The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 01, 2014

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice at the World AIDS Day Event

The White House

Monday, December 1, 2014

Good afternoon everyone.  Thank you all so much for participating today.  You’ve got a full agenda this afternoon, but I wanted to make sure I got the chance to speak with you too, and on behalf of President Obama, to make one simple point:  Our commitment to fight and end AIDS is unwavering, and it goes all the way to the top.  

We know where we’ve been.  We remember the devastation and the heartbreak.  The pain of an HIV diagnosis that was tantamount to a death sentence and the shameful initial global response. 

And we know where we’re going.  The promise of an AIDS-free generation—an end to AIDS-related deaths.  An end to the suffering and stigma of a terrible disease.  An end to children born with HIV, their promise tragically cut short from birth.  

That’s a goal that was unthinkable even five years ago.  I remember traveling through Africa some 20 years ago, and I remember the pervasive sense of hopelessness among people ravaged by AIDS with no treatment available, and the predictions among global health experts that HIV would continue to spread exponentially.  But with dedication and—critically—vision, we’ve begun to bring this epidemic to heel. 

Since President Obama came into office, we’ve amped up PEPFAR’s impact and built on America’s bipartisan legacy of fighting global AIDS.  We’ve worked smarter and increased our efficiency.  We’ve invested in interventions that have the greatest impact, allowing us to reach more than 7.7 million people with life-saving treatments.  And we’ve partnered with all of you and countless others around the world to make sure we’re all pulling together. 

But the truth of the matter is, as far as we’ve come, the finish line is not yet in sight.  There are still too many new infections, and our progress has been uneven.  There are still whole communities getting left behind.  So we’ve got to keep stepping up our efforts and making sure we reach every person with HIV.  We’ve got to get into communities where infection rates are high or still on the rise, and treatment is hard to come by.  Because everybody counts. 

At home, the fastest rate of infection is among 13-24–year-old gay and bisexual black men.  Teenagers really.  It’s a small community with a much higher prevalence of HIV, so the risk of infection is all the greater.  That means we’ve got to work all the harder.  Because everybody counts. 

Around the world, 380,000 adolescent girls are infected each year.  And, in sub-Saharan Africa, young girls are infected at about 4 times the rate of boys.  On top of that, we’re not reaching nearly as many children with anti-retroviral therapies as we are adults.  So we’ve got to do more to prevent adolescent girls from becoming infected and, if they are infected, we’ve got to make sure they’re getting treatment.  Because everybody counts. 

That’s why I’m proud to announce that the State Department and the First Lady’s office will work together with the Nike Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on a new initiative specifically targeted to support, nurture, and educate adolescent girls.  It’s called the DREAMS Initiative to help girls develop into Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe women—D-R-E-A-M-S, DREAMS.  It will focus on doing more of what we already know works to reduce new HIV infections in girls and young women.

Today, we’re recommitting to the principles that have brought us this far in our work, both at home and overseas.  With transparency and the right data, we can continue to build accountable programs, make sure we’re reaching everyone and have an impact.  With partnership, we can ensure we’re bringing a comprehensive approach to our interventions.  And, with compassion, we can put a permanent end to the stigma that has hampered our efforts for too long, and which still poses barriers to treatment around the world. 

We hold this event each year because our work is not yet done.  We raise that big red ribbon on the White House each year to reaffirm our commitments, to each other and to all those living with HIV.  To the young man right here in Washington, D.C., who just found out he’s infected and doesn’t know where to turn, and to the little girl in South Africa who’s afraid that she won’t make it to her next birthday—you are not alone. 

Even as we face many other challenges around the world and confront new epidemics, like Ebola, we must remain focused on this fight.  And looking around this room—seeing people from across the government, leaders from the private sector, faith-based organizations, health workers, all united in a shared vision—I’m confident we will reach our goals.  So let’s keep working.  As the President just said, let’s get this done. 

Now I have the privilege of inviting my good friend and our outstanding Secretary of State to the stage.  As you know, there has been no more passionate advocate for this cause from the very beginning, first in the Senate and now at the State Department, than John Kerry.  

