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McCarty decided to do something about it. congratulate the players, their wives/ Last fall, he approached his friend, Kris girlfriends, the coaches, all those who sup- Draper, told him he’d cleaned up his life, port the team; the unheralded heroes in the and he thought he had a little hockey left locker room that make sure the lives of these in him. So he plays for the Flint Generals players is as comfortable as possible—the in the IHL, works his way up to the Red trainers, the laundry handlers, the equipment Wings AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Grif- handlers. I congratulate you for achieving a fins. And then in March, as the playoffs ap- dream that millions of kids dream about, in- proached, Darren got a call from the Red cluding those in the room. Wings offering him a shot with the team. Thanks for bringing the Cup to the White This guy got his life back together, seized House. Good luck for the rest of the season. the moment, and scored the opening goal in May God bless you. game two of the series against Nashville. That And now it is my honor to bring Captain is a stout story. And—where are you, Nick Lidstrom to the podium. Darren? Yes, congratulations to you. One of the things that is really interesting NOTE: The President spoke at 2:37 p.m. in the about the Stanley Cup is that every player East Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Christopher Ilitch, vice president, on the championship team gets to take the and Michael and Marian Ilitch, owners, Detroit trophy home for a day. Red Wings players Red Wings; Gary B. Bettman, commissioner, Na- took the Cup on adventures across the world tional Hockey League; Johan Franzen, right wing, to Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Gordie Howe, former right wing, Kris Draper, Slovakia, and Russia. Coach Babcock took center, Chris Chelios, defenseman, Brett Lebda, the Cup water skiing; slalom or two skies? defenseman, Darren McCarty, right wing, Tomas [Laughter] Kopecky, right wing, Brian Rafalski, defenseman, Anyway, several players had young rel- Chris Osgood, goal tender, and Dan Cleary, right atives baptized with the Cup. Others let their wing, Detroit Red Wings; and entertainer Chuck children use it as a bowl for cereal, for ice Norris. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of cream, and donuts. Tomas Kopecky took it Niklas Lidstrom, defenseman and team captain, home to Slovakia and used it as a bowl for Detroit Red Wings. a special Slovakian broth. No telling what was in that special Slovakian broth. [Laughter] Many Red Wings used their time with the Statement on Signing the Inspector Cup to lift the lives of others. Kris Draper General Reform Act of 2008 took the Cup to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick October 14, 2008 Children. That must have been a joyous mo- ment for them to see the Cup. Coach Bab- Today I have signed into law H.R. 928, cock took it to visit the disabled residents the ‘‘Inspector General Reform Act of 2008.’’ of a Sherbrooke Community Center. Brian The Act amends various authorities related Rafalski took it to a Wisconsin veterans to Federal Inspectors General. home. Section 6 of the bill gives Inspectors Gen- Chris Osgood, Dan Cleary, Kris Draper, eral the right to obtain legal advice from law- and Brett Lebda took the Cup to visit the yers working for an Inspector General. It is troops at Michigan’s Selfridge Air National important that Inspectors General have time- Guard Base. And today Red Wings players ly and accurate legal advice. It is also impor- took the Cup to visit wounded warriors at tant that agencies have structures through Walter Reed. As the Commander in Chief which to reach a single, final authoritative of a fabulous military, I thank you for hon- determination for the agency of what the law oring our troops. is. This determination is subject to the au- There is a sign over the door of the Red thority of the Attorney General with respect Wings locker at Joe Louis Arena that reads to legal questions within, and the President’s this: ‘‘To whom much is given, much is ex- authority to supervise, the executive branch pected.’’ The Red Wings live up to those and, of course, the courts in specific cases words on the ice and off the ice. And so I or controversies. To this end, the ‘‘rule of

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construction’’ in section 6 ensures that, with- the constitutional authority and obligations of in each agency, the determinations of the law the President. remain ultimately the responsibility of the George W. Bush chief legal officer and the head of the agency. Section 8 of the bill includes provisions The White House, that purport to direct or regulate the content October 14, 2008. of the President’s budget submissions, in- cluding provisions that purport to direct the Letter to Congressional Leaders President to include the comments of In- Certifying the Secretary of the spectors General with respect to those sub- Treasury To Purchase Troubled missions. The President’s budget submis- sions are recommendations for enactment of Assets legislation appropriating funds. The execu- October 14, 2008 tive branch shall construe section 8 of the Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. bill in a manner consistent with the Presi- President:) dent’s constitutional authority to recommend Pursuant to section 115(a)(2) of the Emer- for congressional consideration such meas- gency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 ures as the President shall judge necessary (Public Law 110–343) (the ‘‘Act’’), I hereby and expedient. certify that it is necessary for the Secretary of the Treasury to exercise the authority George W. Bush granted under the Act to purchase, or com- mit to purchase, troubled assets up to the The White House, limit of $350 billion outstanding at any one October 14, 2008. time. Sincerely, Statement on Signing the Duncan George W. Bush Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year NOTE: Identical letters were sent to Nancy Pelosi, 2009 Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the Senate. October 14, 2008 Today I have signed into law S. 3001, the Remarks Prior to a Cabinet Meeting ‘‘Duncan Hunter National Defense Author- October 15, 2008 ization Act for Fiscal Year 2009.’’ The Act authorizes funding for the defense of the I called my Cabinet together for them to United States and its interests abroad, for get a full understanding of the extraordinary military construction, and for national secu- actions we’ve taken. Many of the Cabinet rity-related energy programs. members are involved with helping make Provisions of the Act, including sections sure this economy is strong in the future— no Cabinet member more involved than Sec- 851, 902, 1211(2), and 1508(b), purport to retary Paulson. And we have taken extraor- impose requirements that could inhibit the dinary measures because these are extraor- President’s ability to carry out his constitu- dinary circumstances. tional obligations to take care that the laws As I said yesterday, it’s very important for be faithfully executed, to protect national se- the American people to know that the pro- curity, to conduct diplomatic negotiations, to gram is designed to preserve free enterprise, supervise the executive branch, to appoint of- not replace free enterprise. Decisions we ficers of the United States, and to execute took to enhance liquidity and make sure our his authority as Commander in Chief. The financial instruments are strong is a tem- executive branch shall continue to construe porary decision. For example, the equity pur- such provisions in a manner consistent with chases in the banks is designed so that these

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