Politico Update 3-5-2010

Rights of Young Girls Globally

3-5-2010 As leaders gather for the fifteen-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action, we, the members of the United Nations Adolescent Girls Task Force, jointly pledge to intensify our efforts to fulfil the human rights of adolescent girls. During the next five years, we will aim to increase our agencies’ support to developing countries to advance key policies and programmes that empower the hardest-to-reach adolescent girls, particularly those aged 10 to 14 years.

Many of the 600 million adolescent girls living in developing countries remain invisible in national policies and programmes. Millions live in poverty, are burdened by gender discrimination and inequality, and are subject to multiple forms of violence, abuse, and exploitation, such as child labour, child marriage and other harmful practices. The full potential of these girls and their contribution to their communities have yet to be realized.

We are convinced that educated, healthy and skilled adolescent girls will help build a better future, advance social justice, support economic development, and combat poverty. They will stay in school, marry later, delay childbearing, have healthier children, and earn better incomes that will benefit themselves, their families, communities and nations. Investing in their rights and empowerment will help accelerate the achievement of internationally-agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

We will work with governments, civil society, communities, adolescent girls and boys on five strategic priorities:

Educate adolescent girls: Ensure adolescent girls have access to quality education and complete schooling, focusing on their transition from primary to post-primary education and training, including secondary education, and pathways between the formal and non-formal systems.

Improve adolescent girls' health: Ensure adolescent girls’ access to age-appropriate health and nutrition information and services, including life skills-based sexuality education, HIV prevention, and sexual and reproductive health.

Keep adolescent girls free from violence: Prevent and protect girls from all forms of gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation, and ensure that girls who experience violence receive prompt protection, services and access to justice.

Promote adolescent girl leaders: Ensure that adolescent girls gain essential economic and social skills and are supported by mentors and resources to participate in community life.

Count adolescent girls: Work with partners to collect, analyse, and use data on adolescent girls to advocate for, develop and monitor evidence-based policies and programmes that advance their well-being and realize their human rights.

We will work in a coordinated manner with other relevant global initiatives. We call on Member States to join us in accelerating efforts to protect the rights of adolescent girls. Together, we can build a future of gender equality and social justice.

Tilting at Windmills

2-25-2010 Open the door to your new office, check out the rooms, then go buy new office furniture if you are in the renewable energy sector. Why should you do this, because the Interior Secretary Salazar is almost at the point of approving that public lands can be used for natural energy, IE that plans to make Cape Wind on Nantucket Sound a Wind Farm.

According to Secretary Salazar, “America’s vast offshore wind resources offer exciting potential for our clean energy economy and for our nation’s efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said Secretary Salazar. “But as we begin to develop these resources, we must ensure that we are doing so in the right way and in the right places.

“The Keeper’s finding that Nantucket Sound is eligible for listing in the National Register provides information that will help us to undertake final consultations and analysis of potential impacts of wind development on historic and cultural resources in Nantucket Sound.

“After several years of review, it is now time to move the Cape Wind proposal to a final decision point. That is why I am gathering the principal parties together next week to consider the findings of the Keeper and to discuss how we might find a common-sense agreement on actions that could be taken to minimize and mitigate Cape Wind’s potential impacts on historic and cultural resources. I am hopeful that an agreement among the parties can be reached by March 1. If an agreement among the parties can’t be reached, I will be prepared to take the steps necessary to bring the permit process to conclusion. The public, the parties, and the permit applicants deserve certainty and resolution.”

Stolen Funds

The World Bank Group welcomes the continued efforts of the Swiss Government to hand over to Haiti millions of stolen assets held by the Duvalier family in Switzerland, money that could be used for development purposes following the devastating earthquake in the Caribbean country.

The Swiss authorities announced Wednesday that the Federal Supreme Court had ordered the release of US$5.7 million to the family of Haiti's ex-dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier. Whilst upholding judgments of lower courts on facts, the court decided that funds would have to be released to the Duvalier family because the statute of limitations had expired. Following the announcement, the Swiss Government, the Federal Council, immediately ordered the assets to be frozen on a constitutional basis.

“We welcome the decision by the Swiss authorities to freeze the looted funds. They should be returned to Haiti, especially now when the humanitarian needs have increased after the earthquake,” said World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. “This case highlights the technical difficulties countries face when dealing with stolen assets, and the importance of undertaking ambitious and creative legal actions by all financial centers to overcome this problem.”

In its written decision, the Supreme Court advised that the legal constraints that hindered the return of assets in this case would have to be addressed by strengthening legislation. The Swiss authorities have indicated they are already working on legislative proposals aimed at improving the legal framework. Solutions may be found in extending the statutes of limitations on international corruption cases and facilitating the process of legal assistance between national authorities.

“The legal challenges in the Duvalier case are shared by many other jurisdictions,” said Okonjo-Iweala. “We need pro-active global action to set up a more flexible international framework on asset recovery. Recovering and repatriating looted assets to countries where they belong sends a far more powerful message than aid.”

At the request of the government of Haiti, the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR), a joint effort of the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has provided technical assistance to help further the freezing and restitution of the Duvalier assets.

The StAR Initiative was launched in September, 2007. It emphasizes that developed and developing countries share a joint responsibility in tackling corruption, and that international collaboration and collective action are needed to facilitate asset recovery and prevent asset theft.

I Want a Jobs Policy on My Desk Without Delay

Quipped the President in his State of the Union Speech last night. The Maestro has spoken and shown a direction in which to push our power,efforts and energies toward.

We should put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities -- and give rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy-efficient, which supports clean energy jobs. And to encourage these and other businesses to stay within our borders, it is time to finally slash the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas, and give those tax breaks to companies that create jobs right here in the United States of America.

If you would like to read the entire speech click here

Haiti Aftershock News

1-21-2010 There was no clear picture yet as to what extra damage yesterday’s aftershock had caused in Haiti, John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, said at Headquarters today.

There was no clear picture yet as to what extra damage this morning’s aftershock had caused in Haiti, John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, said at Headquarters today.

Speaking at a press conference on the current situation in the earthquake-ravaged island nation, he said the epicentre of the aftershock, which registered 6.1 on the Richter Scale, was at Petit Goave, west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, on the northern coast of Haiti’s western region.

He said efforts to reach cities outside Port-au-Prince, particularly Jacmel, near Petit Goave, were being stepped up significantly. While aid was being delivered in significant quantities, it remained short of needs. Search-and-rescue operations were continuing and people were still being pulled from the rubble of the ruined capital. Search-and-rescue teams had saved 120 people, not counting those pulled out by local residents.

He said health questions remained a major concern, particularly ensuring that the numerous injured people would get the surgical treatment they needed. Every effort was being made to ensure the availability of the right number of doctors and the right amount of drugs. Seven field hospitals were in place and others on the way, he said, noting that a United States hospital ship had arrived.

focus remained on water, he said, pointing out that, although large quantities were available at the main treatment plant, fuel constraints were hampering the tanker trucks used to ferry supplies. However, those constraints were now being eased as the Haitian Government had released some fuel from its own stocks and increasing quantities were coming in from the neighbouring Dominican Republic.

He said the World Food Programme (WFP) had reached some 250,000 people with rations that would last some days, while the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other organizations had reached an additional 250,000. However, an estimated 2 million of 3 million people in need would require food assistance for six months. Some food was being sold on the street, but people needed money to buy it, he noted, adding that some banks were expected to open on Friday.

As for logistics, he said the airport was working increasingly well in terms of handling military and humanitarian flights. The United Nations was working with the United States on prioritizing flights to ensure that the most urgent needs, including medical ones, were met first. It was to be hoped that Médecins Sans Frontières would get a landing slot today.

He said the Dominican Republic was increasingly being used as a staging post for the delivery of equipment and food through the use of road transportation from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) regarded the escort of aid convoys by its troops as a top priority. However, it was to be hoped that United States Marines could lend support as they arrived. MINUSTAH was also maintaining law and order in Port-au-Prince, with the assistance of some 2,000 personnel of the Haitian National Police.

Answering questions, Mr. Holmes said the United Nations did not look for United States forces to work under its command, but wished to coordinate with them as much as possible. Liaison offices had been established in Washington, D.C., and Miami, but the most important coordination was done on the spot, with United States generals talking intensely with Special Representative Edmond Mulet and his team.

The coordination was good and areas of responsibility were being defined, he said. The central coordinating role of the United Nations was accepted by all, including the United States, which, although it controlled the airport, had asked the world body for help in deciding on humanitarian priorities.

In response to another question, he said increasing numbers of people were indeed heading north from Port-au-Prince to find better conditions or to live with relatives. That was not being discouraged, although there was a longer-term concern that their whereabouts would be unknown and they could strain resources elsewhere in the already poor country. Camps and reception centres for internally displaced persons were being established around Port-au-Prince, he added.

Characterizing as “insulting” reports that the Chinese search-and-rescue team had concentrated on finding their own nationals, or that search-and-rescue teams generally favoured finding international staff over Haitians, Mr. Holmes said the Chinese team had been the first on the ground. It had taken the lead at the Christopher Hotel but was also looking elsewhere. The team had worked quickly and effectively and had rescued many people.

Asked if the $5 a day offered under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) “Cash for Work” programme was enough to meet people’s actual needs, he said there was a need to get some cash into people’s pockets and to get them to take part in rubble removal and repairs. There was also a concern, not least on the Haitian Government’s part, not to “wreck the market” and not to undercut normal economic activities.

Replying to questions about the $575 million flash appeal and other aid, Mr. Holmes said that so far 30 per cent of the appeal target amount had been received in the form of contributions and pledges. One concern was that agencies were spending lots of money and that there could be a problem in a few weeks’ time. The flow of money between different sectors was uneven. Some areas, such as food, were generally covered quickly, while contributions for other areas, such as early recovery, came in more slowly.

