Tom C. Korologos, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Belgium.

I urge the House and Senate to meet in a timely manner in order to reach agreement on a final legislative package that I can sign into law this year.

Edward R. McPherson, of Texas, to be Under Secretary of Education.

This legislation will further promote educational opportunities for children with disabilities.

I am pleased that the Senate passed the 'Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act,'

John O. Colvin, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years.

Tax relief has greatly helped the economy weather the storms of recent years.

The United States welcomes Panama's signing today of a ship-boarding agreement that supports the efforts of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) to stop the trade in deadly weapons and materials.

I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed FY 2005 budget amendment to establish a $25 billion contingent emergency reserve fund to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We welcome this historic decision by the Government of Panama.

I have pledged to our troops that they will have all the resources they need to accomplish this vital mission.