Hi, all. Today's report features:
Investing In Education: The President travels to Florida to see an example of how investments in education coupled with reform can help our kids succeed and help America win the future.
Weekly Address: The President calls for Democrats and Republicans to come together on a budget that cuts wasteful spending without sacrificing job creating investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure.
Long-Distance Call: President Obama places a telephone call to the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station as Discovery conducts its final mission in orbit.
State Update: Secretary Clinton and Costa Rican Foreign Minister René Castro hold a joint press conference after their bilateral meeting.
Treasury Notes: Under Secretary Brainard travels to Ramnagar to learn about innovative efforts in India to provide banking services to rural populations; why the House proposal to terminate HAMP threatens the housing market and millions of American families; TARP poised to deliver $9 billion in repayments to taxpayers.
Job Creation: Labor Secretary Solis reports on the good February employment numbers and the 1.5 million private sector jobs added in the past year.
Veterans Affairs Roundup: Rural transportation program in Texas helps veterans travel to VA medical facilities in comfortable vehicles; VA awards nearly $78 million in solar energy contracts to support the President's initiative to make the Federal Government greener, resulting in improved energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy; Troops to Teachers is an employment program that offers veterans financial assistance for college courses needed to become a teacher.
INVESTING IN EDUCATION
White House, March 5, 2011:
President Obama and Jeb Bush on Education in Miami
President Obama travels to Florida to see an example of how investments in education coupled with reform can help our kids succeed and help America win the future.
Office of the Press Secretary, March 4, 2011:
Remarks by the President at Miami Central High School in Miami, Florida
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Rockets! (Applause.) Thank you! (Applause.) Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Everybody, have a seat, have a seat. Have a seat. It is good to be here today! (Applause.) I'm excited! I am thrilled to be here, Rockets. Bonswa. It is good to see all of you.
I want to, first of all, thank somebody who I think is going to end up being one of the best Education Secretaries that we’ve ever had, Arne Duncan, for being here. (Applause.) We also have -- your congresswoman, Frederica Wilson, is here. Give her a big round of applause. (Applause.)
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is here -- give her a big round of applause. (Applause.) Your outstanding school superintendent, Alberto Carvalho -- give him a big round of applause. (Applause.) And a very, very impressive principal -- Renina Turner. (Applause.) Give it up for Renina Turner. (Applause.)
I gather we also have some members of the football team here. (Applause.) I understand you guys were state champs -- is that right? (Applause.) They look pretty big. (Laughter.) And some of them aren't smiling, you know -- (laughter) -- they’ve got their game face on. (Applause.)
We are also honored to be joined here today by another champion of education reform, somebody who championed reform when he was in office, somebody who is now championing reform as a private citizen -- Jeb Bush. (Applause.) And we are grateful -- we're grateful for him being here. Aside from being a former governor of this great state, Jeb of course is best known as the brother of Marvin Bush. (Laughter.) Apparently the rest of the family also did some work back in Washington back in the day. (Laughter.)
The truth is I've gotten to know Jeb because his family exemplifies public service. And we are so grateful to him for the work that he’s doing on behalf of education. So, thank you, Jeb. (Applause.)
Now, I just had a chance to take a tour here at Miami Central -- (applause) -- met your outstanding principal, Ms. Turner. I talked to some of the great students who are here. We went through a lab -- they had robots, they had computers with vectors and this and that. And I was a little confused, but I nodded, pretending like I understood what was going on. (Laughter.) And it’s inspiring to think about where you were just a few years ago and then where you are today. (Applause.) Right? You came together to turn this school around. (Applause.) And I think the rest of us can learn something from that –- because that’s what we’re going to need to do all across the country right now.
We are at a pivotal turning point. We just came through a tough recession that’s taken a big toll on families here in Florida and all across the country. And to accelerate our recovery in the short term we took some essential steps to spur hiring and economic growth, including tax cuts that are making Americans’ paychecks bigger and letting businesses write off their investments –- and I am proud -- I'm proud that Republicans and Democrats came together to get that done.
And you're already seeing those steps make a difference. This morning we learned that the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in nearly two years. (Applause.) Our economy added another 222,000 jobs in the private sector. (Applause.) That's the 12th straight month of private sector job growth. So our economy has now added 1.5 million private sector jobs over the last year. And that's progress. (Applause.) But we need to keep building on that momentum. And in a world that’s more competitive, more connected than ever before, that means answering some difficult questions: How do we attract new jobs? How do we attract new businesses? How do we attract new industries to our shores? How do we grow our economy and out-compete countries around the world? How do we make sure all of you -- all of our students, whether they go to Miami Central or anyplace else –- how do we make sure you have a chance at the American Dream?
That’s why I’m here today. That’s what I want to talk to you about. Because in today’s economy, companies are making decisions about where to locate and who to hire based on a few key factors. They’re looking for faster, more reliable transportation and communications networks, like high-speed railroads and high-speed Internet. (Applause.) They’re looking for a commitment to innovation and investments in basic research –- so that companies can profit from new ideas and new discoveries. But most of all, the single most important thing companies are looking for are highly skilled, highly educated workers. (Applause.) That's what they’re looking for. More than ever before, companies hire where the talent is.
