    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [January 1, 2006]
    [Pages C-8-xii]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Public Papers Of The President Of The United States 2006 BOOK
    I

    [[Page iii]]

              P U B L I C P A P E R S O F T H E P R E S I D E N T S

                                    O F T H E

                             U N I T E D S T A T E S

                                George W. Bush

                                      2006
                                 (IN TWO BOOKS)

                        BOOK I-JANUARY 1 TO JUNE 30, 2006

                       ------------------------------------
                         UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICE
                                WASHINGTON : 2010

    [[Page iv]]

                                Published by the
                         Office of the Federal Register
                  National Archives and Records Administration

     For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
                                     Office
         *Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov * Phone: (202) 512-1800
                            * Fax: (202) 512-2250
                 * Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20401

    [[Page v]]

                                    Foreword

        This volume collects my speeches and papers from the first half of
    2006.

        As the year opened, I appeared before the Congress to deliver my
    annual State of the Union message. In this speech, I called for an
    ambitious agenda to strengthen our Nation's economy and ensure that our
    Nation remained competitive in the world. I proposed the Advanced Energy
    Initiative, a plan to harness the power of technology to reduce
    America's dependence on foreign sources of energy. I presented a
    strategy to reform health care for the 21st century by making it more
    affordable, portable, and efficient. And I introduced the American
    Competitiveness Initiative--a bold plan to support science and
    technology by investing in research and development, education, and
    entrepreneurship.

        During these 6 months, I toured the Nation to promote these
    initiatives and other important domestic priorities. In March, I
    traveled to New Orleans to discuss the Federal Government's continued
    commitment to rebuilding communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
    During the spring, I visited a variety of States to encourage Americans
    to take part in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. And as
    summer approached, I visited California, New Mexico, Nebraska, and
    Arizona to highlight the need for the Congress to pass comprehensive
    immigration reform.

        On May 15, I addressed the Nation from the Oval Office on this vital
    issue. I said, ``Our new immigrants are just what they've always been--
    people willing to risk everything for the dream of freedom. And America
    remains what she has always been: the great hope on the horizon, an open
    door to the future, a blessed and promised land. We honor the heritage
    of all who come here, no matter where they come from, because we trust
    in our country's genius for making us all Americans--one Nation under
    God.''

        During this period, we took decisive action on several key
    priorities for our Nation's future. In March, I signed the ``USA PATRIOT
    Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005''--legislation that gave our
    country's intelligence and law enforcement officials vital tools to
    protect our citizens from threats such as international terrorists and
    drug dealers. In May, I was proud to sign into law a bill that extended
    tax relief for American families and businesses. And in June, I signed a
    proclamation creating the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National
    Monument--the largest single conservation area in the history of our
    country, and the largest fully protected marine area in the world.

        This was a time when many talented and able Americans were appointed
    to the highest levels of the Federal Government. In January, Samuel
    Alito was confirmed by the United States Senate as the Supreme Court's
    newest Associate Justice. Less than a week later, Ben Bernanke was sworn
    in as our Nation's 14th Chairman of the

    [[Page vi]]

    Federal Reserve. In May, General Michael Hayden was appointed to be
    the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. And during this
    period, I also welcomed two new members to my cabinet--Dirk Kempthorne
    as Secretary of the Interior and Henry Paulson as Secretary of the
    Treasury.
       As we focused on these key priorities at home, my Administration
    remained engaged in vital issues around the world. In March, the First
    Lady and I traveled to Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan to demonstrate
    America's commitment to strong partnerships in that vital region. While
    in Afghanistan, I was able to witness firsthand how America's men and
    women in uniform were combating radicalism and creating a more hopeful
    future for the Afghan people. After years under the radical Taliban
    regime, Afghanistan was transforming into a country where entrepreneurs
    had the freedom to pursue opportunity, journalists had the freedom to
    ask questions, and, at long last, girls had the freedom to receive an
    education. I praised this progress and let the Afghan people know that
    America's commitment to them remained firm.

