The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 15, 2014

G20 Leaders’ Brisbane Statement on Ebola

The statement below was released tonight by Australia in its capacity as host of the G20.

We are deeply concerned about the Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and saddened by the suffering and loss of life it is inflicting. We are mindful of the serious humanitarian, social and economic impacts on those countries, and of the potential for these impacts to spread.

The governments and people of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are making tremendous efforts to fight the outbreak, with the support of the African Union and other African countries. We commend the brave service of health care and relief workers. We also applaud the contributions of countries worldwide, the United Nations (UN) and its bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), international and regional organisations and financial institutions, non-governmental and religious organisations, and the private sector. We fully support the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response’s ongoing work to harness capacity to stop the outbreak, treat the infected, ensure essential services, preserve stability and prevent further outbreaks and urge that it act swiftly to achieve these objectives.

G20 members are committed to do what is necessary to ensure the international effort can extinguish the outbreak and address its medium-term economic and humanitarian costs. We will work through bilateral, regional and multilateral channels, and in partnership with non-governmental stakeholders. We will share our experiences of successfully fighting Ebola with our partners, including to promote safe conditions and training for health care and relief workers. We will work to expedite the effective and targeted disbursement of funds and other assistance, balancing between emergency and longer-term needs.

We invite those governments that have yet to do so to join in providing financial contributions, appropriately qualified and trained medical teams and personnel, medical and protective equipment, and medicines and treatments. While commending ongoing work, we urge greater efforts by researchers, regulators and pharmaceutical companies to develop safe, effective and affordable diagnostic tools, vaccines and treatments. We call upon international and regional institutions, civil society and the private sector to work with governments to mitigate the impacts of the crisis and ensure the longer-term economic recovery.

In this regard, we urge the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to continue their strong support for the affected countries and welcome the IMF’s initiative to make available a further $300 million to stem the Ebola outbreak and ease pressures on Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, through a combination of concessional loans, debt relief, and grants. We ask the IMF and WBG to explore new, flexible mechanisms to address the economic effects of future comparable crises.

This outbreak illustrates the urgency of addressing longer-term systemic issues and gaps in capability, preparedness and response capacity that expose the global economy to the impacts of infectious disease. G20 members recommit to full implementation of the WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR). To this end, and in the context of our broader efforts to strengthen health systems globally, we commit to support others to implement the IHR and to build capacity to prevent, detect, report early and rapidly respond to infectious diseases like Ebola. We also commit to fight anti-microbial resistance. Interested G20 members are supporting this goal through initiatives to accelerate action across the Economic Community of West African States and other vulnerable regions and will report progress and announce a time frame by May 2015 at the World Health Assembly.

We invite all countries to join us in mobilizing resources to strengthen national, regional and global preparedness against the threat posed by infectious diseases to global health and strong, sustainable and balanced growth for all. We will remain vigilant and responsive.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 14, 2014

White House to Host ConnectED to the Future Event

WASHINGTON, DC— On Wednesday, November 19, President Obama will host “ConnectED to the Future,” a convening with superintendents, and other educators from across the country, who will lead their schools and districts in the transition to digital learning. The event builds on the momentum of the ConnectED Initiative, a plan the President announced in 2013, to connect 99% of students to high speed internet and empower teachers with the technology they need to transform teaching and learning. An important part of this initiative is ensuring that digital connectivity supports innovation in America’s classrooms. That is why, this fall, the Administration launched the Future Ready Pledge to help school districts develop a culture where teachers harness the power of technology to personalize learning and provide quality digital content that fosters student inquiry and creativity. Through this pledge, superintendents from across the country are committing to lead a transition in their districts to innovative teaching using technology. Signatories will also work in partnership to share best practices with other school districts.  During the event, President Obama will host a digital pledge signing ceremony with over one hundred superintendents to be joined virtually by hundreds more across the country.