Regarding fundraising, he said he was working well with United Nations Special Envoy Bill Clinton and his team. The United Nations did not solicit in-kind contributions from corporations, although it had standing arrangements with some companies, such as Ericsson for telecommunications and DHL for airport management. However, many in-kind contributions had come in and were being listed and passed on to interested organizations, which could then follow up.

President Clinton and others were emphasizing the message that money was more useful than in-kind donations, he said, adding that the financial tracking system followed all contributions as accurately as possible, including contributions to the flash appeal, bilateral contributions and in-kind donations.

Haiti

One Hundred Million in AID From the U.S.

1-15-2010 The losses that have been suffered in Haiti are nothing less than devastating, and responding to a disaster of this magnitude will require every element of our national capacity -- our diplomacy and development assistance; the power of our military; and, most importantly, the compassion of our country. And this morning, I'm joined by several members of my national security team who are leading this coordinated response.

I've made it clear to each of these leaders that Haiti must be a top priority for their departments and agencies right now. This is one of those moments that calls out for American leadership. For the sake of our citizens who are in Haiti, for the sake of the Haitian people who have suffered so much, and for the sake of our common humanity, we stand in solidarity with our neighbors to the south, knowing that but for the grace of God, there we go.

This morning, I can report that the first waves of our rescue and relief workers are on the ground and at work. A survey team worked overnight to identify priority areas for assistance, and shared the results of that review throughout the United States government, and with international partners who are also sending support. Search and rescue teams are actively working to save lives. Our military has secured the airport and prepared it to receive the heavy equipment and resources that are on the way, and to receive them around the clock, 24 hours a day. An airlift has been set up to deliver high-priority items like water and medicine. And we're coordinating closely with the Haitian government, the United Nations, and other countries who are also on the ground.

We have no higher priority than the safety of American citizens, and we've airlifted injured Americans out of Haiti. We're running additional evacuations, and will continue to do so in the days ahead. I know that many Americans, especially Haitian Americans, are desperate for information about their family and friends. And the State Department has set up a phone number and e-mail address that you can find at www.state.gov -- www.state.gov -- to inquire about your loved ones. And you should know that we will not rest until we account for our fellow Americans in harm's way.

Even as we move as quickly as possible, it will take hours -- and in many cases days -- to get all of our people and resources on the ground. Right now in Haiti roads are impassable, the main port is badly damaged, communications are just beginning to come online, and aftershocks continue.

None of this will seem quick enough if you have a loved one who's trapped, if you're sleeping on the streets, if you can't feed your children. But it's important that everybody in Haiti understand, at this very moment one of the largest relief efforts in our recent history is moving towards Haiti. More American search and rescue teams are coming. More food. More water. Doctors, nurses, paramedics. More of the people, equipment and capabilities that can make the difference between life and death.

The United States armed forces are also on their way to support this effort. Several Coast Guard cutters are already there providing everything from basic services like water, to vital technical support for this massive logistical operation. Elements of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division will arrive today. We're also deploying a Marine Expeditionary Unit, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, and the Navy's hospital ship, the Comfort.

And today, I'm also announcing an immediate investment of $100 million to support our relief efforts. This will mean more of the life-saving equipment, food, water and medicine that will be needed. This investment will grow over the coming year as we embark on the long-term recovery from this unimaginable tragedy.

The United States of America will also forge the partnerships that this undertaking demands. We will partner with the Haitian people. And that includes the government of Haiti, which needs our support as they recover from the devastation of this earthquake. It also includes the many Haitian Americans who are determined to help their friends and family. And I've asked Vice President Biden to meet in South Florida this weekend with members of the Haitian American community, and with responders who are mobilizing to help the Haitian people.

We will partner with the United Nations and its dedicated personnel and peacekeepers, especially those from Brazil, who are already on the ground due to their outstanding peacekeeping efforts there. And I want to say that our hearts go out to the United Nations, which has experienced one of the greatest losses in its history. We have no doubt that we can carry on the work that was done by so many of the U.N. effort that have been lost, and we see that their legacy is Haiti's hope for the future.

We will partner with other nations and organizations. And that's why I've been reaching out to leaders from across the Americas and beyond who are sending resources to support this effort. And we will join with the strong network of non-governmental organizations across the country who understand the daily struggles of the Haitian people.

Yet even as we bring our resources to bear on this emergency, we need to summon the tremendous generosity and compassion of the American people. I want to thank the many Americans who have already contributed to this effort. I want to encourage all Americans who want to help to go to whitehouse.gov to learn more. And in the days ahead, we will continue to work with those individuals and organizations who want to assist this effort so that you can do so.

Finally, I want to speak directly to the people of Haiti. Few in the world have endured the hardships that you have known. Long before this tragedy, daily life itself was often a bitter struggle. And after suffering so much for so long, to face this new horror must cause some to look up and ask, have we somehow been forsaken?

To the people of Haiti, we say clearly, and with conviction, you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten. In this, your hour of greatest need, America stands with you. The world stands with you. We know that you are a strong and resilient people. You have endured a history of slavery and struggle, of natural disaster and recovery. And through it all, your spirit has been unbroken and your faith has been unwavering. So today, you must know that help is arriving -- much, much more help is on the way, said President Obama.

What the President Promised

That was brought home again yesterday. We learned that in November, our economy saw its first month of job gains in nearly two years – but last month, we lost more than we gained. Now, we know that no single month makes a trend, and job losses for the final quarter of 2009 were one-tenth what they were in the first quarter. But until we see a trend of good, sustainable job creation, we will be relentless in our efforts to put America back to work.

That task goes even deeper than replacing the seven million jobs that have been lost over the past two years. We need to rebuild our economy in such a way that our families can feel a measure of security again. Too many of the folks I’ve talked with this year, and whose stories I read in letters at night, tell me that they’ve known their own private recessions since long before economists declared one – and they’ll still feel the recession long after economists have declared it over.

That’s because, for decades, Washington avoided doing what was right in favor of doing what was easy. And the result was an economy where some made out well, but the middle class too often took a beating.

Over the past decade, the income of the average household actually declined, and we lost as many jobs as we created. Hardworking folks who did everything right suddenly found themselves forced to downscale their dreams because of economic factors beyond their control. We’re talking about simple dreams. American dreams. A good job with a good wage. A secure and dignified retirement. Stable health care so you don’t go broke just because you get sick. The chance to give our kids a better shot than we got.

That’s why, as we begin to emerge from this crisis, we will not return to the complacency that helped cause it. Even as we focus on putting America back to work today, we’re building a new foundation for our economy to create the good, lasting jobs and shared prosperity of tomorrow.

We’re making historic investments in science and in a clean energy economy that will generate and keep the jobs and industries of the future right here in America.

aliWe’re reforming our education system, so that our kids are fully prepared to compete with workers anywhere in the world and win the race for the 21st century.

We’re fixing our broken health insurance system that’s crushing families, eating away at workers’ take-home pay, and nailing small businesses with double-digit premium increases.

And that’s what I’d like to focus on for a minute. After a long and thorough debate, we are on the verge of passing health insurance reform that will finally offer Americans the security of knowing they’ll have quality, affordable health care whether they lose their job, change jobs, move, or get sick. The worst practices of the insurance industry will be banned forever. And costs will finally come down for families, businesses, and our government.

Now, it’ll take a few years to fully implement these reforms in a responsible way. But what every American should know is that once I sign health insurance reform into law, there are dozens of protections and benefits that will take effect this year.

Uninsured Americans with a pre-existing illness or condition will finally be able to purchase coverage they can afford.

Children with pre-existing conditions will no longer be refused coverage, and young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ policy until they’re 26 or 27 years old.

Small business owners who can’t afford to cover their employees will be immediately offered tax credits to purchase coverage.

Early retirees who receive coverage from their employers will see their coverage protected and their premiums go down.

Seniors who fall into the coverage gap known as the donut hole will receive discounts of up to 50 percent on their prescriptions as we begin to close that gap altogether.

And every patient’s choice of doctor will be protected, along with access to emergency care.

Here’s what else will happen within the first year. Insurance plans will be required to offer free preventive care to their customers – so that we can start catching preventable illnesses and diseases on the front end. They’ll no longer be allowed to impose restrictive annual limits on the amount of coverage you receive or lifetime limits on the amount of benefits you receive. They’ll be prohibited from dropping your coverage when you get sick and need it most. And there will be a new, independent appeals process for anyone who feels they were unfairly denied a claim by their insurance company.

In short, once I sign health insurance reform into law, doctors and patients will have more control over their health care decisions, and insurance company bureaucrats will have less. All told, these changes represent the most sweeping reforms and toughest restrictions on insurance companies that this country has ever known. That’s how we’ll make 2010 a healthier and more secure year for every American – for those who have health insurance, and those who don’t.

We enter a new decade, now, with new perils – but we’re going to meet them. It’s also a time of tremendous promise – and we’re going to seize it. We will rebuild the American Dream for our middle class and put the American economy on a stronger footing for the future. And this year, I am as hopeful and as confident as ever that we’re going to rise to this moment the same way that generations of Americans always have: as one nation, and one people. Thanks for listening.

>Smart Energy Grid

Applicants say investments will create tens of thousands of jobs, save energy and empower consumers to cut their electric bills

ARCADIA, FLORIDA – Speaking at Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, President Barack Obama today announced the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history, funding a broad range of technologies that will spur the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system.  The end result will promote energy-saving choices for consumers, increase efficiency, and foster the growth of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. 

As a part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act

The $3.4 billion in Smart Grid Investment Grant awards are part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, and will be matched by industry funding for a total public-private investment worth over $8 billion.  Applicants state that the projects will create tens of thousands of jobs, and consumers in 49 states will benefit from these investments in a stronger, more reliable grid.  

An analysis by the Electric Power Research Institute estimates that the implementation of smart grid technologies could reduce electricity use by more than 4 percent by 2030.  That would mean a savings of $20.4 billion for businesses and consumers around the country, and $1.6 billion for Florida alone -- or $56 in utility savings for every man, woman and child in Florida.

One-hundred private companies, utilities, manufacturers, cities and other partners received awards today, including FPL which will use its $200 million in funding to install 2.6 million smart meters and other technology that will cut energy costs for its customers.  In the coming days, Cabinet Members and other Administration officials will fan out to awardee sites across the country to discuss how this investment will create jobs, improve the reliability and efficiency of the electrical grid, and help bring clean energy sources from high-production states to those with less renewable generating capacity.  The awards announced today represent the largest group of Recovery Act awards ever made in a single day and the largest batch of Recovery Act clean energy grant awards to-date.

Today’s announcement includes:

• Empowering Consumers to Save Energy and Cut Utility Bills -- $1 billion.  These investments will create the infrastructure and expand access to smart meters and customer systems so that consumers will be able to access dynamic pricing information and have the ability to save money by programming smart appliances and equipment to run when rates are lowest.  This will help reduce energy bills for everyone by helping drive down “peak demand” and limiting the need for “stand-by” power plants – the most expensive power generation there is. 

• Making Electricity Distribution and Transmission More Efficient -- $400 million.  The Administration is funding several grid modernization projects across the country that will significantly reduce the amount of power that is wasted from the time it is produced at a power plant to the time it gets to your house.  By deploying digital monitoring devices and increasing grid automation, these awards will increase the efficiency, reliability and security of the system, and will help link up renewable energy resources with the electric grid.  This will make it easier for a wind farm in Montana to instantaneously pick up the slack when the wind stops blowing in Missouri or a cloud rolls over a solar array in Arizona.

• Integrating and Crosscutting Across Different “Smart” Components of a Smart Grid -- $2 billion.  Much like electronic banking, the Smart Grid is not the sum total of its components but how those components work together.  The Administration is funding a range of projects that will incorporate these various components into one system or cut across various project areas – including smart meters, smart thermostats and appliances, syncrophasors, automated substations, plug in hybrid electric vehicles, renewable energy sources, etc.

• Building a Smart Grid Manufacturing Industry -- $25 million.  These investments will help expand our manufacturing base of companies that can produce the smart meters, smart appliances, synchrophasors, smart transformers, and other components for smart grid systems in the United States and around the world – representing a significant and growing export opportunity for our country and new jobs for American workers.

The combined effect of the investments announced today, when the projects are fully implemented, will:

• Create tens of thousands of jobs across the country.  These jobs include high paying career opportunities for smart meter manufacturing workers; engineering technicians, electricians and equipment installers; IT system designers and cyber security specialists; data entry clerks and database administrators; business and power system analysts; and others.

• Leverage more than $4.7 billion in private investment to match the federal investment.

Vigorous Debate

The Health Care Bills Passage 10-20-2009

After many months of debate and deliberation, dozens of hearings, the dissemination and debunking of hundreds of myths and falsehoods, and testimonials from thousands and thousands of ordinary Americans asking for change, reform took yet another step forward. With the emergence of a reform bill from the final committee in Congress with jurisdiction over the the issue, this issue that has seemed utterly intractable for most of a century is now closer to a resolution than it has ever been.

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Today we reached a critical milestone in our effort to reform our health care system. After many months of thoughtful deliberation, the fifth and final committee responsible for health care reform has passed a proposal that has both Democratic and Republican support. This effort was made possible by the tireless efforts of Chairman Max Baucus and the other members of the Senate Finance Committee. It's a product of vigorous debate and difficult negotiations.

After the consideration of hundreds of amendments, it includes ideas from both Democrats and Republicans, which is why it enjoys the support of people from both parties. And I want to particularly thank Senator Olympia Snowe for both the political courage and the seriousness of purpose that she's demonstrated throughout this process.

Now, this bill is not perfect and we have a lot of difficult work ahead of us. There are still significant details and disagreements to be worked out over the next several weeks as the five separate bills from the Senate and the House are merged into one proposal. But I do believe the work of the Senate Finance Committee has brought us significantly closer to achieving the core objectives I laid out early in September.

Most importantly, this bill goes a long way towards offering security to those who have insurance, and affordable options for those who don't. It reins in some of the worst practices of the insurance industry, like the denial of coverage due to preexisting conditions. It also sets up an insurance exchange that will make coverage affordable for those who don't currently have it. And as the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has certified, it will slow the growth of health care costs in the long term and it will not add a penny to our deficit.

The committee's progress over the past several weeks is the culmination of work by all five committees and numerous members of Congress over the better part of this year. We've reached out to stakeholders across the spectrum -- doctors and nurses, businesses and workers, hospitals and even drug companies. And we've considered a wide variety of ideas and proposals in an effort to find common ground.

As a result of these efforts, we are now closer than ever before to passing health reform. But we're not there yet. Now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back. Now is not the time to offer ourselves congratulations. Now is the time to dig in and work even harder to get this done. And in this final phase, I hope that we will continue to engage each other with the spirit of civility and seriousness that has brought us this far and that this subject deserves.

I commend the Chairman and the committee's members for their achievement and the example that they've set, and I look forward to continue to work with Congress in the weeks ahead. We are going to get this done.

Thank you very much, everybody.THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Today we reached a critical milestone in our effort to reform our health care system. After many months of thoughtful deliberation, the fifth and final committee responsible for health care reform has passed a proposal that has both Democratic and Republican support. This effort was made possible by the tireless efforts of Chairman Max Baucus and the other members of the Senate Finance Committee. It's a product of vigorous debate and difficult negotiations.

After the consideration of hundreds of amendments, it includes ideas from both Democrats and Republicans, which is why it enjoys the support of people from both parties. And I want to particularly thank Senator Olympia Snowe for both the political courage and the seriousness of purpose that she's demonstrated throughout this process.

Now, this bill is not perfect and we have a lot of difficult work ahead of us. There are still significant details and disagreements to be worked out over the next several weeks as the five separate bills from the Senate and the House are merged into one proposal. But I do believe the work of the Senate Finance Committee has brought us significantly closer to achieving the core objectives I laid out early in September.

Most importantly, this bill goes a long way towards offering security to those who have insurance, and affordable options for those who don't. It reins in some of the worst practices of the insurance industry, like the denial of coverage due to preexisting conditions. It also sets up an insurance exchange that will make coverage affordable for those who don't currently have it. And as the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has certified, it will slow the growth of health care costs in the long term and it will not add a penny to our deficit.

The committee's progress over the past several weeks is the culmination of work by all five committees and numerous members of Congress over the better part of this year. We've reached out to stakeholders across the spectrum -- doctors and nurses, businesses and workers, hospitals and even drug companies. And we've considered a wide variety of ideas and proposals in an effort to find common ground.

As a result of these efforts, we are now closer than ever before to passing health reform. But we're not there yet. Now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back. Now is not the time to offer ourselves congratulations. Now is the time to dig in and work even harder to get this done. And in this final phase, I hope that we will continue to engage each other with the spirit of civility and seriousness that has brought us this far and that this subject deserves.

I commend the Chairman and the committee's members for their achievement and the example that they've set, and I look forward to continue to work with Congress in the weeks ahead. We are going to get this done.

Thank you very much, everybody.

Pittsburgh

10-2-2009 In 1921 The New York Times published an article which said that there was shutdown talk in some of the steel mills in Pittsburgh due to a lessening demand for Pig Iron. Bessemer was selling at $23.00, basic at $21.50 and foundry at $22.50.

In the late 1980's the steel mills were also closing there and residents were in a severe economic depression.

My what a long way we have come since then. Only last week the newest global finciers and consultants met in Pittsburg to consider the economies of the entire world there. By having 20 countries rather than the traditional G8 countries this helps to include more major players and contributes to more working together.Although it is true that there are 170 other countries to consider, they are not major players in financing or taking care of their own people, rather the heads of their respective governments and invite massive fraudulent activities.

It is still going to take a couple of years to really see economic change for many coutries and their inhabitants just because it takes the time it takes to make significant changes work.

The President Said

Leaders of the world’s largest economies will gather next week in Pittsburgh for the second time this year. The first meeting of the G-20 nations in April came at the height of the global financial crisis – a crisis that required unprecedented international cooperation to jumpstart the world’s economies and help break the downward spiral that enveloped all our nations.

At next week’s summit, we’ll have, in effect, a five-month checkup to review the steps each nation has taken – separately and together – to break the back of this economic crisis. And the good news is that we’ve made real progress since last time we met – here at home and around the world.

In February, we enacted a Recovery Act, providing relief to Americans who need it, preventing layoffs, and putting Americans back to work. We’ve worked to unlock frozen credit markets, spurring lending to Americans looking to buy homes or cars, take out student loans, or finance small businesses. And we’ve challenged other nations to join us not only to spur global demand, but to address the underlying problems that caused such a deep global recession in the first place.

Because of the steps taken by our nation and all nations, we can now say that we have stopped our economic freefall. But we also know that stopping the bleeding isn’t nearly enough. Our work is far from over. We know we still have a lot to do here at home to build an economy that is producing good jobs for all those who are looking for work today. And we know we still have a lot to do, in conjunction with nations around the world, to strengthen the rules governing financial markets and ensure that we never again find ourselves in the precarious situation we found ourselves in just one year ago.

As I told leaders of our financial community in New York City earlier this week, a return to normalcy can’t breed complacency. To protect our economy and people from another market meltdown, our government needs to fundamentally reform the rules governing financial firms and markets to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We cannot allow the thirst for reckless schemes that produce quick profits and fat executive bonuses to override the security of our entire financial system and leave taxpayers on the hook for cleaning up the mess. And as the world’s largest economy, we must lead, not just by word, but by example, understanding that in the 21st century, financial crises know no borders. All of us need to act more responsibly on behalf of a better economic future.

