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.

May 3

In the morning, at the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX, the President had an intelligence briefing.

May 4

In the afternoon, the President traveled to Wichita, KS, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Buddy Shannon III. He then traveled to Greensburg, KS. Later, he returned to Washington, DC, arriving in the evening.

May 5

In the morning, on the South Lawn, the President and Mrs. Bush participated in an interview with Robin Roberts of ABC’s "Good Morning America." Later, he had an intelligence briefing.

In the evening, in the Rose Garden, the President and Mrs. Bush hosted a social dinner and entertainment in honor of Cinco de Mayo.

The President declared a major disaster in Oklahoma and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding from March 17-23.

The President announced his intention to appoint Michael R. Anderson and Gregg C. Lord as members of the National Commission on Children and Disasters.

May 6

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, in the Situation Room, the President had a video teleconference with Cuban dissident Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, former Cuban political prisoner Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, and Berta Soler Fernandez, wife of Cuban political prisoner Angel Moya Acosta.

The President announced his intention to nominate Cynthia L. Bauerly, Caroline C. Hunter, and Donald McGahn to be members of the Federal Election Commission.

The President announced his intention to nominate Troy A. Paredes to be a Commissioner on the Securities and Exchange Commission.

May 7

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in the Oval Office, he participated in a bill signing ceremony for H.R. 5715, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008. Then, also in the Oval Office, he participated in a briefing with Secretary of Agriculture Edward T. Schafer and Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Nancy Montanez Johner on food aid programs.

May 8

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX.

The President declared a major disaster in Mississippi and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on March 20 and continuing.

The President announced his intention to nominate Donetta Davidson and Rosemary E. Rodriguez to be members of the Election Assistance Commission.

The President announced his intention to appoint Thomas D. Cairns as Chief Human Capital Officer at the Department of Homeland Security.

The President announced his intention to appoint the following individuals as members of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities: James M. Boles; Stephanie Preshong Brown; Olegario D. Cantos VII; Eric Lee Cole; Berthy De La Rosa-Aponte; William J. Edwards; MaryMargaret Sharp-Pucci; Linda Hampton Starnes; Dallas Rob Sweezy; William E. Tienken; Eric Todd Treat; Charles Weis; and Mary Ellen Zeppuhar.

The President announced his intention to appoint the following individuals as members of the Commission of Fine Arts: Diana Balmori; Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk; Earl A. Powell III; and Witold Rybczynski.

The President announced his intention to designate Thomas Richard Barker as Acting General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The President announced his intention to designate Steven C. Rhatigan as Chair of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

May 9

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

The President declared a major disaster in Oklahoma and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding from April 9-28.

The President declared a major disaster in Maine and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on April 28 and continuing.