SECRETARY KERRY, CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUNOZ MAKE REMARKS AT SIGNING CEREMONY

FROM:  THE STATE DEPARTMENT 

Remarks With Chilean Foreign Minister Munoz at a Signing Ceremony

Remarks

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Benjamin Franklin Room

Washington, DC

June 30, 2014

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SECRETARY KERRY: Well, thank you very much for joining us. We’ve just come from a wonderful lunch with President Bachelet and her delegation, and we discussed the very strong relationship between the United States and Chile. And to that end, Foreign Minister Munoz and I are going to be signing memoranda of understanding on small business cooperation, on international development cooperation, and a declaration on the intent on trilateral cooperation in the Caribbean. Afterwards, my colleagues from the Department of Homeland Security will sign a joint statement to combat trafficking in persons, and with Finance Minister Arenas, an agreement on customs mutual assistance that will facilitate trade while at the same time keeping our countries secure.

The MOU on small business, on business cooperation, cements an already strong partnership with Chile, and it does so in a way that will advance economic opportunities for small businesses, and it will also promote access for women through the Women’s Entrepreneurship of the Americas initiative. We really look forward, as we talked about at lunch and we also talked about with President Obama today, to the opportunity to expand an already strong economic relationship and long-term both security and friendship relationship with Chile in order to develop other economies in the Pacific region as well as throughout Latin America.
Our declaration of intent on the cooperation on the trilateral effort is really a pledge to continue and upgrade our development in Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. So the United States and Chile come to this memorandum of understanding signing today with a clear intent to continue to grow our own relationship and to try to strengthen the relationships with other countries in Latin America, particularly with a view to trying to achieve our shared goals on a global basis. Chile is a great partner globally, and we appreciate enormously the cooperation that we have received and that we give each other.

Heraldo.

FOREIGN MINISTER MUNOZ: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Let me first say that we’re very pleased with the president, President Bachelet, to come to Washington for this bilateral meeting with President Obama with you to sign these agreements that I think underline the fact that we have a key bilateral relationship and that this is a mature and high-quality relationship that we highly value. And I think that the agreements that we’re signing today point towards sort of a new association. We already have a free trade agreement, we already have a high-quality relationship, but we’re signaling here that we want to go into new grounds.
And that new association has to do with cooperation, not only among ourselves but in third countries like in the Caribbean, like we’re signing today, with small and medium enterprises that are absolutely fundamental to create jobs. In our country, most of the jobs are created by small and medium enterprises, and we appreciate cooperation in that area. The fact that we are also singing agreements with regard to education, science and technology, innovation, energy, which are all the areas that I think point towards this new association between our two countries.

I want to also say that the customs agreement point towards the common interests in security, in securing our borders, but at the same time facilitating trade, because this is one of our interests. We value also your mentioning our projecting ourselves towards the Pacific and the Asia region. This is a horizon of the future. We are part of the Pacific. We’re both members of APEC. And Chile, within the Pacific Alliance, is making a further commitment to deepen our ties with our countries, our colleagues of the region to project ourselves together with the rest of the Latin American region so that Chile can aspire to be a bridge to the Pacific. It can be a port to the Pacific not only to the countries that face the Pacific but also those on the Atlantic side.
So this has been a very positive visit. President Bachelet is satisfied with the conversations that we had. And I think we have a road ahead of us to comply with the commitments, including those, Mr. Secretary, that both of us made at the Our Ocean Conference that you led that will be held in Chile next year, where I hope the countries that came with commitments will comply with what they promised. I think this will be not only for the benefit of our oceans, of our biodiversity, but the economic future of our countries. If we ecologically value what we have, I think we are making a commitment towards future generations.

So thank you very much for hosting us, and thank you to President Obama because President Bachelet has been very satisfied with this visit. Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you. Thank you, Heraldo.

STAFF: Secretary Kerry and Minister Munoz will now sign the Memorandum of Understanding for International Development Cooperation.

(The memorandum was signed.)

STAFF: The second signing will be the Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Entrepreneurship and the Growth of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Witnessing the signing of the MOU are U.S. Small Business Administration Maria Contrares-Sweet and Chilean Minister of Economy, Development, and Tourism Luis Felipe Cespedes.
(The memorandum was signed.)

STAFF: The third signing will be the Joint Declaration of Intent for the Development of Trilateral Cooperation in Countries in the Caribbean. This declaration of intent on trilateral cooperation evidences our pledge to contribute to development in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.

(The memorandum was signed.)

SECRETARY KERRY: Whatever we signed is legally binding now. (Laughter.)
FOREIGN MINISTER MUNOZ: We cannot repent.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, sir. Well done.
(Applause.)

STAFF: Now Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Foreign Minister Munoz will sign the Joint Statement between the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Chilean Ministry of Interior and Public Security on Combating Trafficking in Persons. The joint statement will increase cooperation among enforcement agencies with an aim to target, disrupt, dismantle and deter human trafficking criminal enterprises, enhance bilateral exchanges of information related to human trafficking and share experiences regarding the protection of vulnerable populations.
(Applause.)

STAFF: Finally, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske and Minister of Finance Alberto Arenas will sign the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Chile regarding Mutual Assistance between their Customs Administrations. This agreement provides the legal framework to assist countries in the prevention, detection and investigation of custom offenses. Chile is the seventieth country to sign a customs mutual assistance agreement with the United States. The signing of the agreement will build on bilateral efforts to cooperate on law enforcement and facilitate trade and travel.
(Applause.)

STAFF: Thank you. This concludes our signing ceremony. We look forward to working together closely on issues ranging from economic development to security.

THE TEAR GAS CHAMBER AT 2014 BEST WARRIOR COMPETITION

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

Below:  Tear gas burns as service members enter the gas chamber event during the 2014 Best Warrior Competition on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., June 25, 2014. U.S. Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell.

BANK TO PAY $200 MILLION TO RESOLVE ALLEGATIONS OF MORTGAGE LENDING VIOLATIONS

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT   

Monday, June 30, 2014

U.S. Bank to Pay $200 Million to Resolve Alleged FHA Mortgage Lending Violations

U.S. Bank has agreed to pay the United States $200 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly originating and underwriting mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that did not meet applicable requirements, the Justice Department announced today.

“By misusing government programs designed to maintain and expand homeownership, U.S. Bank not only wasted taxpayer funds, but inflicted harm on homeowners and the housing market that lasts to this day,” said Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division Stuart F. Delery.   “As this settlement shows, we will continue to hold accountable financial institutions that violate the law by pursuing their own financial interests at the expense of hardworking Americans.”

“U.S. Bank ignored certain lending requirements causing substantial losses to taxpayers,” said United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Steven M. Dettelbach.  “This settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will not permit lenders to play fast and loose with the rules and stick the American people with their significant tab.”

“U.S. Bank’s lax mortgage underwriting practices contributed to home foreclosures across the country,” said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara L. McQuade.  “This settlement recovers funds for taxpayers and demonstrates that lenders will be held accountable for engaging in irresponsible lending practices.”

