President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Danny Russel – Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State
• Rick Metsger – Member, National Credit Union Administration Board

The President also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Michael G. Whitaker – Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
• Alphonso Maldon, Jr. – Member and Chair, Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission
• Mary C. Pete – Member, Arctic Research Commission

President Obama said, “These fine public servants both bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their new roles.  Our nation will be well-served by these men and women, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Danny Russel, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State
Danny Russel, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asian Affairs on the White House National Security Staff (NSS).  From 2009 to 2011, he was the NSS Director for Japan, South Korea, and North Korea.  Before joining the NSS, Mr. Russel was Director of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the Department of State.  From 2005 to 2008, he was U.S. Consul General in Osaka-Kobe, Japan.  Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in The Hague from 2002 to 2005, and as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus from 1999 to 2002.  From 1996 to 1999, Mr. Russel was Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.  Earlier assignments included posts at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Korea and with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.  Before joining the Foreign Service in 1985, Mr. Russel was a manager for an international firm based in New York City.

Rick Metsger, Nominee for Member, National Credit Union Administration Board
Rick Metsger is President of Parakletos Strategic Public Affairs LLC, a position he has held since 2010.  Prior to this, Mr. Metsger served in the Oregon State Senate from 1999 to 2011, and as Senate President Pro Tempore  from 2009 to 2011.  From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Metsger worked as a Principal at Metsger Forbes LLC.  He was Principal of NewsMedia Dynamics Inc. from 1992 to 1999.  Mr. Metsger was a news anchor and reporter for KOIN-TV in Portland, Oregon from 1977 to 1992.  He served on the State Treasury Debt Policy Advisory Commission from 2001 to 2011 and was on the Board of Directors of Portland Teachers Credit Union from 1993 to 2001.  Mr. Metsger received a B.S. and an M.A.T. from Lewis & Clark College.
President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Michael G. Whitaker, Appointee for Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
Michael G. Whitaker most recently served as a Board Member and Business Development Consultant for InterGlobe Enterprises from 2011 to 2012.  Prior to this, Mr. Whitaker was a Group Chief Executive Officer within InterGlobe Enterprises from 2009 to 2011.  From 1994 to 2009, he served at United Airlines, most recently as Senior Vice President for Alliances, International, and Regulatory Affairs.  Prior to that, he served at Trans World Airlines from 1991 to 1994, most recently as Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory and International Affairs.  Mr. Whitaker received a B.A. from the University of Louisville and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. 

Alphonso Maldon, Jr., Appointee for Member and Chair, Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission
Alphonso Maldon, Jr. is Founder, President, and CEO of Partnership Strategies Consulting in Virginia.  He is also part-owner of the Washington Nationals Baseball Club.  Before launching Partnership Strategies Consulting in 2009, Mr. Maldon was Senior Vice President for External Affairs for the Washington Nationals and President of the Dream Foundation, the Washington Nationals’ philanthropic arm.  Before joining the Washington Nationals Baseball Club, Mr. Maldon was Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Management Officer for Government Banking Services for PNC Financial Services Group in Washington, D.C.  Previously, he was Executive Vice President with Fleet Boston Financial and Bank of America.  From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Maldon served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy.  Prior to that, he served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs at the White House and White House Congressional Liaison to the United States Senate and House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999.  From 1994 to 1995, he was Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Military Office.  Mr. Maldon served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 1993 and retired with the rank of Colonel.  He received a B.S. from Florida A&M and an M.A. from the University of Oklahoma.

Mary C. Pete, Appointee for Member, Arctic Research Commission
Mary C. Pete is the Director of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel, Alaska, a position she has held since 2005.  She was first appointed to the Artic Research Commission by President Obama in 2010.  Prior to that, from 1996 to 2005, she served as the Director of the Division of Subsistence for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.  From 1993 to 1996, Ms. Pete was an instructor in the Department of Rural Development at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and a Subsistence Resource Specialist from 1984 to 1993.  From 2005 to 2009 she served as a member of the North Pacific Research Board Science Panel.  Ms. Pete received a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov.

The President and the Department of Defense are taking unprecedented steps to protect our environment, achieve significant cost savings, and give our military better energy options.

