President Barak Obama signs HR 6156 into law

By Doug Mills
World and National Editor
RCN America Network

Today President Barak Obama signs HR 6156 into law, which terminates the application of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to Russia and Moldova and authorizes the President to extend Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR).
"The passage of this bill will allow American businesses to reap the same economic opportunities in Russia’s markets that other World Trade Organization members receive, resulting in greater access for American workers, companies, farmers, ranchers, and service providers and the creation of more American jobs." Says Mark C. Toner, Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department.

"Quiet Moments" in a busy holiday season.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk down the Grand Staircase before delivering remarks at a holiday reception in the Grand Foyer of the White House, Dec. 4, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

(Video) Weekly Address: Wishing the American People a Happy Thanksgiving

WASHINGTON, DC — During this holiday season, President Obama gave thanks in his weekly address for all of the blessings we share as Americans, and expressed his gratitude to the brave men and women who are defending our freedom around the world.  As we come together to spend time with those we love, we also stand with those who are less fortunate this year, including our fellow Americans in the northeast who lost so much during the recent storm.  This Thanksgiving, friends, family, and community will gather in the spirit of unity and look out for those less fortunate – to pull each other up and move forward together.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
November 22, 2012

On behalf of the Obama family – Michelle, Malia, Sasha and Bo – I want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving.

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:

• Althemese Pemberton Barnes – Member, National Museum and Library Services Board
• William M. Brown - Member, President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee
• Vishakha N. Desai – Member, National Museum and Library Services Board
• Darryl J. Ford – Member, Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences
• Kris D. Gutiérrez – Member, Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences
• Sue Hoppin – Member, Board of Visitors to the United States Air Force Academy
• Bridget Terry Long – Member, Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences
• Margaret R. (Peggy) McLeod – Member, Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences
• Brigadier General Paula G. Thornhill (Ret)  – Member, Board of Visitors to the United States Air Force Academy
• Robert A. Underwood – Member, Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences

Statement by the President on the Passing of Warren Rudman

Washington D.C - With the passing of Warren Rudman, the United States has lost a decorated war veteran and one of our country’s great public servants.  Over almost 20 years representing the people of New Hampshire – first as Attorney General and then in the Senate – Warren was the embodiment of Yankee sensibility and New England independence.  As an early advocate for fiscal responsibility, he worked with Republicans and Democrats alike to call attention to our nation’s growing deficit.  And as we work together to address the fiscal challenges of our time, leaders on both sides of the aisle would be well served to follow Warren’s example of common-sense bipartisanship.  Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Rudman family.

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney and Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, 11/20/2012

Nagaworld Hotel
Phonm Penh, Cambodia 

2:28 P.M. ICT

MR. CARNEY:  Good afternoon.  Thanks for joining us here today in Phonm Penh.  As you know, the President has had some bilats this morning and some other meetings that he’s participating in.

I have Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, who can give you an overview of the President’s day and also can answer questions about the meetings, about the trip, and other matters.  I’m here to take questions on non-foreign policy related issues, if you have any.

And with that, I’ll turn it over to Ben.

Q    Jay, before you begin, there’s a break in the story about the Secretary of State going to Israel.  Can you confirm that?

MR. RHODES:  We’ll address it, Mark.

MR. CARNEY:  We’ll address that right ahead.

MR. RHODES:  Okay, first of all, I’ll just give a quick update of the President’s meetings this morning and then an update on the situation in Gaza.

Remarks by President Obama and Premier Wen Jiabao Before Bilateral Meeting

Peace Palace
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

11:40 A.M. ICT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, it’s good to see Premier Wen again.  We last met at the East Asia Summit in Bali a year ago.

It’s very important that we use multilateral meetings like the EAS to discuss shared regional and global challenges, and I’m committed to working with China and I’m committed to working with Asia.  It’s important that our two countries cooperate to build a more secure and prosperous future for the Asia Pacific region and for the world.

Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Noda of Japan Before Bilateral Meeting

Peace Palace

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

10:50 A.M. ICT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  I want to say how wonderful it is to see Prime Minister Noda again.  He very graciously called me shortly after the election.  And this becomes yet another opportunity for us to reaffirm the extraordinary alliance between our two countries.

That alliance between the United States and Japan has been a cornerstone of prosperity and security in the region, and we are going to have the opportunity to further discuss steps that we’re taking to renew that vision and that alliance for the 21st century.

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Visit of President-elect Peña Nieto of Mexico

President Obama will host President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico at the White House on Tuesday, November 27.  The President looks forward to meeting President-elect Peña Nieto and hearing about his vision for leading Mexico over the next six years.  They plan to discuss a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues during their Oval Office meeting.  The President welcomes the opportunity to underscore the shared values and strong bonds of friendship between the United States and Mexico.  The United States remains committed to work in partnership with Mexico to increase economic competitiveness in both countries, promote regional development, advance bilateral efforts to develop a secure and efficient 21st Century Border, and address our common security challenges.

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Retirement of Coach John Gagliardi

On behalf of the President, I want to congratulate John Gagliardi on his retirement as the winningest coach in college football history.

