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WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Bill Baer – Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, Department of Justice
• Marcilynn A. Burke – Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior
• Joseph Jordan – Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget
• John Norris – Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Heidi Shyu – Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, Department of Defense

The President also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Milton Irvin – Member, President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
• George B. Walker, Jr. – Member, President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

President Obama said, “I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles.  I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Bill Baer, Nominee for Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, Department of Justice
Bill Baer is the chair of the Antitrust Practice Group at Arnold and Porter LLP.  He joined Arnold and Porter in 1980, becoming a partner at the firm in 1983.   In his practice, Mr. Baer represents a broad range of companies in U.S. and international cartel investigations, mergers and acquisition reviews, and in antitrust litigation.   From 1995 to 1999, he served as the Director for the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  Mr. Baer began his legal career in 1975 as a trial attorney for the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC.  Mr. Baer holds a B.A. from Lawrence University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.

Marcilynn A. Burke, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior
Marcilynn A. Burke has served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the Department of the Interior (DOI) since July 2011 and as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Land Management since August 2009.   Prior to serving in these positions at DOI, Ms. Burke was a tenured Associate Professor of Law at the University of Houston Law Center where she taught natural resources, land use management, environmental, and property law.  Before she began her teaching career, Ms. Burke was an associate at the law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen, & Hamilton.  She earned her A.B. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her J.D. from Yale University.

Joseph Jordan, Nominee for Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget
Joseph Jordan is currently Senior Advisor to Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Jeffrey Zients, a position he has held since December 2011. Between 2009 and 2011, Mr. Jordan served as Associate Administrator for Government Contracting and Business Development at the Small Business Administration (SBA). Prior to joining SBA, Mr. Jordan was an Engagement Manager with McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm.  At McKinsey, he specialized in developing purchasing and supply management strategies for clients across several industries. He also worked with the firm’s public sector practice, advising state governments on how to cut costs and capture efficiencies.   In 2000, Mr. Jordan helped build and manage operations of Backwire, a web-based publisher-marketer. When the company was purchased by Leap Wireless, he transitioned to become Leap’s project manager for strategic planning and product development. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Jordan worked as an Associate Producer on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews.  Mr. Jordan received his B.A. from The College of the Holy Cross and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business Administration.

John Norris, Nominee for Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
John Norris is a Commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a position he has held since December 2009.  Over the past 10 years, Mr. Norris has also been involved in numerous local, regional, and national energy related boards and organizations.  Before his appointment to FERC, he was Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Norris served as Chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB).   Prior to joining IUB, he served as Chief of Staff and Energy Advisor to Governor Tom Vilsack, Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Leonard Boswell, and owned and managed a restaurant in Greenfield, Iowa.  Mr. Norris received a B.A. in Political Science from Simpson College and a J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law.

Heidi Shyu, Nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, Department of Defense
Heidi Shyu has served as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ALT) since June 2011, and as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for ALT since November 2010.  Prior to joining the Administration, Ms. Shyu worked for the Raytheon Company from 1997 to 2010.  During that time, she held several leadership positions including Vice President of Technology Strategy for Space and Airborne Systems (2009-2010), Corporate Vice President of Technology and Research (2007-2009), Vice President and Technical Director for Space and Airborne Systems (2004-2007), and Vice President of Unmanned and Reconnaissance Systems (2002-2003).   Prior to working at Raytheon, Ms. Shyu worked for Hughes Aircraft Company (1992-1997), Litton (1990-1991), and Grumman Aerospace (1989-1990).  She began her career in 1978 as an Engineer for Hughes Aircraft Company.  Ms. Shyu holds a B.S. from University of New Brunswick in Canada, an M.S. from the University of Toronto, and an M.S.E.E. from University of California, Los Angeles.