Since the President’s call to action in support of the ConnectED Initiative, more than $4 billion in public and private funding has been committed toward expanding high-speed Internet connectivity for America's schools and libraries. Additional details about the conference will be released at a later date.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 14, 2014

FACT SHEET: Promoting Prosperity, Security and Good Governance in Central America

To demonstrate the Administration’s commitment to working with Central American countries to address the root causes of the dangerous migration of unaccompanied children and families, the Vice President, Secretary of Commerce and other senior Administration officials participated in the Inter-American Development Bank-chaired conference on November 14 entitled “Investing in Central America: Unlocking Opportunities for Development.” This followed President Obama’s July 25 meeting with the leaders of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and the Vice President’s June 20 visit to Guatemala to meet with regional leaders, as we worked in partnership to address increased migration by Central American citizens, including thousands of unaccompanied children, to the United States. The President and Vice President expressed the commitment of the United States to work with the three countries to help them address the underlying factors contributing to increased migration and encouraged them to work together to develop a regional solution to their challenges.

The United States seeks to contribute to the evolution of an economically-integrated Central America that provides greater economic opportunities to its people, with strong democratic institutions, with more accountable, transparent, and effective public institutions, and where citizens feel safe and can build their lives in peace and stability. This will require coordination with Central America, Mexico, Colombia, international financial institutions, the private sector, civil society, and other international partners to promote regional prosperity through a sustained, well-coordinated plan to address longstanding challenges to economic growth in the region. To that end, the United States will work closely with the governments of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, as well as with other international partners, as they implement the “Alliance for Prosperity” presented by the leaders of the three countries at the Inter-American Development Bank.

Over the summer, we asked Congress for $300 million more in funding for Central America - nearly double what was available in 2014 – and we remain committed to working with Congress to provide additional resources. In fact, $76 million in security funding has already been retargeted to address urgent needs in the justice and law enforcement sectors.

The United States developed a Central America strategy to complement the work undertaken by regional governments and multilateral development banks. The U.S. strategy focuses on three overarching lines of action: 1) Promoting prosperity and regional economic integration; 2) Enhancing security; and 3) Promoting improved governance.

Prosperity and Regional Integration

The United States will focus on promoting trade facilitation under existing trade agreements, promoting transport and customs/border integration, promoting more efficient and sustainable energy, workforce development, facilitating business development, linking Central American and North American Markets, and strengthening Central American regional institutions. Examples of current and planned activities include:

  • Trade capacity building assistance from the Office of the United States Trade Representative and other agencies to help the region with trade facilitation, trade capacity building and technical support to promote efficient movement of goods across borders in a safe and secure framework, support integration of regional value chains and strengthen competitiveness to grow trade and economic prosperity as the Dominican Republic -Central America/United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) market access provisions are fully implemented, and work to improve workers’ rights and conditions. The export of goods to the United States from CAFTA-DR countries increased 66.7 percent since 2005, totaling $30.1 billion in 2013.

  • The Overseas Private Investment Corporation has over $500 million invested to support development across the Northern Triangle and is standing by to provide investors and project developers with financing and risk mitigation tools to make investments in the Northern Triangle more attractive. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, is also supporting the planning and development of priority energy and transportation infrastructure projects in Central America.

  • The United States helps fund technical assistance to support electricity market integration, renewable energy development, establishment of solvent power sectors, and resource planning to improve Central American citizens’ access to clean, affordable, and reliable electricity and to attract private investment in clean energy infrastructure.

  • In September 2014, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a $277 million Compact with El Salvador, designed to enhance the country’s competitiveness and productivity in international commerce through a set of interrelated projects in investment climate (including regulatory and institutional improvements), education, and logistical infrastructure.

  • The United States supports improved educational access and quality for under-served populations, including rural indigenous girls and boys in 900 rural schools, and educational and vocational training opportunities.

Enhanced Security

El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are plagued by violence as gangs and other organized criminal groups force many communities to live in fear. The United States will focus on promoting police reform, improving community security, continuing defense cooperation, and attacking organized crime. Examples of ongoing and future activities include:

  • Continuation of the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI), providing for security projects such as model police precincts (MPPs) in Guatemala, El Salvador and most recently, in Honduras. MPP projects, which have shown success in targeted Central American neighborhoods, provide police training, facilitate community engagement, and prioritize the crimes of most concern to Central American citizens: gang extortion, robbery, and domestic violence.

  • Preventing violence through Municipal Crime Prevention Committees that identify crime “hot spots” and implement community-led plans to improve security; working with faith-based organizations to provide at-risk youth with life skills, job training, and recreation activities; supporting civic groups to reclaim gang-controlled public spaces and improve basic infrastructure, such as street lights; and providing services at domestic violence assistance centers.

  • Developing investigative and prosecutorial capacity to successfully prosecute cases through assessments, training, judicial cooperation and exchanges. The Department of Justice and other agencies are working with local counterparts to advance professional responsibility policies and procedures, and enhance collaboration among all parts of the criminal justice system, including police, courts and corrections.

  • Providing assistance through the Departments of Defense, State, Justice and Homeland Security to build partnerships that professionalize and improve the competency, capability, and accountability of security institutions, especially in the fight against transnational organized crime. This is accomplished through activities that include professional education, tactical and operational training and exercises, human rights programs and institutional reform activities.

Improved Governance

Strengthened institutions will enable governments to more effectively address the social, economic, political, and security problems they face. The United States will focus on helping Northern Triangle countries improve revenue collection and public sector fiscal management, increase the role and impact of civil society on governance, strengthen the efficiency, accountability, and independence of judicial institutions, reinforce democratic institutions, and target corruption. The following are examples of U.S. cooperation with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras to improve governance capacity:

  • In 2013, MCC and the Government of Honduras signed a $15.6 million Threshold Program Agreement designed to promote good governance practices in Honduras.

  • MCC is currently in the final phases of development of a Threshold Program with Guatemala. The proposed program will focus on policy and institutional reforms to improve the quality of secondary education, including technical and vocational education and training. The program is expected to also help the government to mobilize additional revenues through more efficient tax administration and public-private partnerships.

  • A variety of U.S. agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, Treasury Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State and the Department of Justice, and the Inter-American Foundation, help national and local governments improve management of the judiciary, rule of law, and public funds and to increase local resilience to issues that can contribute to migration, especially stresses on rural agriculture.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 14, 2014

FACT SHEET: The President's Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative

Today in Rangoon, Burma, President Obama announced a significant expansion of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) at a town hall with 400 youth from the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

YSEALI is the President’s signature initiative to strengthen leadership development across ASEAN, deepen engagement with young leaders on key regional and global challenges, and strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and Southeast Asia.  Deepening collaboration with young leaders is a critical element of the United States’ rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region and of cultivating an ASEAN community.  Recognizing that over 65 percent of ASEAN’s population is under the age of 35, YSEALI is a critical investment in the next generation of Southeast Asian leaders.

YSEALI Fellowship

The YSEALI Fellowship will bring 500 exceptional young leaders from ASEAN countries to the United States on an annual basis, to further develop their professional and leadership skills in priority areas including entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, environment and natural resources management, and civic engagement.  These emerging leaders, aged 18-35, will build on their ideas and experiences while further cultivating their skills to lead their region and the world.

The 500 YSEALI Fellows will be divided between the YSEALI Academic Fellows and the YSEALI Professional Fellows.  YSEALI Academic Fellows will engage 250 current or recently graduated students from ASEAN member countries in five week institutes at pre-eminent U.S. universities and colleges.  The institutes will include an academic residency, leadership development, an educational study tour, local community service activities, and opportunities to engage with American peers.  The program will conclude in Washington, D.C. to allow for networking with policy makers, government representatives, businesses, and think tanks.  YSEALI Professional Fellows will enable 250 young leaders from ASEAN to work directly with American counterparts in non-profit organizations and state and local government offices across the United States for five weeks to enhance their practical expertise, leadership skills, and professional contacts to address challenges and create new opportunities in their home communities and countries.  Fellows will also travel to Washington, D.C. to engage with counterparts from other regions, as well as policy makers, government representatives, and other leaders.   Upon returning home, Fellows will connect with their peers across the region through the larger YSEALI and U.S. exchange alumni network.  This network will help young leaders build on their U.S. experience and address regional and local issues through grant competitions, regional workshops, and other opportunities.  In 2015, a YSEALI summit will take place in the Asia-Pacific region.