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 01, 2014

Remarks by the President After Meeting with Elected Officials, Community and Faith Leaders, and Law Enforcement Officials on How Communities and Law Enforcement Can Work Together to Build Trust to Strengthen Neighborhoods Across the Country

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

4:52 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  As I said last week in the wake of the grand jury decision, I think Ferguson laid bare a problem that is not unique to St. Louis or that area, and is not unique to our time, and that is a simmering distrust that exists between too many police departments and too many communities of color.  The sense that in a country where one of our basic principles, perhaps the most important principle, is equality under the law, that too many individuals, particularly young people of color, do not feel as if they are being treated fairly.

And as I said last week, when any part of the American family does not feel like it is being treated fairly, that’s a problem for all of us.  It’s not just a problem for some.  It’s not just a problem for a particular community or a particular demographic.  It means that we are not as strong as a country as we can be.  And when applied to the criminal justice system, it means we’re not as effective in fighting crime as we could be. 

And as a consequence, what I’ve been able to do today, thanks to the excellent work by Eric Holder, our Attorney General who had to fly down to Atlanta to start a conversation down there around these issues, as well as the outstanding leaders around this table, is to begin a process in which we’re able to surface honest conversations with law enforcement, community activists, academics, elected officials, the faith community, and try to determine what the problems are and, most importantly, try to come up with concrete solutions that can move the ball forward.

And one of the most powerful things that happened today was I had the opportunity to meet with some young people, including a couple of young outstanding leaders from the Ferguson community, Brittany Packnett and Rasheen Aldridge, who both served on the Ferguson committee, who live in the area, and I think have been hearing from a lot of young people in that area.

And what made me concerned was the degree to which they feel as if they are not heard or that the reality of what they experienced has been denied.  What made me greatly encouraged was how clear their voices were when they were heard, and how constructive they are in wanting to solve these problems.  And I think anybody who had the chance to listen to them here today felt the same way.

We also heard law enforcement and were reminded of what a tough job it is to be in law enforcement.  Whether you’re in a big city or in a small community, as Eric Holder put it, police officers have the right to come home.  And if they’re in dangerous circumstances, we have to be able to put ourselves in their shoes and recognize that they do have a tough job.  I don’t think those realities are irreconcilable.  In fact, I’m convinced that if we work hard, that we can make sure that police officers and the communities they serve are partners in battling crime, partners in making sure everybody feels safe; that we can build confidence and we can build trust, but it’s not going to happen overnight and it’s not going to result just from a conversation around a table in Washington.  It’s got to result in concrete steps that we are able to lift up in communities all around the country and institutionalize.

In order to advance that goal, here are a couple of specific steps that we’re taking.  First of all, I want to thank Chuck Ramsey, the Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department, as well as Laurie Robinson, who is a professor of criminology, law and society at George Mason University, and a former assistant attorney general. 

They are going to co-chair a task force that is not only going to reach out and listen to law enforcement, and community activists and other stakeholders, but is going to report to me specifically in 90 days with concrete recommendations, including best practices for communities where law enforcement and neighborhoods are working well together -- how do they create accountability; how do they create transparency; how do they create trust; and how can we at the federal level work with the state and local communities to make sure that some of those best practices get institutionalized.

So this is not going to be an endless report that we’re going to have collecting dust on the shelf.  My expectation is concrete recommendations that we can begin to operationalize over the federal, state and local levels.  And the good news is, is that we’ve got two folks who are respected by activists and respected by law enforcement, and I’m confident they’re going to do an outstanding job.  I want them to help us make sure that crime continues to go down and more community trust in the police goes up.

Second, one of the issues that came up during the response to Ferguson back in August was the issue of military equipment being utilized in the face of protests that may be taking place in the community.  It raised a broader issue as to whether we are militarizing domestic law enforcement unnecessarily, and is the federal government facilitating that? 

I have now received the review that I ordered from all the agencies involved in this program, the 1033 program.  I will be signing an executive order that specifies how we are going to make sure that that program can help, how we’re going to make sure that that program is transparent, and how are we going to make sure that we’re not building a militarized culture inside our local law enforcement.

