Presidential Message: New Year's Day, 2006

Presidential Message: New Year's Day, 2006

The New Year is a time of hope as we reflect on the past and prepare for the future.

The great strength of our Nation lies in the hearts and souls of the American people. This past year, Americans responded with an outpouring of compassion to help the people of the Gulf Coast region recover from one of the most devastating natural disasters in our Nation's history. We remember the victims of the past year's hurricanes and give thanks for the millions of people who opened their hearts, homes, and communities to those in need.

In the past year, we continued our work to spread freedom and peace. In 2005, Iraqis three times exercised their right to vote in free elections, and the Afghan people conducted successful parliamentary elections. In the coming year, America will continue to stand beside these young democracies and lay the foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren.

We appreciate the brave men and women in uniform who protect our country and advance freedom around the world. We are grateful to their families for their support and sacrifice, and we pray for all those who have lost loved ones in freedom's cause. Our Nation will always remember the heroes who have given their lives to protect us all.

As we celebrate the New Year, we give thanks to God for His blessings and ask for His guidance. We look with hope to the year ahead and the many new opportunities the future will bring.

Laura and I send our best wishes for a happy New Year. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # # For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, December 30, 2005

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Presidential Podcast 12/31/05

Presidential Podcast 12/31/05

Subscribe to Our Odeo Podcast Channel and receive the Presidential Radio Address each week. Featuring real audio amd full text transcript

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Freedom Calendar 12/31/05 - 01/07/06

December 31, 1898, Republican Theodore Roosevelt becomes Governor of New York; in 1900, he outlawed racial segregation in New York public schools.

January 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation, implementing the Republicans’ Confiscation Act of 1862, takes effect.

January 2, 1895, Republicans Clara Cressingham, Carrie C. Holly, and Frances S. Klock of Colorado are sworn in as first women to serve in a state legislature in U.S. history.

January 3, 1933, Republican Minnie Davenport Craig (R-ND) elected as first woman to be Speaker of the House in a state legislature.

January 4, 1995, Speaker Newt Gingrich appoints Republican Cheryl Lau first Asian-American woman to serve as General Counsel of U.S. House; Republican Robin Carle becomes first woman elected Clerk of U.S. House.

January 5, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt nominates African-American physician William D. Crum as Collector of Customs, over racist objections from Senate Democrats.

January 6, 1874, African-American U.S. Rep. Robert B. Elliott (R-SC) delivers eloquent hour-long speech supporting Republicans’ civil rights bill.

January 7, 1922, Death of Republican Jonah Kalanianaole, native Hawaiian who served as Delegate in U.S. Congress for 19 years.

“The first Republican I knew was my father and he is still the Republican I most admire. He joined our party because the Democrats inJim Crow Alabama of 1952 would not register him to vote. The Republicans did. My father has never forgotten that day, and neither have I."

Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State

SOURCE: 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar more at President Bush and Freedom Calendar or Republican and Republicans or African-Americans and Hispanic or right to vote and Civil Rights or Abraham Lincoln

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bush radio address 12/31/05 full audio, text transcript

bush radio address 12/31/05 full VIDEO, text transcript PODCAST

President's Radio Address

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. 2005 has been a year of strong progress toward a freer, more peaceful world and a more prosperous America. This year we watched the Iraqi people defy the terrorists and suicide bombers and hold three successful elections, voting to choose the only constitutional, democratic government in the Arab world. We also saw the people of Afghanistan elect a democratic parliament in a nation that only a few years ago was ruled by the Taliban.

These are amazing achievements in the history of liberty. As freedom and democracy take hold in a troubled region, we are making the American people safer here at home, and laying the foundation of peace for future generations.

The United States has a vital interest in the success of a free Iraq, so in the year ahead, we will continue to pursue the comprehensive strategy for victory that I have discussed with you in recent weeks. This strategy has security, political, and economic elements. First, our coalition is staying on the offense, finding and clearing the enemy out of Iraqi cities, towns, and villages, transferring more control to Iraqi units, and building up the Iraqi security forces so they can increasingly lead the fight to secure their country. Second, we are helping Iraqis build the political institutions of an inclusive, unified, and lasting democracy. And third, our coalition is overcoming earlier setbacks and moving forward with a reconstruction plan to rebuild Iraq's economy and infrastructure. As we help Iraq build a peaceful and stable democracy, the United States will gain an ally in the war on terror, inspire reformers across the Middle East, and make the American people more secure.

