Home > 2001 Presidential Documents > pd06au01 Remarks on Receiving the Report of the National Commission on Federal...pd06au01 Remarks on Receiving the Report of the National Commission on Federal...
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Pages 1115-1139
Week Ending Friday, August 3, 2001
Remarks in a Ceremony Honoring Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong
August 3, 2001
The President. Please be seated. It's my privilege to welcome you
all to the White House and to welcome my friend, a true champ, a great
American, Lance Armstrong. America's incredibly proud of Lance, and I
know two people who are really proud of him as well, that's Kristin, his
wife, and young Luke. Thank you all for coming, as well.
We're also honored to have Chris Fowler of ESPN here. I'm so--thank
you for coming, Chris. I was telling Chris a little earlier, it's one of
the programs I can watch on TV
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that doesn't say anything about me at all. [Laughter]
I want to thank the members of my Cabinet who are here. Thank you
all for coming. I want to thank the Members of the United States
Congress and the Senate who are here. I see a lot from the Texas
delegation here that are sure proud of you.
You all know the Tour de France is perhaps the most physically
demanding event in sports. It lasts 3 weeks, stretches over 2,100 miles,
and is often run in both sweltering heat and real cold weather. In the
end, the race is won or lost in the mountains during 5 days of climbs
that are incredibly steep and hazardous. That's when the heart is
tested, and that's when Lance Armstrong excels. In the hardest part of
the race, Lance reveals an unbending will, uncommon determination, and
unquestioned courage. He has shown that courage in sport. He has also
shown that courage in life.
Just a few years ago, Lance was diagnosed with cancer. He was
weakened by chemotherapy treatments and told he had a 50-50 chance of
living. He has done more than survive: He has triumphed.
One observer commented that when you survive cancer, the French Alps
start to look like speed bumps. [Laughter]
Lance's story from cancer diagnosis to a third straight victory in
the Tour de France is one of the great human stories. It is a story of
character, and it's a story of class.
Germany's Jan Ullrich, the 1997 Tour de France champion, is Lance
Armstrong's chief competitor. The two of them were leading during a
critical stage of this year's Tour de France when Ullrich lost control
of his bicycle, missed a turn, and ended up in a ditch. When Lance saw
what happened, he slowed down in order to allow his chief competitor to
recover. It was, as Lance said, the right thing to do. We need more
citizens who know to do the right thing. Lance Armstrong--the guy's
something else, isn't he?
Lance Armstrong is a vivid reminder that the great achievements of
life are often won or lost in the mountains, when the climb is the
steepest, when the heart is tested. There are many children in this
audience who are showing similar determination in their fight with
cancer and other serious illnesses. You face tough challenges, and you
embrace life day by day. You're showing courage on your own journey, and
all of us are inspired by your example, as well.
Ladies and gentleman, it is my honor to present to you a son of
Texas, a great American champion, and an extraordinary human being:
Lance Armstrong.
[At this point, Mr. Armstrong made brief remarks and presented the
President with a bicycle and yellow Tour de France jersey.]
The President. Thank you all for coming to the White House. May God
bless you all. Thank you.
Note: The President spoke at 3 p.m. in the East Room at the White House.
In his remarks, he referred to Luke David Armstrong, son of Lance
Armstrong. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary
also included the remarks of Mr. Armstrong.
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Pages 1115-1139
Week Ending Friday, August 3, 2001
Statement on Senate Action on the ``Emergency Agricultural Assistance
Act of 2001''
August 3, 2001
The Senate today took wise and prompt action to help America's
farmers. This vote is a victory for our Nation's farmers at a time when
they need it the most. I praise the Senate for agreeing to the House
bill and look forward to signing this helpful measure into law.
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Week Ending Friday, August 3, 2001
Statement on Bringing War Criminals to Justice
August 3, 2001
I welcome today's transfer to the U.N. International Tribunal for
former Yugoslavia (ICTY) of three military officers accused of war
crimes by the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This decision, like
similar decisions by the Governments in Croatia and Yugoslavia, shows
that the democratic governments of the region are taking seriously their
international obligations and the need to make a break from the violence
and atrocities of the past.
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I also welcome the decision of the Tribunal convicting General
Radislav Krstic of genocide in the 1995 massacre of Muslims from
Srebrenica. I welcome and fully support the Tribunal's judgment. Those
who commit war crimes must face justice. As I said in Kosovo, we must
not allow difference to be a license to kill and vulnerability an excuse
to dominate.
