    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 17 (Monday, May 1, 2006)]
    [Pages 811-818]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks on the National Economy and an Exchange With Reporters

    April 28, 2006

        The President. Thank you very much for joining us today. I'm joined
    by my two top White House economic advisers. The reason why is because
    we've had some very positive economic news today: The Commerce
    Department announced that our economy grew at an impressive 4.8 percent
    annual rate in the first quarter of this year. That's the fastest rate
    since 2003. This rapid growth is another sign that our economy is on the
    fast track.
        The good news comes on the heels of two other important economic
    indicators reported earlier this week: New home sales surged forward by
    nearly 14 percent last month; consumer confidence reached its highest
    level since May of 2002. This confidence is largely driven by the many
    jobs being created in our country--5.1 million since August of 2003.
        This good news cannot be taken for granted. With gas prices on the
    minds of Americans, we need to keep our foot on the pedal of this strong
    economy. The surest way to put the brakes on our economic growth would
    be to raise taxes or spend too much of the people's money here in
    Washington. That's why I'm going to continue to work with Congress to
    make the tax relief that helped spur this economic growth permanent.
    That's why I'm going to work with Congress to restrain the Federal
    Government's appetite for spending. And that's why I'm going to work
    with Congress to make this country less dependent on foreign sources of
    oil.
        I commend America's workers and small-business owners, innovators
    and educators for contributing to the strong economic health of our
    Nation. I will continue to pursue progrowth policies so that opportunity
    reaches every American neighborhood and every American family.
        With that, I'll be glad to take a couple of questions.
        Q. Mr. President----
        The President. Excuse me, please. Jennifer [Jennifer Loven,
    Associated Press].

    Iran

        Q. Thank you, sir. The IAEA says that Iran is not in compliance with
    the Security Council. What sort of sanctions do you--would you like to
    see and--that could bring Russia and Chinese support?
        The President. The IAEA statement is an important statement. It
    reminds the nations of the world that there is an ongoing diplomatic
    effort to convince the Iranians to give up their nuclear weapons
    ambitions. It reminds--it should remind the Iranians that the world is
    united and concerned about their desire to have not only a nuclear
    weapon but the capacity to make a nuclear weapon or the knowledge to
    make a nuclear weapon, all of which we're working hard to convince them
    not to try to achieve.
        I will consult and continue to consult with our allies on this
    issue. I spoke to Chancellor Merkel this morning about this issue. She
    will be coming to Washington next week. We will continue discussions
    about how we can continue to maintain a united front. It's very
    important for the Iranians to understand there's a common desire by a
    lot of nations in this world to convince them, peacefully convince them,
    that they ought to give up their weapons ambitions.
        Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Fuel/Energy

        Q. Thank you, sir. You mentioned gas prices; would you go along with
    an effort by some Senate Republicans that could levy a significant tax
    on oil companies' profits? And does it bother you that the oil companies
    are racking up these record profits when people are paying $3 a gallon?
        The President. My attitude is that the oil companies need to be
    mindful that the American people expect them to reinvest their cash
    flows in such a way that it enhances our energy security. That means
    pipeline construction for natural gas deliveries. That means expansion
    of refineries. That means exploration in environmentally friendly ways.
    It also means investment in renewable sources of energy. And that's what
    the American people expect. They also expect to be

    [[Page 812]]

    treated fairly at the pump, and that's why the Federal Trade Commission
    is going to monitor the situation very carefully to make sure the
    American people are treated fairly.
        Q. So ``no'' to a tax on profits?
        The President. Look, the temptation in Washington is to tax
    everything, and they spend the money--``they'' being the people in
    Washington. The answer is, is for there to be strong reinvestment to
    make this country more secure from an energy perspective.
        Listen, these oil prices are a wake-up call. We're dependent upon
    oil, and we need to get off oil. And the best way to do so is through
    technology. And I've been traveling the country talking about the need
    to develop alternative sources of energy, such as ethanol, and to spend
    money to advance technologies, such as new battery technology that will
    enable us to have plug-in hybrid vehicles. We signed a good energy bill
    a while ago, and that encouraged--for example, one thing it's got in
    there is a tax credit to encourage people to purchase hybrid vehicles so
    that the consumptive patterns of the American people change.
        And the American people have got to understand that we're living in
    a global economy, and so when China and India demand more oil, it
    affects the price of gasoline at the pump. And therefore, it's important
    for us to diversify away from oil.
        But it's also important for the people to understand that one of the
    reasons why the price is gasoline is up is, there's tight gasoline
    supplies. And one reason there's tight gasoline supplies is because we
    haven't built any new refineries since the 1970s. And therefore,
    Congress needs to provide regulatory relief so people can expand their
    refineries.
        So it's a combination of people investing the cash flows, as well as
    regulatory relief to enhance the ability for people to achieve the
    objective, which is more gasoline on the market, which will help our
    consumers.
        Dick Keil [Richard Keil, Bloomberg News].

