The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- National Forest Products Week, 2014

NATIONAL FOREST PRODUCTS WEEK, 2014

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Our Nation's forests are an essential element of our urban spaces and rural landscape. Covering more than 750 million acres across America, they create opportunities for recreation and habitats for wildlife, and their products play an integral role in our Nation's economy and our daily lives. Paper and wood products allow us to communicate, teach, and learn. They provide us shelter and energy, and they package and deliver our food, medicine, and manufactured goods. And whether it is a paper containing the Gettysburg Address or a child's crayon masterpiece, these products capture life's memorable moments across generations. During National Forest Products Week, we celebrate the many uses of our natural bounty, and we renew our commitment to protect our forests and ensure these resources endure.

Forest products are recyclable and renewable, and in a changing climate, responsible management of our Nation's forests is even more important. Our forests purify the air we breathe and provide clean water to our communities. By absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, forests and forest products help reduce the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, removing roughly 16 percent of our carbon emissions. In the face of increased threats to our forests -- including diseases and insect infestations that spread more quickly, droughts that last longer, and wildfires that burn more frequently and more intensely -- we are taking action to preserve these vital pieces of our environment and economy. As part of my Administration's Climate Action Plan, we are increasing the resilience of our country's forests and preserving their key role in mitigating climate change.

My Administration is committed to safeguarding these green spaces across our country for the use and enjoyment of our children and grandchildren. Through our America's Great Outdoors Initiative, we are empowering communities to do their part to protect their forested land, from urban parks to working forests. When cities and towns have the support they need to conserve their own resources, neighborhoods thrive and local economies grow.

For centuries, our forests have shaped the character of our Nation and contributed to its expansion, and we have an obligation to ensure the next generation has access to the same drivers of progress. This week, we resolve to do our part to protect our forests and secure a cleaner, healthier future for posterity.To recognize the importance of products from our forests, the Congress, by Public Law 86-753 (36 U.S.C. 123), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the third Sunday in October of each year as "National Forest Products Week" and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 19 through October 25, 2014, as National Forest Products Week. I call on the people of the United States to join me in recognizing the dedicated individuals who are responsible for the stewardship of our forests and for the preservation, management, and use of these precious natural resources for the benefit of the American people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of October, 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
October 17, 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- National Character Counts Week, 2014

NATIONAL CHARACTER COUNTS WEEK, 2014

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

For generations, our Nation's beliefs in mutual respect, shared responsibility, and equality for all have strengthened our bond as a people and guided our path -- uniting us in times of crisis and inspiring us in moments of triumph. During National Character Counts Week, we reaffirm the principles that built America and dedicate ourselves to passing on our highest ideals to our children.

We see the true character of our country in the examples set by the work and lives of our people. We see it in the educators, mentors, and parents who teach our kids not only to understand math and history, but also to know and show compassion and respect. We see it in first responders who put themselves in harm's way to protect strangers, and in our men and women in uniform who selflessly serve the land we love and defend the values we cherish. And we see it in small acts of kindness that define who we are as Americans and help us recognize our common humanity.

When we give our daughters and sons a foundation of integrity, hard work, and responsibility, and when we empower them with the courage to choose these values in the face of cynicism, we prepare them for a lifetime of engaged citizenship and create stronger communities across America. This week, and all year long, let us all do our part to ensure the fundamental tenets that have shaped our Union from its founding continue to sustain us and draw out the best in each of us.

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 October 19 through October 25, 2014, as National Character Counts Week. I call upon public officials, educators, parents, students, and all Americans to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of October, 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
October 17, 2014

Memorandum Release -- Providing an Order of Succession Within the Social Security Administration

October 17, 2014

MEMORANDUM FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

SUBJECT: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Social Security Administration

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the "Act"), it is hereby ordered that:

Section 1. Order of Succession. Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this memorandum, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Social Security Administration, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner), during any period in which both the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Social Security have died, resigned, or become otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Commissioner:

(a) Deputy Commissioner for Operations;

(b) Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance, Quality, and Management;

(c) Deputy Commissioner for Systems;

(d) Regional Commissioner, Atlanta; and

(e) Regional Commissioner, Dallas.

Sec. 2. Exceptions. (a) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 1 of this memorandum in an acting capacity, by virtue of so serving, shall act as Commissioner pursuant to this memorandum.

(b) No individual listed in section 1 of this memorandum shall act as Commissioner unless that individual is otherwise eligible to so serve under the Act.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by law, to depart from this memorandum in designating an acting Commissioner.