More information on how to become a YSEALI Fellow is available at https://youngsoutheastasianleaders.state.gov.

YSEALI Regional Networks

The YSEALI Fellowship is part of a broader suite of programs and engagements that support the goals and aspirations of young ASEAN leaders.  YSEALI Generation Regional Exchanges cultivate a regional network for ASEAN youth to collaborate on solving common challenges and creating new opportunities.  In 2014, over 300 emerging leaders benefited from professional development workshops focusing on mentoring, hands-on training, and the tools necessary to successfully make a positive impact in their communities.  The next YSEALI Generation Regional Exchange will be held in Singapore December 3-7, 2014, and will concentrate on workforce readiness.  Working in partnership with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, participants will examine ways governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and young people can help new job seekers build skills in high demand by international employers. YSEALI Generation Regional Exchanges are also being planned in Cambodia and Vietnam, and will focus on developing young leaders’ professional skills and understanding of the environment, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.  Approximately 100 YSEALI members from across ASEAN will participate.

Since the President launched YSEALI nearly a year ago, more than 10,000 young people from ASEAN have become members of the YSEALI Network.  YSEALI virtually connects leaders from across the region and offers an array of resources, networking opportunities, and trainings.  The web-based platform encourages young people across the region to collaborate on tackling issues of shared concern, providing them with an avenue to further their own development through courses on leadership, entrepreneurship, and professional skills.  The YSEALI website regularly updates network members about upcoming events, courses, resources, and opportunities.

Youth Action and Leadership Development

The United States is expanding YSEALI Seeds for the Future grants to support young Southeast Asian leaders’ most promising and innovative ideas for civic engagement, education, entrepreneurship and economic development, and environment and natural resources management.  This groundbreaking grant competition helps match entrepreneurial emerging leaders with their peers in other Southeast Asian countries, and encourages them to work together to solve regional challenges in partnership with the United States.  To date, one third of the over 60 international teams that competed to receive funding are in the process of implementing their solutions.  The next competition will open in early 2015, featuring a per-team maximum award of $20,000.  More information is available online at www.youngsoutheastasianleaders.state.gov.

Science, Technology, and Entrepreneurship

Through the ASEAN-U.S. Science and Technology Fellows Program, the United States is developing a cadre of young science leaders that can effectively influence the policymaking process at national and regional levels.  In its first year, seven scientists participated in the program.  ASEAN has approved a cadre of 16 to participate over the next four years.  Fellows are embedded within a government office in their home country for one year and work on a variety of tasks to increase their understanding of the governance and policy process.  The program also trains the fellows to develop strong leadership skills and awareness of ASEAN goals and objectives.

The ASEAN Economic Community promotes skilled labor mobility to increase job opportunities and people-to-people connectivity across the region.  In the Lower Mekong countries -- Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam -- skilled workers are in high demand by the private sector but in short supply.  The United States is addressing this problem through the new Connecting the Mekong through Education and Training (COMET) program.  This five-year (2014-2019) program will help universities and vocational education centers increase the number of skilled youth in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, accounting, and tourism through targeted curriculum and training that directly meets the demands of local employers in high-growth industries.  COMET will leverage the interest and commitment of private sector partners, such as Google, which will provide technical services, training, and IT solutions over the life of the program.

Civic Engagement

The United States encourages youth to give back to their local communities, strengthening civil societies in their home countries.  In August 2013, the United States and Malaysia launched the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Program, which encourages young volunteers (18-30 years old) from all ASEAN countries to serve in the region, while enhancing cross-cultural ties and understanding among ASEAN youth.  Over five weeks, volunteers learn about community development and form lifelong friendships with peers from across ASEAN.  Nearly 150 youth have participated to date in programs in Malaysia; the next programs will take place in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Burma.  The ASEAN Youth Volunteers Program is funded through a $1.4 million grant from the United States, in partnership with the Government of Malaysia, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the University Kabangsaan Malaysia.

