    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [March 26, 2008]
    [Pages 415-416]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Tour of ColorCraft of Virginia in Sterling, Virginia
    March 26, 2008

        The President. Jim, thank you very much
    for your hospitality.
        James H. Mayes. Thank you, sir.
        The President. Thank you all very much for greeting me here.
        ColorCraft is a small, thriving business that will benefit from the
    stimulus package that the Congress passed earlier this year. And it will
    benefit from it because if they make--if Jim
    decides to purchase software or machinery, there is a tax incentive to
    encourage him to do so. He's made the decision to do so, and his company
    will be encouraged to do so through the Tax Code.
        And that's important because when he buys
    a machine or when he buys software, somebody has to manufacture that.
    And therefore, there is a direct link between the stimulus package and
    jobs. As well--and we talked about this earlier--a lot of the folks who
    work here at ColorCraft are going to get a check in the second week of
    May as part of the economic, progrowth stimulus package. And recently,
    there's been a mailer out to our citizens from the IRS. And this mailer
    basically describes the benefits from the stimulus package that people
    will receive.
        One of the things that's very important for our citizenry to
    understand, that is, if you do not file an income tax return, you need
    to go to your local IRS office and get a form that will show the
    Government where you live and who you are, so you can get your check. If
    you file an income tax form, all you got to do is in your '07 income
    tax, you know, mail it in.

    [[Page 416]]

        But there's a lot of people eligible for this stimulus package--for
    the money coming out of the Government to our individual citizens--who
    don't file income tax forms, and yet they're eligible. And so recently,
    the IRS has been indicating that this weekend, this Saturday, there's
    going to be a--there's an opportunity for citizens to go and make it
    clear who you are, where you live, so you can get your check as well.
        The purpose of this is to respond decisively to the economic
    downturn that we're going through. The Congress, along with the White
    House, worked very closely to pass a very substantial progrowth package.
    And I fully recognize that people are concerned about our economy, but
    they must understand that this package has yet to fully kick in yet.
    We've taken action, but it's going to take a while for the economy to
    feel the effects of this good law that I signed. It's going to take a
    while for these folks standing behind me to get their money.
        Now, Jim has already made a decision because the aspects of the
    stimulus package for small businesses are clear. It is the law. And
    therefore, when he buys the equipment and software that he's planning on
    buying, he can rest assured that their tax incentive will be available
    for him in this year.
        Now, small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy. Small-
    business owners and--are dreamers and doers. We want to watch them and
    help them expand because if they expand, more and more people find work.
    [Inaudible]--a rough patch right now in our economy, but I'm confident
    in the long term we'll come out stronger than ever before. One of the
    most decisive actions a government can take is to give people their
    money back so they can spend it, and that's exactly what we've done. In
    the second week of May, a lot of folks are going to be getting a sizable
    check. And I'm looking forward to that day, and I know they are as well.
        Mr. Mayes. Yes, sir.
        The President. Thank you for coming.
        Mr. Mayes. Thank you.
        The President. Yes.
        Mr. Mayes. Thank you.
        The President. Appreciate you having me. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:25 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    James H. Mayes, president, ColorCraft of Virginia.