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Mostrando las entradas con la etiqueta President. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando las entradas con la etiqueta President. Mostrar todas las entradas
miércoles, 13 de enero de 2016
sábado, 9 de enero de 2016
For three years, Congress has failed the families of Newtown and victims of gun violence across the country.
While Congress, bitterly divided over partisan politics, has been stalled on this issue, the rest of America has continued to grieve. Countless families have felt the pain and heartache of losing a loved one to gun violence -- the same horrifying sting felt by those 26 families in Newtown on December 14, 2012.
I represent those families in Congress. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't witness their pain, or share their utter bewilderment in our failure to do something about it.
But we also remember the strength and resiliency of the Newtown community. We remember the teachers who protected those kids, who died shielding them with their bodies. We remember the first responders who rushed in to help. And we remember the millions of acts of kindness and gifts and phone calls that came in from the rest of the world.
This is the spirit behind President Obama's executive actions to reduce gun violence. He is doing what he can to prevent future gun violence because he knows that, as Americans, we cannot just close our eyes and blindly accept this as the status quo -- especially when it threatens the safety of our children.
Some of my colleagues in Congress have already raised their objections over these steps. Here's my message to them: Stop listening to the gun lobby. If they listened to gun owners instead, the vast majority of whom support sensible steps to keep guns out of the wrong hands, this debate would be over already.
We would have already acted. We would have passed universal background check legislation. We would have made straw purchasing and gun trafficking federal crimes to give law enforcement the tools to combat the flood of illegal weapons across state lines. We would have passed a ban on high-capacity magazines. We would have made it impossible for those on the FBI's terror watch list to purchase a deadly firearm. Instead, we've done nothing.
We should be listening to victims and families across the country who have been calling on us to act and do what we can to make the world safer for their children.
I'm proud to stand with President Obama on the actions he's taking to prevent gun violence. If you want to learn more, make sure to tune in to CNN tonight at 8:00pm ET, where President Obama will discuss the issue and take questions at a live town hall event.
But the President can only do so much -- it's up to Congress to do more. We must stand up to the gun lobby and do we what we can to prevent what happened in Newtown from ever happening again.
What greater responsibility do we have?
Thank you,
Chris Murphy
U.S. Senator
Cheshire, Connecticut
U.S. Senator
Cheshire, Connecticut
miércoles, 6 de enero de 2016
For nearly three years now, I've served as his Chief of Staff, where I’ve seen the challenges he's faced and the progress he's made in working with the American people to move our country forward. Together with the American people, we've accomplished a lot. But I can honestly say, in all my time here, I've never seen him more optimistic about the future. You'll see it yourself on Tuesday, January 12, when President Obama will deliver his final State of the Union Address. He took a few minutes to give you a look at how he's thinking about this year's address. Check it out: After all this time in the White House, here's what I know to be true: We still have work to do, but there's no question: Together, we've brought America back. The budget agreement we reached helps avoid senseless cuts and will unlock critical investments in our national defense as we battle terrorism. We have verifiably cut off Iran's paths to a nuclear bomb and fundamentally changed a policy in Cuba that failed to induce change for over half a century. We are producing more oil than we import, even as we develop more clean energy and continue to reduce harmful carbon pollution. Our high school graduation rates are the highest they've ever been, and last year, incarceration rates and crime rates both went down. All the while, unemployment is down to 5% while health insurance coverage is up to 90%, even as health care inflation has continued its historically slow increase. But what we have left to do is bigger than any one policy initiative or new bill in Congress. This is about who we are, where we're headed, and what kind of country we want to be. That's why, in his final State of the Union Address, President Obama's doing something different. There's a lot we have accomplished over the last seven years and plenty we can tackle in the year ahead -- but this year, the President will do what is rarely done in Washington: Think beyond the next election. Look for him to focus his address on the challenges -- and opportunities -- that will impact America for generations to come. Together, as a nation, we face some critical choices. If we make the right ones that build on the best of what our nation has to offer, we will leave our kids and grandkids an America that's never been stronger, fairer, and more prosperous. So here are a couple to-do's for you: Stay tuned for something new from the President -- both from the podium and online at WhiteHouse.gov. Make sure you follow @POTUS for updates from President Obama himself. Watch this video for a "SOTU" sneak peek. And RSVP to watch his final State of the Union Address on January 12. Trust me, you don't want to miss this. Denis Denis McDonough White House Chief of Staff
jueves, 19 de noviembre de 2015
The refugees that have captivated so much attention in the wake of Friday's attack are fleeing precisely the type of senseless slaughter that happened in Paris. To slam the door in their faces -- to decide not to help when we know that we can help -- would be a betrayal of our deepest values as Americans.