During 2005, thanks to our tax relief, spending restraint, and the hard work of the American people, our economy remained the envy of the world. Our economy has been growing strongly for more than two years, and has added nearly 4.5 million jobs since May of 2003. More Americans own their homes than at any time in our nation's history. Inflation is low, productivity is high, and small businesses are flourishing. Real disposable income is up, consumers are confident, and early reports suggest good retail sales this holiday season.

To keep our economy moving forward, we must continue to pursue sound policies in Washington and be wise with taxpayers' money. We made real progress this year in restraining government spending. Last February, I submitted to Congress the most disciplined budget proposal since Ronald Reagan was President. Working with the Congress, we ended or reduced about 90 lower-priority or poorly performing government programs, cut non-security discretionary spending, and kept overall discretionary spending growth below the rate of inflation. We have now cut the rate of growth in non-security discretionary spending each year I have been in office.

Before their holiday recess, both the House and the Senate also voted to cut mandatory spending by nearly $40 billion. This will be the first reduction of entitlement spending in nearly a decade. By being responsible with the taxpayers' money, we are funding our nation's priorities, while staying on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009.

In the new year, we must also make permanent the tax relief that has kept our economy growing. We will work to expand free and fair trade, so America's farmers, workers, and businesses can enjoy the opportunities the global economy offers. We'll build on the progress we've made with this year's energy bill, so our nation will be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. We will continue to promote an ownership society in which people have more control over their retirement and health care. We'll continue to improve education and job training programs, so our citizens have the skills necessary to compete and succeed in the 21st century. And we will show the compassionate heart of our nation and provide the people of the Gulf Coast the help they need to rebuild after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In 2005, America grew in prosperity, advanced the cause of freedom and peace, and enhanced our security. Our duties continue in the new year, and I'm confident that our nation will meet the challenges that lie ahead.

Thank you for listening, and happy New Year.

# # #, For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, December 31, 2005

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Tom Weimer Sworn In as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget

Tom Weimer Sworn In as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget

WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today announced the swearing-in of R. Thomas Weimer as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget. President Bush announced his intention to nominate Weimer to the post on May 2, 2005. The nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 21st.

Weimer has most recently served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science and was named Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science in December of 2004.

“Tom Weimer possesses a unique combination of leadership and management experience and a commitment to public service,” Secretary Norton said today. “I am confident in his ability to further advance the President’s agenda of management excellence at the Department of the Interior.”

Weimer has 18 years of federal experience, previously serving at Interior as chief of staff to Secretary Manuel Lujan, Jr. He began his work with Secretary Norton in July 2001.

Weimer worked on the professional staff of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and served as a subcommittee staff director on the House Committee on Science. Before returning to Interior in 2001, he was legislative director for National Laboratory Affairs at the University of California.

He has also directed the Program Office at the National Academy of Engineering in Washington, D.C., and has worked as a technical staff member at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., and at the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Weimer received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in systems engineering from Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, Calif., and a master of electrical engineering degree from the University of Washington, Seattle. He is a registered professional engineer.

Office of the Secretary, For Immediate Release: December 30, 2005 Contact: Dan DuBray - 202-208-3172 SOURCE: Department of the Interior

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DHS Completes Foundation of Biometric Entry System

DHS Completes Foundation of Biometric Entry System

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) US VISIT program has completed installation of biometric entry capabilities at 104 land border ports, as mandated by Congress. Biometric entry capabilities are now deployed at all fixed ports of entry open to US-VISIT travelers.

“The U.S. Government’s efforts to strengthen our nation’s immigration and border management system have taken a giant leap with the deployment of US VISIT entry capabilities at all our ports and visa-issuing posts abroad,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “US VISIT is making America safer by enhancing our border management system with next-generation technologies and processes to address the emerging threats, challenges, and opportunities of our 21st century world.”

US VISIT installed biometric entry procedures at the 50 busiest land border ports along the U.S. Canada and U.S.-Mexico land borders as of Dec. 29, 2004; meeting the Dec.31, 2004 deadline. The deployment of biometric entry procedures to each of the remaining 104 land border ports of entry is also ahead of the congressional deadline of Dec. 31, 2005.

US VISIT is a continuum of security measures that collect biometric and biographic information from visitors at U.S. visa-issuing posts upon their arrival and departure from U.S. air, sea and land border ports. The program enhances security by verifying each visitors’ identity and by comparing their biometric and biographical information against watch lists of terrorists, criminals, and immigration violators.

