President Bush Signs H.R. 2764 into Law

President George W. Bush signs into law H.R. 2764, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2008, also known at the omnibus, making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes, after boarding Air Force One Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

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. I am disappointed in the way the Congress compiled this legislation, including abandoning the goal I set early this year to reduce the number and cost of earmarks by half. Instead, the Congress dropped into the bill nearly 9,800 earmarks that total more than $10 billion.

These projects are not funded through a merit-based process and provide a vehicle for wasteful Government spending.

There is still more to be done to rein in Government spending. In February I will submit my budget proposal for fiscal year 2009, which will once again restrain spending, keep taxes low, and continue us on a path towards a balanced budget. I look forward to working with the Congress in the coming year to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

Finally, this legislation contains certain provisions similar to those found in prior appropriations bills passed by the Congress that might be construed to be inconsistent with my Constitutional responsibilities. To avoid such potential infirmities, the executive branch will interpret and construe such provisions in the same manner as I have previously stated in regard to similar provisions.

GEORGE W. BUSH THE WHITE HOUSE, December 26, 2007. # # #

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary December 26, 2007

echnorati Tags: President Bush and White House or H.R. 2764 and President Bush calls to members of the Armed Forces and Benjamin Franklin and Using carbon nanotubes to seek and destroy anthrax toxin and other harmful proteins VIDEO

President Bush calls to members of the Armed Forces

President George W. Bush makes Christmas Eve telephone calls to members of the Armed Forces at Camp David, Monday, Dec. 24, 2007. White House photo by Eric Draper In Focus: Holiday in the National Parks

BACKGROUND

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.

INFORMATION ON CALL RECIPIENTS

Staff Sergeant Anthony R. "Tony" Lewis, U.S. Army

Staff Sergeant Anthony R. "Tony" Lewis, deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, with the 428th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm on his first tour of Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Lewis has trained over 40 personnel on Defensive Driving Skills as the Assistant Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Convoy Operations in Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A). He revised the Convoy Operations & Procedures for CSTC-A, which became the Standard Operating Procedure for the whole command.

Sergeant Cleveland W. "Cleve" Upton, U.S. Army

Sergeant Cleveland W. "Cleve" Upton, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with the Attack Company, 1-28 Infantry, 4th Brigade, Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, is responsible for the training, health, welfare, and combat readiness of a four man fire team.

Specialist Joseph E. "Joe" Sizemore, U.S. Army

Specialist Joseph E. "Joe" Sizemore, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with Multi-National Corps, C-3 Tactical Operations, joined the Army at age 33 and was deployed immediately after Advance Individual Training. He provides security services for the Joint Operations Center in Baghdad. Specialist Sizemore's daughter and son reside in Snowshoe, West Virginia.

Sergeant Joseph K. "Joe" Jenkins, U.S. Marine Corps

Sergeant Joseph K. "Joe" Jenkins, deployed to Al Anbar, Iraq, with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29, was meritoriously selected and promoted to Lance Corporal, Corporal, and Sergeant within a three-year period. Sergeant Jenkins was also selected as the Squadron Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter in October 2007. He is responsible for the repair of dynamic components for six type model tilt rotor aircraft, including the V22 Osprey. Sergeant Jenkins' wife, Melissa, resides in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Corporal Orlando P. Anaya, U.S. Marine Corps

Corporal Orlando P. Anaya, deployed to Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, with the Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Forward, was the recent winner of the Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter Board for Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2. He is responsible for the receipt and processing of all signals intelligence for elements of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Forward. Corporal Anaya's wife, Carrie Martinez, resides in Roswell, New Mexico.

Personnel Specialist First Class Claudine A. "Toni" Gayle, U.S. Navy

Personnel Specialist First Class Claudine A. "Toni" Gayle, deployed aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in the Persian Gulf with Carrier Air Wing Three Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Petty Officer Gayle is the Air Wing's #1 First Class Petty Officer and Carrier Air Wing Three's Sailor of the Year. Her husband, Telly Spruill, and daughter reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Construction Electrician First Class Kelly Mumm, U.S. Navy

Petty Officer Kelly Mumm, deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Fifteen, Belton, Missouri, is on his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has been awarded the Navy Achievement Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he was instrumental in his Unit receiving the Presidential Unit Citation and the Battle Efficiency Award. Petty Officer Mumm's wife, daughter and son, reside in Neola, Iowa.

Senior Airman LaTishia B. "Tishia" Hall, U.S. Air Force

Senior Airman LaTishia B. "Tishia" Hall is currently deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq. Senior Airman Hall is a Certified Border Control Agent and is assigned to Operation Iraqi Freedom's sole aerovac hub to Germany, where she cares for and prepares wounded, injured, and ill U.S. and coalition forces, civilian contract employees, and foreign dignitaries for onward movement to higher levels of care. She performs customs and anti-hijack screenings of travelers and baggage, ensuring aircraft, aircrew, and passenger safety.

Airman First Class Rachael R. Whitlow, U.S. Air Force

Airman First Class Rachael R. Whitlow, deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, with 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, performs aviation and parachutist resource management functions; monitors flight physicals, physiological training, aircrew qualifications, and other aircrew and parachutist-related programs; schedules aircrew training and aircraft sorties and maintains mission information; and monitors individual flight requirements, unit flying hours, and aviation requirement changes. Her husband, AC1 Gregory Whitlow, is currently stationed at Kadena Air Force Base in Japan.

Boatswain Mate First Class Michael W. Tapp, U.S. Coast Guard

Boatswain Mate First Class Michael W. Tapp is currently deployed with the USCGC RUSH (WHEC-723) on patrol in the Bering Sea. Petty Officer Tapp reorganized deck division's chain of command to provide leadership opportunities for junior Petty Officers that enhanced accountability of non-rated personnel and improved communications through the division. In addition, Petty Officer Tapp recently received a Coast Guard Commendation Medal for his efforts while working with the TSA to improve airport security in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area. His wife, Anne, and daughters reside in Grand Haven, Michigan. # # #

Technorati Tags: President Bush and White House radio address or military families and New Years Eve party tip and Leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) and The Library of Congress in Your Wrist Watch?The Library of Congress in Your Wrist Watch?