Third, I’m going to be proposing some new community policing initiatives that will significantly expand funding and training for local law enforcement, including up to 50,000 additional body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies.  And I look forward to working with Congress to make sure that in addition to what I can do administratively with the resources that we’ve already gotten, that we are in a conversation with law enforcement that wants to do the right thing to make sure that they’re adequately resourced for the training and the technology that can enhance trust between communities and police.

And finally, as I mentioned, Eric Holder is going to be working in parallel with the task force to convene a series of these meetings all across the country, because this is not a problem simply of Ferguson, Missouri, this is a problem that is national.  It is a solvable problem, but it is one that, unfortunately, spikes after one event and then fades into the background until something else happens.  What we need is a sustained conversation in which in each region of the country people are talking about this honestly and then can move forward in a constructive fashion. 

Let me just close by saying this:  It was a cautionary note I think from everybody here that there have been commissions before, there have been task forces, there have been conversations, and nothing happens.  What I try to describe to people is why this time will be different.  And part of the reason this time will be different is because the President of the United States is deeply invested in making sure this time is different.  When I hear the young people around this table talk about their experiences, it violates my belief in what America can be to hear young people feeling marginalized and distrustful, even after they’ve done everything right.  That’s not who we are. And I don’t think that’s who the overwhelming majority of Americans want us to be. 

And I think there may be a convergence here where we’ve got outstanding law enforcement officials who recognize that times have changed and want to be responsive.  I know that Richard Barry of the International Association of Chiefs of Police spoke about how eager they are to work with us.  I think that we’ve got activists on the ground who don’t always get attention because it’s oftentimes the people who aren’t being constructive that get attention, but there are folks there who are working really hard. I think there’s a maturity of the conversation right now that can lead us to actually getting some concrete results. 

And in the two years I have remaining as President, I’m going to make sure that we follow through -- not to solve every problem, not to tear down every barrier of mistrust that may exist, but to make things better.  And that’s how progress is always made in this great country of ours.

Thank you very much, everybody.

END
5:07 P.M. EST

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 01, 2014

FACT SHEET: Focus, Partner, Achieve - the U.S. Commitment to Addressing HIV/AIDS

Since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have seen a significant shift in the HIV epidemic, in the United States and in partner countries. More people living with HIV know their status, and more people are on antiretroviral medications. As a result, the number of new infections worldwide is decreasing, as are the number of HIV-related deaths. The numbers, still, are profound: 35 million people are living with HIV, and 1.5 million people die every year. Together, as a global community, we must hold strong to our commitment to reach an AIDS-free generation.  The United States investment in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and in fighting our own epidemic at home has paid dividends to strengthen capacity and ability to address global public health. We are devoting our resources to interventions that have the greatest impact, through evidence-based programs that provide life-saving services for populations that are most marginalized. Through strategic partnerships with other governments and private sector partners, including philanthropy, faith communities, and academia, the United States remains committed to equitably investing resources to most effectively bend the curve of the epidemic.

As we mark the annual observance of World AIDS Day, we commit to focus our attention on the programs and policies that impact those most vulnerable and explore opportunities to partner to achieve an AIDS-free generation, including here at home.  Today, we are releasing the a National HIV/AIDS Strategy progress report, which outlines Administration actions and accomplishments in improving outcomes along the HIV care continuum and meeting the Strategy’s goals.  Additionally, we are highlighting a few major accomplishments and new initiatives, globally and domestically, in an effort to better reach communities at risk, both at home and abroad, and demonstrate that everybody is in, and everybody counts.

Global Leadership toward an AIDS-Free Generation

PEPFAR represents America’s commitment to saving lives and the shared responsibility of all global partners toward achieving an AIDS-Free Generation.  This year, PEPFAR has surpassed many of its commitments and goals as demonstrated by these statistics, and is announcing new initiatives for the future.

  • PEPFAR’s commitment to saving lives globally:  Today, PEPFAR is supporting a total of 7.7 million men, women, and children on life-saving HIV treatment worldwide (of which, 4.5 million are receiving direct support and an additional 3.2 million are benefiting from essential technical support).  This far exceeds President Obama’s 2011 World AIDS Day goal of 6 million people on treatment -- a four and a half fold increase (from 1.7 million in 2008) since the start of this Administration. Additionally in Fiscal Year 2014, PEPFAR supported HIV testing and counseling for more than 56.7 million people, providing a critical entry point to prevention, treatment, and care.  Also, as of September 30, 2014, PEPFAR has supported more than 6.5 million voluntary medical male circumcision procedures in Eastern and Southern Africa.  Together with partner countries and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, we are working to ensure maximal impact of all U.S. government dollars.  

