President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2020 President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts   Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration: Lorenzo Candelaria of New York, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities. Tony Hammond of Missouri, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. --- Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key positions in his Administration: Isaac Applbaum of California, to be a Member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars. Constantine M. Saab of Virginia, to be a Member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars. William Henry Kirkland III of Georgia, to be a Member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars. Bradley P. Johnson of Virginia, to be a Member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars. Jonathan D. Hiler of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy.

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2020

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump Announce Special Guests for the State of the Union Address   President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are pleased to announce that the following individuals will be their special guests for the President’s third State of the Union address:   Tony Rankins from Cincinnati, Ohio:  After serving in the United States Army in Afghanistan, Tony Rankins suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and became addicted to drugs.  He lost his job and his family, served several prison sentences, and ended up living out of his car.  A company called “R Investments” helped train Tony in carpentry, painting, brick work, and other construction trades.  Today, he works in an Opportunity Zone in Cincinnati, Ohio, and his new job has helped him overcome drug addiction and reunite with his family. Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz from Del Rio, Texas:  Deputy Chief Ortiz has helped protect America’s homeland for nearly three decades.  Prior to joining U.S. Border Patrol in 1991, Ortiz served in the United States Army.  In 2019, he became Chief Patrol Agent of the Del Rio Sector, which made him responsible for all Border Patrol operations in 41 Texas counties—including 210 miles of border between the United States and Mexico.  Recently, Ortiz was promoted to Deputy Chief of U.S. Border Patrol, the second in command for more than 20,000 agents and professional staff. His awards include the Superior Civilian Service Medal, among the Department of Defense’s highest civilian honors. Jody Jones from Farmersville, California:  On December 17, 2018, Jody’s brother, Rocky Jones, was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant in Tulare County, California.  The criminal alien who committed this brutal murder had previously been arrested for violent crimes and had been deported twice.  The criminal alien was arrested in December 2018 for the sixth time, but because of California’s sanctuary state policy, he was released from jail.  A few days later, the criminal alien went on a 24-hour “reign of terror,” injuring several people, robbing a gas station, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase, and killing 51-year old Rocky, who was known as a kind and gentle soul.  Rocky leaves behind a precious daughter and 4 brothers who are still grieving the loss of their loved one. Ellie and Robin Schneider from Kansas City, Missouri:  Ellie was born at just 21 weeks and six days.  She is one of the youngest babies to survive in the United States.  With the help of an incredible medical team – and the prayers of her parents and their community -- Ellie kept beating the odds, exceeding milestones, and fighting for life.  Today, Ellie is a happy, healthy two-year-old girl who brings endless joy to her mother, Robin, and her entire family. Janiyah and Stephanie Davis from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  Janiyah is a fourth grade student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  She loves art and math, but for too long she has been assigned to low-performing schools.  Her mom, Stephanie, is a hard working single mother who is hoping for the expansion of school choice to be able to send Janiyah to a school that best serves her needs.  Kelli and Gage Hake from Stillwater, Oklahoma:  Kelli Hake was at home with her one-year-old son, Gage, when she received the terrible news that her that her husband, Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake, had been killed serving on his second tour of duty in Iraq.  While on patrol, Sergeant Hake’s Bradley fighting vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb supplied by the Iranian terrorist leader Qasem Soleimani.  Kelli and Gage directly suffered from Soleimani’s campaign to kill and maim U.S. service members.  Last month, President Donald J. Trump ordered the killing of Soleimani as he was once again trying to initiate attacks on American service members. Paul Morrow from Montgomery, Alabama: Paul is a United States Army veteran. After leaving the military, Morrow started a successful contracting business and today is building a new concrete plant in an Opportunity Zone in Montgomery, Alabama. This new plant will help support several brand new F-35 jets that are stationed in the region. Ivan Simonovis from Caracas, Venezuela:  Ivan was the Chief of Police in Venezuela’s capitol city and esteemed as the nation’s top cop.  He was imprisoned in 2004 for protecting protesters and was held in captivity for nearly 15 years by the Chavez and Maduro regimes.  He escaped from Venezuela in 2019 and was brought to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where immigration agents welcomed him to the United States.

