Statements and Releases

  • Obama On Iraqi Provincial Elections

    I congratulate the people of Iraq on holding significant provincial elections today. Millions of Iraqi citizens from every ethnic and religious group went peacefully to the polls across the country to choose new provincial councils. It is important that the councils get seated, select new governors, and begin work on behalf of the Iraqi people who elected them.

  • Press Briefing 1/30/09

  • Obama Declares Major Disaster in Washington State

    The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Washington and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm, landslides, mudslides, and flooding during the period of January 6-16, 2009.

  • Statement From Christina Romer

    This is a statement from Christina D. Romer, Chair, Council of Economic Advisors on the Fourth Quarter 2008 Advance GDP Estimate.

  • Obama on SCHIP Passing the Senate

    I am pleased that the Senate has joined the House in passing bipartisan legislation to provide health insurance to children whose families have been hurt most by this downturn.

  • Obama Signs Emergency Disaster Declaration for Missouri

    Earlier this evening President Obama called Missouri Governor Jay Nixon about the severe winter storm. The President asked for an update on the situation and for the status of emergency response efforts. He informed the Governor that he would be signing his request for federal aid and would declare a federal emergency.

  • Obama Announces Middle Class Task Force

    President Barack Obama today announced the creation of a White House Task Force on Middle Class Working Families to be chaired by Vice President Joe Biden. The Task Force is a major initiative targeted at raising the living standards of middle-class, working families in America.

  • Readout on the President's Call to Prime Minister Aso of Japan

    The President last evening had a substantive and wide-ranging telephone discussion with Prime Minister Aso of Japan.

  • Statement from President Obama on Rod Blagojevich

    Today ends a painful episode for Illinois. For months, the state had been crippled by a crisis of leadership. Now that cloud has lifted. I wish Governor Quinn the best and pledge my full cooperation as he undertakes his new responsibilities.

  • Statement of the President on the House Passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

    I am grateful to the House of Representatives for moving the American Recovery and Reinvestment plan forward today. There are many numbers in this plan. It will double our capacity to generate renewable energy. It will lower the cost of health care by billions and improve its quality. It will modernize thousands of classrooms and send more kids to college. And it will put billions of dollars in immediate tax relief into the pockets of working families.