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Milton Irvin, Appointee for Member, President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Milton Irvin is currently Chair of the Advisory Board for Castle Oak Securities, L.P.  In January 2012, Mr. Irvin retired from UBS AG where he had been a Managing Director and the Americas’ Head of Diversity and Inclusion since 2002.  Before working at UBS, Mr. Irvin served as President and COO of Imbot.com, from 2000 to 2002, and Blaylock & Partners L.P., from 1998 to 1999.  Mr. Irvin began his career as a corporate lending officer at Chase Manhattan Bank, and then spent 20 years at Salomon Brothers, holding numerous positions including Managing Director and Head of Generalist Sales.  Mr. Irvin currently serves on the Wharton Graduate Advisory Board, the Board of the Harlem School of the Arts, and LEAD, a non-profit that unites colleges and universities with corporations to encourage minority high school students to explore careers in business, science, engineering, and technology.  In 1994, President Clinton appointed Mr. Irvin to the Advisory Committee of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for which he served as chairman from 1995 to 1997.  Mr. Irvin earned his B.S. from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Reverend George B. Walker, Jr., Appointee for Member, President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
The Reverend George B. Walker, Jr. is the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Victory Institute (“Victory”), a position he has held since October 2011. From 2008 to 2011, Reverend Walker was the Vice President of Leadership Initiatives at Victory.  Before joining Victory, Reverend Walker worked at the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy as the Development Director from 2006 to 2008; the Human Rights Campaign as Major Gifts Officer from 2004 to 2006; and the Center for Community Change, where he was Deputy Operations Director from 2003 to 2004 and Director of Evaluation from 2001 to 2003.  From 1994 to 1996, Reverend Walker worked as a volunteer for the U.S. Peace Corps.  He later served as Associate Director of the Peace Development Fund from 1998 to 2001.  Reverend Walker is the recipient of the U.S. Peace Corps’ Franklin H. Williams Award, the German Marshall Memorial Fellowship, and the Pipeline Project’s 21st Century Leadership Fellowship.  Reverend Walker holds a B.A. from Morehouse College and an M.Div. from the Divinity School at Duke University.

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WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Michael P. Botticelli – Deputy Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Christy Romero – Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program

The President also announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post:

• Alex Mehran – Member, Board of Directors of the Presidio Trust

President Obama said, “These dedicated and accomplished individuals will be valued additions to my administrations as we tackle the important challenges facing America.  I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Michael P. Botticelli, Nominee for Deputy Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy
Michael P. Botticelli is currently the Director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services in the Massachusetts Department of Health (MDPH).  Since joining MDPH in 1994, Mr. Botticelli has served as Chief of Staff of the MDPH Commissioner’s Office (2000-2003), Assistant Director for Policy and Planning within the HIV/AIDS Bureau (1996-2000), Contract Manager in the HIV/AIDS Bureau (1995-1996), and Alcoholism Program Coordinator within the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (1994-1995).  He received a B.A. from Siena College and an M.Ed. from St. Lawrence University.

Christy Romero, Nominee for Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program
Christy Romero is the Deputy Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), a position she has held since February 2011.  Between 2009 and 2011, Ms. Romero served as the Chief of Staff of SIGTARP.  From July 2010 through September 2010, she served as the Acting Deputy SIGTARP and from March 2011 through Oct 2011 she served as Acting SIGTARP.  Ms. Romero came to SIGTARP from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) where, from December 2007 through August 2009, she served as counsel to SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro and Chairman Christopher Cox.  From 2003 through 2007, as an attorney in the Division of Enforcement, she investigated financial fraud, insider trading, and other violations of the securities laws.  Prior to joining the SEC, Ms. Romero was a litigator specializing in financial restructuring at the law firms of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Snell & Wilmer; and Jenner & Block.  She also clerked for the Honorable Robert C. Jones, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Nevada and Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.  Ms. Romero earned a B.S. in Business from Old Dominion University and a J.D. from Brigham Young University Law School.

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post:

Alex Mehran, Appointee for Member, Board of Directors of the Presidio Trust
Alex Mehran is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunset Development Company, a real estate development, investment, construction and management company based in San Ramon, CA.  Mr. Mehran also serves as Chairman of the Contra Costa Economic Partnership, a Trustee of the San Francisco Ballet, and as a Member of the University of California, San Francisco Chancellor’s Associates.  In addition, he is a past Chairman and current Executive Committee Member of the Bay Area Council.  Mr. Mehran earned a B.A. from Harvard College with honors and received an LL.B. from Cambridge University, England, also with honors.

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Four years ago, during the last presidential election, James “Bill” Heavener, CEO and co-chairman of the for-profit Full Sail University, served as a major source of campaign contributions for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee, raising nearly 0,000 alongside members of his family.

So did Ed Haddock, Heavener’s business partner and co-chairman at Full Sail, who brought in more than 0,000 in checks as a “bundler” for the 2008 Obama campaign in Florida, a crucial swing state.