That's why we're going to do the right thing in the right way: protecting the American people even as we provide refuge to some of the world's most vulnerable people.
Here's what you need to know:
23,092
The number of Syrian refugees UNHCR has referred to the U.S. Refugees Admission Program.
7,014
The number of Syrians the Department of Homeland Security has interviewed since FY 2011.
2,034
The number of Syrian refugees who have been admitted since FY 2011.
0
The number of Syrian refugees resettled in the U.S. that have been arrested or removed on terrorism charges.
#RefugeesWelcome
Learn more about how America can ensure its own security while protecting refugees.
domingo, 8 de noviembre de 2015
When we have a level playing field, Americans out-compete anyone in the world. That’s a fundamental truth about our country.
But right now, the rules of global trade put our workers, our businesses, and our values at a disadvantage.
If you’re an autoworker in Michigan, the cars you build face taxes as high as 70 percent in Vietnam. If you’re a worker in Oregon, you’re forced to compete against workers in other countries that set lower standards and pay lower wages just to cut their costs. If you’re a small business owner in Ohio, you might face customs rules that are confusing, costly, and an unnecessary barrier to selling abroad.
The TPP is the highest standard trade agreement in history. It eliminates 18,000 taxes that various countries put on American goods. That will boost Made-in-America exports abroad while supporting higher-paying jobs right here at home. And that’s going to help our economy grow.
I know that past trade agreements haven’t always lived up to the hype. So I want to tell you a little bit about what makes this trade agreement so different, and so important.
The TPP includes the strongest labor standards in history, from requiring a minimum wage and worker safety regulations to prohibiting child labor and forced labor. It also includes the strongest environmental commitments in history, requiring countries in one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth to crack down on illegal wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and illegal fishing. These standards are at the core of the agreement and are fully enforceable -- which means we can bring trade sanctions against countries that don’t step up their game.
And for the first time ever, we’ll have a multilateral trade agreement that reflects the reality of the digital economy by promoting a free and open Internet and by preventing unfair laws that restrict the free flow of data and information.
In other words, the TPP means that America will write the rules of the road in the 21st century. When it comes to Asia, one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, the rulebook is up for grabs. And if we don’t pass this agreement -- if America doesn’t write those rules -- then countries like China will. And that would only threaten American jobs and workers and undermine American leadership around the world.
That’s why I am posting the text of this agreement here for you to read and explore.
There’s a lot in here, so we’ve put together summaries of each chapter to help you navigate what’s in the agreement and what these new standards will mean for you.
Read it all in full right here.
I know that if you take a look at what’s actually in the TPP, you will see that this is, in fact, a new type of trade deal that puts American workers first.
Take a look. Then make up your mind.
-- President Barack Obama
miércoles, 21 de octubre de 2015
When Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled 30 years into the future, we could only imagine the innovations we take for granted today -- new ideas and technologies that have completely changed the way we live, learn, and work.
Back then, if you’d have told me that I’d go from talking on a cell phone to talking cell biology, I would never have believed you. But today, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is helping to spearhead research collaborations to speed a future in which we can treat, cure, and even prevent brain diseases like Parkinson's.
So what’s possible in another 30 years? Call me an optimist, but I believe that by 2045 we’ll find the cures we seek -- especially because of all the smart, passionate people working to make it happen. Doctors and researchers around the world are developing new tools to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases, to tailor treatments -- for all illnesses -- through precision medicine, and to make life better for millions of people. This truly is the stuff of the future.
Today, on “Back to the Future Day,” I challenge you to imagine the world you want to live in thirty years from now. The White House is hosting a series of online conversations with innovators across the country all day long. Check it out and add your voice here.
We can't all be brain scientists, but all of us can get involved. One reason Parkinson’s research has come so far in the past 15 years is that people and families living with the disease have stepped up as advocates and innovators themselves, working to build the future we all want.
Together, we’ll make neurological illness a thing of the past.
And if we all eventually get hoverboards, well -- that's a bonus.
jueves, 1 de octubre de 2015
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viernes, 25 de septiembre de 2015
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jueves, 24 de septiembre de 2015
Tune in at 9:00 a.m. to watch President Obama welcome His Holiness Pope Francis to the White House.
You can watch live right here.
During this historic event the Pope will give the first address of his three-city tour of the United States, and one of the few he will deliver in English.
It's the biggest state arrival of this Presidency. Fifteen thousand people will crowd the South Lawn. Tens of thousands more will line the streets.
This is Pope Francis' first trip to the United States, and he's starting it right here in Washington, DC. For more information on the Pope's visit, follow along atWH.gov/PopeVisit.
martes, 22 de septiembre de 2015
Heading into the unknown…
Almost everything we know about living in space ends at six months. Now that I am at the midpoint of my mission, heading into the second half of one year in space aboard the International Space Station, I am looking forward to exploring the science of this uncharted territory and stepping into the unknown.
