Digest of Other White House Announcements December 19 in the Morning, the President Had an Intel- the Following List Includes the President’S Public Ligence Briefing

1632 Dec. 21 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2007

Established in 1966, Kwanzaa is cele- for H.R. 3315, designating the Great Hall of brated each year as an opportunity for Afri- the Capitol Visitor Center as Emancipation can Americans to honor African traditions of Hall. family, community, and culture. During the The White House announced that the seven days leading up to the New Year, mil- President will travel to Israel, the West Bank, lions of individuals reflect on the past and Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, renew their commitment to the principles of Saudi Arabia, and Egypt from January 8–16, Kwanzaa—unity, self determination, collec- 2008. tive work and responsibility, cooperative eco- The President declared a major disaster in nomics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Oklahoma and ordered Federal aid to sup- As family and friends gather to celebrate plement State and local recovery efforts in Kwanzaa, our citizens are reminded of the the area struck by severe winter storms on many African Americans who have contrib- December 8 and continuing. uted their talent and strength to this great The President announced his intention to Nation. I commend those observing this holi- nominate Irene B. Brooks to be Chairman day for taking pride in your rich heritage. and Samuel W. Speck to be a Commissioner May the coming year be filled with the bless- of the International Joint Commission of the ings of health and happiness. United States and Canada. Laura and I send our best wishes for a The President announced his intention to joyous Kwanzaa celebration. nominate Robert G. McSwain to be Director George W. Bush of the Indian Health Service within the Pub- lic Health Service at the Department of NOTE: An original was not available for Health and Human Services. verification of the content of this message. The President announced his intention to nominate Deanna Tanner Okun to be Dep- uty U.S. Trade Representative with the rank of Ambassador. Digest of Other White House Announcements December 19 In the morning, the President had an intel- The following list includes the President’s public ligence briefing. Later, in front of the Dwight schedule and other items of general interest an- D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, he nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and and Vice President Dick Cheney thanked not included elsewhere in this issue. Washington, DC, firefighters who responded to a fire in the Vice President’s ceremonial office. December 15 In the afternoon, the President traveled to In the morning, the President had an intel- the National Naval Medical Center in Be- ligence briefing. thesda, MD, where he visited with wounded December 17 U.S. military personnel and presented Purple Heart medals to service members. He then In the morning, the President had an intel- returned to Washington, DC. ligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Fred- ericksburg, VA. In the afternoon, the President returned December 20 to Washington, DC. In the morning, the President had an intel- ligence briefing. December 18 In the afternoon, the President visited In the morning, the President had an intel- Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he ligence briefing. met with wounded U.S. military personnel In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the and presented Purple Heart medals to sol- President participated in a signing ceremony diers.

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December 21 C. David Welch, In the morning, the President had an intel- of Virginia, a career member of the Senior ligence briefing. Later, he and Mrs. Bush Foreign Service, class of Career Minister, for traveled to Camp David, MD. the personal rank of Career Ambassador in recognition of especially distinguished service over a sustained period.

Jamsheed K. Choksy, Nominations of Indiana, to be a member of the National Submitted to the Senate Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2014, vice Lawrence The following list does not include promotions of Okamura, term expiring. members of the Uniformed Services, nominations to the Service Academies, or nominations of For- Dawn Ho Delbanco, eign Service officers. of New York, to be a member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expir- Submitted December 19 ing January 26, 2014, vice Dario Fernandez- Morera, term expiring. Richard A. Boucher, of Maryland, a career member of the Senior Gary D. Glenn, Foreign Service, class of Career Minister, for of Illinois, to be a member of the National the personal rank of Career Ambassador in Council on the Humanities for a term expir- recognition of especially distinguished serv- ing January 26, 2014, vice Stephan ice over a sustained period. Thernstrom, term expiring.

William J. Burns, David Hertz, of the District of Columbia, a career member of Indiana, to be a member of the National of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Career Council on the Humanities for a term expir- Minister, for the personal rank of Career ing January 26, 2014, vice Jewel Spears Ambassador in recognition of especially dis- Brooker, term expiring. tinguished service over a sustained period.

Robert D. Jamison, Marvin Bailey Scott, of Virginia, to be an Under Secretary of of Indiana, to be a member of the National Homeland Security. Council on the Humanities for the remainder of the term expiring January 26, 2010, vice Robert G. McSwain, Thomas K. Lindsay, resigned. of Maryland, to be Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Carol M. Swain, Human Services, for the term of 4 years, vice of Tennessee, to be a member of the Na- Charles W. Grim, resigned. tional Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2014, vice Sidney Deanna Tanner Okun, McPhee, resigned. of Idaho, to be a Deputy U.S. Trade Rep- resentative, with the rank of Ambassador, vice Karan K. Bhatia. Withdrawn December 19

Anne Woods Patterson, Robert D. Jamison, of Virginia, a career member of the Senior of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for Na- Foreign Service, class of Career Minister, for tional Protection and Programs, Department the personal rank of Career Ambassador in of Homeland Security, vice George W. recognition of especially distinguished serv- Foresman, resigned, which was sent to the ice over a sustained period. Senate on September 4, 2007.

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