But this election cycle, following the issuance of new regulations from President Obama’s Department of Education aimed at reducing the towering debt levels of students at for-profit colleges, both executives have had a change of heart.

Heavener is now listed as the co-chairman of Mitt Romney’s Florida fundraising committee, and has donated substantially to both Romney’s campaign and an affiliated fundraising committee. For his part, Haddock has expressed frustration with the administration, warning Obama campaign staff over the summer that he was tired of feeling “ignored and shut out of the process” involving the college regulations, according to a memo obtained by HuffPost. Though he will still support Obama this year, Haddock said he will not volunteer as a bundler this election because he is busy with family and business matters.

Just as Wall Street has largely abandoned the Obama campaign this election year following financial regulatory reforms, for-profit colleges offer another example of an industry alienated by regulation during the president’s first term — even as many student advocates say the administration caved to industry demands by weakening final regulations. Although Romney has not staked out an official position on the Obama administration’s new for-profit college rules, he has praised such colleges on the campaign trail as a way to hold down the rising costs of higher education.

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in a statement that the former Massachusetts governor supports “increased choice in both K-12 and higher education” and wants to encourage a “level playing field for different types of schools held accountable for their results.

“To increase access and affordability, we must support the availability of a full portfolio of college options, public and private, traditional and on-line,” Saul said.

According to The New York Times, Romney has praised for-profit colleges on the campaign trail, arguing that they are likelier to “hold down the cost of their education” because they face market risks.

“I just like the fact that there’s competition,” Romney told the editorial board of Iowa’s Ames Tribune in December, according to the Times. “I like the fact that institutions of higher learning will compete with one another, whether they’re for-profit or not-for-profit.”

Yet for-profit colleges typically charge tuition that is nearly twice that of public four-year universities and nearly five times as much as public community colleges, according to Department of Education data analyzed by the College Board. Although for-profit college tuition is on average lower the rates at private non-profit schools, the schools devote much less money to student instruction, and students graduate at much lower levels.

Heavener, the Full Sail University chief executive, has donated the maximum ,500 to Romney’s campaign and an additional ,000 to a pro-Romney super PAC, Restore Our Future Inc., that has paid for controversial television ads attacking his opponents. But he said his decision to support Romney instead of Obama this election year was “completely personal” and had nothing to do with Full Sail or regulation of the industry.

“It’s a bigger issue with me,” said Heavener, who described himself as a “lifelong Republican” despite a strong show of support for Obama last term. “I see the Obama administration overly regulating all kinds of businesses, and as a Republican I feel that less regulation is better than more. Whether it’s telecom or banking or the SEC or education, there’s just a massive amount of regulation that this administration has put in.”

In addition to the Romney donations, Heavener has also contributed to the congressional campaigns of some of the strongest opponents of the Obama administration’s “gainful employment” regulations, which are intended to ensure that for-profit college students are securing jobs allow them to repay student loan debts. He declined to give an opinion of the regulations, saying only: “A good debate has taken place between the for-profit industry and the regulators, and wherever that comes down we’ll comply and do the best we can do in all the areas that we serve.”

Haddock, the Full Sail co-chairman and “bundler” from the 2008 campaign, said his decision not to be a major fundraiser for Obama this year was unrelated to the regulations on his business.

“I know it’s a very compelling thought, that maybe they’re tied together, but my philosophy is that if you’re in a regulated business you should be concentrated on doing a good job and complying,” Haddock said. “Whether you agree with all the rules or don’t agree with them, as a businessman you should just get that out of your head.”

He said he isn’t personally concerned with Full Sail’s ability to comply with the regulations, noting that the school’s overall graduation rate of more than 80 percent is among the highest in the industry.

Haddock has donated more than 0,000 to Democratic committees and candidates over the past two decades, including hefty donations to Obama and the Democratic National Committee.

This summer, HuffPost’s Sam Stein obtained a memo to White House aides from Jessica Clark, the Obama campaign’s finance director in Florida. The memo said that Haddock, who had helped raise between 0,000 and 0,000 for the 2008 campaign, had stopped being “helpful” in 2009.

According to the memo:

“Ed needs and wants an ongoing point of contact inside the White House to periodically give input. From his view, he is CEO of four different companies and has the ability to give business and economic ideas above and beyond the average check writer. But when he has attempted to do so—primarily on the education issue but not exclusively—there has been no way in. Indeed, he feels like the White House is hostile to outside help, especially if it comes in the form as help from business. YOU should engage Ed on his concerns and tell him you want an ongoing relationship that seeks to hear his ideas and concerns, even if in the end we don’t always agree.”

Haddock didn’t dispute the emotions expressed in the memo, but said those feelings won’t cause him to support another candidate this election.

“I didn’t waver in my Obama support, even though as you can tell I was concerned about a lack of ability to give input,” he said.

Haddock said he will not be a “bundler” for the 2012 Obama campaign, which denotes supporters who have worked to raise more than ,000 from other donors, and some, like DreamWorks Animation executive Jeffrey Katzenberg and film executive Harvey Weinstein, who have brought in more than 0,000.

Although Full Sail, an entertainment industry-focused technical college outside of Orlando, is much smaller than other publicly traded for-profit schools such as the University of Phoenix and DeVry, its executives have been among the larger industry donors in recent congressional and presidential races, according to a HuffPost analysis of campaign finance data. Heavener’s donations so far this election cycle constitute more than half of the for-profit college industry contributions directed to either Obama or Republican candidates.

“With me, and with Bill, too, it’s a personal thing,” Haddock said. “We take our system of government and our role as citizens personally.”

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WASHINGTON, DC – To honor the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service and Dr. King’s life and legacy, the President and Mrs. Obama, the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden, Cabinet Secretaries, and other senior administration officials participated in community service projects and events throughout the country.  Led by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the King Center, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is an opportunity for all Americans to come together to help meet the needs of their communities and make an ongoing commitment to service throughout the year. 

“Today, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  And we should honor that legacy by acting as drum majors for service and lifting up those less fortunate – not just today, but every day,” President Obama said. “All of us can find a way to give back to our communities, to gain new skills, and to pull together, even when times are hard.  That’s what Dr. King believed in, and that’s what will make our country stronger.”

Today, the First Family participated in a community service project sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Greater DC Cares at the Browne Education Campus in Washington, DC. In the evening, the President and First Lady will attend the Let Freedom Ring concert in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Kennedy Center. 

Also today, the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden traveled to Philadelphia, PA, to participate in the 17th annual Greater Philadelphia Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. The Vice President delivered remarks at Girard College in North Philadelphia.  Following his remarks, the Vice President and Dr. Biden participated in a service project at Girard College.

For more on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service, please visit the Corporation for National and Community Service at www.serve.gov/mlkday.asp .

Cabinet Secretaries and Senior Administration Officials

• Agriculture:  Secretary Vilsack addressed Rainbow PUSH in Chicago to highlight USDA advancements on Civil Rights and the Obama administration’s settlement of the Pigford lawsuit. 
• Commerce:  Secretary Bryson participated in a community service event with Mayor Villaraigosa at Los Feliz Elementary School in Los Angeles, CA.
• CNCS:  The Corporation for National and Community Service CEO Robert Velasco volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of D.C. Senior staff also served at We Feed Our People, a signature event that serves hundreds of homeless District residents with a hot meals and warm clothing, and at Montgomery County Volunteer Center in Bethesda.
• Defense:  On Thursday, January 26, Secretary Panetta will participate in the annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at the Pentagon.
• Education: Secretary Duncan and his family joined the City Year service day at Dunbar High School.
• Energy:   Secretary Chu hosted an event at the Department of Energy to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King. Secretary Chu was joined by C.T. Vivian, Vice President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Lynn Cothern, former aide to Coretta Scott King.
• EPA:  Administrator Jackson delivered remarks at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Prayer Breakfast hosted by the National Action Network in Washington, D.C.
• Justice:   Attorney General Holder spoke at the NAACP’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event in Columbia, S.C.  On Sunday, January 15, he spoke at the Annual Utah Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Commission Luncheon.  And on Monday, January 30, he will attend the Department of Justice’s 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Program.
• Labor:  Secretary Solis delivered remarks and accepted an award at the “At the River I Stand,” the AFL-CIO’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observance dinner in Detroit, Mich.
• NASA:  Administrator Bolden addressed the 44th Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga.
• OPM:  Director of the Office of Personnel Management John Berry delivered remarks and participated in a service project at “Hope and a Home” in Washington, D.C.
• Transportation:  Deputy Secretary Porcari commemorated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day at Tyler Elementary School in Washington, D.C.  Volunteers contributed to the beautification of the school by painting slogans, murals, and math equations to help lead the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day reflection activity. 
• USAID: USAID Administrator Shah participated in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library’s 25th annual “We Feed Our People” event in Washington, D.C.
• USUN:  Ambassador Rice participated in a service event to benefit Kenilworth Elementary in Washington, D.C.
• VA:  Secretary Shinseki volunteered at So Others Might Eat serving food to the homeless in Washington, D.C.

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Jan. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — Obama vs. Romney – Moving Toward The Status Quo

http://theweeklyleaf.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/commentary-obama-vs-romney-moving-toward-the-status-quo/

Media Contact:
Patrick Richard The Weekly Leaf, 914-441-7110,…
PR Newswire: Financial Services

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Monrovia, Liberia to attend the inauguration of Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia, on January 16, 2012.
 
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:
 
The Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia
 
The Honorable Christopher A. Coons, Senator (D-DE), U.S. Senate
 
The Honorable Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State
 
The Honorable Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State
 
The Honorable Donald Steinberg, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development
 
The Honorable Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Deputy Director, Peace Corps
 
General Carter F. Ham, Commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), U.S. Army
 
Mr. Grant T. Harris, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council

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President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Guatemala to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Otto Perez Molina on January 14, 2012.

The Honorable Aaron S. Williams, Director of the Peace Corps, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Arnold A. Chacon, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala, Department of State

The Honorable Mary L. Landrieu, United States Senator, Louisiana

The Honorable Mark Feierstein, USAID Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean

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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Nancy E. Soderberg – Chairperson, Public Interest Declassification Board
• Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker – Member, Public Interest Declassification Board
• Peter H. Bell – Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
• Jack Martin Brandt – Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

President Obama said, “I am honored that these talented individuals have decided to join this Administration and serve our country.  I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Ambassador Nancy E. Soderberg, Appointee for Chairperson, Public Interest Declassification Board
Ambassador Nancy E. Soderberg is the President of the Connect U.S. Fund, a non-profit organization that focuses on promoting U.S. global engagement.  In addition, she is a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the University of North Florida and the President and CEO of Soderberg Global Solutions.  Ambassador Soderberg served as Vice President of the International Crisis Group from 2001 until 2005.  She was the U.S. Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations from 1997 to 2001, with the rank of Ambassador, and Staff Director of the National Security Council and Deputy Assistant to the President from 1993 until 1997.  From 1985 to 1992, she served as a Foreign Policy Advisor to Senator Edward M. Kennedy.  Ambassador Soderberg has written The Superpower Myth: The Use and Misuse of American Might and co-authored, with Brian Katulis, The Prosperity Agenda: What the World Wants from America – and What We Need in Return.  She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.  She earned a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and an M.S. from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.

Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, Appointee for Member, Public Interest Declassification Board
Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker has served as the Dean of the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific since 2002.  She served as General Counsel for the University of Wisconsin system from 1999 to 2002 and General Counsel for the Central Intelligence Agency from 1990 until 1995.  Prior to joining the Central Intelligence Agency, Ms. Parker was the Principal Deputy Legal Adviser for the U.S. Department of State from 1989 to 1990 and the General Counsel for the National Security Agency from 1984 until 1989.  Earlier in her career, Ms. Parker practiced civil rights law for a decade with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and later was counsel to the law firms of Bryan Cave, LLP and Surrey and Morse, LLP.  Ms. Parker was first appointed to the Public Interest Declassification Board in 2004.  She received a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Michigan.

Peter H. Bell, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Peter H. Bell is the Executive Vice President for Programs & Services at Autism Speaks, a position he has held since 2007.  From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Bell was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cure Autism Now, where he helped to establish the Autism Treatment Network.  Prior to his work at Cure Autism Now, Mr. Bell held a number of marketing positions at McNeil Consumer Healthcare from 1992 to 2004.  Mr. Bell serves on numerous boards and commissions, including as Co-Founder and President of Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism and chair of the Community Advisory Committee for the International Society for Autism Research.  Previously, in 2007, he served as Chair of the Integration Panel of the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs for autism research.  He is also the father of a child with autism.  Mr. Bell received a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

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The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered Federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe storm and snowstorm during the period of October 29-30, 2011.

Federal funding is available to commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm and snowstorm in the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, and Worcester.

Federal funding also is available to commonwealth and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for snow assistance for a continuous 48-hour period during or proximate to the incident period in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties in the commonwealth.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Mark H. Landry as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT: FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@DHS.GOV

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