During the time period covered by the settlement, U.S. Bank participated as a direct endorsement lender (DEL) in the FHA insurance program.   A DEL has the authority to originate, underwrite, and certify mortgages for FHA insurance.  If a loan certified for FHA insurance later defaults, the holder of the loan may submit an insurance claim to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FHA’s parent agency, for the losses resulting from the defaulted loan.  Because FHA does not review a loan before it is endorsed for FHA insurance, FHA requires a DEL to follow program rules designed to ensure that the DEL is properly underwriting and submitting mortgages for FHA insurance.

As part of the settlement, U.S. Bank admitted that, from 2006 through 2011, it repeatedly certified for FHA insurance mortgage loans that did not meet HUD underwriting requirements.   U.S. Bank also admitted that its quality control program did not meet FHA requirements, and as a result, it failed to identify deficiencies in many of the loans it had certified for FHA insurance, failed to self-report many deficient loans to HUD, and failed to take the corrective action required under the program.   U.S. Bank further acknowledged that its conduct caused FHA to insure thousands of loans that were not eligible for insurance and that the FHA suffered substantial losses when it later paid insurance claims on those loans.

“This substantial recovery on behalf of the Federal Housing Administration should serve as a vivid reminder of the potential consequences of not following HUD program rules, and the diligence with which we will pursue those that violate them, particularly where lenders such as U.S. Bank take actions to compromise the insurance fund,” said David A. Montoya, Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“We are gratified that U.S. Bank has agreed to put this matter behind it, and we want to thank the Department of Justice and HUD’s Office of Inspector General for all of their efforts in helping us make this settlement a reality,” said Damon Smith, Acting General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.   “This settlement underscores our consistent message that following Federal Housing Administration rules for underwriting FHA-insured loans is a requirement, not an option.”

The agreement resolves potential violations of federal law based on U.S. Bank’s deficient origination of FHA insured mortgages.   The agreement does not prevent state and federal authorities from pursuing enforcement actions for other origination conduct by U.S. Bank, or for any servicing or foreclosure conduct, including civil enforcement actions against U.S. Bank for violations of the CFPB’s new mortgage servicing rules that took effect on Jan. 10, 2014.   U.S. Bank is a banking services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, a bank holding company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The settlement was the result of a joint investigation conducted by HUD, its Office of Inspector General, the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, and the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Ohio and the Eastern District of Michigan.

The settlement is part of enforcement efforts by President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.  President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.  The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources.  The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S REMARKS REGARDING BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION REFORM

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Remarks by the President on Border Security and Immigration Reform

Rose Garden

3:04 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  One year ago this month, senators of both parties –- with support from the business, labor, law enforcement, faith communities –- came together to pass a commonsense immigration bill. 

Independent experts said that bill would strengthen our borders, grow our economy, shrink our deficits.  As we speak, there are enough Republicans and Democrats in the House to pass an immigration bill today.  I would sign it into law today, and Washington would solve a problem in a bipartisan way.

But for more than a year, Republicans in the House of Representatives have refused to allow an up-or-down vote on that Senate bill or any legislation to fix our broken immigration system.  And I held off on pressuring them for a long time to give Speaker Boehner the space he needed to get his fellow Republicans on board. 

Meanwhile, here’s what a year of obstruction has meant.  It has meant fewer resources to strengthen our borders.  It’s meant more businesses free to game the system by hiring undocumented workers, which punishes businesses that play by the rules, and drives down wages for hardworking Americans.  It’s meant lost talent when the best and brightest from around the world come to study here but are forced to leave and then compete against our businesses and our workers.  It’s meant no chance for 11 million immigrants to come out of the shadows and earn their citizenship if they pay a penalty and pass a background check, pay their fair share of taxes, learn English, and go to the back of the line.  It’s meant the heartbreak of separated families. 

That’s what this obstruction has meant over the past year.  That’s what the Senate bill would fix if the House allowed it to go to a vote.

Our country and our economy would be stronger today if House Republicans had allowed a simple yes-or-no vote on this bill or, for that matter, any bill.  They’d be following the will of the majority of the American people who support reform.  Instead, they’ve proven again and again that they’re unwilling to stand up to the tea party in order to do what’s best for the country.  And the worst part about it is a bunch of them know better.

We now have an actual humanitarian crisis on the border that only underscores the need to drop the politics and fix our immigration system once and for all.  In recent weeks, we’ve seen a surge of unaccompanied children arrive at the border, brought here and to other countries by smugglers and traffickers. 

The journey is unbelievably dangerous for these kids.  The children who are fortunate enough to survive it will be taken care of while they go through the legal process, but in most cases that process will lead to them being sent back home.  I’ve sent a clear message to parents in these countries not to put their kids through this.  I recently sent Vice President Biden to meet with Central American leaders and find ways to address the root causes of this crisis.  Secretary Kerry will also be meeting with those leaders again tomorrow.  With our international partners, we’re taking new steps to go after the dangerous smugglers who are putting thousands of children’s lives at risk.

Today, I sent a letter to congressional leaders asking that they work with me to address the urgent humanitarian challenge on the border, and support the immigration and Border Patrol agents who already apprehend and deport hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants every year.  And understand, by the way, for the most part, this is not a situation where these children are slipping through.  They’re being apprehended.  But the problem is, is that our system is so broken, so unclear that folks don’t know what the rules are.

Now, understand –- there are a number of Republicans who have been willing to work with us to pass real, commonsense immigration reform, and I want to thank them for their efforts.  There are a number of Republican leaders in the Senate who did excellent work and deserve our thanks.  And less visibly, there have been folks in the House who have been trying to work to get this done.  And quietly, because it doesn’t always help me to praise them, I’ve expressed to them how much I appreciate the efforts that they’ve made.

I believe Speaker Boehner when he says he wants to pass an immigration bill.  I think he genuinely wants to get something done.  But last week, he informed me that Republicans will continue to block a vote on immigration reform at least for the remainder of this year.  Some in the House Republican Caucus are using the situation with unaccompanied children as their newest excuse to do nothing.  Now, I want everybody to think about that.  Their argument seems to be that because the system is broken, we shouldn’t make an effort to fix it.  It makes no sense.  It’s not on the level.  It’s just politics, plain and simple. 

Now, there are others in the Republican Caucus in the House who are arguing that they can’t act because they’re mad at me about using my executive authority too broadly.  This also makes no sense.  I don’t prefer taking administrative action.  I’d rather see permanent fixes to the issue we face.  Certainly that’s true on immigration.  I’ve made that clear multiple times.  I would love nothing more than bipartisan legislation to pass the House, the Senate, land on my desk so I can sign it.  That’s true about immigration, that’s true about the minimum wage, it’s true about equal pay.  There are a whole bunch of things where I would greatly prefer Congress actually do something.  I take executive action only when we have a serious problem, a serious issue, and Congress chooses to do nothing.  And in this situation, the failure of House Republicans to pass a darn bill is bad for our security, it’s bad for our economy, and it’s bad for our future. 

So while I will continue to push House Republicans to drop the excuses and act –- and I hope their constituents will too -– America cannot wait forever for them to act.  And that’s why, today, I’m beginning a new effort to fix as much of our immigration system as I can on my own, without Congress.  As a first step, I’m directing the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to move available and appropriate resources from our interior to the border.  Protecting public safety and deporting dangerous criminals has been and will remain the top priority, but we are going to refocus our efforts where we can to make sure we do what it takes to keep our border secure. 

