President Obama Announces U.S. Nomination of Dr. Jim Yong Kim to Lead World Bank
Today, President Obama announced that the United States is nominating Dr. Jim Yong Kim, a leader who has devoted his career to improving the lives of people in developing countries and championing the cause of global health, to be President of the World Bank. The World Bank’s mission is to reduce poverty and support development, serving as a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries across the globe.
“Jim has spent more than two decades working to improve conditions in developing countries around the world,” said President Obama. “The World Bank is one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce poverty and raise standards of living around the globe, and Jim’s personal experience and years of service make him an ideal candidate for this job.”
Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Nominee for President, The World Bank
Jim Yong Kim has served as the President of Dartmouth College since 2009. During this time, Dr. Kim has launched the Dartmouth Center for Health Care Delivery Science, which is the first of its kind in establishing an international network of researchers and practitioners to design, implement, and scale new models of high-quality low-cost care. He has also instituted the National College Health Improvement Project. Prior to that, he held professorships in medicine and social medicine at Harvard Medical School and served as the director of the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights. He is a co-founder of Partners In Health and a pioneer in the treatment of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis.
As Director of the World Health Organization’s Department of HIV/AIDS, Dr. Kim launched the “3 by 5” initiative, which sought to treat 3 million patients living with HIV and is regarded today as one of the most successful modern global health initiatives. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine in 2004, and his work in the field of global health has earned him widespread recognition, including a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, selection as one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” and numerous other awards.
He has published extensively over the past two decades, authoring and co-authoring articles for leading academic and scientific journals and contributing to many books on public health issues. Born in Seoul, Korea, President Kim moved to the United States at the age of five. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown University, earned a medical degree from Harvard Medical School and a doctorate in anthropology from Harvard University.
Statement by th…
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President is grateful that the Senate acted in a bipartisan way to move forward key ideas the President proposed last fall that will help our small businesses and startups access capital they need to grow and create jobs. We are heartened by the important investor protections added to the crowdfunding provision and will be vigilant in monitoring this and other elements to ensure the overall bill achieves its goal of helping entrepreneurs while maintaining protections for investors. We urge the House to adopt these important changes.
While this vote marks a moment of bipartisan cooperation, there is much more work to be done to create an economy that is built to last, and we encourage Congress to act on additional measures like rebuilding our nation’s crumbling roads and bridges, putting our teachers back in the classroom and first responders back on the beat, and reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank which thousands of American businesses and their workers depend on to stay competitive in the global economy.
New Report: Affordable Care Act Gives Americans More Security, Better Benefits
New Report: Affordable Care Act Gives Americans More Security, Better Benefits
The White House today released a new report highlighting the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. The report discusses how the Affordable Care Act has improved the health care system for millions of Americans and includes stories of Americans who have been helped by the law.
“Today, two years after we passed health care reform, more young adults have insurance, more seniors are saving money on their prescription drugs, and more Americans can rest easy knowing they won’t be dropped from their insurance plans if they get sick,” said President Obama. “The law has made a difference for millions of Americans, and over time, it will help give even more working and middle-class families the security they deserve.”
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act:
- · 2.5 million more young adults have health insurance on their parent’s plan.
- · 5.1 million people with Medicare saved an average of $635 on the cost of their prescription drugs. And everyone on Medicare can get preventive services like mammograms for free.
- · Insurance companies must spend at least 80 percent of your premium dollars on health care and not overhead and cannot raise your premiums by 10 percent or more with no accountability.
- · It is illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage to children because of a pre-existing condition. And in 2014, discriminating against anyone with a pre-existing condition will be illegal.
The report spotlights examples of Americans from across the country who have benefitted from the law including:
- · Devon Grochowski graduated from Pennsylvania State University in May of 2010 but she doesn’t get benefits, including health insurance, at work. Without the provision in the Affordable Care Act that allows her to stay on her parent’s plan until she is 26, Devon would have had to consider leaving her job to get one that offers benefits, even if that meant leaving the field where she’s hoping to build her career.
- · Michael and Margaret Novak own a grocery store in a small rural town in Montana. They were able to receive a small business tax credit worth $10,500 to help them continue to offer health insurance to their more than two dozen employees.
- · Amy Ward of West Des Moines, Iowa came down with a rare infection that nearly cost her life. Without the Affordable Care Act, Amy and her husband may not have been able to afford all the care she needed to recover. Before the new health care law, Amy’s health insurance policy had a lifetime dollar limit.
The report released today also discusses how the new law is investing in public health and improving the quality of health care for all Americans. New health policies that cut red tape will save providers and health plans an estimated $12 billion. Additionally, investments in public health will expand the number of health care providers in underserved areas by supporting the National Health Service Corps and strengthening community health centers.
