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Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Monday, November 26, 2007 Volume 43—Number 47 Pages 1521–1528 VerDate Aug 31 2005 12:15 Nov 27, 2007 Jkt 214250 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P47NOF4.023 P47NOF4 ycherry on PRODPC74 with PRESDOCSF Contents Addresses and Remarks Resignations and Retirements Radio address—1521 White House Office, Assistant to the Thanksgiving turkey presentation ceremony— President for Homeland Security and 1526 Counterterrorism, statement—1525 Virginia, Berkeley Plantation in Charles City—1522 Statements by the President Executive Orders See Resignations and Retirements Designating the ITER International Fusion Supplementary Materials Energy Organization as a Public International Organization Entitled To Acts approved by the President—1528 Enjoy Certain Privileges, Exemptions, and Checklist of White House press releases— Immunities—1526 1528 Digest of other White House Proclamations announcements—1527 National Family Week—1521 Nominations submitted to the Senate—1528 Editor’s Note: The President was at Camp David, MD, on November 23, the closing date of this issue. Releases and announcements issued by the Office of the Press Secretary but not received in time for inclusion in this issue will be printed next week. WEEKLY COMPILATION OF Distribution is made only by the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents will be furnished by mail to domestic subscribers for $80.00 per year Published every Monday by the Office of the Federal Reg- ($137.00 for mailing first class) and to foreign subscribers for ister, National Archives and Records Administration, Washing- $93.75 per year, payable to the Superintendent of Documents, ton, DC 20408, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The ments contains statements, messages, and other Presidential charge for a single copy is $3.00 ($3.75 for foreign mailing). materials released by the White House during the preceding The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is also week. available on the Internet on the GPO Access service at http:// The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is pub- www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/index.html. lished pursuant to the authority contained in the Federal Reg- There are no restrictions on the republication of material ister Act (49 Stat. 500, as amended; 44 U.S.C. Ch. 15), under appearing in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- regulations prescribed by the Administrative Committee of the ments. Federal Register, approved by the President (37 FR 23607; 1 CFR Part 10). VerDate Aug 31 2005 12:15 Nov 27, 2007 Jkt 214250 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P47NOF4.023 P47NOF4 ycherry on PRODPC74 with PRESDOCSF ycherry on PRODPC74 with PRESDOCSF VerDate Aug 312005 12:15 Nov 27, 2007 Jkt214250 PO00000 Frm00003 Fmt7969 Sfmt7969 E:\PRESDOCS\P47NOF4.023 P47NOF4 newmail.eps Week Ending Friday, November 23, 2007 Proclamation 8206—National Family through November 24, 2007, as National Week, 2007 Family Week. I invite the States, commu- November 16, 2007 nities, and all the people of the United States to join together in observing this week with By the President of the United States appropriate ceremonies and activities to of America honor our Nation’s families. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set A Proclamation my hand this sixteenth day of November, in As families gather together to celebrate the year of our Lord two thousand seven, Thanksgiving, we underscore the comforting and of the Independence of the United and positive role they play in our society. States of America the two hundred and thir- During National Family Week, we celebrate ty-second. the contributions of families everywhere. Families strengthen our communities by George W. Bush teaching important values such as compas- sion and honesty to their children. Families [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, also offer a supportive environment and help 10:06 a.m., November 20, 2007] ensure that children grow into responsible members of society. By providing guidance NOTE: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on November 21. This item was and unconditional love, parents shape the not received in time for publication in the appro- character of their children. priate issue. My Administration believes that the strength of our Nation is built upon the foun- dation of strong families. To help support The President’s Radio Address families, we have doubled the child tax cred- November 17, 2007 it, reduced the marriage penalty, and low- ered tax rates. We are also committed to pro- Good morning. In a few days, our Nation moting positive youth development. The will celebrate Thanksgiving. Like millions of Helping America’s Youth initiative, led by Americans, Members of Congress will travel First Lady Laura Bush, supports organiza- home for the holiday. Unfortunately, as they tions, including faith-based and community get to work carving their turkeys, they’re groups, that continue this important mission. leaving a lot of unfinished work back in All Americans are grateful to our Nation’s Washington, DC. And unless they complete military families, who have stood by their this work soon, middle class Americans will loved ones in times of war and peace. Our pay higher taxes and American troops will country will always be especially thankful for not receive the critical funding they need to the sacrifices of our military personnel and fight and defeat our enemies. for their devotion to duty and their love of Many middle class taxpayers will face high- country. During National Family Week, we er tax bills unless Congress acts on the Alter- pray for their safe return and for the families native Minimum Tax, or AMT. The AMT was who await them at home. designed to ensure that the wealthy paid Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, their fair share of taxes. But when Congress President of the United States of America, passed the AMT decades ago, it was not in- by virtue of the authority vested in me by dexed for inflation. As a result, the AMT’s the Constitution and laws of the United higher tax burden is creeping up on more States, do hereby proclaim November 18 and more middle class families. 1521 VerDate Aug 31 2005 12:15 Nov 27, 2007 Jkt 214250 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P47NOT4.023 P47NOT4 ycherry on PRODPC74 with PRESDOCST 1522 Nov. 17 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2007 To deal with this problem, Congress has once again has Congress directing our mili- in recent years passed temporary legislation tary commanders on how to conduct the war that prevented most middle class taxpayers in Iraq as a condition for funding our troops. from having to pay the AMT. But this year, We do not need Members of Congress telling Congress has yet to pass this legislation. A our commanders what to do. We need Con- failure to do so would mean that 25 million gress listening to our military commanders Americans would be subject to the AMT, and giving them what they need to win the more than six times the number that faced war against extremists and radicals. Congress the tax last year. If you are one of those 25 knows I’ll veto this bill. During this time of million, you would have to send an average war, our troops deserve the full support of of $2,000 more to the IRS next year. This Congress, and that means giving our troops is a huge tax increase that Americans do not the funding they need to successfully carry expect and do not deserve. out their mission. I urge Congress to work The longer Congress waits to fix this prob- quickly and send me a clean bill, so we can lem, the worse it will get. Last month, Treas- fulfill our obligation to our brave men and ury Secretary Paulson wrote a letter to Mem- women in uniform. bers of Congress warning that delaying action With both of these delays, congressional on legislation to fix the AMT could create leaders are choosing political posturing over confusion for millions of taxpayers and delay the priorities of the people. These choices the delivery of about $75 billion worth of tax refund checks. Congress has ignored Sec- have real-world consequences for our tax- retary Paulson’s warnings, and we are now payers and our troops. When Members of beginning to see the consequences. On Fri- Congress return from their 2-week long day, the tax forms for 2007 had to be sent Thanksgiving vacation, they will have only a to the Government Printer. And because of few weeks left on the legislative calendar be- Congress’s refusal to act, the IRS will be fore they go home again for their Christmas forced to send out tens of millions of tax break. I call on Congress to use the time that forms that will almost certainly end up being is left to do what is right and pass AMT relief wrong, wasting your money, delaying re- and fund our troops in combat. funds, and making it even more complicated Thank you for listening. to figure out your taxes. It is clear that Congress’s failure to adjust NOTE: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on the AMT for inflation was a mistake. Unfor- November 16 in the Cabinet Room at the White tunately, Congress seems determined to House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November compound this original mistake by making 17. The transcript was made available by the Of- another one. Last week, the House passed fice of the Press Secretary on November 16 but a bill that provides relief from the AMT but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.