    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [June 18, 2003]
    [Page 655]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 655]]

    Remarks at the Congressional Picnic
    June 18, 2003

        The President. Listen, thank you all for coming. Laura and I and Dick and
    Lynne are so happy you all are here. And we're
    really happy it's not raining. [Laughter]
        Audience member. [Inaudible]
        The President. I bet you are.
        First, we're so thrilled that Dennis Edwards and the Temptations Review has joined us tonight. We
    expect to see some serious rug-cutting or, in this case, grass-cutting.
    [Laughter]
        We do want to thank the families who are here. We're so grateful for
    the wives and husbands of the Members of the Senate and the Congress for
    being so patient with your loved ones and for supporting them in their
    service to the United States of America. We want to thank the sons and
    daughters as well for understanding your dad and your mom are serving
    something greater than themselves in life.
        I want to thank all the Members of Congress from both political
    parties for doing such a fine job on behalf of the United States of
    America. You know what I know: We're blessed to live in a great country.
    And one of the things that makes us great is we've got tremendous
    values. We believe in freedom, respect for others, personal
    responsibility. And today is a day for us all to come together and to
    celebrate those fantastic values and for us--for Laura and me and for Dick and Lynne--to thank you on behalf of a grateful nation for
    serving our country so well.
        May God bless you and your families, and may God continue to bless
    the United States of America.
        Enjoy yourselves.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:10 p.m. on the South Grounds at the White
    House.