Today at the White House, we convened the 10th annual meeting of the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

view all related blog posts

View the original article here

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Danny Russel – Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State
• Rick Metsger – Member, National Credit Union Administration Board

The President also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Michael G. Whitaker – Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
• Alphonso Maldon, Jr. – Member and Chair, Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission
• Mary C. Pete – Member, Arctic Research Commission

President Obama said, “These fine public servants both bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their new roles.  Our nation will be well-served by these men and women, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Danny Russel, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State
Danny Russel, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asian Affairs on the White House National Security Staff (NSS).  From 2009 to 2011, he was the NSS Director for Japan, South Korea, and North Korea.  Before joining the NSS, Mr. Russel was Director of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the Department of State.  From 2005 to 2008, he was U.S. Consul General in Osaka-Kobe, Japan.  Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in The Hague from 2002 to 2005, and as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus from 1999 to 2002.  From 1996 to 1999, Mr. Russel was Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.  Earlier assignments included posts at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Korea and with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.  Before joining the Foreign Service in 1985, Mr. Russel was a manager for an international firm based in New York City.

Rick Metsger, Nominee for Member, National Credit Union Administration Board
Rick Metsger is President of Parakletos Strategic Public Affairs LLC, a position he has held since 2010.  Prior to this, Mr. Metsger served in the Oregon State Senate from 1999 to 2011, and as Senate President Pro Tempore  from 2009 to 2011.  From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Metsger worked as a Principal at Metsger Forbes LLC.  He was Principal of NewsMedia Dynamics Inc. from 1992 to 1999.  Mr. Metsger was a news anchor and reporter for KOIN-TV in Portland, Oregon from 1977 to 1992.  He served on the State Treasury Debt Policy Advisory Commission from 2001 to 2011 and was on the Board of Directors of Portland Teachers Credit Union from 1993 to 2001.  Mr. Metsger received a B.S. and an M.A.T. from Lewis & Clark College.
President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Michael G. Whitaker, Appointee for Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
Michael G. Whitaker most recently served as a Board Member and Business Development Consultant for InterGlobe Enterprises from 2011 to 2012.  Prior to this, Mr. Whitaker was a Group Chief Executive Officer within InterGlobe Enterprises from 2009 to 2011.  From 1994 to 2009, he served at United Airlines, most recently as Senior Vice President for Alliances, International, and Regulatory Affairs.  Prior to that, he served at Trans World Airlines from 1991 to 1994, most recently as Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory and International Affairs.  Mr. Whitaker received a B.A. from the University of Louisville and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. 

Alphonso Maldon, Jr., Appointee for Member and Chair, Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission
Alphonso Maldon, Jr. is Founder, President, and CEO of Partnership Strategies Consulting in Virginia.  He is also part-owner of the Washington Nationals Baseball Club.  Before launching Partnership Strategies Consulting in 2009, Mr. Maldon was Senior Vice President for External Affairs for the Washington Nationals and President of the Dream Foundation, the Washington Nationals’ philanthropic arm.  Before joining the Washington Nationals Baseball Club, Mr. Maldon was Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Management Officer for Government Banking Services for PNC Financial Services Group in Washington, D.C.  Previously, he was Executive Vice President with Fleet Boston Financial and Bank of America.  From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Maldon served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy.  Prior to that, he served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs at the White House and White House Congressional Liaison to the United States Senate and House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999.  From 1994 to 1995, he was Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Military Office.  Mr. Maldon served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 1993 and retired with the rank of Colonel.  He received a B.S. from Florida A&M and an M.A. from the University of Oklahoma.

Mary C. Pete, Appointee for Member, Arctic Research Commission
Mary C. Pete is the Director of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel, Alaska, a position she has held since 2005.  She was first appointed to the Artic Research Commission by President Obama in 2010.  Prior to that, from 1996 to 2005, she served as the Director of the Division of Subsistence for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.  From 1993 to 1996, Ms. Pete was an instructor in the Department of Rural Development at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and a Subsistence Resource Specialist from 1984 to 1993.  From 2005 to 2009 she served as a member of the North Pacific Research Board Science Panel.  Ms. Pete received a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov.

The President and the Department of Defense are taking unprecedented steps to protect our environment, achieve significant cost savings, and give our military better energy options.

Today at the White House, we convened the 10th annual meeting of the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

view all related blog posts

View the original article here

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts | The White House Skip to main content | Skip to footer site map The White House. President Barack Obama Get Email UpdatesContact Us Go to homepage. The White House Blog Photos & Videos Photo Galleries Video Performances Live Streams Podcasts 2012: A Year in Photos

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For Immediate Release April 23, 2013 President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

D. Michael Bennett – Governor, Board of Governors of the United States Postal ServiceRoberto R. Herencia – Member, Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment CorporationYvette Roubideaux – Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services

President Obama said, “I am grateful these accomplished individuals have agreed to join this Administration, and I’m confident they will serve ably in these important roles.  I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