Now, I want all the young people here to listen, because over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs are going to require a level of education that goes beyond a high school degree. So, first of all, you can’t drop out. You can’t even think about dropping out. (Applause.) You can’t even think about dropping out. But it’s not going to be enough just to graduate from high school. You’re going to need some additional education. And a good education equals a good job. If we want more good news on the jobs front, then we’ve got to make more investments in education. As a nation, making these investments -– in education, in innovation, in infrastructure –- all of them are essential.
Now, what makes it tough is that we’re in a difficult fiscal situation, as well. For too long, the government has been spending more than it takes in. So in order to make sure we can keep doing our part to invest in Miami Central, to invest in your schools, to invest in Pell Grants, to invest in your education, then we’re also going to have to get serious about cutting whatever spending we don’t need.
So what I’ve done is I’ve called for a five-year freeze on annual domestic spending -– and that freeze would cut the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade, and it will bring that kind of spending to a lower share of our economy than has been true for the last 50 years. To achieve those savings, we’ve proposed eliminating more than 200 federal programs. We’re freezing the salaries of hardworking civil servants for the next two years. We’re finding ways to save billions of dollars, of tax dollars, by selling, for example, 14,000 government properties that we don’t need anymore.
And that’s just a start. If we’re serious about tackling our long-run fiscal challenges, we’re going to have to cut excessive spending wherever we find it -– in defense spending, in spending on entitlements, spending through tax breaks and loopholes. And I’m going to be sitting down with Democrats and Republicans to figure out how we can reduce our deficits.
But I want everybody to understand, our job is not just to cut. Even as we find ways to cut spending, what we can’t do is cut back on investments like education that will help us create jobs and grow our economy. (Applause.) We can’t sacrifice your future.
Think about your family. Let’s say something tough happens -- somebody gets laid off in the family, or you have a medical emergency. If you’re a family that has to cut back, what do you do? First thing you do is you give things you don’t need. So you give up vacations. Maybe you eat out a little bit less. Maybe you don’t buy as many new clothes. Maybe you don’t buy that new car that you thought you needed. But the last thing you give up on is saving for your child’s college education. (Applause.) The last thing you give up on is making sure that your children have the books they need and the computers they need -- because you know that’s going to be the key to his or her success in life, over the long term.
Well, the same is true for our country. When we sacrifice our commitment to education, we’re sacrificing our future. And we can’t let that happen. Our kids deserve better. Our country deserves better.
And over the course of March, what we’re calling Education Month around the White House, I’m going to be traveling the country, and Arne is going to be traveling the country, and we’re going to be talking to parents and students and educators about what we need to do to achieve reform, promote responsibility, and deliver results when it comes to education. (Applause.)
And I decided to come here to Miami Central to kick off Education Month -- (applause) -- because you’re doing what I challenged states to do shortly after I took office, and that’s turning America’s lowest-performing schools around. This is something that hasn’t received as much attention as it should. But it could hardly be more important to our country.
Right now, there are about 2,000 high schools in America -– about 12 percent of the total number of high schools in America –- that produce nearly half of the young people who drop out of school. You’ve got 2,000 schools -- about half the dropouts come out of those 2,000 schools. And we know these schools are often found in rural areas or in big cities like Miami. Many of these schools have lots of Haitian Americans and African Americans, Latino and other minority students.
And Miami Central used to be one of these schools. Used to. (Applause.) But it’s important for us to remember where we’ve been so we know where we need to go. I mean, this used to be a place where the problems on the streets followed kids into the classrooms. It was hard for young people to learn; where the dream of college was out of reach for too many; where there was a culture of failure that brought everybody down.
Now, turning around these schools isn’t easy. A lot of people used to argue, well, all they need is more money. But money is not alone going to do the job. We also have to reform how things are done. It isn’t easy to turn around an expectation of failure and make that into an expectation of excellence. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things you can do. And there is always plenty of naysayers out there who will say it’s not even possible. Who say that turning around a failing school means just throwing good money after bad. Who say too many of these schools are beyond repair. Who say we ought to give up on those schools and focus on places that have more breaks and have a little more going for them.
Here’s what I say. I say I am not willing to give up on any child in America. (Applause.) I say I'm not willing to give up on any school in America. (Applause.) I do not accept failure here in America. (Applause.) I believe the status quo is unacceptable; it is time to change it. And it’s time we came together -- just like Jeb and I are doing today -– coming from different parties but we come together not as Democrats or Republicans, as Americans –- to lift up all of our schools -- (applause) -- and to prepare students like you for a 21st century economy. (Applause.) To give every child in America a chance to make the most of their God-given potential.
Now, the good news is we know what works. We can see it in schools and communities across the country every day. We see it in a place like Bruce Randolph School in Denver. This was rated one of the worst schools in Colorado three years ago but last May graduated 97 percent of its seniors. (Applause.) And by the way, most of them are the first in their family to go to college. (Applause.)
We can see it in Mastery Charter School in Philadelphia, where four times as many students are proficient in math, and violence is down 80 percent compared to just a few years ago. (Applause.)
