[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 26 (Monday, July 7, 2008)]
[Pages 926-927]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Signing the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008

June 30, 2008

    Good morning. A few moments ago, I signed legislation that funds our 
troops who are in harm's way. Our Nation has no greater responsibility 
than supporting our men and women in uniform, especially since we're at 
war. This is a responsibility all of us in Washington share, not as 
Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans. And I want to thank leaders 
of the House and Senate for getting this bill to my office.
    America remains a nation at war. There are enemies who intend to 
harm us. Standing in their way are brave men and women who put on the 
uniform, who raised their right hand and took an oath to defend our 
freedom. They volunteered to deploy in distant lands, far from their 
families, far from their homes, and far from comfort of America. And 
every day, they risk their lives to defeat our adversaries and to keep 
our country safe.
    We owe these brave Americans our gratitude; we owe them our 
unflinching support. And the best way to demonstrate that support is to 
give them the resources they need to do their jobs and to prevail. The 
bill I signed today does exactly that. It provides necessary funds to 
support our troops as they conduct military operations in Iraq, in 
Afghanistan, and in other theaters in the war on terror.
    I appreciate that Republicans and Democrats in Congress agreed to 
provide these vital funds without tying the hands of our commanders and 
without an artificial timetable of withdrawal from Iraq. Our troops have 
driven the terrorists and extremists from many strongholds in Iraq. 
Today, violence is at the lowest level since March of 2004. As a result 
of this progress--some of

[[Page 927]]

our troops are coming home as result of our policy called return on 
success. We welcome them home. And with this legislation we send a clear 
message to all that are servings on the frontline that our Nation 
continues to support them.
    We also owe a debt of gratitude to our Nation's military families. 
They endure sleepless nights and the daily struggle of caring for 
children while a loved one is serving far from home. We have a 
responsibility to provide for them. So I'm pleased that the bill I sign 
today includes an expansion of the GI bill. This legislation will make 
it easier for our troops to transfer unused education benefits to their 
spouses and children. It will help us to recruit and reward the best 
military on the face of the Earth. It will help us to meet our 
responsibilities to those who support our troops every day, America's 
great military families.
    The bill also includes agreed-upon funding for other critical 
national priorities. This bill includes $465 million for the Merida 
Initiative, a partnership with Mexico and nations in Central America to 
crack down on violent drug trafficking gangs. The bill includes nearly 
$2.7 billion to help ensure that any State facing a disaster, like the 
recent flooding and tornadoes in the Midwest, has access to needed 
resources. This bill includes a measured expansion of unemployment 
insurance benefits with a reasonable work requirement. And this bill 
holds overall discretionary spending within the sensible limits that I 
requested.
    The bill is a result of close collaboration between my 
administration and members of both parties on Capitol Hill. I appreciate 
the hard work of my Cabinet, especially the leaders of Defense and State 
and Veterans Affairs, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, as 
well as OMB. I want to thank House and Senate leadership and leaders of 
the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. I am particularly 
grateful to Congressmen Boehner, Hoyer, Obey, and Lewis. And I want to 
thank Members who worked hard for the GI bill expansion, especially 
Senators Webb and Warner, Graham, Burr, and McCain.
    This bill shows the American people that even in an election year, 
Republicans and Democrats can come together to stand behind our troops 
and their families.
    Thank you for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 9:48 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
James B. Peake; and James A. Nussle, Director, Office of Management and 
Budget. H.R. 2642, approved June 30, was assigned Public Law No. 110-
252. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of these remarks.