[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 26 (Monday, June 30, 2003)]
[Pages 813-814]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Congressional Leaders

June 25, 2003

Medicare Reform Legislation

    The President. Thank you all for coming. I'll take some questions at 
the end of the EU Summit. I'm so honored that members of both political 
parties from the House of Representatives have come to discuss our 
mutual desire to get a Medicare reform package passed. Members of both 
parties have made up their minds that we can do a good job on behalf of 
seniors by making sure that Medicare is a modern system.
    We are making great progress on this issue. We have an historic 
opportunity to seize the moment and get a good bill done. There's good 
momentum on the side of those of us who believe that we have an 
obligation to serve something greater than ourselves or our political 
parties. And I want to thank, again, members of both parties who are 
working hard to reach a consensus on behalf of our country's seniors.
    We've got Nancy Johnson and Congressman Israel here, who are very 
competent spokesmen for what is necessary to achieve a common objective. 
And I want to thank the Members. I look forward to working with you. 
Whatever amount of energy and effort is required from the White House, 
we will provide it, to get a bill done this summer, one that I can sign, 
and then we can all go back to our districts--in my case, tour the 
country--and say we have accomplished a major objective. Together--we 
work together.
    Thank you all for coming. Now you're supposed to yell a question so 
I know what you're going to ask later on. [Laughter]
    Q. What are you going to tell the undecided Republicans this 
afternoon?
    The President. Wrong question. [Laughter]
    Q. The economy?
    The President. The economy? Okay, good. We know about that. That's 
good. [Laughter]

[[Page 814]]

Note: The President spoke at 9:53 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.