That is why, at next week’s G20 summit, we’ll discuss some of the steps that are required to safeguard our global financial system and close gaps in regulation around the world – gaps that permitted the kinds of reckless risk-taking and irresponsibility that led to the crisis. And that’s why I’ve called on Congress to put in place a series of tough, common-sense rules of the road that will protect consumers from abuse, let markets function fairly and freely, and help prevent a crisis like this from ever happening again.

Central to these reforms is a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Part of what led to this crisis were not just decisions made on Wall Street, but also unsustainable mortgage loans made across the country. While many folks took on more than they knew they could afford, too often folks signed contracts they didn’t fully understand offered by lenders who didn’t always tell the truth. That’s why we need clear rules, clearly enforced. And that’s what this agency will do.

Consumers shouldn’t have to worry about loan contracts written to confuse, hidden fees attached to their mortgages, and financial penalties – whether through a credit card or debit card – that appear without a clear warning on their statements. And responsible lenders, including community banks, trying to do the right thing shouldn’t have to worry about ruinous competition from unregulated and unscrupulous competitors.

Not surprisingly, lobbyists for big Wall Street banks are hard at work trying to stop reforms that would hold them accountable and they want to keep things just the way they are. But we cannot let politics as usual triumph so business as usual can reign. We cannot let the narrow interests of a few come before the interests of all of us. We cannot forget how close we came to the brink, and perpetuate the broken system and breakdown of responsibility that made it possible.

In the weeks and months ahead, we have an opportunity to build on the work we’ve already done. An opportunity to rebuild our global economy stronger that before. An opportunity not only to protect the American people and America’s economy, but to promote sustained and balanced growth and prosperity for our nation and all nations. And that’s an opportunity I am determined to seize.

So, thanks for listening and thanks for watching, and to our Jewish friends, who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah, have a happy and healthy New Year. Shanah Tovah.

Department of Homeland Security Consolidates and Saves USA Money

9-10-2009 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and General Services Administration (GSA) Acting Administrator Paul Prouty held a ceremonial groundbreaking today to commence consolidation of a new DHS headquarters at the St. Elizabeths Campus. This project—partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)—will create direct employment opportunities for thousands of people in the Washington region while preserving a National Historic Landmark.

“The Department of Homeland Security continues to unify our many components into one cohesive agency with a shared central mission,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The construction of our new headquarters at St. Elizabeths using Recovery Act funding will help consolidate more than 35 offices in the Washington area while creating thousands of local jobs.”

“The development of the new Department of Homeland Security campus has been an enormous undertaking and a collaborative effort involving many officials, groups, and individuals,” said Acting Administrator Prouty. “GSA’s work will preserve the key historic features of this National Historic Landmark and provide an energy efficient campus for DHS.”

DHS currently operates in more than 35 offices around the National Capitol Region and expects to save taxpayers $163 million over the next 30 years by moving to a consolidated headquarters.

The project is the largest in the Washington metro area since the building of the Pentagon and will help revitalize and spur development in the Southeast Washington’s Anacostia community.

Last month, GSA awarded a $435 million contract to design the site’s first phase—the new, energy-efficient 1.18 million-square-foot Coast Guard headquarters facility—to Clark Design Build, LLC, a contractor local to the Washington metro area.

The Coast Guard facility will receive LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, incorporating state-of-the-art efficiency technologies, including green roofs, landscaped courtyards to capture and reuse surface water runoff, and innovative heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Of the $435 million award, $162 million comes from the Recovery Act—including $127.7 million from GSA and $34.5 million from DHS. Occupancy of the new Coast Guard headquarters is expected to begin in 2013.

In total, the Recovery Act allocated $200 million to DHS and $450 million to GSA for construction of a new DHS headquarters at St. Elizabeths. 

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

After fullfilling what they thought was their last project this Commission closed on August 21, 2004. The ten members of the 9-11 Commission announced the creation of the 9/11 Public Discourse Project. We must also remember that there have been major changes at different agncies since the closing of the report in August of 2005.

Our new CIA Director Leon Panetta is charged with running the agency on a day to day basis and dealing with issues like can they use waterboarding anymore for interrogation techniques. The answer is no they can't.

$500 Million in Recovery Act Awards for Clean Energy Projects from the Treasury

Initial Round of Cash Assistance for Wind, Solar Projects in Eight States Will Create Jobs, Increase Development

WASHINGTON– Marking a major milestone in the effort to spur private sector investments in clean energy and create new jobs for America's workers, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced $502 million in the first round of awards from an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) program that provides cash assistance to energy production companies in place of earned tax credits. The new funding creates additional upfront capital, enabling companies to create jobs and begin construction that may have been stalled until now.

"The Recovery Act is investing in our long-term energy needs while creating jobs in communities around the country," said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. "This renewable energy program will spur the manufacture and development of clean energy in urban and rural America, allowing us to protect our environment, create good jobs and revitalize our nation's economy."

Said Secretary Chu: "These grants will help America's businesses launch clean energy projects, putting Americans back to work in good construction and manufacturing jobs. The initiative will help double our renewable energy capacity over the next few years and make sure America leads the world in creating the clean energy economy of the future."

Created under Section 1603 of the Recovery Act, the program is expected to provide more than $3 billion in financial support for clean energy projects by providing direct payments in lieu of tax credits. These payments will support an estimated 5,000 bio-mass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities in all regions of the country over the life of the program. As a result of this first round of funding, more than 2,000 Americans will have access to jobs in the renewable energy industry – both in construction and in manufacturing – while moving the nation closer to meeting the Administration's goal of doubling renewable energy generation in the next few years.

The Treasury Department opened the application process for the 1603 program on July 31, 2009 and is today making the first awards in half the statutorily mandated turnaround time of 60 days. The following is a chart of projects funded as part of today's announcement. Additional awards under the program will be announced in the coming weeks.

TGH International Trading to Pay $31,500 for Violating Federal Safety Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that TGH International Trading Inc. (TGH), of Los Angeles, Calif., has agreed to pay a $31,500 civil penalty to settle allegations that the company knowingly imported and sold toys that did not meet the requirements of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. The penalty has been provisionally accepted by the Commission.

TGH imported more than 11,000 toys into the United States between March 2005 and June 2006. These toys contained small parts that presented choking and aspiration hazards to young children. Through port inspections and the investigative work of CPSC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), many of the hazardous toys were seized at the Port of Long Beach before they could reach store shelves. CPSC is not aware of any incidents or injuries involving toys that were distributed into commerce.

“CPSC’s new authority to seek higher civil penalties does not mean we will ignore serious violations by small businesses,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “We will continue to take enforcement action against any business, large or small, that violates the Commission’s product safety laws and regulations.”In agreeing to settle the allegations, TGH International Trading Inc. denies that it violated federal law.

Health/Business

According to the newest information from the Council on Economic Advisors:

Many small businesses that provide health insurance for their employees would receive a small business tax credit to alleviate their disproportionately higher costs and encourage coverage. The tax credit would be targeted to those firms with employees whose average wages fall below a certain threshold.

Small businesses that meet certain criteria would be able to purchase health insurance through an "insurance exchange" – allowing them to choose among a multitude of plans that would provide better coverage at lower costs than they could find in the current small group market.

The current reform options include financial incentives for medium- and large-sized firms to provide health insurance coverage through so-called "pay-or-play" provisions. Firms with payrolls or employment levels below a certain threshold, which would include the vast majority of small businesses, would be exempt from the pay-or-play provisions.

The creation of an insurance exchange would also provide better and lower-cost options for workers in small businesses that do not offer health insurance. Low-income individuals and families would receive sliding scale subsidies to help them purchase insurance. Additionally, health insurers would not be allowed to screen potential enrollees for pre-existing conditions.

The proposed reforms could help spur entrepreneurial activity by increasing the incentives for talented Americans to launch their own companies, and could increase the pool of workers willing to work at small firms. Further, successful reform would reduce the phenomenon of "job lock," in which workers are reluctant to leave a job with employer-sponsored health insurance out of fear that they will not be able to find affordable coverage. Small firms that are unable to provide health insurance for their employees bear the greatest cost of this phenomenon.

Reductions in absenteeism and improvements in worker productivity resulting from better health outcomes because of expanded coverage would particularly benefit small businesses.

Bill Clinton

It was a good decision to send Former President Bill Clinton as number one, North Koreans do not respect their women like the West does. Had we sent Hillary Clinton Secretary of State, it would have been perceived as a weakness. That is an unfortunate fact. President Clinton is feared in North Korea, that is a plus for the U.S. and the international community.

According to The Daily NK online newspaper, Professor of North Korean Studies at Korea University Yoo Ho Yul predicted, “North Korea will use Clinton’s visit to Pyongyang as a turning point to shift its position from a hard-line, provocative attitude to one of dialogue.”

Clinton met with Kim Jong Il, to get the release of two women journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling who had been sentenced on Monday to 12 years of hard labour. Clinton got them released, and they flew back to the U.S. with him. The two young women were sentenced for illegal entry and engaging in "hostile acts." Last month U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had urged North Korea leaders to grant them amnesty, saying they were remorseful and their families anguished. They had been jailed for 145 days.

No doubt this was a staged event by North Korea to get our attention.

Usually when North Korea needs something they want to talk the the U.S. leadership to get something from us. However, this is not the way to solve their worst problems like making political issues of their nuclear arms programs and trading food or whatever else they need for their starving people. The U.S. keeps that type of negotiation separate, and it is not a problem that a single trip to Pyongyang is likely to change quickly.

