Barack Obama

I am grateful these impressive men and women have agreed to join this Administration, and I am confident they will serve ably in their new roles.

Terry Lewis, of Michigan, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

Nils Maarten Parin Daulaire, of Virginia, to be Representative of the United States on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization.

Ann D. Begeman, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board.

Beatrice A. Hanson, of New York, to be Director of the Office for Victims of Crime.

John A. Lancaster, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace.

I'm hopeful we can also come together on another urgent national priority, and that is the new START Treaty that will reduce the world's nuclear arsenals and make America more secure.

Ratifying a treaty like START isn't about winning a victory for an administration or a political party, it's about the safety and security of the United States of America.

2 million Americans who've lost their jobs through no fault of their own will now know with certainty that they won't lose their emergency unemployment insurance at the end of the month.

It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor, and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed.

It is not only the right thing to do for talented young people who seek to serve a country they know as their own, it is the right thing for the United States of America.

It has long been the policy of the United States to deploy an effective National Missile Defense system.

The American people deserve a serious debate on immigration, and it's time to take the polarizing rhetoric off our national stage.

Twelve million families with 24 million children will benefit from extensions of the earned-income tax credit and child tax credit.

The New START Treaty places no limitations on the development or deployment of our missile defense programs.

The United States will continue to develop and deploy effective missile defenses to protect the United States, our deployed forces, and our allies and partners.

I'm also hopeful that we might refresh the American people's faith in the capability of their leaders to govern in challenging times.

This is progress, and that's what they sent us here to achieve.

The partnership with labor is essential to growing our economy

Part of the Christmas spirit is also making sure that we're kind to each other and we're thinking about people who aren't as lucky as we are.

I want to make sure that all of you are also thinking about how can you guys be nicer to each other and think about people who have less than you do.

We must ensure our Nation's students receive the world-class mathematics and science education they need to challenge the boundaries of human knowledge and realize tomorrow what we can only dream today.

On this day, we celebrate their historic accomplishment, the limitless potential they represent, and the vision they spurred for the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs.

The steps we have taken have prevented a second Great Depression

Not everybody is as lucky as we are.