For additional information on your State and stories from Americans already benefitting from the law, visit www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform.
President Obama Announces The Nomination of Ward Brehm For Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development FoundationAnother Key Administration Post
President Obama Announces Another Key Administration Post
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post:
- · Ward Brehm – Member, Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation
President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post:
Ward Brehm, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation
Ward Brehm is Founder and Chairman of The Brehm Group, an insurance consulting firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. Brehm is a member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation, having been appointed by President Obama in October 2010. Previously, he served as Chairman of the Board from 2004 to 2008, and was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, the country’s second-highest civilian honor, for his work in Africa. Mr. Brehm has been involved with the Pilgrim Center for Reconciliation since 1995, a program that offers support and counseling to victims and perpetrators of genocide in Rwanda and Burundi. Mr. Brehm also initiated the Windpump Project in 1993 which brought clean water to remote areas in Kenya. He has authored two books on his experiences, Life Through a Different Lens and White Man Walking. Mr. Brehm earned his B.A. from the University of Minnesota.
BREAKING NEWS: Statement by NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor on Attack in France
We were deeply saddened to learn of the horrific attack this morning against the teachers and students of a Jewish school in the French city of Toulouse. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the victims, and we stand with a community in grief. We join the Government of France in condemning this unprovoked and outrageous act of violence in the strongest possible terms.
Statement from NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor on the Detention of Members of the Damas de Blanco
Statement from NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor on the Detention of Members of the Damas de Blanco
The detention of members of the Damas de Blanco this weekend in Havana in the lead up to Pope Benedict’s visit underscores the disdain of Cuban authorities for the universal rights of the Cuban people. The quiet dignity of the Damas stands in stark contrast with the acts of those who are standing in the way of the basic aspirations of the Cuban people. We call for the immediate release of all who were detained and for Cuban authorities to abandon their tactics of intimidation and harassment to stifle peaceful dissent.
President Obama and the American people remain steadfast in standing with the Damas and other courageous voices in Cuban civil society who demonstrate the Cuban people’s desire to freely determine their country’s future.
Statement by President Barack Obama on the Passing of Pope Shenouda III
Statement by the President on the Passing of Pope Shenouda III
Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Coptic Christian Pope Shenouda III, a beloved leader of Egypt’s Coptic Christians and an advocate for tolerance and religious dialogue. We stand alongside Coptic Christians and Egyptians as they honor his contributions in support of peace and cooperation.
We will remember Pope Shenouda III as a man of deep faith, a leader of a great faith, and an advocate for unity and reconciliation. His commitment to Egypt’s national unity is also a testament to what can be accomplished when people of all religions and creeds work together. On behalf of the American people, we extend our thoughts and prayers to Coptic Christians, Egyptians, and all those who mourn Pope Shenouda III today.
Statement by the Press Secretary on the North American Leaders’ Summit
Statement by the Press Secretary on the North American Leaders’ Summit
On April 2, 2012, President Obama will host Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada and President Felipe Calderon of Mexico for the North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS) in Washington, DC. This meeting will build on wide-ranging and ongoing cooperation among the United States, Canada, and Mexico with a particular focus on economic growth and competitiveness, citizen security, energy, and climate change. The leaders will also discuss North America’s role in the Americas in anticipation of the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia later in April, as well as other global economic, political, and security issues.
The last North American Leaders’ Summit was hosted by President Calderon in Guadalajara in August 2009. The previously scheduled NALS, to have been hosted by President Obama in November 2011, was postponed following the tragic death of Mexican Secretary of Government Francisco Blake Mora.
Obama Administration Establishes White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities
Obama Administration Establishes White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama signed an Executive Order that will establish the White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2). The Council will build on the SC2 pilot initiative launched June 2011 aimed at creating new partnerships between federal agencies and localities to spark economic development in communities that have faced significant long-term challenges in developing and implementing their economic strategies. Attached is the Executive Order signed by the President today on SC2.
Based at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the interagency Council will include 19 federal agencies and will coordinate the implementation of SC2 and build a foundation for expanding the program to cities across the country. Currently, dozens of federal agency staff work closely with six cities – Chester, PA; Cleveland/Youngstown, OH; Detroit, MI; Fresno, CA; Memphis, TN; and New Orleans, LA.
“Strong Cities, Strong Communities is a remarkable initiative, one that takes innovation, a determination to cut-through the red-tape and ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely. The early successes of SC2 is clearly worth setting a foundation to sustain this model of partnership,” said Cecilia Munoz, Director of the Domestic Policy Council. “The Strong Cities Council will support bottom-up solutions that break down silos within federal and local governments, and will urge the private and nonprofit sectors to come up with innovate strategies to solve challenging issues.”