My Russian colleague Mikhail Kornienko and I are living in space for one year to push the edge of our scientific understanding. To add in another dynamic, researchers are conducting “twin studies” to compare the subtle effects and changes in spaceflight as compared to Earth by studying my twin brother and I, two individuals who have almost identical genetics, but are in different environments for one year. We hope that the knowledge gained on this mission will benefit the Earth and that the data collected will help send humans to new destinations, supporting the next generation of space exploration.
Whether it is living in low Earth orbit for one year or a two year mission to the Red Planet, I have learned that human potential is limitless and we should never stop pushing the boundaries of exploration.
Thank you for supporting me and joining me on this mission. I am posting on social media with the hope that I can bring all of you on Earth along for the ride. I want to inspire you to reach further for your dreams and know that anything is possible.
The people who make International Space Station operations possible, the flight controllers watching over our ship 24-7-365, and the researchers analyzing the data we get back have invested their careers and lives to this mission to serve the United States and inspire the next generation.
I have traveled 72 million miles around Earth in the past 171 days -- flying at 17,500mph -- and have had the opportunity to experience our home planet from an incredible perspective. When I come home in March, I will have orbited the Earth 5,472 times traveling 141.7 million statute miles and spent more time in space than any U.S. astronaut in history. Please join me for the next six months of my mission -- as I reach these milestones and continue NASA’s work off the Earth, for the Earth.
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly takes a selfie with the Bahamas from 250 miles above Earth aboard the International Space Station.
Please continue to follow the mission at www.nasa.gov/station and on social media at @StationCDRKelly on Twitter and Instagram, NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly on Facebook and using #YearInSpace.
Sincerely,
Scott
Scott Kelly
NASA Astronaut
miércoles, 16 de septiembre de 2015
Yesterday, a 14-year-old student named Ahmed Mohamed was arrested for bringing his engineering project (an electronic clock) to his high school. Officials mistook it for a bomb.
When I was growing up, my friends and I were fortunate to know how to use soldiering irons, circuit boards, and even a bit of duct tape when nothing else worked. We played, experimented, and learned through trial and error.
The best part? When I brought my work in, my teachers loved it. And that fed my desire to embrace science, engineering, and technology. That learning to play with technology -- that curiosity -- has helped me on every step of my journey so far.
That's why I’m so proud to see people across the country standing up for the innovation and intellectual curiosity that Ahmed has shown.
That includes the President.
And he's not the only one. Today, Dr. John Holdren -- the President's top science advisor -- reached out to Ahmed and personally invited him to come to join us at the White House Astronomy Night on October 19, where we'll bring together scientists, engineers, and visionaries from astronomy and the space industry, along with students and teachers. They'll share their experiences and spend an evening stargazing from the South Lawn.
We think Ahmed will fit right in.
That's because we think it's really important that kids with a passion for science and technology have the opportunities they need to reach for the stars (sometimes, that's literal).
It's why the President has prioritized broadening participation in science and technology to a more diverse pool of students.
It's why we regularly host kids from across the country at the White House Science Fair.
It's why we believe that the National Maker Faire is so important and why we are a nation of makers.
And it's why we're dedicated to telling the untold stories of some of the brightest minds in our country -- to inspire young people to follow in their footsteps.
Ahmed, you inspire us -- and we can't wait to meet you.
D.J.
DJ Patil
U.S. Chief Data Scientist
The White House
@DJ44
P.S. -- Don’t forget your NASA shirt. I’ll be wearing mine.
domingo, 13 de septiembre de 2015
I was four years into my service in the Marine Corps, and as is the case with most of our young enlisted military members, I had enormous responsibilities for a twenty-two year-old. Grateful for the opportunity to serve, and thankful for the experiences the Marine Corps gave to me, I left active duty in 2006, excited at the prospect of new cities, new jobs, and the chance to go to college.
The Marine Corps gave me excellent job skills, world-class leadership training, and a ton of willpower and ambition. Still, academia was somewhat intimidating. Trading a base for a campus, and military leaders for professors felt like a huge step. To make the transition a bit easier I moved back to my home state of Florida, and found Valencia Community College -- where I was able to use my GI Bill education benefits to attend for free.
I found diverse classrooms full of people with varying backgrounds and experiences -- from kids straight out of high school to seasoned professionals pursuing a career change. I fit right in. Community colleges were made for people like me; they're designed to take persons from all walks of life and help them embark on their next adventure. People like Dr. Brooks and Professor Zuromski made me love learning and sparked a hunger for knowledge I didn’t know I had.