Hong Soon Kyung, the president of the Association of North Korean Defectors, said, “North Korea is facing serious difficulties, so it is trying to make a breakthrough via bilateral talks with the U.S. North Korean leadership is notorious for signing agreements, and then six months later ignoring what they signed. They are just creating an issue with which to use the U.S. to get what they want.

Just last month North Korea launched a underground nuclear tests. However, the U.N. imposed new sanctions because of that testing. Now the UN says all ships in the international community can stop and search North Korean vessels for weapons. The unanimous resolution points to the intense anger felt by international communities. that resulted from North Koreas’ nuclear testing. So the bad boys of North Korea are just that, only smaller bad boys now because of their attitudes. Their attitudes must change and sooner than later for their own good . Maybe Kim Jong Il has never grown up, always had his own way, like a spoiled 14 year old whose mind has not matured or caught up with his hormone raging changing body. Of course his raging hormones stopped storming years ago due to his age.

78 Million

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced nearly $78 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) funding for approximately 240 new law enforcement officers at 15 transit systems across the country to enhance the nation's ability to guard against acts of terrorism. "Securing our mass transit systems requires well-trained personnel on the ground to protect against those who seek to cause harm," said Secretary Napolitano. "This Recovery Act money will create critical law enforcement jobs that will help our nation prevent terrorist attacks."

Secretary Napolitano announced the funding at New York City's Grand Central Terminal, where hundreds of thousands of commuters and visitors travel each day. The grants will provide approximately $35 million for approximately 125 new officers in the New York Police Department through the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority as well as additional resources in other urban transit systems across the nation.

The announcement reflects Secretary Napolitano's commitment to applying Recovery Act funds to projects and programs that create jobs for Americans while strengthening the security of the United States quickly and efficiently.

The funds, allocated by the Transportation Security Administration through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2009 Transit Security Grant Program, will be used by transit agencies to hire new law enforcement officers and by police departments with dedicated transit bureaus to hire anti-terrorism personnel, purchase anti-terrorism equipment and obtain and train explosive detection canines.

The three types of grants announced today include:

Anti-Terrorism Teams, including overt and covert officers whose activities focus on terrorism prevention;

Explosive Detection Canine Teams, which consist of an explosives detection canine and an officer/handler; and Mobile Explosives Detection Screening Teams, which deploy trained officers and explosives detection technology for random security screening in the transit environment.

Millions in Cost Avoidances

“Our Efficiency Review has already generated millions of dollars in cost avoidances, enabling us to direct more resources to critical security programs,” said Secretary Napolitano. “These new initiatives will streamline operations, improve customer service, and help us stretch every homeland security dollar even further.” 

Secretary Janet Napolitano today unveiled five new efficiency initiatives, marking the fourth milestone in the Department-wide Efficiency Review launched in March.Throughout the Department, efforts have commenced to establish a plan to ensure that DHS retains skilled full-time employees to fulfill the Department’s core mission; increase coordination between headquarter and operational components; and standardize content for new-employee orientation and annual training. In addition, DHS is working to implement energy efficiencies in facility management projects and expand the acquisition and leasing of hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles.

Efficiency Review initiatives already in progress continue to generate substantial cost savings across the Department. By leveraging the buying power of the entire Department, more than 487,000 licenses were consolidated into one Department-wide license for Microsoft software and maintenance for a cost avoidance of approximately $87.5 million over the next six years. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also modified its license agreement for Oracle software from more than 200 licenses to one unlimited license agreement for an estimated cost avoidance of $1.5 million over the next year.

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center recently held its biennial leadership conference for senior managers at its office instead of a private facility, saving $104,000 in travel and per diem costs. Similarly, U.S Customs and Border Protection expects to avoid $640,000 in travel costs in FY 2009 by posting training materials online and hosting web-based training sessions instead of in-person trainings.

The Coast Guard has started utilizing a free e-invitation system to manage invitations, for major events which is expected to save almost $95,000 per year in printing and mailing costs. ICE will save more than $90,000 by redeploying vehicles in their existing fleet instead of purchasing new vehicles.

Efficiency Review initiatives are broken down into 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-day groups based on when implementation will begin. Going forward, the Department will focus on institutionalizing the 20 initiatives announced over the past four months and rolling out new initiatives biannually.

On Feb. 17, Secretary Napolitano directed the entire Department to identify current and past efforts to improve efficiency, which resulted in an inventory of more than 700 initiatives implemented over the past five years. An Efficiency Review Steering Committee with representatives from across DHS components was then established, along with a full-time Efficiency Review Team composed of department veterans that shaped these initiatives.

E-Verify

Protecting US Jobs

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today strengthened employment eligibility verification by announcing the Administration’s support for a regulation that will award federal contracts only to employers who use E-Verify to check employee work authorization. The declaration came as Secretary Napolitano announced the Department's intention to rescind the Social Security No-Match Rule, which has never been implemented and has been blocked by court order, in favor of the more modern and effective E-Verify system.

“E-Verify is a smart, simple and effective tool that reflects our continued commitment to working with employers to maintain a legal workforce,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Requiring those who seek federal contracts to use this system will create a more reliable and legal workforce. The rule complements our Department’s continued efforts to strengthen immigration law enforcement and protect critical employment opportunities. As Senator Schumer and others have recognized, we need to continue to work to improve E-Verify, and we will.”

E-Verify, which compares information from the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) against federal government databases to verify workers’ employment eligibility, is a free web-based system operated by DHS in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The system facilitates compliance with federal immigration laws and helps to deter unauthorized individuals from attempting to work and also helps employers avoid employing unauthorized aliens.

The federal contractor rule extends use of the E-Verify system to covered federal contractors and subcontractors, including those who receive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. After a careful review, the Administration will push ahead with full implementation of the rule, which will apply to federal solicitations and contract awards Government-wide starting on September 8, 2009.

On average, one thousand employers sign up for E-Verify each week, totaling more than 134,000 employers representing more than half a million locations nationwide. Westat, an independent research firm, found that 96.9 percent of all queries run through E-Verify are automatically confirmed work-authorized within 24 hours. The figure is based on statistics gathered from October through December 2008. Since October 1, 2008, E-Verify has processed more than six million queries. In an April 2009 American Customer Satisfaction Index Survey of over a thousand E-Verify participants, E-Verify scored 83 out of a possible 100 points—well above the latest federal government satisfaction index of 69 percent.

In addition to expanding participation, DHS continues to enhance E-Verify in order to guard against errors, enforce compliance, promote proper usage, and enhance security. Recent E-Verify advancements include new processes to reduce typographical errors and new features to reduce initial mismatches. In May 2008, DHS added access to naturalization database records which increased the program’s ability to automatically verify naturalized citizens’ status, reducing citizenship-related mismatches by 39 percent. Additionally, in February 2009, the agency incorporated Department of State passport data in the E-Verify process to reduce mismatches among foreign-born citizens. Other initiatives underway will bring further improvements to Federal database accuracy; add new tools to prevent fraud, misuse, and discrimination; strengthen training, monitoring, and compliance; and enhance privacy protections.

DHS will be proposing a new regulation rescinding the 2007 No-Match Rule, which was blocked by court order shortly after issuance and has never taken effect. That rule established procedures that employers could follow if they receive SSA No-Match letters or notices from DHS that call into question work eligibility information provided by employees. These notices most often inform an employer many months or even a year later that an employee’s name and Social Security Number provided for a W-2 earnings report do not match SSA records—often due to typographical errors or unreported name changes. E-Verify addresses data inaccuracies that can result in No-Match letters in a more timely manner and provides a more robust tool for identifying unauthorized individuals and combating illegal employment.

As Governor of Arizona, Secretary Napolitano signed legislation mandating all employers in the State use E-Verify. Implementation of this

legislation has received high marks from employers across Arizona and the USCIS Ombudsman (in a December 2008 report).

SEC Charges

SEC Charges Frank DiPascali

Washington, D.C., Aug. 11, 2009 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Bernard L. Madoff's chief financial officer, Frank DiPascali, with securities fraud for overseeing the mechanics of Madoff's entirely fictitious investment strategy and creating millions of phony documents and trading records to conceal the fraud from regulators and investors.

According to the SEC's complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, DiPascali helped generate bogus annual returns of 10 to 17 percent by fabricating backdated and fictitious trades that never occurred. The SEC further alleges that DiPascali helped Madoff cover up the fraud by preparing fake trade blotters, stock records, customer confirmations, Depository Trust Corporation (DTC) reports and other phantom books and records to substantiate the non-existent trading.

"DiPascali and Madoff ran an extraordinary and massive counterfeiting operation that concealed their fraud from investors and regulators alike," said Robert Khuzami, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement.

Without admitting or denying the allegations of the SEC's complaint, DiPascali has consented to a proposed partial judgment, which if entered by the court would impose a permanent injunction against DiPascali and leave the issues of disgorgement and a financial penalty to be decided at a later time.

The SEC alleges that DiPascali, who resides in Bridgewater, N.J., sustained Madoff's unprecedented fraud from at least the 1980s until the scheme's collapse, causing billions of dollars in investor losses. A specific computer was used to simulate phantom trading in advisory accounts, and to generate phony books and records reflecting that trading. This fake set of books and records was kept separate and distinct from the books and records for the market-making and proprietary trading operation at Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (BMIS). When investors sent in funds to BMIS for investment, the funds were deposited or wired into a bank account at JPMorgan Chase that was not in any way reflected on the books and records (including the ledger) of the BMIS broker-dealer operation.

The SEC's complaint alleges that great effort was made to hide the fact that there were several thousand advisory accounts at BMIS, which would have required SEC registration. DiPascali helped Madoff devise a shifting subset of 10 to 25 accounts — known as the "special" accounts — which they deceptively presented as the universe of BMIS advisory accounts. DiPascali and others prepared fake books and records to provide regulators with information about only these special accounts in order to conceal the true size of the advisory business.

