Administration of George W. Bush, 2006 / Apr. 25

that enforces the border, a bill that has comprehensive in nature to my desk before interior enforcement—in other words, a bill the end of this year. that will hold people to account for hiring And again, I want to thank both the Re- somebody who is here illegally but a bill publicans and Democrats for the spirit of that also recognizes we must have a tem- hard work. I particularly want to thank Sen- porary-worker program, a bill that does not ator Kennedy and Senator McCain for tak- grant automatic amnesty to people but a ing the lead on this important bill on the bill that says, somebody who is working floor of the Senate. And I here on a legal basis has the right to get assured the Members that I look forward in line to become a citizen. to working with them as they try to get I thank the Members, both Republicans a bill out of the Senate by Memorial Day and Democrats, for taking on this really and into conference. hard, hard assignment. It’s important that Thank you all. we reform a system that is not working. It’s important that we uphold the values NOTE: The President spoke at 4:23 p.m. in of the United States of America. It’s impor- the Cabinet Room at the . The tant that we treat people with dignity. Office of the Press Secretary also released And I strongly believe that we have a a Spanish language transcript of these re- chance to get an immigration bill that is marks.

Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Transmitting a Request for Additional Funds To Support Recovery Efforts in the Gulf Coast April 25, 2006

Dear Mr. Speaker: was submitted on February 16th. This re- To provide additional resources to assist vised request supports the Administration’s the greater New Orleans region to continue commitment to further enhance the levee its recovery from the devastation of Hurri- system in parts of the New Orleans area cane Katrina, I ask the Congress to con- to meet Federal 100-year standards of pro- sider the enclosed requests for an addi- tection. tional $2.2 billion for the Army Corps of I designate these proposals in the Engineers (Corps), which is in addition to amounts requested herein as an emergency amounts requested on February 16th. This requirement. additional amount is offset by a $2.2 billion The details of these requests are set forth reduction in the amount requested on Feb- in the enclosed letter from the Acting Di- ruary 16th for the Federal Emergency rector of the Office of Management and Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Budget. Fund. Sincerely, The revised Corps request, which now totals $3.7 billion, replaces the previous GEORGE W. BUSH supplemental request for the Corps that

809

15 2010 13:51 Jun 03, 2010 Jkt 211656 PO 00000 Frm 00809 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\211656.017 211656 Apr. 26 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2006

Remarks Announcing the Appointment of Tony Snow as White House Press Secretary April 26, 2006

Good morning. I’m here in the briefing Live with Tony Snow’’ on the room to break some news. I’ve asked Tony Channel. Snow to serve as my new Press Secretary. He’s not afraid to express his own opin- Tony already knows most of you, and ions. For those of you who have read his he’s agreed to take the job anyway. [Laugh- columns and listened to his radio show, ter] And I’m really glad he did. I’m con- he sometimes has disagreed with me. I fident Tony Snow will make an outstanding asked him about those comments, and he addition to this White House staff. I am said, ‘‘You should have heard what I said confident he will help you do your job. about the other guy.’’ I like his perspective; My job is to make decisions, and his job I like the perspective he brings to this job, is to help explain those decisions to the and I think you’re going to like it too. press corps and the American people. Tony knows what it’s like to work inside He understands, like I understand, that the White House. In 1991, he took a break from to serve as Director of the press is vital to our democracy. As a Speechwriting and Deputy Assistant to the professional , Tony Snow under- President for Media Affairs. He’s taught stands the importance of the relationship children in Kenya. He belongs to a rock between Government and those whose job band called Beats Workin’. He’s a man of it is to cover the Government. He’s going courage; he’s a man of integrity; he loves to work hard to provide you with timely his family a lot. He is the loving husband information about my philosophy, my prior- of a fine wife and the father of three beau- ities, and the actions we’re taking to imple- tiful children. ment our agenda. He succeeds a decent and talented man He brings a long record of accomplish- in Scott McClellan. I’ve known Scott since ment to this position. He has spent a quar- he worked for me in Texas. We traveled ter of a century in the news business. He’s our State together; we traveled our country worked in all three major media: print, together; and we have traveled the world radio, and television. He started his career together. We have also made history to- in 1979 as an editorial writer for the gether. Scott should be enormously proud Greensboro Record in . He’s of his service to our Nation in an incredibly going to—went on to write editorials for difficult job. I’ve always—I will always be the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk. He ran the grateful to him. I will always be proud to editorial pages in both the of call him friend. Newport News and . I appreciate Scott’s offer to help Tony He’s written nationally syndicated columns Snow prepare for his new job. And I’m for both the News and USA Today. proud to welcome Tony as part of our During his career in print journalism, team. he’s been cited for his work by the Society Tony Snow. Well, Mr. President, I want of Professional , the Associated to thank you for the honor of serving as Press, and . For 7 years, he served Press Secretary. And just a couple of quick as the host of ‘‘.’’ Most notes—I’m delighted to be here. One of recently, he reached Americans all across the things I want to do is just make it our country as the host of ‘‘The Tony Snow clear that I—one of the reasons I took the Show’’ on and ‘‘Weekend job is not only because I believe in the

810

15 2010 13:51 Jun 03, 2010 Jkt 211656 PO 00000 Frm 00810 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\211656.017 211656