Thailand’s Khon Kaen University, with support from the United States, has established Southeast Asia’s first Center for Civil Society and Non-Profit Management to support and cultivate young civil society leaders.  This innovative non-profit school will serve up to 140 university students and 40 practicing civil society leaders each year from throughout the Lower Mekong sub-region, offering coursework to build their non-profit management skills.  Over the next three years, the University will develop Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs as well as executive certification (non-degree) programs, thus creating professional career paths for young leaders in Southeast Asia who want to give back to society through work in the non-profit sector.  The school also will serve as a regional hub for coordination, best practice exchange, and networking among civil society leaders.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 13, 2014

Joint Statement

November 14, 2014

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the United States of America, Japan, Denmark and the International Labour Organization (ILO) today are jointly launching a new Initiative to Promote Fundamental Labor Rights and Practices in Myanmar.  The Initiative is designed to: 1) improve Myanmar’s system of labor administration through a multi-year labor law reform and capacity building plan (labor reform plan); and 2) foster strong relations among businesses, workers, civil society organizations, and the Government of Myanmar through a stakeholder consultative mechanism.  The Initiative is intended to build upon Myanmar’s existing labor reform efforts, including ongoing legislative reform activities supported by the ILO.  To that end, the labor reform plan developed under this Initiative is intended to serve as a blueprint to prioritize legal changes, coordinate donor assistance, and strengthen government capacity to implement those reforms in close cooperation with civil society representatives.  The stakeholder consultative mechanism is intended to provide a forum for business, labor, and other civil society representatives to provide guidance on the development of the labor reform plan to the government and to foster constructive relationships among them. 

As an initial step in the development of the Initiative, the Government of Myanmar established the Technical Committee Cluster on Labor Law Reform and Institutional Capacity Building (“Labor Law Reform Cluster”) in October 2014 under the Employment Opportunities Sector Working Group (EOSWG).  The EOSWG is one of 15 Sector Working Groups established by the Government of Myanmar under the Nay Pyi Taw Accord for Effective Development Cooperation.  This Labor Law Reform Cluster is intended to provide donor partners, stakeholders, and the ILO a forum to support the Government of Myanmar and civil society in the development of the labor reform plan.  To support this process, the United States is providing initial funding to the ILO for a labor law expert to advise the government on its reform efforts.  The Initiative participants also envision organizing a broad stakeholder forum in Myanmar in early 2015 to provide input on the development of the labor reform plan.

The participating governments and the ILO welcome the engagement of other interested governments, stakeholders, and institutions in support of this Initiative.  Myanmar is at a pivotal stage of its political and economic development, and the country’s future depends on its ability to grow its economy, create decent work, and re-integrate into the global economy.  Governments and stakeholders have a unique opportunity to promote lasting positive development in Myanmar by working together to improve an important component of its investment environment – its labor regime.  The Initiative is designed to support the government and stakeholders in promoting international labor standards and responsible business practices, helping to make Myanmar an attractive sourcing and investment destination, protecting Myanmar’s workers and supporting its businesses, and advancing Myanmar’s overall sustainable growth and development.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 13, 2014

FACT SHEET: New Initiative to Improve Labor Rights in Burma

Today the United States, together with the Governments of Burma, Japan, and Denmark, and the International Labor Organization (ILO), launched the Initiative to Promote Fundamental Labor Rights and Practices in Myanmar. 

The Initiative will help modernize Burma’s labor code, improve compliance with international labor standards, and foster a robust dialogue between the government, business, labor and civil society.  The United States, as part of its efforts to support democratic and economic reforms in Burma, is working with Burma and the international community to improve fundamental labor rights and set a strong foundation for sustainable growth and development in Burma. 

Structure of the Initiative

This innovative engagement will use a multilateral, multi-stakeholder approach to strengthen labor reform, enforcement, transparency, and domestic stakeholder consultations.  The Initiative will support development by the government, in partnership with the ILO and the Initiative governments, of a multi-year labor reform plan to build on the significant labor law reforms already undertaken by Burma.  The Initiative also will bring stakeholders into the discussion on labor reforms and build the foundations for good industrial relations and civil society consultations in Burma.