And of course, we can see it right here at Miami Central. (Applause.) A little more than a decade ago, when the state exams started, Miami Central scored a D in each of its first five years. Then it scored an F in each of the five years after that. Halls were literally littered with garbage. One of the buildings here was called the Fish Bowl because it was always flooded. (Laughter.) In one survey, only a third of all students said they felt safe at school. Think about that -- only a third.
Today, Mrs. Turner, all the outstanding students here, all the students here, you’ve put those days behind you. (Applause.) You’ve put those days behind you. (Applause.) I mean, I know that -- I know you still face challenges. I know you still face challenges; things aren't perfect. But over the past five years, you started to excel academically. Performance has skyrocketed by more than 60 percent in math, about 40 percent in writing. (Applause.) Graduation rates went from 36 percent -- now they’re at 63 percent. And I expect them to be at 100 percent. (Applause.)
You are proving the naysayers wrong –- you are proving that progress is possible. It’s possible because of your principal; it’s possible because of all the great teachers that are going above and beyond for their students, including the Teach for America Corps members who are here today. (Applause.) We're proud of them. (Applause.) To all of the teachers here, I hope you will stay with the Miami Central family as long as you can –- (applause) -- because this community has already benefited so much from your teaching and your mentorship and your dedication.
You know, I was reading the other day an article -- this is just a couple days ago -- in The New York Times about how teachers were just feeling beat up, just not feeling as if folks understood how much work went into teaching and how dedicated they were to the success of their students. And so I want to be very clear here. We are proud of what you guys do each and every day. (Applause.) We are proud of what you do each and every day. (Applause.) We need to honor teachers.
AUDIENCE: Yes!
THE PRESIDENT: Countries that are successful right now academically, typically teachers are considered one of the top professions.
Now, let’s face it, I mean, we also have to make sure there’s accountability for our schools. And turning things around here meant replacing a principal and replacing some teachers. And that’s tough work. It shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. But your school did it the right way –- with a process that even had the support of teachers and their local unions, because you recognized that partnership among teachers and school administrators and the community, that’s the path to reform. It isn’t easy. But I want to thank the school board and the superintendent and the union for working together to do the right thing for your students. You guys deserve a lot of congratulations. (Applause.) We appreciate you. (Applause.) Progress has also been possible thanks to math and science coaches, and extra learning time in after-school, and Saturday school, and summer school. I didn’t get as much applause about that. (Laughter.) But it’s good for you guys to get more learning and be in the classroom more. You still have time for the video games. (Laughter.) You guys never catch a break -- you don’t even get snow days down here, do you? (Laughter.)
And you’ve got a technology program here that’s preparing kids for the manufacturing jobs of tomorrow. I saw some of the work that was doing -- that they were doing in this lab. It was outstanding stuff. And it matched up with -- when I go to factories all across America, you can’t work on a factory floor today if you don’t have training in computers and you have basic math skills and understand technology. Those are the jobs of tomorrow.
You’ve got an entrepreneurship program that’s helping students start their own businesses. And you have mentors from the local business community. You’ve set up a Parent Academy to make sure parents are meaningfully engaged in their children’s education -- (applause) -- because you can’t expect the schools to do everything; parents have to step up, too, and set high expectations. (Applause.)
I say this wherever I go -- when I hear people complaining about the schools, nothing we do at school will make a difference unless all of us parents step up at home -- (applause) -- and instill in our kids the self-confidence, but also self-discipline, and a work ethic that -- a work ethic that’s at the heart of success in school and in life. School is not supposed to be easy. Nothing worthwhile is easy. (Applause.) Nothing worthwhile is easy. (Applause.)
I mean, the football players understand that. I know training to be state champs can’t be easy. But why is it sometimes we think -- we expect people to be working out hard on the football field, and then suddenly everybody is surprised when you’ve got to work out hard in the math lab. (Applause.) Same principle applies. You’ve got to work hard to achieve your goals. (Applause.)
So outstanding teachers and principals, a common mission, a culture of high expectations -– that’s what it takes to turn a school around. That’s what accounts for progress here at Miami Central. And that’s why we are going to support you with what we call School Improvement Grants. You’re one of nearly a thousand schools across America that we’re helping turn around by spurring reform from the bottom up. The bottom up. (Applause.) And the approach that we’re taking with School Improvement Grants and school turnarounds is the same approach that we’re taking on all our education reform efforts. The idea is very simple. Instead of pouring money into a broken system, we launched a competition that we call Race to the Top. And it basically says to states: Prove that you are serious about reform.
We said to all 50 states, if you show the most innovative plans for improving teacher quality and student achievement, boosting low-performing schools, then we’ll show you the money. And for less than 1 percent of what we spend on education each year, Race to the Top has led 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning. And those standards weren’t developed by bureaucrats in Washington; Republican and Democratic governors across the country developed these reforms. That’s the kind of bottom-up approach that we need to follow. We want to work with Congress this year to fix the current education law and make sure that it focuses on responsibility and reform and results.
And because we know the single most important factor in a student’s success from the moment they step into school is the person standing in front of the classroom, we want to recruit and prepare a new generation of teachers, including 100,000 new math and science teachers over the next decade. We’ve got to get them in the classroom. (Applause.)
