[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 39 (Monday, October 2, 2006)]
[Page 1679]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With the Republican Senate Conference

September 28, 2006

    I just had a really constructive and interesting session with 
Republican Members of the United States Senate. I'm impressed by the 
leadership here in the Senate. I'm impressed by the caliber of people 
that serve our country.
    I want to congratulate the House for passing a very vital piece of 
legislation that will give us the tools necessary to protect the 
American people, and that's the Hamdan legislation. That's the 
legislation that will give us the capacity to be able to interrogate 
high-valued detainees, and at the same time, give us the capacity to try 
people who--in our military tribunals.
    In speaking to the Senate, I urged them to get this legislation to 
my desk as soon as possible. Senator Frist and Senator McConnell 
committed to that end. The American people need to know we're working 
together to win this war on terror. Our most important responsibility is 
to protect the American people from further attack, and we cannot be 
able to tell the American people we're doing our full job unless we have 
the tools necessary to do so. And this legislation passed in the House 
yesterday is a part of making sure that we do have the capacity to 
protect you.
    Our most solemn job is the security of this country. People 
shouldn't forget there's still an enemy out there that wants to do harm 
to the United States. And therefore a lot of my discussion with the 
Members of the Senate was to remind them of this solemn responsibility. 
And so I look forward to you passing good legislation, Senators. Thank 
you for having me. Appreciate your time.

Note: The President spoke at 9:16 a.m. at the United States Capitol. In 
his remarks, he referred to H.R. 6166.