I have also directed Secretary Johnson and Attorney General Holder to identify additional actions my administration can take on our own, within my existing legal authorities, to do what Congress refuses to do and fix as much of our immigration system as we can.  If Congress will not do their job, at least we can do ours.  I expect their recommendations before the end of summer and I intend to adopt those recommendations without further delay. 

Of course, even with aggressive steps on my part, administrative action alone will not adequately address the problem.  The reforms that will do the most to strengthen our businesses, our workers, and our entire economy will still require an act of Congress.  And I repeat:  These are reforms that already enjoy the wide support of the American people.  It’s very rare where you get labor, business, evangelicals, law enforcement all agreeing on what needs to be done.  And at some point, that should be enough.  Normally, that is enough.  The point of public service is to solve public problems.  And those of us who have the privilege to serve have a responsibility to do everything in our power to keep Americans safe and to keep the doors of opportunity open. 

And if we do, then one year from now, not only would our economy and our security be stronger, but maybe the best and the brightest from around the world who come study here would stay and create jobs here.  Maybe companies that play by the rules will no longer be undercut by companies that don’t.  Maybe more families who’ve been living here for years, whose children are often U.S. citizens, who are our neighbors and our friends, whose children are our kids’ friends and go to school with them, and play on ball teams with them, maybe those families would get to stay together.  But much of this only happens if Americans continue to push Congress to get this done.

So I’ve told Speaker Boehner that even as I take those steps that I can within my existing legal authorities to make the immigration system work better, I’m going to continue to reach out to House Republicans in the hope that they deliver a more permanent solution with a comprehensive bill.  Maybe it will be after the midterms, when they’re less worried about politics.  Maybe it will be next year.  Whenever it is, they will find me a willing partner.  I have been consistent in saying that I am prepared to work with them even on a bill that I don't consider perfect.  And the Senate bill was a good example of the capacity to compromise and get this done.  The only thing I can’t do is stand by and do nothing while waiting for them to get their act together. 

And I want to repeat what I said earlier.  If House Republicans are really concerned about me taking too many executive actions, the best solution to that is passing bills.  Pass a bill; solve a problem.  Don't just say no on something that everybody agrees needs to be done.  Because if we pass a bill, that will supplant whatever I’ve done administratively.  We’ll have a structure there that works, and it will be permanent.  And people can make plans and businesses can make plans based on the law.  And there will be clarity both here inside this country and outside it.

Let me just close by saying Friday is the Fourth of July.  It’s the day we celebrate our independence and all the things that make this country so great.  And each year, Michelle and I host a few hundred servicemembers and wounded warriors and their families right here on the lawn for a barbecue and fireworks on the Mall.

And some of the servicemembers coming this year are unique because they signed up to serve, to sacrifice, potentially to give their lives for the security of this country even though they weren’t yet Americans.  That's how much they love this country.  They were prepared to fight and die for an America they did not yet fully belong to.  I think they’ve earned their stripes in more ways than one.  And that’s why on Friday morning we’re going to naturalize them in a ceremony right here at the White House.  This Independence Day will be their first day as American citizens. 

One of the things we celebrate on Friday –- one of the things that make this country great –- is that we are a nation of immigrants.  Our people come from every corner of the globe.  That's what makes us special.  That's what makes us unique.  And throughout our history, we’ve come here in wave after wave from everywhere understanding that there was something about this place where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts; that all the different cultures and ideas and energy would come together and create something new.

We won this country’s freedom together.  We built this country together.  We defended this country together.  It makes us special.  It makes us strong.  It makes us Americans.  That’s worth celebrating.  And that's what I want not just House Republicans but all of us as Americans to remember.

Thanks very much.

END                                              
3:21 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA, PRESIDENT BACHELET OF CHILE MAKE REMARKS BEFORE MEETING

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Remarks by President Obama and President Michelle Bachelet of Chile Before Bilateral Meeting

Oval Office

11:05 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, I want to welcome back to the Oval Office President Bachelet.  She is my second favorite Michelle.  (Laughter.)  And I’m very much pleased to see her again.  We had the opportunity to work together when I first came into office.  Since that time, President Bachelet has been extraordinarily busy doing excellent work at the United Nations, particularly around women -- an issue that the United States has been very supportive of.  And we’re very proud of the work that she did there.

She’s now back in office, and it gives us an opportunity to just strengthen further the outstanding relationship between the United States and Chile.

Let me say, first of all, congratulations to the Chilean National Football Team for an outstanding showing at the World Cup.  I know it was a tough loss, but it also showed the incredible skill and talent of the Chilean team.  This is as well, I think, as it’s ever done against a very tough Brazilian team on their home turf.  And so congratulations to them.  We play -- coming up, we’ve got a tough match as well.  So I want to wish the U.S. team a lot of luck in the game to come.

The basis for Chile’s and the United States’ strong bilateral relationship includes the fact that we have a free trade agreement that has greatly expanded commerce in both countries and has created jobs in both countries. 

We have excellent cooperation when it comes to a wide range of issues -- energy, education, people-to-people relations.  Chile has been a model of democracy in Latin America.  It’s been able to consistently transition from center-left governments to center-right governments, but always respectful of democratic traditions.  Obviously, those traditions were hard-won, and President Bachelet knows as well as anybody how difficult it was to bring about democracy.  And now, the fact that Chile across the political spectrum respects and fights for the democratic process makes it a great model for the entire hemisphere.

Today, we’re going to have an opportunity to discuss how we can deepen those relationships even further.  I know that education, for example, is an issue that is at the top of President Bachelet’s agenda.  It’s something that’s at the top of my agenda here in the United States.  For us to be able to strengthen student exchanges and compare mechanisms and ideas for how we can build skills of young people in both countries is something that we’ll spend some time on.

We’re both very interested in energy and how we can transition to a clean energy economy.  And we’ll be announcing some collaborations, including the facilitation of a construction of a major solar plant inside of Chile that can help meet their energy needs.

We’ll talk about regional issues.  Obviously, we’ve seen great progress in democratization throughout the region, in part because of Chile’s leadership, but there are obviously still some hotspots that we have to try to address, as well as issues of security in areas like Central America and the Caribbean.  And I’ll be very interested in hearing President Bachelet’s views.

And we’ll discuss international issues.  Chile, with its seat on the United Nations Security Council, can serve as a leader on a wide range of issues, from peacekeeping to conflict resolution, to important issues like climate change.  And we have great confidence that in that role Chile will continue to be a positive force for good around the world.

So I just want to say thank you for not only the friendship with President Bachelet, but more broadly, our friendship with the Chilean people.  And President Bachelet’s predecessor, he and I had an excellent relationship; she and I have had an excellent relationship.  I think that indicates that it really goes beyond any particular party.  I’m confident that my replacement after I’m gone will have an excellent relationship, because it’s based on common values and a strong respect in both countries for the value of the U.S.-Chilean relationship.

So, welcome, and I look forward to an excellent conversation.

PRESIDENT BACHELET:  Thank you, President Obama.  I want to, first of all, thank you for the invitation to visit you and your country.  And, of course, we are looking forward to enhance our cooperation in many different areas. 

As you just mentioned, Chile and the U.S. have had a very strong and mature relation for so many years, and we want to make it deeper and to enhance them in different areas.  Of course, this will be a great opportunity, as you said, to discuss some of the regional and international issues, given the fact that we’re also sitting at the Security Council.  But also, we will be able to in the bilateral dimension be able to increase our cooperation in areas that are very sensible, and for the U.S. and for Chile, such as you mentioned, education, energy, science and technology, people-to-people relation. 

We already have, as you know, a very good -- I mean, not only the bilateral way, we also have a very good Chile-California and Chile-Massachusetts programs.  We have been working very strongly and we will continue on that path. 

And we are really interested -- this year, I think we are commemorating 10 years of the free trade agreement from the U.S. and Chile.  And the U.S. is our, I would say, our most important foreign investor.  We want to continue that path, and of course, we will have also the possibility of having activities with the Chamber of Commerce and others because we really want to make our relations in all dimensions -- political, economical, social, et cetera -- stronger and stronger every day.

So I’m very happy to be here with you again, and I’m sure this will be a great meeting.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you.

END
11:12 A.M. EDT

DRIVERLESS VEHICLES

FROM:  NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Demonstrating a driverless future

Carnegie Mellon researchers bring NSF-funded autonomous vehicle to D.C. to show promise of driverless cars

In the coming decades, we will likely commute to work and explore the countryside in autonomous, or driverless, cars capable of communicating with the roads they are traveling on. A convergence of technological innovations in embedded sensors, computer vision, artificial intelligence, control and automation, and computer processing power is making this feat a reality.

This week, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) will mark a significant milestone, demonstrating one of the most advanced autonomous vehicles ever designed, capable of navigating on urban roads and highways without human intervention. The car was brought to Washington, D.C., at the request of Congressman Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, who participated in a 33-mile drive in the autonomous vehicle between a Pittsburgh suburb and the city's airport last September.

Developed with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Transportation, DARPA and General Motors, the car is the result of more than a decade of research and development by scientists and engineers at CMU and elsewhere. Their work has advanced the underlying technologies--sensors, software, wireless communications and network integration--required to make sure a vehicle on the road is as safe--and ultimately safer--without a driver than with one. (In the case of the Washington, D.C., demonstration, an engineer will be on hand to take the wheel if required.)

"This technology has been enabled by remarkable advances in the seamless blend of computation, networking and control into physical objects--a field known as cyber-physical systems," said Cora Marrett, NSF deputy director. "The National Science Foundation has long supported fundamental research that has built a strong foundation to enable cyber-physical systems to become a reality--like Dr. Raj Rajkumar's autonomous car."

Raj Rajkumar, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and robotics at CMU, is a leader not just in autonomous vehicles, but in the broader field of cyber-physical systems, or CPS. Such systems are already in use in sectors such as agriculture, energy, healthcare and advanced manufacturing, and they are poised to make an impact in transportation as well.

"Federal funding has been critical to our work in dealing with the uncertainties of real-world operating conditions, making efficient real-time usage of on-board computers, enabling vehicular communications and ensuring safe driving behaviors," Rajkumar said.

In 2007, Carnegie Mellon's then state-of-the-art driverless car, BOSS, took home the $2 million grand prize in the DARPA Urban Challenge, which pitted the leading autonomous vehicles in the world against one another in a challenging, urban environment. The new vehicle that Rajkumar is demonstrating in Washington, D.C., is the successor to that vehicle.

Unlike BOSS, which was rigged with visible antennas and large sensors, CMU's new car--a Cadillac SRX--doesn't appear particularly "smart." In fact, it looks much like any other car on the road. However, top-of-the-line radar, cameras, sensors and other technologies are built into the body of the vehicle. The car's computers are tucked away under the floor.

The goal of CMU's researchers is simple but important: To develop a driverless car that can decrease injuries and fatalities on roads. Automotive accidents result in 1.2 million fatalities annually around the world and cost citizens and governments $518 billion. It is estimated that 90 percent of those accidents are caused by human error.

"Because computers don't get distracted, sleepy or angry, they can actually keep us much safer--that is the promise of this technology," Rajkumar said. "Over time, the technology will augment automotive safety significantly."

In addition to controlling the steering, speed and braking, the autonomous systems in the vehicle also detect and avoid obstacles in the road, including pedestrians and bicyclists.

In their demonstration in D.C., cameras in the vehicle will visually detect the status of traffic lights and respond appropriately. In collaboration with the D.C. Department of Transportation, the researchers have even added a technology that allows some of the traffic lights in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington to wirelessly communicate with the car, telling it the status of the lights ahead.

NSF has supported Rajkumar's work on autonomous vehicles since 2005, but it is not the only project of this kind that NSF supports. In addition to CMU's driverless car, NSF supports Sentry, an autonomous underwater vehicle deployed at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and several projects investigating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including those in use in search and rescue and disaster recovery operations. Moreover, NSF supports numerous projects that advance the fundamental theories and applications that underlie all autonomous vehicles and other cyber-physical systems.

In the last five years, NSF has invested over $200 million in CPS research and education, building a foundation for the smart systems of the future.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
Aaron Dubrow, NSF
Byron Spice, Carnegie Mellon University
Principal Investigators
Raj Rajkumar, Carnegie Mellon University

U.S. CONGRATULATES THE PEOPLE OF CANADA ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY OF CONFEDERATION (CANADA DAY)

FROM:   U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Canada Day

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

June 30, 2014

---

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the Canadian people on the 147^th anniversary of Confederation on July 1.

The United States and Canada share a long and productive history and a common democratic heritage. Americans are proud to share not just borders, but values with the great nation of Canada.

The United States and Canada have enjoyed another year of fruitful collaboration on democracy, trade, and deepening North American economic cooperation.
I was pleased to welcome Foreign Minister Baird to Washington in January for the North American Ministerial. We discussed how to build on the success of the North American Free Trade Agreement and strengthen the economic ties between the United States and Canada.
At the North American Leaders Summit in February, President Obama and Prime Minister Harper, along with Mexican President Peña Nieto, underscored our enduring commitment to a prosperous and secure continent.

As you gather with friends and family, the United States joins you in celebrating the birth of your nation. I wish you all a happy Canada Day.

SECRETARY KERRY'S STATEMENT ON NEWS OF MURDER OF THREE ISRAELI TEENAGERS

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Deaths of Naftali Frankel, Eyal Yifrach, and Gilad Shaar

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

June 30, 2014

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The news of the murder of these three Israeli teenagers -- Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar, and Eyal Yifrach -- is simply devastating. We all had so much hope that this story would not end this way. As a father, there are no words to express such a horrific loss that shakes all people of conscience. We pray for these three boys and their families, and together we grieve with all the people of Israel. Knowing that Naftali was also an American citizen makes this an especially heavy blow not just to Israel, but to the United States.