    Sudan

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You have a meeting later today on
    Darfur, and the Sudanese Government continues to thwart efforts by the
    U.N. and other multinational organizations to take a firmer control of
    the situation there. Is there anything you can do to leverage the
    Sudanese Government, and what's your message to them?
        The President. My message to them is, we expect there to be full
    compliance with the international desire for there to be peace in the
    Darfur region. We have taken the situation to the United Nations
    Security Council. My belief is that the AU forces that are on the
    ground--and by the way, we helped the AU forces get in there in the
    first place--we think that force needs to be expanded and blue-helmeted
    with the NATO overlay, with NATO help.
        And so therefore, the message to the Sudanese Government is, we're
    very serious about getting this problem solved. We don't like it when we
    see women raped and brutalized. And we expect there to be a full effort
    by the Government to protect human life and human condition.
        We also recognize there's a parallel political track taking place,
    and that we urge the rebels, as well as the Government to forge a
    consensus at Abuja, so that there is a way forward from this--from the
    impasse, political impasse that has taken place thus far in Sudan. There
    is a good go-by for people to look at, and that is the north-south
    agreement that this Government helped fashion under the leadership of
    Secretary of State Colin Powell as well as Special Envoy Jack Danforth.
    The north-south agreement shows that political solutions are possible.
        And so we expect the Sudanese Government to be good-faith
    bargainers; we expect the rebels to be good-faith bargainers. But we
    also expect people to--particularly the Sudanese Government, to make a
    more concerted effort to control the Janjaweed and protect human life.
    The meeting today and the rallies around the country are a clear signal
    that the United States is committed to peace in Darfur.
        Mark Smith [Associated Press Radio].

    Iran

        Q. Mr. President, let's come back to Iran, if we can. The Iranians
    have said they're going to ignore what happens at the U.N. Security
    Council. Doesn't that mean the diplomatic options are dwindling?

    [[Page 813]]

        The President. No, I think the diplomatic options are just
    beginning. As you might recall, about 6 or 7 months ago, you were asking
    me questions about the United Nations Security Council vis-a-vis Iran,
    and now we're headed to the United Nations Security Council. And I look
    forward to working with all interested parties to make sure that there's
    a common voice.
        Listen, the first thing that has to happen diplomatically for
    anything to be effective is that we all agree on the goal. And we've
    agreed on the goal, and that is the Iranians should not have a nuclear
    weapon, the capacity to make a nuclear weapon, or the knowledge as to
    how to make a nuclear weapon. And now that we've got the goal in mind,
    we're working on the tactics. And today's IAEA report should remind us
    all that the Iranian Government's intransigence is not acceptable.
        David Gregory [NBC News].