According to the SEC's complaint, DiPascali joined BMIS as a research clerk at age 19 after dropping out of college. Eventually, Madoff put DiPascali in charge of the bulk of day-to-day operations on the now-infamous 17th floor of BMIS. As Madoff consistently communicated his fear of detection to DiPascali, a significant portion of DiPascali's time and effort was dedicated to anticipating and preparing for regulatory inquiries — particularly SEC examinations in 2004 and 2005 and an SEC investigation in 2006.

The SEC's complaint alleges that DiPascali helped carry out Madoff's fictitious "split-strike conversion" strategy that BMIS claimed to be pursuing on behalf of its clients. DiPascali helped Madoff structure and record non-existent trades that were reflected on millions of pages of customer confirmations and account statements distributed each year. None of the trades purportedly executed as part of this strategy ever occurred. In fact, the strategy was nothing more than fictitious trading by hindsight, supported by documents created after the fact based on actual historical data.

According to the SEC's complaint, DiPascali helped Madoff cover his tracks in numerous nefarious ways. For instance, when Madoff grew concerned that showing positive returns every month would be suspicious, he occasionally instructed DiPascali to enter phony trades designed to lose money in order to make their investment strategy and returns more credible. In order to avoid scrutiny by sophisticated financial institutions, they made a practice of closing down accounts of investors who worked at such institutions. Madoff and DiPascali even went so far as to develop a phantom computer trading platform that would appear to reflect real trading. In the event of a surprise visit from outsiders requesting to observe real-time trading activity, one BMIS employee was to enter trades on a computer screen and another employee was to go into an office nearby and play the role of a counterparty trader in Europe.

The SEC further alleges that DiPascali misappropriated investor funds for personal gain, setting up an account at BMIS for himself in 2002 that he named after his fishing yacht, Dorothy Jo. DiPascali withdrew more than $5 million from the account between 2002 and 2008 to fund personal expenses, including the purchase of a new boat. DiPascali's withdrawals were funded directly from money deposited by investors with BMIS. Investor money being used to fund the overall operations of BMIS also contributed to the more than $2 million in salary and bonus that DiPascali received each year.

Today's charges mark the fifth enforcement action taken by the SEC related to the Madoff fraud. Previously, the Commission charged Madoff and BMIS, their auditors, certain solicitors, and certain feeder funds.

SEC Charges Three Executives

Robert Allen Stanford Indicted 6-24-2009

Robert Allen Stanford of Stanford International bank, has been indicted for fraud by the SEC. He and bank officers were charged in February of this year.

to the SEC “Stanford's companies include Antiguan-based Stanford International Bank (SIB), Houston-based broker-dealer and investment adviser Stanford Group Company (SGC), and investment adviser Stanford Capital Management. The SEC also charged SIB chief financial officer James Davis as well as Laura Pendergest-Holt, chief investment officer of Stanford Financial Group (SFG), in the enforcement action.

Pursuant to the SEC's request for emergency relief for the benefit of defrauded investors, U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor entered a temporary restraining order, froze the defendants' assets, and appointed a receiver to marshal those assets.

"As we allege in our complaint, Stanford and the close circle of family and friends with whom he runs his businesses perpetrated a massive fraud based on false promises and fabricated historical return data to prey on investors," said Linda Chatman Thomsen, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement. "We are moving quickly and decisively in this enforcement action to stop this fraudulent conduct and preserve assets for investors."

Rose Romero, Regional Director of the SEC's Fort Worth Regional Office, added, "We are alleging a fraud of shocking magnitude that has spread its tentacles throughout the world."

Moises Pacheco, Advanced Money Management, Inc. Charged 6-24-2009

SEC officials have been exremely busy as they have also charged The SEC alleges that Moises Pacheco, Advanced Money Management, Inc. (AMM), and Business Development & Consulting Co. (BD&C) raised $14.7 million from more than 200 investors over a 3?-year period, acting as investment advisers to the five self-described hedge funds — AP Premium Value Funds I through IV and Capital Partnership Group.

According to the SEC’s complaint, Pacheco told investors that he had developed a lucrative investment strategy involving the purchase and sale of covered call options, and that the hedge funds exclusively relied upon this strategy to generate trading profits ranging from 30 percent to 48 percent per year. In reality, Pacheco did not generate the returns he claimed to have made, and instead used investor principal to pay purported returns until the scheme collapsed.

Michael C. Regan and his firm, Regan & Company Charged 6-24-2009

The SEC alleges that Michael C. Regan and his firm, Regan & Company, fraudulently obtained at least $15.9 million from dozens of investors nationwide by selling securities in his now defunct River Stream Fund. Regan provided fake account statements and tax forms to investors showing artificially inflated account balances and concealing that he did no securities trading at all for several years and suffered substantial losses on investments that he did make. Regan falsely claimed that he earned an MBA from a major New York university and promoted a phony track record of successful securities trading and investment expertise. Regan is not registered as an investment adviser with the SEC or any other securities regulator.

“Regan lured investors, including family and friends, by touting his investment prowess,” said James Clarkson, Acting Director of the SEC’s New York Regional Office. “He routinely fabricated investment returns to make it appear that he was a successful money manager when in fact he was stealing investor money to pay his own expenses.”

A final note, at least we know that employees of the SEC are doing their jobs. How much money these men took from unsuspecting investors will remain to be seen. but, at last we will be rid of them and newer invstors won't be scammed by them again.

For more information, contact:

David Rosenfeld Associate Director, SEC’s New York Regional Office (212) 336-0153

Ken C. Joseph Assistant Director, SEC’s New York Regional Office (212) 336-0097

Evergreen Charged

Washington, D.C., June 8, 2009 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Boston-based Evergreen Investment Management Company LLC and an affiliate with securities law violations for overstating the value of a mutual fund that invested primarily in mortgage-backed securities, and then only selectively telling shareholders about the fund’s valuation problems.

Evergreen agreed to pay more than $40 million to settle the SEC’s charges without admitting or denying the findings in the SEC’s order. This enforcement action is the result of the joint efforts of the SEC and the Massachusetts Securities Division, which also brought related charges against the Evergreen entities today.

The SEC’s enforcement action against Evergreen’s investment advisory arm and its distributor, Evergreen Investment Services, Inc., found that the value of its Ultra Short Opportunities Fund, which was consistently ranked as a high performer in its class in 2007 and 2008, was inflated by as much as 17 percent due to Evergreen’s improper valuation practices. Had Evergreen properly valued the fund, it would have ranked near the bottom of its category during this time, the SEC found.

According to the SEC’s order, when Evergreen began to address the fund’s overstated value by re-pricing certain holdings, it only disclosed the reasons and the likelihood for additional re-pricings to select shareholders, who were then able to cash out before incurring any additional drop in the value of their fund shares. Meanwhile, other shareholders were left uninformed.

By picking and choosing to disclose negative information to some investors and not others, Evergreen gave certain shareholders an unfair advantage and left others in the dark,” said David P. Bergers, Director of the SEC’s Boston Regional Office. “Evergreen harmed investors and prevented them from making informed decisions by overstating the value of its holdings in mortgage-backed securities.”

The SEC’s order found that Evergreen overstated the fund’s value by failing to properly take into account readily available information about certain mortgage-backed securities in the valuation process. The fund’s portfolio management team also withheld negative information about certain of the fund's securities from an Evergreen committee responsible for valuations. Evergreen closed the Ultra Fund in June 2008 in the wake of substantial redemptions by fund shareholders following the firm’s re-pricing of the fund’s holdings.

The two Evergreen entities agreed to pay $33 million to compensate fund shareholders as well as penalties totaling $4 million and disgorgement of ill-gotten gains of approximately $3 million. All of the money will be distributed to Ultra Fund shareholders pursuant to the provisions of the SEC’s Order. The Evergreen entities also were censured and ordered to cease and desist from any further violations of certain federal securities laws.

The SEC’s order took into account the remedial acts and cooperation of the Evergreen adviser and distributor.

The SEC acknowledges the assistance of Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts William F. Galvin and the Massachusetts Securities Division in its investigation. The SEC’s investigation is ongoing.

SEC Charges Mozilo

Washington, D.C., June 4, 2009 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged former Countrywide Financial CEO Angelo Mozilo and two other former executives with securities fraud for deliberately misleading investors about the significant credit risks being taken in efforts to build and maintain the company's market share. Mozilo was additionally charged with insider trading for selling his Countrywide stock based on non-public information for nearly $140 million in profits.

The SEC alleges that Mozilo along with former chief operating officer and president David Sambol and former chief financial officer Eric Sieracki misled the market by falsely assuring investors that Countrywide was primarily a prime quality mortgage lender that had avoided the excesses of its competitors.

SEC's enforcement action alleges that from 2005 through 2007, Countrywide engaged in an unprecedented expansion of its underwriting guidelines and was writing riskier and riskier loans, which these senior executives were warned might ultimately curtail the company's ability to sell them. Countrywide was required to disclose these important trends to its investors in the Management Discussion and Analysis portion of its SEC filings, but failed to do so.

"This is the tale of two companies," said Robert Khuzami, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement. "Countrywide portrayed itself as underwriting mainly prime quality mortgages using high underwriting standards. But concealed from shareholders was the true Countrywide, an increasingly reckless lender assuming greater and greater risk. Angelo Mozilo privately described one Countrywide product as 'toxic,' and said another's performance was so uncertain that Countrywide was 'flying blind.'"

Rosalind Tyson, Director of the SEC's Los Angeles Regional Office, added, "Angelo Mozilo had access to detailed and alarming information about Countrywide's operations. He knew that Countrywide was gambling with increasingly risky mortgages and he kept those details from investors while he was actively taking his own chips off the table."

