National Issues

President George W. Bush today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Seoul, Republic of Korea to attend the inauguration of His Excellency Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea on February 25, 2008.

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate two individuals to serve in his Administration.

MR. STANZEL: Good morning. I'll go through the President's schedule and take your questions. This morning at 8:00 a.m., the President had his normal briefings. At 8:35 a.m., as you saw, the President met with the bicameral Republican leadership about the Protect America Act, and so you saw his comments after that.

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., it is hereby ordered that:

1. MYTH: The future security of our country does not depend on whether Congress provides liability protection for companies being sued for billions of dollars only because they are believed to have assisted the Government in defending America after the 9/11 attacks.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Just a couple of comments. I'm very much looking forward to the trip. This will be my second trip to the continent of Africa, my wife's fifth trip. The reason why I'm looking forward to it is I want the people on the continent of Africa to know that the American people care deeply about the human condition; that when we see suffering it troubles our conscience and we want to help. I believe to whom much is given, much is required. A lot has been given to America, and therefore, a lot is required of us, to deal with human misery, in the form of hunger and disease and hopelessness.

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, you are directed to perform the function of the President as described under section 802 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108 173, 31 U.S.C. 1105(h)(1)).

Q Mr. President, thanks for joining us. You're famous for saying that you don't believe in opinion polls.

With Only Two Days Remaining Until Core Intelligence Collection Authorities Under The Protect America Act Expire, Congress Must Act Now To Ensure Our Intelligence Officials Have The Tools They Need And To Provide Liability Protection To Those Who Assisted In Defending America After 9/11

Democratic leaders said today that if the Protect America Act expires, there will be no impact on our intelligence gathering capabilities, and no cost to our national security. They are wrong.

U.S. Africa Policy: An Unparalleled Partnership Strengthening Democracy, Overcoming Poverty, And Saving Lives President And Mrs. Bush's Africa Trip Underscores The New Approach To Africa Policy Under This Administration, And Builds On A Dramatic Increase In The United States' Commitment To African Development

On Thursday, February 14, 2008, the President signed into law: H.R. 4253, the "Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008".

Today, the United States House of Representatives did something that had never been done in the entire 150-year history of the contempt of Congress statute: it voted to hold in contempt two top White House officials who had been directed by the President not to comply with House Judiciary Committee subpoenas on the basis of the President's assertion of Executive Privilege. The officials in question are the Chief of Staff to the President and the former Counsel to the President, two of the very closest advisers upon whom a President must rely. This action is unprecedented, and it is outrageous. It is also an incredible waste of time time the House should spend doing the American people's legislative business.

The President intends to nominate Stephen J. Nolan and Joseph Evan LeBaron.

Nominations sent to the Senate: Jeffrey Robert Brown, David Gustafson, William T. Lawrence, Joseph Evan LeBaron, Stephen James Nolan, Elizabeth Crewson Paris, and Samuel W. Speck.

President George W. Bush today named five individuals to serve in his Administration: Christopher Michel, Sara Armstrong, Meghan Clyne, Matthew Latimer, Mark J. Webber.

President Bush on Thursday said, "We're going to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. Each of these countries is blessed with natural beauty, vibrant culture, and an unmistakable spirit of energy and optimism. Africa in the 21st century is a continent of potential. That's how we view it. I hope that's how our fellow citizens view Africa. It's a place where democracy is advancing, where economies are growing, and leaders are meeting challenges with purpose and determination."

President Bush on Thursday said, "The lives of countless Americans depend on our ability to monitor terrorist communications. Our intelligence professionals are working day and night to keep us safe, and they're waiting to see whether Congress will give them the tools they need to succeed or tie their hands by failing to act. The American people are watching this debate, as well. They expect Congress to meet its responsibilities before they leave town on a recess."

Today marks the third anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The terrorist attack that killed Prime Minister Hariri, Minister Basil Fuleihan, and many other innocent victims was the spark that launched a transformation in Lebanon, as the Lebanese people demanded an end to the Syrian occupation and the restoration of their sovereignty.

Today the President signed an Executive Order that takes additional steps with respect to the Syrian regime's continued engagement in certain conduct that formed the basis of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004. This order expands sanctions to block the property of senior Syrian Government officials and their associates who are determined to be responsible for, to have engaged in, or to have benefited from public corruption. The order also revises a provision in Executive Order 13338 to block the property of persons determined to be responsible for actions or decisions of the Syrian regime that undermine efforts to stabilize Iraq, or allow Syrian territory to be used for this purpose.