    Second-Term Agenda

        Q. Mr. President, we're seeing some turnover and some change within
    your administration, and I wonder what it says about what you think is
    necessary to turn your Presidency around at this point?
        The President. I think it's necessary to continue doing--to
    achieving results for the American people. We've got big challenges for
    this country, and I've got a strategy to deal with them.
        The biggest challenge we face is winning the war on terror and to
    protect the American people. And we'll continue to keep on the offense,
    to keep the terrorists off balance, to find them and bring them to
    justice. And at the same time, we'll continue to work to spread
    democracy, understanding that democracy is the best way to defeat an
    ideology of hatred.
        At home, it's important to make sure this economy continues to grow,
    and that's why I'm working with Congress to make the tax cuts permanent.
    I fully understand there are some here who would like the tax cuts to
    expire, or raise taxes. In my judgment, that would be bad for the
    economy. It would hurt small-business formation and hurt the
    entrepreneurial spirit. So I will continue to work with Congress to make
    these tax cuts a real part of economic life for a long time coming.
        And we've also got to be wise about spending. I issued a veto threat
    the other day because I was deeply concerned that the supplemental was
    getting out of hand. And I recognize that in order for us to cut the
    deficit in half, we've got to keep progrowth economic policies in place,
    as well as control Federal spending.
        I talked about the need for this country not to fear the future but
    to shape it. In other words, we shouldn't worry about competition from
    China and India. And because--we can outcompete those countries if we're
    wise about what we do here at home. And one of the most wise things we
    can do is to make sure our children have got the skills necessary to
    fill the jobs of the 21st century.
        I've been talking about energy independence for a long period of
    time. You might remember, last summer, I was urging Congress to pass a
    comprehensive energy bill so that we could deal with conservation and
    new technologies and diversification. And so I'm going to keep working
    hard for the American people to get results.
        By the way, we're in the midst of implementing now a Medicare bill
    which is helping our seniors a lot. And if you--if a senior has not
    signed up, I urge you to take a look at the Medicare prescription drug
    program, particularly if you're a low-income senior. It's an enormous
    benefit, and it's a necessary benefit.
        So there's a lot to do today, but we'll continue to be results-
    oriented.
        Martha Raddatz [ABC News].
        Q. Sir. I'm sorry, but I asked you about your internal changes and
    what that says about how you think things need to be changed. They've
    been very public, your internal changes.
        The President. Well, David, I'm a results-oriented person, and my
    job is to achieve things for the American people, positive results that
    make us more secure and more prosperous. And of course, I will have
    people by my side that work toward that objective.
        Thank you for your penetrating question.
        Q. Thank you.

    [[Page 814]]

        The President. Plus, I'm not going to hire you, if that's what you
    were suggesting. [Laughter]
        Q. I was not suggesting that. [Laughter]
        The President. I would, except you can't pass the background check.
    [Laughter] Okay, an unnecessary cheap shot; I take it back.
        Martha.

    Iran/Iraq

        Q. You often say Iran is not Iraq.
        The President. Yes, I do say that.
        Q. There are many people who fear that this will turn into a
    military confrontation. Why is Iran not Iraq? There's WMD----
        The President. Iraq went through 16 different Security Council
    resolutions. There was resolution after resolution after resolution.
    Iraq had invaded its neighbors. Iraq was shooting at U.S. aircraft. Iraq
    had actually used weapons of mass destruction on its people before.
    There's a difference between the two countries.
        Iran's desire to have a nuclear weapon is dangerous, in my judgment.
    The diplomatic process is just starting.
        Q. But when you talk about that, how many resolutions are you going
    to let go here? How far----
        The President. We haven't had one yet.
        Q. I know, but how far can you let them go? If you really fear that
    they're building a nuclear----
        The President. Wait until we even get one resolution first, before
    you ask me about the second resolution. The diplomatic process is just
    beginning. We're forming a strong coalition of like-minded countries
    that believe that the Iranians should not have a nuclear weapon. And
    I've told the American people that diplomacy is my first choice, and it
    should be the first choice of every American President in order to solve
    a very difficult problem. There are significant differences between Iran
    and Iraq.
        Kelly [Kelly O'Donnell, NBC News].

    Spanish Version of National Anthem

        Q. Mr. President, a cultural question for you. There is a version of
    the national anthem in Spanish now. Do you believe it will hold the same
    value if sung in Spanish as in English?
        The President. No I don't.
        Q. Why, sir?
        The President. Because I think the national anthem ought to be sung
    in English. And I think people who want to be a citizen of this country
    ought to learn English, and they ought to learn to sing the national
    anthem in English.
        Axelrod [Jim Axelrod, CBS].

    Iran

        Q. Mr. President.
        The President. Yes.
        Q. I just want to follow up one more time on Iran. Mr. Ahmadinejad
    was quoted this morning as saying, those who want to prevent Iranians
    from obtaining their right should ``know that we do not give a damn,''
    his words, sir, ``about such resolutions.''
        The President. Okay.
        Q. When you're talking about diplomacy, sir, a question of tactics
    at this point, not goals. If you have, for instance, Russia saying, they
    don't want a Chapter VII resolution, if you're dealing with a gentleman
    who uses this kind of rhetoric, what kind of tactics can you possibly
    come up with?
        The President. I guess the first thing I would do is refer those
    comments to our partners and get their reaction, to see what they say,
    see how they react to those kind of comments. And I haven't had a chance
    to do that yet, since it just happened today. But I will continue to
    work with our friends and allies.
        Listen, key--step one is to have a common goal. I know that sounds
    simple to you, probably, but it wasn't always that way. The world wasn't
    always of like mind that the Iranians were, you know, headed for a
    weapon, and that that would be a dangerous course of action. And now we
    are of like mind. And so we are in the stage now of formulating a
    strategy to achieve a diplomatic solution to this problem.
        Q. But Mr. President, given everything you've been hearing from Mr.
    Ahmadinejad over the past several weeks and months, in your estimation,
    is this someone you can work with?
        The President. That's going to be his choice, eventually. And it's
    going to be very important for Mr. Ahmadinejad to recognize

    [[Page 815]]

    the world is united in our desire, and it's his choice to make.
        Carl Cameron [FOX News].

