May 26 / Administration of , 2009

transborder security, information opment and assistance, and domestic en- sharing, and resilience policy, including gagement and outreach in pursuit of a preparedness and response. host of national security objectives, in- • Retaining the position of Assistant to the cluding those related to homeland secu- President for Homeland Security and rity. Counterterrorism (AP/HSCT) as my The United States faces a wide array of principal White House advisor on these challenges to its security, and the White issues, with direct and immediate access House must be organized to effectively and ef- to me. The security of our homeland is ficiently leverage the tremendous talent and of paramount importance to me, and I expertise of the dedicated Americans who will not allow organizational impedi- work within it. The creation of the National ments to stand in the way of timely ac- Security Staff and the other recommendations tion that ensures the safety of our citi- from the study that I have approved will help zens. to keep our country safe and our Homeland • Creating a new Global Engagement Di- secure. rectorate to drive comprehensive en- gagement policies that leverage diploma- NOTE: An original was not available for verifi- cy, communications, international devel- cation of the content of this statement.

Remarks at a Fundraiser for Senator Harry Reid in Las Vegas, Nevada May 26, 2009

Thank you so much. It is good to be back in Senate majority leader, Harry Reid. The last Vegas. I was telling people, I am back in Cae- few years, Harry has done an extraordinary job sars. That was the hotel where we stayed at as the leader of the U.S. Senate. And that’s not when we were campaigning here in Nevada. I easy, by the way. One of the last majority lead- thought I had a pretty nice room. [Laughter] ers wrote a book—titled it “Herding Cats.” But now that I’m President, they upgraded And that’s what dealing with the Senate is all me. I got the upgrade. And it’s a really nice about. It is not easy. But Harry is somebody room now, man. [Laughter] who has consistently fought on those issues It is good to see all of you. How about Bette that matter not just to Democrats but to mid- Midler? Right? , Rachael Yamaga- dle class families all across America: good jobs, ta, Rita Rudner, and Clint Holmes, give it up affordable health care, clean energy, world- for our outstanding performers. class schools. This is a man who still makes his I want to thank all of the hard-working decisions and chooses battles based on the val- elected officials in Nevada, many of whom are ues that he was raised with in Searchlight, Ne- here tonight. But there are a handful that I’ve vada. [Applause] Are you from Searchlight? got to give a special shout-out to: first of all, [Laughter] We got some Searchlight folks Congresswoman Shelley Berkley; our new here. And that’s why we need to keep Harry Congresswoman Dina Titus; a great friend of Reid exactly where he belongs, as the leader of mine, our—of my earliest supporters, cochair the U.S. Senate, as somebody who carries the for Nevadans for Obama, Steven Horsford. voices and the values of Searchlight and Ne- And although she’s not here tonight, she’s do- vada, all the small towns across America that ing a great job on behalf of everybody here in have been forgotten for so long. He gives voice Vegas, the Nevada assembly speaker, Barbara to forgotten people in Washington, DC. Buckley. Please give her a big round of ap- Now, being back here with all of you in Ne- plause. vada tonight reminds me of why I like getting It is a pleasure to be here tonight on behalf out of Washington every so often. [Laughter] of my good friend, your Senator, this Nation’s Because it brings back a lot of memories of all