More Americans should have this opportunity. Today, the President is announcing a campaign called “Heads Up,” and the idea is simple: Let’s make two years of community college free for anyone willing to work for it.
Watch the President announce it -- and ask Americans to join the movement.
At Valencia, I wasn’t just in the classroom -- I was leading fellow students in groups like Model UN, where I studied diplomacy and foreign affairs. I was an editor for The Phoenix, Valencia’s annual literary magazine, where I honed my writing skills and learned the value of creative expression. While I was there I also earned my place in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. It was all a valuable part of my academic, personal, and professional growth.
Valencia Community College also prepared me to tackle classes at one of America’s oldest and most rigorous academic institutions -- Columbia University, where I finished my undergraduate degree. I majored in philosophy, a discipline I wasn’t exposed to until I took Professor Wallman’s amazing Intro to Philosophy class at Valencia. Not only did community college make Columbia possible for me, it gave me the tools to experience it to its fullest measure.
Today I work at The White House as an Associate Director in the Office of Public Engagement. I have the privilege of being the President’s liaison to military service members, veterans, and their families. I can’t express in one message how grateful I am to have been given this opportunity, and how fulfilling it is to work with, and for, a group as deserving as they are.
It’s hard for me to fully grasp the incredible things that have happened in my life in the eight years since I first stepped foot on a community college campus, but I feel confident that taking that step made it all possible.
More people should have that chance. That’s what the President thinks, and I agree.
Up until now I’ve shared my story with a largely military and veteran audience, encouraging those with the ambition to take advantage of their education benefits because you never know where it’s going to lead. I’m sharing my story with you now because we have the chance to make sure that everyone has the opportunity I did. We should do what we can to ensure everyone in America who wishes, has the chance to go to community college for free.
Thanks for listening.
Sincerely,
Ryan Robinson
Associate Director of Public Affairs
The White House
Associate Director of Public Affairs
The White House
martes, 8 de septiembre de 2015
Here's something a lot of people don't realize:
Just five years before we moved into the White House, Michelle and I were still paying off our student loans.
Which means that, as a student, I knew how it felt both to dream of a fine education and to worry about paying for it. Decades later, as President, I know that our country can't afford for talented young Americans to miss out on a higher education.
College is one of the most important investments students can make in their future. It's also one of the most important investments our country can make in our workforce -- as every one of us is acutely aware, equipping Americans with the knowledge and skills they need to compete and win in our global economy will continue to be the key to our resurgence.
That's why we're continuing to work to make the dream of college real for more of America's students.
And we're making progress. We've increased investments in college scholarships like Pell Grants and the American Opportunity Tax Credit. We're making student loans more affordable by cutting interest rates and capping payments at 10 percent of income. We're promoting competition and innovation to bring costs down for students and their families.
I’m proud of that progress. But our bright young people considering college need to hear from each other, too. And so, as everyone heads back to school over the next several days, you'll be hearing from your fellow Americans -- at various stages in their own educations -- about what's worked for them. They'll share their own advice with you, and your kids.
Meanwhile, senior officials from across the Administration will be hitting the road to discuss our plans to create more affordable, quality choices for students -- such as community colleges and apprenticeships -- and to give students the time and information they need to make good choices.
Tomorrow, I'll travel with my favorite community college professor -- Dr. Jill Biden -- to Macomb County Community College, where I first laid out my community college plan six years ago. While in Michigan, I'll make an announcement about apprenticeships, a crucial tool we're using to rebuild an American workforce that is the envy of the world. And I'll talk about the progress around the country in making community college free, and what more we need to do to make it available for more students.
Next Monday, I'll meet up with Secretary Duncan -- who will be traveling the country in a bus all week long -- at a high school in Des Moines, Iowa where I'm looking forward to having a conversation with juniors and seniors gearing up for college as well as with their parents who, in many cases, are trying to figure out how to pay for it. And on Thursday, September 17th, as part of her Reach Higherinitiative, Michelle will head to a local community college to check out their career and technical programs.
You'll be able to follow along with all of it right here.
The students I hear from every day remind me that if we can come together around the idea that every American -- no matter where they grew up, or how much money their parents have -- deserves a quality education and a shot at success, then we can build a future as remarkable as our past.
Stay tuned -- you'll be hearing from us (and one another) again soon.
President Barack Obama
domingo, 6 de septiembre de 2015
I'm proud and happy I got to do it -- because some pretty extraordinary people live up there.
I visited Dillingham -- a small, vibrant coastal city that sits on Nushagak Bay, at the heart of the Bristol Bay salmon-fishing district. I had the opportunity to stand on a beach and watch subsistence fisherman pull their catches up out of the water. If you've eaten wild salmon, there's a good chance it came from here -- and having sampled some pretty outstanding salmon jerky, I can attest that it's delicious.
