[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 16 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[Pages 462-463]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Congressional Leaders

April 18, 2007

    All of us around the table care deeply about what happened at 
Virginia Tech. And I know I can speak for all of us here that we send 
our prayers to the families of the victims, and we send our prayers to 
the friends of the victims. And we also send our deep concerns to the 
Virginia Tech community.
    This fine educational institution is going through a lot of trauma 
and pain, and all of us here care deeply about their lives, and they 
just need to know it. They need to know people grieve for them.
    I also want to thank the leaders from Congress for coming down. I'm 
looking forward to what will be a--one, I suspect, of many conversations 
on this war in Iraq and other major foreign policy issues.
    We're going to have a very good discussion. People have strong 
opinions around the table, and I'm looking forward to listening to them. 
I've got my own opinion, which I'm more than willing to share. The whole 
objective is to figure out how best to get our troops funded, get the 
money they need to do the job that I've asked them to do.
    And so, again, I want to thank you all for coming. I'm looking 
forward to our discussions.

[[Page 463]]

Note: The President spoke at 2:30 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House.