Since January 2004, US VISIT has processed more than 44 million visitors, which makes the program the largest-scale application of biometrics in the world. Biometrics have enabled US VISIT to intercept, at U.S. ports of entry, more than 970 people with histories of criminal or immigration violations, including federal penitentiary escapees, convicted rapists, drug traffickers, individuals convicted of murder, and numerous immigration violators.

Additionally, the State Department’s BioVisa program, which is fully integrated with US VISIT, has resulted in over 14,000 hits on individuals applying for visas to travel to the United States.

At many land border ports of entry, US VISIT has decreased processing time in secondary inspection as a result of the automation of Form I-94 issuance process and US VISIT’s simple, fast and clean biometric processes.

US VISIT currently applies to all visitors entering the United States, regardless of country of origin, or whether they are traveling on a visa with certain exemptions. Canadian citizens are exempt, as are most Mexican visitors who apply for admission using a Border Crossing Card, also known as a laser visa, and travel within the border zone during the 30 day time limit.

For more information, visit dhs.gov/us-visit.

### For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, Contact: 202-282-8010, December 30, 2005

more at Michael Chertoff or Immigration Services or Homeland Security and Biometric or US VISIT or DHS and biometrics or BioVisa

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Former Enron Chief Accounting Officer Richard Causey Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud

Former Enron Chief Accounting Officer Richard Causey Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Richard A. Causey, the former chief accounting officer at Enron Corp., has pleaded guilty to a charge of securities fraud, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. Causey, 44, a resident of The Woodlands, Texas, entered his plea at a hearing in Houston this afternoon before Judge Sim Lake of U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas.

Trial for Causey’s co-defendants, former Enron chief executive officers Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, is scheduled to begin before Judge Lake on Jan. 30, 2006. As part of his plea agreement, Causey admitted to conspiring with members of Enron’s senior management to make false and misleading statements in Enron’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – and in analyst calls – about the financial condition of Enron, which did not fairly and accurately reflect the company’s actual financial performance as he knew it. Causey also admitted to participating with others in senior management in efforts to use Enron’s public filings and public statements to mislead the investing public by making false and misleading statements and omitting facts about the true nature of Enron’s financial performance.

Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001 and its stock became virtually worthless. The plea agreement calls for a sentence of seven years in prison. The defendant would be eligible for a reduction of up to two years in the sentence if he provides full, complete and truthful cooperation with the Enron Task Force’s ongoing probe into the collapse of the Enron Corp. As part of the agreement, Causey agrees to forfeit $1.25 million to the government and give up claim to any deferred compensation claims from Enron.

The investigation into Enron’s collapse is being conducted by the Enron Task Force, a team of federal prosecutors supervised by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and agents from the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. The Task Force also has coordinated with and received considerable assistance from the SEC. The Enron Task Force is part of President Bush’s Corporate Fraud Task Force, created in July 2002 to investigate allegations of fraud and corruption at U.S. corporations.

### 05-695, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2005 USDOJ.GOV
CRM (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888

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New Director of U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Senate Confirmation of Emilio T. Gonzalez as Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

“I applaud the Senate for confirming Dr. Emilio T. Gonzalez as the new Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Securing our Nation’s borders and reforming our immigration process is a top priority for the Department of Homeland Security. USCIS plays a vital role in addressing those priorities, and we are pleased to have Dr. Gonzalez on the team.

Dr. Gonzalez brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to his post, where he will now lead the world's largest immigration service with more than 15,000 Federal and contract employees. Drawing upon his unique experience as an immigrant and his national security background, Dr. Gonzalez is acutely sensitive to the importance of USCIS within the Department of Homeland Security. I’m confident Dr. Gonzalez will be a valuable asset and knowledgeable partner, leading USCIS in exciting new programs to improve customer service, enhance national security, and eliminate the immigration caseload backlog.”

###. For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, Contact: 202-282-8010, December 27, 2005

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USDA ASSISTANCE TO COMBAT WILDFIRES IN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA

JOHANNS ANNOUNCES USDA ASSISTANCE TO COMBAT WILDFIRES IN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2005- Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced today the USDA is responding quickly to calls for assistance with the wildfires currently burning in Texas and Oklahoma.

"Governor Perry has a good handle on the state and federal resources available to respond to these wildfires and continues to provide bold leadership to firefighters who are making headway combating these fires," said Johanns. "The governor has requested assistance from USDA and we have quickly responded by dispatching equipment and firefighters to the area and stand ready to provide additional assistance."