D. Michael Bennett, Nominee for Governor, Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service
D. Michael Bennett is Senior Vice President of Information Management and Chief Information Officer of BAE Systems, a position he has held since 2010.  Previously, Mr. Bennett was Vice President and General Manager of the Enterprise Solutions Business Area of BAE System’s Information Solutions Line of Business.  He worked at Northrup Grumman, ultimately becoming Vice President for Contracts, Pricing, Procurement and Risk Management for Northrop’s Information Technology Sector in 1999.  From 1980 to 1999, Mr. Bennett practiced law in various positions with Northrup Grumman, EDS Corporation, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.  He serves on the Board of Visitors of the Howard University School of Business, Vice President of Duke University Alumni Association Board of Directors, and Chair of the Manna Ventures Board of Directors.  In 2012, he received the Minority Business Leader Award from the Washington Business Journal.  Mr. Bennett received a B.A. from Duke University and a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

Roberto R. Herencia, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Roberto R. Herencia is the President and CEO of BXM Holdings, a position he has held since 2010.  He was first appointed as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation by President Obama in 2011.  He has served as an independent director of SKBHC Holdings and its two subsidiary banks since 2010.  Since 2011, Mr. Herencia has served as an independent director and Chairman of the board of First BanCorp and its subsidiary bank, FirstBank Puerto Rico.  Between 2009 and 2010, Mr. Herencia was the President and CEO of Midwest Banc Holdings Inc. and Midwest Bank and Trust.  Previously, he spent 17 years with Popular Inc. as Executive Vice President and as President of Banco Popular North America.  Mr. Herencia received a B.S. from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, Nominee for Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. Yvette Roubideaux is currently the Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) at the Department of Health and Human Services, a position she has held since 2009.  Prior to this, Dr. Roubideaux worked at the University of Arizona from 1998 to 2009 in a number of roles, most recently as Assistant Professor in the College of Medicine’s Department of Family & Community Medicine.  Previously, Dr. Roubideaux worked in the IHS as a Medical Officer and Clinical Director on the San Carlos Indian Reservation and as a Medical Officer in the Gila River Indian Community.  Dr. Roubideaux is a recipient of the American Diabetes Association’s 2008 Addison B. Scoville Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service and the 2004 Indian Physician of the Year Award from the Association of American Indian Physicians.  She is co-editor of the American Public Health Association’s book entitled Promises to Keep: Public Health Policy for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the 21st Century.  Dr. Roubideaux received a B.A. in Biology from Harvard University, an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and an M.P.H. from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Blog posts on this issue April 23, 2013 4:30 PM EDTPresident Obama Honors the 2013 National Teacher of the Year

President Obama honored Jeff Charbonneau, a science, physics and engineering teacher at Zillah High School in Washington, as the 2013 National Teacher of the Year.

April 22, 2013 6:34 PM EDTCelebrate National Park Week!

National Park Week celebrates and gives back to our country’s great natural and cultural landscapes.

April 22, 2013 5:57 PM EDTYoung Scientists and Innovators Amaze President Obama at the White House Science Fair

100 students from more than 40 states were at the White House for an all-day, hands-on celebration of the power and potential of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

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View the original article here

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Avril D. Haines – Legal Adviser, Department of State
• Andrea Levere – Member, Board of Directors of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank

The President also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Brian Kamoie – Assistant Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Grant Programs, Department of Homeland Security
• Jim W. Balsiger – United States Commissioner, United States Section of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission
• Gary T. Smith – United States Commissioner, United States Section of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission

President Obama said, “I am proud to nominate such impressive men and women to these important roles, and I am grateful they have agreed to lend their considerable talents to this Administration.  I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Avril D. Haines, Nominee for Legal Adviser, Department of State
Avril D. Haines is Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel to the President for National Security Affairs at the White House.  Prior to joining the White House Counsel’s office in 2010, she was Assistant Legal Adviser for Treaty Affairs at the Department of State.  She previously worked in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the Department of State from 2003 to 2006, first in the Office of Treaty Affairs and then in the Office of Political Military Affairs.  From 2007 to 2008, she worked on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Majority.  Ms. Haines clerked for Judge Danny Boggs on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 2002 to 2003.  From 2001 to 2002, she was a Legal Officer at The Hague Conference on Private International Law.  She received a B.A. in Physics from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Andrea Levere, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank
Andrea Levere is currently President of the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED).  Previously, she served as Executive Vice President and Vice President of CFED.  From 1983 to 1992, Ms. Levere was with the National Development Council.  She serves as Chair of Resident Owned Communities USA, and as a founding member of the Morgan Stanley Community Development Advisory Committee.  In 2009, she was appointed to the Bank of America’s National Community Advisory Council.  Ms. Levere received a B.A. from Brown University and an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management.

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Brian Kamoie, Appointee for Assistant Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Grant Programs, Department of Homeland Security
Brian Kamoie served as the Senior Director for Preparedness Policy on the White House National Security Staff from 2009 to 2013.  He served at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and Director of the Office of Policy, Strategic Planning & Communications from 2007 to 2009.  Prior to this, he was Special Assistant and Senior Policy Advisor from 2004 to 2006.  Mr. Kamoie taught health policy at The George Washington University from 2001 to 2006.  He practiced health law at Proskauer Rose LLP from 1998 to 2001 and was an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore Law School from 1997 to 1998.  Earlier in his career, Mr. Kamoie was a management consultant at McManis Associates and a senior associate consultant at McNees, Wallace & Nurick.  He received a B.A. from Dickinson College and a J.D. and M.P.H. from The George Washington University.

Dr. Jim W. Balsiger, Appointee for United States Commissioner, United States Section of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission
Dr. Jim W. Balsiger is currently Regional Administrator for the Alaska Region of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, a position he has held since 2000.  From 2008 to 2010, he served as the Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries.  Dr. Balsiger served as the Acting Regional Science and Research Director at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center from 1996 to 2000, where he also served as Deputy Science Director from 1991 to 1995.  Prior to that, he was the Program Leader for the Status of Stocks Task within the Center's Resource Ecology and Fisheries Management Division from 1977 to 1991.  Dr. Balsiger received a B.S. from the Michigan Technological University, an M.S. from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington.

Gary T. Smith, Appointee for United States Commissioner, United States Section of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission
Gary T. Smith is a partner at Smith & Stark, a position he has held since 2009.  He has served on the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission since 2006 and is the current Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee.  From 2007 to 2009, he was President of the Gary Smith Company.  In 1990, Mr. Smith co-founded The Gallatin Group where he served as President from 1993 to 2005, and then Chairman from 2005 to 2007.  From 1989 to 1990, he was Director of Policy and Communications for U.S. Senator Slade Gorton.  Mr. Smith was the Manager of Public and Government Relations for Alumax from 1984 to 1988.  He was the Washington State Coordinator for the Northern Tier Pipeline Company from 1978 to 1983.  Prior to this, Mr. Smith held positions in state and local government.  Mr. Smith received a B.A. from the Evergreen State College.

President Obama speaks at in interfaith service dedicated to those who were gravely wounded or killed at the Boston Marathon bombing.

President Obama will deliver remarks this morning at Healing Our City: An Interfaith Service which is dedicated to those who were gravely wounded or killed in Monday’s bombing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

The Kaiser Foundation hosts an event for the launch of EMPOWERED, Alicia Keys' new campaign to help end the HIV/AIDs epidemic.

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View the original article here

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts | The White House Skip to main content | Skip to footer site map The White House. President Barack Obama Get Email UpdatesContact Us Go to homepage. The White House Blog Photos & Videos Photo Galleries Video Performances Live Streams Podcasts 2012: A Year in Photos

A unique view of 2012

Briefing Room Your Weekly Address Speeches & Remarks Press Briefings Statements & Releases White House Schedule Presidential Actions Executive Orders Presidential Memoranda Proclamations Legislation Pending Legislation Signed Legislation Vetoed Legislation Nominations & Appointments Disclosures Visitor Access Records Financial Disclosures 2012 Annual Report to Congress 2011 Annual Report to Congress 2010 Annual Report to Congress on White House Staff A Commitment to Transparency

Browse White House visitor logs

Issues Civil Rights It Gets Better Defense End of Iraq War Disabilities Economy Jobs Reform and Fiscal Responsibility Strengthening the Middle Class A Plan for Refinancing Support for Business Education Energy & Environment Ethics Foreign Policy Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Taxes Tax Receipt The Buffett Rule Rural Urban Policy Veterans Joining Forces Technology Seniors & Social Security Service Snapshots Creating Jobs Health Care Small Business PreK-12 Education Women Violence Prevention Now Is The Time

To do something about gun violence

Immigration Reform

Creating an Immigration System for the 21st Century

The Administration We the People

Create and Sign Petitions Now

President Barack Obama Vice President Joe Biden Being Biden Audio Series First Lady Michelle Obama Dr. Jill Biden The Cabinet White House Staff Chief of Staff Denis McDonough Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Nabors Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco Counselor to the President Peter Rouse Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett Executive Office of the President Other Advisory Boards About the White House White House On the Go

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Inside the White House Interactive Tour West Wing Tour Video Series Décor and Art Holidays Presidents First Ladies The Oval Office The Vice President's Residence & Office Eisenhower Executive Office Building Camp David Air Force One White House Fellows President’s Commission About the Fellowship Current Class Staff Bios News and Newsletters White House Internships About Program Presidential Department Descriptions Selection Process Internship Timeline & FAQs Tours & Events 2013 Easter Egg Roll Kitchen Garden Tours Take a Virtual Tour of the White House Mobile Apps Our Government The Executive Branch The Legislative Branch The Judicial Branch The Constitution Federal Agencies & Commissions Elections & Voting State & Local Government Resources /* Maximize height of menu features. */if(typeof(jQuery)!='undefined')jQuery.each($('#topnav'),function(i,v){var o=$(v),oh=o.height(),sh=o.siblings().height();if(oh Home • Briefing Room • Statements & Releases   The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release April 01, 2013 President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Janine Davidson - Member, National Commission on the Structure of the Air ForceLieutenant General Dennis M. McCarthy, USMC (Ret) - Member, National Commission on the Structure of the Air ForceF. Whitten Peters - Member, National Commission on the Structure of the Air ForceMargaret C. Harrell - Member, National Commission on the Structure of the Air ForceHyman Bass  - Member, President’s Committee on the National Medal of ScienceCarlos Castillo-Chavez - Member, President’s Committee on the National Medal of ScienceJoseph S. Francisco - Member, President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science

President Obama said, “I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country.  I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Dr. Janine Davidson, Appointee for Member, National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force

Dr. Janine Davidson is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Policy at George Mason University and a Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security.   From 2009 to 2012, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Plans.  From 2006 to 2008, she was a Director in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict.  Dr. Davidson began her career in the United States Air Force, where she was an aircraft commander and senior pilot for the C-130 and the C-17 cargo aircraft.  She received a B.S. from the University of Colorado at Boulder and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina.

Lieutenant General Dennis M. McCarthy, USMC (Ret), Appointee for Member, National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force
Lieutenant General Dennis M. McCarthy is a principal for The Military Experts, a consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio.  From 2009 to 2011, he served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.  Previously, from 2005 to 2009, he was Executive Director of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States.  Lt. Gen. McCarthy retired from the Marine Corps in 2005, completing over 40 years of active and reserve military service.  He commanded eight Marine Corps or Joint organizations, including the 3rd Marine Division and overall command of the Marine Corps Reserve.  He began his military service in combat in Vietnam.  From 1978 to 1999, he was managing partner of his private law practice.  He received a B.A. from the University of Dayton and a J.D. from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.

F. Whitten Peters, Appointee for Member, National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force
F. Whitten Peters is a partner at Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, DC.  From 1999 to 2001, he served as the Secretary of the Air Force.  Previously, from 1997 to 1999, he was Under Secretary and Acting Secretary of the Air Force.  From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Peters was Principal Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Defense. Before his service at the Department of Defense, he practiced law at Williams & Connolly, which he joined in 1978.  From 1969 to 1972, Mr. Peters served as a line officer in the U.S. Navy.  He received a B.A. from Harvard University, an M.S. from the London School of Economics, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Dr. Margaret C. Harrell, Appointee for Member, National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force
Dr. Margaret C. Harrell is the Director of the Army Health Program and a senior social scientist at the RAND Corporation.  From July 2011 to August 2012, she served concurrently as Senior Fellow and Director of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security.  Dr. Harrell has worked with the RAND Corporation for over 20 years, focusing on manpower and personnel, military families, military quality of life, and veterans.  She received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, an M.S. from The George Washington University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Hyman Bass, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science
Dr. Hyman Bass is the Samuel Eilenberg Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Education at the University of Michigan.  He was first appointed to the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science by President Obama in 2011, and is a 2006 recipient of the National Medal of Science.  He has served as the President of the American Mathematical Society, the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction, and was Chair of the National Academy of Sciences’ Mathematical Sciences Education Board.  He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Education, and the Third World Academy of Sciences.  He won the Van Amringe Prize for his book, Algebraic K-theory, and the Cole Prize in Algebra from the American Mathematical Society.  Dr. Bass received a B.A. in Mathematics from Princeton University and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Carlos Castillo-Chavez, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science
Dr. Carlos Castillo-Chavez is a Regents and a Joaquin Bustoz Jr. Professor at Arizona State University.  President Obama first appointed him to the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science in 2010.  He is the founding director of the Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center, and is the Executive Director of the Mathematical and Theoretical Biology Institute and The Institute for Strengthening the Understanding of Mathematics and Science.  His awards include the Presidential Faculty Fellowship Award and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.  Dr. Castillo-Chavez is a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and is a Founding Fellow of the American Mathematical Society.  He is a past member of the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis Scientific Advisory Boards and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Council.  Dr. Castillo-Chavez received a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Dr. Joseph S. Francisco, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science
Dr. Joseph S. Francisco is the William E. Moore Distinguished Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Chemistry at Purdue University.  He was first appointed to the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science by President Obama in 2010.  Dr. Francisco’s laboratory focuses on basic studies in spectroscopy, kinetics, and photochemistry of novel transient species in the gas phase.  He was President of the American Chemical Society in 2010, and served as President of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers from 2005 to 2007.  Dr. Francisco is a John Simon Guggenheim Fellow, and a fellow of the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  Dr. Francisco received a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Blog posts on this issue April 02, 2013 10:39 AM EDTOpen for Questions: The BRAIN Initiative

Have questions about the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative? Administration officials will answer during a session of "Open for Questions."

April 02, 2013 10:15 AM EDTBRAIN Initiative Challenges Researchers to Unlock Mysteries of Human Mind

President Obama unveils the “BRAIN” Initiative—a bold new research effort to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and uncover new ways to treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

April 01, 2013 6:44 PM EDTBe Healthy, Be Active, Be You: The 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll

The First Family hosted more than 30,000 visitors for the 135th annual Egg Roll, the largest public event held at the White House each year.

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Executive Order -- Establishment of the Presidential Commission of Election Administration

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

EXECUTIVE ORDER

- - - - - - -

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION
ON ELECTION ADMINISTRATION

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to promote the efficient administration of Federal elections and to improve the experience of all voters, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment. There is established the Presidential Commission on Election Administration (Commission).

Sec. 2. Membership. (a) The Commission shall be composed of not more than nine members appointed by the President. The members shall be drawn from among distinguished individuals with knowledge about or experience in the administration of State or local elections, as well as representatives of successful customer service-oriented businesses, and any other individuals with knowledge or experience determined by the President to be of value to the Commission.

(b) The President shall designate two members of the Commission to serve as Co-Chairs.

Sec. 3. Mission. (a) The Commission shall identify best practices and otherwise make recommendations to promote the efficient administration of elections in order to ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots without undue delay, and to improve the experience of voters facing other obstacles in casting their ballots, such as members of the military, overseas voters, voters with disabilities, and voters with limited English proficiency.

In doing so, the Commission shall consider as appropriate:

(i) the number, location, management, operation, and design of polling places;

(ii) the training, recruitment, and number of poll workers;

(iii) voting accessibility for uniformed and overseas voters;

(iv) the efficient management of voter rolls and poll books;

(v) voting machine capacity and technology;

(vi) ballot simplicity and voter education;

(vii) voting accessibility for individuals with disabilities, limited English proficiency, and other special needs;

(viii) management of issuing and processing provisional ballots in the polling place on Election Day;

(ix) the issues presented by the administration of absentee ballot programs;

(x) the adequacy of contingency plans for natural disasters and other emergencies that may disrupt elections; and

(xi) other issues related to the efficient administration of elections that the Co-Chairs agree are necessary and appropriate to the Commission's work.

(b) The Commission shall be advisory in nature and shall submit a final report to the President within 6 months of the date of the Commission's first public meeting.

Sec. 4. Administration. (a) The Commission shall hold public meetings and engage with Federal, State, and local officials, technical advisors, and nongovernmental organizations, as necessary to carry out its mission.

(b) In carrying out its mission, the Commission shall be informed by, and shall strive to avoid duplicating, the efforts of other governmental entities.

(c) The Commission shall have a staff, which shall provide support for the functions of the Commission.

Sec. 5. Termination. The Commission shall terminate 30 days after it presents its final report to the President.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) To the extent permitted by law, and subject to the availability of appropriations, the General Services Administration shall provide the Commission with such administrative services, funds, facilities, staff, equipment, and other support services as may be necessary to carry out its mission on a reimbursable basis.

(b) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (the "Act"), may apply to the Commission, any functions of the President under that Act, except for those in section 6 of the Act, shall be performed by the Administrator of General Services.

(c) Members of the Commission shall serve without any additional compensation for their work on the Commission, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, to the extent permitted by law for persons serving intermittently in the Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707).

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

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

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(e) 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

Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov.

Despite strong efforts to fix our broken national infrastructure over the past four years, much work needs to be done if we are to prove to the world that there is no better place to do business than in the United States.

The Obama Administration has harnessed new technology to engage the public, worked to disclose information more quickly, and given citizens a greater voice in decision-making. There is more work to do, and we remain committed to continuing this in the second term.

