Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Monday, May 10, 2004 Volume 40—Number 19 Pages 719–816 VerDate May 04 2004 09:43 May 11, 2004 Jkt 203250 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P19MYF4.007 P19MYF4 Contents Addresses and Remarks Addresses and Remarks—Continued See also Meetings With Foreign Leaders Republican National Committee dinner—794 Cinco de Mayo celebration—792 White House Correspondents’ Association Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, dinner—726 meeting—799 Wisconsin, remarks in Lancaster—813 Indiana, arrival in South Bend—727 Communications to Congress Iowa, remarks in Dubuque—806 Budget amendments, letter transmitting—806 Michigan Kalamazoo, Bush-Cheney reception—740 Executive Orders Niles, remarks and a question-and-answer Issuance of Permits With Respect to Certain session—728 Energy-Related Facilities and Land Sterling Heights, remarks—748 Transportation Crossings on the National Day of Prayer—804 International Boundaries of the United Ohio States—723 Cincinnati, remarks—781 Interviews With the News Media Dayton, remarks and a question-and-answer Interviews session—763 Al Arabiya Television—789 Lebanon, remarks—775 Alhurra Television—786 Maumee, remarks—754 News conference with King Abdullah II of Radio address—725 Jordan, May 6—800 (Continued on the inside of the back cover.) Editor’s Note: The President was in LaCrosse, WI, on May 7, 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- PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS ments, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. 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.gpo.gov/nara/nara003.html. lished pursuant to the authority contained in the Federal Reg- ister Act (49 Stat. 500, as amended; 44 U.S.C. Ch. 15), under There are no restrictions on the republication of material regulations prescribed by the Administrative Committee of the appearing in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- Federal Register, approved by the President (37 FR 23607; ments. 1 CFR Part 10). VerDate May 04 2004 09:58 May 11, 2004 Jkt 203250 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P19MYF4.007 P19MYF4 Contents—Continued Letters and Messages Statements by the President Cinco de Mayo, message—793 Contingency reserve fund, announcing a request to Congress for the establishment— Meetings With Foreign Leaders 794 Jordan, King Abdullah II—800 European Union, enlargement—748 Proclamations Supplementary Materials Law Day, U.S.A.—720 Acts approved by the President—816 Loyalty Day—721 Checklist of White House press releases—815 National Charter Schools Week—719 Digest of other White House National Day of Prayer—722 announcements—814 Older Americans Month—719 Nominations submitted to the Senate—815 VerDate May 04 2004 09:58 May 11, 2004 Jkt 203250 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P19MYF4.007 P19MYF4 Week Ending Friday, May 7, 2004 Proclamation 7776—Older sons of courage, endurance, and love. Americans Month, 2004 Through their legacy of patriotism, service, April 30, 2004 and responsibility, America’s seniors also unite families and communities and serve as By the President of the United States role models for younger generations. of America Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, A Proclamation by virtue of the authority vested in me by More than 47 million Americans are 60 the Constitution and laws of the United years old or older. During Older Americans States, do hereby proclaim May 2004 as Month, we honor our senior citizens for en- Older Americans Month. I commend older riching and strengthening our Nation, and we Americans for the contributions they make pledge to continue working to enhance their to our communities. I further commend Fed- quality of life. eral officials, State, and local governments, This year’s theme, ‘‘Aging Well, Living tribal organizations, service and health care Well,’’ reflects the many ways that older providers, caregivers, volunteers, and all Americans contribute to our national char- those who work on behalf of our senior citi- acter. Many are working beyond traditional zens. I encourage all Americans to honor retirement age, while others volunteer their their elders and publicly reaffirm our Na- time serving worthy causes. Through the tion’s commitment to older Americans dur- Senior Corps program of the USA Freedom ing this month and throughout the year. Corps, more than half a million older Ameri- In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set cans donated time to their communities last my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year, and many others are volunteering year of our Lord two thousand four, and of through the Peace Corps and other pro- the Independence of the United States of grams. America the two hundred and twenty-eighth. My Administration is committed to help- George W. Bush ing our senior citizens lead better, healthier, and longer lives. Late last year, I was proud [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, to sign into law the Medicare Prescription 8:45 a.m., May 4, 2004] Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act NOTE: This proclamation was published in the of 2003. This historic legislation represents Federal Register on May 5. This item was not re- the greatest improvement in senior health ceived in time for publication in the appropriate care since President Lyndon Johnson signed issue. the Social Security Act Amendments that created Medicare in 1965. It gives seniors access to affordable prescription drug cov- Proclamation 7777—National erage, provides for preventive screenings to Charter Schools Week, 2004 diagnose and treat health conditions early, April 30, 2004 and updates the Medicare system to let sen- iors choose coverage that best meets their By the President of the United States needs. These changes are vital to ensuring of America that seniors can obtain the health care and prescription drugs they deserve. A Proclamation Older Americans help others to under- America looks to its schools to give all stu- stand the past, and they teach timeless les- dents the skills they need to realize their 719 VerDate jul 14 2003 21:16 May 10, 2004 Jkt 203250 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P19MYT4.007 P19MYT4 720 Apr. 30 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2004 dreams and reach their potential. Charter May 8, 2004, as National Charter Schools schools help fulfill this mission. During Na- Week. I commend our Nation’s charter tional Charter Schools Week, we celebrate schools, and I call on parents of charter the successes of these institutions. school students to share their successes to Charter schools are an important part of help all Americans understand more about our effort to improve the public school sys- the important work of charter schools. tem and offer broader educational options to In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set every family. Like other public schools, char- my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the ter schools are open to all students. Because year of our Lord two thousand four, and of they are subject to fewer State and district the Independence of the United States of regulations than other public schools, charter America the two hundred and twenty-eighth. schools offer teachers and administrators George W. Bush more freedom in tailoring programs to meet specific student and community needs. In ex- [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, change for this freedom, they must meet 8:45 a.m., May 4, 2004] stricter accountability standards. Now in their second decade, the demand NOTE: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on May 5. This item was not re- for charter schools is growing among families ceived in time for publication in the appropriate from all backgrounds. During this school issue. year, our Nation’s charter schools will edu- cate nearly 700,000 students. Many families choose charter schools because of the innova- Proclamation 7778—Law Day, tive curriculum and focus on academic U.S.A., 2004 achievement, and because these schools can April 30, 2004 be a promising alternative to a low-per- forming neighborhood school. By the President of the United States Charter schools are an important part of of America the No Child Left Behind Act. They provide parents with more choices for their children’s A Proclamation education. The greater autonomy of charter The theme of this year’s Law Day, ‘‘To schools allows them to employ innovative Win Equality by Law: Brown v. Board at 50,’’ educational practices. Studies have shown celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Su- that many charter schools improve academic preme Court’s landmark decision in Brown achievement for their students and that par- v. Board of Education. ents of students in charter schools are satis- The Declaration of Independence de- fied with their children’s schools. clared the equality of each person before My fiscal year 2005 budget includes an God and the responsibility of Government overall 49 percent increase for elementary to secure the rights of all.