Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Goldman Sachs Tower
Jersey City, NJ
June 24, 2012

Well it is truly my pleasure to join you. I regret very much that I was unable to be with you at dinner last night, but I thank the hosts for being willing to let me come this afternoon to congratulate you on this, the 17^th U.S.-Spain Council Forum. I’ve been given an excellent report about all the activities by His Royal Highness. And I welcome him and Her Royal Highness here back to the United States. Also, all of our guests from the Spanish Government, including the Spanish Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Development, Ana Pastor, and all of our colleagues. Let me certainly thank my colleague in the Cabinet, Secretary Ray LaHood, who has brought his experience and his passion to the work of transportation and infrastructure to our country’s leadership, and I’m very grateful to serve with him.

Notice to the Press
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
June 12, 2012

On June 13, the Global Partnership Initiative in collaboration with the Center for Strategic and International Studies will host a roundtable discussion about the value of public-private partnerships for strategic diplomacy and development outcomes. The event will focus on China’s recent announcement that it will join the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a public-private partnership of leading countries and private sector representatives working together to reduce one of the leading causes of death amongst women in the developing world — exposure to harmful cookstove smoke.

The Secretary’s Special Representative for Global Partnerships Kris Balderston, Economic Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. Li Bin, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation’s Gina McCarthy, and Executive Director for the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves’ Radha Muthiah will participate in the roundtable discussion. MORE

U.S. citizens traveling to storm-prone regions during hurricane and typhoon season should carefully consider the potential dangers and inconveniences associated with their travel before finalizing plans. Even inland areas far from the coastline can experience destructive winds, tornadoes, and floods from tropical storms, hurricanes, and typhoons. Those who choose to travel should devise an emergency plan in advance of their departure. Prior to leaving the United States, enroll your trip on the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at the travel enrollment website or at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

For U.S. citizens overseas, in the event of a tropical storm, hurricane, or typhoon, the U.S. embassy will send out emergency messages and… more »

About the Author: Constantina Patronas serves as an incoming abduction officer in Overseas Citizen Services, Office of Children.s Issues.

My job as an abduction country officer in the Office of Children’s Issues is rewarding and challenging. International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA) cases are usually complicated, often heartbreaking, but also gratifying. Much work is involved in ensuring the return of a child, which may even be through a voluntary resolution between the parents. This is a snapshot of my “average” day.

The mission of the Office of Children’s Issues Abduction Division is to assist in the resolution of international parental child abduction cases. In many countries, the Hague Abduction Convention is the primary vehicle to do so. Our office serves as the United States Central… more »

Watch the first ever television commercial for Discover America featuring the “Land of Dreams” song written by Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal and performed by Rosanne Cash with guest artists Los Lobos, Bebel and TREME. From the French Quarter in New Orleans to a Redwood Preserve in California, we encourage you to visit and explore all of the amazing travel possibilities the USA has to offer. Discover this land, like never before.

About the Author: Ken Chavez is a spokesperson for the Bureau of Consular Affairs, which has responsibility for adjudicating U.S. visas for all international visitors who require them.

This week, I was privileged to join our Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services, David Donahue, in representing the State Department at the International Pow Wow in Los Angeles. Hosted each year by the U.S. Travel Association, the Pow Wow is the industry’s premier marketplace for international travel. Exhibitors from America’s top vacation spots meet with tour organizers and travel agents from around the world who are eager to bring international visitors to the United States.

You might wonder what the State Department is doing at a show like the Pow Wow. While a significant number of international visitors (65 percent) don’t need a visa to visit the United States, we are streamlining the visa process for those who do.

The State Department plays an important role… more »

We, the Leaders of North America, met today in Washington, DC to advance the economic well-being, safety, and security of the United States, Mexico, and Canada.  Rooted in deep economic, historical, cultural, environmental, and societal ties, North American cooperation enhances our ability to face global challenges, compete in the international economy, and achieve greater prosperity.  We reaffirm our commitment to further develop our thriving political and economic partnership with a consistent and strategic long-term vision, as progress on our common agenda directly benefits the peoples of our region. 

Broad-based, sustainable economic growth and job creation remains our top priority.  For the first time, in 2011 our total trilateral merchandise trade surpassed USD 1 trillion.  Our integration helps maximize our capabilities and makes our economies more innovative and competitive globally. Working together, we strive to ensure that North American economic cooperation fosters gains in productivity for all of our citizens, enhancing our respective national and bilateral efforts to achieve that goal. 

To that end, we pledge to introduce timely and tangible regulatory measures to enable innovation and growth while ensuring high standards of public health, safety, and environmental protection.  We will continue to reduce transaction costs and improve the existing business environment.  We have launched the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council and the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council during the past two years, pursuing a shared objective that we commit to complement trilaterally in four sectors:  certain vehicle emission standards, railroad safety, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Workplace Chemicals, and aligning principles of our regulatory approaches to nanomaterials.  This is particularly important to small- and medium-sized businesses, which are the engines of growth.  By eliminating unnecessary regulatory differences, smaller businesses are better equipped to participate in an integrated North American economy.  Success in these efforts opens the way to additional North American regulatory cooperation. MORE