Currently, the USDA Forest Service equipment assigned to the incidents include four heavy airtankers, four Single Engine Airtankers (SEATs), two large Type 1 helicopters and two medium Type 2 helicopters as well as a lead plane. Forest Service firefighting specialists in planning and logistics are also working with the Texas Forest Service and a Type 1 Incident Management Team is traveling to the area. The deployment is being coordinated through the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), which also includes the Department of Interior.

Forest Service Wildland fire Predictive Services units in the Southeast are predicting continued high winds as new cold front passages are expected to continue into early next week. High winds coupled with drought conditions are fanning the flames of five fires in Texas burning 15,000 acres and forcing evacuation in several communities. Fires in Texas and Oklahoma have already burned dozens of homes and caused multiple injuries.

Release No. 0563.05, Contact: Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623

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Press Gaggle by Trent Duffy 12/28/05

Press Gaggle by Trent Duffy, Crawford Middle School, Crawford, Texas, 12:00 P.M. CST

MR. DUFFY: Good morning. One update to the President's schedule to inform you about. The President, on Sunday, January 1st, will visit the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, where he will visit with wounded soldiers. We anticipate that most will be from Iraq. There may be others, and we'll update you on that at a future point.

The President had his normal intelligence and daily briefings this morning, and was out clearing brush. And that's what I have on his schedule. And that's what I have.

Q Any update on the Patriot Act? Patriot Act extension, any update on that?

MR. DUFFY: No updates on bill signings. We'll let you know when he's doing any of that.

Q Do you expect any other White House aides to come down to the ranch later this week for things like planning purposes, speeches?

MR. DUFFY: Nothing to announce at this point, Roger. If there are, we'll let you know.

Q Can you repeat the question?

Q What aides were coming down.

MR. DUFFY: What other White House staff are coming down later in the week.

Q The New York Times reports today that there are several legal challenges based on the NSA wiretaps. Are you concerned that these challenges could jeopardize the cases against people you guys have already described as very bad people?

MR. DUFFY: Jessica, I think Attorney General Gonzales and General Hayden did a very thorough briefing about the legal underpinnings that the administration is basing this program on. I don't have anything to add to that. And we decline to comment on any pending cases, but I don't think it should serve as any surprise that defense attorneys are looking at ways to represent their clients; that's what defense attorneys do.

Q Changing topics, whatever happened with the Crawford jury duty, since we're here? Do you have any update on that?

MR. DUFFY: The last I recall, the President's attorney was working to have that postponed until some later date. And I can see if there's any update on that. But I think it was -- I think they were looking for a postponement after a period of months, and perhaps years.

Q That same New York Times article says, there's consideration of filing criminal charges against President Bush, himself. Is he prepared to face any possible charges, and what kind of -- the White House must have some sort of reaction to the concern that this could bring this NSA issue into the court and open it up to all sorts of inquiries.

MR. DUFFY: I'd just leave it just where I said, Jessica. The Attorney General, himself, the administration's top legal eagle, explained the legal underpinnings that the administration is basing this program on. And I don't have anything to add to that. We always decline to comment on pending cases. You're asking me to speculate about what may happen in the future, and that's another area where we shy away from.

Q Are you making preparations in the Legal Counsel's Office to defend this in court?

MR. DUFFY: I don't know how to answer that question. So I won't.

Q Do you think, though, that the lawyers -- or more specifically, their clients, have a right to know how their cases came to be, and if --

MR. DUFFY: Dana, you're asking in the context of pending cases, and we're just prohibited from commenting on that. So speculating on pending cases is something we can't do.

Q You all have talked about cases that are up before the courts before. Just in general, can you say how hard the administration is going to fight the defense lawyers?

MR. DUFFY: I would refer you to the Justice Department for any questions like that.

Q The President publicly acknowledged the NSA wiretapping in his Saturday radio address. But in subsequent news revelations about perhaps broader surveillance, he's chosen not to acknowledge that. Why the difference?

MR. DUFFY: The President discussed what he felt comfortable discussing in the news conference, and this is a highly classified, or was a highly classified program and he felt it necessary to discuss that since it was reported. And that's the decision that he made and the administration made.

Q How long does the intelligence briefing take in the morning, roughly? And once that's done, is his presidential work done for the day? Is he taking calls of any kind? Is he still doing official reading, or is he on his own reading list, and is it on to pleasure reading after that briefing is over?

