    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [February 11, 2003]
    [Pages 154-155]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Congressional Leaders
    February 11, 2003

    Judicial Nominee Miguel A. Estrada

        It's my pleasure to welcome members of both political parties from
    the House of Representatives to discuss how we can continue to make
    progress in welfare reform. The welfare law of 1996 made a significant
    difference in the lives of a lot of our fellow citizens. Our job now is
    to build on that progress, and I want to thank the Members for being
    here. I look forward to a good and fruitful discussion.
        I nominated a good man named Miguel Estrada for the Circuit Court
    here in Washington, DC. Miguel Estrada is highly qualified, extremely
    intelligent. He has the votes necessary to be confirmed. Yet a handful
    of Democrats in the Senate are playing politics with his nomination. And
    it's shameful politics. This man is highly qualified, and I expect him
    to be nominated. And I expect him to get fairer treatment than he's
    getting from those who are really playing against the spirit of the
    United States Senate. And so I call upon fair play in the Senate, for
    the sake of a good, sound judiciary.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:38 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Miguel A. Estrada, nominee to be
    U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these
    remarks.

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