Phelan 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT: FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@DHS.GOV
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth today. As one of the founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Reverend Shuttlesworth dedicated his life to advancing the cause of justice for all Americans. He was a testament to the strength of the human spirit. And today we stand on his shoulders, and the shoulders of all those who marched and sat and lifted their voices to help perfect our union.
I will never forget having the opportunity several years ago to push Reverend Shuttlesworth in his wheelchair across the Edmund Pettus Bridge – a symbol of the sacrifices that he and so many others made in the name of equality. America owes Reverend Shuttlesworth a debt of gratitude, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Sephira, and their family, friends and loved ones.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
On Wednesday, October 5, 2011, the President signed into law:
H.R. 2646, the “Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011,” which authorizes, within specified amounts, appropriations for various major medical facility construction projects and leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Fiscal Year 2012; clarifies the information that must be contained in certain VA medical facilities proposals; and extends certain expiring authorities.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:
President Obama said, “I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country. 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:
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, Appointee for Member, President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer. In addition to her career in music, Ms. Mebarak Ripoll has been involved in a number of global educational efforts. She founded the Barefoot Foundation in 1995, which operates schools and educational projects in Colombia, South Africa, and Haiti, feeding and educating approximately 6,000 children. In 2010, she collaborated with the World Bank and the Barefoot Foundation to establish an initiative that distributes educational and developmental programs for children across Latin America. In 2008, Ms. Mebarak Ripoll served as the Honorary Chair of the Global Campaign for Education’s Global Action Week. In 2005, she became a founding member of Latin America in Solidarity Action, a coalition of artists and business leaders seeking to promote integrated early childhood public policies. Ms. Mebarak Ripoll became a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in 2003, where she promotes the expansion and improvement of comprehensive early childhood care and education across the world.
Nancy Navarro, Appointee for Member, President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics
Nancy Navarro has served as a Councilmember for the County Council of Montgomery County, Maryland since 2009, where she is Chair of the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee and sits on the Health and Human Services Committee. Previously, Ms. Navarro served on the Montgomery County Board of Education from 2004 to 2009, where she was Chair of the Board’s Communications and Public Engagement Committee, a member of the Strategic Planning Committee, and President from 2006 to 2009. Before entering public office, Ms. Navarro co-founded a community-based non-profit that promoted the economic and educational development of Latinos and other immigrant communities. She is the recipient of the Community Teachers Institute’s 2009 Heart of the Community Award and the Maryland State Department of Education’s 2001 Women Who Dare Leadership Award, among other recognitions. Ms. Navarro holds a B.A. from the University of Missouri.
Adrián A. Pedroza, Appointee for Member, President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics
Adrián A. Pedroza is the Executive Director of the Partnership for Community Action, a grassroots, community-based organization that works to build community leadership around issues of immigration, education reform, and public health. Previously, Mr. Pedroza led the University of New Mexico High School Equivalency and College Assistance Migrant Programs, which provide educational opportunities to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. In addition, Mr. Pedroza worked for U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman as a Constituent Services Representative in New Mexico. Under Governor Bill Richardson, Mr. Pedroza was appointed to the inaugural Hispanic Education Advisory Council. He is currently a founding and executive member of the New Mexico Learning Alliance and served as a founding member of the Latino/Hispano Education Improvement Task Force. Mr. Pedroza sits on the board of the New Mexico Civic Engagement Partnership. He holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of New Mexico.
Dr. Kent P. Scribner, Appointee for Member, President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics
Dr. Kent P. Scribner is the Superintendent of Union High School District #210 in Phoenix, Arizona, a position he has held since 2008. As Superintendent, Dr. Scribner oversees a school district that serves approximately 25,000 students in grades 9 to 12. From 2003 to 2008, Dr. Scribner served as Superintendent of Isaac School District #5 in Phoenix, Arizona. Immediately prior to that, he served as Executive Director of the Department of Human Resources at School District #3 in Tempe, Arizona. In 2008, Dr. Scribner received the Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from the University Council of Educational Administration. In 2005, he was appointed by then-Governor Janet Napolitano to the Arizona School District Redistricting Commission. Dr. Scribner serves on several boards and commissions, including the Valley of the Sun United Way and the Arizona Business and Education Coalition. Dr. Scribner holds a B.A. from Carleton College, a M.Ed. from Temple University, and a Ph.D. from Arizona State University.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC—On Wednesday, October 12, the President will deliver remarks at an American Latino Heritage Forum being hosted by the White House and the U.S. Department of the Interior to celebrate the past and ongoing contributions of American Latinos who have helped shape America’s rich and diverse history.