        Later that month, I visited Mexico, where I met with Mexican
    President Vicente Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to
    discuss an agenda of security and prosperity for North America. In June,
    I attended a summit meeting between the United States and the European
    Union. On this trip, Laura and I visited Austria and Hungary, and I
    reaffirmed America's commitment to work with our European allies to
    promote peace, human rights, and democracy worldwide.

        Finally, this period saw both setbacks and successes in the
    continued struggle for Iraq's future. Despite the destruction sparked by
    the terrorist bombing of a sacred Shiite mosque in Samarra, the Iraqi
    people banded together to form their first unity government in April. In
    May, Nouri Al-Maliki became Prime Minister of Iraq and presented his
    cabinet to the new government. And in June, United States military
    forces killed Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, the operational commander of the
    terrorist movement in Iraq--a dramatic victory in the War on Terror.

        Less than a week after Zarqawi was brought to justice, I made a
    surprise visit to Iraq, where I spent time with the men and women of our
    Armed Forces and met with the new Prime Minister. Upon my return, I told
    the American people, ``I traveled to Baghdad to personally show our
    Nation's commitment to a free Iraq, because it is vital for the Iraqi
    people to know with certainty that America will not abandon them after
    we have come this far. The challenges that remain in Iraq are serious.
    We face determined enemies who remain intent on killing the innocent,
    and defeating these enemies will require more sacrifice and the
    continued patience of our country. But our efforts in Iraq are well
    worth it, the mission is necessary for the security of our country, and
    we will succeed.'' In the months to come, our country's patience would
    indeed be tested, but our determination to safeguard our Nation and help
    foster a free Iraq would prevail.

    [[Page vii]]

                                     Preface

        This book contains the papers and speeches of the 43d President of
    the United States that were issued by the Office of the Press Secretary
    during the period January 1-June 30, 2006. The material has been
    compiled and published by the Office of the Federal Register, National
    Archives and Records Administration.

        The material is presented in chronological order, and the dates
    shown in the headings are the dates of the documents or events. In
    instances when the release date differs from the date of the document
    itself, that fact is shown in the textnote. Every effort has been made
    to ensure accuracy: Remarks are checked against a tape recording, and
    signed documents are checked against the original. Textnotes and cross
    references have been provided by the editors for purposes of
    identification or clarity. At the request of the Office of the Press
    Secretary, the Bush property known as Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford,
    Texas, is referred to simply as the Bush Ranch. Speeches were delivered
    in Washington, DC, unless indicated. The times noted are local times.
    All materials that are printed full-text in the book have been indexed
    in the subject and name indexes, and listed in the document categories
    list.

        The Public Papers of the Presidents series was begun in 1957 in
    response to a recommendation of the National Historical Publications
    Commission. An extensive compilation of messages and papers of the
    Presidents covering the period 1789 to 1897 was assembled by James D.
    Richardson and published under congressional authority between 1896 and
    1899. Since then, various private compilations have been issued, but
    there was no uniform publication comparable to the Congressional Record
    or the United States Supreme Court Reports. Many Presidential papers
    could be found only in the form of mimeographed White House releases or
    as reported in the press. The Commission therefore recommended the
    establishment of an official series in which Presidential writings,
    addresses, and remarks of a public nature could be made available.

        The Commission's recommendation was incorporated in regulations of
    the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register, issued under
    section 6 of the Federal Register Act (44 U.S.C. 1506), which may be
    found in title 1, part 10, of the Code of Federal Regulations.

        A companion publication to the Public Papers series, the Weekly
    Compilation of Presidential Documents, was begun in 1965 to provide a
    broader range of Presidential materials on a more timely basis to meet
    the needs of the contemporary reader. Beginning with the administration
    of Jimmy Carter, the Public Papers series expanded its coverage to
    include additional material as printed in the Weekly Compilation. That
    coverage provides a listing of the President's daily schedule and
    meetings, when announced, and other items of general interest issued by
    the Office of

    [[Page viii]]

     the Press Secretary. Also included are lists of the
    President's nominations submitted to the Senate, materials released by
    the Office of the Press Secretary that are not printed full-text in the
    book, and proclamations, Executive orders, and other Presidential
    documents released by the Office of the Press Secretary and published in
    the Federal Register. This information appears in the appendixes at the
    end of the book.