It was fascinating to see fishing skill that has been built up over hundreds of years at work -- and a reminder that the beautiful waters of this region have come to house a massive economic engine. The region provides 40 percent of America's wild-caught seafood, and helps support a $2 billion commercial fishing industry whose jobs extend beyond Alaska's borders. That's why we took action last December to shut off oil and gas exploration in this area indefinitely -- and why I'll continue to support efforts to protect this community as long as I'm President.
I was proud to take action last year to protect Bristol Bay and honored to meet folks today who depend on it. And don't miss the salmon jerky if you come visit.
At Dillingham Middle School, I got to watch (and dance with) a group of young people performing a traditional Yup'ik dance -- a cultural tradition which spans millennia. And I rode with Robin, a lifelong Dillingham resident, who described to me how the frozen tundra of his youth has transformed into scrub forest in just a few decades as a result of a warming climate.
From there, it was on to Kotzebue -- a town of about 3,000 26 miles above the Arctic Circle. The town's main roadways, the community's blood line, runs right above the Kotzebue Sound, making it very vulnerable to coastal erosion and the intense arctic storms that can raise the water levels much higher than normal high tides. After speaking to folks at the local high school, I got a chance to take a look at the Kotzebue Shore Avenue Project -- made of thousands of feet of roadway, sheet pile, and armor stone -- which has protected the roadway and was paid for, in part, with federal transportation funds. It's a reminder of exactly why we fight so hard for infrastructure spending. It's for communities like these.
From there it was back to Anchorage, and we'll be departing for the mainland in the next few hours.
It's hard to believe this trip is already coming to a close. Over the course of the past three days, from the decks of Coast Guard cutters and the edges of ice fields, I've had the opportunity to see some wild and beautiful things in Alaska -- and I've enjoyed sharing them with the rest of the country.
But a very serious reality lies within those breathtaking sights: And that's the fact that this state's climate is changing before our eyes.
A couple of days ago, I stood on rock where, just ten years ago, there was a glacier. Yesterday, I flew over Kivalina Island, an Arctic town that's already losing land to the sea from erosion and further threatened by sea-level rise. I've seen shores that have been left battered by storm surges that used to be contained by ice. And now, that ice is gone.
This is Kivalina Island, an Arctic town that's already receding into the ocean because of rising sea levels. For many Alaskans, it’s no longer a question of if they have to relocate – but when. There aren’t many other places in America that have to deal with questions of relocation right now. But there will be. What’s happening here is America’s wake-up call.
When it comes to climate change, I believe there's such a thing as being too late. And that moment is almost here.
The Alaskans I met with these past three days know that better than anybody.
And so as I close out this travelogue, it's my hope that decades and decades from now, when this generation has long since left the planet, we will have acted decisively. We will have left those generations with a planet they can continue to thrive on.
We will have lived up to our own words -- that our best days are still ahead.
President Barack Obama
martes, 1 de septiembre de 2015
The President is touring through Alaska this week, meeting with residents of the state and seeing the effects of climate change on the ground. He's sharing what he sees along the way. Read his entry from yesterday below, and follow along with the trip here.
Yesterday I touched down in Alaska for a three-day tour -- a trip I've been looking forward to for a long time. Not only because Alaska is one of the most beautiful places in a country that's full of beautiful places -- but because I'll meet with everyday Alaskans about what's going on in their lives, and I expect to learn a lot.
Alaska is a region defined by its Native population tribes that make up a large portion of the state's population and have been here for thousands of years. People who, through their sheer ingenuity, found a way to wrangle the elements and stake out lives for themselves.
On the flight in, I had a great view of one of Alaska's most beautiful sights -- Denali.
It's a new and ancient name all at once. In fact, just today, we renamed Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America, by restoring its native name: Denali, which means "the high one."
Alaskans are already living with the effects of climate change.
More frequent and extensive wildfires. Bigger storm surges as sea ice melts faster. Some of the swiftest shoreline erosion in the world -- in some places, more than three feet a year. Alaska's glaciers are melting faster, too -- threatening coastal communities, tourism and adding to rising seas.
Climate change is already affecting the salmon stock that generations of Natives have relied on as an integral part of their lives. So my Administration is taking new action to make sure Alaska Natives have direct input into the management of Chinook salmon stocks. They've taken care of the salmon population for centuries and there's no reason they shouldn't now.
If we do nothing, Alaskan temperatures are projected to rise between six and twelve degrees by the end of the century -- changing all sorts of industries forever. This is all real. This is happening to our fellow Americans right now.
I'm looking forward to talking to Alaskans about how we can work together to make America the global leader on climate change around the globe.
