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diff --git a/5049-h/5049-h.htm b/5049-h/5049-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..26c2a1a --- /dev/null +++ b/5049-h/5049-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6047 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en"> + +<head> + +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> + +<title> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of State of the Union Addresses, by George W. Bush +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +body { color: black; + background: white; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +p {text-indent: 4% } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +p.t4b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 60%; + text-align: center } + +h1 { text-align: center } +h2 { text-align: center } +h3 { text-align: center } +h4 { text-align: center } +h5 { text-align: center } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +p.contents {text-indent: -3%; + margin-left: 5% } + +p.thought {text-indent: 0% ; + letter-spacing: 4em ; + text-align: center } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.intro {font-size: 90% ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.quote {text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of State of the Union Addresses of George W. +Bush, by George W. Bush + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: State of the Union Addresses of George W. Bush + +Author: George W. Bush + +Posting Date: November 23, 2014 [EBook #5049] +Release Date: February, 2004 +First Posted: April 11, 2002 +Last Updated: December 16, 2004 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES *** + + + + +Produced by James Linden. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1> +<br /><br /><br /> +State of the Union Addresses of George W. Bush +</h1> + +<p class="noindent"> +<br /><br /> +The addresses are separated by three asterisks: *** +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Dates of addresses by George W. Bush in this eBook: +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> + <a href="#feb2001">February 27, 2001</a><br /> + <a href="#jan2002">January 29, 2002</a><br /> + <a href="#jan2003">January 29, 2003</a><br /> + <a href="#jan2004">January 20, 2004</a><br /> + <a href="#feb2005">February 2, 2005</a><br /> + <a href="#jan2006">January 31, 2006</a><br /> + <a href="#jan2007">January 23, 2007</a><br /> + <a href="#jan2008">January 28, 2008</a><br /> +</p> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="t3"> +*** +</p> + +<p><a id="feb2001"></a></p> + +<p class="noindent"> +State of the Union Address<br /> +George W. Bush<br /> +February 27, 2001<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress: It is a great +privilege to be here to outline a new budget and a new approach for +governing our great country. +</p> + +<p> +I thank you for your invitation to speak here tonight. I know Congress +had to formally invite me and it could have been a close vote. So, Mr. +Vice President, I appreciate you being here to break the tie. I want to +thank so many of you who have accepted my invitation to come to the +White House to discuss important issues. We are off to a good start. I +will continue to meet with you and ask for your input. You have been +kind and candid, and I thank you for making a new President feel +welcome. +</p> + +<p> +The last time I visited the Capitol, I came to take an oath. On the +steps of this building, I pledged to honor our Constitution and laws, +and I asked you to join me in setting a tone of civility and respect in +Washington. I hope America is noticing the difference. We are making +progress. Together, we are changing the tone in the Nation's capital. +And this spirit of respect and cooperation is vital, because in the end +we will be judged not only by what we say or how we say it, we will be +judged by what we are able to accomplish. +</p> + +<p> +America today is a Nation with great challenges, but greater resources. +An artist using statistics as a brush could paint two very different +pictures of our country. One would have warning signs: increasing +layoffs, rising energy prices, too many failing schools, persistent +poverty, the stubborn vestiges of racism. Another picture would be full +of blessings: a balanced budget, big surpluses, a military that is +second to none, a country at peace with its neighbors, technology that +is revolutionizing the world, and our greatest strength, concerned +citizens who care for our country and care for each other. +</p> + +<p> +Neither picture is complete in and of itself. And tonight I challenge +and invite Congress to work with me to use the resources of one picture +to repaint the other, to direct the advantages of our time to solve the +problems of our people. +</p> + +<p> +Some of these resources will come from government, some but not all. +Year after year in Washington, budget debates seem to come down to an +old, tired argument: on one side those who want more government, +regardless of the cost; on the other, those who want less government, +regardless of the need. +</p> + +<p> +We should leave those arguments to the last century and chart a +different course. Government has a role, and an important role. Yet too +much government crowds out initiative and hard work, private charity +and the private economy. Our new governing vision says government +should be active but limited, engaged but not overbearing. +</p> + +<p> +My budget is based on that philosophy. It is reasonable and it is +responsible. It meets our obligations and funds our growing needs. We +increase spending next year for Social Security and Medicare and other +entitlement programs by $81 billion. We have increased spending for +discretionary programs by a very responsible 4 percent, above the rate +of inflation. My plan pays down an unprecedented amount of our national +debt, and then when money is still left over, my plan returns it to the +people who earned it in the first place. +</p> + +<p> +A budget's impact is counted in dollars, but measured in lives. +Excellent schools, quality health care, a secure retirement, a cleaner +environment, a stronger defense, these are all important needs, and we +fund them. +</p> + +<p> +The highest percentage increase in our budget should go to our +children's education. Education is my top priority. Education is my top +priority, and by supporting this budget, you will make it yours as well. +</p> + +<p> +Reading is the foundation of all learning, so during the next 5 years +we triple spending, adding $5 billion to help every child in America +learn to read. Values are important, so we have tripled funding for +character education to teach our children not only reading and writing, +but right from wrong. +</p> + +<p> +We have increased funding to train and recruit teachers, because we +know a good education starts with a good teacher. +</p> + +<p> +And I have a wonderful partner in this effort. I like teachers so much, +I married one. Laura has begun a new effort to recruit Americans to the +profession that will shape our future: teaching. She will travel across +America to promote sound teaching practices and early reading skills in +our schools and in programs such as Head Start. +</p> + +<p> +When it comes to our schools, dollars alone do not always make the +difference. Funding is important, and so is reform. So we must tie +funding to higher standards and accountability for results. +</p> + +<p> +I believe in local control of schools. We should not and we will not +run public schools from Washington, DC. Yet when the Federal government +spends tax dollars, we must insist on results. Children should be +tested on basic reading and math skills every year, between grades +three and eight. Measuring is the only way to know whether all our +children are learning, and I want to know, because I refuse to leave +any child behind in America. +</p> + +<p> +Critics of testing contend it distracts from learning. They talk about +"teaching to the test." But let us put that logic to the test. If you +test a child on basic math and reading skills and you are "teaching to +the test," you are teaching math and reading, and that is the whole +idea. +</p> + +<p> +As standards rise, local schools will need more flexibility to meet +them, so we must streamline the dozens of Federal education programs +into five, and let States spend money in those categories as they see +fit. Schools will be given a reasonable chance to improve, and the +support to do so. +</p> + +<p> +Yet if they don't, if they continue to fail, we must give parents and +students different options: a better public school, a private school, +tutoring, or a charter school. In the end, every child in a bad +situation must be given a better choice, because when it comes to our +children, failure is simply not an option. +</p> + +<p> +Another priority in my budget is to keep the vital promises of Medicare +and Social Security, and together we will do so. To meet the health +care needs of all America's seniors, we double the Medicare budget over +the next 10 years. +</p> + +<p> +My budget dedicates $238 billion to Medicare next year alone, enough to +fund all current programs and to begin a new prescription drug benefit +for lowincome seniors. No senior in America should have to choose +between buying food and buying prescriptions. +</p> + +<p> +To make sure the retirement savings of America's seniors are not +diverted into any other program, my budget protects all $2.6 trillion +of the Social Security surplus for Social Security and for Social +Security alone. +</p> + +<p> +My budget puts a priority on access to health care, without telling +Americans what doctor they have to see or what coverage they must +choose. Many working Americans do not have health care coverage, so we +will help them buy their own insurance with refundable tax credits. And +to provide quality care in low-income neighborhoods, over the next 5 +years we will double the number of people served at community health +care centers. +</p> + +<p> +And we will address the concerns of those who have health coverage yet +worry their insurance company does not care and won't pay. Together, +this Congress and this President will find common ground to make sure +doctors make medical decisions and patients get the health care they +deserve with a Patients' Bill of Rights. +</p> + +<p> +When it comes to their health, people want to get the medical care they +need, not be forced to go to court because they didn't get it. We will +ensure access to the courts for those with legitimate claims, but +first, let us put in place a strong independent review so we promote +quality health care, not frivolous lawsuits. +</p> + +<p> +My budget also increases funding for medical research, which gives hope +to many who struggle with serious disease. Our prayers tonight are with +one of your own who is engaged in his own fight against cancer, a fine +Representative and a good man, Congressman JOE MOAKLEY. I can think of +no more appropriate tribute to JOE than to have the Congress finish the +job of doubling the budget for the National Institutes of Health. +</p> + +<p> +My New Freedom Initiative for Americans with Disabilities funds new +technologies, expands opportunities to work, and makes our society more +welcoming. For the more than 50 million Americans with disabilities, we +must continue to break down barriers to equality. +</p> + +<p> +The budget I propose to you also supports the people who keep our +country strong and free, the men and women who serve in the United +States military. I am requesting $5.7 billion in increased military pay +and benefits, and health care and housing. Our men and women in uniform +give America their best, and we owe them our support. +</p> + +<p> +America's veterans honored their commitment to our country through +their military service. I will honor our commitment to them with a $1 +billion increase to ensure better access to quality care and faster +decisions on benefit claims. +</p> + +<p> +My budget will improve our environment by accelerating the cleanup of +toxic brownfields. I propose we make a major investment in conservation +by fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund. +</p> + +<p> +Our national parks have a special place in our country's life. Our +parks are places of great natural beauty and history. As good stewards, +we must leave them better than we have found them, so I propose +providing $4.9 billion over 5 years for the upkeep of these national +treasures. +</p> + +<p> +My budget adopts a hopeful new approach to help the poor and the +disadvantaged. We must encourage and support the work of charities and +faithbased and community groups that offer help and love, one person at +a time. These groups are working in every neighborhood in America to +fight homelessness and addiction and domestic violence, to provide a +hot meal or a mentor, or a safe haven for our children. Government +should welcome these groups to apply for funds, not discriminate +against them. +</p> + +<p> +Government cannot be replaced by charities or volunteers. Government +should not fund religious activities, but our Nation should support the +good works of these good people who are helping their neighbors in +need. So I propose allowing all taxpayers, whether they itemize or not, +to deduct their charitable contributions. Estimates show this could +encourage as much as $14 billion a year in new charitable giving, money +that will save and change lives. +</p> + +<p> +Our budget provides more than $700 million over the next 10 years for a +Federal Compassion Capital Fund with a focused and noble mission: to +provide a mentor for the more than 1 million children with a parent in +prison and to support other local efforts to fight illiteracy, teen +pregnancy, drug addiction and other difficult problems. +</p> + +<p> +With us tonight is the Mayor of Philadelphia. Please help me welcome +Mayor John Street. Hi, Mr. Mayor. +</p> + +<p> +Mayor Street has encouraged faithbased and community organizations to +make a significant difference in Philadelphia. He has invited me to his +city this summer to see compassion in action. I am personally aware of +just how effective the mayor is. +</p> + +<p> +Mayor Street is a Democrat. Let the record show I lost his city, big +time. But some things are bigger than politics. So I look forward to +coming to your city to see your faith-based programs in action. +</p> + +<p> +As government promotes compassion, it also must promote justice. Too +many of our citizens have cause to doubt our Nation's justice when the +law points a finger of suspicion at groups, instead of individuals. All +our citizens are created equal and must be treated equally. Earlier +today, I asked John Ashcroft, the Attorney General, to develop specific +recommendations to end racial profiling. +</p> + +<p> +It is wrong, and we will end it. It is wrong. In so doing, we will not +hinder the work of our Nation's brave police officers. They protect us +every day, often at great risk. But by stopping the abuses of a few, we +will add to the public confidence our police officers earn and deserve. +</p> + +<p> +My budget has funded a responsible increase in our ongoing operations. +It has funded our Nation's important priorities. It has protected +Social Security and Medicare. And our surpluses are big enough that +there is still money left over. +</p> + +<p> +Many of you have talked about the need to pay down our national debt. I +listened, and I agree. +</p> + +<p> +We owe it to our children and our grandchildren to act now, and I hope +you will join me to pay down $2 trillion in debt during the next 10 +years. +</p> + +<p> +At the end of those 10 years, we will have paid down all the debt that +is available to retire. That is more debt repaid more quickly than has +ever been repaid by any nation at any time in history. +</p> + +<p> +We should also prepare for the unexpected, for the uncertainties of the +future. We should approach our Nation's budget as any prudent family +would, with a contingency fund for emergencies or additional spending +needs. +</p> + +<p> +For example, after a strategic review, we may need to increase defense +spending. We may need to increase spending for our farmers or +additional money to reform Medicare. So my budget sets aside almost a +trillion dollars over 10 years for additional needs, that is one +trillion additional reasons you can feel comfortable supporting this +budget. +</p> + +<p> +We have increased our budget at a responsible 4 percent. We have funded +our priorities. We have paid down all the available debt. We have +prepared for contingencies, and we still have money left over. Yogi +Berra once said "when you come to a fork in the road, take it." Now we +come to a fork in the road. We have two choices. Even though we have +already met our needs, we could spend the money on more and bigger +government. That is the road our Nation has traveled in recent years. +</p> + +<p> +Last year, government spending shot up 8 percent. That is far more than +our economy grew, far more than personal income grew and far more than +the rate