Maryland Lt. Governor Brown

I hope you have spent this Memorial Day weekend with friends and family and enjoy the early summer weekend. Also remember, this weekend is made possible by those men and women who have served and sacrificed for this land. We ask a great deal of our service members. Because of their service and sacrifice, we owe them a debt of gratitude and we have a shared obligation to serve those who have served on our behalf.

On Monday, I called for stronger coordination between local, state and federal agencies to improve mental and behavioral health treatment for veterans.

Today's veterans are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury at higher rates than veterans of any previous conflict and suicide attempts by active-duty personnel have increased by 600 percent since the beginning of the war in Iraq.

Our veterans and our deployed service members need better access to behavioral health treatment, counseling, and other services. That's why Governor O'Malley and I have taken necessary steps to expand services and bring new veterans into the fold of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. Maryland was the first state in the nation to launch the Veterans Network of Care to help our returning veterans and their families.

We all read the stories about the tragedy at Camp Liberty, where five Americans – including one of our neighbors from the Eastern Shore – were killed at the Baghdad health clinic. Our efforts to improve mental health services for our brave veterans won't bring those soldiers back, but they will go a long way to help prevent future tragedies and help veterans smoothly reenter civilian life.

Again, I wish you and your family a happy and healthy Memorial Day and I thank all the Maryland men and women who have worn the uniform for making this weekend possible.

Best regards,

Anthony Brown

Lt. Governor

Maryland Jobs

Governor Martin O’Malley recently joined officials of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) to sign a six-year extension of the current contract between the Port of Baltimore and the Geneva-based international container shipping giant. The deal maintains 628 direct jobs and the continued shipment of MSC containerized cargo through the Port of Baltimore.

“In these difficult economic times, I am very pleased to receive an extended commitment from one of the top container shipping companies in the world,” said Governor O’Malley. “This extension keeps good-paying, family-supporting jobs at the economic engine that is the Port of Baltimore. Maryland is proud to be signing the third long-term contract in a year when many ports are facing much harder times.”

The new agreement extends the current contract with MSC, the Port’s top container shipping company, to December 31, 2014. The extension requires MSC to bring a minimum of 100,000 containers annually to the Port – three times the amount the original 10-year contract required.

“We are very happy to secure MSC, our top container customer, for another six years,” said Maryland Port Administration (MPA) Executive Director James J. White. “This extension amends the original contract and requires MSC to bring more business to this Port for the next several years.”

In addition to maintaining the 628 jobs, the agreement also will retain about $25 million in wages and salaries and $14 million in state and local taxes as a result of keeping MSC at the Port of Baltimore.

MSC began a weekly service to Baltimore in 1988. In 1988, about 4,500 containers were brought to the Port of Baltimore on MSC vessels. By 2008, that number increased 30 fold to more than 136,000 containers. MSC also was the first container shipping company to work out of the Seagirt Marine Terminal after it opened in 1990.

“At this time of great uncertainty in the global economy it’s refreshing that the relationship between Mediterranean Shipping Company and the Maryland Port Administration is stable and based on mutual respect and cooperation,” said Captain Nicola Arena, chairman of the board and chief executive officer for MSC. “We look forward to many more years at the Port of Baltimore.”

In addition to the MSC contract, the Port of Baltimore has signed long-term, 10-year contracts with Taiwan-based container company Evergreen Marine Corporation and Finland-based paper manufacturer UPM within the last year. Earlier this week, the Port also kicked off the first of its record 79 cruises in 2009, including the first year-round cruising program.

The Port of Baltimore employs about 16,500 workers. Out of about 360 U.S. ports, Baltimore is ranked number one for handling roll on/roll off cargo; trucks; imported forest products; and imported gypsum, sugar and iron ore. The Port of Baltimore is ranked 14th nationally for total foreign cargo tonnage and 12th for total dollar value of cargo. In 2006, the Port was responsible for $3.6 billion in personal wage and salary income. Activities at the Port of Baltimore generated $388 million in state and local taxes.

As a result of its outstanding work to increase U.S. exports, the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) which oversees the public terminals at the Port of Baltimore, was honored in 2007 with the Presidential “E” award. The award was created in 1961 to recognize persons, firms, or organizations that contribute significantly to increase U.S. exports. The MPA was awarded this special distinction for its increased export business over the last several years. The MPA, which also won the “E” award in 1964, is only the 23rd port organization out of 361 total ports in the U.S. to win the highly acclaimed recognition. It is only the fourth port to win the award twice.

Maryland a National Leader Address' the Reality of Global Warming

Annapolis—The Maryland General Assembly today gave final passage to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act. The bill requires the state to reduce its global warming pollution to 25 percent below 2006 levels by 2020. It directs the Maryland Department of the Environment to finalize regulations by 2012 to achieve those reductions.

“It took three years to pass, but that just shows it’s a strong policy worth fighting for,” said Environment Maryland State Director Brad Heavner. “We thank all of our partners who helped with this tremendous effort.”

The legislation was aided by an interest in creating new green jobs in the clean energy and smart transportation sectors. The Maryland Commission on Climate Change determined in a report released last August that the policies to reduce global warming pollution by 25 percent will provide a $2 billion boost to the state economy. Gov. O’Malley has set a goal of creating 100,000 green jobs in Maryland by 2015.

Laws passed in recent years, such as the Healthy Air Act, the Clean Cars Act, and the EmPower Maryland energy efficiency program, will achieve more than half of the reductions required by this bill. The remainder would be realized through measures such as increased transportation choices, recycling, and incentives for green buildings. The commission has made 42 policy recommendations to reduce the state’s global warming pollution.

“This new law puts us at the forefront of the national and international effort to address the reality of global warming,” said Tommy Landers, Policy Advocate. “At the same time, it will put us ahead of the curve in the transition to a revitalized economy fueled by clean, homegrown energy.”

Passage of a pollution reduction mandate in Maryland boosts efforts in Washington to pass federal global warming legislation. The state joins six other states with legislative commitments to reduce pollution – New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California, Washington and Hawaii. The 25 percent reduction in Maryland is the largest commitment of any of those states.

The bill has been hotly debated in Maryland for the past two years. In the 2007 legislative session, the bill was introduced but did not come to a vote. Last year, an amended version passed the Senate, but the bill was voted down in the House Economic Matters Committee. 

Md. Energy Transition

“President Obama’s budget means a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future for Maryland,” said Tommy Landers, Policy Advocate for Environment Maryland.

The report, Vision 2010: President Obama’s Budget, Clean Energy and the Environment, estimates the proportion of the president’s proposed Fiscal Year 2010 federal budget that would be used to transition to clean energy by requiring global warming polluters to pay, clean up toxic waste, prevent water pollution, and spur clean energy businesses in Maryland.

“As a Baltimore-based business owner, I applaud President Obama’s initiatives to promote a clean energy economy,” said Peter Van Buren, President of TerraLogos Green Home Services. “By investing in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies, we simultaneously create a sound financial base of solid green jobs, reduce our unhealthy dependency on foreign oil, and initiate the changes necessary to ensure a sustainable future for our children.”

“We made the shift from an agricultural economy to an industrial one, and now we have another chance to make a monumental change in how we do business,” said Weyimi Ayu, President of Diaspora Development LLC. “Our company has taken up President Obama’s call to shift our focus to energy efficiency, and that is what our company is bringing to the table in the real estate field.”

"Our membership praises President Obama's budget and stimulus package because of the jobs it will create. The Laborers are doing our part by putting in place home and weatherization building training programs all over the region to assist contractors in staffing jobs up with highly qualified labor that have health benefits for them and their families. This is an historic opportunity not only to save families on their electric bills but also create jobs and conserve energy," said Dennis Martire, Laborers International Union Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager.

Environment Maryland presented a map highlighting locations of clean energy industries that could benefit from the $150 billion over 10 years that President Obama’s budget would invest nationally in renewable energy such as wind and solar. The proposed budget sets the stage for a new energy plan for America that caps global warming pollution and drives the transformation to a clean energy economy. The map and report illustrated the following benefits for Maryland:

• $12 billion over 10 years from making polluters pay for global warming pollution, if the revenues are apportioned by population;

• $730 million in Maryland taxpayer dollars that will no longer subsidize profits for Big Oil;

• 21 sewage treatment plants that exceeded clean water permits in 2005 could be eligible for a statewide total of $48.2 in funding for repairs and upgrades; and

• 6 toxic waste sites could see accelerated clean up from reinstatement of a polluter pays fee expected to generate $17.2 billion in revenues over 10 years.

Environment Maryland pointed out that the latest global warming science means even deeper cuts in pollution in the next 10 years than the ones in the president’s budget will be required to prevent the most catastrophic warming. “Capping global warming pollution to the extent needed and ensuring that polluters pay is the right move for our environment and our economy but even this first step will face roadblocks from polluting interests,” said Landers.

“As we approach Earth Day, Congress needs to hear from clean energy business and labor leaders, mayors and mothers, and all people who know the time to transition to a clean energy economy, protect our environment, and stop global warming is now,” concluded Landers.

Customs Seized

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have seized approximately $60 million in U.S. currency, 700 firearms and 125,000 rounds of ammunition at the Southwest border as of early April. CBP’s Office of Air and Marine has worked both independently and in coordination with CBP’s Border Patrol to apprehend more than 23,000 illegal aliens, make nearly 600 arrests and seize more than 130,000 pounds of illegal drugs in the first half of fiscal year 2009.

The announcements came in Nogales, Ariz., during a press conference at the Mariposa Port of Entry as part of a three-stop tour of the Southwest border. Just hours before, in El Paso, Secretary Napolitano announced a formalized DHS Southwest border security plan—a follow-up to her March 24 announcement that DHS will move additional resources to the Southwest border—and the appointment of Alan Bersin as Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs.

Secretary Napolitano also highlighted the work of Border Enforcement Security Task Forces—teams comprised of federal, state, local and Mexican law enforcement authorities—that have seized nearly 16,000 pounds of marijuana, $3.6 million in U.S. currency and 219 firearms along the Southwest border so far in fiscal year 2009.

The Nogales-Mariposa Border Inspection Facility will benefit from the largest single port construction project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). $212 million ($199 million from ARRA and $13 million in fiscal year appropriations) through the General Services Administration (GSA), will go toward overhauling inbound and outbound inspection lanes, booths and canopies; a new main building; a new non-intrusive inspection building; an export building and new head house; as well as kennels, commercial docks, enhanced site and building security and expanded parking capacity.

GM Wagoner is Ousted

According to Prsident Obama:As an initial restructuring step, GM is announcing today that Rick Wagoner is stepping aside as Chairman and CEO. This is not meant as a condemnation of Mr. Wagoner, who's devoted his life to this company and has had a distinguished career; rather, it's a recognition that will take new vision and new direction to create the GM of the future.

In this context, my administration will offer General Motors adequate working capital over the next 60 days. And during this time, my team will be working closely with GM to produce a better business plan. They must ask themselves: Have they consolidated enough unprofitable brands? Have they cleaned up their balance sheets, or are they still saddled with so much debt that they can’t make future investments? Above all, have they created a credible model for how not only to survive, but to succeed in this competitive global market?

One of the challenges we've confronted from the beginning of this administration is what to do with the state of the struggling auto industry. In recent months, my Auto Task Force has been reviewing requests by General Motors and Chrysler for additional government assistance, as well as plans developed by each of these companies to restructure, to modernize, and to make themselves more competitive. Our evaluation is now complete. But before I lay out what needs to be done going forward, I want to say a few words about where we are and what led us to this point.

It will come as no surprise that some Americans who have suffered most during this recession have been those in the auto industry and those working for companies that support it. Over the past year, our auto industry has shed over 400,000 jobs, not only at plants that produce cars, but at the businesses that produce the parts that go into them and the dealers that sell and repair them. More than one in 10 Michigan residents is out of work -- the most of any state. And towns and cities across the great Midwest have watched unemployment climb higher than it’s been in decades.

The pain being felt in places that rely on our auto industry is not the fault of our workers; they labor tirelessly and desperately want to see their companies succeed. It's not the fault of all the families and communities that supported manufacturing plants throughout the generations. Rather, it's a failure of leadership -- from Washington to Detroit -- that led our auto companies to this point.

Year after year, decade after decade, we've seen problems papered over and tough choices kicked down the road, even as foreign competitors outpaced us. Well, we've reached the end of that road. And we, as a nation, cannot afford to shirk responsibility any longer. Now is the time to confront our problems head-on and do what’s necessary to solve them.

We cannot, and must not, and we will not let our auto industry simply vanish. This industry is like no other -- it's an emblem of the American spirit; a once and future symbol of America’s success. It's what helped build the middle class and sustained it throughout the 20th century. It's a source of deep pride for the generations of American workers whose hard work and imagination led to some of the finest cars the world has ever known. It's a pillar of our economy that has held up the dreams of millions of our people. And we cannot continue to excuse poor decisions. We cannot make the survival of our auto industry dependent on an unending flow of taxpayer dollars. These companies -- and this industry -- must ultimately stand on their own, not as wards of the state.

And that's why the federal government provided General Motors and Chrysler with emergency loans to prevent their sudden collapse at the end of last year -- only on the condition that they would develop plans to restructure. In keeping with that agreement, each company has submitted a plan to restructure. But after careful analysis, we've determined that neither goes far enough to warrant the substantial new investments that these companies are requesting.

And so today I'm announcing that my administration will offer GM and Chrysler a limited additional period of time to work with creditors, unions, and other stakeholders to fundamentally restructure in a way that would justify an investment of additional taxpayer dollars. During this period they must produce plans that would give the American people confidence in their long-term prospects for success.

GM has made a good faith effort to restructure over the past several months -- but the plan that they've put forward is, in its current form, not strong enough. However, after broad consultation with a range of industry experts and financial advisors, I'm absolutely confident that GM can rise again, providing that it undergoes a fundamental restructuring.. GM is announced today that Rick Wagoner is stepping aside as Chairman and CEO. This is not meant as a condemnation of Mr. Wagoner, who's devoted his life to this company and has had a distinguished career; rather, it's a recognition that will take new vision and new direction to create the GM of the future.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano on Mexican US Border

Under the Merida Initiative, we're investing $700 million this year to work in collaboration with Mexico on law enforcement and judicial capacity. DHS, DOJ and Treasury are all ramping up personnel efforts directed at the Southwest border. We're renewing our commitment to reduce the demand for illegal drugs here at home. The President admires President Calderón's courage and determination to confront and dismantle the drug cartels, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with him in that fight.

Mexico undoubtedly faces serious challenges, but it is vigorously confronting them. Mexico's drug-related violence is carried out among the warring cartels and against government forces.

The U.S.-Mexico relationship is getting sustained high-level and comprehensive attention. President-Elect Obama met with President Calderón in January. Chairman Mullen visited Mexico on March 5th and 6th. Secretary of State Clinton goes to Mexico tomorrow. And Secretary Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder visit April 1st and 2nd, all ahead of the President's visit on the way to the Summit of the Americas April 16th and 17th.

Because this effort has so many facets, the U.S.-Mexico relationship and our efforts to help address the increase in violence in Mexico are being coordinated with the White House through the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council.According to Napolitano, There are a number of issues involved, a number of actions being undertaken by DHS in conjunction with the Department of State, the Department of Justice, with respect to Mexico. And I'm just going to go through a whole inventory of actions that are underway. Some we have already undertaken in the last several weeks; others are being taken either today or in the immediate future.

First we are doubling the number of law enforcement personnel that are working in border-enforcement teams along the border. These are called BEST teams. These are teams that combine state and local with ICE and CBP personnel. Every state along the border will now have BEST teams. New Mexico previously had not had one. But just to give you a sense of how effective they are, they have already made more than 2,000 criminal arrests and seized nearly 8,000 pounds of cocaine.

We are also strengthening Operation Armas Cruzadas. This is our operation where we work to seize arms that are going south to be used in this violent war in Mexico. Just this past week, March 7-13, we seized 997 firearms in one week that were going into Mexico, along with $4.5 million in conjunction with those firearms. So that is underway.

We are tripling the number of Department of Homeland Security Intelligence Analysts located on the Southwest border. We are increasing the ICE -- that's Immigration and Custom Enforcement -- Attaché personnel in Mexico by 50 percent. These will primarily be located in Mexico City, working alongside the Attorney General of Mexico. We will be increasing our efforts on what's called Operation Firewall; this is a Treasury-directed initiative that's designed to interdict money laundering that is going back and forth between the drug cartels in Mexico and where they get the cash, which is in the United States. We are doubling the number of agents in our violent crime alien sections along the border. This is designed to prosecute violent recidivist aliens. We're quadrupling the number of border liaison officers. This is designed to make sure -- these officers work between us on the border and Mexican law enforcement on the border -- make sure that things are properly coordinated and goes smoothly.

 

Womens Vital Voices 3-9-2009

Melanne Verveer is Co-Founder, Chair and Co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international nonprofit that invests in emerging women leaders – pioneers of economic, political and social progress in their countries. Prior to founding Vital Voices, Verveer served as Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady in the Clinton Administration and was chief assistant to then First Lady Hillary Clinton in her international activities. Verveer also took the lead in establishing the President’s Interagency Council on Women, which serves as a model for governments to address issues of concern to women. 

Previously, Verveer served as Executive Vice President of People for the American Way, a civil rights and constitutional liberties organization where she played a key role in the passage of several landmark civil rights bills. She was Coordinator for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs for the U.S. Catholic Conference, Field Manager of Common Cause and worked in the U.S. House and Senate as Legislative Director and Special Assistant respectively. Verveer is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Women’s Foreign Policy Group, the Washington Institute on Foreign Affairs and Women In International Security.

The President’s decision to nominate an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues is unprecedented and reflects the elevated importance of global women’s issues to the President and his entire Administration.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today $1 billion in aviation security projects to be funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 3-7-2009

“This is a great opportunity for us to accelerate our strategic plan for checked baggage security screening, improving security and convenience at some of our nation’s busiest airports as well as supporting President Obama’s plan to stimulate the economy,” said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. “The proposed construction projects are projected to create more than 3,000 jobs and will continue our security strategy of risk-based application of assets and funds.”

The department’s strategy for the execution of the funds is to accelerate the implementation of optimal checked baggage solutions and the enhanced detection of liquid threats in carry-on baggage. To support this strategy DHS is proposing a plan to allocate $700 million to checked baggage explosive detection systems and $300 million to checkpoint explosive detection technology.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued conditional letters to the following 17 airports today informing them their checked baggage explosive detection system projects are being considered for execution under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

Anchorage, Alaska
Atlanta
Columbus, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Honolulu
Huntsville, Ala.
Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Maui, Hawaii
New Orleans
Orange County, Calif.
Orlando, Fla.
Philadelphia
Portland, Maine
Sacramento, Calif.
San Francisco
San Jose, Calif.
Tallahassee, Fla.

Airports are required to submit updated project information prior to final approval. TSA will assess readiness and final cost estimates. DHS would dedicate the $300 million in checkpoint technology to procuring and deploying additional X-ray units, Whole Body Imaging technology and Bottled Liquid Scanners.

Final airport project selections will occur as designs and costs are validated. DHS expects to start obligating funds as early as late spring. To learn more about DHS’ American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects, visit www.dhs.gov/recovery.