These two important steps advance the cause of justice but also help
to consolidate peace and promote rule of law. They bring closer to
reality our vision in which the countries of the Balkans are part of a
Europe that is whole, free, and at peace.
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Week Ending Friday, August 3, 2001
Statement on Signing the ILSA Extension Act of 2001
August 3, 2001
Today, I have signed into law H.R. 1954, the ``ILSA Extension Act of
2001.'' This Act provides for a 5-year extension of the Iran and Libya
Sanctions Act (ILSA) with amendments that affect certain of the
investment provisions.
I believe that we should review sanctions frequently to assess their
effectiveness and continued suitability. A new provision in this bill
mandates a report on the impact of certain actions taken pursuant to the
Act. I approve of this statutorily mandated requirement to periodically
assess the effectiveness of sanctions and to recommend whether the
Congress should terminate or modify the Act. The Act also continues the
President's power to waive sanctions in the national interest.
My Administration shares the Congress' deep concerns about the
objectionable policies and behavior of Iran and Libya. We are addressing
these concerns in a number of ways. In particular, we are strengthening
our efforts with other countries, whose cooperation is essential to
pursuing the most effective approaches to solving the problems of
proliferation and terrorism addressed by ILSA.
Libya must address its obligations under U.N. Security Council
Resolutions. These relate to the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and require
Libya to accept responsibility for the actions of Libyan officials,
disclose all it knows about the bombing, renounce terrorism, and pay
appropriate compensation. Cooperative action by Libya on these four
issues would make it possible for us to begin to move toward a more
constructive relationship.
With respect to Iran, we continue to have serious concerns over its
support for terrorism, opposition to the Middle East peace process, and
pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. I hope that the Iranian people's
recently expressed desire for a freer, more open, and more prosperous
society will give our two countries an opportunity to identify areas
where our interests converge, and where we can work together
constructively for our mutual benefit.
George W. Bush
The White House,
August 3, 2001.
Note: H.R. 1954, approved August 3, was assigned Public Law No. 107-24.
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Week Ending Friday, August 3, 2001
________________________________________________________________________
Digest of Other White House Announcements
________________________________________________________________________
The following list includes the President's public schedule and other
items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary
and not included elsewhere in this issue.
________________________________________________________________________
July 30
In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush hosted an ``In
Performance at the White House'' program in the East Room, which was
videotaped for television broadcast on September 6.
The President announced his intention to nominate Emil H. Frankel to
be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Transportation Policy.
The President announced his intention to nominate Read Van de Water
to be Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and
International Affairs.
[[Page 1133]]
July 31
In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation from the
Oval Office with King Abdullah II of Jordan concerning the continued
violence in the Middle East.
In the afternoon, the President attended a Senate Republican Policy
Committee luncheon at the Capitol.
In an afternoon ceremony in the Oval Office, the President received
diplomatic credentials from Ambassadors Serge Mombouli of the Republic
of the Congo, Wolfgang Ischinger of Germany, Izben Williams of St. Kitts
and Nevis, and Ellsworth I.A. John of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
August 1
In the morning, the President had separate telephone conversations
from the Oval Office with Prime Ministers Tony Blair of the United
Kingdom and Bertie Ahern of Ireland concerning the Northern Ireland
peace process.
Later, the President had a telephone conversation from the Oval
Office with President Fernando de la Rua of Argentina concerning
Argentina's economy.
In the afternoon, the President traveled to Arlington, VA, where he
attended meetings at the Pentagon concerning Defense Department reviews,
and later returned to Washington, DC.
August 2
The President announced his intention to nominate Pamela Hyde Smith
to be Ambassador to Moldova.
August 3
In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan congratulating the Prime
Minister on his upper house electoral victory. Later, he had separate
telephone conversations with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United
Kingdom and President Jose Maria Aznar of Spain concerning Argentina's
economy.
The White House announced that the President will participate in a
Habitat for Humanity building project in Waco, TX, next week.
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Week Ending Friday, August 3, 2001
________________________________________________________________________
Nominations Submitted to the Senate
________________________________________________________________________
The following list does not include promotions of members of the
Uniformed Services, nominations to the Service Academies, or nominations
of Foreign Service officers.
________________________________________________________________________
Submitted July 31
John L. Brownlee,
of Virginia, to be U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
for the term of 4 years, vice Robert P. Crouch, Jr., resigned.
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