        Volumes covering the administrations of Presidents Herbert Hoover,
    Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B.
    Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan,
    George Bush, and William J. Clinton are also included in the Public
    Papers series.

        The Public Papers of the Presidents publication program is under the
    direction of Frances D. McDonald, Managing Editor, Office of the Federal
    Register. The series is produced by the Presidential and Legislative
    Publications Unit. The Chief Editor of this book was Stacey A. Mulligan,
    assisted by William K. Banks, Loretta F. Cochran, Lois Davis, Kathleen
    M. Fargey, Stephen J. Frattini, Michael J. Forcina, Allison M. Gavin,
    Gwendolyn J. Henderson, Diane Hiltabidle, Alfred Jones, Joshua H.
    Liberatore, Heather N. McDaniel, Ashley Merusi, Amelia E. Otovo,
    Jennifer M. Partridge, D. Gregory Perrin, Matthew R. Regan, and Michael
    J. Sullivan.

        The frontispiece and photographs used in the portfolio were supplied
    by the White House Photo Office. The typography and design of the book
    were developed by the Government Printing Office under the direction of
    Robert C. Tapella, Public Printer.

    Raymond A. Mosley
    Director of the Federal Register

    David S. Ferriero
    Archivist of the United States

    [[Page ix]]

                                    Contents

    Foreword . . . v

    Preface . . . vii

    Cabinet . . . xi

    Public Papers of George W. Bush,
    January 1-June 30, 2006 . . . 1

    Appendix A
    Digest of Other White House Announcements . . . 1245

    Appendix B
    Nominations Submitted to the Senate . . . 1279

    Appendix C
    Checklist of White House Press Releases . . . 1295

    Appendix D
    Presidential Documents Published in the Federal Register . . . 1307

    Subject Index . . . A-1

    Name Index . . . B-1

    Document Categories List . . . C-1

    [[Page xi]]

                               Cabinet

    Secretary of State ....................Condoleezza Rice

    Secretary of the Treasury ..............John W. Snow............
                                              (resigned 6/30).........
                                              Henry M. Paulson, Jr....
                                              (confirmed 6/28)........

    Secretary of Defense ...................Donald H. Rumsfeld

    Attorney General .......................Alberto R. Gonzales

    Secretary of the Interior...............Gale A. Norton..........
                                              (resigned 3/31).........
                                              Dirk Kempthorne.........
                                              (confirmed 5/26)........

    Secretary of Agriculture ................Mike Johanns

    Secretary of Commerce ...................Carlos M. Gutierrez

    Secretary of Labor ......................Elaine L. Chao

    Secretary of Health and Human

    Services ................................Michael O. Leavitt

    Secretary of Housing and Urban

    Development .............................Alphonso R. Jackson

    Secretary of Transportation ..............Norman Y. Mineta........
                                              (resigned 7/7)..........
                                              Mary E. Peters..........
                                              (confirmed 9/30)........

    Secretary of Energy ......................Samuel W. Bodman

    Secretary of Education ...................Margaret Spellings

    [[Page xii]]

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs ............R. James Nicholson

    Secretary of Homeland Security ...........Michael Chertoff

    Chief of Staff ...........................Andrew H. Card, Jr......
                                              (resigned 4/14).........
                                              Joshua B. Bolten........
                                              (appointed 4/14)........

    Administrator of the Environmental
    Protection Agency ........................Stephen L. Johnson

    United States Trade Representative .......Robert J. Portman.......
                                              (resigned 5/30).........
                                              Susan C. Schwab.........
                                              (confirmed 6/8).........

    Director of the Office of Management .....Joshua B. Bolten........
    and Budget                                (resigned 4/14).........
                                              Robert J. Portman.......
                                              (confirmed 5/26)........

    Director of National Drug Control ........ John P. Walters
    Policy

                        Administration of George W. Bush

                                      2006