    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [June 12, 2007]
    [Pages 737-738]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With the Republican Senate Policy Committee
    June 12, 2007

        I just had a good exchange with my fellow Republicans. We talked
    about a lot of issues. I briefed them on my trip to Europe. We talked
    about--they were very interested in the Ahtisaari plan for Kosovo. They were interested in my
    conversations with Vladimir Putin on
    missile defense. We talked about the energy bill. We talked about the
    appropriations process. And we talked about immigration. Some Members in
    there believe that we need to move a comprehensive bill; some don't. I
    understand that. This is a highly emotional issue, but those of us
    standing here believe now is the time to move a comprehensive bill that
    enforces our borders and has good workplace enforcement, that doesn't
    grant automatic citizenship, that addresses this problem in a
    comprehensive way.
        I would hope that the Senate majority leader has that same sense of
    desire to move the product that I do--or the bill that I do and these
    Senators do, because now is the time to get it done. It's going

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    to take a lot of hard work, a lot of effort. We've got to convince the
    American people that this bill is the best way to enforce our border. I
    believe without the bill, that it's going to be harder to enforce the
    border. The status quo was unacceptable. And I want to thank those
    Senators on both sides of the aisle who understand the time is now to
    move a comprehensive piece of legislation. The White House will stay
    engaged.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:54 p.m. at the U.S. Capitol. In his
    remarks, he referred to former President Martti Ahtisaari of Finland,
    United Nations Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Future
    Status Process of Kosovo; and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of these remarks.