Sec. 3. Revocation. The Presidential Memorandum of October 17, 2008 (Designation of Officers of the Social Security Administration to Act as the Commissioner of Social Security), is hereby revoked.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(b) You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2014

Readout of the President’s Call with President Hadi of Yemen

President Obama called President Abdo Rabu Mansour Hadi of Yemen today to reaffirm the United States’ strong support for his government and for the people of Yemen as they work to achieve meaningful change through the country’s political transition and economic reform process.  They discussed the efforts of the Yemeni Government and people to move forward from the recent violence across Yemen that is jeopardizing a peaceful transition.  President Obama recognized the importance of President Hadi continuing his leadership in pursuit of Yemen’s political and economic reform process, including drafting a new constitution, launching the voter registration effort, and holding elections.  The President congratulated President Hadi on the nomination of a new Prime Minister, in line with the September 21 Peace and National Partnership Agreement, and expressed support for President Hadi’s efforts to lead implementation of the agreement, the recommendations of the National Dialogue, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative.  The Presidents agreed all parties should come together to deescalate the conflict, form a government that represents Yemen’s diverse communities, and implement the transition.  The Presidents also reiterated their commitment to the bilateral partnership to counter the shared threat posed by al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2014

Presidential Memorandum -- Providing an Order of Succession Within the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

October 17, 2014

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE

SUBJECT: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the "Act"), it is hereby ordered that:

Section 1. Order of Succession. Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this memorandum, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (Director), during any period in which the Director has died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Director:

(a) Deputy Director, Mediation Services and Field Programs;

(b) Deputy Director, National and International Programs;

(c) Director of Field Operations; and

(d) Most senior Director of Mediation Services (seniority being defined as the individual with the longest tenure in the position of Director of Mediation Services).

Sec. 2. Exceptions. (a) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 1 of this memorandum in an acting capacity, by virtue of so serving, shall act as Director pursuant to this memorandum.

(b) No individual listed in section 1 of this memorandum shall act as Director unless that individual is otherwise eligible to so serve under the Act.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by law, to depart from this memorandum in designating an acting Director.

Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(b) You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2014

Remarks by the President on Protecting American Consumers

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Washington, D.C.

12:00 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  (Applause.)  Hello.  Good job, everybody.  Everybody, please have a seat.  Well, it is good to be back at CFPB.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Woo!

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, this is an enthusiastic and rowdy crowd, this group.  (Laughter.)  That’s what happens when you do good things -- you feel good.  And this group is doing great work.

I want to thank your director, Rich Cordray, for hosting me here today, and I want to thank all of you for doing a great job in looking out for the financial security of all Americans. 

Now, obviously, right now the news is dominated by Ebola, and we’ve got an all-hands-on-deck approach across government to make sure that we are keeping the American people safe.  But even as we meet that particular challenge, it’s also important that we don’t lose sight of the other challenges that we face as a nation, especially the challenge of making sure that our economy works for every single American.  And that includes the challenge that brings me here today:  protecting Americans from financial fraud and identity theft.

As President, I believe that America is stronger when our middle class can count on things like affordable health insurance, and Medicare and Social Security, where there are rules to protect our kids from dirty air or dirty water; rules to protect consumers from being taken advantage of.  And I know you agree, those of you at CFPB, because that’s your mission.   

And that’s why part of the financial reform that we passed in the wake of the worse financial crisis since the Great Depression was the creation of this agency, to make sure that we are looking at every aspect of the financial system and ensuring that the American people have the basic protections that they should be able to count on.  You have one mission:  You’re a watchdog for consumers to make sure that the American people have somebody who’s got their backs. 

And because of the good work of many of the people who are here today, Americans have saved millions because they’ve been protected from predatory mortgage practices.  You’ve protected folks from deceptive credit card practices.  You’ve set up “Know Before You Owe” to help college be a little more affordable for young people and to make sure that they know the kind of debt that they’re accruing.  You’ve simplified mortgage forms so homeowners don’t get tricked in the final print.  But all this work, taken together, the reason it’s important is because it’s not an abstraction; it saves people money and time and heartache. 

And before you, Americans who had gotten taken advantage of often had no way of achieving some sort of compensation.  Today, you’ve actually secured billions of dollars in relief for victims.  You’ve helped to make people a little more whole after somebody engaged in fraudulent behavior. 

Some folks in Congress fought tooth and nail to keep this agency from getting off the ground.  There are some, frankly, who are still fighting to undo the rules we put in place to protect consumers.  But I refuse to back down and go back to the days when mortgage lenders or financial firms could take advantage of consumers, and consumers had no recourse.  We’re moving forward.  America is better because of this agency and because of the rules that we’ve put in place. 

And the good news is, is that we’ve got more work to do.  And today, we’re building on the progress that’s already been made by announcing new measures to protect America from identity theft and fraud.