  • Empowering Young Women and Girls:  In 2013, over 80 percent of new HIV infections among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa occurred in girls, and 380,000 adolescent girls and young women are infected with HIV every year.  This is why PEPFAR is launching DREAMS—a $210 million public-private partnership with the Nike Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—to achieve an AIDS-free future for adolescent girls and young women.  Together, we will work with countries to implement a multi-sectorial core package of highly effective interventions to reduce new HIV infections by ensuring adolescent girls and young women are Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe.

  • Prevention of mother-to-child transmission and supporting children:  In 2014, PEPFAR supported HIV testing and counseling for more than 14.2 million pregnant women.  PEPFAR provided antiretroviral medications to the 749,313 of the women who tested positive for HIV to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus.  PEPFAR’s support has ensured that 240,000 babies born to these HIV infected mothers, approximately 95 percent, are HIV-free. PEPFAR also provided care and support to more than 5 million orphans and vulnerable children.

  • Improving Data Transparency and Use: In the spirit of the Open Government Partnership, PEPFAR has made its annual Country Operational Plans available online for the first time and is also releasing an unprecedented amount of program data on its website on World AIDS Day, enabling all internal and external stakeholders, including researchers, press, civil society organizations, U.S. government agencies, donors, and partner-country governments to view and utilize PEPFAR planned budgets, site-level data, program results and expenditure data to independently analyze PEPFAR program effectiveness and cost efficiency, and help improve accountability of all.  Building on PEPFAR’s commitment to transparency, PEPFAR and the Millennium Challenge Corporation are partnering to announce a $21.5 million investment toward greater data transparency and improved accountability by creating country-based, country-driven local data hubs that will include data critical to controlling the epidemic, including health, poverty, and gender data, and will be used to improve strategic planning, quality of care, and ultimately impact health systems and outcomes.

  • Building Health Care Workforce Capacity:  Over the past 11 years, PEPFAR investments have built and strengthened country health systems, enhancing their capacity to deliver life-saving HIV services and to train and retain essential health personnel.  In 2014, PEPFAR has exceeded its goal and is supporting training (including pre-service training) for more than 140,000 new health care workers to deliver HIV and other health services. PEPFAR is launching a new human resources for health strategy, a $116.5 million effort that will strengthen the capacity of health workers to deliver life-saving HIV services, and also help address Ebola, and other public health threats across Africa. 

Domestic Leadership on the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and HIV Care Continuum Initiative

The Obama Administration has accelerated progress along the HIV care continuum by expanding and refocusing programs, reducing stigma and discrimination, building capacity at the state and local levels, and integrating services that could break down barriers to accessing care and ultimately improve outcomes along the continuum.

  • Improving Knowledge of HIV Status:  Most recent data show that 86 percent of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the US know their HIV status.  From 2006 to 2011, the number of people living with HIV whose infection had not been diagnosed decreased by 16 percent.  This was accomplished through coordinated federal investments and community implementation of the United States Preventive Services Task Force guidance on routine HIV testing.   In 2012, Federal programs supported testing for more than nine million Americans.   With continued investment, our 2015 National HIV/AIDS Strategy target of increasing the percentage of people living with HIV who know their serostatus to 90 percent by 2015 is within reach.

  • Expanding coverage under the Affordable Care Act:   With implementation of the Affordable Care Act, many more people living with HIV have access to affordable healthcare coverage.  Health plans can no longer deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, including HIV, and cannot place lifetime caps on coverage. Additionally, the new health plans are required to cover HIV testing, without cost sharing, for millions of Americans, as recommended by the USPSTF. 