We condemn this despicable terrorist act in the strongest possible terms. The killing of innocent youths is an outrage beyond any understanding or rationale, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. This is a time for all to work towards that goal without destabilizing the situation.

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR JUNE 30, 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

CONTRACTS

AIR FORCE

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $163,223,113 fixed-price/fixed-price-incentive/cost-plus-incentive contract for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Program Support and Sustainment (PSAS). The PSAS contract provides sustaining engineering, program management, contractor logistics support and accomplishes the diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortage tasks of extending the life of the AMRAAM Central Processing Unit, improving the AMRAAM guidance section within the current performance envelope, and developing applicable test equipment. Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2017. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. This contract has unclassified 45.7 percent foreign military sales service/repair requirements for Saudi Arabia, Korea, Israel, Singapore and United Arab Emirates. Fiscal 2013 missile procurement funds in the amount of $40,588,238, 2014 missile procurement funds in the amount of $18,344,910, fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,546,463, fiscal 2014 Navy weapons procurement funds in the amount of $19,857,909, and fiscal 2014 Navy operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,214,047, for a total of $88,551,568, are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/EBAK, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8675-14-C-0026).

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. Sunnyvale, California, has been awarded a $38,378,116 modification (P00645) to the cost-plus-incentive-fee contract F04701-02-C-0002 for Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) System Interim Contractor Sustainment Re-vector under cost line item number 0610. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $8,752,571,223. The contract modification is for critical software development for Mission Planning Development for initial operational capability in 2015. Work will be performed at Sunnyvale, California, and El Segundo, California, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2015. Fiscal 2014 research and development funds in the amount of $11,600,000 are being obligated at time of award. This contract is not a multiyear effort. Space and Missile Systems Center/PKJ, AEHF, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity.

Alion Science and Technology Corp., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a $24,909,860 delivery order (0079) on the Advanced Materials Manufacturing & Testing Information Analysis Center indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity cost-plus-fixed-fee contract FA4600-06-D-0003. The contract is for Life Cycle Engineering, Prototyping, Sustainability, and Manufacturing Processes for the Rapid Fielding Directorate. AMMTIAC's objective is to providing greater levels of protection to the most critical subsystems of combat platforms. Work will be performed at Alion Science and Technology Corp.'s facilities and various Air Force locations, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 29, 2016. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $68,834 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded a $11,150,000 firm-fixed-price, time-and-materials and cost-reimbursable contract for E-3 Engineering Services. Work will be performed at Seattle, Washington, and is expected to be completed by May 31, 2017. This is a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance and foreign military sales (France, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and NATO) funds in the amount of $11,150,000 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8102-14-D-0001).
Hawker Beechcraft Corp., Wichita, Kansas, has been awarded a $7,851,932 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of one King Air 350 Extended Range (ER) Aircraft. Work will be performed at Wichita, Kansas, and is expected to be completed by March 30, 2015. This contract will support 100 percent foreign military sales for Iraq. FMS funds in the amount of $7,851,932 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-14-C-4006).

ARMY

Environmental Chemical Corporation (ECC), Burlingame, California (W912P8-14-D-0028); Ashbritt Environmental, Deerfield, Florida (W912P8-14-D-0029); CrowderGulf, LCC, Theodore, Alabama (W912P8-14-D-0030); Environmental Chemical Corporation (ECC), Burlingame, California (W912P8-14-D-0031); Ceres Environmental Services, Inc.*, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (W912P8-14-D-0032); and Ashbritt Environmental, Deerfield, Florida (W912P8-14-D-0033), were awarded a $240,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for advanced contracting imitative debris management services for the United States and its territories. Funding and performance location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 29, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 16 received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – New Orleans District, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Massachusetts, was awarded a $235,485,020 foreign military sales, firm-fixed-price contract for Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target weapon system, procuring 72 radar digital processor upgrade kits: 62 for the United States and 10 for foreign military sales to Kuwait and the Netherlands; it also includes procuring spares for the United States, Kuwait and the Netherlands. Work will be performed in Simsbury, Connecticut (6.30 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (78.90 percent); and Chelmsford, Massachusetts (14.80 percent), with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2017. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $115,387,660 are being obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal –Missile, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-14-C-0002).
The Boeing Company, Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $135,173,889 foreign military sales, firm-fixed-price contract for Apache foreign military sales post production support services. Work will be performed in Saudi Arabia (80 percent) and Mesa, Arizona (20 percent), with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Other procurement funds in the amount of $10,878,730 are being obligated at the time of the award. There is no fiscal year attached to the foreign military sales fund. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal – Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-14-C-0055).

TRAX International Corp., Las Vegas, Nevada, was awarded a $34,668,877 cost-plus-award-fee modification (P00127) to contract (W9124R-09-C-0003) for non-personal test support services in support of the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. This modification allows for performance through Oct. 31, 2014. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $34,668,877 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed at Yuma, Arizona (99.0 percent) and Fort Greeley, Alaska (1.0 percent), with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2014. Army Contracting Command, Yuma, Arizona, is the contracting activity.

EastCor Engineering, LLC*, Easton, Maryland, was awarded a $29,405,380 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Magnum Project advanced research and development and operational field testing and assessments using novel sensor systems for enhanced target detection and location. Funding and performance location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is June 29, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Army Contracting Command, Adelphi Division, Adelphi, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QX-14-D-0002).

BAE Systems Land and Armaments, L.P., Santa Clara, California, was awarded a $20,819,031 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00019) to contract (W56HZV-13-C-0018) to exercise 88,619 level of effort hours and dollars for system technical support and sustainment system technical support for the Bradley family of vehicles and multiple launch rocket system carrier. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $5,753,947; fiscal 2014 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $14,100,734; and fiscal 2013 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $964,050 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed at Santa Clara, California (91.71 percent); Sterling Heights, Michigan (4.91 percent); and York, Pennsylvania (3.38 percent), with an estimated completion date of Dec. 17, 2015. Army Contracting Command, Tank and Automotive Division, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
Frontier-Arrowhead JV*, Kansas City, Missouri, was awarded a $17,474,296 firm-fixed-price contract for river repairs to stone navigation structures on the Mississippi River. Work location and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, Tennessee, is the contracting activity (W912EQ-14-D-0008).

Welkin Sciences*, Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded a $9,909,482 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for small business innovative research, phase III contract, for advanced communication technologies. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with an estimated completion date of June 29, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,400,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Division B, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W56KGU-14-C-0008).
B & B General Contracting Inc*, Oscoda, Michigan, was awarded a $9,631,139 firm-fixed-price contract for repair of parking aprons A01B and A08B at the Combined Readiness Training Center. Work will be performed in Alpena, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with six received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $9,631,139 are being obligated at the time of the award. National Guard Bureau – Michigan, Lansing, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W912JB-14-C-2004).

Aerostar SES, LLC*, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was awarded an $8,832,628 firm-fixed-price contract to conduct improvements to the Jones Oyster-bed Island Dredged Material Containment Area which include, but are not limited to, the installing and removing of a temporary slit fence, site clearing and grubbing, surveying, and completion of a raised front perimeter dike and shoreline protection along the southwest side of Jones Oyster-bed Island. Work will be performed in Jasper County, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 7, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with four received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $8,832,628 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-14-C-0009).