And I'll be sharing my experiences with you along the way because I want to make sure you see what I'm seeing.
And when you do, I want you to think about the fact that this is the only planet that we've got -- and we've got to do everything we can to protect it.
President Barack Obama
martes, 25 de agosto de 2015
· Por parte del gobierno de México asistieron los titulares de SCT, SHCP y SRE
· La obra es muestra de la cooperación económica entre México y Estados Unidos: GRE
· Asiste a la ceremonia Penny Pritzker, Secretaria de Comercio de Estados Unidos
· El cruce triplicará la velocidad de los trenes y el crecimiento de la carga de 12 a 24 millones de toneladas anuales
Con la presencia de los secretarios de Comunicaciones y Transportes, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza; de Relaciones Exteriores, José Antonio Meade; de Hacienda y Crédito Público, Luis Videgaray y de la Secretaria de Comercio de Estados Unidos, Penny Pritzker se inauguró el cruce ferroviario internacional Matamoros-Brownsville que triplicará la velocidad de los trenes y el crecimiento de la carga de 12 a 24 millones de toneladas anuales.
En una ceremonia efectuada en las instalaciones de la Estación Ferroviaria Oeste en esta ciudad, el Secretario Ruiz Esparza destacó que esta gran obra –primer puente ferroviario internacional que se construye en más de un siglo- es resultado de la agenda bilateral suscrita por los presidentes Peña Nieto y Barak Obama para impulsar la cooperación económica entre México y Estados Unidos.
“Nuestros gobiernos hacen historia a través de la inauguración del puente ferroviario binacional Matamoros-Brownsville. Se trata, sin duda alguna, de una obra que marca una nueva era en la relación comercial y social de nuestras naciones” indicó, al señalar que tuvieron que pasar más de cien años para que se lograra la construcción de un puente para ferrocarril entre ambos países.
Ruiz Esparza destacó que son ocho puentes los que se construyen en la frontera norte para mejorar el intercambio comercial entre México y Estados Unidos.
La relevancia de las relaciones comerciales entre los dos países, dijo el titular de la SCT, es que cada minuto se realizan operaciones comerciales por cerca de un millón de dólares y varios millones de empleos dependen del comercio entre ambos. “Nuestra frontera común de 3,140 kilómetros es la más transitada del mundo. Un millón de personas y trescientos mil vehículos la cruzan diariamente” precisó.
Esta obra fue incorporada en las discusiones de los mecanismos de concertación binacional como son el Diálogo Económico de Alto Nivel (DEAN) y la Declaración para la Administración de la Frontera en el Siglo XXI, instancias impulsadas por los presidentes Enrique Peña Nieto y Barak Obama, en las cuales sus administraciones colaboran conjuntamente para favorecer el intercambio comercial y la seguridad.
En el puente y el libramiento internacional se invirtieron más de mil millones de pesos en la construcción de distintas obras de infraestructura: un libramiento ferroviario que tiene cerca de 11 km de longitud, un patio de maniobras con más de 20 kilómetros de vías internas y una capacidad de almacenaje para 608 unidades de tren; oficinas administrativas e instalaciones de inspección y un puente internacional con una longitud de 827 metros en la parte mexicana.
A partir de ahora, dijo el Secretario de Comunicaciones y Transportes, se reducirán los tiempos de recorrido y costos de operación en el transporte de bienes, y aumentará con ello la eficiencia y capacidad del transporte ferroviario en beneficio de las crecientes relaciones comerciales entre ambos países.
El Secretario de la SCT señaló que en 2014 el comercio total entre ambos países fue de más de 500 mil millones de dólares, es decir, cerca de mil 300 millones de dólares al día, lo que implica que el comercio bilateral se incrementó cerca de 500% desde 1993. Aproximadamente el 80% de nuestras exportaciones se envían a territorio estadounidense y a su vez, Estados Unidos es el primer proveedor de México con una participación del 50%. El 80% del comercio bilateral se realiza por vía terrestre y ferroviaria.
En su intervención, Ruiz Esparza dijo que en el actual panorama internacional la relación México-Estados Unidos adquiere fundamental relevancia. “A través de la agenda bilateral establecida en 2013 es importante avanzar en las prioridades económicas y comerciales, establecidas conjuntamente, para continuar promoviendo el crecimiento económico mutuo, la generación de empleos y la competitividad global México y Estados Unidos” abundó.
Los concesionarios de la obra que duplicará el flujo de trenes de 7 a 14 por día y permitirá contar con los medios necesarios para transportar más rápido y seguro la producción en beneficio del comercio binacional son Kansas City Southern de México y Unión Pacific en Estados Unidos.