  • High impact investments at the state and local levels: In 2014, Federal agencies and their partners have worked to implement new programs and modify existing programs to improve linkage to HIV medical care. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) announced the availability of $210 million to support up to 100 community-based organizations for a 5-year project that will increase access to HIV testing and prevention in communities that are most heavily affected by HIV and also improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum.  The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has recently funded a new initiative to enhance the capacity of Ryan White program grantees to increase focus and increase engagement and retention in care of young gay men of color.  CDC has also re-directed $40 million in HIV prevention funds to support Community High-Impact Prevention, a new approach to promote high impact prevention strategies that further the goals of the HIV Care Continuum Initiative.

  • Integrating Behavioral Health into HIV Services:  In 2014, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) created the Minority AIDS Initiative Continuum of Care Pilot-Integration of HIV Medical Care into Behavioral Health Programs.  This four year program will integrate behavioral HIV care into programs for racial/ethnic minority populations at high risk for behavioral health disorders and at high risk for or living with HIV, primarily in substance abuse treatment programs and community mental health programs.

  • Supporting the intersection of housing and healthcare:  The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and HRSA are partnering to widely distribute HUD’s white paper titled, The Connection Between Housing and Improved Outcomes Along the HIV Care Continuum, to educate housing, health care, and community based organizations on the intersection of housing and health care by highlighting important research findings which emphasize the beneficial impact that stable housing can have on health outcomes at each step of the HIV care continuum.

The Administration is committed to accelerating our efforts along the HIV care continuum and supporting our global investments through PEPFAR. Smart investments and new collaborations continue to provide unique opportunities to scale up effective strategies for those most vulnerable and those living with HIV.  In order to continue the momentum, we will need a focused and comprehensive approach, domestically and globally, to ensure that everybody counts. To that end, the Administration will be updating the National HIV/AIDS Strategy objectives and setting new PEPFAR program targets in the upcoming year.   By working together towards common goals, we will move closer to our collective vision of ending the epidemic.  

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 01, 2014

FACT SHEET: Strengthening Community Policing

Recent events in Ferguson, Missouri and around the country have highlighted the importance of strong, collaborative relationships between local police and the communities they protect.  As the nation has observed, trust between law enforcement agencies and the people they protect and serve is essential to the stability of our communities, the integrity of our criminal justice system, and the safe and effective delivery of policing services.

In August, President Obama ordered a review of federal funding and programs that provide equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies (LEAs). Today, the Obama Administration released its Review: Federal Support for Local Law Enforcement Equipment Acquisition, and the President is also taking a number of steps to strengthen community policing and fortify the trust that must exist between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

White House Review: Federal Support for Local Law Enforcement Equipment Acquisition

Today, the White House released its review which provides details on the programs that have expanded over decades across multiple federal agencies that support the acquisition of equipment from the federal government to LEAs.  During the course of its review, the White House explored whether existing federal programs:

  1. provide LEAs with equipment that is appropriate to the needs of their communities,
  2. ensure that LEAs have adequate policies in place for the use of the equipment and that personnel are properly trained and certified to employ the equipment they obtain, and
  3. encourage LEAs to adopt organizational and operational practices and standards that prevent misuse/abuse of the equipment.

The report finds a lack of consistency in how federal programs are structured, implemented and audited, and informed by conversations with stakeholders, identifies four areas of further focus that could better ensure the appropriate use of federal programs to maximize the safety and security of police officers and the communities they serve:  1) Local Community Engagement, 2) Federal Coordination and Oversight, 3) Training Requirements, and 4) The Community Policing Model.

Consistent with the recommendations in the report, the President instructed his staff to draft an Executive Order directing relevant agencies to work together and with law enforcement and civil rights and civil liberties organizations to develop specific recommendations within 120 days.  Some broad examples of what process improvements agencies might implement as a result of further collaborative review include:

  • Develop a consistent list of controlled property allowable for acquisition by LEAs and ensure that all equipment on the list has a legitimate civilian law enforcement purpose.
  • Require local civilian (non-police) review of and authorization for LEAs to request or acquire controlled equipment.
  • Mandate that LEAs which participate in federal equipment programs receive necessary training and have policies in place that address appropriate use and employment of controlled equipment, as well as protection of civil rights and civil liberties.  Agencies should identify existing training opportunities and help LEAs avail themselves of those opportunities, including those offered by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and the International Association of Law Enforcement Standards and Training.
  • Require after-action analysis reports for significant incidents involving federally provided or federally-funded equipment.
  • Harmonize federal programs so that they have consistent and transparent policies.
  • Develop a database that includes information about controlled equipment purchased or acquired through Federal programs.

