President Obama Announces New Diplomatic Efforts with the
Islamic Republic
of Iran
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/09/27/president-obama-announces-new-diplomatic-efforts-iran
Today, President Obama spoke with President Rouhani of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, the first communication between an American and
Iranian President since 1979.
The two leaders discussed ongoing efforts to reach an
agreement over Iran’s
nuclear program. In a statement this afternoon from the White House Briefing
Room, President Obama said that while “success is by no means guaranteed, I
believe we can reach a comprehensive solution.”
I’ve directed Secretary Kerry to continue pursuing this
diplomatic effort with the Iranian government.
We had constructive discussions yesterday in New
York with our partners -- the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia
and China
-- together with the Iranian Foreign Minister.
Going forward, President Rouhani and I have directed our teams to
continue working expeditiously, in cooperation with the P5-plus-1, to pursue an
agreement. And throughout this process,
we’ll stay in close touch with our friends and allies in the region, including Israel.
“Resolving this issue, obviously, could also serve as a
major step forward in a new relationship between the United States and the Islamic
Republic of Iran -- one based on mutual interests and mutual respect,”
President Obama said. “It would also help facilitate a better relationship
between Iran and the
international community, as well as others in the region -- one that would help
the Iranian people fulfill their extraordinary potential, but also help us to
address other concerns that could bring greater peace and stability to the Middle East.”
Today’s announcement comes on the same day as a major
diplomatic breakthrough on
Syria,
President Obama said this afternoon, as the UN Security Council will vote on a
Resolution that would require the Assad regime to put its chemical weapons
under international control, so they can ultimately be destroyed.
“This binding resolution will ensure that the Assad regime
must keep its commitments, or face consequences,” President Obama said.
President Obama also spoke about two issues looming closer
to home: the need for Congress to pass a budget, and pay our bills on time.
“If Congress chooses not to pass a budget by Monday -- the
end of the fiscal year -- they will shut down the government, along with many
vital services that the American people depend on,” President Obama said.
"They also have to vote within the next couple of weeks to allow the
Treasury to pay the bills for the money that Congress has already spent.”
My message to Congress is this: Do not shut down the
government. Do not shut down the economy. Pass a budget on time. Pay our bills
on time. Refocus on the everyday concerns of the American people.
Weekly Address:
In this week’s address, President Obama says that on October
1st, a big part of the Affordable Care Act will go live and give uninsured
Americans the chance to buy the same quality, affordable health care as
everyone else. It is also the day when some Republicans in Congress might shut
down the government just because they don’t like the law. The President urged
Congress to both pass a budget by Monday and raise the nation’s debt ceiling so
that we can keep growing the economy. He also said that those without health
insurance and those who buy it on the individual market should visit
HealthCare.gov to find out how to get covered on Tuesday.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/09/28/weekly-address-averting-government-shutdown-and-expanding-access-affordable-healthca?utm_source=snapshot&utm_medium=email&utm_content=092113-topper
Averting a Government Shutdown and Expanding Access to
Affordable Healthcare
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/09/28/weekly-address-averting-government-shutdown-and-expanding-access-afforda
Hi, everybody. This
Tuesday is an important day for families, businesses, and our economy.
It’s the day a big part of the Affordable Care Act kicks in,
and tens of millions of Americans will finally have the same chance to buy
quality, affordable health care as everyone else.
It’s also the day that a group of far-right Republicans in
Congress might choose to shut down the government and potentially damage the
economy just because they don’t like this law.
I’ll get to that in a second. But first – here’s what the Affordable Care
Act means for you.
If you’re one of the vast majority of Americans who already
have health care, you already have new benefits you didn’t before, like free
mammograms and contraceptive care with no copay, and discounts on prescription
medicine for seniors. You’ve already got
new protections in place too, like no more lifetime limits on your care, no
more discriminating against children with preexisting conditions like asthma,
or being able to stay on your parents’ plan until you turn 26.
That’s all in place and available to Americans with health
insurance right now.
If you don’t have health insurance, or if you buy it on the
individual market, then starting this Tuesday, October 1st, you can visit
HealthCare.gov to find what’s called the health insurance marketplace in your
state.
This is a website where you can compare insurance plans,
side-by-side, the same way you’d shop for a TV or a plane ticket. You’ll see new choices and new
competition. Many of you will see
cheaper prices, and many of you will be eligible for tax credits that bring
down your costs even more. Nearly 6 in
10 uninsured Americans will be able to get coverage for $100 or less.
If you’re one of the up to half of Americans with a
preexisting condition, these new plans mean your insurer can no longer charge
you more than anyone else. They can’t
charge women more than men for the same coverage. And they take effect January 1st.
So get covered at HealthCare.gov. And spread the word. These marketplaces will be open for business
on Tuesday, no matter what. The Affordable
Care Act is one of the most important things we’ve done as a country in decades
to strengthen economic security for the middle class and all who strive to join
the middle class. And it is going to
work.
That’s also one of the reasons it’s so disturbing that
Republicans in Congress are threatening to shut down the government – or worse
– if I don’t agree to gut this law.
Congress has two responsibilities right now: pass a budget
on time, and pay our bills on time.
If Congress doesn’t pass a budget by Monday – the end of the
fiscal year – the government shuts down, along with many vital services the
American people depend on. On Friday,
the Senate passed a bill to keep the government open. But Republicans in the House have been more
concerned with appeasing an extreme faction of their party than working to pass
a budget that creates new jobs or strengthens the middle class. And in the next couple days, these
Republicans will have to decide whether to join the Senate and keep the
government open, or create a crisis that will hurt people for the sole purpose
of advancing their ideological agenda.
Past government shutdowns have disrupted the economy. This shutdown would, too. At a moment when our economy has steadily
gained traction, and our deficits have been falling faster than at any time in
60 years, a shutdown would be a purely self-inflicted wound. And that’s why many Republican Senators and
Republican governors have urged Republicans in the House of Representatives to
knock it off, pass a budget, and move on.
This brings me to the second responsibility Congress
has. Once they vote to keep the
government open, they must also vote within the next couple weeks to allow the
Treasury to pay the bills for the money that Congress has already spent. Failure to meet this responsibility would be
far more dangerous than a government shutdown – it would be an economic
shutdown, with impacts not just here, but around the world.
Unfortunately some Republicans have suggested that unless I
agree to an even longer list of demands – not just gutting the health care law,
but things like cutting taxes for millionaires or rolling back rules on big
banks and polluters– they’ll push the button, throwing America into
default for the first time in history and risk throwing us back into recession.
I will work with anyone who wants to have a serious
conservation about our economic future.
But I will not negotiate over Congress’ responsibility to pay the bills
it has already racked up. I don’t know
how to be more clear about this: no one gets to threaten the full faith and
credit of the United States
of America just to extract ideological
concessions. No one gets to hurt our
economy and millions of innocent people just because there are a couple laws
you don’t like. It hasn’t been done in
the past, and we’re not going to start doing it now.
The American people have worked too hard to recover from
crisis to see extremists in their Congress cause another one. And every day
this goes on is another day that we can’t continue the work of rebuilding the
great American middle class. Congress
needs to pass a budget in time, pay its bills on time, and refocus on the
everyday concerns of the people who sent them there.
That’s what I’m focused on.
That’s what I’ll keep fighting for.
Thank you.