    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 16 (Monday, April 24, 2006)]
    [Page 720]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following a Meeting on Taxes and the National Economy in
    Sterling, Virginia

    April 17, 2006

        I want to thank Carlos and Owen and Adam for inviting us to their
    business. I also want to thank the other folks that we had a discussion
    with for coming over. We've got folks that have benefited from the tax
    relief, both as a small-business owner and/or an employee--except for
    Mike; he's a firefighter. And it's been a good discussion.
        Here's what I come away with: One, the tax relief helped small
    businesses a lot. And since small businesses create two-thirds of the
    new jobs of America, it is no wonder that our job base is expanding.
    When you help the small-business owner with tax relief, you're helping
    to create employment. And that's what we're seeing across the country.
    We've added 5.1 million new jobs in the last 2\1/2\ years. A lot of it
    has to do with the fact that our small-business owners are confident,
    and they're investing, and they're expanding the job base.
        I talked to Shannon Bennett. She's a single mom with one young son
    who saved about $1,200 or $1,300 on her taxes this past year. And it's
    important for her family that she has got some additional money. Owen--I
    mean, Mike has got three children. He's a firefighter. The tax relief
    helped. In other words, tax relief helped the small-business owner; it's
    helped our families.
        And what's interesting is, the tax relief is set to expire.
    Actually, there's some Democrats in Congress who would like to raise
    taxes now. And if that happens, it will be a tax increase no one
    expects, no one wants. It will be like getting hit by one of these
    granite rocks.
        And so I strongly urge the United States Congress to understand the
    positive effects of the tax relief and to keep the taxes low--keep the
    taxes low on the working people, keep the taxes low on these small-
    business owners, so that we continue--so that we can continue to be
    the--an economy that leads the world.
        And I want to thank you for your time, letting us come by. It's tax
    day, and it's a day to recommit ourselves to low taxes. It's a day that
    understands that when these people filing out their forms and writing
    checks to the Government, that it's the people's money that's coming to
    Washington, DC. And we intend to let people keep more of their own
    money, for the sake of the economy and for the sake of our families.
        So thanks for letting us come by. Appreciate your hard work. I love
    the fact that you're living the American Dream.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:12 a.m. at Europa Stone Distributors,
    Inc. In his remarks, he referred to Carlos Varela, co-owner and
    president, Owen Werthmann, co-owner and vice president, and Adam Mahmud,
    co-owner and vice president, Europa Stone Distributors, Inc.; and Miguel
    ``Mike'' Obleas, firefighter, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.