Task Force on 21st Century Policing

The President similarly instructed his team to draft an executive order creating a Task Force on 21st Century Policing, and announced that the Task Force will be chaired by Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, who also serves as President of the Major Cities Chiefs Police Association, and Laurie Robinson, professor at George Mason University and former Assistant Attorney General for DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs.  The Task Force will include, among others, law enforcement representatives and community leaders and will operate in collaboration with Ron Davis, Director of DOJ’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office. The Task Force will build on the extensive research currently being conducted by COPS; will examine, among other issues, how to promote effective crime reduction while building public trust; and will be directed to prepare a report and recommendations within 90 days of its creation.

Community Policing Initiative

The President also proposes a three-year $263 million investment package that will increase use of body-worn cameras, expand training for law enforcement agencies (LEAs), add more resources for police department reform, and multiply the number of cities where DOJ facilitates community and local LEA engagement. As part of this initiative, a new Body Worn Camera Partnership Program would provide a 50 percent match to States/localities who purchase body worn cameras and requisite storage.  Overall, the proposed $75 million investment over three years could help purchase 50,000 body worn cameras. The initiative as a whole will help the federal government efforts to be a full partner with state and local LEAs in order to build and sustain trust between communities and those who serve and protect these communities.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 29, 2014

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Government of Afghanistan's Approval of the Bilateral Security Agreement and the NATO Status of Forces Agreement

On Thursday, the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) and the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) were both approved by an overwhelming majority vote in the Afghan Parliament.  We welcome the approval of these two agreements, which represent an invitation from the Afghan people to strengthen the relationship we have built over the past 13 years.  The BSA provides our military service members and civilian personnel the necessary legal framework to carry out two critical non-combat missions after 2014:  targeting the remnants of al-Qa`ida and training, advising, and assisting Afghan National Security Forces.  The NATO SOFA gives forces from Allied and partner countries the legal protections necessary to carry out the NATO Resolute Support mission when the ISAF mission comes to an end later this year. 

The timely approval of these agreements is a great credit to the newly formed government of national unity and follows a historic Afghan election that ushered in the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in the nation’s history.  We applaud President Ghani and CEO Abdullah’s tireless efforts to form a representative, inclusive, and smoothly functioning government and look forward to a renewed partnership that will help advance our shared interests and the enduring security of Afghanistan.

The BSA fully implements the Strategic Partnership Agreement that our two governments signed in May 2012 and enables our long-term cooperation to promote the security, stability, and unity of Afghanistan.  This also contributes to the security of the United States and our coalition partners, and to the stability of the region.

###

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 29, 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- World AIDS Day, 2014

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
 
In communities across our Nation and around the world, we have made extraordinary progress in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Just over three decades ago, when we knew only the devastation HIV inflicted, those living with it had to fight just to be treated with dignity and compassion, and since the first cases of AIDS were reported, tens of millions of vibrant men and women have lost their lives to this deadly virus. Today, we have transformed what it means to live with HIV/AIDS. More effective prevention, treatment, and care now save millions of lives while awareness has soared and research has surged. This World AIDS Day, we come together to honor all those who have been touched by HIV/AIDS and celebrate the promising public health and scientific advances that have brought us closer to our goal of an AIDS-free generation.
 
Since I took office, more people who are infected with HIV have learned of their status, allowing them to access the essential care that can improve their health, extend their lives, and prevent transmission of the virus to others. My Administration has made strides to limit new infections and reduce HIV-related disparities and health inequalities, and we have nearly eliminated the waiting list for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. For many, with testing and access to the right treatment, a disease that was once a death sentence now offers a good chance for a healthy and productive life.
 