With all of these steps, I am confident that by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. That’s our goal. That's our goal. (Applause.) That's how we’ll out-educate other countries. That’s how we’ll out-compete with other countries tomorrow. That’s how we’ll win the future for the United States of America.
So I’m going to keep the pressure on everybody in Washington. I know Jeb and Superintendent and everybody here, you're going to stay focused on students in the Sunshine State. And I know that Ms. Turner, she’s not going to let up until Miami Central goes from that F-grade all the way up to an A-grade. Ms. Turner means business. (Applause.)
Mrs. Turner means business. You know, she has that nice pretty smile, and she’s all quiet. (Laughter.) But you can tell she’s like, “no, don't mess with me.” (Laughter.) That's right.
Of course, ultimately, Ms. Turner, she’d say for herself she’s not the only reason Miami Central has been making progress; she’s not the only reason you’re turning this school around. The most important reason is you, the students here at Miami Central. (Applause.) A few years ago, when it looked like the state might have to shut down Miami Central, the students took matters into their own hands. You took control of your own destiny. You said some things that are worth repeating. Here are some of the things that students said:
“We’re going to do more than pass the [state] test. We’re going to kill it.” (Applause.)
Quote -- “I don’t want my school to close. We can’t let that happen.”
“We really, really tried hard this year. We don’t give up.”
“If we were going to get through this successfully, we’ve got to come together as a student body.”
So that's what you guys did. You came together as a student body. You didn't give up. And that's why I’m going to be leaving here so full of hope. I’m full of hope about Miami Central’s future, I’m full of hope about America’s future, because I’m full of hope about your future.
And, Rockets, if you keep on reaching for success, and show the same passion, the same determination, the same hard work, the same devotion to excellence as you do, I’m confident we’re not only going to lift up our schools, we will produce the best-educated people in the world, our economy will grow, our country will prosper, and a new and better day will come for the American people.
Thank you, everybody. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
WEEKLY ADDRESS
White House, March 5, 2011:
Weekly Address: Cutting Waste, Investing in the Future
The President calls for Democrats and Republicans to come together on a budget that cuts wasteful spending without sacrificing job creating investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure.
Office of the Press Secretary, March 5, 2011:
Weekly Address: Both Parties Must Come Together on a Budget that Cuts Wasteful Spending Without Sacrificing Investments in the Future
WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Obama called for Democrats and Republicans to come together on a budget that cuts wasteful spending without sacrificing job-creating investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure. Noting that his administration has already proposed specific cuts that meet congressional Republicans halfway, he said that he is prepared to do more and that the job can only be finished by working out the differences and finding common ground.
I’m talking with you from Miami, Florida, where I’m visiting Miami Central High School, a school that’s turning itself around on behalf of its kids. And I came here with Jeb Bush, former governor of this state, because he and I share the view that education isn’t a partisan issue – it’s an American issue.
But in a larger sense, this is a moment when we’ve all got to do what the students and teachers are doing here. We’ve got to step up our game.
Our top priority right now has to be creating new jobs and opportunities in a fiercely competitive world. And this week, we received very good news on that front. We learned that the unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in nearly two years as our economy added another 222,000 private sector jobs last month.
Now, we have a lot more work to do, not just for the Americans who still don’t have a job, but for the millions more who still don’t have the right job or all the work they need to live out the American Dream. But the progress we’re seeing says something about the determination and ingenuity of our people and our businesses. What’s also helping to fuel this economic growth are the tax cuts that Democrats and Republicans came together to pass in December and I signed into law – tax cuts that are already making Americans’ paychecks bigger and allowing businesses to write off their investments, freeing up more money for job creation.
Just as both parties cooperated on tax relief that is now fueling job growth, we need to come together around a budget that cuts spending without slowing our economic momentum. We need a government that lives within its means without sacrificing job-creating investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure.
The budget I sent to Congress makes these investments, but it also includes a 5-year spending freeze, and it will reduce our deficits by $1 trillion over the next decade. In fact, the cuts I’ve proposed would bring annual domestic spending to its lowest share of the economy under any president in more than 50 years.
Over the last few weeks, Members of Congress have been debating their own proposals. And I was pleased that Democrats and Republicans in Congress came together a few days ago and passed a plan to cut spending and keep the government running for two more weeks. Still, we can’t do business two weeks at a time. It’s not responsible, and it threatens the progress our economy has been making. We’ve got to keep that momentum going.
We need to come together, Democrats and Republicans, around a long-term budget that sacrifices wasteful spending without sacrificing the job-creating investments in our future. My administration has already put forward specific cuts that meet congressional Republicans halfway. And I’m prepared to do more. But we’ll only finish the job together – by sitting at the same table, working out our differences, and finding common ground. That’s why I’ve asked Vice President Biden and members of my Administration to meet with leaders of Congress going forward.
Getting our fiscal house in order can’t just be something we use as cover to do away with things we dislike politically. And it can’t just be about how much we cut. It’s got to be about how we cut and how we invest. We’ve got to be smart about it. Because if we cut back on the kids I’ve met here and their education, for example, we’d be risking the future of an entire generation of Americans. And there’s nothing responsible about that.
