[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 33 (Monday, August 18, 2003)]
[Pages 1047-1048]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Announcing the Nomination of Governor Michael O. Leavitt To Be 
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator in Aurora, Colorado

August 11, 2003

    The President. Good afternoon. First, I want to make a comment about 
some foreign policy. Today's departure of Charles Taylor from Liberia is 
an important step toward a better future for the Liberian people. The 
United States will work with the Liberian people and with the 
international community to achieve a lasting peace after more than a 
decade of turmoil and suffering.
    The United States will help ECOWAS and the humanitarian relief 
organizations to get aid to those who need it. I appreciate the efforts 
of many African leaders, most especially Nigerian President Obasanjo, 
Ghanaian President Kufuor, South African President Mbeki, Mozambican 
President Chissano. Their continued leadership will be needed in the 
weeks and months ahead as a new government is formed and the Liberian 
people seek to chart a future of peace and stability.
    Earlier today, I spoke in Arizona about the urgent need to safeguard 
America's forests from wildfire. It's one of the many environmental 
challenges that face our Nation. Those challenges go beyond our forests. 
We must also be vigilant in protecting the air and soil and waters 
around us.
    This is the primary responsibility of our Environmental Protection 
Agency, and today I am pleased to introduce my nominee to lead that 
Agency, Governor Mike Leavitt of Utah. I appreciate so very much Jackie 
being here, as well as Michael, Taylor, Anne Marie, Westin, and Chase, 
who's not with us. The Leavitt family is a great American family, 
primarily because Dixie and Anne, the mom and dad of the Governor, 
worked hard to make it such, and I'm honored they are here as well. 
Thank you all for coming.
    I also appreciate the fact that the leader of the house and the 
senate from Utah have joined us today.
    I selected Mike Leavitt because he is a trusted friend, a capable 
executive, and a man who understands the obligations of environmental 
stewardship. With the Senate's approval, Mike Leavitt will lead an 
Agency with 18,000 dedicated employees in offices all across our 
country. The work of the EPA is vital and reflects a national consensus 
on the importance of good stewardship.
    During the last three decades, we've seen extraordinary progress in 
cleaning our air and protecting our land and making our water more pure. 
The quality of our air is far better than it was in the 1970s. Many more 
of our lakes and rivers are safe for fishing and swimming. Toxic 
emissions have declined, and we're bringing new resources and programs 
to reduce runoff and erosion. We're making real progress protecting 
endangered species and helping them recover.
    Mike Leavitt will come to the EPA with a strong environmental record 
and a strong desire to improve on what has taken place during the last 
three decades. He served for over a decade as Governor of an important 
State. As cochair of the Western Regional Air Partnership, Governor 
Leavitt has been a leader in applying high standards in air quality, and 
he understands the importance of clear standards in every environmental 
policy. He respects the ability of State and local governments to meet 
those standards, rejects the old ways of command and control from above. 
He was twice reelected by the people of Utah, in part because he leads 
by consensus and focuses on results instead of process.
    In Utah and beyond, he has gained wide respect for handling 
environmental issues in a spirit of openness and bipartisanship. These 
qualities and his experience will make Mike Leavitt a fine addition to 
my administration. I will count on him to continue the good work begun 
by former Administrator Whitman and Acting Administrator Horinko.

[[Page 1048]]

    He will join my Cabinet with a full agenda and with my full 
confidence. Mike, I appreciate your willingness to serve. I thank the 
people of Utah as you leave office to take on this incredibly important 
assignment in our Nation's Capital.

[At this point, Gov. Leavitt made brief remarks.]

    The President. Great job. Thank you. Thank you all. Good job, 
Michael.

Note: The President spoke at 3:34 p.m. at the Marriott Hotel. In his 
remarks, he referred to former President Charles Taylor of Liberia; 
President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria; President John Agyekum Kufuor of 
Ghana; President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa; President Joaquim Alberto 
Chissano of Mozambique; Jacalyn S. Leavitt, wife of Gov. Leavitt, and 
their children Michael, Taylor, Anne Marie, Westin, and Chase; Martin R. 
Stephens, speaker, Utah State House of Representatives; and L. Alma 
``Al'' Mansell, president, Utah State Senate. The transcript released by 
the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of Gov. 
Leavitt.