BUSH SETS GOALS FOR CONGRESS OVER NEXT NINE MONTHS
By Staff
Washington Continent
newspages2007/bush_sets_goals_for_congress_ove_07_ 091000139.htm
Oct 22 2007
Oct. 22, 2007, 12:20 a.m. -President George W. Bush set a number of
goals this week that leaders in Congress should reach in the next
nine months for the American people. "Now the clock is winding down
and in some key areas Congress is just getting started."
During the morning White House Press Conference, Bush noted
that Congress did manage to pass legislation this year that began
modernizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. "FISA is a law
that our intelligence professionals use to monitor the communications
of terrorists who want to do harm to our people, " he said, adding that
"the problem is that the measure Congress passed expires this coming
February." Bush said the House is now considering another FISA bill
that would weaken the reforms they approved just two months ago.
Congress has work to do to keep our people safe.
He continued this mantra saying:
Congress has work to do on health care:
"Tomorrow Congress will hold a vote attempting to override my veto of
the S-CHIP bill. It’s unlikely that that override vote will succeed,
which Congress knew when they sent me the bill. Now it’s time to put
politics aside and seek common ground to reauthorize this important
program. I’ve asked Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt,
National Economic Council Director Al Hubbard, and OMB Director Jim
Nussle to lead my administration’s discussions with the Congress. I
made clear that if putting poor children first requires more than the
20 percent increase in funding I proposed, we’ll work with Congress to
find the money we need. I’m confident we can work out our differences
and reauthorize S-CHIP.
Congress has work to do on the budget:
"One of Congress’s basic duties is to fund the day-to-day operations
of the federal government. Yet Congress has not sent me a single
appropriations bill. Time is running short, so I urge the Speaker
and the leader of the Senate to name conferees for six of the annual
appropriations bills that have already passed the House and the
Senate. The two Houses need to work out their differences on these
bills, and get them to my desk as soon as possible. They also need
to pass the remaining spending bills, one at a time and in a fiscally
responsible way."
Congress has work to do on education:
"As we saw from the recent Nation’s Report Card, the No Child Left
Behind Act is getting results for America’s children. Test scores
are rising. The achievement gap is beginning to close. And Congress
should send me a bipartisan bill that reauthorizes and strengthens
this effective piece of legislation."
Congress has work to do on housing:
"Back in August I proposed a series of reforms to help homeowners
struggling with their mortgage payments. More than six weeks later,
Congress has yet to finish work on any of these measures. These are
sensible reforms that would help American families stay in their homes,
and Congress needs to act quickly on these proposals."
Congress has work to do on trade:
"Earlier this year my administration reached out to the Congress,
and we forged a bipartisan agreement to advance trade legislation. Now
Congress needs to begin moving on trade agreements with Peru, Colombia,
Panama, and South Korea. These agreements expand access to overseas
markets, they strengthen democratic allies, and they level the playing
field for American workers, farmers, and small businesses."
Congress has work to do for our military veterans:
"Yesterday [Tuesday, October 16] I sent Congress legislation to
implement the Dole-Shalala commission’s recommendations that would
modernize and improve our system of care for wounded warriors.
Congress should consider this legislation promptly so that those
injured while defending our freedom can get the quality care they
deserve.
Congress has work to do for law enforcement and the judiciary:
"I want to thank the Senate Judiciary Committee for beginning hearings
today on Judge Mukasey’s nomination to serve as the Attorney General. I
urge the committee to vote on that nomination this week and send it
to the full Senate for a vote next week. The Senate also needs to
act on the many judicial nominations that are pending, and give those
nominees an up or down vote. Confirming federal judges is one of the
most important responsibilities of the Senate, and the Senate owes
it to the American people to meet that responsibility in a timely way."
Congress also needs to complete the Veterans Affairs appropriations
bill that funds veterans’ benefits and other ongoing programs:
"Look, we have our differences on appropriations bills, but the
veterans’ bill is where we agree. So I ask Congress to send me a
clean bill that will fund our veterans, a bill without unnecessary
spending in it. And they need to get this work done, and I hope they
can get it done by Veteran’s Day. It seems like a reasonable request
on behalf of our nation’s veterans.
"With all these pressing responsibilities, one thing Congress should
not be doing is sorting out the historical record of the Ottoman
Empire. The resolution on the mass killings of Armenians beginning in
1915 is counterproductive. Both Republicans and Democrats, including
every living former Secretary of State, have spoken out against this
resolution. Congress has more important work to do than antagonizing a
democratic ally in the Muslim world, especially one that is providing
vital support for our military every day.
"It’s (sic) little time left in the year, and Congress has little to
show for all the time that has gone by. Now is the time for them to
act. And I look forward to working with members of both parties on
important goals that I’ve outlined this morning."