Now, we’ve all experienced the benefits of new technologies that let us buy and sell things faster and more efficiently than ever before.  But there are risks that come with these technologies as well.  Last year, millions of Americans became victims of identity theft.  Millions were victims of this kind of fraud.  More than 100 million Americans had information that was compromised in data breaches in some of our largest companies.  And identity theft is now America’s fastest-growing crime.

These crimes don’t just cost companies and consumers billions of dollars every year, they also threaten the economic security of middle-class Americans who have worked really hard for a lifetime to build some sort of security.  The idea that somebody halfway around the world could run up thousands of dollars in charges in your name just because they stole your number, or because you swiped your card at the wrong place in the wrong time, that’s infuriating.  For victims, it’s heartbreaking.  And as a country, we’ve got to do more to stop it.

And that’s why today we are launching an initiative called “Buy Secure” -- because you should be able to buy the things that you need without risking your identity, your credit score, or your savings.

First, starting next year, we’re going to begin making sure that credit cards and credit-card readers issued by the United States government come equipped with two new layers of protection:  a microchip in the card that’s harder for thieves to clone than a magnetic strip, and a pin number you enter into the reader just as you do with an ATM.  We know this technology works.  When Britain switched to a chip-and-pin system, they cut fraud in stores by 70 percent.  Seventy percent.

Of course, no one security measure, no matter how powerful, can stop fraud on its own.  So today, I’m also directing federal law enforcement to share more information with the private sector when they discover identity theft rings.

Folks here at the CFPB are working with banks to help make it easier for consumers to discover if fraudulent charges have been made to their account.  The Federal Trade Commission will add new features to IdentityTheft.gov, and they’re going to work with credit bureaus to dramatically cut down on the time it takes for victims to recover their stolen identities.  And in the coming months I’ll be bringing together industry leaders and consumer advocates for a cybersecurity summit focused on protecting consumers using the next generation of mobile payment systems and devices.

And I’m happy to say that the private sector is already deeply engaged in this effort.  Today, a group of retailers that include some of our largest -- Home Depot, Target, Walgreens, Walmart -- and representing more than 15,000 stores across the country, all of them are pledging to adopt chip-and-pin technology by the beginning of next year.  American Express is pledging $10 million to replace outdated card readers at small businesses.  MasterCard is pledging to provide its customers with free identity-theft monitoring and resolution support.  And Citi is joining other financial institutions in making free FICO scores available to customers, because a sudden drop in your credit rating is one of the clearest signs that you’ve been hit by fraud.

So I want to thank all the business leaders who are choosing to protect their companies and their customers from the kind of hacking that we saw too many times this past year.  I want to encourage every retailer, every bank, and every credit card company to join them in this effort.

And even though I’m taking action today without Congress, Congress needs to do its part, as well.  Today, data breaches are handled by dozens of separate state laws, and it’s time to have one clear national standard that brings certainty to businesses and keeps consumers safe. 

Let me just close by saying this.  Last week, I saw a survey that asked folks from all over the world what they thought of the idea that “success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside of our control.”  Of all the advanced economies on Earth, Americans, as you might expect, were the least likely to agree with that.  We think our fate is in our own hands.  We think that if we work hard, that we can get ahead.  For all the challenges of the 21st century, for all the tough, grueling work that's been required to rebuild this economy and people rebuilding their individual lives after a terrible recession, we still believe that our destiny is written by us -- not for us.  We believe that this is a country where hard work should pay off and responsibility should be rewarded.

That’s the principle all of you here at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau deeply believe in.  That's what you're fighting for every single day.  That's what I’m going to keep fighting for as long as I have the opportunity to be President.  And the executive order I’m signing and the great work that the companies are doing who are participating here today is going to just be one more brick in that bridge that we provide to hopefully all Americans so that they can translate their dreams into reality.

So good job, everybody.  Let me sign this.  (Applause.)

(The executive order is signed.)

     THE PRESIDENT:  Rich, I should mention, by the way, that I went to a restaurant up in New York when I was there during the General Assembly, and my credit card was rejected.  (Laughter.)  It turned out I guess I don't use it enough.  So they thought there was some fraud going on.  (Laughter.)  Fortunately, Michelle had hers.  And I was trying to explain to the waitress, no, I really think that I’ve been paying my bills.  (Laughter.)  Even I’m affected by this. 

Thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.)

END
12:10 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2014

Executive Order --Improving the Security of Consumer Financial Transactions

EXECUTIVE ORDER

- - - - - - -

IMPROVING THE SECURITY OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS

Given that identity crimes, including credit, debit, and other payment card fraud, continue to be a risk to U.S. economic activity, and given the economic consequences of data breaches, the United States must take further action to enhance the security of data in the financial marketplace. While the U.S. Government's credit, debit, and other payment card programs already include protections against fraud, the Government must further strengthen the security of consumer data and encourage the adoption of enhanced safeguards nationwide in a manner that protects privacy and confidentiality while maintaining an efficient and innovative financial system.

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to improve the security of consumer financial transactions in both the private and public sectors, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Secure Government Payments. In order to strengthen data security and thereby better protect citizens doing business with the Government, executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall, as soon as possible, transition payment processing terminals and credit, debit, and other payment cards to employ enhanced security features, including chip-and-PIN technology. In determining enhanced security features to employ, agencies shall consider relevant voluntary consensus standards and specifications, as appropriate, consistent with the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget Circular A-119.

(a) The Secretary of the Treasury shall take necessary steps to ensure that payment processing terminals acquired by agencies through the Department of the Treasury or through alternative means authorized by the Department of the Treasury have enhanced security features. No later than January 1, 2015, all new payment processing terminals acquired in these ways shall include hardware necessary to support such enhanced security features. By January 1, 2015, the Department of the Treasury shall develop a plan for agencies to install enabling software that supports enhanced security features.

(b) The Administrator of General Services shall take necessary steps to ensure that credit, debit, and other payment cards provided through General Services Administration (GSA) contracts have enhanced security features, and shall begin replacing credit, debit, and other payment cards without enhanced security features no later than January 1, 2015.

(c) The Secretary of the Treasury shall take necessary steps to ensure that Direct Express prepaid debit cards for administering Government benefits have enhanced security features, and by January 1, 2015, the Department of the Treasury shall develop a plan for the replacement of Direct Express prepaid debit cards without enhanced security features.

(d) By January 1, 2015, other agencies with credit, debit, and other payment card programs shall provide to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) plans for ensuring that their credit, debit, and other payment cards have enhanced security features.

(e) Nothing in this order shall be construed to preclude agencies from adopting additional standards or upgrading to more effective technology and standards to improve the security of consumer financial transactions as technologies and threats evolve.

Sec. 2. Improved Identity Theft Remediation. To reduce the burden on consumers who have been victims of identity theft, including by substantially reducing the amount of time necessary for a consumer to remediate typical incidents:

(a) by February 15, 2015, the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall issue guidance to promote regular submissions, as appropriate and permitted by law, by Federal law enforcement agencies of compromised credentials to the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance's Internet Fraud Alert System;

(b) the Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, and the Social Security Administration shall identify all publicly available agency resources for victims of identity theft, and shall provide to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) information about such resources no later than March 15, 2015, with updates thereafter as necessary. These agencies shall work in consultation with the FTC to streamline these resources and consolidate them wherever possible at the FTC's public website, IdentityTheft.gov; and

(c) OMB and GSA shall assist the FTC in enhancing the functionality of IdentityTheft.gov, including by coordinating with the credit bureaus to streamline the reporting and remediation process with credit bureaus' systems to the extent feasible, and in making the enhanced site available to the public by May 15, 2015.

Sec. 3. Securing Federal Transactions Online. To help ensure that sensitive data are shared only with the appropriate person or people, within 90 days of the date of this order, the National Security Council staff, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and OMB shall present to the President a plan, consistent with the guidance set forth in the 2011 National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, to ensure that all agencies making personal data accessible to citizens through digital applications require the use of multiple factors of authentication and an effective identity proofing process, as appropriate. Within 18 months of the date of this order, relevant agencies shall complete any required implementation steps set forth in the plan prepared pursuant to this section.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

BARACK OBAMA

THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 17, 2014.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2014

FACT SHEET: Safeguarding Consumers’ Financial Security

Today, the President is signing a new Executive Order directing the government to lead by example in securing transactions and sensitive data.  The new BuySecure Initiative will provide consumers with more tools to secure their financial future by assisting victims of identity theft, improving the Government’s payment security as a customer and a provider, and accelerating the transition to stronger security technologies and the development of next-generation payment security tools.

During remarks at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the President will highlight steps by his Administration and the private sector to improve security.  With over 100 million Americans falling victim to data breaches over the last year, and millions suffering from credit card fraud and identity crimes, there is a need to act — and to move our economy toward stronger, more secure technologies that better secure transactions and safeguard sensitive data.

While there is no silver bullet to guarantee data security, the President is signing an Executive Order to implement enhanced security measures, including securing credit, debit, and other payment cards with microchips in lieu of basic magnetic strips, and PINs, such as those standard on consumer ATM cards. He is calling on all stakeholders to join the Administration and a number of major corporations in driving the economy toward more secure standards to safeguard consumer finances and reduce their chances of becoming victims of identity theft — America’s fastest-growing crime.

Finally today, the President will announce the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection later this year to promote partnership and innovation.  The Summit will bring together major stakeholders on consumer financial protection issues to discuss how all members of our financial system can work together to further protect American consumers and their financial data, now and in the future.

The President will also renew his call to Congress to enact overdue cybersecurity legislation that will help protect Americans — particularly by clarifying companies’ obligations when sensitive data is breached.

KEY ACTIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY

  • Moving to more secure payment systems:

    As part of the President’s BuySecure Initiative, he is issuing a new Executive Order that — combined with new efforts from the private sector — will help the drive the market towards more secure payment systems.

    • Making Federal payments more secure to help drive the market forward: The President’s Executive Order (EO) lays out a new policy to secure payments to and from the Federal government by applying chip and PIN technology to newly issued and existing government credit cards, as well as debit cards like Direct Express, and upgrading retail payment card terminals at Federal agency facilities to accept chip and PIN-enabled cards.
    • Companies join national effort to improve transaction security: Home Depot, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart will be rolling out secure chip and PIN-compatible card terminals in all their stores — most by January 2015. Also in January, American Express will start a new program to support small businesses upgrading their point of sale terminals to more secure standards.  Finally, Visa will launch a new program to educate consumers and merchants on chip and other secure technologies, sending experts to 20 cities in a national public service campaign.

  • Preventing identity theft:

    The President is also announcing new steps by the government to assist victims of identity theft, and commending actions by the private sector to help Americans stay on top of their financial health and security, through:

    • Victim resources:  The President’s EO will support the Federal Trade Commission in their development of a new one-stop resource for victims, at IdentityTheft.gov, to streamline the reporting and remediation process with credit bureaus. 
    • Information sharing: The President’s EO further directs expanded information sharing, ensuring Federal investigators’ ability to regularly report evidence of stolen financial and other information to companies whose customers are directly affected.
    • Company assistance: MasterCard will also be providing its customers with free identity theft monitoring and resolution support.

  • Supporting credit score transparency:

    Helping consumers catch one of the best early indicators of identity theft, Citi, in partnership with FICO, will begin making credit scores available for free to its consumer card customers updated monthly online — joining the over 70 million Americans who already have access to this feature at other nationwide banks and card issuers.

  • The White House Announces the Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection Summit:

    Later this year, the White House will host, in collaboration with the President’s Cabinet, a summit bringing together key stakeholders in the consumer financial space to share best practices, promote adherence to stronger security standards, and discuss next generation technologies.
 

Leading by Example: Securing Payments Across the Economy

Federal Efforts to Transition to More Secure Payment Systems: Today, the Federal Government is making an enterprise-wide transition to more secure credit, debit, and other payment cards, as well as the retail payment terminals at government locations like the passport office, VA canteens, and national parks.  These new systems will, at a minimum, meet the global security standard of more secure microchips to store card numbers instead of unencrypted magnetic strips, and secure PIN functionality, like the kind featured on most ATM cards.  The goal is not just to ensure the security of doing retail business with the government, but also, through this increased demand, to help drive the market towards swifter adoption of stronger security standards.  Institutions like the United States Postal Service have already made this transition across tens of thousands of retail facilities across the country.

  • Making Chip and PIN Cards the Standard for the Federal Government: These “chip and PIN” cards, which have cut down on payment fraud considerably in other countries, will become the standard for Federal Government programs like SmartPay® and Direct Express®. We are working with these programs to ensure that we begin a replacement program on January 1, 2015, and will, within the calendar year, issue over one million new, more secure government payment cards.
  • Updating to Chip and PIN Card Terminals in Federal Agencies Processing Consumer Sales: Every Federal agency processing consumer sales will actively replace any prior-generation card retail payment card terminals to those with new chip and PIN security features under a plan issued by Department of the Treasury, which establishes requirements that federal agencies must follow when receiving credit and debit card payments when using Treasury’s collection system.

Building Public-Private Awareness About More Secure Authentication: In the next eighteen months, government agencies will ensure personal data digitally released by the government to citizens goes through multiple tests for authentication so that every citizen’s personal information is protected by the most secure methods possible, consistent with a plan the National Security Council Staff, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Office of Management and Budget will present to the President.

