Washington, DC - Statement by President Barack Obama on the Retirement of General Lloyd J. Austin III:

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced the official launch of GroupGAP, a new certification program that helps small and mid-sized growers and cooperatives meet retailers' on-farm food safety requirements.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Education sent proposals to the committee working on proposed regulations for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The proposals focus on the issues being negotiated: Title I, Part A assessments, and the requirement that federal Title I-A funds supplement, not supplant, state and local resources.

Washington, DC - The Federal Trade Commission welcomed the issuance by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) of new, revised guidelines for protecting consumers in e-commerce (link is external). The guidelines are designed to strengthen consumers’ trust in the expanding electronic marketplace.

Washington, DC - As part of her Reach Higher initiative, Mrs. Obama will deliver the commencement addresses at Jackson State University in Jackson, MS ; Santa Fe Indian School in Santa Fe, NM and City College of New York in New York, NY. These mark the final commencement addresses Mrs. Obama will deliver as First Lady.

Washington, DC - Special Envoy Hochstein will travel to New York City April 5 to participate in the 2016 Future of Energy Summit, organized by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.