National Issues

On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, we recognize that each life has inherent dignity and matchless value, and we reaffirm our steadfast determination to defend the weakest and most vulnerable members of our society.

President Bush on Friday said, "Passing a new growth package is our most pressing economic priority. When that is done, Congress must turn to the most important economic priority for our country, and that's making sure the tax relief that is now in place is not taken away. A source of uncertainty in our economy is that this tax relief is set to expire at the end of 2010. Unless Congress acts, the American people will face massive tax increases in less than three years. The marriage penalty will make a comeback; the child tax credit will be cut in half; the death tax will come back to life; and tax rates will go up on regular income, capital gains, and dividends. This tax increase would put jobs and economic growth at risk, and Congress has a responsibility to keep that from happening. So it's critical that Congress make this tax relief permanent."

President Bush on Friday said, "Any package has got to remember that jobs are created by small businesses. A good package will have incentives for investment. The package we passed early in my administration helped him. He bought some equipment and made his firm more productive, kept him in business. And that's the same spirit that needs to be in this next growth package."

Today, President Bush asked Congress to work with him to enact an economic growth package as soon as possible to keep our economy growing and creating jobs. By passing an effective growth package quickly, we can provide a shot in the arm to keep our fundamentally strong economy healthy and help keep instability in the housing and financial markets from more adversely affecting the overall economy. The President has asked Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to lead the Administration's efforts to forge an agreement with Congress so that we can deliver this needed boost to our economy as quickly as possible.

President George W. Bush today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Tbilisi, Georgia to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia on January 20, 2008.

President George W. Bush today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Auckland, New Zealand to attend the State Funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary on January 22, 2008.

Today, Ambassador Nicholas Burns announced that he will resign in March as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate seven individuals and appoint five individuals to serve in his Administration. The President intends to nominate Nelson M. Ford, Joxel García, Jeffrey J. Grieco, Jonathan Baron, Frank Philip Handy, Sally Epstein Shaywitz, and Joanne Weiss. The President intends to appoint H. H. Barlow, William DeLauder, Keith W. Eckel, Robert A. Easter, and John M. Townsend.

In the FY 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Public Law 110-161, $3,691,391,000 was designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement contingent upon a formal budget request by me that includes designation of the entire amount as an emergency requirement. While I believe that these funds should have been considered as regular appropriations, the men and women who have sacrificed for our country should not be held hostage to budgetary wrangling in Washington. Therefore, to provide these funds in a timely manner I hereby request and designate as an emergency requirement the $3,691,391,000, consistent with Public Law 110-161.

President Bush on Thursday said, "And one of the reasons we care about the suffering in Sudan is because we care about the human condition all across the face of the earth. And we fully understand that when people suffer, it is in our interest to help. And we also understand that when people suffer it makes it more likely that some may turn to the ideology of those who use murder as a weapon. So it's in our national security interest and it's in our -- in the interest of our conscience to confront this, what we have called a genocide. And I want to thank you for taking this on."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., changed our Nation forever through his leadership, service, and clarity of vision. On the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, we honor the lasting legacy of this great American, remember the ideals for which he fought, and recommit ourselves to ensuring that our country's promise extends to all Americans across this great land.

Dear Mr. Chairman: (Dear Representative:) (Dear Senator:) Consistent with section 306(c)(2) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-114)(the "Act"), I hereby determine and report to the Congress that suspension for 6 months beyond February 1, 2008, of the right to bring an action under title III of the Act is necessary to the national interests of the United States and will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba.

President Bush on Wednesday said, "Our friendship with Egypt is deep and broad. Egypt will continue to be a vital strategic partner of the United States. We will work together to build a safer and more peaceful world. And, Mr. President, I thank your leadership on the issue of peace and security."

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 1456(c)(1)(B) of title 16, United States Code, and to ensure effective and timely training of the United States naval forces in anti-submarine warfare using mid-frequency active sonar:

MS. PERINO: Good morning. We're on our way to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. This is the last stop in the President's trip to the Middle East. I know that everyone has had a long trip, so it's good to be heading home after this.

President Bush on Tuesday said, "One thing that's for certain: The United States benefits when people come to my country. And one of my concerns was after September the 11th that our visa policy, particularly for Saudis, was tightened to the point where we missed opportunity to show young and old alike what our country is really about. I love the fact that some of you were educated in America. I think you'll find you got a good education there, but more importantly, Americans get to see you, and you get to see them. And the best way to achieve better understanding in the world is for folks just to get together, and get to understand that we share the same God, and we share the same aspirations for children and for our futures."

THE PRESIDENT: Decided when it looked like that there was serious momentum on the legislative front, that she could help push the momentum by her very presence. So I can't remember the exact moment; I would say it was maybe 10 days ago or something like that, when we were getting word that their budget moving, the deBaath law was on its -- it had gone through two readings I think before the holidays. So it seemed to make sense that she go sit down with the -- and the Presidency Council happened to meet yesterday, which was good, so she's going to go and sit down with the leaders and encourage them to continue making progress.

Thomas Jefferson counted the freedom of worship as one of America's greatest blessings. He said it was "a liberty deemed in other countries incompatible with good government, and yet proved by our experience to be its best support." On Religious Freedom Day, we celebrate the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

President Bush on Monday said, "I appreciate the commitment to conservation and to the environment, and the leadership you've shown here. This has been a very interesting experience. I can't thank you enough for your hospitality."

President Bush on Monday said, "First of all, just a couple of impressions. I'm most impressed with what I've seen here. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. And equally importantly, the desire to make sure that all aspects of society have hope and encouragement -- and I appreciate your leadership, Your Highness. And I want to thank you, sir, for having me. I'm looking forward to talking to the young leaders from around the region. I will answer your questions. And I also want you to understand something about America: that we respect you, we respect your religion and we want to work together for the sake of freedom and peace. ...I'm particularly pleased to know that you have set up interchanges with some of the young in my country. You'll find them to be compassionate, decent people who share the same goals and dreams."