of inflation. If you continue on that road, you will spend the +surplus and have to dip into Social Security to pay other bills. +</p> + +<p> +Unrestrained government spending is a dangerous road to deficits, so we +must take a different path. The other choice is to let the American +people spend their own money to meet their own needs. I hope you will +join me in standing firmly on the side of the people. +</p> + +<p> +You see, the growing surplus exists because taxes are too high and +government is charging more than it needs. The people of America have +been overcharged, and on their behalf, I am here asking for a refund. +</p> + +<p> +Some say my tax plan is too big. Others say it is too small. I +respectfully disagree. This plan is just right. +</p> + +<p> +I did not throw darts at a board to come up with a number for tax +relief. I did not take a poll or develop an arbitrary formula that +might sound good. I looked at problems in the Tax Code and calculated +the costs to fix them. +</p> + +<p> +A tax rate of 15 percent is too high for those who earn low wages, so +we must lower the rate to 10 percent. No one should pay more than a +third of the money they earn in Federal income taxes, so we lowered the +top rate to 33 percent. +</p> + +<p> +This reform will be welcome relief for America's small businesses, +which often pay taxes at the highest rate, and help for small business +means jobs for Americans. +</p> + +<p> +We simplified the Tax Code by reducing the number of tax rates from the +current five rates to four lower ones, 10 percent, 15 percent, 25 +percent and 33 percent. In my plan, no one is targeted in or targeted +out. Everyone who pays income taxes will get relief. +</p> + +<p> +Our government should not tax and thereby discourage marriage, so we +reduced the marriage penalty. I want to help families rear and support +their children, so we doubled the child credit to $1,000 per child. +</p> + +<p> +It is not fair to tax the same earnings twice, once when you earn them +and again when you die, so we must repeal the death tax. +</p> + +<p> +These changes add up to significant help. A typical family with two +children will save $1,600 a year on their Federal income taxes. Now, +1,600 may not sound like a lot to some, but it means a lot to many +families. +</p> + +<p> +Sixteen hundred dollars buys gas for two cars for an entire year. It +pays tuition for a year at a community college. It pays the average +family grocery bill for 3 months. That is real money. +</p> + +<p> +With us tonight, representing many American families, are Steven and +Josefina Ramos. They are from Pennsylvania, but they could be from any +one of your districts. Steven is a network administrator for a school +district. Josefina is a Spanish teacher at a charter school, and they +have a 2-yearold daughter. Steven and Josefina tell me they pay almost +$8,000 a year in Federal income taxes. My plan will save them more than +$2,000. +</p> + +<p> +Let me tell you what Steven says, "$2,000 a year means a lot to my +family. If we had this money, it would help us reach our goal of paying +off our personal debt in 2 years time." After that, Steven and Josefina +want to start saving for Lianna's college education. +</p> + +<p> +My attitude is government should never stand in the way of families +achieving their dreams. And as we debate this issue, always remember, +the surplus is not the government's money, the surplus is the people's +money. +</p> + +<p> +For lower-income families, my tax plan restores basic fairness. Right +now, complicated tax rules punish hard work. A waitress supporting two +children on $25,000 a year can lose nearly half of every additional +dollar she earns above the 25,000. For overtime, her hardest hours, are +taxed at nearly 50 percent. This sends a terrible message: You will +never get ahead. But America's message must be different. We must honor +hard work, never punish it. +</p> + +<p> +With tax relief, overtime will no longer be overtax time for the +waitress. People with the smallest incomes will get the highest +percentage reductions. And millions of additional American families +will be removed from the income tax rolls entirely. +</p> + +<p> +Tax relief is right and tax relief is urgent. The long economic +expansion that began almost 10 years ago is faltering. Lower interest +rates will eventually help, but we cannot assume they will do the job +all by themselves. +</p> + +<p> +Forty years ago and then 20 years ago, two Presidents, one Democrat and +one Republican, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, advocated tax cuts +to, in President Kennedy's words, "get this country moving again." They +knew then, what we must do now, to create economic growth and +opportunity, we must put money back into the hands of the people who +buy goods and create jobs. +</p> + +<p> +We must act quickly. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve has testified +before Congress that tax cuts often come too late to stimulate economic +recovery. So I want to work with you to give our economy an important +jump start by making tax relief retroactive. +</p> + +<p> +We must act now because it is the right thing to do. We must also act +now because we have other things to do. We must show courage to +confront and resolve tough challenges: To restructure our Nation's +defenses, to meet our growing need for energy, and to reform Medicare +and Social Security. +</p> + +<p> +America has a window of opportunity to extend and secure our present +peace by promoting a distinctly American internationalism. We will work +with our allies and friends to be a force for good and a champion of +freedom. We will work for free markets and free trade and freedom from +oppression. Nations making progress toward freedom will find America is +their friend. +</p> + +<p> +We will promote our values, and we will promote peace. And we need a +strong military to keep the peace. But our military was shaped to +confront the challenges of the past. So I have asked the Secretary of +Defense to review America's armed forces and prepare to transform them +to meet emerging threats. My budget makes a down payment on the +research and development that will be required. Yet, in our broader +transformation effort, we must put strategy first, then spending. Our +defense vision will drive our defense budget, not the other way around. +</p> + +<p> +Our Nation also needs a clear strategy to confront the threats of the +21st century, threats that are more widespread and less certain. They +range from terrorists who threaten with bombs to tyrants and rogue +nations intent on developing weapons of mass destruction. To protect +our own people, our allies and friends, we must develop and we must +deploy effective missile defenses. +</p> + +<p> +And as we transform our military, we can discard Cold War relics, and +reduce our own nuclear forces to reflect today's needs. +</p> + +<p> +A strong America is the world's best hope for peace and freedom. Yet +the cause of freedom rests on more than our ability to defend ourselves +and our allies. Freedom is exported every day, as we ship goods and +products that improve the lives of millions of people. Free trade +brings greater political and personal freedom. +</p> + +<p> +Each of the previous five presidents has had the ability to negotiate +farreaching trade agreements. Tonight I ask to give me the strong hand +of presidential trade promotion authority, and to do so quickly. +</p> + +<p> +As we meet tonight, many citizens are struggling with the high costs of +energy. We have a serious energy problem that demands a national energy +policy. The West is confronting a major energy shortage that has +resulted in high prices and uncertainty. I have asked Federal agencies +to work with California officials to help speed construction of new +energy sources. And I have directed Vice President Cheney, Commerce +Secretary Evans, Energy Secretary Abraham, and other senior members of +my administration to develop a national energy policy. +</p> + +<p> +Our energy demand outstrips our supply. We can produce more energy at +home while protecting our environment, and we must. We can produce more +electricity to meet demand, and we must. We can promote alternative +energy sources and conservation, and we must. America must become more +energy independent, and we will. +</p> + +<p> +Perhaps the biggest test of our foresight and courage will be reforming +Medicare and Social Security. +</p> + +<p> +Medicare's finances are strained, and its coverage is outdated. +Ninety-nine percent of employer-provided health plans offer some form +of prescription drug coverage. Medicare does not. The framework for +reform has been developed by Senators FRIST and BREAUX and Congressman +THOMAS; and now is the time to act. Medicare must be modernized. And we +must make sure that every senior on Medicare can choose a health care +plan that offers prescription drugs. +</p> + +<p> +Seven years from now, the baby boom generation will begin to claim +Social Security benefits. Everyone in this Chamber knows that Social +Security is not prepared to fully fund their retirement. And we only +have a couple of years to get prepared. Without reform, this country +will one day awaken to a stark choice: either a drastic rise in payroll +taxes or a radical cut in retirement benefits. There is a better way. +</p> + +<p> +This spring I will form a Presidential commission to reform Social +Security. The commission will make its recommendations by next fall. +Reform should be based on these principles: It must preserve the +benefits of all current retirees and those nearing retirement. It must +return Social Security to sound financial footing, and it must offer +personal savings accounts to younger workers who want them. +</p> + +<p> +Social Security now offers workers a return of less than 2 percent on +the money they pay into the system. To save the system, we must +increase that by allowing younger workers to make safe, sound +investments at a higher rate of return. +</p> + +<p> +Ownership, access to wealth, and independence should not be the +privilege of a few. They are the hope of every American, and we must +make them the foundation of Social Security. +</p> + +<p> +By confronting the tough challenge of reform, by being responsible with +our budget, we can earn the trust of the American people. And we can +add to that trust by enacting fair and balanced election and campaign +reforms. +</p> + +<p> +The agenda I have set before you tonight is worthy of a great Nation. +</p> + +<p> +America is a Nation at peace, but not a Nation at rest. Much has been +given to us, and much is expected. +</p> + +<p> +Let us agree to bridge old divides. But let us also agree that our +goodwill must be dedicated to great goals. Bipartisanship is more than +minding our manners, it is doing our duty. +</p> + +<p> +No one can speak in this Capitol and not be awed by its history. At so +many turning points, debates in these chambers have reflected the +collected or divided conscience of our country. And when we walk +through Statuary Hall and see those men and women of marble, we are +reminded of their courage and achievement. +</p> + +<p> +Yet America's purpose is never found only in statues or history. +America's purpose always stands before us. +</p> + +<p> +Our generation must show courage in a time of blessing as our Nation +has always shown in times of crisis. And our courage, issue by issue, +can gather to greatness and serve our country. This is the privilege +and responsibility we share. And if we work together, we can prove that +public service is noble. +</p> + +<p> +We all came here for a reason. We all have things we want to accomplish +and promises to keep. Juntos podemos, together we can. We can make +Americans proud of their government. Together we can share in the +credit of making our country more prosperous and generous and just, and +earn from our conscience and from our fellow citizens, the highest +possible praise: well done, good and faithful servants. +</p> + +<p> +Thank you all. Good night. And God bless. +</p> + +<p> +(Applause, the Members rising.) +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="t3"> +*** +</p> + +<p><a id="jan2002"></a></p> + +<p class="noindent"> +State of the Union Address<br /> +George W. Bush<br /> +January 29, 2002<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of +Congress, distinguished guests, fellow citizens: As we gather tonight, +our nation is at war, our economy is in recession, and the civilized +world faces unprecedented dangers. Yet the state of our Union has never +been stronger. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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 men +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an +unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.) +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Thank you all. May God bless. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="t3"> +*** +</p> + +<p><a id="jan2003"></a></p> + +<p class="noindent"> +State of the Union Address<br /> +George W. Bush<br /> +January 29, 2003<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished +citizens and fellow citizens: Every year, by law and by custom, we meet +here to consider the state of the union. This year, we gather in this +chamber deeply aware of decisive days that lie ahead. +</p> + +<p> +You and I serve our country in a time of great consequence. During this +session of Congress, we have the duty to reform domestic programs vital +to our country; we have the opportunity to save millions of lives +abroad from a terrible disease. We will work for a prosperity that is +broadly shared, and we will answer every danger and every enemy that +threatens the American people. +</p> + +<p> +In all these days of promise and days of reckoning, we can be +confident. In a whirlwind of change and hope and peril, our faith is +sure, our resolve is firm, and our union is strong. +</p> + +<p> +This country has many challenges. We will not deny, we will not ignore, +we will not pass along our problems to other Congresses, to other +presidents, and other generations. We will confront them with focus and +clarity and courage. +</p> + +<p> +During the last two years, we have seen what can be accomplished when +we work together. To lift the standards of our public schools, we +achieved historic education reform -- which must now be carried out in +every school and in every classroom, so that every child in America can +read and learn and succeed in life. To protect our country, we +reorganized our government and created the Department of Homeland +Security, which is mobilizing against the threats of a new era. To +bring our economy out of recession, we delivered the largest tax relief +in a generation. To insist on integrity in American business we passed +tough reforms, and we are holding corporate criminals to account. +</p> + +<p> +Some might call this a good record; I call it a good start. Tonight I +ask the House and Senate to join me in the next bold steps to serve our +fellow citizens. +</p> + +<p> +Our first goal is clear: We must have an economy that grows fast enough +to employ every man and woman who seeks a job. After recession, +terrorist attacks, corporate scandals and stock market declines, our +economy is recovering -- yet it's not growing fast enough, or strongly +enough. With unemployment rising, our nation needs more small +businesses to open, more companies to invest and expand, more employers +to put up the sign that says, "Help Wanted." +</p> + +<p> +Jobs are created when the economy grows; the economy grows when +Americans have more money to spend and invest; and the best and fairest +way to make sure Americans have that money is not to tax it away in the +first place. +</p> + +<p> +I am proposing that all the income tax reductions set for 2004 and 2006 +be made permanent and effective this year. And under my plan, as soon +as I sign the bill, this extra money will start showing up in workers' +paychecks. Instead of gradually reducing the marriage penalty, we +should do it now. Instead of slowly raising the child credit to $1,000, +we should send the checks to American families now. +</p> + +<p> +The tax relief is for everyone who pays income taxes -- and it will +help our economy immediately: 92 million Americans will keep, this +year, an average of almost $1,000 more of their own money. A family of +four with an income of $40,000 would see their federal income taxes +fall from $1,178 to $45 per year. Our plan will improve the bottom line +for more than 23 million small businesses. +</p> + +<p> +You, the Congress, have already passed all these reductions, and +promised them for future years. If this tax relief is good for +Americans three, or five, or seven years from now, it is even better +for Americans today. +</p> + +<p> +We should also strengthen the economy by treating investors equally in +our tax laws. It's fair to tax a company's profits. It is not fair to +again tax the shareholder on the same profits. To boost investor +confidence, and to help the nearly 10 million senior who receive +dividend income, I ask you to end the