Over the course of 64 seasons – 60 of them at his beloved Saint John’s – Gagliardi’s 486 wins put him among the greatest to ever coach the game.  With a career that began as a 16-year-old after his high school coach was called to serve in World War II, Gagliardi was never the most conventional figure.  He instructed his players to call him “John” instead of “Coach,” and in turn, called each of his more than 100 players by their first names.  His refusal to allow tackling in practice and his insistence that players make class before practice also became the stuff of legend.  But the unusual methods worked – earning St. John’s four national championships.  And even as his time on the gridiron comes to a close, Gagliardi’s genuine concern for players as scholar athletes and human beings will ensure that his influence will be felt for years to come.

Remarks by the First Lady at the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards

East Room

2:40 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thanks so much.  Well, good afternoon.

AUDIENCE:  Good afternoon.

MRS. OBAMA:  And welcome to the White House.  It’s good to have you here.  I am thrilled that all of you are here joining us today.

I want to start by thanking the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and all their work for sponsoring these awards each year.  They’ve just done an amazing job.  And I’d like to ask all of the members of the committee to please stand so that we can recognize you for all of your hard work.  (Applause.)  It’s a pretty impressive group.

I also want to specifically acknowledge -- I’m off my game.  (Laughter.)  I haven’t been -- I’ve been speaking a lot, and then sort of took a little time off -- but our committee co-chairs George Stevens and Margo Lion for all of their hard work.  Thank you both.  (Applause.)  And we also have Jim Leach, Rocco Landesman, Susan Hildreth, Mary Schmidt Campbell; we have Minister Deng who is here, and our youth program speaker, Starr Arroyo who’s going to -- you’ll hear from Starr.  (Applause.)

And I also want to thank Congressman Platts for joining us today.  Where’s the Congressman?  There you are.  I walked right past you.  Thank you so much for being here today.  (Applause.)

And finally, I want to thank all of the educators, the artists, leaders, all of you who are working every day in communities all across this country to run the programs that we are going to recognize here today.

And every day, you all are doing the hard work.  You are pushing and inspiring our kids.  You’re revealing their boundless promise, and teaching them to believe in themselves.  Because of the programs that you all run, young people are learning breakdancing, hip hop, African drumming -- a lot of stuff going on, right? -- a little traditional music.  They’re putting on plays, publishing poems and articles, and working on  museum exhibits.  They’re becoming historians, designers and champion debaters.  Yes.  (Laughter.)

President Obama's Schedule For Today

Here is President Obama's schedule for today:

12:35 AM	The President meets with Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairman and General Secretary of the National League of Democracy Local Event Time:   12:05 PM MMT Aung San Suu Kyi Residence, Burma, Rangoon Closed Press
1:05 AM	The President and Aung San Suu Kyi deliver remarks Local Event Time:   12:35 PM MMT Aung San Suu Kyi Residence, Burma, Rangoon Pooled Press
1:35 AM	The President meets and greets with United States Embassy personnel Local Event Time:   1:05 PM MMT Burma, Rangoon, United States Embassy Closed Press
2:45 AM	The President delivers remarks at the University of Yangon Local Event Time:   2:15 PM MMT Burma, Rangoon Open Press
3:50 AM	The President departs Rangoon, Burma en route Phnom Penh, Cambodia Local Event Time:   3:20 PM MMT Yangon International Airport Open Press
5:40 AM	The President arrives Phnom Penh, Cambodia Local Event Time:   5:40 AM ICT Phnom Penh International Airport Open Press
5:45 AM	The President is welcomed by Prime Minister Han Sen of Cambodia Local Event Time:   5:45 PM ICT Cambodia, Peace Palace, Phnom Penh Travel Pool Coverage
6:05 AM	The President meets with Prime Minister Han Sen of Cambodia Local Event Time:   6:05 PM ICT Cambodia, Peace Palace, Phnom Penh Closed Press
6:35 AM	The President is welcomed to the US-ASEAN leaders meeting Local Event Time:   6:35 PM ICT Cambodia, Peace Palace, Phnom Penh Press Information
6:40 AM	The President attends the ASEAN-U.S. leaders meeting Local Event Time:   6:40 PM ICT Cambodia, Peace Palace, Phnom Penh Press Information
8:30 AM	The President arrives at Diamond Island Convention Center and is welcomed to the East Asia Summit Dinner Local Event Time:   8:30 PM ICT Cambodia, Diamond Island Convention Center, Phnom Penh Press Information
8:35 AM	The President participates in the East Asia Summit Dinner Local Event Time:   8:35 PM ICT Cambodia, Diamond Island Convention Center, Phnom Penh Travel Pool Spray
9:00 PM	The President participates in the Trans-Pacific Partnership meeting Local Event Time:   9:00 AM ICT Cambodia, Peace Palace, Phnom Penh Closed Press
10:45 PM	The President meets with Prime Minister Noda of Japan on the margins of the East Asia Summit Local Event Time:   10:45 AM ICT Cambodia, Peace Palace, Phnom Penh Press Information
11:45 PM	The President meets with Premier Wen Jiabao of China on the margins of the East Asia Summit Local Event Time:   11:45 AM ICT Cambodia, Peace Palace, Phnom Penh