Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 / Apr. 20
NOTE: The President spoke at 1:11 p.m. at Press Secretary also released a Spanish lan- the Ronald Reagan Building and Inter- guage transcript of these remarks. national Trade Center. The Office of the
Remarks on Signing the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 April 20, 2005
Thank you all. Please be seated. Wel- Our bankruptcy laws are an important come. Thank you very much for coming part of the safety net of America. They today. Today we take an important action give those who cannot pay their debts a to strengthen—to continue strengthening fresh start. Yet bankruptcy should always our Nation’s economy. The bipartisan bill be a last resort in our legal system. If some- I’m about to sign makes commonsense re- one does not pay his or her debts, the forms to our bankruptcy laws. By restoring rest of society ends up paying them. In integrity to the bankruptcy process, this law recent years, too many people have abused will make our financial system stronger and the bankruptcy laws. They’ve walked away better. By making the system fairer for from debts even when they had the ability creditors and debtors, we will ensure that to repay them. This has made credit less more Americans can get access to afford- affordable and less accessible, especially for able credit. low-income workers who already face finan- I’m pleased to be joined today by the cial obstacles. Attorney General Al Gonzales. I want to The bill I sign today helps address this thank the bill sponsors in the House and problem. Under the new law, Americans the Senate. Senator Chuck Grassley of the who have the ability to pay will be required to pay back at least a portion of their debts. Senate—I think you told me you’d been Those who fall behind their State’s median working on this bill for 9 years. That’s a income will not be required to pay back long time. [Laughter] I appreciate Con- their debts. This practical reform will help gressman Jim Sensenbrenner from the ensure that debtors make a good-faith ef- House for being the sponsor in the House. fort to repay as much as they can afford. Thank you. This new law will help make credit more I want to thank the Speaker. Yesterday, affordable, because when bankruptcy is less the Speaker and I, by the way, had the common, credit can be extended to more honor of opening the Lincoln Library in people at better rates. Springfield, Illinois. I know he’d be pleased The new law will also require credit card to hear me say, ‘‘If you’re looking for some- companies to let card holders know up thing to do this summer’’—[laughter]. front what they are expected to pay and I thank Senator Mitch McConnell, Sen- what the penalties they will face if they ator Orrin Hatch, Senator Jeff Sessions, and are late on a payment. When people get Senator Tom Carper. I appreciate the a credit card, they should not be trapped Members of the House who are here, Mike by a provision in the fine print. Oxley, Rick Boucher, Bob Goodlatte, Steve To make the system more fair, the new Chabot. Thank you all for coming, and law will also make it more difficult for se- thanks for working on this piece of legisla- rial filers to abuse the most generous bank- tion. ruptcy protections. Debtors seeking to
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erase all debts will now have to wait 8 tect those who legitimately need help, stop years from their last bankruptcy before they those who try to commit fraud, and bring can file again. The law will also allow us greater stability and fairness to our financial to clamp down on bankruptcy mills that system. I’m honored to join the Members make their money by advising abusers on of Congress to sign the Bankruptcy Abuse how to game the system. Prevention and Consumer Protection Act. America is a nation of personal responsi- bility, where people are expected to meet NOTE: The President spoke at 2:42 p.m. in their obligations. We’re also a nation of Room 350 of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Ex- fairness and compassion where those who ecutive Office Building. S. 256, approved need it most are afforded a fresh start. April 20, was assigned Public Law No. 109– The act of Congress I sign today will pro- 8.
Remarks on Presenting the Commander in Chief’s Trophy to the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen April 20, 2005
Thank you. Please be seated. Welcome tion, the Deputy Secretary of Defense. to the Rose Garden. It is my honor to We’re glad you’re here, sir. And I appre- welcome the Midshipmen of the United ciate Vice Admiral Rod Rempt for your States Naval Academy back here again. hospitality at the games. Coach Johnson told me last year—he said, Coach Johnson, welcome back. Congratu- ‘‘Don’t worry about it, Mr. President, we’ll lations on the award you have won. There’s be back.’’ [Laughter] I like a man who nothing like a good team to make you look keeps his word. [Laughter] good. [Laughter] The football rivalry of our military acad- This team will be well-represented in the emies is one of the great American sports Navy record books. You won more games traditions. Once again, the Midshipmen set than any Navy team in 99 years. That’s a standard of excellence on the field. This a long time. [Laughter] The last time a team is tough; it is talented; and you knew team of Midshipmen won 10 games, the how to win. You whipped the Air Force Commander in Chief was Theodore Roo- Academy in the field goal in the last sevelt, who, by the way, built the West minute. I was there when you beat Army. [Laughter] And you won the Commander Wing. You finished the season ranked num- in Chief Trophy again. ber 24 in the polls. The last time that hap- I want to thank our guests who are here. pened, that you were in the top 25, was A Member of the United States Senate is 1979. None of the players on this team on his way who is a huge Naval Academy had been born then. You earned a trip supporter, and that would be Senator John to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, and McCain. He will be here soon. I appreciate you beat New Mexico for your first bowl Mike McIntyre from North Carolina joining victory in 9 years. us. Congressman, thank you for being here. You also set—Senator John McCain. I appreciate Michael Steele, the Lieutenant Thank you, sir. Thanks for coming. The Governor from Maryland. I appreciate Gor- thing McCain loved about the Naval Acad- don England, who’s the Secretary of the emy was, he got to study all the time. Navy, soon to be, upon Senate confirma- [Laughter] He and I have both showed that
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