unfair double taxation of +dividends. +</p> + +<p> +Lower taxes and greater investment will help this economy expand. More +jobs mean more taxpayers, and higher revenues to our government. The +best way to address the deficit and move toward a balanced budget is to +encourage economic growth, and to show some spending discipline in +Washington, D.C. +</p> + +<p> +We must work together to fund only our most important priorities. I +will send you a budget that increases discretionary spending by 4 +percent next year -- about as much as the average family's income is +expected to grow. And that is a good benchmark for us. Federal spending +should not rise any faster than the paychecks of American families. +</p> + +<p> +A growing economy and a focus on essential priorities will also be +crucial to the future of Social Security. As we continue to work +together to keep Social Security sound and reliable, we must offer +younger workers a chance to invest in retirement accounts that they +will control and they will own. +</p> + +<p> +Our second goal is high quality, affordable health care for all +Americans. The American system of medicine is a model of skill and +innovation, with a pace of discovery that is adding good years to our +lives. Yet for many people, medical care costs too much -- and many +have no coverage at all. These problems will not be solved with a +nationalized health care system that dictates coverage and rations care. +</p> + +<p> +Instead, we must work toward a system in which all Americans have a +good insurance policy, choose their own doctors, and seniors and +low-income Americans receive the help they need. Instead of bureaucrats +and trial lawyers and HMOs, we must put doctors and nurses and patients +back in charge of American medicine. +</p> + +<p> +Health care reform must begin with Medicare; Medicare is the binding +commitment of a caring society. We must renew that commitment by giving +seniors access to preventive medicine and new drugs that are +transforming health care in America. +</p> + +<p> +Seniors happy with the current Medicare system should be able to keep +their coverage just the way it is. And just like you -- the members of +Congress, and your staffs, and other federal employees -- all seniors +should have the choice of a health care plan that provides prescription +drugs. +</p> + +<p> +My budget will commit an additional $400 billion over the next decade +to reform and strengthen Medicare. Leaders of both political parties +have talked for years about strengthening Medicare. I urge the members +of this new Congress to act this year. +</p> + +<p> +To improve our health care system, we must address one of the prime +causes of higher cost, the constant threat that physicians and +hospitals will be unfairly sued. Because of excessive litigation, +everybody pays more for health care, and many parts of America are +losing fine doctors. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous +lawsuit. I urge the Congress to pass medical liability reform. +</p> + +<p> +Our third goal is to promote energy independence for our country, while +dramatically improving the environment. I have sent you a comprehensive +energy plan to promote energy efficiency and conservation, to develop +cleaner technology, and to produce more energy at home. I have sent you +Clear Skies legislation that mandates a 70-percent cut in air pollution +from power plants over the next 15 years. I have sent you a Healthy +Forests Initiative, to help prevent the catastrophic fires that +devastate communities, kill wildlife, and burn away millions of acres +of treasured forest. +</p> + +<p> +I urge you to pass these measures, for the good of both our environment +and our economy. Even more, I ask you to take a crucial step and +protect our environment in ways that generations before us could not +have imagined. +</p> + +<p> +In this century, the greatest environmental progress will come about +not through endless lawsuits or command-and-control regulations, but +through technology and innovation. Tonight I'm proposing $1.2 billion +in research funding so that America can lead the world in developing +clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles. +</p> + +<p> +A single chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen generates +energy, which can be used to power a car -- producing only water, not +exhaust fumes. With a new national commitment, our scientists and +engineers will overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory +to showroom, so that the first car driven by a child born today could +be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free. +</p> + +<p> +Join me in this important innovation to make our air significantly +cleaner, and our country much less dependent on foreign sources of +energy. +</p> + +<p> +Our fourth goal is to apply the compassion of America to the deepest +problems of America. For so many in our country -- the homeless and the +fatherless, the addicted -- the need is great. Yet there's power, +wonder-working power, in the goodness and idealism and faith of the +American people. +</p> + +<p> +Americans are doing the work of compassion every day -- visiting +prisoners, providing shelter for battered women, bringing companionship +to lonely seniors. These good works deserve our praise; they deserve +our personal support; and when appropriate, they deserve the assistance +of the federal government. +</p> + +<p> +I urge you to pass both my faith-based initiative and the Citizen +Service Act, to encourage acts of compassion that can transform +America, one heart and one soul at a time. +</p> + +<p> +Last year, I called on my fellow citizens to participate in the USA +Freedom Corps, which is enlisting tens of thousands of new volunteers +across America. Tonight I ask Congress and the American people to focus +the spirit of service and the resources of government on the needs of +some of our most vulnerable citizens -- boys and girls trying to grow +up without guidance and attention, and children who have to go through +a prison gate to be hugged by their mom or dad. +</p> + +<p> +I propose a $450-million initiative to bring mentors to more than a +million disadvantaged junior high students and children of prisoners. +Government will support the training and recruiting of mentors; yet it +is the men and women of America who will fill the need. One mentor, one +person can change a life forever. And I urge you to be that one person. +</p> + +<p> +Another cause of hopelessness is addiction to drugs. Addiction crowds +out friendship, ambition, moral conviction, and reduces all the +richness of life to a single destructive desire. As a government, we +are fighting illegal drugs by cutting off supplies and reducing demand +through anti-drug education programs. Yet for those already addicted, +the fight against drugs is a fight for their own lives. Too many +Americans in search of treatment cannot get it. So tonight I propose a +new $600-million program to help an additional 300,000 Americans +receive treatment over the next three years. +</p> + +<p> +Our nation is blessed with recovery programs that do amazing work. One +of them is found at the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. +A man in the program said, "God does miracles in people's lives, and +you never think it could be you." Tonight, let us bring to all +Americans who struggle with drug addiction this message of hope: The +miracle of recovery is possible, and it could be you. +</p> + +<p> +By caring for children who need mentors, and for addicted men and women +who need treatment, we are building a more welcoming society -- a +culture that values every life. And in this work we must not overlook +the weakest among us. I ask you to protect infants at the very hour of +their birth and end the practice of partial-birth abortion. And because +no human life should be started or ended as the object of an +experiment, I ask you to set a high standard for humanity, and pass a +law against all human cloning. +</p> + +<p> +The qualities of courage and compassion that we strive for in America +also determine our conduct abroad. The American flag stands for more +than our power and our interests. Our founders dedicated this country +to the cause of human dignity, the rights of every person, and the +possibilities of every life. This conviction leads us into the world to +help the afflicted, and defend the peace, and confound the designs of +evil men. +</p> + +<p> +In Afghanistan, we helped liberate an oppressed people. And we will +continue helping them secure their country, rebuild their society, and +educate all their children -- boys and girls. In the Middle East, we +will continue to seek peace between a secure Israel and a democratic +Palestine. Across the Earth, America is feeding the hungry -- more than +60 percent of international food aid comes as a gift from the people of +the United States. As our nation moves troops and builds alliances to +make our world safer, we must also remember our calling as a blessed +country is to make this world better. +</p> + +<p> +Today, on the continent of Africa, nearly 30 million people have the +AIDS virus -- including 3 million children under the age 15. There are +whole countries in Africa where more than one-third of the adult +population carries the infection. More than 4 million require immediate +drug treatment. Yet across that continent, only 50,000 AIDS victims -- +only 50,000 -- are receiving the medicine they need. +</p> + +<p> +Because the AIDS diagnosis is considered a death sentence, many do not +seek treatment. Almost all who do are turned away. A doctor in rural +South Africa describes his frustration. He says, "We have no medicines. +Many hospitals tell people, you've got AIDS, we can't help you. Go home +and die." In an age of miraculous medicines, no person should have to +hear those words. +</p> + +<p> +AIDS can be prevented. Anti-retroviral drugs can extend life for many +years. And the cost of those drugs has dropped from $12,000 a year to +under $300 a year -- which places a tremendous possibility within our +grasp. Ladies and gentlemen, seldom has history offered a greater +opportunity to do so much for so many. +</p> + +<p> +We have confronted, and will continue to confront, HIV/AIDS in our own +country. And to meet a severe and urgent crisis abroad, tonight I +propose the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- a work of mercy beyond +all current international efforts to help the people of Africa. This +comprehensive plan will prevent 7 million new AIDS infections, treat at +least 2 million people with life-extending drugs, and provide humane +care for millions of people suffering from AIDS, and for children +orphaned by AIDS. +</p> + +<p> +I ask the Congress to commit $15 billion over the next five years, +including nearly $10 billion in new money, to turn the tide against +AIDS in the most afflicted nations of Africa and the Caribbean. +</p> + +<p> +This nation can lead the world in sparing innocent people from a plague +of nature. And this nation is leading the world in confronting and +defeating the man-made evil of international terrorism. +</p> + +<p> +There are days when our fellow citizens do not hear news about the war +on terror. There's never a day when I do not learn of another threat, +or receive reports of operations in progress, or give an order in this +global war against a scattered network of killers. The war goes on, and +we are winning. +</p> + +<p> +To date, we've arrested or otherwise dealt with many key commanders of +al Qaeda. They include a man who directed logistics and funding for the +September the 11th attacks; the chief of al Qaeda operations in the +Persian Gulf, who planned the bombings of our embassies in East Africa +and the USS Cole; an al Qaeda operations chief from Southeast Asia; a +former director of al Qaeda's training camps in Afghanistan; a key al +Qaeda operative in Europe; a major al Qaeda leader in Yemen. All told, +more than 3,000 suspected terrorists have been arrested in many +countries. Many others have met a different fate. Let's put it this way +-- they are no longer a problem to the United States and our friends +and allies. +</p> + +<p> +We are working closely with other nations to prevent further attacks. +America and coalition countries have uncovered and stopped terrorist +conspiracies targeting the American embassy in Yemen, the American +embassy in Singapore, a Saudi military base, ships in the Straits of +Hormuz and the Straits the Gibraltar. We've broken al Qaeda cells in +Hamburg, Milan, Madrid, London, Paris, as well as, Buffalo, New York. +</p> + +<p> +We have the terrorists on the run. We're keeping them on the run. One +by one, the terrorists are learning the meaning of American justice. +</p> + +<p> +As we fight this war, we will remember where it began -- here, in our +own country. This government is taking unprecedented measures to +protect our people and defend our homeland. We've intensified security +at the borders and ports of entry, posted more than 50,000 +newly-trained federal screeners in airports, begun inoculating troops +and first responders against smallpox, and are deploying the nation's +first early warning network of sensors to detect biological attack. And +this year, for the first time, we are beginning to field a defense to +protect this nation against ballistic missiles. +</p> + +<p> +I thank the Congress for supporting these measures. I ask you tonight +to add to our future security with a major research and production +effort to guard our people against bioterrorism, called Project +Bioshield. The budget I send you will propose almost $6 billion to +quickly make available effective vaccines and treatments against agents +like anthrax, botulinum toxin, Ebola, and plague. We must assume that +our enemies would use these diseases as weapons, and we must act before +the dangers are upon us. +</p> + +<p> +Since September the 11th, our intelligence and law enforcement agencies +have worked more closely than ever to track and disrupt the terrorists. +The FBI is improving its ability to analyze intelligence, and is +transforming itself to meet new threats. Tonight, I am instructing the +leaders of the FBI, the CIA, the Homeland Security, and the Department +of Defense to develop a Terrorist Threat Integration Center, to merge +and analyze all threat information in a single location. Our government +must have the very best information possible, and we will use it to +make sure the right people are in the right places to protect all our +citizens. +</p> + +<p> +Our war against terror is a contest of will in which perseverance is +power. In the ruins of two towers, at the western wall of the Pentagon, +on a field in Pennsylvania, this nation made a pledge, and we renew +that pledge tonight: Whatever the duration of this struggle, and +whatever the difficulties, we will not permit the triumph of violence +in the affairs of men -- free people will set the course of history. +</p> + +<p> +Today, the gravest danger in the war on terror, the gravest danger +facing America and the world, is outlaw regimes that seek and possess +nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. These regimes could use such +weapons for blackmail, terror, and mass murder. They could also give or +sell those weapons to terrorist allies, who would use them without the +least hesitation. +</p> + +<p> +This threat is new; America's duty is familiar. Throughout the 20th +century, small groups of men seized control of great nations, built +armies and arsenals, and set out to dominate the weak and intimidate +the world. In each case, their ambitions of cruelty and murder had no +limit. In each case, the ambitions of Hitlerism, militarism, and +communism were defeated by the will of free peoples, by the strength of +great alliances, and by the might of the United States of America. +</p> + +<p> +Now, in this century, the ideology of power and domination has appeared +again, and seeks to gain the ultimate weapons of terror. Once again, +this nation and all our friends are all that stand between a world at +peace, and a world of chaos and constant alarm. Once again, we are +called to defend the safety of our people, and the hopes of all +mankind. And we accept this responsibility. +</p> + +<p> +America is making a broad and determined effort to confront these +dangers. We have called on the United Nations to fulfill its charter +and stand by its demand that Iraq disarm. We're strongly supporting the +International Atomic Energy Agency in its mission to track and control +nuclear materials around the world. We're working with other +governments to secure nuclear materials in the former Soviet Union, and +to strengthen global treaties banning the production and shipment of +missile technologies and weapons of mass destruction. +</p> + +<p> +In all these efforts, however, America's purpose is more than to follow +a process -- it is to achieve a result: the end of terrible threats to +the civilized world. All free nations have a stake in preventing sudden +and catastrophic attacks. And we're asking them to join us, and many +are doing so. Yet the course of this