White House News
The most current news items on the White House website.

• President's Radio Address
  In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "As we address earmarks, we also must restrain spending, keep taxes low, and continue on a path towards a balanced budget. And that is what the budget I submit in February will do. You work hard for your money and to live within your means. As you provide for your families, the last thing you need is wasteful spending that will lead to a tax hike. My resolution for the New Year is this: to work with Congress to keep our economy growing, to keep your tax burden low, and to ensure that the money you send to Washington is spent wisely -- or not at all."
• President Bush to Welcome President Gul of Turkey to the White House
  President Bush will welcome President Abdullah Gul of Turkey to the White House on January 8, 2008, for his first visit to Washington as President. The President looks forward to establishing a good relationship with President Gul and discussing issues of mutual concern, including our efforts to counter the PKK; promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and the broader Middle East; and advance Turkey's European Union accession goals, which the United States supports.
• Statement by Deputy Press Secretary Scott Stanzel
  The President intends to veto H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 ("NDAA"). One provision in the bill - section 1083 - would significantly amend current law (the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act) in ways that would imperil Iraqi assets held in the United States, including reconstruction and central bank funds. If enacted, Section 1083 would permit plaintiffs' lawyers immediately to freeze Iraqi funds and would expose Iraq to massive liability in lawsuits concerning the misdeeds of the Saddam Hussein regime. The new democratic government of Iraq, during this crucial period of reconstruction, cannot afford to have its funds entangled in such lawsuits in the United States. Once in place, the restrictions on Iraq's funds that could result from the bill could take months to lift, and thus Section 1083 cannot become law even for a short period of time.
• Fact Sheet: National Defense Authorization Act Section 1083: A Danger to Iraq's Progress
  President Bush intends to veto the National Defense Authorization Act for FY08 (NDAA) because particular provisions included in the bill risk imposing financially devastating hardship on Iraq that will unacceptably interfere with the political and economic progress everyone agrees is critically important to bringing our troops home. Section 1083 of the NDAA amends the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which establishes rules on how foreign countries may be sued under U.S. law. The amendments would dramatically change these rules and potentially invite foreign governments to take reciprocal action allowing suits to proceed against the United States even for legitimate government activities. Among other things, Section 1083 would allow plaintiffs' lawyers pursuing Iraq for Saddam-era acts of terrorism to freeze Iraq's assets in the amount of damages claimed in their lawsuits, and would permit the relitigation of billions of dollars of lawsuits against Iraq that have already been dismissed by our courts. At the same time, by subjecting the democratically elected Government of Iraq to this liability, the provision would imperil billions of dollars of Iraqi assets at a crucial juncture in that Nation's reconstruction efforts and undermine the foreign policy and commercial interests of the United States.
• Press Briefing by Conference Call by Senior Administration Officials on the National Defense Authorization Act for 2008
  MR. STANZEL: This is Scott Stanzel, and I'm going to be joined today by Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto, and I will also be joined by senior administration officials from the National Security Council, and they will provide information to you -- they will be referred to as senior administration officials. This is a background call.
• Memorandum of Disapproval
  I am withholding my approval of H.R. 1585, the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008," because it would imperil billions of dollars of Iraqi assets at a crucial juncture in that nation's reconstruction efforts and because it would undermine the foreign policy and commercial interests of the United States.
• Setting the Record Straight: Defense Authorization Bill Veto Necessary to Secure Gains in Iraq
  Administration Committed To Working Quickly With Congress To Secure Military Pay Raise And Provide Technical Fix Protecting Political And Economic Progress That Is Critical To Bringing Our Troops Home
• President and Mrs. Bush Extend Condolences Regarding Assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Condemn Violence
  On Thursday, President Bush said, "Laura and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Benazir Bhutto, to her friends, to her supporters. We send our condolences to the families of the others who were killed in today's violence. And we send our condolences to all the people of Pakistan on this tragic occasion."
• Press Gaggle by Scott Stanzel
  MR. STANZEL: Good afternoon, everyone. Happy to take your questions.
• Memorandum for the Secretary of Transportation
  SUBJECT: Provision of Aviation Insurance Coverage for Commercial Air Carrier Service in Domestic and International Operations
• Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for Missouri
  The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe winter storms beginning on December 6, 2007, and continuing.
• Proclamation To Adjust the Rules of Origin Under the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement and the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
  The modifications and technical rectifications to the HTS set forth in Annexes I and II to this proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the later of (i) February 1, 2008, or (ii) the thirtieth day after the date of publication of this proclamation in the Federal Register.
• President Bush Signs H.R. 2764 into Law
  Today, I signed into law H.R. 2764, legislation that will fund the Federal Government within the reasonable and responsible spending levels I proposed -- without raising taxes and without the most objectionable policy changes considered by the Congress. This law provides a down payment for the resources our troops need, without arbitrary timelines for withdrawal. The Congress should quickly take action next year to provide the remainder of the funding needed by our troops.
• Statement by Deputy Press Secretary Scott Stanzel
  On Wednesday, December 26, 2007, the President signed into law: H.R. 366, H.R. 797, H.R. 1045, H.R. 2011, H.R. 2761, H.R. 3470, H.R. 3569, H.R. 3571, H.R. 3974, H.R. 3996, H.R. 4009, S. 1396, S. 1896, S. 1916, and S.J.Res. 13.
• President Bush Makes Christmas Eve Telephone Calls To Members of The Armed Forces
  The President made telephone calls to members of the Armed Forces who are stationed overseas to wish them a Merry Christmas, and to thank them for their service to our Nation.
• President's Radio Address
  In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "America is blessed to have men and women willing to step forward to defend our freedoms and keep us safe from our enemies. We are thankful for their courage and their dedication to duty. We pray for their safety. And we wish them a Merry Christmas, wherever they serve."
• Presidential Message: Christmas 2007
  During the Christmas season, our thoughts turn to the source of joy and hope born in a humble manger on a holy night more than 2,000 years ago. Each year, Christians everywhere celebrate this single life that changed the worl