[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.