[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 24 (Monday, June 23, 2008)]
[Pages 887-888]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Congressional Action on the Legislative Agenda

June 20, 2008

    Good morning. This week, Congress moved forward on two important 
issues affecting the national security of our country.
    Yesterday the House passed a responsible war funding bill that will 
provide vital resources to our men and women on the frontlines in the 
war on terror. This legislation gives our troops the funds they need to 
prevail without tying the hands of our commanders in the field or 
imposing artificial timetables for withdrawal.
    The bill also supports our military families by passing an expansion 
of the GI bill that makes it easier for our troops to transfer unused 
education benefits to their spouses and their children. I want to thank 
the Members of Congress for their action on this legislation, and I urge 
the Senate to pass it as soon as possible.
    Members of the House and Senate also reached a bipartisan agreement 
yesterday on legislation to allow our intelligence professionals to 
quickly and effectively monitor the plans of terrorists abroad, while 
protecting the liberties of Americans here at home.
    My Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General tells 
me that this is a good bill. It will help our intelligence professionals 
learn our enemies' plans for new attacks. It ensures that those 
companies whose assistance is necessary to protect the country will 
themselves be protected from liability for past or future cooperation 
with the Government.
    The enemy who attacked us on September the 11th is determined to 
strike this country again. It's vital that our intelligence community 
has the ability to learn who the terrorists are talking to, what they're 
saying, and what they are planning.
    I encourage the House of Representatives to pass this bill today, 
and I ask the Senate

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to take it up quickly so our intelligence professionals can better 
protect Americans from harm.
    I'm pleased with the bipartisan cooperation on both these bills, and 
I thank the Members for their efforts.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 9:11 a.m. from the Oval Office Patio at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Attorney General Michael B. 
Mukasey.