Despite these gains, too many with HIV/AIDS, especially young Americans, still do not know they are infected; too many communities, including gay and bisexual men, African Americans, and Hispanics remain disproportionately impacted; and too many individuals continue to bear the burden of discrimination and stigma. There is more work to do, and my Administration remains steadfast in our commitment to defeating this disease. Guided by our National HIV/AIDS Strategy, we are working to build a society where every person has access to life-extending care, regardless of who they are or whom they love. The Affordable Care Act prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage due to a pre-existing condition, such as HIV/AIDS, and requires that most health plans cover HIV screenings without copays for everyone ages 15 to 65 and others at increased risk. We have expanded opportunities for groundbreaking research, and we continue to invest in innovation to develop a vaccine and find a cure. And this summer, my Administration held a series of listening sessions across the country to better understand the successes and challenges of those fighting HIV at the local and State level.
 
In the face of a disease that extends far beyond our borders, the United States remains committed to leading the world in the fight against HIV/AIDS and ensuring no one is left behind. Hundreds of thousands of adolescent girls and young women are infected with HIV every year, and we are working to reach and assist them and every community in need. As part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, over 7 million people with HIV around the globe are receiving antiretroviral treatment, a four-fold increase since the start of my Administration. In countries throughout the world, our initiatives are improving the lives of women and girls, accelerating life-saving treatment for children, and supporting healthy, robust communities.
 
As a Nation, we have made an unwavering commitment to bend the curve of the HIV epidemic, and the progress we have seen is the result of countless people who have shared their stories, lent their strength, and led the fight to spare others the anguish of this disease. Today, we remember all those who lost their battle with HIV/AIDS, and we recognize those who agitated and organized in their memory. On this day, let us rededicate ourselves to continuing our work until we reach the day we know is possible -- when no child has to know the pain of HIV/AIDS and no life is limited by this virus.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim December 1, 2014, as World AIDS Day. I urge the Governors of the States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join me in appropriate activities to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS and to provide support and comfort to those living with this disease.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.
 
BARACK OBAMA
 
# # #

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 29, 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2014

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
 
All Americans deserve to live long and full lives, and every child should have the chance to seize his or her future. But throughout our Nation, too many lives are tragically cut short in traffic crashes involving drunk, drugged, or distracted driving. Impaired driving not only puts the driver at risk -- it threatens the lives of passengers and all others who share the road, and every year it causes the deaths of thousands of loved ones. This month, and especially during the holiday season, we dedicate ourselves to driving safely and responsibly, and to promoting these behaviors among our family and friends.
 
Alcohol and drugs can impair perception, judgment, motor skills, and memory -- the skills critical for safe and responsible driving. And as mobile technology becomes ubiquitous, the distractions of texting and cell phone use continue to pose grave dangers on our roadways. Deaths caused by impaired driving are preventable and unacceptable, and my Administration is taking action to reduce and eliminate them. We continue to support the law enforcement officers who work to keep us safe and decrease impaired driving. To help save lives, States and local communities across our Nation will participate in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign from December 12 to January 1, reminding all Americans of their important responsibility.
 
My Administration is striving to increase awareness of the dangers and devastating consequences of impaired driving in all its forms, especially the growing, but often overlooked, problem of drugged driving. Illegal drugs, as well as prescription and over-the-counter medications, can be just as deadly on the road as alcohol, and preventing drugged driving is a public health imperative. As part of our 2014 National Drug Control Strategy, we are working to support the data collection that underlies evidence-based policy making, strengthening the protections that keep drugged drivers off the road, and helping bolster law enforcement officials' ability to identify drug-impaired drivers.
 
Reducing impaired driving and keeping our roadways safe is everyone's responsibility. Parents and other caring adults can play an important role in educating young Americans about the dangers of impaired driving; adults can model good practices while driving and can help new drivers develop safe habits. This holiday season, all Americans can drive responsibly and encourage their loved ones to do the same, including by designating a sober driver or making alternative transportation arrangements. For more information, please visit www.NHTSA.gov/DriveSober, www.WhiteHouse.gov/ONDCP/DruggedDriving, and www.Distraction.gov.
 
During National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, let us resolve to do our part to keep our streets and highways safe. Together, our actions can save lives.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 2014 as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. I urge all Americans to make responsible decisions and take appropriate measures to prevent impaired driving.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.
 
