886 June 19 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2008

us, and Senator Harkin, thanks for being And I really again want to congratulate the here. local folks here for really showing great com- Senator Tom Harkin. Thank you, Mr. passion and working hard and hugging peo- President. ple and giving people hope. And, Governor, The President. You know, these are tough you’ve been out front. You and your first lady times for the people of Iowa City and Cedar are working hard, and the mayor has been Rapids and a lot of other communities in very much engaged in helping people deal Iowa. Some of them are, you know, real tiny with the initial response. And now we all got communities. And this—obviously, as you to come together and help people deal with can see here, they’re still going through a the rebuilding of Iowa. recovery phase. The mayor was telling me Anyway, thank you for your hospitality. I’m that she had the—part of the city evacuated sorry we’re going through this. I tell people and now some folks are able to come back that oftentimes you get dealt a hand you in. didn’t expect to have to play, and the ques- I brought a lot of Federal officials with tion is not whether you’re going to get dealt me because it’s really important that as the the hand; the question is, how do you play rebuilding phase begins, there’s a coordi- it? And I’m confident the people of Iowa will nated effort between the Federal Govern- play it really well. ment and the State and the local govern- Anyway, thank you. ments. And Michael Chertoff is going to be handling the coordinating effort with the NOTE: The President spoke at 2 p.m. In his re- Governor. And the Governor will make sure marks, he referred to Mayor Regenia Bailey of Iowa City, IA; and Gov. Chet Culver of Iowa and that the affected communities are rep- his wife, Mari. resented as well. We passed a—or the Congress is contem- plating passing a supplemental, and a big Message on the Observance of chunk of that supplemental will be disaster Juneteenth relief money. And I want to thank the Mem- June 19, 2008 bers of Congress—hope we can get that done quickly. I send greetings to those celebrating Representative David Loebsack. It will Juneteenth. get done. On Juneteenth, we commemorate the ar- The President. The—one of the things rival of Major General Gordon Granger in that happens in a disaster such as this is that Galveston, Texas, and his declaration that citizens from around the country want to slavery had been abolished and the blessings know how they can help. They see the pic- of liberty were finally extended to African ture of this kind of flooding on TV and they Americans. know that people are hurting and they want On this occasion, we recognize the many to know how they can participate in helping contributions that African Americans have the rebuilding. Well, one way that the people made to our great Nation and honor the leg- can do is they can go on their computers and acy of diversity that America has embraced. dial up volunteer.org [volunteer.gov] *. Today is an opportunity to recommit our- And, you know, if you want to try to figure selves to confronting injustice wherever we out how to send something, you can—there find it and upholding the dignity of all peo- will be ways to—ways to direct your compas- ple. By doing so, we protect the freedom and sion. If you want to give money, there are democratic ideals that will keep America organizations that could use your contribu- strong for generations to come. tions; organizations such as the Red Cross. Laura and I send our best wishes on this And I’m—again, I’ll repeat to you: volun- memorable occasion. teer.gov—I think I might have said ‘‘org’’; George W. Bush I meant ‘‘gov.’’ NOTE: An original was not available for verifi- * White House correction. cation of the content of this message.

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Remarks at a Celebration of NOTE: The President spoke at 7:36 p.m. in the American Jazz East Room at the White House. A portion of these remarks could not be verified because the tape June 19, 2008 was incomplete. Welcome to the East Room of the White House. I welcome members of my Cabinet Remarks on Congressional Action on and my administration; a music lover, Sen- the Legislative Agenda ator Orrin Hatch from the great State of Utah; distinguished guests. We’re so pleased June 20, 2008 you’re here to celebrate a great American art form, jazz. And we hope you’re jazz lovers, Good morning. This week, Congress because you’re going to hear some good moved forward on two important issues af- music tonight. fecting the national security of our country. The story of jazz mirrors the story of our Yesterday the House passed a responsible Nation. This proud musical tradition was war funding bill that will provide vital re- born of the songs brought here by African sources to our men and women on the slaves. Decades later, it absorbed the waltzes frontlines in the war on terror. This legisla- that accompanied immigrants from Europe. tion gives our troops the funds they need to Over time, jazz helped break down barriers prevail without tying the hands of our com- of prejudice between blacks and whites and manders in the field or imposing artificial even defined an age that brought new liberty timetables for withdrawal. to America’s women. The bill also supports our military families In a twist of history, the music that came by passing an expansion of the GI bill that to America in chains ultimately helped Amer- makes it easier for our troops to transfer un- ica spread freedom abroad. In 1956, the used education benefits to their spouses and State Department sent American jazz musi- their children. I want to thank the Members cian Dizzy Gillespie around the world on a of Congress for their action on this legisla- mission to trumpet American values. He was tion, and I urge the Senate to pass it as soon in Turkey when word came that a group of as possible. Cypriot students stoned the U.S. Embassy Members of the House and Senate also in Athens. And so he was sent to the Greek reached a bipartisan agreement yesterday on capital to soothe anti-American hostility with legislation to allow our intelligence profes- a jazz performance. The concert atmosphere sionals to quickly and effectively monitor the was tense. The students stormed the stage. plans of terrorists abroad, while protecting People were nervous, until the students put the liberties of Americans here at home. Dizzy Gillespie on their shoulders, and shouted ‘‘Dizzy! Dizzy! Dizzy!’’ [Laughter] My Director of National Intelligence and With its spontaneity and energy and inno- the Attorney General tells me that this is a vation, jazz expresses the best of America’s good bill. It will help our intelligence profes- character. And through a—its role in fos- sionals learn our enemies’ plans for new at- tering freedom and equality, jazz reflects the tacks. It ensures that those companies whose best of America’s ideals. Tonight this mag- assistance is necessary to protect the country nificent art form will be brought to life by will themselves be protected from liability for some jazz masters. Grammy award winning past or future cooperation with the Govern- guitarist Earl Klugh will play for us after din- ment. ner. And before dinner, we’re honored to The enemy who attacked us on September hear from saxophonist Davey Yarborough, the 11th is determined to strike this country vocalist Esther Williams from the Wash- again. It’s vital that our intelligence commu- ington Jazz Arts Institute. nity has the ability to learn who the terrorists Before Davey and Esther take the stage, are talking to, what they’re saying, and what please join me in a toast to American jazz, they are planning. but more importantly, to the United States I encourage the House of Representatives of America. to pass this bill today, and I ask the Senate

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