President and First Lady Visit Latin America

March 8, 2007 – President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush started a six-day visit to Latin America to underscore the commitment of the United States to the Western Hemisphere.   President and Mrs. Bush will visit Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala, and México. During this trip, they will highlight the common agenda of countries in the Western Hemisphere to advance freedom, prosperity, and social justice, and to deliver the benefits of democracy in the areas of health, education, and economic opportunity.

"I want to remind people throughout our neighborhood that America cares about them,” the President said shortly before he embarked.  “And I bring a message of hope, a message that says we care about the human condition, and a message of accomplishment.” 

President Bush noted that there is a history of generous support from American taxpayers to provide aid in our region.  “Most of that aid is social justice money – in other words, it's money for education and health." 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which supports a number of health programs in Central and South America, has a key role in the health-care portion of the initiative.  

For more information on President Bush’s trip to Latin America, please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/latinamerica/.

Last revised: October 10, 2007