The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 16, 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- Armed Forces Day, 2014

ARMED FORCES DAY, 2014

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

In every generation, there are men and women who stand apart. They put on the uniform and put their lives on the line so the rest of us might live in a safer, freer, more just world. They defend us in times of peace, times of war, and times of crisis, both natural and man-made. On Armed Forces Day, we honor the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who render the highest service any American can offer.

The patriots who stand sentry for our security are a proud link in an unbroken chain that stretches through the centuries. This generation has distinguished itself on mission after mission, tour after tour. Because of their heroism, the core of al-Qaeda is severely degraded and our homeland is more secure. Thanks to their extraordinary sacrifice, we are winding down more than a decade of war and strengthening alliances that extend our values. These are the gifts they have given us, and this is why we owe them a profound debt of gratitude.

It is our obligation to ensure our troops have all they need to complete their missions abroad, but we must also support them when they return home. We must care for the families who serve alongside them and fulfill our promises today, tomorrow, and forever. And we must demonstrate our thanks by building a Nation worthy of their sacrifices, a Nation that lives up to our founding ideals and allows every citizen to write their chapter of the American story.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, continuing the precedent of my predecessors in office, do hereby proclaim the third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces Day.

I direct the Secretary of Defense on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of the Coast Guard, to plan for appropriate observances each year, with the Secretary of Defense responsible for encouraging the participation and cooperation of civil authorities and private citizens.

I invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to provide for the observance of Armed Forces Day within their jurisdiction each year in an appropriate manner designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of the Armed Forces of the United States. I also invite veterans, civic leaders, and organizations to join in the observance of Armed Forces Day.

Finally, I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United States at their homes on Armed Forces Day, and I urge citizens to learn more about military service by attending and participating in the local observances of the day. I also encourage Americans to volunteer at organizations that provide support to our troops and their families.

Proclamation 8984 of May 17, 2013, is hereby superseded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 16, 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- National Safe Boating Week, 2014

NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK, 2014

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Our Nation's lakes, rivers, and oceans provide havens for reflection and offer boundless opportunities for recreation with loved ones. As we mark National Safe Boating Week, we emphasize the importance of taking precautions and practicing responsible behavior when embarking on America's waterways.

Before leaving shore, boaters can reduce their risks by taking a boating safety course, conducting a vessel safety check, and filing a float plan with family members or friends. Boaters should make sure they understand the marine forecast and take note of any significant weather. To prevent accidents, injury, and death, operators and passengers should always wear life jackets and never consume alcohol or drugs.

During National Safe Boating Week, we also recognize the crucial work of the United States Coast Guard to prevent boating accidents that claim lives, cause injuries, and damage property. We thank their partners across our Nation. And we recommit to taking the proper measures to keep America's waterways safe and enjoyable for all.

In recognition of the importance of safe boating practices, the Congress, by joint resolution approved June 4, 1958 (36 U.S.C. 131), as amended, has authorized and requested the President to proclaim annually the 7-day period prior to Memorial Day weekend as "National Safe Boating Week."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 17 through May 23, 2014, as National Safe Boating Week. I encourage all Americans who participate in boating activities to observe this occasion by learning more about safe boating practices and taking advantage of boating education.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 16, 2014

Remarks by the President and Vice President on the Need for Congress to Pass Transportation Funding

Shake Shack
Washington, D.C.

12:12 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Let me say something to these folks real quick so we can eat our burgers in peace.  And excuse me, my voice is a little hoarse -- I had a cold at the beginning of the week.  In addition to coming to Shake Shack -- which has great burgers and pays its employees over 10 bucks an hour, so we’re very proud of them and the great work that they’re doing --  we’ve been talking a lot all across the country about the importance of raising the minimum wage.  These four individuals just completed a project here in D.C. –- an infrastructure project that put a lot of folks to work, it is going to make the economy move better, traffic move better.  And as you know, earlier this week, both Joe and I highlighted the fact that we’re fast-tracking projects all across the country. 

One of the things that we could do right now to put more Americans back to work is to fund our transportation more effectively and more consistently.  And if Congress does not act, then by the end of this summer, we could have hundreds of thousands of projects like this all across the country stop.  And people whose livelihoods depend on those projects sent home.  And businesses that need improved infrastructure suffering under downgraded infrastructure. 

So it is a no-brainer for Congress to do what it’s supposed to do:  Pass transportation funding.  We can do it without adding to the deficit simply by getting rid of some corporate tax loopholes that aren’t creating jobs and are basically giveaways to folks who don’t need them.  And when people -- when you ask Americans from all walks of life all across the country what’s their number one priority, it’s improving the economy and putting people back to work.  And one of the best ways we can do it is to do something about the roads, the bridges, the ports, the airports, the sewer lines all across the country that need repair. 