MACNAK Korte Team LLC*, Lakewood, Washington, was awarded a $19,716,709 firm-fixed-price contract to design/build in fiscal year 2014 a 144-person dormitory at Cannon Air Force Base, Curry County, New Mexico. The dormitory will consist of a three-story building complete with associated utilities, storm drainage, communications, electric, HVAC, lighting protection, fire protection/alarm system, paving, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, access drives, exterior lighting, grading, and physical security requirements. The project also will include demolition of existing building 1156. Work will be performed in Clovis, New Mexico, with an estimated completion date of July 7, 2016. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Fiscal 2014 military construction funds in the amount of $19,716,709 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Albuquerque District, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the contracting activity (W912PP-14-C-0020).

NAVY

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp, Aerospace Systems, Bethpage, New York, is being awarded a $3,643,333,802 modification to definitize the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye advanced acquisition contract (N00019-13-C-9999) to a multi-year, fixed-price-incentive-firm target contract. In addition, this modification provides for the procurement of 25 full rate production E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Augustine, Florida (24.90 percent); Syracuse, New York (20.58 percent); Melbourne, Florida (7.60 percent); El Segundo, California (4.56 percent); Indianapolis, Indiana (4.06 percent); Menlo Park, California (3.90 percent); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (2.30 percent) and various locations
throughout the United States (32.10 percent); and is expected to be completed in August 2021. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $871,766,824 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded a $1,939,160,819 fixed-price-incentive-fee contract for the full rate production of 11 Lot 38 F/A-18E aircraft for the U.S. Navy and 33 EA-18G aircraft for the U.S. Navy (21) and the government of Australia (12). Work will be performed in El Segundo, California (46 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (30 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (2 percent); East Aurora, New York (1.5 percent); Irvine, California (1percent); Ajax, Ontario, Canada (1 percent), and various locations within the United States (18.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2016. Fiscal 2013 and 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,405,732,929 and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $533,427,890 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) This contract combines purchase for the U.S. Navy ($1,405,732,929; 72.7 percent) and the government of Australia ($533,427,890; 27.3 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-14-C-0032).

Construction Development Services, Inc.*, Norfolk, Virginia (N40085-14-D-8152); Noah Enterprises, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Virginia (N40085-14-D-8153); Portico Services, LLC*, Manassas, Virginia (N40085-14-D-8154); Syncon, LLC*, Chesapeake, Virginia (N40085-14-D-8155); and Turner Strategic Technologies, LLC*, Norfolk, Virginia (N40085-14-D-8156), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award design-build/design-bid-build contract for construction projects located within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic Hampton Roads area of responsibility (AOR), primarily for facilities for the Naval Station Norfolk/Naval Support Activity. The maximum dollar value including the base period and four option years for all five contracts combined is $95,000,000. Work provides for, but is not limited to, new construction, renovation, alteration, repairs, site improvement, general construction, electrical, fire protection, mechanical and other associated work on warehouses, training facilities, operational facilities (such as hangers and berthing piers), personnel support and service facilities, utilities, housing facilities and demolition of existing structures and facilities. Syncon, LLC is being awarded task order 0001 at $1,040,970 for the design and construction of Pier 11 power upgrades at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by January 2016. All work on this contract will be performed within the NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Hampton Roads AOR, primarily for facilities for the Naval Station Norfolk/Naval Support Activity. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of June 2019. Fiscal 2014 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $1,060,970 are being obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); operation and maintenance (Navy), and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 23 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

John C. Grimberg Company, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is being awarded firm-fixed-price task order 0008 for $44,200,000 under a multiple award construction contract for design and construction of the Aircraft Prototype Facility Phase II at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. The work to be performed is for the construction of a hangar space for a single large aircraft or up to four smaller aircraft, with concrete pile and grade beam foundation, structural steel frame, insulated metal panel wall system, built-up roofing system over insulated structural metal deck, steel truss roof framing and sliding hangar doors on each end. The project will provide a secure facility, individual secure area(s), aircraft preparation bay and laboratories with equal-sized bays with separate zoning for fire protection alarm system and security systems. Work will be performed at Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by April 2016. Fiscal 2014 non-appropriated funds in the amount of $44,200,000 will be obligated at time of this award. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N40080-10-D-0492).

Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Honolulu, is being awarded a $26,615,298 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a Submarine Production Support Facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The contract also contains two unexercised options, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $28,870,298. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by August 2017. Fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2010 military construction (Navy) funds in the amount of $26,615,298 are being obligated at time of this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-14-C-1304).

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded an undefinitized contract action against a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive Fee contract (N00019-11-C-0036) with a not-to-exceed value of $22,200,000 for production of F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track Engineering Development Model systems and support equipment. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (58 percent), and Orlando, Fla. (42 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2015. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,501,815 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $18,369,619 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive (firm target) contract (N00019-11-C-0083) for the procurement and delivery of electronic components needed to support F-35 production, sustainment, and operations and maintenance requirements. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2016. Fiscal 2012 and 2014 aircraft procurement, Navy and Air Force funds, and fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy and Air Force funds, in the amount of $18,369,619 will be obligated at time of award, of which $15,399,162 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force ($9,346,195; 51 percent); U.S. Navy ($7,135,231; 39 percent); and international partners ($1,888,193; 10 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

DPR Hardin Construction Company-LLC / Whitesell-Green, Inc., JV, Atlanta, is being awarded a firm-fixed-price task order 0010 for $14,810,000 under a multiple award construction contract for design, construction and renovation of the Navy Exchange Service Command Headquarters in Virginia Beach. The task order also contains five unexercised options, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $16,286,000. Work will be performed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by September 2016. Fiscal 2014 non-appropriated funds in the amount of $14,810,000 are being obligated at the time of this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-10-D-5333).
Choctaw Manufacturing Defense Contractor,* McAlester, Oklahoma, is being awarded $14,247,484 for firm-fixed-price delivery order 0014 under an existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of 626 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement Modular Production Trailers and Water Dispensing System production units; training, provisioning data, and program support. Work will be performed in McAlester, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2015. Fiscal 2012 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $5,314,267 and fiscal 2012 procurement (Marine Corps) overseas contingency operations funds in the amount of $8,933,217 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(5). Choctaw Manufacturing Defense Contractor is a Native American owned, Small Business Administration 8 (a)-certified company. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-09-D-5024).