    Fuel

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President, good morning.
        The President. Thank you.
        Q. Back to gas prices just a moment ago. Insofar as you directed
    some of your Cabinet this week to look into the possibility of price
    gouging, do you have a suspicion yourself, do you have evidence here at
    the White House, and should the American consumer believe that you think
    they're being ripped off?
        The President. I have no evidence that there's any rip-off taking
    place, but it's the role of the Federal Trade Commission to assure me
    that my inclination and instincts is right. More importantly, it's up to
    the Federal Trade Commission to assure the American people that they're
    being treated fairly at the pump.
        Let's see--Mark Smith.
        Q. Another one?
        The President. Oh, you already asked one?
        Q. Call on my colleagues.
        The President. Did you ask one?
        Q. Yes, sir.
        The President. Oh, you did ask one. [Laughter]
        Q. It was a memorable question.
        Q. Really a great question. [Laughter]
        Q. Can I follow up on the energy question, Mr. President?
        The President. No, you can't, because I just embarrassed myself by
    calling on Smith twice. [Laughter] That's right; it was that brilliant
    question. How could I forget?
        VandeHei [Jim VandeHei, Washington Post].

    Energy/Alternative Fuel Sources

        Q. In talking about gas prices, in 2001, when you did your first
    energy policy and gas prices were about $1.50, a lot of people were
    saying, you know, you have to push CAFE standards higher for the entire
    fleet of vehicles; you have to scrutinize oil companies more closely;
    you have to spend a lot more in alternative fuels than even you were
    proposing. Do you have any regrets now that gas is $3 that you didn't do
    enough in your first term to prevent these prices?
        The President. As you know, in order for there to be a CAFE standard
    increase on cars, it requires congressional action. I think it's a good
    idea to give the President, through the Secretary of Transportation, the
    opportunity to raise CAFE standards, just like I did on light trucks.
    And we're spending--I think it's about $10 billion since I've been
    President on alternative sources of energy, and we're making progress;
    we're close to some significant breakthroughs.
        The point is, is that it's very important for us to diversify away
    from oil. You might remember when I first came in--I think the price of
    oil was like--I know it was below $20, and it's all of a sudden--now
    that the price of oil is up, alternatives become much more economically
    viable, and therefore, I think the American people are going to see a
    lot of technological development happen quickly, which will enable
    people to have different options and different choices.
        The hybrid vehicle has just hit the road recently, as you know.
    There's a big demand for hybrids. I think it makes sense to have tax
    credits to encourage people to buy hybrids. Increase in demand will
    cause producers to produce more. And as you know, that there's
    limitations on the number of--the amount of tax credit issued per
    manufacturer. I think we ought to just make sure the tax credit is
    applied to all people purchasing hybrid vehicles.
        Herman [Ken Herman, Austin American-Statesman].

    Dubai Holding LLC

        Q. Thank you, sir.
        The President. Yes. Glad to work you into a national press
    conference for the first time in a long time.
        Q. Proud to be here, sir. Are there inherent and unavoidable risks
    in allowing the sale of a defense firm to interests owned by Dubai?
        The President. That question has been looked at very carefully, has
    been analyzed by a CFIUS committee. I signed off on it this morning
    because I'm convinced, at the recommendation of the CFIUS committee,

    [[Page 816]]

    as well as our military, that it's a sale that should go through.
        April [April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks].

