    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [July 22, 2004]
    [Page 1400]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Receiving the Report of the National Commission on Terrorist
    Attacks Upon the United States
    July 22, 2004

        The President. It's been my honor to welcome Chairman Kean, Vice Chairman Hamilton
    to the Oval Office. We just had a good discussion about the 9/11
    Commission Report. I want to thank these two gentlemen for serving their
    country so well and so admirably. They've done a really good job of
    learning about our country, learning about what went wrong prior to
    September the 11th, and making very solid, sound recommendations about
    how to move forward. I assured them that where Government needs to act,
    we will.
        I want to thank the Commission members as well. These people worked
    really hard, long hours. They took time out of their private lives to
    serve America and have left their mark in a very constructive and
    positive way.
        These two men
    bring a commonsense approach to how to move forward. They recognize what
    I recognize and America recognizes, that there's still a threat and that
    we in Government have an obligation to do everything in our power to
    safeguard the American people. And the report that they are about to
    present to me puts out some very constructive recommendations. And I
    look forward to studying their recommendations and look forward to
    working with responsible parties within my administration to move
    forward on those recommendations.
        As well, we look forward to working with the Congress on the
    implementation of ways to do our duty. And the most important duty we
    have is the security of our fellow countrymen.
        So, thank you, men, for your service. I'm proud you're here. You did
    a wonderful job.
        Commission Chairman Thomas H. Kean. Mr.
    President, we'd like to present you a copy of our report. I thank you
    very much for giving me the honor of serving. I thank you also on behalf
    of the Commission for unprecedented access to documents and cooperation
    from your administration. We were able to see things that no commission
    or no Member of Congress has ever seen in doing our work. And we thank
    you for allowing us to do that.
        The President. Thank you, Tom. Good job.
    Thanks, Lee. I appreciate you. Thank you
    all.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:33 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House.