718 Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 / May 27 those days that I spent here on the campaign cover 11 million children in need. We passed a trail. And I want to start tonight by saying thank national service bill to create hundreds of thou- you, because I know that I’m here because of so sands of opportunities for people to serve in many people like you, people all across the their communities. We passed the Lilly Ledbet- country who made calls and knocked on doors ter Fair Pay Act—the first bill I signed into and registered voters and dug deep and gave law—because we should have equal pay for what they could, because you were hungry for equal work. And just last week we passed a se- new leadership and new ideas and a new kind of ries of reforms that won’t just change policies in politics. And working with Harry Reid, that’s Washington, they’ll change the way business is what I’m delivering right now. done in Washington. You believed that after an era of selfishness Last Tuesday, we brought auto executives, la- and greed, we can reclaim a sense of responsi- bor unions, environmental groups, Democrats, bility, from Main Street to Wall Street to Wash- and Republicans together to set a national fuel ington. You believed that instead of huge in- efficiency standard for our cars and trucks for equalities, we can restore a sense of fairness to the first time in history, weaning ourselves off of our economy, building a new foundation for Middle Eastern oil, but also saving our planet in lasting growth and prosperity. You believed that the process. On Wednesday, I signed bipartisan in a time of war and turmoil, we can stand legislation to help homeowners and crack down strong against our enemies and stand firmly for on predatory lenders who seek to take advan- our ideals and show a new face of American tage of them. On Friday, I signed two laws, one leadership to the world. that will protect consumers from unfair rate That’s the change you believed in, that’s the hikes and abusive fees levied by credit card trust you placed in me, and that’s something I’ll companies, another that will eliminate waste in never forget. But we all know that winning the our defense budget and save taxpayers billions election was just the beginning of our work. of dollars. And today I nominated a brilliant in- That victory alone wasn’t the change that we dividual to serve on the United States Supreme sought. It was just the opportunity to make Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor. change. And I don’t know about you, but I think Let me just tell you a little bit about this it’s fair to say that over these past 4 months, woman. This is a woman who will bring more we’ve done a pretty good job of seizing that op- experience on the bench than anyone currently portunity. serving on the Supreme Court had when they To jump-start job creation, get our economy were appointed: She graduated the top of her moving again, we helped with—we passed, with class at Princeton; editor of the Law Journal at the help of Harry Reid and both Houses of Yale; prosecutor in the Manhattan DA’s office; Congress, the most ambitious economic recov- corporate litigator; 6 years as a trial judge on the ery package in our Nation’s history, gave tax U.S. District Court; her 11th year on the U.S. cuts to 95 percent of working families, put peo- Court of Appeals, the second highest court in ple back to work modernizing our health care the land. Nobody can say she’s not qualified to system, rebuilding our crumbling roads and be on the Supreme Court. bridges, investing in renewable energy that will But as impressive and meaningful as Judge help boost our economy and preserve our plan- Sotomayor’s sterling credentials in the law are, et. her extraordinary life journey is even more ex- We launched plans to stabilize our housing ceptional. Born in the South Bronx—[ap- market, unfreeze our credit markets, and en- plause]—raised in a—hey, South Bronx. We got sure the survival of our auto industry in this new everybody here. We got Searchlight, we got century. We passed a budget that will cut our South Bronx. [Laughter] All right, I’m not going deficit in half while making investments to spur to shout out everybody’s—[applause]. Where long-term growth. We lifted the ban on Federal was I? [Laughter] I’m talking about the next Su- funding for stem cell research. We expanded preme Court Justice, born in the South Bronx, the Children’s Health Insurance Program to raised in a housing project by parents who came

719 May 27 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 to New York from Puerto Rico during the Sec- zon, but we’ve got a much longer journey ond World War. Father was a factory worker ahead. with a third grade education, didn’t speak And that’s why all of you are here tonight. English. When Sonia was just 9, her father That’s why you’re digging deep. That’s why I passed away. Her mother worked 6 days a know you’re going to make those phone calls week as a nurse to provide for Sonia and her and knock on those doors and get to the polls brother, buying the only encyclopedias in the again next November so that we make sure neighborhood, sending their children to Cath- that Harry Reid continues his devoted service olic school out of a belief that with a good edu- to this great State. cation here in America all things are possible. And that’s why I’m here tonight, because I Sonia Sotomayor’s life is proof that all can’t bring the change I promised all by my- things are possible. And when she ascends self. I can’t rebuild an economy by myself. I those marble steps to assume her seat on the can’t reform our health care system and edu- highest court of the land, America will take an- cation systems and preserve our environment other important step towards realizing the ide- and keep our Nation safe all alone. That’s not al that’s chiseled above its entrance: Equal jus- how it works. I need partners in Congress, tice under the law. leaders who are determined to make a differ- So I’m inspired by her. I’m honored to ence for the folks they represent. And right nominate her. And I know that Harry Reid now, more than ever before, we need their and others in the Senate will make sure that help. America needs their help. We need their she is confirmed as our next Supreme Court help to build schools that meet high standards Justice. and close the achievement gap and prepare And I know that because Harry has just as our kids for the challenges of the 21st century, improbable a story. And so do I. And that’s reward teachers for performance and give what politics should be about, remembering them new pathways for advancement. that, for a whole lot of folks, life isn’t easy. We need their help to reach the goal I’ve set They’re not born into advantage. But what sets for our education in this country that by 2020, America apart is the fact that we can make of America will once again have the highest pro- our lives what we will. Yes we can. And that’s portion of college graduates in the world. We what we’re doing in Washington every day, fig- need their help to pass a comprehensive ener- uring out how can we give a helping hand to gy and climate bill that will finally reduce our ordinary Americans like Sonia Sotomayor’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil, offer mother, like a young Harry Reid who needs a new energy incentives to reduce the pollution scholarship, maybe, like a Barack Obama who that threatens our health and our climate. might need that inspiring teacher in a school. We need a plan that will create millions of And all in all, we’re making progress on the new jobs, producing wind turbines and solar important issues of the day, the issues that are panels, like you’re doing right here in Nevada. going to matter not just for this generation but Because the nation that leads the 21st century for the next generation. I’m pleased with how in clean energy, that nation will lead in the far we’ve come, but I’m not satisfied. I’m con- global economy. America can and must be that fident in the future, but I’m not content, not nation. when there are workers out there still out of a We need help to create a 21st century job and families who still can’t pay their bills, health care system to cut costs for families and not when there are too many Americans who businesses across America. And working with can’t afford health care and so many of our Harry Reid and other Members of Congress, kids being left behind, not when we’re not we are going to do everything we can to leading the world in developing the new ener- achieve comprehensive health care reform by gy sources of the 21st century. We have come the end of this year. We’ve been waiting too a long way. We can see the light on the hori- long. We’re going to make it happen this year.

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And finally, even as we do all this, we need to by the progress that the American people see in restore fiscal discipline in Washington so we their own lives. don’t leave our children and grandchildren with And so if you stand with me, if you stand with a mountain of debt. Already, my administration Harry Reid, I know that years from now we will has identified more than 100 Government pro- look back on this time, at this moment and say, grams that we can reduce or eliminate. They’re that’s when the American people came together to reclaim their future to write the next great not working the way they should. That will save chapter of the American story. taxpayers nearly $17 billion next year alone. We can only do it with Harry Reid, and I can We’re going through the budget line by line only do it with you, the people of Las Vegas, the looking for more places where we can shift dol- people of Nevada, the people of America. lars from things that don’t work to things that Thank you. God bless you. May God bless the do. United States of America. Thank you. We’re living through extraordinary times. We didn’t ask for the challenges that we face, but NOTE: The President spoke at 8:33 p.m. in the we are determined to answer the call to meet Colosseum at hotel. In his re- those challenges, to cast aside the old argu- marks, he referred to entertainers , ments and overcome the stubborn divisions and Sheryl Crow, Rachael Yamagata, Rita Rudner, and Clint Holmes; former Senate Majority move forward as one people and one nation. It Leader Chester T. “Trent” Lott; and Celina So- won’t be easy, Nevada. There will be setbacks, tomayor, mother, and Juan Sotomayor, brother, Las Vegas. It will take time but I promise you, I of Supreme Court Associate Justice-designate promise you, I’ll always tell you the truth about Sotomayor. The transcript was released by the the challenges we face. I’ll always tell you the Office of the Press Secretary on May 27. Audio truth about the steps we’re taking to meet was not available for verification of the content them. I will continue to measure my progress of these remarks.

Remarks at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada May 27, 2009

Thank you so much. Everybody please have a mainly I want to thank all of you, the men and seat. Thank you so much. I’ve got some special women in uniform, for your service to our coun- acknowledgments that I have to make. First of try. We’re grateful to you. Thank you. all, we’ve got some members of the congressio- I just spoke to a handful of your commanders nal delegation Nevada who are doing outstand- here. I know some are about to be deployed to ing jobs not only for Nevada but also for the Iraq and Afghanistan, many have just come men and women in uniform. And so please give back. The fact that you serve each and every day a warm welcome to Congresswoman Shelley to keep us safe is something that every Ameri- Berkley, Congresswoman Dina Titus. And can is grateful for. And so if I don’t do anything we’re in his district, he couldn’t be here, but else as your Commander in Chief, I’m going to Congressman Dean Heller, please give him a make sure that we’re there for you just as you’ve big round of applause. been there for us. So thank you very much. I also want to thank the State controller, Kim Finally, let me acknowledge Senator Harry Wallin, for her great work; the Nevada secretary Reid, not just for the generous introduction, not of State, Ross Miller; Nevada State treasurer, only because he’s been a great friend, not only Kate Marshall. I want to thank the Brigadier because he’s been an outstanding Majority General, Stanley Kresge, for the wonderful, Leader, but also because of everything that he’s outstanding work that he does, as well as Colo- done for the people of Nevada and for the nel Dave Belote, who just gave me an outstand- armed services. He is somebody who has never ing tour of the solar panel facility out here. But forgotten his roots. After all these years, he still

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