636 May 15 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2007

NOTE: In his statement, the President referred All Americans honor the memory of the to Adm. William J. Fallon, USN, commander, U.S. lives that have been lost in defense of our Central Command; Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, freedom. Our Nation mourns them, and their commanding general, Multi-National Force— example of strength and perseverance gives Iraq; U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker; us resolve. We are also thankful to those who and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan William B. Wood. have stood by our service men and women in times of war and times of peace. Today, the members of our Armed Forces Statement on the Death of follow in a proud tradition handed down to Jerry L. Falwell, Sr. them by the heroes that served before them. May 15, 2007 They are protecting our Nation, advancing the blessings of freedom, and laying the foun- Laura and I are deeply saddened by the dation for a more peaceful tomorrow through death of Jerry Falwell, a man who cherished service that exemplifies the good and decent faith, family, and freedom. As the founder character of our Nation. America is grateful of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynch- to all those who have worn the uniform of burg, Virginia, Jerry lived a life of faith and the Armed Forces of the United States, and called upon men and women of all back- we will never forget their sacrifices for our grounds to believe in God and serve their liberty. communities. One of his lasting contributions On Memorial Day, we honor all those who was the establishment of Liberty University, have fallen by remembering their noble sac- where he taught young people to remain true rifice for freedom. We also pray for our to their convictions and rely upon God’s word troops, their families, and for the peace we throughout each stage of their lives. all seek. Today our thoughts and prayers are with In respect for their devotion to America, his wife, Macel, and the rest of the Falwell the Congress, by a joint resolution approved family. on May 11, 1950, as amended (64 Stat. 158), has requested the President to issue a procla- mation calling on the people of the United Proclamation 8145—Prayer for States to observe each Memorial Day as a Peace, Memorial Day, 2007 day of prayer for permanent peace and desig- May 15, 2007 nating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. By the President of the United States The Congress, by Public Law 106–579, has of America also designated the minute beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all A Proclamation Americans to observe the National Moment On Memorial Day, Americans pause with of Remembrance. solemn gratitude and deep respect for all our Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, fallen service men and women who have President of the United States of America, given their lives for our country and our free- do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 28, dom. 2007, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, Through the generations, the courageous and I designate the hour beginning in each and selfless patriots of our Armed Forces locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time have secured our liberty and borne its great to unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans and precious cost. When it has mattered to observe the National Moment of Remem- most, patriots from every corner of our Na- brance beginning at 3:00 p.m., local time, on tion have taken up arms to uphold the ideals Memorial Day. I encourage the media to par- that make our country a beacon of hope and ticipate in these observances. I also request freedom for the entire world. By answering the Governors of the United States and the the call of duty with valor and unrelenting Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ap- determination, they have set a standard of propriate officials of all units of government, courage and idealism that inspires us all. to direct that the flag be flown at half staff

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until noon on this Memorial Day on all build- • A four-axis filament winding machine to ings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout be used in production of graphite or the United States, and in all areas under its glass composite golf clubs. jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the George W. Bush flag at half staff from their homes for the The White House, customary forenoon period. May 15, 2007. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and Remarks Following a Discussion on of the Independence of the United States of the Employment Eligibility America the two hundred and thirty-first. Verification System May 16, 2007 George W. Bush I appreciate the discussion we just had on [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, immigration. With us are people who are em- 11:29 a.m., May 17, 2007] ployers, people who provide work for citizens who are in our country legally. They know NOTE: This proclamation was published in the full well it’s against the law to hire somebody Federal Register on May 18. The Office of the who is here illegally. They need help from Press Secretary also released a Spanish language the Government to make sure the person version of this proclamation. they hire is here legally, that they’re not deal- ing with forged documents. And so we’ve been reviewing the upgrad- Message to the Congress Certifying ing of the Basic Pilot program, which is the Exports to the People’s Republic of Government’s attempt to help small-business China owners and larger business owners make sure May 15, 2007 that the people they’re finding work for are not breaking the law. In other words, we To the Congress of the United States: can’t ask our employers to verify somebody In accordance with the provisions of sec- here unless we help them. And the reason tion 1512 of the Strom Thurmond National why we’re talking about this subject is that Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year holding employers to account for violating 1999 (Public Law 105–261), I hereby certify the law is an integral part of a comprehensive that the export to the People’s Republic of immigration reform package. China of the following items is not detri- I thank members of my Cabinet, Secre- mental to the U.S. space launch industry, and taries Gutierrez and Chertoff, for taking the that the material and equipment, including White House lead in working with Members any indirect technical benefit that could be of the United States Senate to get a com- derived from such exports, will not measur- prehensive immigration bill to the floor as ably improve the missile or space launch ca- quickly as possible, that can pass the Senate. pabilities of the People’s Republic of China: And it’s been hard work. This is a very emo- • A four-axis filament winding machine tional issue. I firmly believe that the bill for production of spare parts for China’s needs to be comprehensive. In other words, water purification and treatment indus- you can’t have one aspect of immigration re- tries; form pass and not other aspects, otherwise • A computer control system upgrade to we’ll be back to where we were in the past, a three-axis filament winding machine and that is reform efforts have failed because for production of spare parts for China’s it hadn’t been comprehensive enough. water purification and treatment indus- The best way and, frankly, only way to get tries; a comprehensive bill done that will matter • An isostatic press for manufacturing and deal with this issue once and for all is automotive spare parts; and for the bipartisan approach that we’re now

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