[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 25 (Monday, June 25, 2007)]
[Pages 829-830]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Congressional Picnic

June 19, 2007

    The President. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I welcome you to 
the South Lawn. This is an opportunity to thank the Members of Congress 
and their families for serving the United States.
    First, I want to recognize the Speaker. Madam Speaker, thank you for 
joining us. It means a lot that you've come. I appreciate the leadership 
of the House and the Senate who have joined us. For all the wives and

[[Page 830]]

husbands, thank you for standing by your spouse. It's not easy to be in 
public office. It's a lot easier, though, when you have somebody who 
loves you to help you do your job. And so Laura and I want to thank you 
all, in particular. We're proud to be serving with you. Occasionally we 
might have our differences, but one thing we all agree on is, we 
represent the greatest country on the face of the Earth.
    I want to thank our chef, Paul Prudhomme, from New Orleans, 
Louisiana--one of the great chefs in America. Thanks for coming, Paul. I 
thank Tony Snow and his bunch of, well, mediocre musicians--[laughter]--
no, great musicians. Beats Workin', thanks for coming. Kermit, come up 
here. Kermit, we're proud to have you.
    Kermit Ruffins. Well, thanks for having us.
    The President. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, right out 
of New Orleans, Louisiana. Yes, sir.
    Mr. Ruffins. Thank you. Thanks for having us. We're glad to be here. 
Thank you, sir.
    The President. Proud you're here. Thanks for coming.
    You all enjoy yourself. Make sure you pick up all the trash after 
it's over. [Laughter]
    God bless you, and may God bless America. Thanks for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 8:10 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. The transcript was released by the Office of the Press Secretary 
on June 20.