A la fecha, además del puente que se inauguró hoy, la SCT concluyó y puso en operación el segundo cuerpo del puente internacional “Los Tomates-Veterans” que conecta a Matamoros y Brownsville y disminuye de manera significativa los tiempos de cruce de la frontera.
Asimismo, el próximo mes se concluirá la construcción del puente internacional Guadalupe-Tornillo en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Es una nueva opción de cruce para vehículos de carga que permitirá reducir los tiempos de espera y en diciembre se concluye la conexión aeroportuaria de Tijuana, la cual permitirá, sin salir del aeropuerto, hacer más rápido y eficiente el tránsito internacional de pasajeros.
Ruiz Esparza anunció que a fin de año la SCT iniciará la ampliación del cruce Nogales-Mariposa en Sonora, principal punto de salida de productos perecederos hacia Estados Unidos y que ambos gobiernos amplían y modernizan el cruce internacional Tijuana-San Ysidro, en Baja California, el más concurrido del mundo.
A la ceremonia de inauguración del cruce ferroviario Matamoros-Brownsville asistieron el gobernador de Tamaulipas, Egidio Torres Cantú y la Subsecretaria de Transporte de la SCT, Yuriria Mascott Pérez, el Director de Desarrollo Carretero Carlos Bussey, el Director de Transporte Ferroviario Guillermo Nevárez y el Director General de Vinculación, Mario de la Vega.
martes, 11 de agosto de 2015
President Obama just announced America's Clean Power Plan -- the biggest and most important step our country has taken in the fight against climate change.
Our power plants are responsible for about a third of America's carbon pollution -- more than our cars, airplanes, and homes combined -- and that pollution is fueling climate change. But until now, there have never been federal limits on how much carbon pollution existing power plants can generate.
The Clean Power Plan sets the first-ever carbon pollution standards for these power plants, while providing states and utilities with the flexibility they need to meet those standards.
Get the facts on the Clean Power Plan at WhiteHouse.gov/Climate-Change.
You've heard the numbers by now: 2014 was the planet's warmest year on record. Fourteen out of the 15 warmest years on record fell within the first 15 years of this century. Earth's current levels of carbon dioxide, which heats up our atmosphere, are the highest they've been in 800,000 years.
We can see the effects of the changing climate in our everyday lives. Our summers are hotter. Our droughts are deeper. Our wildfire seasons are lasting longer. Our storms are more severe. And these disasters are becoming more frequent, more expensive, and more dangerous.
But as the President said today, "There is such a thing as being too late when it comes to climate change."
That's why he directed the Environmental Protection Agency in 2013 to tackle the issue of carbon pollution from our power plants -- and today's plan sets the first-ever nationwide limits on this pollution.
By 2030, this new plan will reduce carbon pollution from our power plants by 32 percent from 2005 levels. In total, it will keep 870 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution out of the atmosphere -- the equivalent of taking 166 million cars off the road, or cutting every ounce of emissions due to electricity from 108 million American homes.
Because of this plan and other steps we've taken to combat climate change, we'll reduce premature deaths from power plant emissions by nearly 90 percent by 2030, and we'll see 90,000 fewer asthma attacks among our children each year.
Combined with more investments in clean energy, smarter investments in energy efficiency, and a global climate agreement by the end of this year, we can slow -- and maybe eventually stop -- the harm we've inflicted on our climate over the past century.
Visit WhiteHouse.gov/Climate-Change to find out more about the Clean Power Plan.
The U.S. and our international partners have secured the strongest nuclear arrangement ever negotiated. Thanks to the nuclear deal -- formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- the world can verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
It's an historic deal. It's vital to our national security and that of our allies, like Israel. It's also very detailed and can seem a bit complicated. So if you're looking to dive deep into the details, here are five things you should explore to better understand why this deal will ensure Iran's nuclear program will remain exclusively peaceful moving forward.
Watch This: President Obama's speech at American University
Fifty-two years ago, President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at American University on the importance of peace in the nuclear age. This week, President Obama returned there to do the same. He outlined exactly what's in the Iran deal and what's at stake should Congress reject it.
Take a look -- it's worth the watch:
Print This: A packet of everything on the Iran deal
Looking for a deep dive into the specifics of the JCPOA? Want to know what security officials, nuclear scientists, and other experts have to say about it?
Peruse this packet of information on the details of the Iran deal online, or print it and take it with you.
Share This: A few FAQs on the Iran deal
As the President has said, there's a lot of misinformation and falsehoods out there about what exactly is in the deal and how it will work.
Check out WhiteHouse.gov/Iran-Deal to get the answers you're looking for -- and a lot more on how this deal blocks all of Iran's pathways to a bomb.
Read This: The enhanced text of the Iran deal
You can read all 159 pages of the Iran deal with comments from the people who negotiated it and who will implement it.
