[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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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