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Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Monday, May 12, 2008 Volume 44—Number 18 Pages 655–683 VerDate Aug 31 2005 10:59 May 13, 2008 Jkt 214250 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P18MYF4.009 P18MYF4 yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PRESDOCSF Contents Addresses and Remarks Communications to Federal Agencies— Continued See also Bill Signings; Meetings With Foreign Leaders Designation and Sharing of Controlled Cinco de Mayo celebration—659 Unclassified Information (CUI), Council of the Americas—666 memorandum—673 House Republican Conference, meeting—665 Proposed Agreement Between the Government of the United States of Kansas, commencement address at America and the Government of the Greensburg High School in Greensburg— Russian Federation for Cooperation in the 656 Field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, Military Spouse Day—661 memorandum—660 Radio address—655 Meetings With Foreign Leaders Bill Signings Panama, President Torrijos—664 Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Notices Kyi, remarks—660 Continuation of the National Emergency Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Communications to Congress Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Czech Republic-U.S. Social Security Syria—671 Agreement, message transmitting—672 Proclamations Iceland-U.S. Taxation Convention, message Military Spouse Day—659 transmitting—665 Mother’s Day—672 Syria, message on continuation of national National Defense Transportation Day and emergency blocking property of certain National Transportation Week—678 persons and prohibiting the export of Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and Police certain goods—671 Week—678 Supplementary Materials Communications to Federal Agencies Acts approved by the President—682 Assignment of Reporting Function Under Checklist of White House press releases—681 Subsection 1225(a) of the John Warner Digest of other White House National Defense Authorization Act for announcements—679 Fiscal Year 2007, memorandum—665 Nominations submitted to the Senate—680 Editor’s Note: The President was at the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX, on May 9, 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 10:59 May 13, 2008 Jkt 214250 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P18MYF4.009 P18MYF4 yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PRESDOCSF yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PRESDOCSF VerDate Aug 312005 10:59 May 13,2008 Jkt214250 PO00000 Frm00003 Fmt7969 Sfmt7969 E:\PRESDOCS\P18MYF4.009 P18MYF4 newmail.eps Week Ending Friday, May 9, 2008 The President’s Radio Address several additional steps that Congress needs May 3, 2008 to take to ease the burdens of an uncertain economy. Americans are concerned about Good morning. This week, the Commerce energy prices. To increase our domestic en- Department reported that GDP grew at an ergy supply, Congress needs to allow envi- annual rate of six-tenths of a percent in the ronmentally safe energy exploration in north- first quarter. This rate of growth is not nearly ern Alaska, expand America’s refining capac- as high as we would like. And after a record ity, and clear away obstacles to the use of 52 months of uninterrupted job growth, April clean, safe nuclear power. was the fourth month in a row in which our Americans are concerned about rising food economy lost jobs, although the unemploy- prices. Yet, despite this growing pressure on ment rate dropped to 5 percent. Americans’ pocketbooks, Congress is consid- My administration has been clear and can- ering a massive farm bill. Instead, they did on the state of the economy. We saw should pass a fiscally responsible bill. the economic slowdown coming. We were Americans are concerned about making upfront about these concerns with the Amer- their mortgage payments and keeping their ican people, and we’ve been taking decisive homes. Yet Congress has failed to pass legis- action. lation I have repeatedly requested to mod- In February, I signed an economic growth ernize the Federal Housing Administration package to put more than $150 billion back that will help more families stay in their into the hands of millions of American fami- homes, reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lies, workers, and businesses. This week, the to ensure they focus on their housing mis- main piece of that package began being im- sion, and allow State housing agencies to plemented, as nearly 7.7 million Americans issue tax-free bonds to refinance subprime received their tax rebates electronically. Next loans. week, the Treasury Department will begin Americans are concerned about their tax mailing checks to millions more across the country. And by this summer, it expects to bills. With all the other pressures on their have sent rebates to more than 130 million finances, American families should not have American households. These rebates will de- to worry about the Federal Government tak- liver up to $600 per person, $1,200 per cou- ing a bigger bite out of their paychecks. So ple, and $300 per child. Congress should eliminate this uncertainty This package will help American families and make the tax relief we passed perma- increase their purchasing power and help off- nent. set the high prices that we’re seeing at the America is now facing a tough economic gas pump and the grocery store. It will also period, but our long-term outlook remains provide tax incentives for American busi- strong. This week, we saw evidence that our nesses to invest in their companies, which economy is continuing to grow in the face will help create jobs. Most economic experts of challenges. This should come as no sur- predict that the stimulus will have a positive prise. No temporary setbacks can hold back effect on the economy in this quarter and the most powerful force in our economy: the even a greater impact in the next. And Amer- ingenuity of the American people. Because icans should have confidence in the long- of your hard work and dedication, I am con- term outlook for our economy. fident that we will weather this rough period While getting more money back in the and emerge stronger than ever. hands of Americans is a good start, there are Thank you for listening. 655 VerDate Aug 31 2005 11:00 May 13, 2008 Jkt 214250 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P18MYT4.009 P18MYT4 yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PRESDOCST 656 May 3 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2008 NOTE: The address was recorded at 8:55 a.m. on tall when its buildings and homes were laid May 2 in the Cabinet Room at the White House low. We celebrate the power of faith, the love for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 3. The tran- of family, and the bonds of friendship that script was made available by the Office of the guided you through the disaster. And finally, Press Secretary on May 2 but was embargoed for we celebrate the resilience of 18 seniors who release until the broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language tran- grow closer together when the world around script of this address. them blew apart. When the class of 2008 walks across the stage today, you will send a powerful message to our Nation: Greens- Commencement Address at burg, Kansas, is back, and its best days are Greensburg High School in ahead. Greensburg, Kansas To reach this day, the class of 2008 has May 4, 2008 overcome challenges unlike those faced by any other graduating class. You’ve spent a Thank you all. Thank you very much. Su- year in portable classrooms that look very dif- perintendent, thank you for that kind intro- ferent from the red book—brick school you duction. Governor Sebelius, thank you for attended as freshmen. Many of you have being here; Senator Brownback; Senator gone home to trailers that lack the comforts Roberts; Congressman Tiahrt; Mayor of the houses you had. All of you have had Janssen; Mayor-elect Dixson; City Adminis- to juggle a full load of schoolwork and activi- trator Hewitt; Principal Fulton; members of ties while also working to help this commu- the administration; faculty and staff; distin- nity rebuild. Through it all, you’ve shown de- guished guests; family, friends, and most im- termination and perseverance, and today you portantly, the class of 2008.