nation does not depend on the +decisions of others. Whatever action is required, whenever action is +necessary, I will defend the freedom and security of the American +people. +</p> + +<p> +Different threats require different strategies. In Iran, we continue to +see a government that represses its people, pursues weapons of mass +destruction, and supports terror. We also see Iranian citizens risking +intimidation and death as they speak out for liberty and human rights +and democracy. Iranians, like all people, have a right to choose their +own government and determine their own destiny -- and the United States +supports their aspirations to live in freedom. +</p> + +<p> +On the Korean Peninsula, an oppressive regime rules a people living in +fear and starvation. Throughout the 1990s, the United States relied on +a negotiated framework to keep North Korea from gaining nuclear +weapons. We now know that that regime was deceiving the world, and +developing those weapons all along. And today the North Korean regime +is using its nuclear program to incite fear and seek concessions. +America and the world will not be blackmailed. +</p> + +<p> +America is working with the countries of the region -- South Korea, +Japan, China, and Russia -- to find a peaceful solution, and to show +the North Korean government that nuclear weapons will bring only +isolation, economic stagnation, and continued hardship. The North +Korean regime will find respect in the world and revival for its people +only when it turns away from its nuclear ambitions. +</p> + +<p> +Our nation and the world must learn the lessons of the Korean Peninsula +and not allow an even greater threat to rise up in Iraq. A brutal +dictator, with a history of reckless aggression, with ties to +terrorism, with great potential wealth, will not be permitted to +dominate a vital region and threaten the United States. +</p> + +<p> +Twelve years ago, Saddam Hussein faced the prospect of being the last +casualty in a war he had started and lost. To spare himself, he agreed +to disarm of all weapons of mass destruction. For the next 12 years, he +systematically violated that agreement. He pursued chemical, +biological, and nuclear weapons, even while inspectors were in his +country. Nothing to date has restrained him from his pursuit of these +weapons -- not economic sanctions, not isolation from the civilized +world, not even cruise missile strikes on his military facilities. +</p> + +<p> +Almost three months ago, the United Nations Security Council gave +Saddam Hussein his final chance to disarm. He has shown instead utter +contempt for the United Nations, and for the opinion of the world. The +108 U.N. inspectors were sent to conduct -- were not sent to conduct a +scavenger hunt for hidden materials across a country the size of +California. The job of the inspectors is to verify that Iraq's regime +is disarming. It is up to Iraq to show exactly where it is hiding its +banned weapons, lay those weapons out for the world to see, and destroy +them as directed. Nothing like this has happened. +</p> + +<p> +The United Nations concluded in 1999 that Saddam Hussein had biological +weapons sufficient to produce over 25,000 liters of anthrax -- enough +doses to kill several million people. He hasn't accounted for that +material. He's given no evidence that he has destroyed it. +</p> + +<p> +The United Nations concluded that Saddam Hussein had materials +sufficient to produce more than 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin -- +enough to subject millions of people to death by respiratory failure. +He hadn't accounted for that material. He's given no evidence that he +has destroyed it. +</p> + +<p> +Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the +materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve +agent. In such quantities, these chemical agents could also kill untold +thousands. He's not accounted for these materials. He has given no +evidence that he has destroyed them. +</p> + +<p> +U.S. intelligence indicates that Saddam Hussein had upwards of 30,000 +munitions capable of delivering chemical agents. Inspectors recently +turned up 16 of them -- despite Iraq's recent declaration denying their +existence. Saddam Hussein has not accounted for the remaining 29,984 of +these prohibited munitions. He's given no evidence that he has +destroyed them. +</p> + +<p> +From three Iraqi defectors we know that Iraq, in the late 1990s, had +several mobile biological weapons labs. These are designed to produce +germ warfare agents, and can be moved from place to a place to evade +inspectors. Saddam Hussein has not disclosed these facilities. He's +given no evidence that he has destroyed them. +</p> + +<p> +The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in the 1990s that +Saddam Hussein had an advanced nuclear weapons development program, had +a design for a nuclear weapon and was working on five different methods +of enriching uranium for a bomb. The British government has learned +that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium +from Africa. Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to +purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons +production. Saddam Hussein has not credibly explained these activities. +He clearly has much to hide. +</p> + +<p> +The dictator of Iraq is not disarming. To the contrary; he is +deceiving. From intelligence sources we know, for instance, that +thousands of Iraqi security personnel are at work hiding documents and +materials from the U.N. inspectors, sanitizing inspection sites and +monitoring the inspectors themselves. Iraqi officials accompany the +inspectors in order to intimidate witnesses. +</p> + +<p> +Iraq is blocking U-2 surveillance flights requested by the United +Nations. Iraqi intelligence officers are posing as the scientists +inspectors are supposed to interview. Real scientists have been coached +by Iraqi officials on what to say. Intelligence sources indicate that +Saddam Hussein has ordered that scientists who cooperate with U.N. +inspectors in disarming Iraq will be killed, along with their families. +</p> + +<p> +Year after year, Saddam Hussein has gone to elaborate lengths, spent +enormous sums, taken great risks to build and keep weapons of mass +destruction. But why? The only possible explanation, the only possible +use he could have for those weapons, is to dominate, intimidate, or +attack. +</p> + +<p> +With nuclear arms or a full arsenal of chemical and biological weapons, +Saddam Hussein could resume his ambitions of conquest in the Middle +East and create deadly havoc in that region. And this Congress and the +America people must recognize another threat. Evidence from +intelligence sources, secret communications, and statements by people +now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, +including members of al Qaeda. Secretly, and without fingerprints, he +could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists, or help them +develop their own. +</p> + +<p> +Before September the 11th, many in the world believed that Saddam +Hussein could be contained. But chemical agents, lethal viruses and +shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Imagine those 19 +hijackers with other weapons and other plans -- this time armed by +Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped +into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever +known. We will do everything in our power to make sure that that day +never comes. +</p> + +<p> +Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent. Since when +have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely +putting us on notice before they strike? If this threat is permitted to +fully and suddenly emerge, all actions, all words, and all +recriminations would come too late. Trusting in the sanity and +restraint of Saddam Hussein is not a strategy, and it is not an option. +</p> + +<p> +The dictator who is assembling the world's most dangerous weapons has +already used them on whole villages -- leaving thousands of his own +citizens dead, blind, or disfigured. Iraqi refugees tell us how forced +confessions are obtained -- by torturing children while their parents +are made to watch. International human rights groups have catalogued +other methods used in the torture chambers of Iraq: electric shock, +burning with hot irons, dripping acid on the skin, mutilation with +electric drills, cutting out tongues, and rape. If this is not evil, +then evil has no meaning. +</p> + +<p> +And tonight I have a message for the brave and oppressed people of +Iraq: Your enemy is not surrounding your country -- your enemy is +ruling your country. And the day he and his regime are removed from +power will be the day of your liberation. +</p> + +<p> +The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. America will not +accept a serious and mounting threat to our country, and our friends +and our allies. The United States will ask the U.N. Security Council to +convene on February the 5th to consider the facts of Iraq's ongoing +defiance of the world. Secretary of State Powell will present +information and intelligence about Iraqi's legal -- Iraq's illegal +weapons programs, its attempt to hide those weapons from inspectors, +and its links to terrorist groups. +</p> + +<p> +We will consult. But let there be no misunderstanding: If Saddam +Hussein does not fully disarm, for the safety of our people and for the +peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him. +</p> + +<p> +Tonight I have a message for the men and women who will keep the peace, +members of the American Armed Forces: Many of you are assembling in or +near the Middle East, and some crucial hours may lay ahead. In those +hours, the success of our cause will depend on you. Your training has +prepared you. Your honor will guide you. You believe in America, and +America believes in you. +</p> + +<p> +Sending Americans into battle is the most profound decision a President +can make. The technologies of war have changed; the risks and suffering +of war have not. For the brave Americans who bear the risk, no victory +is free from sorrow. This nation fights reluctantly, because we know +the cost and we dread the days of mourning that always come. +</p> + +<p> +We seek peace. We strive for peace. And sometimes peace must be +defended. A future lived at the mercy of terrible threats is no peace +at all. If war is forced upon us, we will fight in a just cause and by +just means -- sparing, in every way we can, the innocent. And if war is +forced upon us, we will fight with the full force and might of the +United States military -- and we will prevail. +</p> + +<p> +And as we and our coalition partners are doing in Afghanistan, we will +bring to the Iraqi people food and medicines and supplies -- and +freedom. +</p> + +<p> +Many challenges, abroad and at home, have arrived in a single season. +In two years, America has gone from a sense of invulnerability to an +awareness of peril; from bitter division in small matters to calm unity +in great causes. And we go forward with confidence, because this call +of history has come to the right country. +</p> + +<p> +Americans are a resolute people who have risen to every test of our +time. Adversity has revealed the character of our country, to the world +and to ourselves. America is a strong nation, and honorable in the use +of our strength. We exercise power without conquest, and we sacrifice +for the liberty of strangers. +</p> + +<p> +Americans are a free people, who know that freedom is the right of +every person and the future of every nation. The liberty we prize is +not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to humanity. +</p> + +<p> +We Americans have faith in ourselves, but not in ourselves alone. We do +not know -- we do not claim to know all the ways of Providence, yet we +can trust in them, placing our confidence in the loving God behind all +of life, and all of history. +</p> + +<p> +May He guide us now. And may God continue to bless the United States of +America. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="t3"> +*** +</p> + +<p><a id="jan2004"></a></p> + +<p class="noindent"> +State of the Union Address<br /> +George W. Bush<br /> +January 20, 2004<br /> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress, distinguished +guests, and fellow citizens: +</p> + +<p> +America this evening is a Nation called to great responsibilities. And +we are rising to meet them. +</p> + +<p> +As we gather tonight, hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and +women are deployed across the world in the war on terror. By bringing +hope to the oppressed, and delivering justice to the violent, they are +making America more secure. +</p> + +<p> +Each day, law enforcement personnel and intelligence officers are +tracking terrorist threats; analysts are examining airline passenger +lists; the men and women of our new Homeland Security Department are +patrolling our coasts and borders. And their vigilance is protecting +America. +</p> + +<p> +Americans are proving once again to be the hardest working people in +the world. The American economy is growing stronger. The tax relief you +passed is working. +</p> + +<p> +Tonight, Members of Congress can take pride in great works of +compassion and reform that skeptics had thought impossible. You are +raising the standards of our public schools; and you are giving our +senior citizens prescription drug coverage under Medicare. +</p> + +<p> +We have faced serious challenges together - and now we face a choice. +We can go forward with confidence and resolve - or we can turn back to +the dangerous illusion that terrorists are not plotting and outlaw +regimes are no threat to us. We can press on with economic growth, and +reforms in education and Medicare - or we can turn back to the old +policies and old divisions. +</p> + +<p> +We have not come all this way - through tragedy, and trial, and war - +only to falter and leave our work unfinished. Americans are rising to +the tasks of history, and they expect the same of us. In their efforts, +their enterprise, and their character, the American people are showing +that the state of our Union is confident and strong. +</p> + +<p> +Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American +people. Twenty-eight months have passed since September 11th, 2001 - +over two years without an attack on American soil - and it is tempting +to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, +comforting - and false. The killing has continued in Bali, Jakarta, +Casablanca, Riyadh, Mombassa, Jerusalem, Istanbul, and Baghdad. The +terrorists continue to plot against America and the civilized world. +And by our will and courage, this danger will be defeated. +</p> + +<p> +Inside the United States, where the war began, we must continue to give +homeland security and law enforcement personnel every tool they need to +defend us. And one of those essential tools is the PATRIOT Act, which +allows Federal law enforcement to better share information, to track +terrorists, to disrupt their cells, and to seize their assets. For +years, we have used similar provisions to catch embezzlers and drug +traffickers. If these methods are good for hunting criminals, they are +even more important for hunting terrorists. Key provisions of the +PATRIOT Act are set to expire next year. The terrorist threat will not +expire on that schedule. Our law enforcement needs this vital +legislation to protect our citizens - you need to renew the PATRIOT Act. +</p> + +<p> +America is on the offensive against the terrorists who started this +war. Last March, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, a mastermind of September +11th, awoke to find himself in the custody of U.S. and Pakistani +authorities. Last August 11th brought the capture of the terrorist +Hambali, who was a key player in the attack in Indonesia that killed +over 200 people. We are tracking al-Qaida around the world - and nearly +two-thirds of their known leaders have now been captured or killed. +Thousands of very skilled and determined military personnel are on a +manhunt, going after the remaining killers who hide in cities and caves +- and, one by one, we will bring the terrorists to justice. +</p> + +<p> +As part of the offensive against terror, we are also confronting the +regimes that harbor and support terrorists, and could supply them with +nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. The United States and our +allies are determined: We refuse to live in the shadow of this ultimate +danger. +</p> + +<p> +The first to see our determination were the Taliban, who made +Afghanistan the primary training base of al-Qaida killers. As of this +month, that country has a new constitution, guaranteeing free elections +and full participation by women. Businesses are opening, health care +centers are being established, and the boys and girls of Afghanistan +are back in school. With help from the new Afghan Army, our coalition +is leading aggressive raids against surviving members of the Taliban +and al-Qaida. The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation +that is free, and proud, and fighting terror - and