Presidential Documents
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Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Monday, December 22, 2008 Volume 44—Number 50 Pages 1519–1576 VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:40 Dec 23, 2008 Jkt 217250 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P50DEF4.019 P50DEF4 dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with PRESDOCSF Contents Addresses and Remarks Executive Orders See also Meetings With Foreign Leaders Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay—1567 Afghanistan, military personnel at Bagram Air Base—1531 Interviews With the News Media American auto industry—1568 Exchange with reporters in Baghdad, Iraq— American Enterprise Institute and a question- 1520 and-answer session—1547 Interviews Hanukkah menorah, lighting—1537 Steve Scully of C–SPAN—1560 Iraq Military personnel at Camp Victory in White House press pool—1525 Baghdad—1523 News conference with President Karzai of Strategic framework agreement and status Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, of forces agreement, signing ceremony in December 15—1534 Baghdad—1520 Meetings With Foreign Leaders Pennsylvania, U.S. Army War College in Carlisle—1542 Afghanistan, President Karzai—1534 President George W. Bush and First Lady El Salvador, President Saca—1538 Laura Bush, unveiling official portraits— Iraq 1570 Prime Minister Maliki—1520 Radio address—1519 President Talabani—1520 U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council, reception Palestinian Authority, President Abbas—1571 honoring—1546 Proclamations Communications to Congress To Take Certain Actions Under the African Kosovo and Azerbaijan, letter extending Growth and Opportunity Act and the Generalized System of Preferences benefits—1573 Generalized System of Preferences—1572 U.S. combat-equipped Armed Forces, letter Wright Brothers Day—1542 reporting on deployments around the Supplementary Materials world—1540 Acts approved by the President—1576 Communications to Federal Agencies Checklist of White House press releases— Unexpected Urgent Humanitarian Needs 1575 Related to the Democratic Republic of Digest of other White House Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, announcements—1574 memorandum—1568 Nominations submitted to the Senate—1575 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 13:40 Dec 23, 2008 Jkt 217250 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P50DEF4.019 P50DEF4 dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with PRESDOCSF dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with PRESDOCSF VerDate Aug 312005 13:40 Dec 23, 2008 Jkt217250 PO00000 Frm00003 Fmt7969 Sfmt7969 E:\PRESDOCS\P50DEF4.019 P50DEF4 newmail.eps Week Ending Friday, December 19, 2008 The President’s Radio Address Taken together, our efforts to reduce de- mand, cut supply, and help people break the December 13, 2008 chains of addiction are yielding measurable Good morning. This week, our country re- results. Over the past 7 years, marijuana use ceived good news in the fight against illegal by young people has dropped by 25 percent. drugs. New data show that illicit drug use Methamphetamine use by young people is amongst young people continues to decline, down by 50 percent. And the use of cocaine, and that we are making good progress in our hallucinogens, steroids, and alcohol by Amer- efforts to help thousands of Americans renew ica’s youth are all on the decline. Overall, their health and hope. illegal drug use by Americans is down by 25 Substance abuse is a serious challenge for percent, meaning we have helped approxi- our Nation. Addiction breaks hearts, destroys mately 900,000 young people stay clean. families, and keeps our citizens from ful- These statistics reflect successful govern- filling their God-given potential. The drug ment policies. They also represent the cour- trade also enriches our enemies and brings age and compassion of Americans who are crime and violence to our streets. So in 2002, determined to help their fellow citizens win I committed our Nation to an ambitious their struggle against drugs. On Thursday, I effort to cut drug use by limiting demand, met with some of these people at the White reducing supply, and helping addicts get House, and I am inspired by their stories. treatment. I was especially interested in a young man Over the past 6 years, we’ve made great named Josh. At age 19, Josh had never strides toward these goals. Parents, teachers, touched drugs or alcohol. He had a prom- mentors, and counselors have done fantastic ising life and career ahead of him. Yet after work to educate children about the dangers a car accident left him injured and unable of drug abuse. Law enforcement officers to work, Josh started abusing alcohol and co- have risked their lives to cut the supply of caine. He put his marriage and career in drugs on city streets. And with help from our jeopardy. Eight different treatment programs international partners, we’re pursuing drug failed to turn his life around, but the inter- dealers around the world and interdicting vention of his grandmother, the support of supply before it reaches our shores. This his wife, and the loving influence of God did. year, the Coast Guard took possession of Today, this young man is free of drugs. He’s more than 360,000 pounds of South Amer- a caring husband and father. And Josh Ham- ican cocaine—an alltime record. ilton of the Texas Rangers is one of the best To help Americans break the chains of ad- players in Major League Baseball. More im- diction, we’ve built strong partnerships with portantly, he and his wife Katie make time faith-based and community groups. These to share their blessings. Through their min- groups open minds and change hearts in a istry, they’re helping other Americans avoid way no government bureaucracy can, so my the suffering their family endured. administration has supported their life- Josh Hamilton shows that the devastation changing work. Through our Access to Re- of drug addiction can happen to anyone, but covery program, addicts receive vouchers that with faith and determination, anyone can they can redeem at treatment centers of their turn a life around. So today I ask every Amer- choice, including faith-based centers. So far, ican with a drug or alcohol problem to seek this program has helped more than 260,000 treatment, because your life is precious to addicts along the path toward clean lives. the people who love you. Our Nation needs 1519 VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:41 Dec 23, 2008 Jkt 217250 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P50DET4.019 P50DET4 dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with PRESDOCST 1520 Dec. 13 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2008 your contributions, and there is a more hope- that I had a chance to come back to Iraq ful future ahead. I ask all Americans to reach before my Presidency ends. out to your neighbors in need and do your President Talabani. You are welcome. part to help our Nation win the fight against President Bush. Thank you. illegal drugs. President Talabani. They want a picture Thank you for listening. with you, Mr. President. President Bush. Oh, absolutely. NOTE: The address was recorded at 6:55 a.m. on December 12 in the Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December NOTE: The President spoke at 6:01 p.m. at the 13. The transcript was made available by the Of- Salam Palace. In his remarks, he referred to Vice fice of the Press Secretary on December 12 but Presidents Tariq al-Hashimi and Adil Abd Al- was embargoed for release until the broadcast. Mahdi of Iraq. The President also referred to The Office of the Press Secretary also released SFA, the strategic framework agreement; and a Spanish language transcript of this address. SOFA, the status of forces agreement. Remarks Following a Meeting With Remarks at a Signing Ceremony for President Jalal Talabani of Iraq in the Strategic Framework Agreement Baghdad, Iraq and the Status of Forces Agreement December 14, 2008 and an Exchange With Reporters in Baghdad President Talabani. Today we have the December 14, 2008 pleasure and honor of receiving our great friend for Iraqi people, President George W. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq. Bush, who helped us to liberate our country In the name of God the Merciful and Com- and to reach this day, which we have democ- passionate. I would like to welcome the racy, human rights, and prosperity gradually President of the United States, President in our country. Thanks to him and to his cou- George W. Bush. I would like to welcome rageous leadership that we are here now in you here as a guest of Iraq.