The Council will recommend policies to the President for building local expertise in strengthening local economies and changing Federal policies and programs to address issues to strengthen local capacity and spur economic growth.
In addition, to mark the six-month anniversary that SC2’s teams have been on the ground in the pilot cities, stakeholders – from mayors to philanthropic leaders to federal agency staff–gathered at the White House to discuss the pilot’s progress.
“The Strong Cities, Strong Communities initiative is making a real impact as Fresno moves forward on our economic development and community revitalization vision” said Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. “The SC2 team has been a terrific partner in contributing to the development of ‘ground-up’ solutions tailored to our needs, refining lasting partnerships with key local and regional stakeholders, and working to remove roadblocks accompanying federal programs that directly affect our city.”
“With the amount of federal investment hitting the streets of our city, Strong Cities, Strong Communities provides the type of interagency cooperation, coordination and expertise that is vital to making the most of existing resources,” said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.“President Obama’s commitment to New Orleans has been a critical part of our recovery, and SC2 is helping to revitalize our economy and improve the quality of life for our residents.”
SC2 pilot cities were selected on the basis of economic need, strong local leadership and collaboration, potential for economic growth, geographic diversity, and the ability to test the SC2 model across a range of environments. Federal assessment teams spent time on the ground working directly with mayors and other local officials to determine needs, opportunities and gather input for the pilot initiative.
Statement by the President on the Meeting of the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Statement by the President on the Meeting of the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Nearly one hundred and fifty years ago, in issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to the enduring cause of freedom. Then as now, we remain steadfast in our resolve to see that all men, women, and children have the opportunity to realize this greatest of gifts. Yet millions around the world—including here in the United States—toil under the boot of modern slavery. Mothers and fathers are forced to work in fields and factories against their will or in service to debts that can never be repaid. Sons and daughters are sold for sex, abducted as child soldiers, or coerced into involuntary labor. In dark corners of our world, and hidden in plain sight in our own communities, human beings are exploited for financial gain and subjected to unspeakable cruelty.
Slavery remains the affront to human dignity and stain on our collective conscience that it has always been. That is why members of my cabinet and senior advisors gathered at the White House today, at a meeting chaired by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to lay out their plans for meeting this challenge. The United States is committed to eradicating trafficking in persons, and we will draw on tools ranging from law enforcement and victim service provision, to public awareness building and diplomatic pressure. Because we know that government efforts are not enough, we are also increasing our partnerships with a broad coalition of local communities, faith-based and non-governmental organizations, schools, and businesses.
To bring all these elements together, and to be sure we are maximizing our efforts, today I am directing my cabinet to find ways to strengthen our current work, and to expand on partnerships with civil society and the private sector, so that we can bring more resources to bear in fighting this horrific injustice. In the coming weeks the White House will build on this gathering on behalf of human dignity. I am confident that we will one day end the scourge of modern slavery, because I believe in those committed to this issue: young people, people of faith and station, Americans who refuse to accept this injustice and will not rest until it is vanquished. Today, I reaffirm that the United States stands with them, and that together we will realize the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation and our country’s ideal of freedom.
Statement by National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor on the International Criminal Court Conviction of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo in Child Soldiers Case
Statement by National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor on the International Criminal Court Conviction of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo in Child Soldiers Case
The United States welcomes the conviction by the International Criminal Court of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo for war crimes relating to enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15 and causing them to participate actively in hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As this decision illustrates, the international community is united in its determination to end the repugnant practice of using child soldiers. Today’s decision is a reminder that those who prey upon children, forcing them to become soldiers and sex slaves, are committing a despicable crime for which they will be held accountable.
Statement by National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor on Accident in Switzerland
Statement by National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor on Accident in Switzerland
The President sends his deepest condolences to the victims and their families of last night’s bus accident in Switzerland. The loss of so many young lives is especially heartbreaking. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Belgian communities of Lommel and Heverlee and all the people of Belgium at this difficult time. As a close friend of both Belgium and Switzerland, the United States stands ready to provide whatever assistance may be helpful.
Statement by the Press Secretary on the Senate Passage of the Transportation Bill
Statement by the Press Secretary on the Senate Passage of the Transportation Bill
Maintaining a world class infrastructure system is critical to creating an economy built to last. Our country needs and deserves a commitment to surface transportation that will create jobs by rebuilding and modernizing our roads and bridges and allows us to compete and grow in the global economy.
We are pleased that Senators have continued the tradition of working across the aisle to pass a bill that keeps Americans at work maintaining our nation’s vital infrastructure and provides states and localities the certainty they need to plan ahead. We are hopeful that the House will move swiftly and in similarly bipartisan fashion to do the same.
The Obama Administration will also continue to work with Congress to make additional investments to create jobs right now and to provide longer-term funding to support economic growth and competitiveness for generations to come.
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