Briefer: Dana Perino

President’s Schedule

President Bush had his normal briefings this morning. At 10.30 am he signs H.R. 3403, the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, in the Oval Office of the White House. At 10.55 am, the President will drop by the National Security Advisor’s meeting with the Defense Minister of Columbia. At 12.55 pm the President travels to the Pentagon to participate in U.S Department of Defense briefings. At 3.25 pm, President Bush participated in a photo opportunity with the 2008 Boys and Girls Nation delegates. Later this afternoon, the President also signs the Presidential Proclamation in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Armed Forces Integration. (more…)

Briefer: Dana Perino

President’s Schedule

President Bush had his normal briefings at 8 am. At 1.30 pm he will make remarks in honor of Columbian Independence Day in the East Room of the White House. The President will highlight the need for Congress to pass the US-Columbian Free Trade Agreement. Secretaries Gutierrez and Schafer, members of Congress, and members of the diplomatic corps, will be in attendance along with another 220 guests. At 2.20 pm, the President will depart the White House en route to a Goddard-Georgia victory committee reception. He will return to the Washington later this evening.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino will brief the press at 12.30 pm today. (more…)

President George Bush toasts the Olympians at a dinner hosted in the East Room of the White House. Bush says thank you to Chairman of the Olympic Committee Peter Ueberroth, the 2008 Olympic Team and Paralympic Team, and joked that the Mayor of Chicago would host the 2016 Olympics. He said that he and Laura would be watching in Beijing and “could not wait to cheer you on.” He proposed a toast “to the Olympic athletes past and present, and to the United States of America.” [entire speech] (3:47)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Today off the Hill, the White House Gaggle will be covered by Correspondent Lovisa Frost. Remarks at the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute will also be reported. A conference call discussing Rep. Bob Latta’s (R-Ohio) attendance on the American Energy Tour with House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) will be reviewed. The Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on the legal foundations of fighting terrorism will be attended, as will remarks by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) concerning trade with China.

A news conference introducing a new economic agenda with, among others, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Christopher van Hollen (D-Md.) will be covered, as will a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on childhood obesity. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on global nuclear detection and the Senate Special Committee on Aging will hold a hearing on the status of retirement savings.

On the House side of the Hill, staff will attend a session of the Small Business Committee in which prosthetics for veterans will be discussed. Staff will also take part in a Homeland Security Committee hearing on the implementation of biosurveillance requirements of the 9/11 Act. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke will testify before the Financial Services Committee in a hearing on monetary policy.

Legal Affairs Correspondent Jay Tamboli will be covering Supreme Court decisions. Chief United Nations Correspondent Dan Patterson will be covering events at the UN. The Washington Bureau will also be covering the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on “Russia, Iran and Nuclear Weapons: Implications of the Proposed U.S.-Russia Agreement”, the Joint Economic Committee’s hearing on “The Future Costs of Funding the Iraq War”, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s markup of a proposed report on the investigation of contacts between the White House and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, (more…)

A Bush administration proposal aimed at expanding cleaner technology in developing countries was discussed by the Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology Subcommittee. Speakers agreed that developing states are inclined to turn to inexpensive, polluting forms of technology in an effort to increase GDP and improve the national standard of living. (more…)

President George W. Bush speaks at the groundbreaking of the United States Institute of Peace headquarters today. Bush stated that freedom is universal and the birthrights of every man woman and child and the USIP is working to create freedom throughout the world. (0:34)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

President George W. Bush speaks at the groundbreaking of the United States Institute of Peace headquarters today. Bush speaks about the ideological struggle against violent extremism, which the USIP is playing an important role. USIP is working in Iraq to improve the government and promoting peaceful engagement. (0:43)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Correspondent Meredith MacKenzie will be covering the White House gaggle and press briefings. The Washington Bureau will cover a full committee hearing on the acquisition of major weapons systems by the Defense Department, a full committee hearing on health care reform, and a large urban county caucus rally. A reporter will be covering the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the remarks by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Also to be covered will be the press conference on the Boxer Climate Tax. This afternoon, the bureau will cover the Helsinki Commission’s hearing on the challenges to minority communities in Kosovo, a press conference on health reform and a colloquium on the economic effect of immigration.

Vice President Dick Cheney criticized the press at the National Press Club when referring to the Pulitzer Prize won by the New York Times for a piece that divulged information pertaining to US security, an action that he deemed was “less than honorable.” When asked, Cheney said that the most difficult part of his jobs involves the press since his role as an adviser necessitates an ability to keep important information secret. (more…)