July 11 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2011

in order. Right? So the idea here is, let’s act All right? Thank you very much, everybody. now. Let’s get this problem off the table. And then with some firm footing, with a solid fiscal NOTE: The President’s news conference began situation, we will then be in a position to make at 11:15 a.m. in the James S. Brady Press Brief- the kind of investments that, I think, are going ing Room at the White House. In his remarks, to be necessary to win the future. the President referred to Warren E. Buffett, So this is not a right or left, conservative/lib- chief executive officer and chairman, Berk- eral situation. This is how do we operate in a shire Hathaway Inc.; Erskine B. Bowles and smart way, understanding that we’ve got some Alan K. Simpson, Cochairs, National Commis- short-term challenges and some long-term sion on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform; for- challenges. If we can solve some of those long- mer Sen. Robert J. Dole; and former Speaker term challenges, that frees up some of our en- of the House of Representatives Newton L. ergies to be able to deal with some of these Gingrich. short-term ones as well.

Memorandum on Regulation and Independent Regulatory Agencies July 11, 2011

Memorandum for the Heads of Independent and save more than $1 billion in annual regula- Regulatory Agencies tory costs. And hundreds of reform proposals from 30 agencies, now available for public Subject: Regulation and Independent Regula- scrutiny, promise to deliver billions of dollars tory Agencies in additional savings. The Executive Order also requires executive America’s free market is the greatest force agencies to consider costs and benefits and to for prosperity the world has ever known. It is reduce burdens on the American people; to ex- the key to our global leadership and the suc- pand opportunities for public participation; to cess of our people. But throughout our history, simplify and harmonize rules; and to promote one of the reasons it has worked is that we have flexibility and freedom of choice. sought a proper balance—a balance that pro- With full respect for the independence of motes economic growth, innovation, competi- your agencies, I am asking you today to join in tiveness, and job creation, while protecting the this review and produce your own plans to re- health, safety, and security of the American assess and streamline regulations. For rules go- people. Over the past two and a half years, the ing forward, I am also asking you to follow the pursuit of that balance has guided my Adminis- tration’s approach to rules and regulations. key cost-saving, burden-reducing principles And in January of this year, I signed an Execu- outlined in the January Executive Order. tive Order requiring executive agencies to re- I hope you see this as an opportunity to do duce regulations that place unnecessary bur- something big and lasting—to change the ways dens on American businesses and the Ameri- of Washington; to focus on what works; and to can people while ensuring that regulations pro- forge a 21st-century regulatory system that tect our safety, health, and environment. I makes our economy stronger and more com- initiated a careful, Government-wide review of petitive, while we meet our fundamental re- regulations already on the books in order to re- sponsibilities to one another. duce outdated, unjustified regulations that sti- I look forward to working with all of you on fle job creation and make our economy less this important initiative, and I thank you for competitive. We are taking immediate steps to your attention and service to our country. eliminate millions of hours in annual paper- work burdens for large and small businesses BARACK OBAMA

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Remarks on Presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Leroy A. Petry July 12, 2011

The President. Thank you, Chaplain Ruther- generation that has borne the burden of our ford. Please be seated. Good afternoon, every- security during a hard decade of sacrifice. one, and welcome to the White House as we I want to take you back to the circumstances present our Nation’s highest military decora- that led to this day. It’s May 26, 2008, in the re- tion, the Medal of Honor, to an extraordinary mote east of Afghanistan, near the mountain- American soldier, Sergeant First Class Leroy ous border of Pakistan. Helicopters carrying Petry. dozens of elite Army Rangers race over the This is a historic occasion. Last fall, I was rugged landscape. And their target is an insur- privileged to present the Medal of Honor to gent compound. The mission is high risk. It’s Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta for his heroism broad daylight. The insurgents are heavily in Afghanistan, and Sal joins us this afternoon. armed. But it’s considered a risk worth taking Where’s Sal? Good to see you. because intelligence indicates that a top Al Qa- So today is only the second time during the ida commander is in that compound. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, indeed, only the Soon, the helicopters touch down, and our second time since Vietnam, that a recipient of Rangers immediately come under fire. Within the Medal of Honor from an ongoing conflict minutes, Leroy, then a Staff Sergeant, and an- has been able to accept this medal in person. other soldier are pushing ahead into a court- And having just spent some time with Leroy, yard, surrounded by high mud walls. And that’s his lovely wife Ashley, their wonderful chil- when the enemy opens up with their AK–47s. dren, in the Oval Office, then had a chance to Leroy is hit in both legs. He’s bleeding badly, see the entire Petry family here, I have to say but he summons the strength to lead the other this could not be happening to a nicer guy or a Ranger to cover, behind a chicken coop. He ra- more inspiring family. dios for support. He hurls a grenade at the en- Leroy, the Medal of Honor reflects the emy, giving cover to a third Ranger who rushes deepest gratitude of our entire Nation. So to their aid. An enemy grenade explodes near- we’re joined by Members of Congress, Vice by, wounding Leroy’s two comrades. And then President Biden, leaders from across my ad- a second grenade lands, this time, only a few ministration, including Deputy Secretary of feet away. Defense Bill Lynn, and leaders from across our Every human impulse would tell someone to Armed Forces, including the Vice Chairman of turn away. Every soldier is trained to seek cov- the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Jim “Hoss” er. That’s what Sergeant Leroy Petry could Cartwright, Army Secretary John McHugh, have done. Instead, this wounded Ranger, this and Army Chief of Staff General Marty 28-year-old man with his whole life ahead of Dempsey. him, this husband and father of four, did some- We’re honored to welcome more than 100 thing extraordinary. He lunged forward, to- of Leroy’s family and friends, many from his ward the live grenade. He picked it up. He home State of New Mexico, as well as his fel- cocked his arm to throw it back. low Rangers from the legendary Delta Compa- What compels such courage? What leads a ny, 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. And person to risk everything so that others might as always, we are humbled by the presence of live? For answers, we don’t need to look far. members of the Medal of Honor Society. The roots of Leroy’s valor are all around us. Today we honor a singular act of gallantry. We see it in the sense of duty instilled by his Yet as we near the 10th anniversary of the at- family, who joins us today: his father Larry, his tacks that thrust our Nation into war, this is al- mother Lorella, and his four brothers. Growing so an occasion to pay tribute to a soldier and a up, the walls of their home were hung with

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