    Elections in New Orleans, LA

        Q. Mr. President, some have questioned your efforts in having every
    vote count in this Nation, especially after the April 22d New Orleans
    elections. Now with that, what are you looking to do with the three
    sections of the Voting Rights Act that are set to expire in 2007? How
    are you planning to enhance those sections, because we understand that
    you want to study it prior to any passing of a bill by the Senate.
        The President. I think I'm on record, as a matter of fact I'm pretty
    clearly on record, particularly at the Rosa Parks--signing of the Rosa
    Parks bill, that I'm for the extension of the Voting Rights Act, right?
        Q. Yes, yes you are on record. But there is word that you want to
    enhance it, or people within your administration want to look at it to
    tweak it.
        The President. I wanted to make sure the Voting Rights Act is strong
    and capable. I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about. But my
    statement is my statement: The Voting Rights Act ought to be extended.
    The Voting Rights Act is a very important part of the civil rights
    legislation. Everybody ought to be encouraged to vote. Voting is a
    valuable part of democracy, and we want people voting.
        Q. Do you think it was valuable in April--for the April 22d
    elections in New Orleans?
        The President. I'm not going to second-guess the Federal judge. I
    was just down there yesterday; I didn't hear much complaining about it,
    though, when I was there. And, obviously, it's a more difficult election
    with people scattered around, but the State worked very hard to
    encourage people to vote. And I was with Mayor Nagin and Governor
    Blanco, and the subject, frankly, didn't come up. That's not to say it's
    not on their minds. It's on Mayor Nagin's mind because he wants to win;
    he wants people voting.
        But the State bent over backwards to encourage people to participate
    in the mayoral election, and it looked like the process, given the
    circumstances the city had been under, pretty smooth process, which is
    not necessarily a given.
        Yes, sir.

    Emergency Management/Gulf Coast Recovery

        Q. Mr. President, yesterday Senators Lieberman and Collins said they
    want to see FEMA abolished. I'd like you to comment on that. But also,
    with hurricane season only a month away, can you assure the American
    people that your Government has learned the lessons of Katrina?
        The President. Thanks for the question. That was obviously on
    people's minds when I went down to New Orleans and Mississippi. The
    lessons of Katrina are very important. We've learned a lot here at the
    Federal level: One, there needs to be better coordination between local
    and State governments; secondly, that there needs to be a communications
    package that will be available to help deal with the situation that
    happened last time, which was total destruction of communications
    capabilities; third, that there needs to make sure that there is a law
    enforcement alternative in case there's a local--a breakdown of local
    law enforcement; fourthly, there needs to be a prepositioning of assets
    so that if a major storm were to come, we'd be able to move equipment in
    faster.
        But most important, there needs to be a coordination and an
    understanding of the evacuation and relief plans. And I talked to the
    Mayor and both Governors that I met with yesterday about our seriousness
    in working with them to make sure that the plans are as effective as
    possible.
        The communications, obviously, this time around are a lot better
    than last time around. And so the lessons are being learned. And my
    attitude toward the recommendations by Fran Townsend, who is a part of
    my administration, or the Congress is, we ought to take them all
    seriously. The objective is to respond to these natural disasters as
    well as we possibly can.
        The other issue down there for New Orleans, of course, are the
    levees. And we've got money in the sup to make sure that these levees
    are pre-Katrina or better prior to June 1st. I think we'll achieve that
    objective. Additional money will be spent so that the levees

    [[Page 817]]

    are improved significantly by September of '07. The levees are
    important--the rebuilding of the levees, or improving of the levees are
    very important to assure the people of New Orleans that if there is a
    storm, they're built to pre-Katrina levels, as least in the initial
    stage. But also, it's important to convince people that it's okay to
    risk capital in New Orleans.
        The amazing thing in the area down there--I don't know if you all
    went with me--but it was--there's this totally different attitude from
    when we were there before, early on, obviously, after the storm. People
    are coming back. Sales taxes along the gulf coast of Mississippi are
    higher today than they were a year ago this date. And that's positive.
        But look, there's still a lot of work to be done, a lot of
    reconstruction. The CDBG money--and it's very important for the Congress
    to pass the CDBG money I requested so that the housing issue can get--
    people can get back to rebuilding their homes. And Mississippi, the CDBG
    money will be coming out pretty quick; New Orleans, they've still got a
    little work. The Governor has proposed a plan that will be in front of
    the legislature, I think, this weekend. It's a very important step to
    getting this process moving.
        And so, got a lot of work to do. But, yes, we're much more ready
    this time than last time. And we're taking very seriously the lessons
    learned from Katrina.
        Q. Abolish FEMA?
        The President. I've looked at all suggestions, but my attitude is,
    let's make it work. We're about 6 weeks away from--we're getting pretty
    close.
        Who are you again? [Laughter]
        Q. I got a few more, if you like.
        The President. You've had a big day. [Laughter]
        Q. That's three. That's three.
        The President. Butting in once, called on unnecessarily once.
        Cooper [Christopher Cooper, Wall Street Journal].