Find it on Medium -- then share it with everyone who wants to dig into the specifics of the way the deal provides unprecedented transparency to monitor Iran's nuclear fuel cycle, the robust verification regime, and more.
Follow This: @TheIranDeal
Want updates on the Iran deal in realtime?
Follow @TheIranDeal for live fact-checks, news updates, and exclusive insights on the significance of this historic deal -- along with the next steps we need to take to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and avoid another conflict in the Middle East.
As Congress moves through its 60-day review period of the deal, stay tuned for more updates on this important diplomatic achievement.
viernes, 7 de agosto de 2015
Every year, I head back to the birthplace of a new America -- Selma, Alabama -- where a determined struggle for voting rights transformed our democracy 50 years ago.
On March 7, 1965, Hosea Williams and I led a band of silent witnesses, 600 nonviolent crusaders, intending to march 50 miles to Montgomery -- Alabama's capital -- to demonstrate the need for voting rights in America.
At the foot of the bridge, we were met by Alabama state troopers who trampled peaceful protestors with horses and shot tear gas into the crowd. I was hit on the head with a nightstick and suffered a concussion on the bridge.
I thought that was going to be my last demonstration. I thought I might die that day.
John Lewis and other peaceful protestors clash with state troopers at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, March 7, 1965.
We knew the dangers that lay ahead, but we marched anyway hoping to usher in a more fair society -- a place where every American would be able to freely exercise their constitutional right to vote, and each of us would have an equal voice in the democratic process.
We knew that standing up for our rights could be a death warrant. But we felt it would be better to die than to live with injustice.
When President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, it was a great day. The Act made the ballot box immediately more accessible to millions of Americans of every race, gender, region, economic status, and national origin. It has been called the most effective legislation of the last 50 years.
But just two years ago, the Supreme Court struck a blow at the heart of the Voting Rights Act, nullifying a key provision that had curbed discriminatory voting rules and statutes from becoming law. As soon as the Court's decision was announced, states began implementing restrictive voting laws.
While some states are changing laws to increase the number of Americans who are able to participate in our democracy, by increasing early voting days and making it easier for people to cast a ballot, far too many states are passing new laws that make it harder and more difficult to vote.
Early voting and voter registration drives have been restricted. Same-day voting has been eliminated in some cases. Strict photo identification laws have been adopted, and improper purges of the voting rolls are negating access to thousands, perhaps millions, who have voted for decades.
That's why people are still marching for this cause today. Even as we speak, the NAACP is leading a 40-day, 40-night march from Selma to Washington, D.C. in support of a number of issues, including the issue of voting rights.
As citizens, it is our duty to make sure that our political process remains open to every eligible voter, and that every citizen can freely participate in the democratic process.
And when it comes time to get out and vote -- we have to do so. The right to vote is the most powerful nonviolent, transformative tool we have in a democracy, and the least we can do is take full advantage of the opportunity to make our voices heard.
Despite the challenges, I am still hopeful -- but we must remain determined. Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each and every one of us, each generation, must do our part to help create a more perfect union.
jueves, 23 de julio de 2015
In 1972, when NASA's Apollo 17 astronauts first captured an entire hemisphere of our planet, we were treated to such a view. The Blue Marble, it was called. The Space Program's unprecedented images of Earth compelled us all to think deeply about our dependence on nature and the fate of our civilization.
Of course, at the time, we had other distractions. Between 1968 and 1972, the United States would experience some of its most turbulent years in memory, simultaneously enduring a hot war in Southeast Asia, a Cold War with the Soviet Union, the Civil Rights Movement, campus unrest, and assassinations. Yet that's precisely when we voyaged to the Moon, paused, looked back, and discovered Earth for the first time.
The year 1970 would celebrate the first Earth Day. In that same year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were formed with strong bipartisan support. In 1972, the pesticide DDT was banned and the Clean Water Act was passed. And one year later, the Endangered Species Act would be enacted, the catalytic converter would be introduced, and unleaded automotive emission standards would be set. A stunning admission that we're all in this together, with a common future on a shared planet.
Regrettably, we still live in a turbulent world. But we now have at our disposal, not simply a photograph of our home to reflect upon, but continual data of our rotating planet, captured 13 times per day, by the robotic Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), a specially designed space camera and telescope, launched and positioned a million miles from Earth.
We will now be able to measure and track sun-induced space weather as well as global climatic trends in ozone levels, aerosols, vegetation, volcanic ash, and Earth reflectivity, all in high resolution -- just the kind of data our civilization needs to make informed cultural, political, and scientific decisions that affect our future.
Occasions such as this offer renewed confidence that we may ultimately become responsible shepherds of our own fate, and the fate of that fragile home we call Earth.
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