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President Obama Announces A Key Administration Post

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For Immediate Release March 26, 2013 President Obama Announces A Key Administration Post

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post:

Julia A. Pierson - Director of the United States Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security 

President Obama said, “I am pleased to announce that I will appoint Julia A. Pierson to be the next Director of the United States Secret Service. Over her 30 years of experience with the Secret Service, Julia has consistently exemplified the spirit and dedication the men and women of the service demonstrate every day. A veteran of the Miami and Orlando field offices, where she began her career at the Secret Service, Julia has served as the Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Operations, Assistant Director of Human Resources and Training, and most recently as the Chief of Staff.  Julia is eminently qualified to lead the agency that not only safeguards Americans at major events and secures our financial system, but also protects our leaders and our first families, including my own. Julia has had an exemplary career, and I know these experiences will guide her as she takes on this new challenge to lead the impressive men and women of this important agency.”

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post:

Julia A. Pierson, Appointee for Director of the United States Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security

Julia A. Pierson currently serves as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Director of the United States Secret Service (USSS).  Prior to her current role, from 2006 to 2008, she served as USSS Assistant Director of the Office of Human Resources and Training.  Ms. Pierson’s previous leadership roles within the USSS include:  Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Operations (2005-2006), Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Administration (2001-2005), and Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Protective Operations (2000-2001).  Ms. Pierson joined the USSS in 1983 as a Special Agent in Miami, Florida.  Prior to joining the USSS, Ms. Pierson was a police officer in the Orlando Police Department from 1980 to 1983.  She received a B.A. from the University of Central Florida.

Blog posts on this issue March 27, 2013 5:11 PM EDTJulia Pierson Is Sworn In As First-Ever Female Director of the US Secret Service

During a ceremony in the Oval Office, President Obama praised the veteran agent for her dedication, professionalism and commitment to her work.

March 27, 2013 12:11 PM EDTWhite House Hangout: The Maker Movement

On Thursday, March 28th at 3:00 pm ET, White House innovation advisor Tom Kalil will join a Google+ Hangout to discuss the Maker Movement with leading innovators and Makers from around the country.

March 26, 2013 5:15 PM EDTL.A. Kings and L.A. Galaxy Celebrate Championship Seasons at the White House

It was the second trip in two years for the Galaxy, while the Kings made their first visit after winning their first Stanley Cup in 2012.

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Obama Administration To Protect More Than 240,000 Acres Of American Treasures

Rio Grande del Norte in New Mexico

President Obama plans to use his executive authority to permanently protect five new national monuments next week.  This marks a significant step for the administration: It is now willing to step in and protect special places when Congress refuses to act.

The new monuments will be:

-  Rio Grande del Norte, in New Mexico

-  San Juan Islands, in Washington

-  First State, in Delaware

-  Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad, in Maryland

-  Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers, in Ohio

Of particular note is Rio Grande del Norte, which at 240,000 acres is the largest monument that the administration has designated thus far.  Also, First State National Monument in Delaware will change the fact that the state is the only one in the U.S. without a national park unit.

The announcement of these designations under the 1906 Antiquities Act fits well with President Obama’s challenge to Congress during his State of the Union address:  “If Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will.”  The last Congress was the first since World War II that failed to protect a single new acre of parks, monuments, or wilderness, despite millions of acres proposed for protection by adjacent communities.  As John Podesta, Chair of the Center for American Progress put it, “The last Congress was the most anti-environmental in history, so President Obama is right to respond to the calls of local communities that want their public lands protected.”

The permanent protection of hundreds of thousands of acres is also critical because it is the administration’s next step towards putting the conservation of public lands on equal ground with energy development. In the president’s first term, he leased 6.3 million acres of public lands to oil and gas companies, while only 2.6 million acres were protected by Congress and the executive combined.   Last month former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt called on the administration to permanently protect one acre for each one drilled.

Today’s news is welcome for any American who see the economic, health, and other long-term benefits of protected public lands, and is an important advancement for the president in the establishment of his conservation legacy.

Jessica is the Manager of Research and Outreach for the Public Lands Project at the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

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President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Cynthia L. Attwood – Member, Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
• Stuart F. Delery – Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, Department of Justice
• Fred P. Hochberg – President, Export-Import Bank of the United States 
• Allison M. Macfarlane – Member, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and upon appointment to be designated Chair
• Patricia M. Wald – Member, Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board

President Obama said, “These men and women have demonstrated knowledge and dedication throughout their careers. I am grateful they have chosen to take on these important roles, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Cynthia L. Attwood, Nominee for Member, Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
Cynthia L. Attwood is a Member of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, a position she was appointed to in February 2010.  Prior to this, Ms. Attwood held several senior roles at the U.S. Department of Labor from 1979 to 2001, including Appellate Judge on the Administrative Review Board, Associate Solicitor for Occupational Safety and Health in the Office of the Solicitor, and Associate Solicitor for Mine Safety and Health in the Office of the Solicitor.  Ms. Attwood spent the early years of her legal career as an appellate attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.  She was awarded the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive for outstanding service in the Senior Executive Service in 1992.  Ms. Attwood received a B.A. from Oakland University and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota.