The forum, which will help celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, will be held at the Department of the Interior and is expected to attract a broad spectrum of business leaders, cultural leaders, and scholars from the Latino community to discuss how the legacy of American Latinos should be recognized, preserved and interpreted for future generations.
The forum will feature three panels that will discuss: “Recognizing the Contributions of the American Latino in the American Economy,” “Honoring the Contributions of American Latinos from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan,” and “Celebrating the Contributions of American Latino Heritage in Arts and Culture.”
“Our country thrives on the diversity and ingenuity of its people,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “Through the centuries, American Latinos have contributed to all aspects of our society and our culture. They are entrepreneurs and public servants, laborers and farm workers, doctors and lawyers, activists and educators, and brave service members who defend our way of life at home and abroad. Our ability to harness the resources and talent of the Latino community will only strengthen our Nation’s ability to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.”
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
On Wednesday, October 5, 2011, the President signed into law:
H.R. 2608, the “Continuing Resolution Act, 2012,” which provides FY 2012 appropriations for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government through Friday, November 18, 2011.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:
President Obama said, “These men and women have demonstrated knowledge and dedications throughout their careers. I am grateful they have chosen to take on these important roles, and 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:
Adam Gamoran, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences
Adam Gamoran is the John D. MacArthur Professor of Sociology and Educational Policy Studies, Director of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research, and Associate Dean for Research in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has been on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 1984. Dr. Gamoran served as interim dean of the School of Education from 2008 to 2009, and from 2001 to 2004, he served as chair of the department of sociology. Dr. Gamoran is an elected member of the National Academy of Education, and he has served on several committees of the National Research Council, including the Board on Science Education. He chairs the Independent Advisory Panel of the National Assessment of Career and Technical Education for the U.S. Department of Education, and he was appointed to the National Board for Education Sciences in 2010. Dr. Gamoran received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.
Judith D. Singer, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences
Judith D. Singer is Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity and James Bryant Conant Professor of Education at Harvard University. She has been a member of the Harvard University faculty since 1984. From 1999 to 2004, she was Academic Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and was its Acting Dean from 2001 to 2002. Ms. Singer’s scholarship focuses on improving the quantitative methods used in social, educational, and behavioral research. Ms. Singer is an elected member of the National Academy of Education and a founding Board member of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness. She has also been honored with a fellowship at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and elected to the initial class of Fellows of the American Educational Research Association. Ms. Singer holds a B.A. in Mathematics from the State University of New York at Albany and an A.M and Ph.D. in Statistics from Harvard University.
James Timerlake, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences
James Timberlake is a founding partner of the KieranTimberlake architecture firm. He is the co-author of five books on architecture, including refabricating ARCHITECTURE. In addition to his architectural practice, Mr. Timberlake teaches at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design, where he leads a Design Research Laboratory that works across the disciplines of architecture, material science, and construction industries. KieranTimberlake has received the 2008 Architecture Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the 2010 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award from the Smithsonian Institution. Mr. Timberlake also was awarded the Benjamin Latrobe Fellowship for architectural design research from the AIA College of Fellows in 2001 and the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome in 1982. Mr. Timberlake received a Bachelor of Environmental Science degree from the University of Detroit, and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
“For over two decades, Jerry Costello has proudly represented the people of southwestern and southern Illinois. Born and raised in the state he now serves, Jerry has distinguished himself as a fierce advocate for improving our nation’s transportation infrastructure to ensure Illinois and the entire country are prepared to lead the way in a 21st century economy. Michelle and I want to join the people of Illinois in thanking Congressman Costello for his service, and we wish him and his family well in the future.”