MR. DUFFY: Each day is different, and each briefing is different. The briefings can take anywhere from one to two or three hours, depending on the subject matter. I don't know about today's briefing, which I read out, the duration of each. As far as the rest of his activities, the President is the President 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as we all know, wherever he goes. And as far as calls and other presidential activities, we would read those out as necessary and appropriate.

Q The President had, obviously, a bad couple of months. And I'm wondering how a vacation like this kind of plays into that? Is a vacation like this a time to reflect on the bad stuff that has happened in the administration? What function does a vacation have after just the spate of bad news, be it polls or just a whole variety of things?

MR. DUFFY: Well, it might not shock you to hear we might have a different view. The year ended on a pretty strong note, with 10 million Iraqis going to the polls and electing a permanent government. We've got some extremely strong economic data and tremendous job creation for the American people. And as the President said, as far as the economy goes, the outlook for the economy is very strong and the horizon is very bright.

I think the President uses this time, as many Americans do, to look back and to look forward, as we discussed yesterday. He does have the State of the Union coming up and he'll be thinking about what he wants to tell the American people as far as the state of the union and how it is strong. And he also uses the time to reflect. So I guess that's how I'd answer your question.

Q Does the President have any plans at all to address any of the folks who are protesting outside the ranch? And also, what would be his reaction, or is there any White House reaction, to their calling on him to reflect on his Christian faith in dealings in Iraq and in efforts to bring troops home?

MR. DUFFY: The American people have a right to protest, and the right of free speech is something that we're fighting for in this war on terror, to preserve that right of free speech. So the President welcomes opinions from all Americans.

Q So he won't go out there and address them, or has no plans at all to --

MR. DUFFY: I think the President has spoken directly and publicly to the American people about why he made the decisions that he did, why it's the right thing for us to finish the job in Iraq, and why it would be a terrible, terrible thing to retreat in the face of terrorism, because it would essentially provide great relief and a victory for the terrorists.

Jessica, number three.

Q Will his daughters be coming down for New Year's Eve?

MR. DUFFY: What's that?

Q Will his daughters be coming down anytime before New Year's Eve?

MR. DUFFY: I'll let you know. I don't know.

Q And can you give -- share with us his New Year's Resolutions?

MR. DUFFY: I will see.

Q Trent, on the bill signing, it's not a question about if, it's just when he's going to sign? He's definitely going to sign the Patriot Act extension before year's end, right?

MR. DUFFY: That's correct.

Q And so you're deciding whether to do it as an event, or just let us know that he signed it?

MR. DUFFY: Well, as you know, typically, it takes some paperwork and getting the actual bills down here for him to actually sign. So it's just a matter of logistics.

Q I wanted any White House reaction on the Israeli Intelligence Agency's Chief assertion to the Knesset today, saying that Iran will have the capability to build a bomb in the next two years.

MR. DUFFY: I haven't seen those comments. I think that the administration's views on Iran having a nuclear weapon are very well-known. We, along with the international community, believe that it is a terrible thing for Iran to develop a nuclear capability, and the United States is working with the international community to ensure that that does not happen.

Q What is your reaction to the calls for re-run of the election in Iraq? And are you concerned that the Sunnis might not be willing to take part in the future government?

MR. DUFFY: I think, so far, the views on the elections in Iraq have been very positive, both by the United Nations, as well as other observers. And so, at this point, I don't think anybody is suggesting that -- I don't think most are suggesting that there needs to be a rerun because it is the belief that the elections were fair. And that is our view, as well. We welcome the process underway to build a permanent government in Iraq, because that is part of the President's vision on the tracks that he laid out in the past few months, which is that Iraq needs to develop the durable, lasting institutions that will ensure its democracy.

Q Will the President be making any comments in San Antonio, or just privately visiting with the troops?

MR. DUFFY: We'll let you know.

Okay, given that it's -- I'm sorry, Caren.

Q I know you don't want to preview what he's doing, but are the bill signings likely to be public events, or do you think that he'll just sign them at his ranch?

MR. DUFFY: Well I made an announcement about the President's activity on Sunday, so we don't have anything else to announce at this point. But I don't anticipate anything like that. We'll let you know if the schedule changes.

Q Last one. The Ukrainian presidency inferred today that it might ask for U.S. to help in solving the issue of the dispute of the gas with Russia. Do you know anything about this? Have you had any contacts?

MR. DUFFY: I'm personally not. I think that's probably something the State Department will be equipped to comment on at some point, but I'm not aware of that.

Thank you. One programming note: I will -- I'm not planning to gaggle tomorrow, so we'll see you back here on Friday.

Q Are you having fun?

MR. DUFFY: I am having fun. I enjoy this.

END 12:13 P.M. CST For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, December 28, 2005

more at President Bush or White House or Crawford+Texas and Patriot Act or NSA and Press Gaggle

Related: Keywords Press Briefing Scott McClellan, Friday, December 16, 2005 Press Briefing, Scott McClellan, Levee Reconstruction (VIDEO), Tuesday, December 06, 2005 Press Briefing Scott McClellan (VIDEO) 12/06/05, Thursday, November 10, 2005 Press Briefing by Scott McClellan 11/09/05 (VIDEO, Wednesday, November 09, 2005 Press Briefing by Scott McClellan 11/08/05 , Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Press Briefing Scott McClellan and Zal Khalilzad (VIDEO), Monday, September 19, 2005 09/19/05 Scott McClellan (VIDEO), Tuesday, September 06, 2005 Press Briefing Scott McClellan (VIDEO) 09/06/05, Wednesday, August 03, 2005 Press Briefing by Scott McClellan 08/01/05 VIDEO, Monday, February 28, 2005 whitehouse briefing, lebanon, syria, resignation of the Karami government, video, Monday, May 16, 2005 White House, Newsweek, Korans in the toilets?, Monday, May 16, 2005 Newsweek Report of Quran's Desecration Erroneous, Sunday, July 03, 2005 LIVE 8 Performers in Philadelphia Speak Out for Africa, Tuesday, July 12, 2005 Briefing by Scott McClellan, July 11, 2005, Wednesday, July 13, 2005 Briefing by Scott McClellan, July 12, 2005, Tuesday, July 19, 2005 07/18/05 White House Press Briefing, Thursday, July 21, 2005 White House Press Briefing by Scott McClellan 07/21/05, Sunday, July 24, 2005 US Coordinates with UK on Counterterrorism, Monday, August 01, 2005 Press Briefing by Scott McClellan 08/01/05,

Presidentto nominate three, appoint seventeen 12/28/05

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate three individuals and appoint seventeen individuals to serve in his Administration:

The President intends to nominate Alexander A. Karsner, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Energy (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy). Mr. Karsner currently serves as Managing Director for Enercorp, LLC. Prior to this, he served as Director of Development & Senior Development Manager for Wartsila Power Development & Wartsila Diesel Development Ltd. He also served as Chief of Staff for the Honorable Moses Cheng Mo-Chi, former Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Earlier in his career, Mr. Karsner served as International Project Director for Tondu Energy Systems. Mr. Karsner received his bachelor's degree from Rice University and his master's degree from Hong Kong University.

The President intends to nominate Donald R. DePriest, of Mississippi, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority, for a term to expire on May 18, 2009.

The President intends to nominate Vince J. Juaristi, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, for the remainder of a five year term expiring February 8, 2009.

The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, for two-year terms:

V. Jay Allen of Arkansas, Stephen A. Baldwin of New York, Jean M. Case of Virginia, Gerald Colangelo of Arizona, Evern D. Cooper of Georgia, Myrka DeLlanos of Pennsylvania, Hilary E. Duff of Texas, Patricia H. Heaton of California, Kasey K. Kahne of Washington, Arthur G. Linkletter of California, Mary J. Myers of Virginia, Corinne B. Roberts of Louisiana, Michael W. Smith of Tennessee, Wendy M. Spencer of Florida, Roxanne Spillett of Georgia, Hope Taft of Ohio, Charles P. Turlinski of Ohio.

# # # For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, December 21, 2005, Personnel Announcement

more at President Bush or White House or Nominations and Secretary of Energy or Tennessee Valley Authority and Corporation for National and Community Service or Senate

RELATED: Keywords announced his intention to nominate, Wednesday, December 28, 2005 President to nominate three, appoint two, designate one, Thursday, December 15, 2005 President to nominate four, appoint four, Thursday, December 15, 2005 District Judge Nominations Sent to the Senate, Wednesday, November 16, 2005 President to nominate four and appoint one, Wednesday, November 02, 2005 President to nominate two appoint one 11/02/05, Thursday, October 06, 2005 President to nominate three to Administration, Thursday, September 08, 2005 President to nominate two appoint two 09/08/05 , Thursday, August 25, 2005 President to nominate three 08/25/05 , Wednesday, August 24, 2005 President to nominate four appoint one , Thursday, August 18, 2005 President to nominate one appoint three, Wednesday, August 17, 2005 President to nominate four, designate two, Thursday, August 11, 2005 The President to nominate two, designate one 08/11/05, Wednesday, August 10, 2005 President to nominate one, appoint five and recess appoint one, Wednesday, June 01, 2005 President to nominate three, designate one, appoint five 06/01/05 , Tuesday, May 17, 2005 President to nominate six individuals, appoint eleven 05/17/05, Sunday, May 15, 2005 President to nominate eight and designate one 05/15/05, Thursday, April 28, 2005 President to nominate eight, designate one, Wednesday, April 27, 2005 President, to nominate five, designate three, 04/27/05, Saturday, April 16, 2005 Bush nominates one, designates two, and appoints thirteen 04/16/05,

President to nominate three, appoint two, designate one

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate three individuals, appoint two individuals and designate one individual to serve in his Administration:

The President intends to nominate James I. Finley, of Minnesota, to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology. Mr. Finley currently serves as President of The Finley Group, LLC, a consulting company he formed in 2002. Prior to this, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of SMARTSKIN, Inc. Mr. Finley has served in a managerial capacity for General Electric, Singer, Lear Siegler, United Technologies and General Dynamics, where he was a Corporate Officer, President of Information Systems and Chair of the Business Development Council. Mr. Finley received his bachelor's degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and his master's degree from California State University.

The President intends to nominate Sharee M. Freeman, of Virginia, to be Director of Community Relations Service at the Department of Justice, for a term of four years. Since November, Ms. Freeman has served as Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice. Previously, she served a four year term at the Department of Justice as the Director of Community Relations Service. Prior to this, she served as Counsel for the House International Relations Committee and Legislative Counsel for Chairman Henry J. Hyde's congressional office. She also served as Full Committee Counsel for the House Committee on the Judiciary. Earlier in her career, Ms. Freeman served in various capacities at the Department of the Interior, such as an attorney and Acting Assistant Solicitor for General Indian Legal Activities. Ms. Freeman received her bachelor's degree from Saint Lawrence University and her JD from Georgetown University.

The President intends to nominate Stephen Goldsmith, of Indiana, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, for the remainder of a five-year term expiring October 6, 2010.

The President intends to appoint Rodney R. McInnis, of California, to be a Member of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (Department of Commerce, National Maritime Fisheries, NOAA Member).

The President intends to appoint Charles S. Robb, of Virginia, to be a Member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, for a two-year term.

The President intends to designate Sharee M. Freeman, of Virginia, to be Acting Director of the Community Relations Service at the Department of Justice.

# # # For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, December 19, 2005, Personnel Announcement

more at President Bush or White House or Nominations and Senate or Secretary of Defense and Department of Justice or Tropical Tuna Commission and Foreign Intelligence

RELATED: Keywords announced his intention to nominate, Thursday, December 15, 2005 President to nominate four, appoint four, Thursday, December 15, 2005 District Judge Nominations Sent to the Senate, Wednesday, November 16, 2005 President to nominate four and appoint one, Wednesday, November 02, 2005 President to nominate two appoint one 11/02/05, Thursday, October 06, 2005 President to nominate three to Administration, Thursday, September 08, 2005 President to nominate two appoint two 09/08/05 , Thursday, August 25, 2005 President to nominate three 08/25/05 , Wednesday, August 24, 2005 President to nominate four appoint one , Thursday, August 18, 2005 President to nominate one appoint three, Wednesday, August 17, 2005 President to nominate four, designate two, Thursday, August 11, 2005 The President to nominate two, designate one 08/11/05, Wednesday, August 10, 2005 President to nominate one, appoint five and recess appoint one, Wednesday, June 01, 2005 President to nominate three, designate one, appoint five 06/01/05 , Tuesday, May 17, 2005 President to nominate six individuals, appoint eleven 05/17/05, Sunday, May 15, 2005 President to nominate eight and designate one 05/15/05, Thursday, April 28, 2005 President to nominate eight, designate one, Wednesday, April 27, 2005 President, to nominate five, designate three, 04/27/05, Saturday, April 16, 2005 Bush nominates one, designates two, and appoints thirteen 04/16/05,