We’ve got to come together to put America back on a fiscally sustainable course – and make sure that when it comes to the economy of the 21st century, our children and our country are better-prepared than anyone else in the world to take it on. Our future depends on it. That’s not a Democratic or a Republican challenge – that’s an American challenge. And I’m confident it’s one we’ll meet. Thanks for listening.
LONG-DISTANCE CALL
White House, March 4, 2011:
President Obama Calls the International Space Station
President Obama places a telephone call to the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station as Discovery conducts its final mission in orbit. The President congratulates the crews on their achievements in support of this unique orbiting research laboratory and express his gratitude for their dedication to the exploration of space.
White House Blog, March 6, 2011:
President Obama Makes Long Distance Call to Space
Posted by Damon Wells, Assistant Director of Space and Aeronautics in the Office of Science and Technology
On Thursday President Obama called the crews of the Space Shuttle Discovery and International Space Station (ISS) to congratulate them on their achievements and courage as they work and live in orbit around the Earth. This Space Shuttle mission, which is the last for the venerable Discovery orbiter before it is retired, includes tasks such as delivering the first human-like robot to space and transporting the last major structural element for the U.S. segment of the ISS. Picking up on these themes, the President asked about the work planned for the robot, known as Robonaut-2, or “R2.” After learning that R2 had not yet been unpacked after the long journey to space, he urged the crews to “let him stretch his legs pretty soon.” The product of a joint development effort between NASA and General Motors, R2 will stay aboard the ISS to demonstrate how dexterous robots of this nature can potentially work side by side with human crews in making repairs or conducting scientific tasks in space.
President Obama also commented on the unusual level of traffic at the ISS right now. For the first time, a spacecraft from every international partner that flies to the ISS is docked simultaneously at this orbiting facility, including vehicles from the United States, Russia, Europe, and Japan. The composition of the ISS crew reflects this level of partnership, as astronauts and cosmonauts from the United States, Russia, and Europe are currently living and working in the laboratory.
The President noted that this unprecedented partnership in space is something that each of our nations can be proud of, and he pointed to the Station as a metaphor for how the peoples of the world can learn to live and work together productively, not just in space but on the Earth too. The crew members enthusiastically agreed, remarking that the ISS may be one of the most complex and challenging construction efforts ever undertaken by humankind, with pieces constructed in different nations around the world and then launched above the Earth – and yet “everything fit,” they said, when it was assembled in orbit.
The ISS is indeed a remarkable facility, measuring over 350 feet in length (about the length of a football field, including the end zones) and set to have a mass of over 408,000 kilograms (or a weight of more than 900,000 pounds on Earth) when fully assembled. Flying a few hundred miles over the Earth, the ISS is traveling at some 17,500 miles per hour and makes a complete orbit about every 90 minutes. In terms of creature comforts, the complex now has more livable space inside than a conventional five-bedroom house and contains two bathrooms and a gymnasium. Despite those capacious dimensions, there is no room to spare. The ISS has been occupied continuously by human crews for over a decade (it is now carrying six crew members), and the activity level is high, with astronauts and cosmonauts working full time to assemble and maintain the facility while also conducting research in the microgravity environment of space with the goal of reaping benefits in areas such as medicine, materials science, and exploration technology development and demonstration. In part to allow more time for such ground-breaking activities, the Obama Administration recently extended the ISS initiative and plans to continue operations until at least 2020.
Yet beyond those complex goals, perhaps it is the “simplest” of things happening at the ISS that are the most remarkable: that every day, astronauts and cosmonauts are traveling above us in space, going about their duties, learning more about how to live, operate, and work in the unyielding yet beautiful space environment, residing in relative comfort inside a spectacular demonstration of technological ingenuity. As the President said on his call: “You are setting such a great example with your dedication, courage, and commitment to exploration. These are traits that built America.”
STATE UPDATE
Department of State, March 4, 2011:
Secretary Clinton Holds a Bilateral Meeting With Costa Rica Foreign Minister Castro
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Costa Rican Foreign Minister René Castro hold a joint press conference after their bilateral meeting at the U.S. Department of State, in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2011.
Department of State, March 4, 2011:
Secretary's Remarks With Costa Rican Foreign Minister Rene Castro After their Meeting
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good morning. It is a great pleasure for me to welcome Dr. Castro here today. I first met him when he was the incoming foreign minister, and he welcomed me to the Pathways for Prosperity Summit in San Jose. And it’s wonderful for me now to see you, Minister, here in Washington.
We view our relationship with Costa Rica as one of the most important that we have. In this region, the United States is reaching out to nations that share our values and our commitments to solving problems together with its strong democratic institutions, its trailblazing efforts to achieve sustainable, inclusive growth. Costa Rica is a success story, a kindred spirit, and a valued partner and friend.
The foreign minister and I had a very productive discussion about how we can work even more closely together, and we thank Costa Rica for its defense at the United Nations of human rights in Iran and North Korea, Libya, and elsewhere.
We’re also working together to take on the transnational drug trafficking organizations that destroy lives, destabilize societies, and prevent so many across our hemisphere from living up to their own God-given potential.