    Emergency Response Preparation

        Q. Yes, sir, regarding FEMA, do you think that they're prepared for
    the season? And is there any way to measure that at this point?
        The President. I think preparation is--Chris, preparation is
    preparation at all levels of government. Most Governors will tell you
    that the main responsibility for disaster relief is at the State level.
    And the job of the Federal Government is to step in and help. And so
    Chertoff has been down there. Secretary Chertoff has been down there
    working with these local governments to review their plans and to
    analyze where the Federal Government can help if there's any breakdown
    whatsoever.
        One of the key issues, of course, again, in New Orleans, is
    transportation. We remember those pictures of those buses--people
    looking to get out, and yet there were these buses in flooded areas. And
    so one of the areas where Homeland Security Department, working with the
    State and local governments, is to make sure there's a transportation
    plan that will work.
        It's going to be interesting--let's pray--first of all, pray there's
    no hurricanes. That would be, like, step one. Step two, if one is
    coming, I suspect people are going to take hurricane warnings very
    seriously and that evacuation orders will be heeded very seriously. And
    so it's going to be a--and therefore, there's a need to make sure that
    the forecasting is accurate--and this is pretty much the way it is these
    days, been very accurate forecasting--and that the response by all of us
    is in a timely fashion to give people time to prepare.
        But now is the time to put these plans in place, and we're doing it.
    And I feel pretty good about the coordination and the sessions that have
    been taking place down there. And as I understand, Secretary Chertoff
    will be going back down there again.
        And, by the way, the plans are not just for New Orleans and
    Mississippi; they're for Alabama and Florida and Texas as well. In other
    words, it's for Hurricane Alley.
        Yes. Dallas Morning News man [G. Robert Hillman, Dallas Morning
    News].

    Immigration Reform

        Q. Yes, Mr. President, on Monday, several million illegal
    immigrants, worried about some forms of immigration legislation in the
    Congress, are going to walk off the job and keep their kids home from
    schools. What is

    [[Page 818]]

    your view of this call for a national boycott on Monday?
        The President. I'm not a supporter of boycotts; I am a supporter of
    comprehensive immigration. I understand how difficult this issue is for
    some people here in Washington and around the country, but there is--my
    judgment, that enforcing our border requires a--and by the way, I think
    most Americans agree that we've got to enforce our border. I don't think
    there's any question about that----
        Q. Do you think----
        The President. Let me finish, please, Bob, thank you--that there
    needs to be interior enforcement as well. But I recognize it's hard to
    enforce the border and have interior enforcement if there is a smuggling
    network that's bringing people across and there's a forgery network
    that's providing people false documents. And therefore, I believe a
    temporary-worker program will make it easier to enforce the border, as
    well as have interior enforcement.
        And if somebody is coming across to do a job on a temporary basis,
    they don't need to sneak across. They don't need a coyote to stuff them
    in the back of an 18-wheeler. They don't need to walk across the desert
    and risk their lives. And so a rational way to make sure our border is
    enforced is to have a temporary-worker program. And that's what I
    support.
        I think it's very important for people, when they do express
    themselves, they continue to do so in a peaceful way, in a respectful
    way--respectful of the--how highly charged this debate can become. One
    of the things that's very important is, when we debate this issue that
    we not lose our national soul. One of the great things about America is
    that we've been able to take people from all walks of life bound as one
    nation under God. And that's the challenge ahead of us.
        And I look forward to working with members of both political parties
    to get a bill out of the United States Senate and into conference, which
    would then mean we have a chance to get a comprehensive bill to my desk.
    And I want a comprehensive bill, one that enforces the border, one that
    makes sure that we've got interior enforcement procedures in place that
    actually work, one that provides a temporary-worker process for people,
    one that does not provide automatic citizenship--I don't think anybody
    really wants there to be automatic amnesty for people--one that allows
    somebody here to be able to get in--if they want to be a citizen, to be
    able to get in line, but not the front of the line but the back of the
    line.
        And that's what I'm for, a comprehensive plan. I think we can get
    one done if people would set aside politics and focus on what's best for
    the United States of America.
        Thank you for your time. I've enjoyed this. I will see you all
    tomorrow night, I guess. Looking forward to it. I hope you are as well.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:47 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Edward P. Lazear, Chairman,
    Council of Economic Advisers; former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell;
    former Senator John C. ``Jack'' Danforth of Missouri; Chancellor Angela
    Merkel of Germany; President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran; Mayor C. Ray
    Nagin of New Orleans, LA; Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana;
    and Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi.