Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 4, 2014 – 1:46 P.M. EST   MR. CARNEY:  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.  I hope you all are well.  Thanks for your patience.   As you can see, I have with me today Jason Furman, Chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers.  Because I know there[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 4, 2014. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Re-launch of Secretary Kerry’s Twitter Account RUSSIA Resignation of Ambassador McFaul DEPARTMENT Secretary Kerry / U.S. Olympic Team AFGHANISTAN Meeting of Department of Defense Leadership Taliban / Afghans Talking to Afghans / Afghan-Led Peace and Reconciliation BSA / Ambassador Dobbins PAKISTAN[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 4, 2014. Written Statement Before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations by Wendy R. Sherman, Under Secretary for Political Affairs. Good morning, Chairman Menendez, Ranking Member Corker, distinguished members of the Committee. I appreciate this opportunity to provide you with an update on the P5+1’s negotiations with Iran over[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—February 4, 2014. Today, in a strong bipartisan vote, the U.S. Senate came together to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill – legislation that will build on the historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, create new jobs and opportunities, and protect the most vulnerable Americans. [Read More…]

Bill Would Reduce Enormous Racial Disparities in Criminal Justice System Last-Minute Amendments Weaken Bill; Advocates Warn That “Public Consumption” Provision Will Perpetuate Unfair and Costly Arrests Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—February 4, 2014. The D.C. Council took a major step to decriminalizing marijuana in the nation’s capital today by voting 11-1 in favor of[Read More…]

Adelphi, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–February 4, 2014 – 11:37 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Well, can everybody please give Nelson a big round of applause for the outstanding job that he did?  (Applause.)  So Nelson just told me backstage he plans on being a Navy SEAL.  So[Read More…]

SWEDEN—(ENEWSPF)—February 4, 2014. Thank you, Minister [Birgitta] Ohlsson, for those kind words – and thank you all for such a warm welcome.  First Deputy Speaker [Suzanne] Eberstein; Deputy Secretary General Claes Martensson; Ambassador [Mark] Brzezinski; honorable members of Parliament; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen; and future leaders of this great[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 3, 2014. Jill and I were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend, former Second Lady Joan Mondale. Joan and Fritz welcomed me to the Senate when I was first elected, offering their friendship and support during a very difficult time in my life.[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 3, 2014. Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to former Vice President Walter Mondale and his family on the passing of Joan Adams Mondale.  America first came to know Joan through her husband; she was his devoted partner in public service, from Minnesota to Washington.  A lifelong[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 3, 2014 – 1:19 P.M. EST MR. CARNEY:  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.  Happy Monday to you.  I don’t have any announcements to make at the top of this briefing, so we’ll get right to questions. Josh. Q    Thanks, Jay.  I wanted to ask you about the President’s[Read More…]