Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014 – 2:55 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA:  Hey, everybody.  (Laughter.)  Welcome to the White House!  (Applause.)  I know you guys have been standing for a while, but you’re athletes, you can handle it.  (Laughter.)  We are so excited to have Team USA here with us today.  But[Read More…]

Algiers, Algeria–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014. Shukran, thank you. Good morning, everybody. It’s nice to be here. I want to thank Foreign Minister Lamamra for his – Ramtane for his very thoughtful, very wise and encouraging opening comments, a really very comprehensive statement, Ramtane, with a great deal of thought about the[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 326,000, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 310,000. The 4-week moving average was 319,500, an increase of 250 from the previous week’s revised[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 2, 2014.  Tonight aboard Air Force One, the President convened a conference call with Department of Defense and FBI leadership to receive an update on the shooting at Fort Hood. He commended the military personnel, first responders, and medical staff who responded swiftly and heroically to the horrific[Read More…]

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–April 2, 2014 – 6:46 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  I just got off the phone with Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Sandy Winnefeld to get the latest report on the situation in Fort Hood.  Obviously we’re following it closely.  The situation is fluid right now. [Read More…]

En Route Ann Arbor, Michigan –(ENEWSPF)–April 2, 2014 – 12:02 P.M. EDT MR. EARNEST:  Good afternoon and welcome aboard Air Force One as we make our way to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the President will discuss the important economic benefits of raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. [Read More…]

Ann Arbor, Michigan–(ENEWSPF)–April 2, 2014 – 2:52 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Michigan!  (Applause.)  Go Blue!  (Applause.)  This is a good-looking crowd.  (Applause.)  Just happy to be out of class.  (Applause.)  I’m sure that’s not true. I’m sure these are all outstanding students.  (Applause.)  Good to see you. First of[Read More…]

OREGON—(ENEWSPF)—April 1, 2014. The owners of Hobby Lobby, a Christian-owned craft supply chain, were highly offended by the idea of having to include the Affordable Care Act’s requirement of providing emergency contraceptives and intrauterine devices in its employee’s health insurance plans. As a result, Hobby Lobby sued the Obama administration[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–April 1, 2014.  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.), who serve on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement following revelations that the National Security Agency has been exploiting a loophole in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to search for Americans’ private[Read More…]

Request Comes as H1-B Visa Petition Filing Opens Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–April 1, 2014.  Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today wrote to nine of the nation’s top tech firms, asking them to renew their commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform and to reject efforts to pass stand-alone legislation increasing the H-1B[Read More…]