We know we’re going to have to do it.  This is like deferred maintenance on your house.  If you’ve got to do some tuck-pointing to fix the roof or fix the boiler, there’s no point in putting it off.  Now is the time to do it, and we’ve got outstanding contractors and workers ready to work.  So I hope Congress gets working, and I’m prepared to work with anybody on a bipartisan basis to get it done.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Mr. President, for 40 years it’s been a bipartisan notion. 

THE PRESIDENT:  Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  For 40 years.  This is the first time  -- I’ve been hanging around and it’s like, oh, infrastructure.

THE PRESIDENT:  This shouldn’t be Democrat or Republican.  This is American.  We’ve got to rebuild America.  And these are folks who are doing it.

So thank you very much, everybody.  Enjoy your burgers if you guys are buying them. 

END   
12:14 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2014

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on the Sentencing of Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag in Sudan

Today in Sudan, Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag was sentenced to be flogged for adultery and to be hanged to death for apostasy because she married a Christian man.  We strongly condemn this sentence and urge the Government of Sudan to meet its obligations under international human rights law.  We call on the Government of Sudan to respect Ms. Ishag’s right to freedom of religion, a universal human right enshrined in Sudan’s own 2005 Constitution as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

Since 1999, Sudan has been designated as a Country of Particular Concern for its ongoing, egregious, and systematic violations of religious freedom.  We continue to urge Sudan to fulfill its constitutional promise of religious freedom, and to respect the fundamental freedoms and universal human rights of all its people.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education

60TH ANNIVERSARY OF BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

May 17, 1954, marked a turning point in America's journey toward a more perfect Union. On that day, the Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education, outlawing racial segregation in our Nation's schools. Brown overturned the doctrine of "separate but equal," which the Court had established in the 1896 case of Plessy v. Ferguson. For more than half a century, Plessy gave constitutional backing to discrimination, and civil rights organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People faced an uphill battle as they sought equality, opportunity, and justice under the law.

Brown v. Board of Education shifted the legal and moral compass of our Nation. It declared that education "must be made available to all on equal terms" and demanded that America's promise exclude no one. Yet the Supreme Court alone could not destroy segregation. Brown had unlocked the schoolhouse doors, but even years later, African-American children braved mobs as they walked to school, while U.S. Marshals kept the peace. From lunch counters and city streets to buses and ballot boxes, American citizens struggled to realize their basic rights. A decade after the Court's ruling, Brown's moral guidance was translated into the enforcement measures of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.

Thanks to the men and women who fought for equality in the courtroom, the legislature, and the hearts and minds of the American people, we have confined legalized segregation to the dustbin of history. Yet today, the hope and promise of Brown remains unfulfilled. In the years to come, we must continue striving toward equal opportunities for all our children, from access to advanced classes to participation in the same extracurricular activities. Because when children learn and play together, they grow, build, and thrive together.

On the 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, let us heed the words of Justice Thurgood Marshall, who so ably argued the case against segregation, "None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody...bent down and helped us pick up our boots." Let us march together, meet our obligations to one another, and remember that progress has never come easily -- but even in the face of impossible odds, those who love their country can change it.

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 May 17, 2014, as the 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate this landmark decision and advance the causes of equality and opportunity for all.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2014

Statement by the Press Secretary on Net Neutrality

The President has made clear since he was a candidate that he strongly supports net neutrality and an open Internet.  As he has said, the Internet’s incredible equality – of data, content, and access to the consumer – is what has powered extraordinary economic growth and made it possible for once-tiny sites like eBay or Amazon to compete with brick and mortar behemoths.

The FCC is an independent agency, and we will carefully review their proposal. The FCC’s efforts were dealt a real challenge by the Court of Appeals in January, but Chairman Wheeler has said his goal is to preserve an open Internet, and we are pleased to see that he is keeping all options on the table. We will be watching closely as the process moves forward in hopes that the final rule stays true to the spirit of net neutrality.

The President is looking at every way to protect a free and open Internet, and will consider any option that might make sense.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2014

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

 

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Robert S. Adler, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2014.  (Reappointment)

Victor M. Mendez, of Arizona, to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation, vice John D. Porcari, resigned.

Theodore G. Osius III, of Maryland, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador       Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Joan A. Polaschik, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria.