America is honored +to be their friend. +</p> + +<p> +Since we last met in this chamber, combat forces of the United States, +Great Britain, Australia, Poland, and other countries enforced the +demands of the United Nations, ended the rule of Saddam Hussein - and +the people of Iraq are free. Having broken the Baathist regime, we face +a remnant of violent Saddam supporters. Men who ran away from our +troops in battle are now dispersed and attack from the shadows. +</p> + +<p> +These killers, joined by foreign terrorists, are a serious, continuing +danger. Yet we are making progress against them. The once all-powerful +ruler of Iraq was found in a hole, and now sits in a prison cell. Of +the top 55 officials of the former regime, we have captured or killed +45. Our forces are on the offensive, leading over 1,600 patrols a day, +and conducting an average of 180 raids every week. We are dealing with +these thugs in Iraq, just as surely as we dealt with Saddam Hussein's +evil regime. +</p> + +<p> +The work of building a new Iraq is hard, and it is right. And America +has always been willing to do what it takes for what is right. Last +January, Iraq's only law was the whim of one brutal man. Today our +coalition is working with the Iraqi Governing Council to draft a basic +law, with a bill of rights. We are working with Iraqis and the United +Nations to prepare for a transition to full Iraqi sovereignty by the +end of June. As democracy takes hold in Iraq, the enemies of freedom +will do all in their power to spread violence and fear. They are trying +to shake the will of our country and our friends - but the United +States of America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins. The +killers will fail, and the Iraqi people will live in freedom. +</p> + +<p> +Month by month, Iraqis are assuming more responsibility for their own +security and their own future. And tonight we are honored to welcome +one of Iraq's most respected leaders: the current President of the +Iraqi Governing Council, Adnan Pachachi. Sir, America stands with you +and the Iraqi people as you build a free and peaceful nation. +</p> + +<p> +Because of American leadership and resolve, the world is changing for +the better. Last month, the leader of Libya voluntarily pledged to +disclose and dismantle all of his regime's weapons of mass destruction +programs, including a uranium enrichment project for nuclear weapons. +Colonel Qadhafi correctly judged that his country would be better off, +and far more secure, without weapons of mass murder. Nine months of +intense negotiations involving the United States and Great Britain +succeeded with Libya, while 12 years of diplomacy with Iraq did not. +And one reason is clear: For diplomacy to be effective, words must be +credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America. +</p> + +<p> +Different threats require different strategies. Along with nations in +the region, we are insisting that North Korea eliminate its nuclear +program. America and the international community are demanding that +Iran meet its commitments and not develop nuclear weapons. America is +committed to keeping the world's most dangerous weapons out of the +hands of the world's most dangerous regimes. +</p> + +<p> +When I came to this rostrum on September 20th, 2001, I brought the +police shield of a fallen officer, my reminder of lives that ended, and +a task that does not end. I gave to you and to all Americans my +complete commitment to securing our country and defeating our enemies. +And this pledge, given by one, has been kept by many. You in the +Congress have provided the resources for our defense, and cast the +difficult votes of war and peace. Our closest allies have been +unwavering. America's intelligence personnel and diplomats have been +skilled and tireless. +</p> + +<p> +d the men and women of the American military - they have taken the +hardest duty. We have seen their skill and courage in armored charges, +and midnight raids, and lonely hours on faithful watch. We have seen +the joy when they return, and felt the sorrow when one is lost. I have +had the honor of meeting our servicemen and women at many posts, from +the deck of a carrier in the Pacific, to a mess hall in Baghdad. Many +of our troops are listening tonight. And I want you and your families +to know: America is proud of you. And my Administration, and this +Congress, will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war +on terror. +</p> + +<p> +I know that some people question if America is really in a war at all. +They view terrorism more as a crime - a problem to be solved mainly +with law enforcement and indictments. After the World Trade Center was +first attacked in 1993, some of the guilty were indicted, tried, +convicted, and sent to prison. But the matter was not settled. The +terrorists were still training and plotting in other nations, and +drawing up more ambitious plans. After the chaos and carnage of +September 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal +papers. The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United +States - and war is what they got. +</p> + +<p> +Some in this chamber, and in our country, did not support the +liberation of Iraq. Objections to war often come from principled +motives. But let us be candid about the consequences of leaving Saddam +Hussein in power. We are seeking all the facts - already the Kay Report +identified dozens of weapons of mass destruction-related program +activities and significant amounts of equipment that Iraq concealed +from the United Nations. Had we failed to act, the dictator's weapons +of mass destruction programs would continue to this day. Had we failed +to act, Security Council resolutions on Iraq would have been revealed +as empty threats, weakening the United Nations and encouraging defiance +by dictators around the world. Iraq's torture chambers would still be +filled with victims - terrified and innocent. The killing fields of +Iraq - where hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children vanished +into the sands - would still be known only to the killers. For all who +love freedom and peace, the world without Saddam Hussein's regime is a +better and safer place. +</p> + +<p> +Some critics have said our duties in Iraq must be internationalized. +This particular criticism is hard to explain to our partners in +Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, +Italy, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, the +Netherlands, Norway, El Salvador, and the 17 other countries that have +committed troops to Iraq. As we debate at home, we must never ignore +the vital contributions of our international partners, or dismiss their +sacrifices. From the beginning, America has sought international +support for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we have gained much +support. There is a difference, however, between leading a coalition of +many nations, and submitting to the objections of a few. America will +never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people. +</p> + +<p> +We also hear doubts that democracy is a realistic goal for the greater +Middle East, where freedom is rare. Yet it is mistaken, and +condescending, to assume that whole cultures and great religions are +incompatible with liberty and self-government. I believe that God has +planted in every heart the desire to live in freedom. And even when +that desire is crushed by tyranny for decades, it will rise again. +</p> + +<p> +As long as the Middle East remains a place of tyranny, despair, and +anger, it will continue to produce men and movements that threaten the +safety of America and our friends. So America is pursuing a forward +strategy of freedom in the greater Middle East. We will challenge the +enemies of reform, confront the allies of terror, and expect a higher +standard from our friends. To cut through the barriers of hateful +propaganda, the Voice of America and other broadcast services are +expanding their programming in Arabic and Persian - and soon, a new +television service will begin providing reliable news and information +across the region. I will send you a proposal to double the budget of +the National Endowment for Democracy, and to focus its new work on the +development of free elections, free markets, free press, and free labor +unions in the Middle East. And above all, we will finish the historic +work of democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq, so those nations can light +the way for others, and help transform a troubled part of the world. +</p> + +<p> +America is a Nation with a mission - and that mission comes from our +most basic beliefs. We have no desire to dominate, no ambitions of +empire. Our aim is a democratic peace - a peace founded upon the +dignity and rights of every man and woman. America acts in this cause +with friends and allies at our side, yet we understand our special +calling: This great Republic will lead the cause of freedom. +</p> + +<p> +In these last three years, adversity has also revealed the fundamental +strengths of the American economy. We have come through recession, and +terrorist attack, and corporate scandals, and the uncertainties of war. +And because you acted to stimulate our economy with tax relief, this +economy is strong, and growing stronger. +</p> + +<p> +You have doubled the child tax credit from 500 to a thousand dollars, +reduced the marriage penalty, begun to phase out the death tax, reduced +taxes on capital gains and stock dividends, cut taxes on small +businesses, and you have lowered taxes for every American who pays +income taxes. +</p> + +<p> +Americans took those dollars and put them to work, driving this economy +forward. The pace of economic growth in the third quarter of 2003 was +the fastest in nearly 20 years. New home construction: the highest in +almost 20 years. Home ownership rates: the highest ever. Manufacturing +activity is increasing. Inflation is low. Interest rates are low. +Exports are growing. Productivity is high. And jobs are on the rise. +</p> + +<p> +These numbers confirm that the American people are using their money +far better than government would have - and you were right to return it. +</p> + +<p> +America's growing economy is also a changing economy. As technology +transforms the way almost every job is done, America becomes more +productive, and workers need new skills. Much of our job growth will be +found in high-skilled fields like health care and biotechnology. So we +must respond by helping more Americans gain the skills to find good +jobs in our new economy. +</p> + +<p> +All skills begin with the basics of reading and math, which are +supposed to be learned in the early grades of our schools. Yet for too +long, for too many children, those skills were never mastered. By +passing the No Child Left Behind Act, you have made the expectation of +literacy the law of our country. We are providing more funding for our +schools - a 36 percent increase since 2001. We are requiring higher +standards. We are regularly testing every child on the fundamentals. We +are reporting results to parents, and making sure they have better +options when schools are not performing. We are making progress toward +excellence for every child. +</p> + +<p> +But the status quo always has defenders. Some want to undermine the No +Child Left Behind Act by weakening standards and accountability. Yet +the results we require are really a matter of common sense: We expect +third graders to read and do math at third grade level - and that is +not asking too much. Testing is the only way to identify and help +students who are falling behind. +</p> + +<p> +This Nation will not go back to the days of simply shuffling children +along from grade to grade without them learning the basics. I refuse to +give up on any child - and the No Child Left Behind Act is opening the +door of opportunity to all of America's children. +</p> + +<p> +At the same time, we must ensure that older students and adults can +gain the skills they need to find work now. Many of the fastest-growing +occupations require strong math and science preparation, and training +beyond the high school level. So tonight I propose a series of measures +called Jobs for the 21st Century. This program will provide extra help +to middle- and high school students who fall behind in reading and +math, expand Advanced Placement programs in low-income schools, and +invite math and science professionals from the private sector to teach +part-time in our high schools. I propose larger Pell Grants for +students who prepare for college with demanding courses in high school. +I propose increasing our support for America's fine community colleges, +so they can train workers for the industries that are creating the most +new jobs. By all these actions, we will help more and more Americans to +join in the growing prosperity of our country. +</p> + +<p> +Job training is important, and so is job creation. We must continue to +pursue an aggressive, pro-growth economic agenda. +</p> + +<p> +Congress has some unfinished business on the issue of taxes. The tax +reductions you passed are set to expire. Unless you act, the unfair tax +on marriage will go back up. Unless you act, millions of families will +be charged 300 dollars more in Federal taxes for every child. Unless +you act, small businesses will pay higher taxes. Unless you act, the +death tax will eventually come back to life. Unless you act, Americans +face a tax increase. What the Congress has given, the Congress should +not take away: For the sake of job growth, the tax cuts you passed +should be permanent. +</p> + +<p> +Our agenda for jobs and growth must help small business owners and +employees with relief from needless Federal regulation, and protect +them from junk and frivolous lawsuits. Consumers and businesses need +reliable supplies of energy to make our economy run - so I urge you to +pass legislation to modernize our electricity system, promote +conservation, and make America less dependent on foreign sources of +energy. My Administration is promoting free and fair trade, to open up +new markets for America's entrepreneurs, and manufacturers, and +farmers, and to create jobs for America's workers. Younger workers +should have the opportunity to build a nest egg by saving part of their +Social Security taxes in a personal retirement account. We should make +the Social Security system a source of ownership for the American +people. +</p> + +<p> +And we should limit the burden of government on this economy by acting +as good stewards of taxpayer dollars. In two weeks, I will send you a +budget that funds the war, protects the homeland, and meets important +domestic needs, while limiting the growth in discretionary spending to +less than four percent. This will require that Congress focus on +priorities, cut wasteful spending, and be wise with the people's money. +By doing so, we can cut the deficit in half over the next five years. +</p> + +<p> +Tonight I also ask you to reform our immigration laws, so they reflect +our values and benefit our economy. I propose a new temporary worker +program to match willing foreign workers with willing employers, when +no Americans can be found to fill the job. This reform will be good for +our economy - because employers will find needed workers in an honest +and orderly system. A temporary worker program will help protect our +homeland - allowing border patrol and law enforcement to focus on true +threats to our national security. I oppose amnesty, because it would +encourage further illegal immigration, and unfairly reward those who +break our laws. My temporary worker program will preserve the +citizenship path for those who respect the law, while bringing millions +of hardworking men and women out from the shadows of American life. +</p> + +<p> +Our Nation's health care system, like our economy, is also in a time of +change. Amazing medical technologies are improving and saving lives. +This dramatic progress has brought its own challenge, in the rising +costs of medical care and health insurance. Members of Congress, we +must work together to help control those costs and extend the benefits +of modern medicine throughout our country. +</p> + +<p> +Meeting these goals requires bipartisan effort - and two months ago, +you showed the way. By strengthening Medicare and adding a prescription +drug benefit, you kept a basic commitment to our seniors: You are +giving them the modern medicine they deserve. +</p> + +<p> +Starting this year, under the law you passed, seniors can choose to +receive a drug discount card, saving them 10 to 25 percent off the +retail price of most prescription drugs - and millions of low-income +seniors can get an additional 600 dollars to buy medicine. Beginning +next year, seniors will have new coverage for preventive screenings +against diabetes and heart disease, and seniors just entering Medicare +can receive wellness exams. +</p> + +<p> +In January of 2006, seniors can get prescription drug coverage under +Medicare. For a monthly premium of about 35 dollars, most seniors who +do not have that coverage today can expect to see their drug bills cut +roughly in half. Under this reform, senior citizens will be able to +keep their Medicare just as it is, or they can choose a Medicare plan +that fits them best - just as you, as Members of Congress, can choose +an insurance plan that meets your needs. And starting this year, +millions of Americans will be able to save money tax-free for their +medical expenses, in a health savings account. +</p> + +<p> +I signed this measure proudly, and any attempt to limit the choices of +our seniors, or to take away their prescription drug coverage under +Medicare, will meet my veto. +</p> + +<p> +On the critical issue of health care, our goal is to ensure that +Americans can choose and afford private health care coverage that best +fits their individual needs. To make insurance more affordable, +Congress must act to address rapidly rising health care costs. Small +businesses should be able to band together and negotiate for lower +insurance rates, so they can cover more workers with health insurance - +I urge you to pass Association Health Plans. I ask you to give +lower-income Americans a refundable tax credit that would allow +millions to buy their own basic health insurance. By computerizing +health records, we can avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs, +and improve care. To protect the doctor-patient relationship, and keep +good doctors doing good work, we must eliminate wasteful and frivolous +medical lawsuits. And tonight I propose that individuals who buy +catastrophic health care coverage, as part of our new health savings +accounts, be allowed to deduct 100 percent of the premiums from their +taxes. +</p> + +<p> +A government-run health care system is the wrong prescription. By +keeping costs under control, expanding access, and helping more +Americans afford coverage, we will preserve the system of private +medicine that makes America's health care the best in the world. +</p> + +<p> +We are living in a time of great change - in our world, in our economy, +and in science and medicine. Yet some things endure - courage and +compassion, reverence and integrity, respect for differences of faith +and race. The values we try to live by never change. And they are +instilled in us by fundamental institutions, such as families, and +schools, and religious congregations. These institutions - the unseen +pillars of civilization - must remain strong in America, and we will +defend them. +</p> + +<p> +We must stand with our families to help them raise healthy, responsible +children. And when it comes to helping children make right choices, +there is work for all of us to do. +</p> + +<p> +One of the worst decisions our children can make is to gamble their +lives and futures on drugs. Our government is helping parents confront +this problem, with aggressive education, treatment, and law +enforcement. Drug use in high school has declined by 11 percent over +the past two years. Four hundred thousand fewer young people are using +illegal drugs than in the year 2001. In my budget, I have proposed new +funding to continue our aggressive, community-based strategy to reduce +demand for illegal drugs. Drug testing in our schools has proven to be +an effective part of this effort. So tonight I propose an additional 23 +million dollars for schools that want to use drug testing as a tool to +save children's lives. The aim here is not to punish children, but to +send them this message: We love you, and we don't want to lose you. +</p> + +<p> +To help children make right choices, they need good examples. Athletics +play such an important role in our society, but, unfortunately, some in +professional sports are not setting much of an example. The use of +performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and +other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message - that there +are shortcuts to accomplishment, and that performance is more important +than character. So tonight I call on team owners, union +representatives, coaches, and players to take the lead, to send the +right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now. +</p> + +<p> +To encourage right choices, we must be willing to confront the dangers +young people face - even when they are difficult to talk about. Each +year, about three million teenagers contract sexually transmitted +diseases that can harm them, or kill them, or prevent them from ever +becoming parents. In my budget, I propose a grassroots campaign to help +inform families about these medical risks. We will double Federal +funding for abstinence programs, so schools can teach this fact of +life: Abstinence for young people is the only certain way to avoid +sexually transmitted diseases. Decisions children make now can affect +their health and character for the rest of their lives. All of us - +parents, schools, government - must work together to counter the +negative influence of the culture, and to send the right messages to +our children. +</p> + +<p> +A strong America must also value the institution of marriage. I believe +we should respect individuals as we take a principled stand for one of +the most fundamental, enduring institutions of our civilization. +Congress has already taken a stand on this issue by passing the Defense +of Marriage Act, signed in 1996 by President Clinton. That statute +protects marriage under Federal law as the union of a man and a woman, +and declares that one state may not redefine marriage for other states. +Activist judges, however, have begun redefining marriage by court +order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected +representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's +voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will +upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the +constitutional process. Our Nation must defend the sanctity of marriage. +</p> + +<p> +The outcome of this debate is important - and so is the way we conduct +it. The same moral tradition that defines marriage also teaches that +each individual has dignity and value in God's sight. +</p> + +<p> +It is also important to strengthen our communities by unleashing the +compassion of America's religious institutions. Religious charities of +every creed are doing some of the most vital work in our country - +mentoring children, feeding the hungry, taking the hand of the lonely. +Yet government has often denied social service grants and contracts to +these groups, just because they have a cross or Star of David or +crescent on the wall. By Executive Order, I have opened billions of +dollars in grant money to competition that includes faith-based +charities. Tonight I ask you to codify this into law, so people of +faith can know that the law will never discriminate against them again. +</p> + +<p> +In the past, we have worked together to bring mentors to the children +of prisoners, and provide treatment for the addicted, and help for the +homeless. Tonight I ask you to consider another group of Americans in +need of help. This year, some 600,000 inmates will be released from +prison back into society. We know from long experience that if they +can't find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to +commit more crimes and return to prison. So tonight, I propose a +four-year, 300 million dollar Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative to expand +job training and placement services, to provide transitional housing, +and to help newly released prisoners get mentoring, including from +faith-based groups. America is the land of the second chance - and when +the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better +life. +</p> + +<p> +For all Americans, the last three years have brought tests we did not +ask for, and achievements shared by all. By our actions, we have shown +what kind of Nation we are. In grief, we found the grace to go on. In +challenge, we rediscovered the courage and daring of a free people. In +victory, we have shown the noble aims and good heart of America. And +having come this far, we sense that we live in a time set apart. +</p> + +<p> +I have been a witness to the character of the American people, who have +shown calm in times of danger, compassion for one another, and +toughness for the long haul. All of us have been partners in a great +enterprise. And even some of the youngest understand that we are living +in historic times. Last month a girl in Lincoln, Rhode Island, sent me +a letter. It began, "Dear George W. Bush." "If there is anything you +know, I Ashley Pearson age 10 can do to help anyone, please send me a +letter and tell me what I can do to save our country." She added this +P.S.: "If you can send a letter to the troops ... please put, 'Ashley +Pearson believes in you.'" Tonight, Ashley, your message to our troops +has just been conveyed. And yes, you have some duties yourself. Study +hard in school, listen to your mom and dad, help someone in need, and +when you and your friends see a man or woman in uniform, say "thank +you." And while you do your part, all of us here in this great chamber +will do our best to keep you and the rest of America safe and free. +</p> + +<p> +My fellow citizens, we now move forward, with confidence and faith. Our +Nation is strong and steadfast. The cause we serve is right, because it +is the cause of all mankind. The momentum of freedom in our world is +unmistakable - and it is not carried forward by our power alone. We can +trust in that greater power Who guides the unfolding of the years. And +in all that is to come, we can know that His purposes are just and true. +</p> + +<p> +May God bless the United States of America. Thank you. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="t3"> +*** +</p> + +<p><a id="feb2005"></a></p> + +<p class="noindent"> +State of the Union Address<br /> +George W. Bush<br /> +February 2, 2005<br /> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, fellow +citizens: +</p> + +<p> +As a new Congress gathers, all of us in the elected branches of +government share a great privilege: We've been placed in office by the +votes of the people we serve. And tonight that is a privilege we share +with newly-elected leaders of Afghanistan, the Palestinian Territories, +Ukraine, and a free and sovereign Iraq. +</p> + +<p> +Two weeks ago, I stood on the steps of this Capitol and renewed the +commitment of our nation to the guiding ideal of liberty for all. This +evening I will set forth policies to advance that ideal at home and +around the world. +</p> + +<p> +Tonight, with a healthy, growing economy, with more Americans going +back to work, with our nation an active force for good in the world -- +the state of our union is confident and strong. +</p> + +<p> +Our generation has been blessed -- by the expansion of opportunity, by +advances in medicine, by the security purchased by our parents' +sacrifice. Now, as we see a little gray in the mirror -- or a lot of +gray -- and we watch our children moving into adulthood, we ask the +question: What will be the state of their union? Members of Congress, +the choices we make together will answer that question. Over the next +several months, on issue after issue, let us do what Americans have +always done, and build a better world for our children and our +grandchildren. +</p> + +<p> +First, we must be good stewards of this economy, and renew the great +institutions on which millions of our fellow citizens rely. America's +economy is the fastest growing of any major industrialized nation. In +the past four years, we provided tax relief to every person who pays +income taxes, overcome a recession, opened up new markets abroad, +prosecuted corporate criminals, raised homeownership to its highest +level in history, and in the last year alone, the United States has +added 2.3 million new jobs. When action was needed, the Congress +delivered -- and the nation is grateful. +</p> + +<p> +Now we must add to these achievements. By making our economy more +flexible, more innovative, and more competitive, we will keep America +the economic leader of the world. +</p> + +<p> +America's prosperity requires restraining the spending appetite of the +federal government. I welcome the bipartisan enthusiasm for spending +discipline. I will send you a budget that holds the growth of +discretionary spending below inflation, makes tax relief permanent, and +stays on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009. My budget +substantially reduces or eliminates more than 150 government programs +that are not getting results, or duplicate current efforts, or do not +fulfill essential priorities. The principle here is clear: Taxpayer +dollars must be spent wisely, or not at all. +</p> + +<p> +To make our economy stronger and more dynamic, we must prepare a rising +generation to fill the jobs of the 21st century. Under the No Child +Left Behind Act, standards are higher, test scores are on the rise, and +we're closing the achievement gap for minority students. Now we must +demand better results from our high schools, so every high school +diploma is a ticket to success. We will help an additional 200,000 +workers to get training for a better career, by reforming our job +training system and strengthening America's community colleges. And +we'll make it easier for Americans to afford a college education, by +increasing the size of Pell Grants. +</p> + +<p> +To make our economy stronger and more competitive, America must reward, +not punish, the efforts and dreams of entrepreneurs. Small business is +the path of advancement, especially for women and minorities, so we +must free small businesses from needless regulation and protect honest +job-creators from junk lawsuits. Justice is distorted, and our economy +is held back by irresponsible class-actions and frivolous asbestos +claims -- and I urge Congress to pass legal reforms this year. +</p> + +<p> +To make our economy stronger and more productive, we must make health +care more affordable, and give families greater access to good coverage +-- and more control over their health decisions. I ask Congress to move +forward on a comprehensive health care agenda with tax credits to help +low-income workers buy insurance, a community health center in every +poor county, improved information technology to prevent medical error +and needless costs, association health plans for small businesses and +their employees -- -- expanded health savings accounts -- and medical +liability reform that will reduce health care costs and make sure +patients have the doctors and care they need. +</p> + +<p> +To keep our economy growing, we also need reliable supplies of +affordable, environmentally responsible energy. Nearly four years ago, +I submitted a comprehensive energy strategy that encourages +conservation, alternative sources, a modernized electricity grid, and +more production here at home -- including safe, clean nuclear energy. +My Clear Skies legislation will cut power plant pollution and improve +the health of our citizens. And my budget provides strong funding for +leading-edge technology -- from hydrogen-fueled cars, to clean coal, to +renewable sources such as ethanol. Four years of debate is enough: I +urge Congress to pass legislation that makes America more secure and +less dependent on foreign energy. +</p> + +<p> +All these proposals are essential to expand this economy and add new +jobs -- but they are just the beginning of our duty. To build the +prosperity of future generations, we must update institutions that were +created to meet the needs of an earlier time. Year after year, +Americans are burdened by an archaic, incoherent federal tax code. I've +appointed a bipartisan panel to examine the tax code from top to +bottom. And when their recommendations are delivered, you and I will +work together to give this nation a tax code that is pro-growth, easy +to understand, and fair to all. +</p> + +<p> +America's immigration system is also outdated -- unsuited to the needs +of our economy and to the values of our country. We should not be +content with laws that punish hardworking people who want only to +provide for their families, and deny businesses willing workers, and +invite chaos at our border. It is time for an immigration policy that +permits temporary guest workers to fill jobs Americans will not take, +that rejects amnesty, that tells us who is entering and leaving our +country, and that closes the border to drug dealers and terrorists. +</p> + +<p> +One of America's most important institutions -- a symbol of the trust +between generations -- is also in need of wise and effective reform. +Social Security was a great moral success of the 20th century, and we +must honor its great purposes in this new century. The system, however, +on its current path, is headed toward bankruptcy. And so we must join +together to strengthen and save Social Security. +</p> + +<p> +Today, more than 45 million Americans receive Social Security benefits, +and millions more are nearing retirement -- and for them the system is +sound and fiscally strong. I have a message for every American who is +55 or older: Do not let anyone mislead you; for you, the Social +Security system will not change in any way. For younger workers, the +Social Security system has serious problems that will grow worse with +time. Social Security was created decades ago, for a very different +era. In those days, people did not live as long. Benefits were much +lower than they are today. And a half-century ago, about sixteen +workers paid into the system for each person drawing benefits. +</p> + +<p> +Our society has changed in ways the founders of Social Security could +not have foreseen. In today's world, people are living longer and, +therefore, drawing benefits longer. And those benefits are scheduled to +rise dramatically over the next few decades. And instead of sixteen +workers paying in for every beneficiary, right now it's only about +three workers. And over the next few decades that number will fall to +just two workers per beneficiary. With each passing year, fewer workers +are paying ever-higher benefits to an ever-larger number of retirees. +</p> + +<p> +So here is the result: Thirteen years from now, in 2018, Social +Security will be paying out more than it takes in. And every year +afterward will bring a new shortfall, bigger than the year before. For +example, in the year 2027, the government will somehow have to come up +with an extra $200 billion to keep the system afloat -- and by 2033, +the annual shortfall would be more than $300 billion. By the year 2042, +the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt. If steps are not +taken to avert that outcome, the only solutions would be dramatically +higher taxes, massive new borrowing, or sudden and severe cuts in +Social Security benefits or other government programs. +</p> + +<p> +I recognize that 2018 and 2042 may seem a long way off. But those dates +are not so distant, as any parent will tell you. If you have a +five-year-old, you're already concerned about how you'll pay for +college tuition 13 years down the road. If you've got children in their +20s, as some of us do, the idea of Social Security collapsing before +they retire does not seem like a small matter. And it should not be a +small matter to the United States Congress. You and I share a +responsibility. We must pass reforms that solve the financial problems +of Social Security once and for all. +</p> + +<p> +Fixing Social Security permanently will require an open, candid review +of the options. Some have suggested limiting benefits for wealthy +retirees. Former Congressman Tim Penny has raised the possibility of +indexing benefits to prices rather than wages. During the 1990s, my +predecessor, President Clinton, spoke of increasing the retirement age. +Former Senator John Breaux suggested discouraging early collection of +Social Security benefits. The late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan +recommended changing the way benefits are calculated. All these ideas +are on the table. +</p> + +<p> +I know that none of these reforms would be easy. But we have to move +ahead with courage and honesty, because our children's retirement +security is more important than partisan politics. I will work with +members of Congress to find the most effective combination of reforms. +I will listen to anyone who has a good idea to offer. We must, however, +be guided by some basic principles. We must make Social Security +permanently sound, not leave that task for another day. We must not +jeopardize our economic strength by increasing payroll taxes. We must +ensure that lower-income Americans get the help they need to have +dignity and peace of mind in their retirement. We must guarantee there +is no change for those now retired or nearing retirement. And we must +take care that any changes in the system are gradual, so younger +workers have years to prepare and plan for their future. +</p> + +<p> +As we fix Social Security, we also have the responsibility to make the +system a better deal for younger workers. And the best way to reach +that goal is through voluntary personal retirement accounts. Here is +how the idea works. Right now, a set portion of the money you earn is +taken out of your paycheck to pay for the Social Security benefits of +today's retirees. If you're a younger worker, I believe you should be +able to set aside part of that money in your own retirement account, so +you can build a nest egg for your own future. +</p> + +<p> +Here's why the personal accounts are a better deal. Your money will +grow, over time, at a greater rate than anything the current system can +deliver -- and your account will provide money for retirement over and +above the check you will receive from Social Security. In addition, +you'll be able to pass along the money that accumulates in your +personal account, if you wish, to your children and -- or +grandchildren. And best of all, the money in the account is yours, and +the government can never take it away. +</p> + +<p> +The goal here is greater security in retirement, so we will set careful +guidelines for personal accounts. We'll make sure the money can only go +into a conservative mix of bonds and stock funds. We'll make sure that +your earnings are not eaten up by hidden Wall Street fees. We'll make +sure there are good options to protect your investments from sudden +market swings on the eve of your retirement. We'll make sure a personal +account cannot be emptied out all at once, but rather paid out over +time, as an addition to traditional Social Security benefits. And we'll +make sure this plan is fiscally responsible, by starting personal +retirement accounts gradually, and raising the yearly limits on +contributions over time, eventually permitting all workers to set aside +four percentage points of their payroll taxes in their accounts. +</p> + +<p> +Personal retirement accounts should be familiar to federal employees, +because you already have something similar, called the Thrift Savings +Plan, which lets workers deposit a portion of their paychecks into any +of five different broadly-based investment funds. It's time to extend +the same security, and choice, and ownership to young Americans. +</p> + +<p> +Our second great responsibility to our children and grandchildren is to +honor and to pass along the values that sustain a free society. So many +of my generation, after a long journey, have come home to family and +faith, and are determined to bring up responsible, moral children. +Government is not the source of these values, but government should +never undermine them. +</p> + +<p> +Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, +it should not be re-defined by activist judges. For the good of +families, children, and society, I support a constitutional amendment +to protect the institution of marriage. +</p> + +<p> +Because a society is measured by how it treats the weak and vulnerable, +we must strive to build a culture of life. Medical research can help us +reach that goal, by developing treatments and cures that save lives and +help people overcome disabilities -- and I thank the Congress for +doubling the funding of the National Institutes of Health. To build a +culture of life, we must also ensure that scientific advances always +serve human dignity, not take advantage of some lives for the benefit +of others. We should all be able to agree -- -- we should all be able +to agree on some clear standards. I will work with Congress to ensure +that human embryos are not created for experimentation or grown for +body parts, and that human life is never bought and sold as a +commodity. America will continue to lead the world in medical research +that is ambitious, aggressive, and always ethical. +</p> + +<p> +Because courts must always deliver impartial justice, judges have a +duty to faithfully interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. As +President, I have a constitutional responsibility to nominate men and +women who understand the role of courts in our democracy, and are +well-qualified to serve on the bench -- and I have done so. The +Constitution also gives the Senate a responsibility: Every judicial +nominee deserves an up or down vote. +</p> + +<p> +Because one of the deepest values of our country is compassion, we must +never turn away from any citizen who feels isolated from the +opportunities of America. Our government will continue to support +faith-based and community groups that bring hope to harsh places. Now +we need to focus on giving young people, especially young men in our +cities, better options than apathy, or gangs, or jail. Tonight I +propose a three-year initiative to help organizations keep young people +out of gangs, and show young men an ideal of manhood that respects +women and rejects violence. Taking on gang life will be one part of a +broader outreach to at-risk youth, which involves parents and pastors, +coaches and community leaders, in programs ranging from literacy to +sports. And I am proud that the leader of this nationwide effort will +be our First Lady, Laura Bush. +</p> + +<p> +Because HIV/AIDS brings suffering and fear into so many lives, I ask +you to reauthorize the Ryan White Act to encourage prevention, and +provide care and treatment to the victims of that disease. And as we +update this important law, we must focus our efforts on fellow citizens +with the highest rates of new cases, African American men and women. +</p> + +<p> +Because one of the main sources of our national unity is our belief in +equal justice, we need to make sure Americans of all races and +backgrounds have confidence in the system that provides justice. In +America we must make doubly sure no person is held to account for a +crime he or she did not commit -- so we are dramatically expanding the +use of DNA evidence to prevent wrongful conviction. Soon I will send to +Congress a proposal to fund special training for defense counsel in +capital cases, because people on trial for their lives must have +competent lawyers by their side. +</p> + +<p> +Our third responsibility to future generations is to leave them an +America that is safe from danger, and protected by peace. We will pass +along to our children all the freedoms we enjoy -- and chief among them +is freedom from fear. +</p> + +<p> +In the three and a half years since September the 11th, 2001, we have +taken unprecedented actions to protect Americans. We've created a new +department of government to defend our homeland, focused the FBI on +preventing terrorism, begun to reform our intelligence agencies, broken +up terror cells across the country, expanded research on defenses +against biological and chemical attack, improved border security, and +trained more than a half-million first responders. Police and +firefighters, air marshals, researchers, and so many others are working +every day to make our homeland safer, and we thank them all. +</p> + +<p> +Our nation, working with allies and friends, has also confronted the +enemy abroad, with measures that are determined, successful, and +continuing. The al Qaeda terror network that attacked our country still +has leaders -- but many of its top commanders have been removed. There +are still governments that sponsor and harbor terrorists -- but their +number has declined. There are still regimes seeking weapons of mass +destruction -- but no longer without attention and without consequence. +Our country is still the target of terrorists who want to kill many, +and intimidate us all -- and we will stay on the offensive against +them, until the fight is won. +</p> + +<p> +Pursuing our enemies is a vital commitment of the war on terror -- and +I thank the Congress for providing our servicemen and women with the +resources they have needed. During this time of war, we must continue +to support our military and give them the tools for victory. +</p> + +<p> +Other nations around the globe have stood with us. In Afghanistan, an +international force is helping provide security. In Iraq, 28 countries +have troops on the ground, the United Nations and the European Union +provided technical assistance for the elections, and NATO is leading a +mission to help train Iraqi officers. We're cooperating with 60 +governments in the Proliferation Security Initiative, to detect and +stop the transit of dangerous materials. We're working closely with the +governments in Asia to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear +ambitions. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and nine other countries have +captured or detained al Qaeda terrorists. In the next four years, my +administration will continue to build the coalitions that will defeat +the dangers of our time. +</p> + +<p> +In the long-term, the peace we seek will only be achieved by +eliminating the conditions that feed radicalism and ideologies of +murder. If whole regions of the world remain in despair and grow in +hatred, they will be the recruiting grounds for terror, and that terror +will stalk America and other free nations for decades. The only force +powerful enough to stop the rise of tyranny and terror, and replace +hatred with hope, is the force of human freedom. Our enemies know this, +and that is why the terrorist Zarqawi recently declared war on what he +called the "evil principle" of democracy. And we've declared our own +intention: America will stand with the allies of freedom to support +democratic movements in the Middle East and beyond, with the ultimate +goal of ending tyranny in our world. +</p> + +<p> +The United States has no right, no desire, and no intention to impose +our form of government on anyone else. That is one of the main +differences between us and our enemies. They seek to impose and expand +an empire of oppression, in which a tiny group of brutal, +self-appointed rulers control every aspect of every life. Our aim is to +build and preserve a community of free and independent nations, with +governments that answer to their citizens, and reflect their own +cultures. And because democracies respect their own people and their +neighbors, the advance of freedom will lead to peace. +</p> + +<p> +That advance has great momentum in our time -- shown by women voting in +Afghanistan, and Palestinians choosing a new direction, and the people +of Ukraine asserting their democratic rights and electing a president. +We are witnessing landmark events in the history of liberty. And in the +coming years, we will add to that story. +</p> + +<p> +The beginnings of reform and democracy in the Palestinian territories +are now showing the power of freedom to break old patterns of violence +and failure. Tomorrow morning, Secretary of State Rice departs on a +trip that will take her to Israel and the West Bank for meetings with +Prime Minister Sharon and President Abbas. She will discuss with them +how we and our friends can help the Palestinian people end terror and +build the institutions of a peaceful, independent, democratic state. To +promote this democracy, I will ask Congress for $350 million to support +Palestinian political, economic, and security reforms. The goal of two +democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace, +is within reach -- and America will help them achieve that goal. +</p> + +<p> +To promote peace and stability in the broader Middle East, the United +States will work with our friends in the region to fight the common +threat of terror, while we encourage a higher standard of freedom. +Hopeful reform is already taking hold in an arc from Morocco to Jordan +to Bahrain. The government of Saudi Arabia can demonstrate its +leadership in the region by expanding the role of its people in +determining their future. And the great and proud nation of Egypt, +which showed the way toward peace in the Middle East, can now show the +way toward democracy in the Middle East. +</p> + +<p> +To promote peace in the broader Middle East, we must confront regimes +that continue to harbor terrorists and pursue weapons of mass murder. +Syria still allows its territory, and parts of Lebanon, to be used by +terrorists who seek to destroy every chance of peace in the region. You +have passed, and we are applying, the Syrian Accountability Act -- and +we expect the Syrian government to end all support for terror and open +the door to freedom. Today, Iran remains the world's primary state +sponsor of terror -- pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its +people of the freedom they seek and deserve. We are working with +European allies to make clear to the Iranian regime that it must give +up its uranium enrichment program and any plutonium reprocessing, and +end its support for terror. And to the Iranian people, I say tonight: +As you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you. +</p> + +<p> +Our generational commitment to the advance of freedom, especially in +the Middle East, is now being tested and honored in Iraq. That country +is a vital front in the war on terror, which is why the terrorists have +chosen to make a stand there. Our men and women in uniform are fighting +terrorists in Iraq, so we do not have to face them here at home. And +the victory of freedom in Iraq will strengthen a new ally in the war on +terror, inspire democratic reformers from Damascus to Tehran, bring +more hope and progress to a troubled region, and thereby lift a +terrible threat from the lives of our children and grandchildren. +</p> + +<p> +We