Holiday Greetings from President and Mrs. Obama
Reply
Giving Everyone a Fair Shot
Conference on Internet Freedom
“This is an urgent task. What we do today to preserve fundamental freedoms online will have a profound effect on the next generation of users.”
–Secretary Clinton
Remarks in Recognition of International Human Rights Day
Good evening, and let me express my deep honor and pleasure at being here. I want to thank Director General Tokayev and Ms. Wyden along with other ministers, ambassadors, excellencies, and UN partners. This weekend, we will celebrate Human Rights Day, the anniversary of one of the great accomplishments of the last century.
Beginning in 1947, delegates from six continents devoted themselves to drafting a declaration that would enshrine the fundamental rights and freedoms of people everywhere. In the aftermath of World War II, many nations pressed for a statement of this kind to help ensure that we would prevent future atrocities and protect the inherent humanity and dignity of all people. And so the delegates went to work. They discussed, they wrote, they revisited, revised, rewrote, for thousands of hours. And they incorporated suggestions and revisions from governments, organizations, and individuals around the world.
–Hillary Rodham Clinton, USA Secretary of State, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, December 6, 2011
Read the full remarks or watch the video:
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/12/178368.htm
Weekly Address: Extending and Expanding the Payroll Tax Cut
President Obama calls on Congress to extend and expand the payroll tax cut — to protect middle class families and ensure that the economy continues to grow.
President Obama Speaks on US-EU Summit with Herman Van Rompuy and President José Manuel Barroso
Weekly Address: On Thanksgiving, Grateful for the Men and Women Who Defend Our Country
If Congress doesn’t act, your taxes will go up.
President Obama: “Hire a Veteran”
President Barack Obama signs the Veterans Opportunity to Work to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (VOW to Hire Heroes Act), that will provide tax credits to help put veterans back to work. First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden attend the ceremony in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, Nov. 21, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
This morning, President Obama signed the “VOW to Hire Heroes Act” into law, telling those in attendance:
Back in September, I sent Congress a jobs bill. And in it, I proposed a tax credit for any business that hires a veteran who’s been unemployed for at least four weeks. I proposed an even bigger tax break if a business hires a veteran who’s been unemployed for at least six months. And if a business hires an unemployed veteran with a disability related to their service, I proposed doubling the tax break that we already have in place.
Today, because Democrats and Republicans came together, I’m proud to sign those proposals into law. And I urge every business owner out there who’s hiring to hire a veteran right away.
The is just one of the intiatives the President has enacted in order to ensure that the country fulfills its obligation to our servicemembers and their families.
And it’s just one part of the President’s plan to put the American people back to work. At the bill signing, he told lawmakers that families all over the country are demanding the same kind of bold, bipartisan action.
“My message to every member of Congress is keep going,” President Obama said, “Keep working.”
President Obama on the Supercommittee’s Failure to Reach a Compromise
