    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [July 25, 2001]
    [Pages 910-911]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Congressional Leaders and an Exchange
    With Reporters
    July 25, 2001

        The President. It's my honor to welcome to the White House Members
    from the Senate and the House, Members who are concerned about American
    foreign policy, to give them a briefing about my trip to Europe.
        I'm going to talk about how we agreed that we need to expand trade,
    how we also agreed how we need to help nations who are less fortunate
    than our Nation. I look forward to having a very confidential briefing
    about my meeting with President Putin and the
    hope and promise I see for a constructive relationship.
        I also am aware that there are some foreign policy matters in the
    Congress. And I urge Congress to deal fairly with Mexico and to not
    treat the Mexican truck industry in an unfair fashion, that I believe
    strongly we can have safety measures in place that will make sure our
    highways are safe. But we should not single out Mexico. Mexico is our
    close friend and ally, and we must treat them with respect and uphold
    NAFTA and the spirit of NAFTA.
        I also fully understand that foreign policy is best when conducted
    in a bipartisan fashion, and I so very much appreciate the chairman. I
    spoke to the chairman--both chairmen--before my trip overseas this time
    and before my trip last time overseas. And I take their advice very
    seriously and counsel very seriously. It helps for us to continue to
    communicate, particularly when it comes to foreign policy.
        So thank you all for coming. I'll be glad to answer maybe one or two
    questions.

    Patients' Bill of Rights

        Q. Mr. President, on the Patients' Bill of Rights there is some talk
    that the House Republicans are now planning to schedule a vote later,
    perhaps as late as September. Is that a recognition on the part of the
    party and its leadership that you don't have the votes to get what you
    want on that issue?
        The President. I am hopeful we'll get a bill I can sign. And I
    appreciate so very much the hard work that's going on, particularly now
    in the House of Representatives, to bring a bill that is fair to
    patients. There seems to be a--there was a lot of negotiations going on
    when I was gone, and there still seems to be a lot of talk. And
    obviously, we'd like to get this bill finished and on my desk and a bill
    I can sign. I laid out the principles that would allow me to sign a
    bill, and I still stand by those principles. But I can report we're
    making pretty good progress, it seems like.
        Yes, Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Oil Prices

        Q. Mr. President, OPEC is about to cut production by a million
    barrels a day. What is that going to do to the already struggling
    economy?
        The President. Steve, it is very important for there to be stability
    in a marketplace.

    [[Page 911]]

    I read some comments from the OPEC ministers who said this was just a
    matter to make sure the market remains stable and predictable.
    Obviously, if it's an attempt to run the price of oil up, we'll make our
    opinions very clear and known, that that would hurt America and hurt the
    marketplace. Our economy is bumping along right now and a runup in
    energy prices would hurt. And surely, the OPEC leaders understand that.
    I think they do.
        Thank you all for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:15 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to President Vladimir Putin of
    Russia. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    these remarks.