Helping Americans Secure Their Good Name: Improving Resources to Identify and Remediate Identity Theft: Today, the President is also announcing new steps by the government to assist victims of identity theft, and commending actions by the private sector to help Americans stay on top of their financial health and security, through:

  • Credit Score Transparency.  Under the leadership of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a number of leaders in the financial services industry will be making credit scores more readily available to all Americans — improving consumers’ awareness of credit health, and helping them identify major shifts in their credit score, a key first sign of identity theft.
    • Beginning in January Citi, in partnership with FICO, will be making free credit scores available online to consumers with Citi branded credit cards —this score will be updated monthly and is the same score Citi Cards uses in lending decisions.
    • This announcement builds on work done by institutions like Discover, Barclaycard, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, and First National Bank of Omaha who, since implementing similar systems, have provided over 70 million Americans with access to their scores to track their credit health.
  • Improving Identity Theft Resources.  The Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, and Social Security Administration are also working to make the fraud reporting process as easy as possible for Americans who have experienced credit card fraud.  Their goal is to, within two years, reduce by half the amount of time it takes consumers to remediate the average case of identity theft.  To do that, they will:
    • Streamline all necessary sources of information so that visitors to IdentityTheft.gov will be equipped with the resources they need to combat fraud, all in one place, and can more quickly resolve and remediate incidents of identity theft.
    • Build upon the IdentityTheft.gov platform, in partnership with credit bureaus, to develop a more user-friendly and accessible portal that helps digitally submit reports of fraud to multiple credit bureaus.
  • Company Assistance.  Before year’s end, MasterCard will offer all its credit, debit, prepaid and small business card holders free, 24/7 identity theft resolution support and online identity monitoring services.

Enhanced Information Sharing:  Finally, to enhance companies’ and consumers’ ability to respond quickly to incidents of fraud, as they occur, the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation will improve and coordinate efforts to regularly submit information about compromised accounts and other information to the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance’s Internet Fraud Alert System.

Private Sector Action to Transition to More Secure Payment Technologies: The President has also called on industry to ensure that consumers know the security of their information is being taken seriously, and to empower citizens with more tools to help safeguard the data that matters most.  Some of the nation’s largest retailers, card issuers, payment networks, and banks are coming together to secure their own systems, and offer more secure options for their customers.  That’s why today, the President is commending private sector steps taken in that direction, including:

  • American Express: In January 2015, American Express will launch a $10 million program to assist small business customers in upgrading their point of sale terminals.
  • Home Depot: In addition to transitioning 85,000 point of sale terminals to support chip and PIN in stores, Home Depot has completed a major new payment security project that provides enhanced encryption of payment data at point of sale in the company’s U.S. stores.
  •  Target: As of this month, Target has completed installation of chip and PIN readers in all its 1,801 stores.  Starting in early 2015, stores will begin accepting all chip-enabled cards and reissuing more than 20 million Target-brand chip and PIN enabled credit and debit cards.
  •  Visa: Visa will invest more than $20 million to educate consumers and merchants on chip and other secure technologies, while also sending experts to 20 cities in a national public service campaign.
  • Walgreens: As of today, Walgreens has chip and PIN readers in all its 8,200 stores, and starting in early 2015, stores will begin accepting cards with these upgraded features.
  • Walmart: By November 1, 2014, all of the nearly 5,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club U.S. stores will have activated chip and PIN readers.

The Continued Need for Congress to Act on Data Breach and Cybersecurity Legislation: While President Obama and his Administration continue to take every possible step to secure our transactions and information, it remains clear that American businesses and consumers demand Congressional action. 

As the President outlined in his Cybersecurity Legislative Proposal and as was reiterated in the recent report to the President on Big Data, the current patchwork of laws governing a company’s obligations in the event of a data breach is unsustainable, and helps no one.

  • Data Breach Legislation: Today we are calling on Congress to act with urgency on data breach legislation, to bring clarity to the expectations consumers should have when their data has been breached, and to steps companies must take to notify their customers of risks after such security breaches.
  • Cybersecurity Legislation: We are also calling on Congress to pass meaningful cybersecurity legislation that will help the Government better protect Federal networks and legislation that appropriately balances the need for greater information sharing and strong protection for privacy and civil liberties — respecting the longstanding responsibilities of civilian and military agencies.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 16, 2014

Readout of the President’s Meeting on the Domestic Ebola Response

The President convened a meeting this afternoon to discuss the two current Ebola cases in the United States and to receive an update on all actions being taken in response. The President’s advisors detailed for him the status of the investigation into how the Dallas healthcare workers were exposed to the virus and updated him on the contact tracing process, which allows health officials to identify and, as necessary, monitor all individuals who may have come into contact with the patients following their exposure. They also discussed the steps the President ordered to enhance the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ability to respond rapidly, safely, and effectively upon the diagnosis of an Ebola case domestically. The President underscored the need for federal authorities to work closely with state, local, and hospital officials immediately should another positive diagnosis occur in the United States. The meeting concluded with a discussion of protocols to ensure that lessons-learned from the Dallas experience—as well as broader procedures for treating Ebola patients—are disseminated and readily available to all of our nation’s hospitals, clinics, and frontline healthcare workers. 