BARACK OBAMA
 
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The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 27, 2014

Readout of the President's Thanksgiving Day Phone Calls to Deployed U.S. Service Members

The President today spoke by telephone with deployed members of the U.S. Armed Forces to offer his profound gratitude for their service. Specifically, the President convened phone calls with representitives of each of the five service branches: the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard. The President underscored to each U.S. service member that he was expressing his appreciation on Thanksgiving Day on behalf of a grateful nation. He further noted that while we were engaged in distinct missions --- from the effort to stamp out Ebola on the frontlines to helping to prosecute the campaign against ISIL --- their objective was singular: the saftey and security of the American people.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 27, 2014

Weekly Address: Happy Thanksgiving from the Obama Family

Washington, DC -- In this week's address, the President wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving and reflected on the history of our country and its celebration of diversity. He gave thanks for the many Americans who sacrifice every day, from volunteer workers who serve their communities, to men and women in uniform who serve us all. On Thanksgiving, a holiday that is uniquely American, he reminded us to focus on what unites -- our commitment to American ideals like justice and equality and our gratitude and love for our country.

The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, November 27, 2014.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
November 27, 2014

On behalf of the Obama family -- Michelle, Malia, Sasha, Bo, and Sunny -- I want to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving. Like many of you, we'll spend the day with family and friends, catching up, eating some good food and watching a little football. Before we lift a fork, we lend a hand by going out in the community to serve some of our neighbors in need. And we give thanks for each other, and for all of God's blessings.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because, more than any other, it is uniquely American. Each of us brings our own traditions and cultures and recipes to the table -- but we all share this day, united by the gratitude for the bounty of this nation. And we welcome the contributions of all people -- no matter their origin or color or beliefs -- who call America home, and who enrich the life of our nation. It is a creed as old as our founding: "E pluribus unum" -- that our of many, we are one.

We are reminded that this creed, and America itself, was never an inevitability, but the result of ordinary people in every generation doing their part to uphold our founding ideals -- by taking the blessings of freedom, and multiplying them for those who would follow. As President Kennedy once wrote, even as we give thanks for all that we've inherited from those who came before us -- "the decency of purpose, steadfastness of resolve and strength of will, for the courage and the humility, which they posessed," we must also remember that "the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them."

Today, we are grateful to all Americans who do their part to live by those ideals, including our brave men and women in uniform overseas and their families, who sacrifice so much to keep America safe. To our service members who are away from home, we say an extra prayer for you and your loved ones, and we renew our commitment to take care of you as well as you've taken care of us.

We are grateful to the countless Americans who serve their communities in soup kitchens and shelters, looking out for those who are less fortunate, and lifting up those who have fallen on hard times. This generosity, this compassion, this belief that we are each other's keepers, is essential to who we are, not just on this day, but every day.

It's easy to focus on what separates us. But as we gather with loved ones on this Thanksgiving, let's remember and be grateful for what binds us together. Our love of country. Our commitment to justice and equality. Our belief that America's best days are ahead, and that her destiny is ours to shape -- and that our inherited ideals must be the birthright of all of our children.

That's what today is all about: that out of many, we are one. Thank you, God bless you, and from my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 26, 2014

Statement by the Press Secretary on Clinical Trial Results of a Promising Ebola Vaccine Candidate

We congratulate Drs. Francis Collins and Tony Fauci and their teams at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the first published results from Phase 1 clinical trials of a promising Ebola vaccine candidate. This candidate has shown initial promise to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus infection. The outstanding work of the Department of Health and Human Services' agencies -- NIH, the centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority -- to conduct expedited vaccine trials is evidence of this Administration's determination to mount an aggressive, whole-of-governemnt response to the Ebola crisis. Today's news is another important milestone in that effort, and lays the groundwork for the critical clinical trials to follow shortly in Ebola-impacted countries to determine the saftey and efficacy of Ebola vaccine candidates on a larger scale.

To congratulate the NIH team, mark this achievement, and discuss progress on other fronts of the fight against Ebola, President Obama will visit NIH next week, on Tuesday, December 2nd. Additionally, the President will use the visit to make the case for prompt Congressional action on his emergency funding request to combat Ebola at home and abroad.