Stuart F. Delery, Nominee for Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, Department of Justice
Stuart F. Delery is currently the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) where he has served since 2009.  His previous positions at DOJ include Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, Senior Counselor to the Attorney General, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Chief of Staff and Counselor to the Deputy Attorney General.  Before joining DOJ, Mr. Delery was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm WilmerHale, where he was a member of the Litigation Department, the Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Practice Group, and a Vice Chair of the firm’s Securities Department.  Mr. Delery clerked for Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Byron R. White of the U.S. Supreme Court, and Chief Judge Gereld B. Tjoflat of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.  He received a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

Fred P. Hochberg, Nominee for President, Export-Import Bank of the United States
Fred P. Hochberg is President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, a position he has held since May 2009.  From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Hochberg was Dean of Milano, The New School for Management and Urban Policy in New York.  From 1998 to 2001, he served as Deputy Administrator, and then as Acting Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA).  Prior to SBA, Mr. Hochberg was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Lillian Vernon Corporation.  He is a past board member of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Citizens Budget Commission, the Foundation for International Community Assistance, and the New York State Financial Control Board.  Mr. Hochberg received his B.A. from New York University and an M.B.A from Columbia University.

Dr. Allison M. Macfarlane, Nominee for Commissioner, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and upon appointment to be designated Chair
Dr. Allison M. Macfarlane is Chair and Commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a position she has held since July 2012.  Previously, she served as an associate professor of Environmental Science and Policy at George Mason University (GMU) from 2006 to 2012.  Dr. Macfarlane worked as a research associate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 2004 to 2006 after previously serving from 2000 to 2003.  From 2003 to 2004, she was an associate professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  She was also a fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs from 1998 to 2000, and a fellow at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation from 1997 to 1998.  Dr. Macfarlane began her teaching career in the Department of Geography and Earth Systems Science at GMU.  She also served as a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future from January 2010 to January 2012.  Dr. Macfarlane received a B.Sc. from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. in Geology from MIT.

Judge Patricia M. Wald, Nominee for Member, Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
Judge Patricia M. Wald is a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, a position she has held since August 2012.  She served for 20 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1999, including five years as Chief Judge.  Prior to joining the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District Court of Columbia, Judge Wald was the Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs at the Department of Justice.  Judge Wald has served in a variety of capacities including Judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and Member on the President's Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the U.S. Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction.  She also previously worked as an attorney at the Mental Health Law Project, the Center for Law and Social Policy, the Office of Criminal Justice at the Department of Justice, and co-director of the Ford Foundation Drug Abuse Research Project.  Judge Wald is a member of the American Law Institute and the American Philosophical Society, and a former Chair of the Open Society Institute's Justice Initiative Board.  She served as a Member of the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States from 2010 to 2012.  Judge Wald received a B.A. from the Connecticut College for Women and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

First Lady Michelle Obama (and First Dog Bo) celebrate an early Easter with military families

The general becomes the first African-American in the post.

In the latest installment of the audio series "Being Biden," the Vice President takes you to St. Peter's Basilica, just after the Inauguration Mass of Pope Francis.

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President Obama Announces A Key Administration Post

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post:

• Cathy Russell - Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues, Department of State

“Cathy is a longtime advocate for justice and fairness and has worked on preventing violence against women here in America and around the world,” said President Obama. “She served as Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden for my entire first term, and has worked tirelessly alongside Michelle and Jill to make sure our military families get the honor and support they’ve earned.  I’m certain that Cathy will continue to be a powerful advocate for women and girls in her new role.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post:

Cathy Russell, Nominee for Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues, Department of State
Cathy Russell is the Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden.  Previously, she served in the U.S. Senate on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as the Senior Advisor on International Women’s Issues from 2007 to 2008.  She served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the Justice Department from 1995 to 1996.  From 1993 to 1995, she served as the Staff Director of the Senate Judiciary Committee and from 1989 to 1993, she was Senior Counsel to Senator Patrick Leahy for the Senate Judiciary Committee, Technology Subcommittee.  She was also a member of the Communications Advisory Council of Women for Women International from 2006 to 2008.  Ms. Russell received a B.A. from Boston College and a J.D. from George Washington University.

The first stop on President Obama's trip to the Middle East marks the first time the President has visited Israel since taking office, and comes as its citizens celebrate the 65th anniversary of a free and independent State of Israel.

On the third anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius lays out some of the ways in which the health reform has lowered costs.

We will be posting regular updates from the road and livestreaming several of the President's events on whitehouse.gov/live

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