Meeting Participants:

  • Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • Denis McDonough, White House Chief of Staff
  • Susan Rice, National Security Advisor
  • Lisa Monaco, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
  • Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 16, 2014

Remarks by the President After Meeting on the Government's Response to Ebola | October 16, 2014

Oval Office

7:12 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  I wanted to give the American people an update on what’s happened today.  Obviously everybody remains deeply concerned about the Ebola situation.  I’ve been working with my team to address a number of issues that have been raised both publicly as well as at the state and local levels.

So, number one, obviously our heartfelt concern goes out to the two nurses who have been affected.  They courageously treated Mr. Duncan when he was in Dallas.  It is typical of what nurses do each and every day, caring for us.  And one has now been transferred to NIH, the National Institutes of Health facilities.  The other has now been transferred to Emory University.  They are getting the best possible care.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.  And we’re continuing to monitor their condition.

Number two, the second nurse to be diagnosed, as all of you are aware, traveled from Dallas to Cleveland and back.  As a consequence, it’s very important for us to make sure that we are monitoring and tracking anyone who was in close proximity to this second nurse to make sure that their temperatures are being taken, and we know that they are receiving the kind of attention that they need to ensure that there’s not additional spread of the disease.

I spoke to Governor Kasich in Ohio today, who is on top of it, and we have deployed CDC personnel there to make sure that they are getting all the support that they need.  And we will continue to work both with them, as well as the airlines, getting the manifests and assuring that we are keeping track of anybody who was in close proximity to the second nurse.

Number three, we remain focused on the situation at Texas Presbyterian in Dallas.  As I’ve said before, when we have tight protocols with respect to the treatment of patients, then our health care workers are safe.  But because of these two incidents, we know now that there may have been problems in terms of how protective gear is worn or removed, or some of these additional treatment procedures may have impacted potential exposure.  We don’t know yet exactly what happened.

But in the meantime, we have a number of health care workers at Texas Presbyterian who did provide care to Mr. Duncan.  And we are instituting a constant monitoring process with them, giving them the information that they need in order to keep themselves and their families as safe as possible, as the period in which they potentially could get the disease remains in place.

And I also spoke to Governor Perry about making sure that Dallas and the state of Texas had the resources that it needed in order to respond effectively if additional workers at Texas Presbyterian are determined, in fact, to have been exposed and have contracted Ebola.  And Governor Perry, as well as Mayor Rawlings, in Dallas obviously have been extraordinarily cooperative, working with the CDC, working with Health and Human Services.

They have legitimate concerns in terms of making sure that the federal government is surging the kinds of resources that they need in order to handle any eventuality there to make sure that their folks, not just at Texas Presbyterian, but potentially at other health care facilities have the training and the equipment that they need.  And so we’re going to be working very closely with them over the course of the next several days and weeks in order to assure that they have exactly what they need to get the job done.

Throughout this process I’ve been focused on making sure that we are dealing with this problem at the source.  The most important thing, in addition to treating and monitoring anybody who even has a hint of potential exposure here in this country, the most important thing that I can do for keeping the American people safe is for us to be able to deal with Ebola at the source, where you got a huge outbreak in West Africa.

And the United States is obviously leading the way in terms of providing resources, equipment, and mobilizing the world community.  So over the last several days I continued to call other world leaders to get them to up their pledges of equipment, of personnel, of logistical capabilities to make sure that we’re getting our workers on the ground there.  We’ve seen some progress in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, but we haven't seen enough.  We’ve got more work to do.

And the good news is, is that increasingly when I talk to these world leaders, what you’re seeing is a recognition that the sooner we control this outbreak at the source in West Africa, the less our people are going to be at risk.  And I think more and more of them are stepping up.  Although it’s, I think, taken a little longer than it should, and that’s something that all of us should recognize.

One issue that I want to address, because I know this has been a topic consistently in the news, is the issue of a travel ban.  And I know that you’ve heard from some public health experts about this, but I want to make sure that everybody is clear about the issue.

I don’t have a philosophical objection necessarily to a travel ban if that is the thing that is going to keep the American people safe.  The problem is, is that in all the discussions I’ve had thus far with experts in the field, experts in infectious disease, is that a travel ban is less effective than the measures that we are currently instituting that involve screening passengers who are coming from West Africa -- first of all, screening them before they get on the plane there to see whether they’re showing signs of the disease -- and screening them again when they get here, taking their temperature.

And now what the CDC is doing is gathering all their information, assuming that they’re not showing any signs of illness -- because if they are showing signs of illness, obviously we want to make sure that they are directed to a well-equipped and well-prepared facility.  But if they’re not showing any signs, we still want to have their information of where they live, where they’re staying -- multiple contact information that not only the federal government keeps, but that will also be forwarded to the state where they reside.