Peter M. Rogoff, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, vice Polly Ellen Trottenberg, resigned.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2014

Gaggle en route Andrews Air Force Base from New York by Press Secretary Jay Carney

Aboard Air Force One
En Route Andrews Air Force Base

11:33 A.M. EDT

MR. CARNEY:  Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.  Thanks for joining us aboard Air Force One as we make our way from New York City to Washington, D.C. to Joint Base Andrews.  I don't have any announcements, so why don't we see if you have any questions.

Q    Jay, do you have further color on the President’s day today, anything he saw, any remarks he made that weren’t public, anything that we could flesh out --

MR. CARNEY:  The President and the First Lady spent some time touring the museum and it is, I think, for everyone and was for them a powerful reminder of the events of September 11, 2001 -- exceptionally well done in the presentation and in the focus on the human tragedy, the heroics of individuals, and the exceptionalism of each person who was lost.  There’s an exhibit that provides information about and photographs of every person who perished on that day and it's very powerful.  I know the President and First Lady felt that it was very powerful.

Q    Jay, separate from the Nabors’s review, the Republican Party is calling for an independent investigation into the VA issue.  Is the White House open to that?

MR. CARNEY:  Are you talking about the letter from the chairman?

Q    Yes.

MR. CARNEY:  I addressed this yesterday.  We're reviewing the letter, but I don't have any announcements beyond the one we made regarding Rob Nabors’s temporary assignment to assist Secretary Shinseki in the review that's being conducted of VHA procedures.  And so at this point, we're focused on making sure that procedures are in place that will ensure that our veterans are getting the health care that they deserve.

Q    This morning, Secretary Shinseki testified before Congress that he’s “mad as hell” about what happened.  Is the President also mad as hell?

MR. CARNEY:  He certainly is very concerned and angry about the allegations that we've seen regarding specifically the Phoenix office.  As Secretary Shinseki noted, and others have noted, we need to find out the truth -- that's why there are investigations and reviews underway.  But certainly, should it be the case that the allegations that have been made are true, that would be outrageous.

Q    -- that made the President decide that someone from the White House -- in this case, Rob Nabors -- needed to go and help? What was sort of the triggering for that decision?

MR. CARNEY:  Secretary Shinseki, in conversations with Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, requested -- or suggested that it would be helpful to have someone assist him in his efforts, and Chief of Staff McDonough agreed and the President agreed.  Rob Nabors, as you know, is one of the President’s most trusted advisors.  He’s held very senior, vital roles in the administration, in the White House -- deputy chief of staff, director of legislative affairs, deputy budget director.  And he also has held in the past, prior to the Obama administration, very senior positions on Capitol Hill.  He’s also the son of an Army veteran and brings that perspective to bear as he takes on this temporary task.

Q    What is the scope of this task?  Like how long will it last?  What are the parameters of it?

MR. CARNEY:  I don't have more detail on that.  It is temporary, but I don't have a timeline for you.  And I would refer you to the VA for procedures in terms of moving forward.

Q    What can you tell us about the latest on Boko Haram?  Is there any news on your front?

MR. CARNEY:  I don't have any specific news except to say that our team is in place assisting the Nigerian government as they take the lead in searching for the kidnapped girls.  As I noted yesterday, I believe it was, in addition to the personnel that we have provided from the State Department, the Department of Defense, the FBI and elsewhere, we have also provided assets, including manned and unmanned vehicles for surveillance flights  -- for reconnaissance flights to assist in the search -- by vehicles I mean aircraft, obviously.

Q    Jay, President Putin says that Russia will stop providing gas to Ukraine unless Ukraine pays in advance.  Does the U.S. view this as fresh evidence that Russia is trying to use energy as a weapon in the crisis with Ukraine?

MR. CARNEY:  I think the answer to that question is pretty self-evident.  We have, all along through this crisis, made clear our view that it is inappropriate to use energy as a weapon or a tool against another nation.  And that would certainly be the case in this circumstance. 

We note, as I have in the past, that there are consequences to any move that might disrupt the flow of energy supplies to and through Ukraine, but those consequences would also affect Russia fairly profoundly.

Q    Anything more the U.S. can do if Russia does cut off gas to help Ukraine through that?

MR. CARNEY:  Well, there’s a couple of “ifs” built into that question, so I’m not going to speculate.  But obviously we’re working very closely with the government of Ukraine in providing assistance and working with them on energy security matters, and we’re working closely with our range of European partners on this very subject.

Q    Jay, is there some reason the Vice President wasn’t included in today’s event?

MR. CARNEY:  You would have to -- not that I’m aware of.  You’d have to ask the Vice President’s office.  But I think it was -- the President was here, former President Clinton.  I’m not sure I understand the question. 