Eleven Nominations Sent to the Senate

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2020 NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:      John Leonard Badalamenti, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, vice Elizabeth A. Kovachevich, retired.      Thomas T. Cullen, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Virginia, vice Glen E. Conrad, retired.      Owen McCurdy Cypher, of Michigan, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan for the term of four years, vice Robert Maynard Grubbs, term expired.      Kathryn C. Davis, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, vice Charles F. Lettow, term expired.      Vincent F. DeMarco, of New York, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York for the term of four years, vice Charles Gillen Dunne, term expired.      Daniel Z. Epstein, of Texas, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, vice Edward J. Damich, term expired.      Thomas L. Foster, of Virginia, to be United States Marshal for the Western District of Virginia for the term of four years, vice Gerald Sidney Holt, term expired.      Michael Allen Hagar, of Arkansas, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas for the term of four years, vice Clifton Timothy Massanelli, term expired.       Anna M. Manasco, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama, vice Karon O. Bowdre, retiring.      Stephen P. McGlynn, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois, vice Michael J. Reagan, retired.      Drew B. Tipton, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, vice Simeon Timothy Lake III, retired.

West Wing Reads Thanks to Trump, America is Winning Like Never Before

Thanks to Trump, America is Winning Like Never Before “A recap of the past month presents a snapshot of President Trump’s first term. We are stronger and safer, and the ripple effects of renewed prosperity are being felt nationwide. Within a few short weeks, this administration went after notorious terrorists, signed two major trade initiatives, unveiled a Middle East peace plan and gave Americans reassurance that the next century will be ours,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy writes in Fox News. Click here to read more. BREAKING: President Trump’s job approval hits new record high! “The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which recently passed both houses of Congress by overwhelming, bipartisan majorities, has been rightly hailed as one of President Donald Trump’s most historic achievements.” Even better, unlike NAFTA, a sunset clause in USMCA guarantees that it won’t become unbalanced and outdated over time, Senior Advisor Jared Kushner writes for CNBC. “The politically powerful should not deprive children of a great education, and no child in America should be on a waitlist for success. That is why President Trump has called on Congress to pass Education Freedom Scholarships. The bill currently before Congress is a federal tax credit that would provide families with more educational opportunities,” Joe Grogan, White House Domestic Policy Council Director, writes for Fox News. President Trump has tapped Georgia pastor Tony Lowden “to be the new ‘reentry czar,’ a position created in the White House to help former inmates find housing, employment and other opportunities to provide ‘second chances’ for success after they leave prison,” Francesca Chambers reports for McClatchy DC.

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Individual to Key Administration Post

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 2020 President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Individual to Key Administration Post   Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key position in his Administration: Craig Edward Leen of the District of Columbia to be the Inspector General at the Office of Personnel Management. Craig E. Leen presently serves as the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) at the United States Department of Labor, where he oversees audits of Federal contractors and ensures compliance with Federal civil rights requirements.  He also serves on the Special Education Advisory Board for District of Columbia Public Schools, as a professorial lecturer in law at the George Washington University Law School, and previously served on the constituency board for the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.  Prior to his work at OFCCP, Mr. Leen was the City Attorney of Coral Gables, Florida, where he served as chief ethics officer, oversaw city prosecutions and the city prosecutor, oversaw reviews and investigations as directed by the City Commission, and provided legal opinions and guidance on behalf of the city to public officials and stakeholders to assist in compliance with law.  He is also known for his work helping establish a comprehensive disability inclusion program at the City of Coral Gables.  Mr. Leen received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and his B.A from Georgetown University.   ###

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 2020

President Donald J. Trump Amends the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Disaster Declaration On January 31, 2020, President Donald J. Trump made additional disaster assistance available to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for relief and recovery assistance as a result of Super Typhoon Yutu. Under the President's order today, the Federal share for hazard mitigation measures associated with sections 404 and 406 of the Stafford Act is authorized at 100 percent of total eligible costs with the following conditions: 1. CNMI must maintain the 2018 International Building Code through the closeout of the disaster; and 2. CNMI must prioritize mitigation projects to improve resiliency for critical infrastructure approved by the FEMA Region IX Regional Administrator. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT:  FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV ###