Presidential Statements

President Calls on Congress to Pass Economic Security Package-- January 22, 2002 THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS-- January 29, 2002 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE 2002 NATIONAL SUMMITT ON RETIREMENT SAVINGS--Feb. 28, 2002 President Speaks at Hispanic Chamber of Commerce -- March 6, 2002 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE RE: TOTALIZATION AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRALIA-- March 12, 2002 President Promotes Compassionate Conservatism -- April 30, 2002 President Outlines Priorities -- November 7, 2002

PRESIDENT'S 2001 STATEMENTS

PRESIDENT'S 2003 STATEMENTS

PRESIDENT'S 2004 STATEMENTS

PRESIDENT'S 2005 STATEMENTS
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter

President Calls on Congress to Pass Economic Security Package-- January 22, 2002
Remarks by the President to the Employees of Cecil I. Walker Machinery Company
Cecil I. Walker Machinery Company
Charleston, West Virginia

1:00 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Thank you for that warm welcome. Steve, I appreciate the fact that everybody who works here has got a uniform on with my middle name. (Laughter.) I don't know if he'll claim me as a relative, being a Walker. (Laughter.) But hearing how you like to sing at parties in West Virginia, I'm not so sure I want to claim you. (Laughter.)

Creating Jobs
Helping American Families
Focused on Consumers and Investors

But I'm honored you all would have me. I appreciate small business owners, entrepreneurs, people who work hard, people who build a team. I want to thank the workers here for such a warm greeting. I also appreciate you for your high-quality work. You know, American workers are the best in the world, and Walker employees are some of the best workers in the world, too. (Applause.)

I can't think of a better place to talk about economic security than at a place that works hard to create jobs and helps people keep a job, and makes sure that people who work here are treated well, treated with respect.

At its core, an economic security plan for every American has got to be the goal of our government. And it begins with a good education, and ends with secure retirement. And in between, much of one's life depends on being able to find work -- good, steady work. And that's how I approach decisions about our economy. I ask, are we creating an environment in which people can find work.

My economic plan is summed up in one word: jobs. And that's what all of us in Washington ought to be asking: how do we create jobs for people who want to work in America. (Applause.)

I want to thank members of the West Virginia delegation who are with me. Shelley traveled with me from Washington. We flew down together, we had a good visit. Every time I talk to her she constantly talks about West Virginia. Every time I talk to her, she doesn't necessarily do everything I tell her to. She's got kind of a West Virginia independent streak to her. (Laughter and applause.) But I'm proud to call her friend, and I'm also proud to call Jay Rockefeller friend. He and I are different political parties, but that's okay. We both love America.

The other day I had the honor of signing a piece of legislation at the White House, called the Safe and Stable Families Act. It's a really good piece of legislation. It's legislation that promotes adoption; legislation that helps foster care children. It's a legislation sponsored by Republicans and Democrats. Senator Rockefeller was one of the sponsors, and I sung his praises there, and I'm happy to come on his home turf and sing his praises here for this piece of legislation.

So, thank you, Senator Rockefeller, for doing it. (Applause.)

Every job begins with one decision, and that is the decision by somebody to say, I want to hire you. It comes as a surprise to some in Washington, though, when you think about that, that most of the hiring does not take place at the government level. Of course, we create jobs by hiring people at the government level. Most hiring takes place at small businesses. Most hiring takes place when an employer in the private sector says, I need you to work for me. And so the job of the government, if you think about it, is not to try to create wealth. That's not the job of the government. The job of the government is to create an environment in which more people are willing to hire more workers.

If jobs are the most important part of one of my jobs, then I'm going to insist that people ask the question, how do we encourage people to hire more people. That's what we ought to be asking. And that's the role of Washington, D.C.

It starts with making sure everybody is well-educated. Every new product, every new service starts with a good idea. And then that needs to be carried out by talented, skilled, educated people. With a better educated work force, our businesses, small and large, all across America are going to be able to innovate and make improvements. A better educated work force will mean America is more productive, and higher productivity means more jobs and higher paychecks.

So we've got to get it right when it comes to education. And I'm proud to report this is one issue where a handful of us in Washington decided to put aside our political parties and focus on what was right for America. I had the honor of signing a very good piece of education legislation, sponsored by, of all people, in the Senate, Ted Kennedy. Now, look, I traveled the country saying the guy is not a bad guy. (Laughter.) I think I put him in shock. (Laughter.) I know I put the people in Crawford, Texas coffee shop in shock. (Laughter.) But on this issue we worked well together. Republicans and Democrats. We showed the country that, party is all right -- I'm a proud Republican -- it's not nearly as important as the education of our children. (Applause.)

One of the roles of government is not only to create an environment that is good for jobs, but to remove obstacles, if they exist, for people having jobs. One of the obstacles that exists in our society is a public school system that simply shuffles children through the schools. It's so much easier to quit on a child, one that's supposedly hard to educate. And in some schools, in some school districts, and in some states, we've had the practice of just moving children through.

And that's not right in America. It is not right to quit on kids. And so now, as a result of this piece of legislation that both of the members here voted for, we asked -- we say, look, if you get federal money -- and we're going to spend money, by the way, on certain areas in education out of the federal government -- but if you get it, you've got to show us whether or not the children can read and write and add and subtract.

I'm asking the simple question, are we getting results with your money? (Applause.) And if not, do something different. If we're spending money, we expect children to learn to read. And if they can't, you'd better change; or otherwise we're going to give parents different options, so that there is no child trapped in a school that will not teach, and will not change.

I want to assure you, I remembered where I came from. I trust the people of West Virginia to run the schools of West Virginia, so we passed power out of Washington to the states. But we expect high standards, and high accountability and results. If what we're worried about is jobs, we've got to remove the obstacles for people finding good work by educating every child who lives in America.

But education doesn't just stop at the elementary school level or high school or college. This nation has got to understand, as technology changes, we've got to make sure the work force changes with it. And that's why I strongly support local job training programs.

We're increasing -- significantly increasing the amount of job training in our -- in the budget I submit to Congress. It recognizes there are a lot of good, hardworking people in America who received an education, that were skilled in one area, but the job base has shifted and, therefore, we better educate people to make sure that they can shift with the technologies. And, as well, my 2003 budget increases funding for Job Corps, which is an effective program that will help disadvantaged young people learn how to work.

So one thing we can do to make sure that people find a job is to make sure our education system works well throughout its entirety. Another thing to make sure there's an opportunity to create more jobs is to have good tax policy that allows people to keep more money, more of their own money, that you can put more of your own money in your own pocket and you can spend it. (Applause.)

When workers have more money -- and, by the way, it's your money to begin with; it's not the government's money. Somebody said the other day, well, the government is giving back the money. Well, it's not the government's money, it's the people who work for a living's money. (Applause.) If you have more of your own money, it means you're going to spend more. And if you spend more, somebody is going to have to make more of what you're spending it on, which means it's more likely somebody is going to find work. That's how the economy works.

The same with Walker. I want the Walkers to have more money to reinvest in their business. I want the Walkers to be able to have more cash flow so they can upgrade the equipment which the workers here use. It means it's more likely that somebody is going the find a job for the long-term.

Now, there is kind of a wacky economic theory going around Washington. It says, the more they take in your taxes, the better off you'll be. (Laughter.) It doesn't make any economic sense. It doesn't make any dollars and cents. And here in West Virginia, like they do elsewhere, they've got to know this is nonsense. (Applause.)

This economy started slowing down last March. And so the tax cut we put in place for everybody who pays taxes came right at the right time. If you want to encourage an economy to recover, you let people keep more of their own money. If you want to slow down an economy, you stop tax cuts. You, in essence, take money away from people. And that's not right, folks. I'm worried about job security. The more money people have, the more likely it is you're going to be able to find work.

Now, I'm also worried about people who have lost work because of the evil ones who attacked us. And I look forward to working with members of both political parties to extend unemployment benefits to those who lost their job, and to help them with health care. Surely, we can come together to do that.

But any good economic stimulus plan must ask the question, how do we create more jobs. And one way to do that is to accelerate tax relief for workers. And the other way to do that is to make sure the tax code doesn't punish companies like Walker. We ought to allow them to accelerate the depreciation schedule so that it is more likely they will buy more equipment. And we've got to reform a tax code that makes them pay more taxes even though their profits are going down. (Applause.)

And it is time for a vote. It's time for people to set aside who's going to benefit on the nightly news, you know, whose picture is going to look the best. Let's get a vote up. Let's pass this bill. Let's quit talking about it, and let's get the bill going. Congress is coming back tomorrow, and I'm confident, if they listen to the people out there, they'll know it's time to get a piece of legislation moving that will help create jobs, and help workers who got affected as a result of 9/11.

The next opportunity is to make sure that this nation has an energy policy. This nation needs an energy policy. (Applause.) Jobs depend on affordable energy. If there's a price spike or a disruption in supply, people may not have work. And it's also in our nation's national security interests that we become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. (Applause.)

And we're dependent. We're dependent on energy from some parts of the world where sometimes they like us, and sometimes they don't. And we need to do something about it. We need an energy bill. We passed one out of the House of Representatives, and it's now time for the United States Senate to pass a good bill.

It's one that says, of course, we'll conserve more. All of us want to have new technologies that will make conservation a part of our life. And we can do a better job in America. One of these days, we're going to be driving automobiles that are fueled differently. And that's going to be exciting times for America. In other words, there's new technologies coming down, and we can encourage those technologies. So conservation and technological development have got to be an integral part of energy.

But folks, we need more supply. You know, I'm walking back here in the back, and they said, I'm now repairing a machine that digs for coal. We need to use coal. We've got a lot of it, and we need to make sure that we've got coal. (Applause.)

A lot of people don't realize that good energy policy means jobs. Bad energy policy means we might lose jobs. Good energy policy means we can create jobs.

I was with Jimmy Hoffa the other day, of the Teamsters, in his headquarters. I know, I mean, people just don't expect a Republican to be hanging out with the Teamsters. (Laughter.) But he and I share something in common. We worry about people who want to work. He worries about it, as the head of a mighty union. I worry about it as the President.

See, I'm the President of everybody, not just a few. I'm the President of people whether they voted for me or not. I'm the President of union and non-union. I'm the President of Republicans and Democrats and independents. And I share something in common with Jimmy, and that is how best to get jobs. That's why he and I both know that the energy bill ought to make sure we can explore for natural gas and crude oil in Alaska. It's good for jobs. (Applause.) He knows what I know, that means work for people.

There's going to be a lot of work. And he knows what I know as well, that we can do so in an environmentally friendly way; that we can have a footprint in this vast tundra that will not affect the environment and, at the same time, make us less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

Listen, finding oil and gas and coal in our own hemisphere, and nuclear power, for that matter, in our own hemisphere is in our national security interest. And I ask the Senate to put aside all the politics and get me a good energy bill. It's in the best interests for people trying to find work and it's in the best interests of the United States of America. (Applause.)

We can create more opportunities by selling more products overseas. I spent a lot of time as the governor of Texas with the farmers. The agricultural sector is an incredibly important part of our economy. And one of the benefits we have as a nation is we can feed ourselves. That's good for the national security interest, by the way. But we produce more food than we need. We ought to be selling it overseas. The more markets available for U.S. products, the more likely it is somebody is going to find work.

It is so important for America to understand that we're good at what we do. We can compete with anybody in the world. We've got the most productive work force on the face of the Earth; therefore, let's open up markets to sell our products. (Applause.) The Senate has got to give me the ability to do that. It came out of the House; it's bottled up in the Senate. I ask them to pass that bill, called the Trade Promotion Authority.

In order to create good jobs, we've got to have a legal system that's fair and balanced. I want people who have got a good case to be able to make their case in court. But I'm going to tell you, the Walker boys fear frivolous and junk lawsuits. I don't know them that well, but I can guess they do. (Laughter.) And we don't need a lot of regulation either. The federal government ought to be wise about how we enforce standards, but not overregulate those who are trying to create work. (Applause.)

We can do some smart things in Washington to create jobs. One of the things the government needs to do is to spend money on research and development. The more research and development there are, the more likely it is we'll find interesting answers to energy problems or health problems or national security issues. And that translates into jobs.

And so my budget for 2003 spends $110 billion on federal research -- on grants for research and development. It makes sense. The more we know today about the future, the more likely it is we're going to be able to have a work force that's steadily employed.

And finally, we've got to make sure that we have retirement security; that if part of a secure economic environment begins with education, it's got to end with making sure that our Medicare system works well, that people are given options, that it's a modern system that reflects the modern ways of medicine; and that we have a Social Security system that fulfills the promise to the elderly, but recognizes we better reform it for the younger workers so that they will have a Social Security system -- one that says if you're relying upon Social Security today, nothing changes. The promise we have made you will be a promise this government will keep.

But if you're a younger worker, we've got to trust you to manage your own money, if that's what you choose to do. You see, ownership is a part of what it means to have a society that is vibrant, that is a society based upon economic security. I want people to own their home, and so we've got plans to encourage ownership from renters. I want people to be able to manage their own money. I want people to be able to own and start their own business. I want them to be able to pass their farm or ranch or business from one generation to the next. That's why I was so insistent we get rid of the death tax in the tax code.

Ownership is what makes America unique and different. And if we're asking about how to make sure we have a secure environment for workers and families, let's encourage people to own their own home and business and their own retirement accounts. And we can do that.

As a matter of fact, I'm confident in our economy, confident in -- because I'm confident in the American way of life. You know, they hit us on 9/11, but Walker was running before 9/11 and it's running after 9/11. I mean, some certainly have gotten affected as a result of the attacks. But they didn't diminish the entrepreneurial spirit of America. They didn't diminish the drive by small business owners to expand and grow and to create jobs.

We've got -- the underpinnings of growth are with us. And our job in Washington, D.C., is to encourage that growth, and to always remember that jobs are the cornerstone of good economic policy.

But these are unique times in America, which means we've got to really deal with the problem that came upon our shores. The truth of the matter is, the best thing I can do for the economy is to make sure the enemy doesn't hit us again. And I'm proud of the -- (applause). Every morning I wake up, walk into the great Oval Office. Well, first I take Barney and Spot outside. (Laughter.) But I go into this fabulous office -- by the way, it is just a -- it's a shrine to our great democracy -- and I read a threat assessment. You know the intentions of the enemy are to hit us again. And I make a vow every morning that I will do everything in my power and encourage those of us in positions of responsibility not to let that happen.

You need to know our government is on full alert, and I hope you are, as well. People say, what does that mean. Well, if you see something odd happening, let somebody know. Something out of the ordinary. It's just like that stewardess on the airplane that time when the shoe man showed up. She saw something was odd. (Laughter.) She thought something was different and she brought him in. That's what Americans must do now as a result of the evil ones hitting us. We've got to be on our toes.

The FBI has changed its culture. The FBI is now focused on preventing another attack. We've got agents all across the country working day in and day out to sniff out any lead, any idea. Because our biggest job is to prevent them from coming at us. They may come at us, but they're not going to get us. (Applause.)

I want to thank the local law enforcement officers here in West Virginia who are working hand in hand with state officers and working with our federal people, too. But the truth of the matter is, the best way to make sure that we secure our homeland is to find the enemy where they hide and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what we're going to do. (Applause.)

Many of you have got relatives in the military, and I want to thank you. And you thank them on behalf of their Commander-in-Chief. Put the military to a task, and the military is preforming brilliantly. (Applause.)

We told the world -- I told the world -- our government has told the world, our country has told the world, that this compassionate, generous nation will not let terror stand; that wherever we find terror, we will deal with it. We put a great coalition together, people who understand that this is an historic opportunity and a moment in which those who love freedom must not blink and must not tire. That -- I made it clear that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, we're going to treat you like a terrorist.

And the Taliban learned that lesson because of our United States military. (Applause.) They're not in power. And by routing them out of power, this great nation not only defended freedom, not only sent a clear message about our intention, but this great nation liberated a people. We liberated women and children. We freed people from incredible oppression. What a proud moment for America, that we stood for what we believe, and in so doing, gave people a better chance for life.

I want to thank you all, and thank the American people for your patience. If we tire, the world will tire. If we get impatient, the terrorists win. Yet our great nation is bound by such a love for freedom, and the desire not for revenge, but for justice, that we're not going to tire; that we will stay the course. (Applause.)

Families in America have suffered the greatest sacrifice of all, the loss of a loved one. But in this case, the cause is noble, and it is just. We fight for freedom and the ability for our children and grandchildren to grow up in a peaceful world, one that does not fear murderers coming to our shore and killing through acts of terror.

This country must not yield. We must seize this moment of history. It is this generation's calling, and we are not going to let the world down. We're ready, we're steady, we're resolved. And we will rout out the terrorists, no matter what cave they think they can hide in, and bring them to justice. (Applause.)

You know, I was floored to think about the attitudes of the enemy when they thought we were soft. I couldn't figure out which TV show they had been watching. (Laughter.) I mean, can you imagine somebody saying the great United States won't respond, or the great United States really doesn't care, won't commit the resources necessary to rid the world of evil? But, my, oh, my, did they make a huge mistake.

They also didn't understand the character of the country. They don't understand how good we are. They don't understand America's values -- the values of freedom of worship, no matter what religion you choose; freedom to speak; freedom to run for office; freedom to vote; freedom to be -- to work for your family so your family can live in a peaceful world. They don't understand that. They must not understand it.

I'm asked all the time, what can I do to help. Well, what you could do to help for a while was to travel, and it looks like we're getting better. Airlines are filling up and people are going to different destination places. But the truth of the matter is, if you want to fight evil -- and make no mistake about it, this is good versus evil -- if you want to fight evil, do some good.

If you're interested in fighting evil, tell your children you love them every day this year. If you want to fight off evil, get involved in the school system and make it as good as it can be. Teach a child to read. If you want to fight evil, go to your church or synagogue or mosque and start a program that will love a neighbor. If you want to fight evil, go see a shut-in and say, what can I do to help.

You see, the great character of America is not defined necessarily by our military actions, although that counts. The great character of America is defined by millions of acts of decency and kindness that take place every day all across our country. (Applause.)

The evil ones struck, but out of this will come incredible good. The world will be more peaceful when we accomplish our mission. And this country will be more compassionate and more decent and more loving.

It's such an honor to be the President of a land that has achieved so much, but with much more to do. Thank you for giving me the chance to come, and thank you for giving me the chance to be your President. May God bless you all. (Applause.)

END 1:33 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS-- January 29, 2002
The United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.

9:15 P.M. EST

The President reviews draft of his SOTU speech with White House staff, 1/24/02. White House photo by Eric Draper.

We last met in an hour of shock and suffering. In four short months, our nation has comforted the victims, begun to rebuild New York and the Pentagon, rallied a great coalition, captured, arrested, and rid the world of thousands of terrorists, destroyed Afghanistan's terrorist training camps, saved a people from starvation, and freed a country from brutal oppression. (Applause.) The American flag flies again over our embassy in Kabul. Terrorists who once occupied Afghanistan now occupy cells at Guantanamo Bay. (Applause.) And terrorist leaders who urged followers to sacrifice their lives are running for their own. (Applause.)

The President delivers his SOTU address. White House photo by Eric Draper.

America and Afghanistan are now allies against terror. We'll be partners in rebuilding that country. And this evening we welcome the distinguished interim leader of a liberated Afghanistan: Chairman Hamid Karzai. (Applause.)

The last time we met in this chamber, the mothers and daughters of Afghanistan were captives in their own homes, forbidden from working or going to school. Today women are free, and are part of Afghanistan's new government. And we welcome the new Minister of Women's Affairs, Doctor Sima Samar. (Applause.)

Our progress is a tribute to the spirit of the Afghan people, to the resolve of our coalition, and to the might of the United States military. (Applause.) When I called our troops into action, I did so with complete confidence in their courage and skill. And tonight, thanks to them, we are winning the war on terror. (Applause.) The man and women of our Armed Forces have delivered a message now clear to every enemy of the United States: Even 7,000 miles away, across oceans and continents, on mountaintops and in caves -- you will not escape the justice of this nation. (Applause.)

For many Americans, these four months have brought sorrow, and pain that will never completely go away. Every day a retired firefighter returns to Ground Zero, to feel closer to his two sons who died there. At a memorial in New York, a little boy left his football with a note for his lost father: Dear Daddy, please take this to heaven. I don't want to play football until I can play with you again some day.

Last month, at the grave of her husband, Michael, a CIA officer and Marine who died in Mazur-e-Sharif, Shannon Spann said these words of farewell: "Semper Fi, my love." Shannon is with us tonight. (Applause.)

Shannon, I assure you and all who have lost a loved one that our cause is just, and our country will never forget the debt we owe Michael and all who gave their lives for freedom.

Our cause is just, and it continues. Our discoveries in Afghanistan confirmed our worst fears, and showed us the true scope of the task ahead. We have seen the depth of our enemies' hatred in videos, where they laugh about the loss of innocent life. And the depth of their hatred is equaled by the madness of the destruction they design. We have found diagrams of American nuclear power plants and public water facilities, detailed instructions for making chemical weapons, surveillance maps of American cities, and thorough descriptions of landmarks in America and throughout the world.

What we have found in Afghanistan confirms that, far from ending there, our war against terror is only beginning. Most of the 19 men who hijacked planes on September the 11th were trained in Afghanistan's camps, and so were tens of thousands of others. Thousands of dangerous killers, schooled in the methods of murder, often supported by outlaw regimes, are now spread throughout the world like ticking time bombs, set to go off without warning.

Thanks to the work of our law enforcement officials and coalition partners, hundreds of terrorists have been arrested. Yet, tens of thousands of trained terrorists are still at large. These enemies view the entire world as a battlefield, and we must pursue them wherever they are. (Applause.) So long as training camps operate, so long as nations harbor terrorists, freedom is at risk. And America and our allies must not, and will not, allow it. (Applause.)

Our nation will continue to be steadfast and patient and persistent in the pursuit of two great objectives. First, we will shut down terrorist camps, disrupt terrorist plans, and bring terrorists to justice. And, second, we must prevent the terrorists and regimes who seek chemical, biological or nuclear weapons from threatening the United States and the world. (Applause.)

Our military has put the terror training camps of Afghanistan out of business, yet camps still exist in at least a dozen countries. A terrorist underworld -- including groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Jaish-i-Mohammed -- operates in remote jungles and deserts, and hides in the centers of large cities.

While the most visible military action is in Afghanistan, America is acting elsewhere. We now have troops in the Philippines, helping to train that country's armed forces to go after terrorist cells that have executed an American, and still hold hostages. Our soldiers, working with the Bosnian government, seized terrorists who were plotting to bomb our embassy. Our Navy is patrolling the coast of Africa to block the shipment of weapons and the establishment of terrorist camps in Somalia.

My hope is that all nations will heed our call, and eliminate the terrorist parasites who threaten their countries and our own. Many nations are acting forcefully. Pakistan is now cracking down on terror, and I admire the strong leadership of President Musharraf. (Applause.)

But some governments will be timid in the face of terror. And make no mistake about it: If they do not act, America will. (Applause.)

Our second goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends and allies with weapons of mass destruction. Some of these regimes have been pretty quiet since September the 11th. But we know their true nature. North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens.

Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom.

Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror. The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade. This is a regime that has already used poison gas to murder thousands of its own citizens -- leaving the bodies of mothers huddled over their dead children. This is a regime that agreed to international inspections -- then kicked out the inspectors. This is a regime that has something to hide from the civilized world.

States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic.

We will work closely with our coalition to deny terrorists and their state sponsors the materials, technology, and expertise to make and deliver weapons of mass destruction. We will develop and deploy effective missile defenses to protect America and our allies from sudden attack. (Applause.) And all nations should know: America will do what is necessary to ensure our nation's security.

We'll be deliberate, yet time is not on our side. I will not wait on events, while dangers gather. I will not stand by, as peril draws closer and closer. The United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons. (Applause.)

Our war on terror is well begun, but it is only begun. This campaign may not be finished on our watch -- yet it must be and it will be waged on our watch.

We can't stop short. If we stop now -- leaving terror camps intact and terror states unchecked -- our sense of security would be false and temporary. History has called America and our allies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our privilege to fight freedom's fight. (Applause.)

Our first priority must always be the security of our nation, and that will be reflected in the budget I send to Congress. My budget supports three great goals for America: We will win this war; we'll protect our homeland; and we will revive our economy.

September the 11th brought out the best in America, and the best in this Congress. And I join the American people in applauding your unity and resolve. (Applause.) Now Americans deserve to have this same spirit directed toward addressing problems here at home. I'm a proud member of my party -- yet as we act to win the war, protect our people, and create jobs in America, we must act, first and foremost, not as Republicans, not as Democrats, but as Americans. (Applause.)

It costs a lot to fight this war. We have spent more than a billion dollars a month -- over $30 million a day -- and we must be prepared for future operations. Afghanistan proved that expensive precision weapons defeat the enemy and spare innocent lives, and we need more of them. We need to replace aging aircraft and make our military more agile, to put our troops anywhere in the world quickly and safely. Our men and women in uniform deserve the best weapons, the best equipment, the best training -- and they also deserve another pay raise. (Applause.)

My budget includes the largest increase in defense spending in two decades -- because while the price of freedom and security is high, it is never too high. Whatever it costs to defend our country, we will pay. (Applause.)

The next priority of my budget is to do everything possible to protect our citizens and strengthen our nation against the ongoing threat of another attack. Time and distance from the events of September the 11th will not make us safer unless we act on its lessons. America is no longer protected by vast oceans. We are protected from attack only by vigorous action abroad, and increased vigilance at home.

My budget nearly doubles funding for a sustained strategy of homeland security, focused on four key areas: bioterrorism, emergency response, airport and border security, and improved intelligence. We will develop vaccines to fight anthrax and other deadly diseases. We'll increase funding to help states and communities train and equip our heroic police and firefighters. (Applause.) We will improve intelligence collection and sharing, expand patrols at our borders, strengthen the security of air travel, and use technology to track the arrivals and departures of visitors to the United States. (Applause.)

Homeland security will make America not only stronger, but, in many ways, better. Knowledge gained from bioterrorism research will improve public health. Stronger police and fire departments will mean safer neighborhoods. Stricter border enforcement will help combat illegal drugs. (Applause.) And as government works to better secure our homeland, America will continue to depend on the eyes and ears of alert citizens.

A few days before Christmas, an airline flight attendant spotted a passenger lighting a match. The crew and passengers quickly subdued the man, who had been trained by al Qaeda and was armed with explosives. The people on that plane were alert and, as a result, likely saved nearly 200 lives. And tonight we welcome and thank flight attendants Hermis Moutardier and Christina Jones. (Applause.)

Once we have funded our national security and our homeland security, the final great priority of my budget is economic security for the American people. (Applause.) To achieve these great national objectives -- to win the war, protect the homeland, and revitalize our economy -- our budget will run a deficit that will be small and short-term, so long as Congress restrains spending and acts in a fiscally responsible manner. (Applause.) We have clear priorities and we must act at home with the same purpose and resolve we have shown overseas: We'll prevail in the war, and we will defeat this recession. (Applause.)

Americans who have lost their jobs need our help and I support extending unemployment benefits and direct assistance for health care coverage. (Applause.) Yet, American workers want more than unemployment checks -- they want a steady paycheck. (Applause.) When America works, America prospers, so my economic security plan can be summed up in one word: jobs. (Applause.)

Good jobs begin with good schools, and here we've made a fine start. (Applause.) Republicans and Democrats worked together to achieve historic education reform so that no child is left behind. I was proud to work with members of both parties: Chairman John Boehner and Congressman George Miller. (Applause.) Senator Judd Gregg. (Applause.) And I was so proud of our work, I even had nice things to say about my friend, Ted Kennedy. (Laughter and applause.) I know the folks at the Crawford coffee shop couldn't believe I'd say such a thing -- (laughter) -- but our work on this bill shows what is possible if we set aside posturing and focus on results. (Applause.)

There is more to do. We need to prepare our children to read and succeed in school with improved Head Start and early childhood development programs. (Applause.) We must upgrade our teacher colleges and teacher training and launch a major recruiting drive with a great goal for America: a quality teacher in every classroom. (Applause.)

Good jobs also depend on reliable and affordable energy. This Congress must act to encourage conservation, promote technology, build infrastructure, and it must act to increase energy production at home so America is less dependent on foreign oil. (Applause.)

Good jobs depend on expanded trade. Selling into new markets creates new jobs, so I ask Congress to finally approve trade promotion authority. (Applause.) On these two key issues, trade and energy, the House of Representatives has acted to create jobs, and I urge the Senate to pass this legislation. (Applause.)

Good jobs depend on sound tax policy. (Applause.) Last year, some in this hall thought my tax relief plan was too small; some thought it was too big. (Applause.) But when the checks arrived in the mail, most Americans thought tax relief was just about right. (Applause.) Congress listened to the people and responded by reducing tax rates, doubling the child credit, and ending the death tax. For the sake of long-term growth and to help Americans plan for the future, let's make these tax cuts permanent. (Applause.)

The way out of this recession, the way to create jobs, is to grow the economy by encouraging investment in factories and equipment, and by speeding up tax relief so people have more money to spend. For the sake of American workers, let's pass a stimulus package. (Applause.)

Good jobs must be the aim of welfare reform. As we reauthorize these important reforms, we must always remember the goal is to reduce dependency on government and offer every American the dignity of a job. (Applause.)

Americans know economic security can vanish in an instant without health security. I ask Congress to join me this year to enact a patients' bill of rights -- (applause) -- to give uninsured workers credits to help buy health coverage -- (applause) -- to approve an historic increase in the spending for veterans' health -- (applause) -- and to give seniors a sound and modern Medicare system that includes coverage for prescription drugs. (Applause.)

A good job should lead to security in retirement. I ask Congress to enact new safeguards for 401K and pension plans. (Applause.) Employees who have worked hard and saved all their lives should not have to risk losing everything if their company fails. (Applause.) Through stricter accounting standards and tougher disclosure requirements, corporate America must be made more accountable to employees and shareholders and held to the highest standards of conduct. (Applause.)

Retirement security also depends upon keeping the commitments of Social Security, and we will. We must make Social Security financially stable and allow personal retirement accounts for younger workers who choose them. (Applause.)

Members, you and I will work together in the months ahead on other issues: productive farm policy -- (applause) -- a cleaner environment -- (applause) -- broader home ownership, especially among minorities -- (applause) -- and ways to encourage the good work of charities and faith-based groups. (Applause.) I ask you to join me on these important domestic issues in the same spirit of cooperation we've applied to our war against terrorism. (Applause.)

During these last few months, I've been humbled and privileged to see the true character of this country in a time of testing. Our enemies believed America was weak and materialistic, that we would splinter in fear and selfishness. They were as wrong as they are evil. (Applause.)

The American people have responded magnificently, with courage and compassion, strength and resolve. As I have met the heroes, hugged the families, and looked into the tired faces of rescuers, I have stood in awe of the American people.

And I hope you will join me -- I hope you will join me in expressing thanks to one American for the strength and calm and comfort she brings to our nation in crisis, our First Lady, Laura Bush. (Applause.)

None of us would ever wish the evil that was done on September the 11th. Yet after America was attacked, it was as if our entire country looked into a mirror and saw our better selves. We were reminded that we are citizens, with obligations to each other, to our country, and to history. We began to think less of the goods we can accumulate, and more about the good we can do.

For too long our culture has said, "If it feels good, do it." Now America is embracing a new ethic and a new creed: "Let's roll." (Applause.) In the sacrifice of soldiers, the fierce brotherhood of firefighters, and the bravery and generosity of ordinary citizens, we have glimpsed what a new culture of responsibility could look like. We want to be a nation that serves goals larger than self. We've been offered a unique opportunity, and we must not let this moment pass. (Applause.)

My call tonight is for every American to commit at least two years -- 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime -- to the service of your neighbors and your nation. (Applause.) Many are already serving, and I thank you. If you aren't sure how to help, I've got a good place to start. To sustain and extend the best that has emerged in America, I invite you to join the new USA Freedom Corps. The Freedom Corps will focus on three areas of need: responding in case of crisis at home; rebuilding our communities; and extending American compassion throughout the world.

One purpose of the USA Freedom Corps will be homeland security. America needs retired doctors and nurses who can be mobilized in major emergencies; volunteers to help police and fire departments; transportation and utility workers well-trained in spotting danger.

Our country also needs citizens working to rebuild our communities. We need mentors to love children, especially children whose parents are in prison. And we need more talented teachers in troubled schools. USA Freedom Corps will expand and improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to recruit more than 200,000 new volunteers.

And America needs citizens to extend the compassion of our country to every part of the world. So we will renew the promise of the Peace Corps, double its volunteers over the next five years -- (applause) -- and ask it to join a new effort to encourage development and education and opportunity in the Islamic world. (Applause.)

This time of adversity offers a unique moment of opportunity -- a moment we must seize to change our culture. Through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of service and decency and kindness, I know we can overcome evil with greater good. (Applause.) And we have a great opportunity during this time of war to lead the world toward the values that will bring lasting peace.

All fathers and mothers, in all societies, want their children to be educated, and live free from poverty and violence. No people on Earth yearn to be oppressed, or aspire to servitude, or eagerly await the midnight knock of the secret police.

If anyone doubts this, let them look to Afghanistan, where the Islamic "street" greeted the fall of tyranny with song and celebration. Let the skeptics look to Islam's own rich history, with its centuries of learning, and tolerance and progress. America will lead by defending liberty and justice because they are right and true and unchanging for all people everywhere. (Applause.)

No nation owns these aspirations, and no nation is exempt from them. We have no intention of imposing our culture. But America will always stand firm for the non-negotiable demands of human dignity: the rule of law; limits on the power of the state; respect for women; private property; free speech; equal justice; and religious tolerance. (Applause.)

America will take the side of brave men and women who advocate these values around the world, including the Islamic world, because we have a greater objective than eliminating threats and containing resentment. We seek a just and peaceful world beyond the war on terror.

In this moment of opportunity, a common danger is erasing old rivalries. America is working with Russia and China and India, in ways we have never before, to achieve peace and prosperity. In every region, free markets and free trade and free societies are proving their power to lift lives. Together with friends and allies from Europe to Asia, and Africa to Latin America, we will demonstrate that the forces of terror cannot stop the momentum of freedom. (Applause.)

The last time I spoke here, I expressed the hope that life would return to normal. In some ways, it has. In others, it never will. Those of us who have lived through these challenging times have been changed by them. We've come to know truths that we will never question: evil is real, and it must be opposed. (Applause.) Beyond all differences of race or creed, we are one country, mourning together and facing danger together. Deep in the American character, there is honor, and it is stronger than cynicism. And many have discovered again that even in tragedy -- especially in tragedy -- God is near. (Applause.)

In a single instant, we realized that this will be a decisive decade in the history of liberty, that we've been called to a unique role in human events. Rarely has the world faced a choice more clear or consequential.

Our enemies send other people's children on missions of suicide and murder. They embrace tyranny and death as a cause and a creed. We stand for a different choice, made long ago, on the day of our founding. We affirm it again today. We choose freedom and the dignity of every life. (Applause.)

Steadfast in our purpose, we now press on. We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. And in this great conflict, my fellow Americans, we will see freedom's victory.

Thank you all. May God bless. (Applause.)

END 10:03 P.M. EST

White House photo

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. I appreciate that warm welcome. It's a pleasure to be here with friends and those who are promoting an important cause, and that is promoting the security and dignity of Americans who are in retirement.

Americans can help secure their own future by saving. Government must support policies that promote and protect saving. And saving is the path to independence for Americans in all phases of life, and we must encourage more Americans to take that path.

I want to thank the Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, for helping put on this conference, and I appreciate her service. (Applause.) I appreciate the Director of the Small Business Administration for being here -- Hector, thank you for coming. (Applause.) It is good to see at least one fellow Texan, Sam Johnson. I appreciate you being here, Sammy, thank you for coming. (Applause.) And I appreciate Bill Roth, the former Senator from Delaware, for being here as well. Thank you, Senator, for coming today. (Applause.)

Just over a hundred years ago, at the turn of the last century, the average life expectancy in America was only 47 years. Today, that number has increased by three full decades. This amazing advance in the health of Americans is also profoundly changing our society. Americans who retire today may have decades -- decades -- of healthy life before them.

This is time to volunteer, making seniors one of the greatest resources of compassion in America. This is time for family to pass on values to grandchildren and to strengthen the bonds between grandparents and family members. And, increasingly, retirement is a time of new beginnings: a time to travel and explore; a time to take up new hobbies; and a time to take up new careers.
Some 80 percent of baby boomers -- I happen to be one -- (laughter) -- say they plan to work at least part-time in retirement. And smart employers will be wise to use their experience, and their competence.

The choices seniors make in retirement should not be limited by arbitrary dates, or obsolete stereotypes. Increasingly, the choices of seniors will only be limited by two things: the state of their health, and the state of their savings.
Because the nature of retirement is changing, the needs of retirement are changing as well. Older Americans now require a retirement nest egg large enough for decades of enjoyment and ambition. As medicine increases the length of life, adequate savings must increase the options we have on longer lives.

Saving is never easy; it's hard for some to do. But it's always worthwhile. Particularly when you think about the power of compounding interest. The power of compound interest is one of the great advantages of American citizens. And they must learn to use it. If a worker starts saving just $20 a week at age 22, and earns a 5.5 percent real interest rate on the investment, that adds up to a nest egg of nearly $180,000 by age 65.

This summit was created by Congress to educate workers and citizens about the power and rewards of saving, and I want to thank you for participating. You've accomplished a great deal, but there's much more to do.

Americans are saving too little -- often, dangerously too little. The average 50-year-old in America has less than $40,000 in personal financial wealth. The average American retires with only enough savings to provide 60 percent of his former annual income. This problem is especially acute for women and minorities.

We must encourage for all our people the security and independence provided by savings. I want America to be an ownership society, a society where a life of work becomes a retirement of independence.

Savings start as an individual responsibility, but government can help by expanding the rewards of saving and by strengthening protections for saving. Last year, the Congress passed, and I proudly signed, powerful new incentives for retirement savings. Many of you in this room were involved in that effort and I want to thank you.

We relaxed the restrictions on how much workers can invest in their individual retirement accounts and 401(k) plans. Last year's tax relief plan allowed workers over the age of 50 to make overpayments to their retirement plans. This is especially important for women, who take time out of the labor force to stay at home with their children.

We passed some important reforms to give workers more choices and more rights. We created a new kind of 401(k), that allows workers to pay their taxes now and make tax-free withdrawals when they retire, just like the way the Roth IRA works. And we required companies to vest their employees' retirement rights more quickly. Your retirement money becomes yours faster now more than ever.
And, finally, we made it easier to roll over retirement savings from one account to another. We know that American workers change jobs more frequently today than they used to. This means that people are seeing opportunity, and they're seizing it. But if workers are going to move, their retirement savings need to move with them without unnecessary bureaucracy and unnecessary paperwork.
Thanks to the 2001 tax relief program, our tax code is now friendlier to saving than it has been in a long time. Not only am I proud of cutting taxes, I'm proud of reforming the savings, and I'm proud of the good work that Congress did on this matter.

But there's still more to do. Even when people are saving enough, they need to feel more secure about the laws protecting their savings. In recent months, we've seen how workers can lose a lifetime's worth of savings if their company were to fail. So my administration has proposed reforms to make sure that the money Americans put away in their working years grows safely, so it is available in their retirement years.

More than 40 million workers own 401(k) accounts totaling over $1.8 trillion in assets. Many of these assets have been contributed by employers who match their workers' own savings. We know that employers contribute more when they have the option to give company stock as well as cash, and that option ought to remain as positive for American workers. But a worker should also have more freedom to choose how to invest their retirement savings.

Companies that contribute stock to employee 401(k)s should not be permitted to lock their employees into owning that stock for years and years. My proposal will allow workers to sell company stock and diversify into other investment options after three years in their own company's plan. We need action to give workers the right to put their savings -- to put their eggs in more than one basket.

Another important reform addresses the issue of blackouts, times when employees are not free to change or access their retirement accounts. When companies black-out a pension plan, they temporarily take away a worker's freedom to choose for themselves. Workers should be given a 30-day notice before any blackout period begins and company officers should not be allowed to sell their own company stock when workers cannot. (Applause.) What's fair on the top floor should be fair on the shop floor. (Applause.)

To make good investment decisions, workers need sound advice and timely information. Employers should be required to provide updates on workers' retirement account values every three months. And we should change current law to remove the threat of lawsuits from employers who provide sound third-party investment advice.

All these measures will help build faith in America's pension system, and I urge Congress to act.
I want to thank Senators Tim Hutchison and Chuck Grassley, and Representatives Boehner, Portman, and Cardin, for their bipartisan efforts to put forward good, common-sense legislation that seeks to achieve many of these pension reform principles. Every American deserves to be an owner in the American Dream.

That dream includes a sound pension plan, and adequate private savings. And it is ultimately completed by Social Security reform. Some people like their Social Security exactly the way it is, and they'll be able to keep it exactly the way it is. But for younger workers who want to take advantage of the power of compounding interest, we should allow for personal retirement accounts. (Applause.)

Today, Social Security is not a personal savings program. Retirees' benefits are paid directly from the taxes paid each year by current workers. The average return on Social Security is less than 2 percent. And in the long run, Social Security can pay retirees less than 30 percent of what they earned before retiring. And that's not good enough as we head into the 21st century.
We can do better, and a lot of people know this. Someone retiring today after 45 years of work would be entitled to a monthly benefit of $1,128 a month from Social Security. If that same retiree, if those Social Security taxes had been invested in the stock market over the last 45 years, during the same period of time, that person would now have a nest egg of $590,000, or income of more than $3,700 a month.

Because there will be an expanding number of retirees for Social Security to support in the future, we must apply the power of savings, investing, and compound interest to the challenges of Social Security by introducing personal retirement accounts into the system. Americans would own these assets. After all, it is their money. (Applause.) They would see more retirement income, and that's necessary as people live longer lives. And, as importantly, they would be able to pass these accounts on to their children. (Applause.)

Franklin Roosevelt told the U.S. Congress in 1935 that his goals for Social Security included providing a secure retirement to American workers and making sure all Americans could build their personal wealth. We must dedicate ourselves to both those goals.
At a time when older Americans have longer lives and more options than ever before, we need to ensure they have access not just to a monthly check, but to personal wealth. (Applause.) And I mean all Americans -- not just a few, but all Americans, especially women and minorities who are often short-changed by the current Social Security system.

Robert Johnson, the CEO of Black Entertainment Television, explains it this way. "African Americans die earlier, therefore receiving less in the form of Social Security pay-outs. One of the ways to address this is through the use of wealth-generating private accounts that form part of an estate opportunity for African Americans."

And Lea Abdnor, a member of the President's Commission to strengthen Social Security -- as was Mr. Johnson -- said, "I believe very strongly that we have to give women the opportunity to create ownership and wealth for the first time." (Applause.) And I couldn't agree more. (Applause.)
My administration is working to expand growth and opportunity in our economy. That's why we cut the taxes. (Applause.) And we've got to make sure the opportunity is available as a result of people being able to own something, own their own money so they can manage it themselves, own their own portfolio, have the capacity to generate wealth. The generation of wealth should not be limited to a few in our society; it ought to be an opportunity for everybody. There's nothing better than providing the incentive to say this is my asset base, I own it, I will live on it in retirement, and I will then pass it on to somebody in my own family.

If you own something in America, you own a stake in America's future, and a good retirement vision, a good retirement future says that we must reform Social Security, not only for the good of the system but, as importantly, for the good of American workers who work all their life so that they can have an asset base to call their own. (Applause.)

So as you continue to meet, I hope that you will think not only about the short term issues we face, but how best to make sure that the retirement promises are kept. And how to make sure that as we come up with new systems and new structures that we fundamentally change America for the better, that we make the system open and that opportunity extends its reach throughout every neighborhood. It is such a wonderful opportunity for the country, and I hope you join me in seizing it.

I want to thank you for giving me the chance to come by. Elaine is right, I do worry about the security of the American people; I worry about the security of those who retire. And I want you to know every day I'm worried about the homeland security, too. Every day we wake up -- I wake up and go into the beautiful Oval Office and read about threats to the United States. And it reminds me that the security of this country is my most important job.

And I want to assure you all that our administration is doing everything that we possibly can to make sure innocent Americans do not lose their lives here at home. We're running down every lead, we're following every hint, every suggestion, every opportunity to chase down some possible clue of an attack -- we are doing it. And I'm proud of our law enforcement officers at the federal, state and local level for their diligence.

But I also want to remind you that in order to make sure the homeland is as secure as it can possibly be for our children and grandchildren, that we must hunt down the killers and would-be killers, terrorists, al Qaeda terrorists and bring them to justice. This is going to require more time than people may want. It's going to require a patient and determined nation.

But having traveled around the country some, having had a chance to listen to the American people, I'm proud of the fact that our nation is patient and is determined. Because our nation understands that we fight for freedom, and any time our freedom is challenged, we stand strong in the face of those who would take away our freedom.

Our military is making great strides, I'm proud of the U.S. military. And as fellow Americans, I will assure you that so long as I'm the President, I will do whatever it takes to protect the American people.

I want to thank you for letting me come by. May God bless you all. (Applause.)

President Speaks at Hispanic Chamber of Commerce -- March 6, 2002
Presidential Hall Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building

2:30 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Hector, thank you. One of the best decisions I made was I asked you to come and be the SBA Director. And he's doing a fine job. (Applause.) One of the reasons I asked Hector is because he understands that the role of government is not to create wealth, but to create an environment in which entrepreneurs from all walks of life have a chance to succeed.

I'll never forget going to the Hispanic Chamber banquet in California, and I was given the information about the number of Latino-owned small businesses in the state of California. It was a staggering number. And I can remember telling friends of mine in Texas and other states what a magnificent statistic it is, to be able to read about the thousands of businesses started by Latinos, which means the American Dream is spreading her wings in every single neighborhood, which is precisely the vision I have for America. I want everybody who wants to start their own business to feel comfortable in doing so, and have an opportunity to succeed in America. And Hector understands that.

I want to thank you all to the Casa Blanca tambien. I want to thank Fidel Vargas for being here. He's on the Social Security Commission -- I put two Latinos on the Social Security Commission. The Social Security Commission spent a lot of time analyzing the Social Security system, and came back with a solid recommendation of allowing younger workers, if they so choose, to have their own money invested in a personal savings account.

Again, I can't think of anything better for the future of our country than for people to own a piece of the future of America. After all, it is not the government's money we're talking about; it is the workers' money. And I want to thank the hard work of Fidel, y nosotros and the Commission of the Social Security.

I want to thank George Herrera, the President of the Chamber -- el Presidente. (Laughter and applause). I want to thank Liz, as well, for being here. E tambien me abogado. (Applause.) Al has been my lawyer since when I was the governor. He's been mi abogado quando estoy el presidente, and his advice has always been sound. He's really a smart guy and a very close friend.

And finally, I want to recognize Miguel Estrada. Miguel. (Applause.) Miguel is a really bright attorney who I've named to the U.S. -- nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit. They're playing too much politics in the United States Senate on our judge nominees. This man deserves a hearing and he deserves a vote. This is a good, solid jurist who ought to be on that bench. And I'm calling on the United States Senate to move quickly on Miguel's nomination, so that we can have a good, young Latino; smart, brilliant man represent our nation. Thank you for being here, Miguel. (Applause.)

I first want to tell you that -- this is an incredible time for our country, and I want to assure you all, as leaders in your communities and moms and dads and as concerned citizens, that our nation is doing everything we can to protect America; that we've got a homeland security strategy that is working with first responders and bioterrorism; that we want to modernize our borders. We want to make sure we do everything to protect the American people, and we are.

But you've also got to understand my view, and it's this: that the best way to protect the American people is to find a terrorist wherever they hide and bring them to justice. You know, when this first got started I told the American people that we would be in for a long and difficult struggle. And after nearly six months, the American people still understand that -- that in order to fight for freedom, in order to win for freedom, we've got to be determined and strong and not relent. History has called this great nation into action, and so long as I'm the President, I will pursue the opportunity to protect freedom -- any time, anywhere.

And as you know, I've laid out a doctrine that said if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist. And that's what the Taliban found out. And I like to remind my fellow Americans, not only am I proud of how our United States military has performed, that our military were not conquerors, they were liberators. We freed women and children from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. I cannot tell you how proud I am of our troops. (Applause.)

And obviously, there is still work to be done in the first theater in the war against terror. This is a -- I told people and I've been saying this for a long time, and I will continue to say so -- Afghanistan is still a dangerous place. There are still people in Afghanistan who either want to disrupt the Karzai interim government, want to make sure -- or try to cause Afghanistan to revert back to being a sanctuary for murderers and terrorists, so they can do one thing, and that is attack us again. And so, as you know, our military, combined with the military of our friends and allies, including the Afghans, are still on the hunt.

And we encountered a large group of al Qaeda-type terrorists. And we're bringing them to justice. There's a fierce battle waging, and it's -- but we're winning that battle. I'm so sad we lose life. My heart breaks when I think about the moms and dads or wives or children of those who have lost their life. But we defend freedom, and we're fighting for freedom, and we must continue to fight for freedom. And so where we find these killers, we'll bring them to justice.

This nation is determined, we're united, we are patient, and we're resolved to defend the values we hold dear to our hearts. And that's the way it's going to be, so long as I'm the President of the United States.

I also want you to know we've got a lot of work to do at home. I was really proud earlier this year to travel the country touting the fact that I signed a significant piece of education legislation. It was a landmark piece of legislation. I don't remember the exact words I said when I spoke to the Hispanic Chamber in California in one of my first speeches, but I can assure you I talked about education. Because it is a passion of mine, and it was a passion of not only mine, but of both Republicans and Democrats.

I got a good bill on my desk because both people, leaders in both parties decided that there's something more important than political party in America, and that's the education of our children. (Applause.)

This is a really good piece of legislation because, first and foremost, it sets high standards and high expectations for every child -- por todos. It refuses to accept a system that quits on children early. As you know, in some neighborhoods in America, it's so much easier just to move the kids through; so much easier to say, you know, a Latino child can't read very well because his or her parents may not speak English, so let's just move them through the system. Those days have got to end if we want the American Dream to extend to all neighborhoods.

And so I signed a bill that says we're going to measure for every child. We want to know if every child can read or write and add and subtract. And if not, we'll correct the problems early, before it's too late. Every child matters in America, and no child will be left behind.

We put significant resources into Title I programs. But for money, we want results. We want to -- because, you see, I believe every child can learn. I don't accept excuses that say certain children can't learn. Every child in America can learn.

Now, we also have passed power out of Washington, D.C. I don't believe all the wisdom in the world exists in Washington. As a matter of fact, I think by empowering teachers and principals and parents and school districts, we're more likely to achieve a common objective, which is high standards for every single child.

I also have unleashed a reading initiative that I truly believe is going to change America for the better. I like to say reading is the new civil right. If you can't read, it's hard to understand other subjects, it's hard to excel, it's hard to be part of this fantastic future we have. And so we've spent a billion dollars on reading.

And I want to assure you the reading programs are going to be aimed toward teaching that which works, not that which sounds good. There is a science to reading. We've got some of the best scientists in the world now analyzing what works for all kids. And so rather than just spending money, we're going to make sure we spend money on what works. And, you mark my words, as we stay focused and energized on this important subject, more and more children will read. And as more and more children will read, more and more children will realize the fantastic future in America. And so I'm proud of this piece of work we've done.

I also want to thank you all for supporting tax relief. We cut taxes at exactly the right time. In order to encourage the economy to grow, it was very wise to give -- let people keep their own money. Some up here don't understand that. They're reading the wrong textbook. You hear talk about making sure the tax relief doesn't continue. It's like raising taxes. You don't do that when times are slow; you encourage the vitality of the private sector by letting people keep their own money.

And not only that; I heard from many of you all about the unfairness of the death tax. And we've now put the death tax on its way to extinction. It's so important for people to be able to build up their own assets and their own businesses and have the capacity to pass that on to whoever they choose, a son or a daughter, without the government getting in between the entrepreneur and the family member.

So we're making good progress. I think the economy is still -- has still got problems. But we put the right fiscal policy in place. I still think we ought to do more. We ought to not only take care of those who have been unemployed because of 9/11, we ought to help them with their unemployment benefits as well as their health benefits. But I like to tell people Americans don't want an unemployment check, they want a permanent paycheck.

And there needs to be a stimulus bill. The House passed a good bill. Part of it was a small business incentive bill, recognizing that the small businesses create more new jobs in America than any other sector of our economy.

I want to continue to push for trade. I believe trade makes sense. Yesterday, I made a tough decision on steel. But I will tell you, in order to be a free trade advocate, in order to be consistent on free trade, we better make sure we enforce the laws on our books. The two go hand in hand, free trade and fair trade.

And so I obviously put a temporary plan in place to allow the steel industry to restructure. But I also want to remind you all I honored the agreement of NAFTA, so that Mexico and Canada are exempt.

And let me talk about Mexico right quick. My attitude toward Mexico is that I want Mexico to succeed. I want our neighbors to be successful. The best kind of neighborhood to live in is one where everybody is successful. And so our public policy ought to recognize Mexico as an incredibly important part of the American future. And, therefore, I look forward to working with el Presidente Fox on how best to make sure our relationship is strong.

One thing we can do is doing what we're doing, which is encourage our economy to grow and to recover. That will help Mexico. But the other thing is to honor NAFTA, which I have done as the President. I did so in the steel decision yesterday; I will continue to do so. Because I believe NAFTA is not only good for Mexico; as importantly, it is good for American workers, as well.

I believe -- and I know we've made great progress. We've got a spirit of amistad. We've got a relationship that is open and strong. I told the Congress that I want to make sure that the Mexican citizen here is well-respected. And we will, we respect people in our country. And one way to do that is to pass 245I, which will allow for families to be reunited. If you believe in family values, if you understand the worth of family and the importance of family, let's get 245I out of the United States Congress and give me a chance to sign it.

I also want to talk about energy. Energy is incredibly vital for our economic vitality. And you've got to understand, as the President, somebody who's concerned about our national security, as well, the fact that we import over 50 percent of our energy from around the world is an indication that we're not as strong from a national security perspective as we could be, or should be.

And so we need to have an energy plan -- one that, on the one hand, encourages conservation, and the modernization of our infrastructure, electricity infrastructure; but we've also got to explore for more energy. And we can do so in an environmentally friendly way, starting in Alaska, where there's a lot of oil and gas.

Those of you in California know full well that we had a little scare out there, about a year -- less than a year ago. And the state has responded by building more power plants to increase the supply of energy. And that's good.

Except what's interesting is those plants are powered by natural gas. And the fundamental question is where is that gas going to come from in the long term? We ought to be exploring for more natural gas, and a good place to start is Alaska.

I want you to know that Mexico imports gas from the United States. In other words -- and it's a hemispheric issue, and we've got to think long-term on behalf of the American citizens. And so I put out a comprehensive energy plan; it passed the House of Representatives. It needs to get out of the Senate, and get to my desk, for the good of the national security of the country, as well as for the good for jobs.

As you may know, I'm headed down to Mexico, for my second visit since I've been the President, to Mexico. There's going to be a conference on development. I look forward to participating in that. I will proudly remind people that we are the most generous nation in the world when it comes to developing nations.

I don't know if you know this -- just for example, I was recently, as you know, in the Far East. And I reminded the people out there that we provide 300,000 tons of food to North Korean citizens. I'm not so sure the President, or the head of North Korea gives us any credit for having provided the food, but we're a compassionate nation, and we should be proud of our record on helping people.

I then go to Peru, and I look forward to working with the Andean nations not only on issues of trade, but on the cultivation of coca leaves for drugs. But I'll also remind them that so long as there's a demand for drugs, somebody's going to supply them, and it's a two-way street -- that, one, we'll help reduce supply, but we in our nation have an obligation to work with our young to reduce the demand. We must tell them clearly that drugs can ruin their life. We must educate the youth about the dangers of drug use. We must reduce demand if we expect our neighborhood to help clean up drugs.

And then I'm going to El Salvador to meet with the Central American nations. We've got the beginnings of a free trade pact with them. President Flores is going to be the host, a remarkable young leader. Like Peru and Mexico, these are strong democracies, they're continuing to reform their process. It's important for me to herald the fact that they are embracing democratic institutions which make their country so much stronger and so much more vibrant. So I'm really looking forward to spending time in the neighborhood.

I believe the best foreign policy begins in making sure your own neighborhood is free and democratic and peaceful. So I'm looking forward to spending time there, as well.

You know, I like to remind people that I truly believe that out of this evil that was done on us on September the 11th will come some great good. I believe that. I believe if we stay the course and are strong and determined, and if the Congress passes the Defense budget I sent up there, which prioritizes national defense to make sure our military gets all the best equipment and best training possible, that we'll have the staying power to make the world more peaceful. And I believe it will be if we're strong, and we will be strong.

I also know that at home that people are taking an assessment of what's important in life. And I believe as a result of that, some positive things will happen. I think the culture can begin to change from one that has said in the past, if it feels good, go ahead and do it, to a culture that says each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life -- the responsibility era, where moms and dads are responsible for loving their children.

The most important job any American will ever have, if you're fortunate to have a child, is to love your child. But it goes beyond that, where neighbors will love neighbors. I tell my fellow citizens that if you're interested in fighting -- joining the war against terror, do some good. I mean, if you really want to stand squarely in the face of evil, help a neighbor in need. Mentor a child. Help a shut-in. You know, support your schools. Give to charity. Help to start a faith-based group that will help change people's hearts.

It's this -- it's the collection of the kindness of America. It's the collection of all the acts of kindness that take place which not only define our nation, but will stand squarely in the face of evil. And it's happening, and I'm so proud of the way the American people have responded. Many in this room have, as well, and I want to thank you for that.

I do believe that America understands there's a new responsibility, that this is a new era. That, on the one hand, we've got to be diligent and alert. And on the other hand, we can make a difference in people's lives. After all, it was Flight 93 that set a new tone for America. People on an airline thought they were going on a business trip or thought they were going home. They heard the Nation's Capital was under attack. They got on their telephones, they told their wives they loved them. They said a prayer, and they sacrificed their life to save somebody else's.

To me, that's one of the most defining events of September 11th and on. It shows me what a great nation we have. It reminds me of the character of the American people. And that's why we're so unique -- not because of our government, but because of our people.

Thank you for coming to Washington, and God bless. (Applause.)

END 2:55 P.M. EST

. Message Regarding Totalization Agreement with Australia-- March 12, 2002

Message to the Congress of the United States

Pursuant to section 233(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 (Public Law 95-216, 42 U.S.C. 433(e)(1)), I transmit herewith the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Australia on Social Security, which consists of two separate instruments: a principal agreement and an administrative arrangement along with a paragraph-by-paragraph explanation of each provision. The Agreement was signed at Canberra on September 27, 2001.

The United States-Australia Agreement is similar in objective to the social security agreements already in force with Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Such bilateral agreements provide for limited coordination between the United States and foreign social security systems to eliminate dual social security coverage and taxation, and to help prevent the lost benefit protection that can occur when workers divide their careers between two countries. The United States-Australia Agreement contains all provisions mandated by section 233 and other provisions that I deem appropriate to carry out the purposes of section 233, pursuant to section 233(c)(4).

I also transmit for the information of the Congress a report prepared by the Social Security Administration explaining the key points of the Agreement. Annexed to this report is the report required by section 233(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, a report on the effect of the Agreement on income and expenditures of the U.S. Social Security program and the number of individuals affected by the Agreement. The Department of State and the Social Security Administration have recommended the Agreement and related documents to me.

I commend the United States-Australia Social Security Agreement and related documents.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 12, 2002.

President Promotes Compassionate Conservatism -- April 30, 2002
Parkside Hall
San Jose, California

10:35 A.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much for that warm welcome. I am so grateful for the Commonwealth Club and the Churchill Club for inviting me here. I appreciate you all coming, and I appreciate your hospitality.

I want to thank Dr. Gloria Duffy for her generous introduction and for her invitation. I want to thank Silvia Fernandez, who's the President of the Churchill Club, for joining the Commonwealth Club to host this event. I want to thank all the elected officials who are here. I want to thank my fellow citizens for coming.

Whenever I visit California, I'm impressed by the beauty of this state and by the spirit of the people. Because of its size, the health of the California economy influences every American. And California has got a culture of optimism and energy that touches all of us, as well. This is a vital and a vibrant place. And I'm glad to be back. (Applause.)

The last time I visited San Jose, Silicon Valley was still in an economic boom, and America was at peace. For many in this valley, and across our country, those times are a world away. After a recession made worse by a national emergency, we have seen some good news. Our economy is beginning to grow. Just last week, we had the good news about strong growth in the first quarter. Yet this vital region reminds us that a lot of work remains to be done.

Business investment and job creation are not what they should be. We cannot be content with one quarter's news. We cannot be complacent. My attitude is that we'll let the statisticians talk about the numbers. But so long as somebody who wants to work can't find work, that's a problem for America. (Applause.)

We have a great task ahead of us. We must turn our short-term recovery into long-lasting expansion that reaches every part of our country. Our economy grows when trade barriers fall. I ask the Senate to join the United States House of Representatives in giving me what's called trade promotion authority. (Applause.)

It's important to be a confident country. And I'm confident in the ability of American entrepreneurs and producers to compete in the world. I'm confident that our farmers and ranchers can compete in the world. And I know American technology companies are the best in the world. And we must open new markets so they can sell to the world. (Applause.)

Our economy grows when the tax burden goes down, and stays down. (Applause.) Much of the growth we have seen this quarter is the result of consumer spending, fueled by well-timed tax deductions. (Laughter.) To encourage growth in job creation, we must protect the lower tax rates we've enacted, and we must make them permanent. (Applause.) And to make sure there is economic vitality around our country, our government must control its appetite for excessive spending. (Applause.)

Our economy grows entrepreneurs are rewarded for their success, not hounded by regulations and needless litigation. (Applause.) We must enact reforms that free entrepreneurs from pointless regulation and endless litigation, and to restore trust in our economy. Corporate leaders must be held to the highest ethical standards. (Applause.) And, as your state knows, our economy grows when we have steady, stable and affordable sources of energy. (Applause.)

In Washington, we must adopt -- finally adopt -- a comprehensive strategy to conserve more, to produce more, and to deliver the energy that keeps our economy running. (Applause.) Both Houses have passed an energy -- passed energy legislation. I expect them to get a bill to my desk soon for the good of American economy and American jobs. (Applause.) By acting in the above way, we confirm that the role of government is not to create wealth; the role of government is to create the conditions for economic growth.

Since I was last here, America has also accepted a great challenge in the world: to wage a relentless and systematic campaign against global terror. (Applause.) The security of the American people is the central commitment of the American government. We are in for a long and difficult war. It will be conducted on many fronts. But as long as it takes, we will prevail. (Applause.)

In the first phase of our military operation, American and coalition forces have liberated -- have liberated -- the people of Afghanistan from a barbaric regime. (Applause.) Our Armed Forces performed with skill and success and honor. A regime has fallen. Terrorists in that country are now scattered, and the children of Afghanistan have returned to school, boys and girls. (Applause.) Our work in that country is not over. We are helping the Afghan people to rebuild their nation. And in every cave, in every dark corner of that country, we will hunt down the killers and bring them to justice. (Applause.)

We have entered the next phase of the war, with a sustained international effort, to rout out terrorists in other countries, and deny al Qaeda the chance to regroup in other places. Across the world, governments have heard this message: You're either with us, or you're with the terrorists. (Applause.)

And for the long-term security of America and civilization itself, we must confront the great threat of biological and chemical and nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists or hostile regimes. We will not allow the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten America or our friends and allies with the world's most destructive weapons. (Applause.)

History has called us to these responsibilities, and we accept them. America has always had a special mission to defend justice and advance freedom around the world. Whatever the difficulties ahead, we are confident about the outcome of this struggle. Tyranny and terror and lawless violence will not decide the world's future. As Ronald Reagan said. and as every generation of Americans has believed, the future belongs to the free. (Applause.)

In a time of war, we reassert the essential values and beliefs of our country. In the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln pointed toward a new birth of freedom. Leading America into global war, Franklin D. Roosevelt defined the four freedoms: freedom of speech and religion, freedom from fear and want. Whenever America fights for the security of our country, we also fight for the values of our country. In our time, we will defend the land we love and we will act on the ideals that gave it birth.

In America, we've not always lived up to our ideals, yet we always reached for them. We believe that everyone deserves a chance, that everyone has value, that no insignificant person was ever born. We believe that all are diminished when any are hopeless. We are one people, committed to building a single nation of justice and opportunity. (Applause.)

America rejects bigotry. (Applause.) We reject every act of hatred against people of Arab background or Muslim faith. (Applause.) We reject the ancient evil of anti-Semitism, whether it is practiced by the killers of Daniel Pearl, or by those who burn synagogues in France. (Applause.)

America values and welcomes peaceful people of all faiths -- Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and many others. Every faith is practiced and protected here, because we are one country. Every immigrant can be fully and equally American because we're one country. Race and color should not divide us, because America is one country. (Applause.)

These American ideals of opportunity and equality come to us across the generations. And they have attracted millions from across the world. Yet there are young Americans growing up here, under this flag, who doubt the promise and justice of our country. They live in neighborhoods occupied by gangs and ruled by fear. They are entitled by law to an education, yet do not receive an education. They hear talk of opportunity and see little evidence of opportunity around them.

Every American must believe in the promise of America. And to reach this noble, necessary goal, there is a role for government. America doesn't need more big government, and we've learned that more money is not always the answer. If a program is failing to serve people, it makes little difference if we spend twice as much or half as much. The measure of true compassion is results.

Yet we cannot have an indifferent government either. We are a generous and caring people. We don't believe in a sink-or-swim society. The policies of our government must heed the universal call of all faiths to love a neighbor as we would want to be loved ourselves. We need a different approach than either big government or indifferent government. We need a government that is focused, effective, and close to the people; a government that does a few things, and does them well. (Applause.)

Government cannot solve every problem, but it can encourage people and communities to help themselves and to help one another. Often the truest kind of compassion is to help citizens build lives of their own. I call my philosophy and approach "compassionate conservatism." It is compassionate to actively help our fellow citizens in need. It is conservative to insist on responsibility and on results. And with this hopeful approach, we can make a real difference in people's lives. (Applause.)

Compassionate conservatism places great hope and confidence in public education. Our economy depends on higher and higher skills, requiring every American to have the basic tools of learning. Every public school should be the path of upward mobility.

Yet, sadly enough, many are the dead-end of dreams. Public schools are some