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, is being awarded a $14,000,000 firm-fixed-price delivery order (#4004) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0004). This order provides for non-recurring efforts to incorporate the Engineering Change Proposal 4330AU into the Royal Australian Navy MH-60R aircraft for the government of Australia under the Foreign Military Sales Program. In addition, this order includes the delivery of 22 Emergency Locator Transmitter kits. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut (90 percent) and West Palm Beach, Florida (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2016. FMS funds in the amount of $14,000,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Corp., Aerospace Systems, Bethpage, New York, is being awarded $10,266,560 for firm-fixed-price delivery order 0010 against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N68335-10-G-0021) to procure the avionics source data for the future acquisition of depot level operational test program sets. The avionics source data consists of a detailed functional description document package and system synthesis model report for each avionics unit under test in support of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Bethpage, New York, and is expected to be completed in December 2016. Fiscal 2013 and 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,266,560 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Land & Armaments, Santa Clara, California, is being awarded a $7,882,132 modification to previously awarded contract (M67854-13-F-0009) to understand the risks and assist the government in determining the best approach for developing a High Waterspeed Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). Detailed trade studies, requirements studies, operational effectiveness analyses and initial concept design results have been reported to Marine Corps leadership and the assistant secretary of the Navy research, development and acquisition. The contractors will continue these studies as they relate to flexibility and modularity requirements and the impacts to derived system specification requirements. This modification includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the modification to $17,190,479. Work will be performed in Santa Clara, California (80 percent); Sterling Heights, Michigan (11 percent); Stafford, Virginia (6 percent) Aiken, South Carolina (2 percent); and York, Pennsylvania (1 percent), and work is expected to be completed October 2014. With exercised options, work will continue through April 2015. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $7,882,132 will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

Millennium Engineering and Integration Co., Arlington, Virginia, is being awarded a $7,528,016 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide mission planning, test execution and operations, data analysis and reporting, software and hardware maintenance/upgrades, and communications and facilities engineering in support of Missile Defense Communications and Operations Node systems in support of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program. Work will be performed in Kauai, Hawaii (65 percent); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (6 percent); Colorado Springs, Colorado (6 percent); Huntsville, Alabama (4 percent); Wallops Island, Virginia (3 percent); San Diego, California (3 percent); Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (3 percent); Washington, District of Columbia (2 percent); Columbia, Maryland (2 percent); Tucson, Arizona (2 percent); Arlington, Virginia (2 percent); Dahlgren, Virginia (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by June 2017. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $460,000 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 (a)(2) and DFARS 206.302-1. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-14-C-2006).

General Dynamics Information Technology, Fairfax, Virginia, is being awarded a $7,346,539 modification to previously awarded M67854-13-F-0010 to understand the risks and assist the government in determining the best approach for developing a High Waterspeed Amphibious Combat Vehicle. Detailed trade studies, requirements studies, operational effectiveness analyses and initial concept design results have been reported to Marine Corps leadership and the assistant secretary of the Navy research, development and acquisition. The contractors will continue these studies as they relate to flexibility and modularity requirements and the impacts to derived system specification requirements. This modification includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the modification to $15,901,781. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan (96 percent) and Suffolk, Virginia (4 percent), and work is expected to be completed October 2014. With exercised options, work will continue through April 2015. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $7,346,539 will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity.
Northrop Grumman Corp., Integrated Systems, Bethpage, New York, is being awarded a $6,700,000 modification to a delivery order (252) placed against a previously issued basic order agreement (N00019-10-G-0004) for two spare engines in support of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana (90 percent) and Bethpage, New York (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2015. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,700,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Pocono ProFoods,** Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a maximum $79,800,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment for prime vendor food and beverage support. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and two offers were received. Location of performance is Pennsylvania. This is a two-year base contract with one one-year option and one two-year option period. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, job corps and detention centers. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-14-D-3011).

Buckeye Terminals, LLC, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a minimum $42,533,000 firm-fixed-price for fuel storage services. This contract was a competitive acquisition and four offers were received. Locations of performance are Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This is a four-year six-month base contract with no option periods. Using service is Department of Energy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2019 Department of Energy funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SP0600-14-C-5419).

Renzi Bros. Inc.,* Watertown, New York, has been awarded a maximum $33,600,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, for prime vendor food and beverage support. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and three offers were received. Location of performance is New York. This is a two-year base contract with one one-year option and one two-year option. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-14-D-3012).
Global Companies, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts, has been awarded a minimum $24,300,000 firm-fixed-price for fuel storage services. This contract was a competitive acquisition and four offers were received. Location of performance is Massachusetts. This is a four-year six-month base contract with no option periods. Using service is Department of Energy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2019 Department of Energy funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SP0600-14-C-5420).
BP Products North America, Chicago, Illinois, has been awarded a minimum $21,465,000 firm-fixed-price for fuel storage services. This contract was a competitive acquisition and four offers were received. Locations of performance are Illinois and New Jersey. This is a four-year six-month base contract with no option periods. Using service is Department of Energy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2019 Department of Energy funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SP0600-14-C-5418).

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Arizona is being awarded a $50,239,866, modification (P00023) to previously awarded contract HQ0276-13-C-0001 for the procurement of material, fabrication, test and delivery of 52 SM-3 Block IB missiles and related support efforts. This modification increases the total contract value from $960,167,394 to $1,010,407,260. The work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, with an expected completion date of Feb. 8, 2017. This modification definitizes the previously awarded undefinitized contract action (effective Jan. 9, 2014 for a value of $506,178,300). Fiscal 2014 defense-wide procurement in the amount of $152,625,839 is being obligated at the time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co, Integrated Defense Systems, Woburn, Massachusetts, has been awarded an estimated $14,521,358 modification (P00037) to previously awarded contract HQ0147-12-C-0014 for Object Classification (OC) requirement database enhancements and deployment. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $205,098,422 from $190,531,002. Work will be performed at Woburn, Massachusetts, with an expected completion date of Oct. 31, 2017. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,076,446 are being obligated at time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
*Small business

**Woman-owned small business

DOJ SAYS BJO CENTER IN IRAQ IS OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

Baghdad Joint Operations Center at Full Capacity

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2014 – The joint operations center opened by U.S. forces in Baghdad to help the Iraqi government combat Sunni insurgents is fully operational and assessments of Iraqi units have begun, Defense Department spokesman Army Col. Steven Warren said today.

Warren provided Pentagon reporters with an update on the 180 personnel who arrived in Baghdad to establish the operations center.

“The six teams of advisers are on the ground beginning their assessment of Iraqi units in and around Baghdad,” Warren said.

President Barack Obama ordered the teams to Iraq earlier this month following gains made by Sunni militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant who have overrun towns and cities across Iraq’s northern and western provinces as they move closer to Baghdad.

The JOC team provides synthesis of information provided from the six assessment teams and conducts liaison coordination, the colonel explained.

“These are very well-trained personnel that are used to operating in these types of environments,” Warren said of the six assessment teams. “They are very skilled at protecting themselves.”

Additionally, the colonel said, the JOC is sharing information with the Iraqis as assessments are made.

“We’ve long had an information-sharing arrangement with the Iraqis,” Warren said. “That arrangement continues.”

There is a tentative plan for a second operations center to be positioned in the north, he added. But that, he said, hasn’t happened yet.

“Right now, the JOC is collecting the information being provided by the six assessment teams [and] collating it, so we’re still in the assessment phase now,” Warren said.

“To be clear, we’re providing the Iraqis information that will be useful to them in their fight against ISIL,” he added.

U.S. SENDS BEST WISHES TO PEOPLE OF BURUNDI ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Burundi Independence Day

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

June 30, 2014

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On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send best wishes to the people of Burundi on the 52nd anniversary of your independence on July 1.