Plans for the Initiative

The next steps of the Initiative will be to hold a stakeholder forum in Burma in early 2015 to provide input on the development of the labor reform plan, and draft the labor reform plan through the Labor Law Reform Cluster.  The U.S. Department of Labor is providing initial “seed” funding to the ILO in order to bring on board a labor law expert to assist the government in developing the labor reform plan over the next six months. 

The Initiative is designed to support the government and stakeholders in promoting fundamental labor rights and responsible business practices, helping to make Burma an attractive sourcing and investment destination, protecting Burma’s workers and supporting its businesses, and advancing Burma’s overall sustainable growth and development.

For more information on the Initiative, go to http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/2014/November/New-Initiative-to-Improve-Labor-Rights-in-Burma.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 13, 2014

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Jeffery Martin Baran, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30,2018, vice Allison M. Macfarlane, resigning.

Loretta E. Lynch, of New York, to be Attorney General, vice Eric H. Holder, Jr.     

John E. Mendez, of California, to be a Director of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation for a term expiring December 31, 2015, vice Sharon Y. Bowen, resigned.

Elissa Slotkin, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, vice Derek H. Chollet.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 13, 2014

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

  • Jeffery M. Baran – Member, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • Elissa Slotkin – Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Department of Defense

President Obama said, “I am honored that these talented individuals have decided to serve our country.  They bring their years of experience and expertise to this Administration, 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:

Jeffery M. Baran, Nominee for Member, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Jeffery M. Baran is a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a position he has held since 2014.  Prior to this,  he served as Staff Director for Energy and Environment on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce in 2014.  Previously, Mr. Baran served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce as Senior Counsel from 2011 to 2014, and as Counsel from 2009 to 2010.  He served as Counsel on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2003 to 2008.  From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Baran worked as a law clerk for Judge Lesley Wells of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.  Mr. Baran received a B.A. and an M.A. from Ohio University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Elissa Slotkin, Nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Department of Defense
Elissa Slotkin is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, a position she has held since 2012.  From 2013 to 2014, she performed the duties of the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.   Ms. Slotkin was Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in 2012, and from 2011 to 2012 she was a Senior Advisor for Middle East Transition at the Department of Defense.  From 2009 to 2011, she was a Senior Advisor on Iraq at the Department of State, and from 2007 to 2009 she was Director for Iraq on the National Security Council.  From 2003 to 2007 Ms. Slotkin worked at the Central Intelligence Agency and in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.  Previously, she worked for organizations in Massachusetts, Israel, Tanzania, and Kenya.  Ms. Slotkin received a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.A. from Columbia University.

 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 13, 2014

FACT SHEET: U.S. Assistance to Burma

U.S. assistance to Burma reflects the U.S. government’s goal of supporting Burma’s democratic and economic transition.  Since 2012, the U.S. government has provided over $225 million in assistance to Burma (FY 2012-2013).  In FY 2014, the United States provided over $150 million in additional assistance. 

Assistance is targeted at five key goals:

National Reconciliation: U.S. assistance builds networks of cooperation and understanding within Burma’s diverse citizenry, and strengthens processes for peace and national reconciliation.

  • U.S.-funded programs have increase the conflict-mitigation capacity of 35 local partners, ensuring their programs “do no harm” and reduce conflict in their communities.
  • The Embassy’s Small Grants Program funds small-scale projects in ethnic states across the country to bolster civil society’s capacity and development, including women’s engagement in the peace and reconciliation processes, and promoting trust between parties in conflict.

Democratic Institutions: U.S. assistance builds the capacity of democratic institutions and a politically-engaged civil society, promotes human rights, and strengthens rule of law to strengthen the people’s ability to shape Burma’s democratic reform.

