Barack Obama

Today's reforms are a positive step towards a fairer and more efficient system of considering District Court nominees.

We ought to be able to take common-sense measures to reduce the amount of gun violence in this country.

For them to go after the U.N. Ambassador, who had nothing to do with Benghazi . . . is outrageous.

We will not waiver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act.

We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect.

We do not believe that in this country freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few.

We believe that America’s prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class.

We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together.

What binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names.

Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time, but it does require us to act in our time.

I oppose the effort to increase America's debt limit. We now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies.

Jenny R. Yang, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2017, vice Stuart Ishimaru, resigned.

The Congress has only two options – pay their bills, or fail to do so and put the Nation into default.

William B. Schultz, of the District of Columbia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services, vice Daniel Meron.

Sylvia M. Becker, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States for the term expiring September 30, 2013, vice Ralph E. Martinez, term expired.

Robert F. Cohen, Jr., of West Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission for a term of six years expiring August 30, 2018. (Reappointment)

Alan F. Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be a Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, vice Frank Kendall III.

John Owen Brennan, of Virginia, to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, vice David H. Petraeus, resigned.

Derek Anthony West, of California, to be Associate Attorney General, vice Thomas John Perrelli, resigned.

Charles Timothy Hagel, of Nebraska, to be Secretary of Defense, vice Leon E. Panetta.

He has been a tremendous advocate for the American worker.

We recommit ourselves to supporting women and families in the choices they make

We will stand with you always, the members of the legendary Tuskegee airmen in the house and the recipients of our nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

It's because of you that with honor we're able to end the war in Iraq.

Know that we are going to be looking after and thinking about your families every single day.