We are deepening our partnerships on regional security issues with Mexico, Central America, and Colombia, and Costa Rica plays a major role in that. We’re working to – work together on the Central America Regional Security Initiative. And I know from meeting with President Chinchilla that there is so much Costa Rica is already doing, but they face the same problems as their neighbors. And this is an issue that President Obama will be addressing when he is in the region on his trip later this month.
We are also very concerned about the dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. We want to see that resolved in a peaceful solution. We know that there will be a court decision coming from the International Court, and we certainly will continue to support the resolution in accordance with long-established agreements.
I also want to really plug what Costa Rica is doing in clean energy, scientific innovation, even aerospace. And I have to say, I just learned from the minister that they’re working on carbon dioxide-free products, like coffee. At the EARTH University, started 25 years ago with support from USAID, academics and scientists are working to combine clean energy innovation and cutting edge farming. And the United States is proud that, after 25 years and 1,600 hours in space with NASA, Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz is now leading Costa Rica’s efforts to develop an aerospace sector. Dr. Chang-Diaz is one of – is the first Latino to travel in space, and today his daughter is breaking down barriers in our country as the first Latina woman to serve in the Massachusetts State Senate.
I like bragging on Costa Rica, Minister.
FOREIGN MINISTER CASTRO: Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: And I look forward to continuing our close partnership as we work together to face the challenges of this time.
FOREIGN MINISTER CASTRO: Thank you very much, Madam Secretary. It is a pleasure for us to work with the U.S., a long-term friend, working in bilateral and regional matters, including the dreams for the future like the aerospace and the Green Growth that is one of the concepts for a sustainable world. We would like to keep doing so and improve the world as it is for working for peace, for a sustainable future, and against major threats like climate change, producing small efforts like this, the CO2 neutral coffee, that will show to other agricultural countries of the world that it is doable and that we can both share and work together for the longer term. Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, Minister.
MR. TONER: We have time for just two questions. David Gollust of Voice of America.
QUESTION: Madam Secretary, are you concerned about the situation in Libya developing into a long-term, violent civil war that could be disruptive to the region? And do you see any value in Venezuelan mediation on that? And very briefly, what do you hope Iran can do in the case of Robert Levinson. And finally, Alan Gross. (Laughter.) Alan Gross is going on trial in Cuba for seemingly innocuous activities that could get him 20 years in prison. If you could address those, please.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Dave, I like your one question. (Laughter.) First, on Libya, of course we are concerned with the ongoing violence and the actions that are initiated and perpetrated by Qadhafi and his regime against his own people. We are considering a number of ways that we can be of assistance with respect to that.
But we are now focused on the humanitarian situation. At President Obama’s direction, USAID has charted additional civilian aircraft to help people from other countries who have fled Libya to find their way home. We have two United States C-130s on their way to Tunisia right now. We have sent humanitarian assistance teams to both border regions with supplies, like water containers, blankets, medical supplies as well. We are closely coordinating with the United Nations and NGOs, and of course, the United States, as is usually the case, is providing a great deal of the resources to provide humanitarian assistance.
We know that there is a lot of confusion on the ground that is often difficult for us to sort through to get to what the actual facts are. But the United States remains deeply concerned about the welfare of the Libyan people, the Libyans and those who are fleeing Libya are the subject of our outreach. And wherever possible, we will be directly providing assistance. And we continue to consult with our NATO allies, our Arab partners, our UN mission, to determine what are productive, constructive ways forward to try to deal with the situation we see developing there.
With respect to the Robert Levinson case, let me say this is an ongoing investigation. I cannot comment any further. What is important is that we work to bring Bob Levinson home safely to his family in Florida. His family misses him dearly. He does have medical issues. And we continue to welcome any help that the Iranian Government can provide in determining Mr. Levinson’s welfare and whereabouts, so that he can be reunited with his family as soon as possible.
Now, we also, as you know, are deeply concerned about our American citizen, Alan Gross. He’s been unjustly jailed for far too long. We call on the Government of Cuba to release him, and unconditionally allow him to leave Cuba and return to his family, to bring an end to their long ordeal. It is a matter of great personal pain to his family and concern to the United States Government, so we’re going to hope that he will be also reunited soon.
MR. TONER: The next question goes to (inaudible).
QUESTION: Hi, good morning. I have one question for each.
Secretary Clinton, if I recall well, the President’s budget for 2012 keeps the funds for CARSI at $100 million. But the Central American governments say that an equivalent to the Merida Initiative for the region, for Central America, costs about $900 million. Is the U.S. considering to increase the funds for anti-narcotic efforts in Central America? And is the U.S. concerned that Central America reach a breaking point when law enforcement becomes impossible because of the narco-traffickers?
And Minister, I understand you wanted to discuss with the Secretary some complaints about Venezuela interventionism in Nicaragua, like sending money or doing some kind of efforts that your government considers interventionism. I just wanted to know whether you had discussed this issue and what came out of it. Thanks.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, first let me begin by saying that the United States is absolutely committed to helping in every way we can to improve the security situation in Central America, to support the efforts that governments are undertaking on their own behalf. And we are working through a number of different channels. There will be an OAS meeting about regional security in June. There will also be a SICA meeting this – later this spring as well. President Obama will address this issue when he goes to El Salvador.