Q    How did the Clintons get involved -- included in the tour as opposed to other guests?

MR. CARNEY:  You would have to ask the folks at the museum. I’m not sure.  But obviously the President and First Lady were very happy to have -- to be joined by former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Clinton.

Q    They have any conversation beyond the tour?  Any meeting, sit-down or coffee beforehand, after?

MR. CARNEY:  No.  I mean, there was a lot of moving around and talking, and I don’t have a readout of everything that was said in those conversations, but there was no separate meeting.

Q    Jay, the three nominees for the Federal Reserve Board, Harry Reid is now starting to schedule votes on them.  Is the White House confident they’re going to get through?  Or have you heard anything of concern otherwise?

MR. CARNEY:  I don’t have any update on the status of the nomination process.  Obviously, the President is confident that he has put forward highly qualified nominees and believes that the Senate ought to fulfill its responsibility in this process and then confirm these highly qualified nominees. 

Q    Jay, the President mentioned the story of Welles Crowther this morning, the man with the red bandana.  Did he get a chance today to stop by the exhibit dedicated to his story?  He did?

MR. CARNEY:  Yes, he did.  On the tour that the President and the First Lady took, one of the exhibits contains one of his bandanas, one of his collection of red bandanas.  I think you saw the image of it, and that is from the museum exhibit.

Q    Jay, the President -- the Senate banking panel passed a bill today that would get rid of Fannie and Freddie and overhaul the mortgage system.  Does the President have a view about that legislation?

MR. CARNEY:  I’ll have to take the question.  I haven’t been updated on that legislative process.

Q    Is Vladimir Putin in Europe in the upcoming trip -- is Vladimir Putin is going to the D-Day ceremony?

MR. CARNEY:  My understanding is France has appropriately invited leaders from many countries, including Russia.  I have been asked whether there’s going to be a separate meeting between President Obama and President Putin, and I would not expect that. I would not anticipate that.  The purpose of the visit to Normandy is to commemorate a turning point in the war and heroism of all those who fought in those battles.

Q    The situation between China and Vietnam -- there’s now 21 dead.  What is the White House doing, if anything, to try to help defuse it?  Have there been contacts made or discussion at high levels of the administration with either China or Vietnam? 

MR. CARNEY:  I’d refer you to the State Department for diplomatic efforts that we have been engaged in and I’m sure continue to be engaged in.  Our approach has been to call on both sides of this dispute and obviously other disputes -- similar disputes in the South China Sea to work through the issues and the disputes peacefully and diplomatically, not to use intimidation, not to use -- certainly not to engage in any action that ratchets up tension.  But I don’t have a specific readout of the diplomatic engagement that the United States has undertaken.

Q    The President hasn’t made any calls on that issue?

MR. CARNEY:  I don’t have any calls to read out on that issue, no. 

END
11:44 A.M. EDT 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2014

Letter to the Congress -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Burma

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

May 15, 2014

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Mr. President:)

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to Burma that was declared on May 20, 1997, is to continue in effect beyond May 20, 2014.

The Government of Burma has made significant progress in a number of critical areas, including the release of over 1,100 political prisoners, progress towards a nationwide ceasefire, the legalization of unions, taking steps to improve the country's labor standards, and allowing greater freedom of association and expression. In addition, Burma signed an Additional Protocol to its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, a significant step towards supporting the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.

Despite great strides that Burma has made in its reform effort, the situation in the country continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The political opening remains nascent, and concerns persist regarding ongoing conflict and human rights abuses in ethnic minority areas, particularly in Rakhine State, and the continued role of the military in the country's political and economic activities. Nonetheless, the United States is committed to supporting and strengthening Burma's reform efforts to ensure that the democratic transition is sustained and irreversible. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2014

Notice -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Burma

NOTICE

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CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO BURMA

On May 20, 1997, the President issued Executive Order 13047, certifying to the Congress under section 570(b) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-208), that the Government of Burma had committed large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma after September 30, 1996, thereby invoking the prohibition on new investment in Burma by United States persons contained in that section. The President also declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701-1706, to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Burma.

Because the actions and policies of the Government of Burma continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on May 20, 1997, and the measures adopted to deal with the emergency in Executive Orders 13047 of May 20, 1997; 13310 of July 28, 2003; 13448 of October 18, 2007; 13464 of April 30, 2008; 13619 of July 11, 2012; and 13651 of August 6, 2013, must continue in effect beyond May 20, 2014. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Burma declared in Executive Order 13047. This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA

THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 15, 2014.