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you here. You’ll see where the—only the sec- our country for serving as not only great ath- ond son of a President office is in a minute. letes but as great role models for children [Laughter] who look up to you. I also—one of the things that happens So welcome to the Rose Garden. Con- when a championship team comes here, it gratulations on such a great, successful sea- gives me a chance to talk about the develop- son. And may God continue to bless you, and ment of a culture, a winning culture inside may God continue to bless the United States an organization. I like to call it a culture of of America. Thank you for coming. service, people being willing to serve some- thing greater than themself, in this case, a NOTE: The President spoke at 10:56 a.m. in the team. Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, I was struck by ’s comments he referred to Peter Holt, chairman and chief ex- after the sixth game when they were talking ecutive officer, R.C. Buford, general manager, about the fantastic individual effort he had. , head coach, Danny Ferry, direc- And a reporter said, ‘‘What about that ef- tor of operations, Tim Duncan, , fort?’’ He said, ‘‘It’s cool,’’ but then imme- and , retired center, San Antonio diately went on to talk about the accomplish- Spurs; and Representatives Lamar Smith and ments of his teammates, recognizing that you Henry Bonilla of Texas. can’t win a championship unless you’re able to rely upon others and lift others up and Memorandum on Waiver and participate with others and work hard with others. And it’s a phenomenal tribute to the Certification of Statutory Provisions that they’ve got such great Regarding the Palestine Liberation individual players who are willing to work as Organization a team. And it’s a wonderful example for our October 14, 2003 country—it really is. The other thing that struck me about this Presidential Determination No. 2004–04 organization that is so powerful is that there is a culture of service when it comes to uti- Memorandum for the Secretary of State lizing their positions as champs to make somebody else’s life better. Gregg Popovich Subject: Waiver and Certification of won a of Light for his drug—anti-drug Statutory Provisions Regarding the Palestine programs in the early nineties. What a class Liberation Organization act that must be for players to work for a coach who then takes time out of his private Consistent with the authority vested in me life to set a good example for the children under section 534(d) of the Foreign Oper- of the community in which he lives and to ations, Export Financing, and Related Pro- work to rally the armies of compassion to grams Appropriations Act, 2003, Public Law make somebody else’s life better, in this case 108–7, I hereby determine and certify that to help a community fight off the scourge it is important to the national security inter- of drugs. ests of the United States to waive the provi- Or David Robinson, who is now heavily sions of section 1003 of the Anti-Terrorism involved in education in the San Antonio Act of 1987, Public Law 100–204. community. He’s not only a great husband This waiver shall be effective for a period but a great role model for others to see. I of 6 months from the date hereof. You are know many of you all do the same thing in hereby authorized and directed to transmit your communities, that you care deeply this determination to the Congress and to about the lives of your fellow citizens, and publish it in the Federal Register. I want to congratulate you. I think you’re champs because you understand that serving George W. Bush something greater than yourself is the road to championships. And that’s what you’re NOTE: This memorandum was released by the Of- here to do, is to receive the accolades from fice of the Press Secretary on October 15.

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Letter to Congressional Leaders I also had the honor of meeting Kim Ruiz Transmitting a Report on Iraq Beck, who is the vice chairman of Ruiz October 14, 2003 Foods. I met the entire Ruiz family. They’ve got a big family. [Laughter] My only advice Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) to the kids that were there was, ‘‘Listen to Consistent with the Authorization for Use your mother. I’m listening to mine.’’ And of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of she’s given me plenty of advice, I want you 2002 (Public Law 107–243), the Authoriza- to know. [Laughter] tion for the Use of Force Against Iraq Reso- I appreciate the president of this company, lution (Public Law 102–1), and in order to John Signorino. I want to thank my friend keep the Congress fully informed, I am pro- Mel Martinez, who you’ve just met. Mel is viding a report prepared by my Administra- the Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel- tion. This report includes matters relating to opment. He’s in my Cabinet. He’s got a lot post-liberation Iraq under section 7 of the to do about the housing initiative I’m going Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105– to talk about in a minute. 338). Mel is a fellow who was raised in Cuba. Sincerely, His mother and dad didn’t like the idea of George W. Bush their son being raised in a totalitarian state where there was no freedom, where there’s NOTE: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis still no freedom. So you know what they did? Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives, When he was 15 years old they put him on and Richard B. Cheney, President of the Senate. an airplane to America. They found a pro- This letter was released by the Office of the Press gram where a loving family would be wel- Secretary on October 15. coming young Mel with open arms. He fled tyranny because his parents love freedom, Remarks Following a Roundtable and now he’s in the Cabinet of the President Discussion in Dinuba, California of the United States. And I’m proud of my October 15, 2003 friend. Congressman Devin Nunes is with us Como esta? [Applause] Me, too. [Laugh- today. Congressman, thank you for coming. ter] Thanks for coming. It’s an honor to be George Radanovich as well is a Member of here. Fred, thank you very much for your the United States Congress. Thank you for hospitality on this beautiful day. It’s been my coming, Jorge. Bienvenidos. honor to come to a place that’s the embodi- I had the honor of driving from the airport ment of the American Dream. See, what we to this facility with the mayor of Fresno, Alan believe is, we believe people in this country Autry. He’s a good man. He cares deeply ought to be able to work hard and dream about the people of Fresno. He’s doing a big and realize their dreams. And the Ruiz great job. I’m proud to call him friend. I want family has done that. to thank Mike Smith, who is the mayor of It started with Grandma Rosie’s pots and Dinuba. pans and the first batch of enchiladas. Fred We just had what we call a roundtable dis- was just telling me they produce 3 million cussion—it happened to be at a square burritos a day. For a man who likes burritos, table—[laughter]—about homeownership, I’m in heaven. [Laughter] I also like to thank the idea of people owning a home is part the hospitality Louis Ruiz has shown me, the of the American Dream. Farid Assemi is a patriarch of this great family, the initial homebuilder here, was here, and Cara Pierce dreamer along with his son to build and cre- is the director of Housing and Consumer ate but, most importantly, to provide jobs for Credit, and the Azel family were all sharing over 1,200 people—a chance for 1,200 peo- with me their stories and what they’re doing ple to realize their dreams. That’s what to help people own a home. I want to thank America is all about. We’re here to herald them for coming. the greatness of America, the American spir- When I landed at your airport, I met a it, the strength of our country. fellow named Denny Klaseus. Denny

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