Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 16, 2013. Hi, everybody.  This week, I’ve been traveling across the country – from North Carolina to Georgia to here at Hyde Park Academy in my hometown of Chicago – talking with folks about the important task I laid out in my State of the Union Address: reigniting[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 15, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Potential Effects of Sequestration NORTH KOREA State Sponsors of Terrorism / Designation Process Nuclear Tests / Call on North Korea to Refrain from Provocative Actions Sanctions BULGARIA Hamas Delegation RUSSIA Status of Secretary’s Communications with Lavrov SYRIA Three Bs Meeting Fierce[Read More…]

En Route Chicago, Illinois–(ENEWSPF)–February 15, 2013 – 1:25 P.M. EST   MR. EARNEST:  Welcome aboard Air Force One for our trip to Chicago.  We will only be there a few hours, and then we’ll go somewhere much warmer, to Florida for the evening.  I’ll make some opening remarks and describe[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 15, 2013 – 10:10 A.M. EST PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, I want to extend the warmest greetings to my good friend, President Napolitano, on a return visit to the White House.  I think it’s entirely appropriate the day after Valentine’s Day, since we know that St. Valentine was associated[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 15, 2013 – 11:30 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, everybody.  Please, please have a seat.  Well, it is a pleasure to welcome some of our nation’s finest citizens here to the people’s house.  And let me be the first to congratulate each of you and[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–February 15, 2013. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $287 million in emergency relief funds for New York to rebuild roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters, with $250 million specifically designated for Hurricane Sandy recovery. Secretary LaHood was joined by Senator Charles Schumer today in New York[Read More…]

Washington, D.C. –(ENEWSPF)–February 15, 2013. U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) renewed their effort to make commonsense, price-saving reforms to the U.S. sugar program yesterday afternoon when they introduced the Shaheen-Kirk Sugar Reform Act at a joint press conference with Congressmen Joe Pitts (R-PA),[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 15, 2013. There’s a basic bargain in America.  It says that no matter who you are or where you’re from, if you’re willing to work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to find a good job, feel secure in your community, and support a[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—February 14, 2013. Today, Senate Republicans put political posturing ahead of our nation’s security. For the first time in American history, Senate Republicans filibustered a nominee for Secretary of Defense – a member of their own party, a decorated combat veteran, and the right leader for our troops. A clear[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 14, 2013. SECRETARY KERRY: Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody, and greetings. Good to see you all. It’s a huge pleasure for me to welcome Secretary General Ban Ki-moon back to Washington and here to the State Department. We are about to meet. We haven’t met yet. We’re going to[Read More…]