[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 49 (Monday, December 11, 2006)]
[Page 2141]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Congressional Leaders

December 8, 2006

    I want to thank the Members of Congress--both Houses, both political 
parties--for joining me and the Vice President and members of my team. 
We just had a very constructive conversation. We talked about Iraq. We 
talked about the need for a new way forward in Iraq, and we talked about 
the need to work together on this important subject. We also talked 
about other key issues.
    I assured the leaders that the White House door will be open when 
the new Congress shows up. And I think we ought to meet on a regular 
basis; I believe there's consensus toward that. And the reason you meet 
on a regular basis is so that the American people can know that we're 
working hard to find common ground. That's what they expect us to do; 
they expect us to work on big problems and solve them.
    I want to say something about my two friends here. Senator Frist, we 
appreciate your service to the United States of America. You brought a 
lot of dignity to the office. And I appreciate the Speaker being, as 
well--Mr. Speaker, you've done a fine job as Speaker.
    I look forward to working with Senator Reid and Congresswoman Pelosi 
for doing what's right for the country. And again, I want to thank you 
all for coming down. I appreciate your interest, appreciate your advice, 
appreciate the input that you've given.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 9:16 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House.