We do have a commitment of significant dollars, but I have to tell you that it is our experience that dollars alone are not enough. Sometimes, the most cost effective way of helping a government protect itself is working to train police officers and other law enforcement officials to help the government better organize their assets, to work to support independent judiciaries, to assist in patrolling coastlines, to provide vetting programs so that funds coming in and out of countries can be traced. There are many things that can be done that we have learned from long experience, working in Colombia, working now in Mexico, that are important – border patrol and border surveillance, which we know is critical.
So I think that this is certainly about resources, and we are prepared to provide additional resources. But it’s also about supporting governments like Costa Rica’s, that has a track record of knowing how best to use those resources, and helping other countries apply resources in a more effective way to get the results they seek.
FOREIGN MINISTER CASTRO: First of all, Costa Rica is willing to work both at the bilateral and regional level with the U.S. against the organized crime. We are already doing so. We have to do much more. For example, we will be hosting in San Jose, Costa Rica at the end of March a multilateral meeting of seven countries already agreeing in working against organized crime in the Caribbean. Those seven countries are the U.S., France, Netherlands, Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, and Dominican Republic, and the UK already – the UK Government already stated that it will also join the effort. And this kind of multilateral approach is – will also help and will be seek.
In the case of the point of the Costa Rica and Nicaragua conflict, what we have said is that we are really concerned about $1.4 billion unaccounted that have been received by Nicaragua, and that are also being used today by the Ortega family to buy local TV stations and communications companies, hotels, banks, and invading Costa Rica. And we want the world to account that $1.4 billion. And we are asking the International Monetary Fund and other organizations in the international financial institutions to account this money. We want to see how it is used, where is it coming from, and that will be crucial for (inaudible).
QUESTION: Thank you so much, Minister.
FOREIGN MINISTER CASTRO: Thank you. Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much.
TREASURY NOTES
Department of the Treasury, March 4, 2011:
Snapshot from India: Horns, Bicycles and Banking Services
By Anil Kakani, Senior Advisor for India
We arrived in Ramnagar Village, about two hours outside of Pune, India, and were greeted by celebratory horns and a traditional welcome ceremony. Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs Lael Brainard traveled to Ramnagar to learn about innovative efforts in India to provide banking services to rural populations and to share ideas for partnership between India and the United States to address issues such as financial access and financial literacy.
In the village, she met with Mann Deshi Bank customers who lead self-help groups that have used loans from the bank to start small businesses and other activities. From these women and later in the day at a local vegetable market, she learned about Mann Deshi's E-card program, which allows women to make secure deposits through a bank agent who travels to their village with a handheld device.
Brainard also met 20 girls who received free bicycles from the Mann Deshi Foundation as part of a program that helps girls stay in school by providing a means of transportation. Additionally, she toured a mobile training center for computer skills and livelihood.
“Expanding financial access for rural and poor families is an area in which the United States and India can share best practices and learn from each other,” said Brainard. “The innovations used in mobile banking offer many interesting opportunities for expanding the reach of financial services, which can help families both in India and in many communities in the U.S. achieve their aspirations.”
During her visit to India, Under Secretary Brainard also toured a cell phone tower just outside of Delhi that fuses U.S. and Indian technology and financing in support of green energy. The tower’s power supply was recently adapted from a diesel generator to solar hybrid energy as part of a larger project that includes support by the International Finance Corporation and the Export-Import Bank. An American firm provided the solar cell technology and worked with Indian telecom and other private firms to make the transition – a great example of the growing opportunities for our business leaders to deliver new technologies in India and create high-quality jobs at home.
A relationship between the United States and India will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century, and this week’s visit was just one in a series to help translate our vision of partnership into reality in the financial realm.
Read more about Under Secretary Lael Brainard’s trip to India, including remarks at a Confederation of Indian Industry event and an Institute of International Finance event, and check out more photos.
Department of the Treasury, March 4, 2011:
The Real Impact of Terminating HAMP
By Steve Adamske, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department
Earlier this week, Treasury laid out the case for rejecting legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would terminate HAMP and other critical foreclosure prevention programs. Since then, the chorus of voices expressing opposition to this effort by some in Congress to deny critical assistance to struggling homeowners has continued to grow.
(On March 4), the New York Times editorial board came out against this damaging legislation, writing that it would result in “hundreds of thousands of additional foreclosures and steeper (housing) price declines.”
That editorial also makes crystal clear what those who are advocating for this legislation are really proposing. In the wake of the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression, they want to eliminate foreclosure prevention assistance for struggling homeowners and “replace it with nothing.”
That would mean that more Americans would lose their homes. It would mean that more families have to endure the painful process of foreclosure. It would mean that there would be more vacant homes in local communities that are already suffering. And it would mean that the still-fragile housing market and our nation’s broader economic recovery would be put at greater risk.
That’s simply the wrong choice. And, as the New York Times editorial board writes, if this legislation becomes law, “all Americans will pay the price.”
A letter that a broad coalition of community, consumer, and labor groups sent (March 3) to Congress outlines what that price would be:
“When families fail, communities fail. Families who have suffered foreclosure will feel the impact of foreclosure for years to come. Among many destabilizing consequences, they must confront their lives’ disruption, the loss of their credit standing, and the higher cost and limited availability of future credit. But the impact of the foreclosure crisis is being felt far beyond the immediate home and neighborhood. This crisis has devastated entire communities, which suffer from a loss of community members, the disruption of community institutions, a decline in property values, and an increase in vacant and abandoned properties. Virtually every community across the country is feeling the fallout in the form of falling tax revenues and growing budget crises. Now is not the time to cut the programs created to prevent the foreclosures that fuel these broader problems.”
As Congress considers denying critical assistance to struggling homeowners, it’s important that we remember the real impact that this legislation would have beyond the walls of the Capitol – in neighborhoods, towns, and cities across our country. HAMP was not designed to prevent every single foreclosure. But it’s clear that the House proposal to terminate that program would cause significant damage to a still-fragile housing market and millions of American families in local communities throughout our nation.
Department of the Treasury, March 4, 2011:
TARP Week in Review: $9 Billion in Repayments for Taxpayers
By Mark Paustenbach, a Spokesperson for the Office of Financial Stability
This was a big week for the TARP program. We saw two developments that will produce nearly $9 billion in repayments for taxpayers.
On Wednesday, AIG sold its common stock stake in MetLife for $6.3 billion. It will use the proceeds from that sale to help pay back its TARP investment.
This is the next chapter in AIG’s remarkable turnaround. Based on current market prices, Treasury expects to get back every single dollar that taxpayers invested in that company. That’s something that few would have thought possible during the dark days of the financial crisis.
Also on Wednesday, Treasury sold $2.7 billion in Ally Financial Trust Preferred Securities (TruPS) – an important step toward recovering the taxpayers’ investment in that company.
That transaction represented Treasury’s first sale of its Ally holdings. We invested a total of $17.2 billion in that company, which provides financing to auto dealers and consumers. This investment was part of the Obama Administration’s successful effort to prevent the collapse of the U.S. auto industry, which could have resulted in millions of jobs lost at the height of the financial crisis. We have now recovered a total of $4.9 billion including interest and dividends.
To date, taxpayers have already recovered more than two-thirds of the money disbursed for the TARP program through repayments, dividends, interest, and other income. And the nearly $9 billion we’ll receive from AIG and Ally will add to that total.
Despite this week’s good news, we’ve got more to do. Moving forward, we’ll continue working hard to wind down TARP, exit our investments in private companies, recover taxpayer dollars and reach eligible homeowners to give them every opportunity to avoid foreclosure.
JOB CREATION
Department of Labor, March 4, 2011:
Statement of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on February employment numbers
"Our nation's labor market improved notably in the month of February. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 192,000, and the unemployment rate decreased to 8.9 percent — exceeding the consensus forecast and adding 60,000 workers to the labor market. Today's numbers highlight steady, sustained and widespread job growth. The bottom line: The policies and programs of this administration are working.
"There is no doubt that the economy we preside over today is better than it was two years ago. An economy that was once shrinking is now growing again. We've seen private sector job growth for 12 straight months — adding 1.5 million jobs. And the unemployment rate has dropped nine-tenths of a percent in the last three months — a drop we haven't seen since the early 1980s. I feel very good about where we're heading.
"But we know there's still more work to be done for the millions of people who are either out of work or struggling to offset their rising costs with shrinking paychecks. It's why President Obama championed a tax package on behalf of American families last year. And it's why in the last couple of months our recovery has picked up the pace.
"In his State of the Union address, President Obama discussed the need to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build our global competitors in order to win the future.
"The president knows we must also break down the barriers that stand in the way of the success of American business. He signed export deals with India and China. He has recently finalized a U.S.-Korea trade agreement with unprecedented support from business and labor, and since taking office has signed 17 tax cuts for small businesses into law.
"We face big challenges, and fixing them will require a lot of hard work and sacrifice from everyone. But if we're willing to come together and find common ground on these issues, then we can win the future. We can lay the foundation for American competiveness for years to come and give this generation, and pass on to the next, the type of America that our parents and grandparents left for us.
"While the employment situation is clearly improving, my mission remains the same: to create good and safe jobs for everyone. It is what the American people are counting on and a goal we will continue to keep at the forefront of everything we do."
Bloomberg, March 4, 2011:
Solis Says 1.5 Mil Private Jobs Created in Past Year
U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis discusses the U.S. February employment report and the outlook for the economy. Solis speaks with Betty Liu on Bloomberg Television's "In the Loop."
Video unembeddable; watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/...
VETERANS AFFAIRS ROUNDUP
Department of Veterans Affairs, March 4, 2011:
Rural Transportation Program
A recently launched program at the Olin E. Teague Veterans' Center in Temple, Texas, is helping Veterans travel to VA medical facilities in comfortable vehicles -- from their doorstep and then back again.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Mrch 4, 2011:
Solar Energy Initiative
VA recently awarded nearly $78 million in solar energy contracts to support the President's initiative to make the Federal Government more "green," resulting in improved energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy.
Department of Veterans Affairs, March 4, 2011:
Troops To Teachers
An employment program designed to assist Veterans wanting to build careers in the classroom offers its participants financial assistance for college courses needed to become a teacher.