  • In the last year, the U.S. Government provided assistance to over 300 civil society organizations throughout the country and supported local initiatives valued at more than $10.5 million, and implemented by 90 local partners.
  • U.S.-funded programs strengthen parliamentarians’ ability to perform their legislative, budgeting, and oversight functions; help political parties represent the interests of their constituents; and work to improve the transparency of electoral processes in advance of the 2015 elections.

Economic Development: The U.S. supports Burma’s ongoing economic reform efforts, and believes that responsible investment and transparent policy dialogue will encourage further change, promote inclusive economic development, and contribute to the welfare of the Burmese people.

  • U.S. support will reach 350,000 farm households with new technologies, strengthen targeted value chains, and improve land tenure security for small-holder farmers.
  • U.S.-funded programs target the development of small and medium-enterprises and support reforms to establish a better business and trade-enabling environment as a means to create jobs and improve conditions of employment.
  • The U.S. government is supporting programs to reform Burma’s tax system, strengthen the capacity of government institutions to supervise the financial sector, and improve governance in the extractive energy sector.
  • The U.S. has also partnered with the International Labor Organization, Japan, and others on an initiative to modernize Burma’s labor code, improve compliance, and foster a robust dialogue on labor issues between the government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and civil society.

Healthy, Resilient Communities: U.S. assistance improves the lives of millions in Burma.  Programs aim to assist internally displaced people (IDPs) and reduce under-five child mortality and transmission of infectious diseases.

  • U.S. assistance provided clinical services to over 57,000 clients through mobile health clinics.
  • U.S.-funded programs have reached over 20,000 individuals at heightened risk for HIV with outreach services, and screened more than 70,000 people for TB, treating more than 23,000.
  • U.S. emergency food assistance supports 172,000 IDPs in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states.
  • Peace Corps is poised to open its first-ever program in Burma, where Volunteers will partner with Burmese counterparts to strengthen local capacity and facilitate cultural exchanges at the grassroots level, beginning with the first arrival of volunteers in late-2015.

Regional Cooperation: The U.S. government has supported Burma’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014 through dialogue with ASEAN-focused senior officials and training young diplomats on the principles, mechanisms, and protocols in ASEAN.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 13, 2014

Statement by Deputy National Security Advisor For Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes on the Opening of a Peace Corps Program in Burma

The United States strongly supports the people of Burma as they continue their democratic transition and lay the foundation for a future of economic prosperity that strengthens civil society, empowers youth, and develops opportunities for all. There is no better way for the United States to demonstrate our commitment to the people of Burma than through people-to-people connections at the grassroots level. In this spirit, President Obama is proud to announce today in Naypyitaw that the Peace Corps will open a program in Burma.

Last year, the Peace Corps received a formal invitation from the Government of Burma to open a program to support the people of their country. The first Peace Corps volunteers will arrive in late 2015 and will undergo three months of comprehensive cross-cultural, language, and technical training before moving to their volunteer sites for two years. At their sites, they will partner with people to strengthen local capacity, facilitate cultural exchanges at the grassroots level, and build friendships that will last a lifetime and further strengthen the ties between our two countries.

The Peace Corps is ideally suited to enhance our engagement with the people of Burma at this historic and consequential moment in time. We look forward to continued efforts to deepen the people to people ties between our two countries.

Information on the Peace Corps:

The Peace Corps was established in 1961 as a symbol of world peace and friendship between the United States and other nations. Since then, nearly 220,000 Americans of all ages have served in 140 countries worldwide. This new program will make Burma the 141st country with a Peace Corp program.

The Peace Corps seeks to 1) help the people of interested countries meet their need for trained men and women; 2) help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served; and, 3) help promote a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans.

The Peace Corps sends the best and brightest Americans overseas to help meet the most pressing needs of people around the world. Volunteers live and work alongside the people they serve. They work in tandem with local government counterparts, work in schools, partner with their communities, and help local business organizations and entrepreneurs create sustainable, community-based projects that address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, environment, and youth development.

Today’s announcement further demonstrates the strong partnership and enduring relationship between the United States and Burma.

To learn more about the Peace Corps and apply to be a volunteer, please visit www.peacecorps.gov.