If we institute a travel ban instead of the protocols that we’ve put in place now, history shows that there is a likelihood of increased avoidance.  People do not readily disclose their information.  They may engage in something called broken travel, essentially breaking up their trip so that they can hide the fact that they have been to one of these countries where there is a disease in place.  And as a result, we may end up getting less information about who has the disease.  They’re less likely to get treated properly, screened properly, quarantined properly.  And as a consequence, we could end up having more cases rather than less.

Now, I continue to push and ask our experts whether, in fact, we are doing what’s adequate in order to protect the American people.  If they come back to me and they say that there are some additional things that we need to do, I assure you we will do it.  But it is important in these circumstances for us to look at the history of how these infectious diseases are best dealt with, and it is currently the judgment of all those who have been involved that a flat-out travel ban is not the best way to go.

But we will continue to monitor this.  I am asking these questions.  And if, in fact, it turns out that I’m getting different answers, then I will share that with the American people, and we will not hesitate to do what’s necessary in order to maximize the chances that we avoid an outbreak here in the United States.

Which brings me to my last point.  I understand that people are worried.  This is a disease that is new to our shores, although it is something that has cropped up periodically in other countries.  Because of the virulence of the disease and the ways it’s transmitted, and the symptoms that occur, I understand that people are scared.  But what I want to emphasize once again is that right now we’ve had one individual who came in with the disease.  We have two nurses who have been diagnosed with the disease as a consequence of in some fashion being exposed during treatment.  And what remains true is that this is not an airborne disease.  It is not easy to catch.  You can only catch it through being in contact with the bodily fluids of an individual who not only has the disease but also is showing symptoms of the disease.

And so it’s important, I think, for all of us to keep perspective in terms of how we handle this.  We are taking this very seriously, at the highest levels, starting with me.  And my entire team has been essentially deputized to work with Health and Human Services and CDC, and that includes, by the way, the Department of Defense and our national security teams.  We understand why it’s important for us to provide assurances to the public that folks are taking this very seriously, and they are.  And obviously because of the two nurses getting sick, that has made people that much more concerned.  So all that is understood.

But I do want everybody to understand it remains a very difficult disease to catch.  And if we continue to take the steps that we need to, then this will be contained.  And the main thing that everybody needs to focus on is that the risks involved remain relatively low, extremely low for ordinary folks.  The biggest thing we have to do is make sure that health workers have more confidence, because they are on the front lines, and we’re entering into flu season, which means that there are a lot of people who may be coming in with symptoms and there may be false alarms and concerns.  And so we’re going to spend a lot of time working with our public health workers to make sure that they feel safe and adequately protected.

But I want to assure the American people:  We’re taking this seriously, but this is something that’s really hard to catch.  And if we do what we need to do and we stay focused, then this is going to be something that is contained here.  The work that we have to do overseas is going to be a lot tougher because, frankly, they don’t have a public health infrastructure, they’re not well organized, they’re poor countries, and the epidemic is already raging there.  So that’s going to take several months for us to be able to start seeing the kinds of progress that we need to see.  But in the meantime, I want everybody to know that everybody here is on the case.

All right?  Thank you very much, everybody.

Q    Will you appoint an Ebola czar?

THE PRESIDENT:  I will answer this one question about an Ebola czar.  The truth is, is that up until this point, the individuals here have been running point and doing an outstanding job in dealing with what is a very complicated and fluid situation.

Those of you who don’t know, Lisa Monaco, who does a lot of my counterterrorism work as well as national security work, has been working with our Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Tom Frieden at the CDC.  It may be appropriate for me to appoint an additional person, not because the three of these folks have not been doing an outstanding job -- I should mention, and Susan Rice, my National Security Advisor.  It’s not that they haven't been doing an outstanding job really working hard on this issue, but they also are responsible for a whole bunch of other stuff.

So Lisa is also dealing, as Susan is, with ISIL.  And we’re going into flu season, which means, by the way, that people should be looking to get their flu shots.  We know that every year tens of thousands of people potentially die of the flu, and a hundred-thousand or more may be actually going to the emergency room and hospitalized because of the flu.  So that’s something that Tom also is responsible for.

So it may make sense for us to have one person, in part just so that after this initial surge of activity we can have a more regular process just to make sure that we’re crossing all the T’s and dotting all the I’s going forward.

Q    Do you know who that will be?

Q    Will that be soon?

THE PRESIDENT:  If I appoint somebody, I’ll let you know.  Thank you so much, everybody.

END
7:27 P.M. EDT