[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 51 (Monday, December 24, 2007)]
[Pages 1599-1600]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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The President's Radio Address

December 15, 2007

    Good morning. In a time of war, America's top priority should be to 
ensure that our troops on the frontlines get the funding they need. So 
beginning in February, I submitted detailed funding requests to Congress 
to fund operations in the war on terror. Congress has had months to pass 
this funding. Unfortunately, with just days to go before Members leave 
for their Christmas vacation, they still have not come through with 
these funds.
    This week, Congress considered a defense authorization bill. An 
authorization bill is a pledge to spend money. Under such a bill, 
Congress will make a promise to fund our troops in combat. But a 
congressional promise, even if enacted, does not pay the bills. It is 
time for Congress to provide our troops with actual funding.
    The stakes are high for our men and women on the frontlines. Our 
troops are striking blows against the terrorists and extremists in Iraq 
and Afghanistan, and these funds are critical to their continued 
success. The funds I have requested include money to carry out combat 
operations against the enemy. They include money to train the Iraqi and 
Afghan security forces to take on more responsibility for the defense of 
their countries. They include money for civilian agencies deployed in 
the field with our military to help build local governments and create 
jobs. And they include money for intelligence operations to protect our 
troops on the battlefield.
    Congress has had plenty of time to consider the emergency funds our 
troops need. Time is running out. And Pentagon officials say that 
continued delay in funding our troops will soon begin to have a damaging 
impact on the operations of our military. Congress's responsibility is 
clear: They must deliver vital funds for our troops, and they must do it 
before they leave for Christmas. Our men and women on the frontlines 
will be spending this holiday season far from their families and loved 
ones. And this Christmas, they deserve more than words from Congress; 
they deserve action.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 11:15 a.m. on December 14 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 
15. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on December

[[Page 1600]]

14 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of the 
Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this 
address.