The United States and Burundi share a long history of friendship and cooperation based on a mutual commitment to peace and regional security. We continue to support the efforts of the government and people of Burundi to promote economic growth and development. We are deeply committed to Burundi’s continued progress as a peaceful and democratic country.
The United States wishes you a joyous celebration as you gather with family and friends to mark your national day.

PRESIDNET OBAMA'S LETTER TO CONGRESS REGARDING HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN RIO GRANDE VALLEY

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

June 30, 2014

Letter from the President -- Efforts to Address the Humanitarian Situation in the Rio Grande Valley Areas of Our Nation’s Southwest Border

Dear Mr. Speaker:    (Senator Reid:)  (Senator McConnell:)   
(Representative Pelosi:)
 
I am writing to update you on my Administration's efforts to address the urgent humanitarian situation in the Río Grande Valley areas of our Nation's Southwest border, and to request that the Congress support the new tools and resources we need to implement a unified, comprehensive Federal Government response.
 
While overall apprehensions across our entire border have only slightly increased during this time period and remain at near historic lows, we have seen a significant rise in apprehensions and processing of children and individuals from Central America who are crossing into the United States in the Río Grande Valley areas of the Southwest border.  The individuals who embark upon this perilous journey are subject to violent crime, abuse, and extortion as they rely on dangerous human smuggling networks to transport them through Central America and Mexico.
 
My Administration continues to address this urgent humanitarian situation with an aggressive, unified, and coordinated Federal response on both sides of the border.  Earlier this month, I directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate this Government-wide response.  This includes fulfilling our legal and moral obligation to make sure we appropriately care for unaccompanied children who are apprehended, while taking aggressive steps to surge resources to our Southwest border to deter both adults and children from this dangerous journey, increase capacity for enforcement and removal proceedings, and quickly return unlawful migrants to their home countries. 
 
Specifically, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and DHS are deploying additional enforcement resources -- including immigration judges, Immigration and Customs Enforcement  attorneys, and asylum officers -- to focus on individuals and adults traveling with children from Central America and entering without authorization across the Southwest border.  Part of this surge will include detention of adults traveling with children, as well as expanded use of the Alternatives to Detention program, to avoid a more significant humanitarian situation.  The DHS is working to secure additional space that satisfies applicable legal and humanitarian standards for detention of adults with children.  This surge of resources will mean that cases are processed fairly and as quickly as possible, ensuring the protection of asylum seekers and refugees while enabling the prompt removal of individuals who do not qualify for asylum or other forms of relief from removal.  Finally, to attack the criminal organizations and smuggling rings that are exploiting these individuals, we are surging law enforcement task forces in cooperation with our international partners, with a focus on stepped-up interdiction and prosecution.
 
To address the root causes of migration and stem the flow of adults and unaccompanied children into the United States, we are also working closely with our Mexican and Central American partners.  Two weeks ago, at my direction, the Vice President convened leaders from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, as well as Mexico, to discuss our shared responsibility for promoting security, and agree on concrete ways that we can work together to stem the flow of migrants taking the dangerous trip to the United States.  These countries committed to working together and with the United States to address the immediate humanitarian crisis as well as the long-term challenges.  On Tuesday, Secretary Kerry will meet with the leaders of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to follow up on the items agreed to in the Vice President's trip, and next week, Secretary Johnson will travel to Guatemala.  I also spoke with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto about our shared responsibility to promote security in both our countries and the region.  As part of this effort, the United States committed foreign assistance resources to improve capacity of these countries to receive and reintegrate returned individuals and address the underlying security and economic issues that cause migration.  This funding will enable El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to improve their existing repatriation processes and increase the capacity of these governments and nongovernmental organizations to provide expanded services to returned migrants.  Additional resources will support community policing and law enforcement efforts to combat gang violence and strengthen citizen security in some of the most violent communities in these countries.
 
Finally, we are working with our Central American partners, nongovernmental organizations, and other influential voices to send a clear message to potential migrants so that they understand the significant dangers of this journey and what they will experience in the United States.  These public information campaigns make clear that recently arriving individuals and children will be placed into removal proceedings, and are not eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals process and earned citizenship provisions that are part of comprehensive immigration reform currently under consideration in the Congress.  The Vice President made this clear in his public and private events on June 20, I addressed this last week in an interview, and we will continue to use multiple channels to counteract the misinformation that is being spread by smugglers.
 
While we are working across all of these channels, to execute a fully effective Government-wide strategy as the influx of migrants continues, we are eager to work with the Congress to ensure that we have the legal authorities to maximize the impact of our efforts.  Initially, we believe this may include: 
 
• providing the DHS Secretary additional authority to exercise discretion in processing the return and removal of unaccompanied minor children from non-contiguous countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador; and
 
• increasing penalties for those who smuggle vulnerable migrants, like children.
 
In addition, we will request congressional action on emergency supplemental appropriations legislation to support:
 
• an aggressive deterrence strategy focused on the removal and repatriation of recent border crossers;
 
• a sustained border security surge through enhanced domestic enforcement, including interdiction and prosecution of criminal networks; 
 
• a significant increase in immigration judges, reassigning them to adjudicate cases of recent border crossers, and establishing corresponding facilities to expedite the processing of cases involving those who crossed the border in recent weeks;
 
• a stepped up effort to work with our Central American partners to repatriate and reintegrate migrants returned to their countries, address the root causes of migration, and communicate the realities of these dangerous journeys; and 
 
• the resources necessary to appropriately detain, process, and care for children and adults.
 
My Administration will be submitting a formal detailed request when the Congress returns from recess, and I look forward to working with you to address this urgent situation as expeditiously as possible.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

U.S. SENDS BEST WISHES TO PEOPLE OF RWANDA ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Rwanda National Day

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

June 30, 2014

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On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Rwanda on the 52nd anniversary of your independence on July 1.
Rwanda and its neighbors are turning adversity into prosperity, and I commend all Rwandans for their commitment to a brighter and more hopeful future.

Over the last 20 years, Rwanda has emerged as a regional leader, borne by a deep commitment to strengthen economic growth for all Rwandans. It has improved health institutions across the country. And it provides wider access to healthcare and universal primary school education to all Rwandan children. By investing in its people, Rwanda is building a strong foundation for peace and prosperity in the years to come.

I congratulate the people of Rwanda on all you have achieved, and wish you a joyous Independence Day celebration.

U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Democratic Republic of the Congo's National Day

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

June 30, 2014

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On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of Democratic Republic of the Congo as they celebrate their Independence Day.

I was inspired during my visit to Congo this spring. In Kinshasa, I met Patricia Nzolantima, who led me on a tour of a medical supply company helping people access lifesaving pharmaceuticals. She also publishes a magazine so thousands of Congolese could access a free press. In addition, I met young people, teeming with energy and ability, ready to make their mark in a stable DRC.

The United States is committed to helping the Congolese people achieve a peaceful, just, and prosperous future. We congratulate you on your recent economic progress. But most of all, we commend your progress in restoring stability in the eastern DRC by defeating the M23 rebels and pursuing other armed groups that have terrorized your country for too long.
The United States look forward to working with you to ensure that the future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its citizens is bright and hopeful.