will succeed because the Iraqi people value their own liberty -- as +they showed the world last Sunday. Across Iraq, often at great risk, +millions of citizens went to the polls and elected 275 men and women to +represent them in a new Transitional National Assembly. A young woman +in Baghdad told of waking to the sound of mortar fire on election day, +and wondering if it might be too dangerous to vote. She said, "Hearing +those explosions, it occurred to me -- the insurgents are weak, they +are afraid of democracy, they are losing. So I got my husband, and I +got my parents, and we all came out and voted together." +</p> + +<p> +Americans recognize that spirit of liberty, because we share it. In any +nation, casting your vote is an act of civic responsibility; for +millions of Iraqis, it was also an act of personal courage, and they +have earned the respect of us all. +</p> + +<p> +One of Iraq's leading democracy and human rights advocates is Safia +Taleb al-Suhail. She says of her country, "We were occupied for 35 +years by Saddam Hussein. That was the real occupation. Thank you to the +American people who paid the cost, but most of all, to the soldiers." +Eleven years ago, Safia's father was assassinated by Saddam's +intelligence service. Three days ago in Baghdad, Safia was finally able +to vote for the leaders of her country -- and we are honored that she +is with us tonight. +</p> + +<p> +The terrorists and insurgents are violently opposed to democracy, and +will continue to attack it. Yet, the terrorists' most powerful myth is +being destroyed. The whole world is seeing that the car bombers and +assassins are not only fighting coalition forces, they are trying to +destroy the hopes of Iraqis, expressed in free elections. And the whole +world now knows that a small group of extremists will not overturn the +will of the Iraqi people. +</p> + +<p> +We will succeed in Iraq because Iraqis are determined to fight for +their own freedom, and to write their own history. As Prime Minister +Allawi said in his speech to Congress last September, "Ordinary Iraqis +are anxious to shoulder all the security burdens of our country as +quickly as possible." That is the natural desire of an independent +nation, and it is also the stated mission of our coalition in Iraq. The +new political situation in Iraq opens a new phase of our work in that +country. +</p> + +<p> +At the recommendation of our commanders on the ground, and in +consultation with the Iraqi government, we will increasingly focus our +efforts on helping prepare more capable Iraqi security forces -- forces +with skilled officers and an effective command structure. As those +forces become more self-reliant and take on greater security +responsibilities, America and its coalition partners will increasingly +be in a supporting role. In the end, Iraqis must be able to defend +their own country -- and we will help that proud, new nation secure its +liberty. +</p> + +<p> +Recently an Iraqi interpreter said to a reporter, "Tell America not to +abandon us." He and all Iraqis can be certain: While our military +strategy is adapting to circumstances, our commitment remains firm and +unchanging. We are standing for the freedom of our Iraqi friends, and +freedom in Iraq will make America safer for generations to come. We +will not set an artificial timetable for leaving Iraq, because that +would embolden the terrorists and make them believe they can wait us +out. We are in Iraq to achieve a result: A country that is democratic, +representative of all its people, at peace with its neighbors, and able +to defend itself. And when that result is achieved, our men and women +serving in Iraq will return home with the honor they have earned. +</p> + +<p> +Right now, Americans in uniform are serving at posts across the world, +often taking great risks on my orders. We have given them training and +equipment; and they have given us an example of idealism and character +that makes every American proud. The volunteers of our military are +unrelenting in battle, unwavering in loyalty, unmatched in honor and +decency, and every day they're making our nation more secure. Some of +our servicemen and women have survived terrible injuries, and this +grateful country will do everything we can to help them recover. And we +have said farewell to some very good men and women, who died for our +freedom, and whose memory this nation will honor forever. +</p> + +<p> +One name we honor is Marine Corps Sergeant Byron Norwood of +Pflugerville, Texas, who was killed during the assault on Fallujah. His +mom, Janet, sent me a letter and told me how much Byron loved being a +Marine, and how proud he was to be on the front line against terror. +She wrote, "When Byron was home the last time, I said that I wanted to +protect him like I had since he was born. He just hugged me and said, +'You've done your job, Mom. Now it is my turn to protect you.'" Ladies +and gentlemen, with grateful hearts, we honor freedom's defenders, and +our military families, represented here this evening by Sergeant +Norwood's mom and dad, Janet and Bill Norwood. +</p> + +<p> +In these four years, Americans have seen the unfolding of large events. +We have known times of sorrow, and hours of uncertainty, and days of +victory. In all this history, even when we have disagreed, we have seen +threads of purpose that unite us. The attack on freedom in our world +has reaffirmed our confidence in freedom's power to change the world. +We are all part of a great venture: To extend the promise of freedom in +our country, to renew the values that sustain our liberty, and to +spread the peace that freedom brings. +</p> + +<p> +As Franklin Roosevelt once reminded Americans, "Each age is a dream +that is dying, or one that is coming to birth." And we live in the +country where the biggest dreams are born. The abolition of slavery was +only a dream -- until it was fulfilled. The liberation of Europe from +fascism was only a dream -- until it was achieved. The fall of imperial +communism was only a dream -- until, one day, it was accomplished. Our +generation has dreams of its own, and we also go forward with +confidence. The road of Providence is uneven and unpredictable -- yet +we know where it leads: It leads to freedom. +</p> + +<p> +Thank you, and may God bless America. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="t3"> +*** +</p> + +<p><a id="jan2006"></a></p> + +<p class="noindent"> +State of the Union Address<br /> +George W. Bush<br /> +January 31, 2006<br /> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress, Members of the +Supreme Court and diplomatic corps, distinguished guests, and fellow +citizens: +</p> + +<p> +Today our Nation lost a beloved, graceful, courageous woman who called +America to its founding ideals and carried on a noble dream. Tonight we +are comforted by the hope of a glad reunion with the husband who was +taken from her so long ago, and we are grateful for the good life of +Coretta Scott King. +</p> + +<p> +Each time I am invited to this rostrum, I am humbled by the privilege, +and mindful of the history we have seen together. We have gathered +under this Capitol dome in moments of national mourning and national +achievement. We have served America through one of the most +consequential periods of our history -- and it has been my honor to +serve with you. +</p> + +<p> +In a system of two parties, two chambers, and two elected branches, +there will always be differences and debate. But even tough debates can +be conducted in a civil tone, and our differences cannot be allowed to +harden into anger. To confront the great issues before us, we must act +in a spirit of good will and respect for one another -- and I will do my +part. Tonight the state of our Union is strong -- and together we will +make it stronger. +</p> + +<p> +In this decisive year, you and I will make choices that determine both +the future and the character of our country. We will choose to act +confidently in pursuing the enemies of freedom -- or retreat from our +duties in the hope of an easier life. We will choose to build our +prosperity by leading the world economy -- or shut ourselves off from +trade and opportunity. In a complex and challenging time, the road of +isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting -- yet it +ends in danger and decline. The only way to protect our people ... the +only way to secure the peace ... the only way to control our destiny is +by our leadership -- so the United States of America will continue to +lead. +</p> + +<p> +Abroad, our Nation is committed to an historic, long-term goal -- we +seek the end of tyranny in our world. Some dismiss that goal as +misguided idealism. In reality, the future security of America depends +on it. On September 11th, 2001, we found that problems originating in a +failed and oppressive state seven thousand miles away could bring +murder and destruction to our country. Dictatorships shelter +terrorists, feed resentment and radicalism, and seek weapons of mass +destruction. Democracies replace resentment with hope, respect the +rights of their citizens and their neighbors, and join the fight +against terror. Every step toward freedom in the world makes our +country safer, and so we will act boldly in freedom's cause. +</p> + +<p> +Far from being a hopeless dream, the advance of freedom is the great +story of our time. In 1945, there were about two dozen lonely +democracies on Earth. Today, there are 122. And we are writing a new +chapter in the story of self-government -- with women lining up to vote +in Afghanistan ... and millions of Iraqis marking their liberty with +purple ink ... and men and women from Lebanon to Egypt debating the +rights of individuals and the necessity of freedom. At the start of +2006, more than half the people of our world live in democratic +nations. And we do not forget the other half -- in places like Syria, +Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran -- because the demands of +justice, and the peace of this world, require their freedom as well. +</p> + +<p> +No one can deny the success of freedom, but some men rage and fight +against it. And one of the main sources of reaction and opposition is +radical Islam -- the perversion by a few of a noble faith into an +ideology of terror and death. Terrorists like bin Laden are serious +about mass murder -- and all of us must take their declared intentions +seriously. They seek to impose a heartless system of totalitarian +control throughout the Middle East, and arm themselves with weapons of +mass murder. Their aim is to seize power in Iraq, and use it as a safe +haven to launch attacks against America and the world. Lacking the +military strength to challenge us directly, the terrorists have chosen +the weapon of fear. When they murder children at a school in Beslan ... +or blow up commuters in London ... or behead a bound captive ... the +terrorists hope these horrors will break our will, allowing the violent +to inherit the Earth. But they have miscalculated: We love our freedom, +and we will fight to keep it. +</p> + +<p> +In a time of testing, we cannot find security by abandoning our +commitments and retreating within our borders. If we were to leave +these vicious attackers alone, they would not leave us alone. They +would simply move the battlefield to our own shores. There is no peace +in retreat. And there is no honor in retreat. By allowing radical Islam +to work its will -- by leaving an assaulted world to fend for itself -- +we would signal to all that we no longer believe in our own ideals, or +even in our own courage. But our enemies and our friends can be +certain: The United States will not retreat from the world, and we will +never surrender to evil. +</p> + +<p> +America rejects the false comfort of isolationism. We are the Nation +that saved liberty in Europe, and liberated death camps, and helped +raise up democracies, and faced down an evil empire. Once again, we +accept the call of history to deliver the oppressed, and move this +world toward peace. +</p> + +<p> +We remain on the offensive against terror networks. We have killed or +captured many of their leaders -- and for the others, their day will +come. +</p> + +<p> +We remain on the offensive in Afghanistan -- where a fine president and +national assembly are fighting terror while building the institutions +of a new democracy. +</p> + +<p> +And we are on the offensive in Iraq, with a clear plan for victory. +First, we are helping Iraqis build an inclusive government, so that old +resentments will be eased, and the insurgency marginalized. Second, we +are continuing reconstruction efforts, and helping the Iraqi government +to fight corruption and build a modern economy, so all Iraqis can +experience the benefits of freedom. Third, we are striking terrorist +targets while we train Iraqi forces that are increasingly capable of +defeating the enemy. Iraqis are showing their courage every day, and we +are proud to be their allies in the cause of freedom. +</p> + +<p> +Our work in Iraq is difficult, because our enemy is brutal. But that +brutality has not stopped the dramatic progress of a new democracy. In +less than three years, that nation has gone from dictatorship, to +liberation, to sovereignty, to a constitution, to national elections. +At the same time, our coalition has been relentless in shutting off +terrorist infiltration, clearing out insurgent strongholds, and turning +over territory to Iraqi security forces. I am confident in our plan for +victory ... I am confident in the will of the Iraqi people ... I am +confident in the skill and spirit of our military. Fellow citizens, we +are in this fight to win, and we are winning. +</p> + +<p> +The road of victory is the road that will take our troops home. As we +make progress on the ground, and Iraqi forces increasingly take the +lead, we should be able to further decrease our troop levels -- but +those decisions will be made by our military commanders, not by +politicians in Washington, D.C. +</p> + +<p> +Our coalition has learned from experience in Iraq. We have adjusted our +military tactics and changed our approach to reconstruction. Along the +way, we have benefited from responsible criticism and counsel offered +by Members of Congress of both parties. In the coming year, I will +continue to reach out and seek your good advice. +</p> + +<p> +Yet there is a difference between responsible criticism that aims for +success, and defeatism that refuses to acknowledge anything but +failure. Hindsight alone is not wisdom. And second-guessing is not a +strategy. +</p> + +<p> +With so much in the balance, those of us in public office have a duty +to speak with candor. A sudden withdrawal of our forces from Iraq would +abandon our Iraqi allies to death and prison ... put men like bin Laden +and Zarqawi in charge of a strategic country ... and show that a pledge +from America means little. Members of Congress: however we feel about +the decisions and debates of the past, our Nation has only one option: +We must keep our word, defeat our enemies, and stand behind the +American military in its vital mission. +</p> + +<p> +Our men and women in uniform are making sacrifices -- and showing a +sense of duty stronger than all fear. They know what it is like to +fight house to house in a maze of streets ... to wear heavy gear in the +desert heat ... to see a comrade killed by a roadside bomb. And those who +know the costs also know the stakes. Marine Staff Sergeant Dan Clay was +killed last month fighting the enemy in Fallujah. He left behind a +letter to his family, but his words could just as well be addressed to +every American. Here is what Dan wrote: "I know what honor is. It has +been an honor to protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the +secure knowledge that you would not have to.... Never falter! Don't +hesitate to honor and support those of us who have the honor of +protecting that which is worth protecting." +</p> + +<p> +Staff Sergeant Dan Clay's wife, Lisa, and his mom and dad, Sara Jo and +Bud, are with us this evening. Our Nation is grateful to the fallen, +who live in the memory of our country. We are grateful to all who +volunteer to wear our Nation's uniform -- and as we honor our brave +troops, let us never forget the sacrifices of America's military +families. +</p> + +<p> +Our offensive against terror involves more than military action. +Ultimately, the only way to defeat the terrorists is to defeat their +dark vision of hatred and fear by offering the hopeful alternative of +political freedom and peaceful change. So the United States of America +supports democratic reform across the broader Middle East. Elections +are vital -- but they are only the beginning. Raising up a democracy +requires the rule of law, protection of minorities, and strong, +accountable institutions that last longer than a single vote. The great +people of Egypt have voted in a multi-party presidential election -- and +now their government should open paths of peaceful opposition that will +reduce the appeal of radicalism. The Palestinian people have voted in +elections -- now the leaders of Hamas must recognize Israel, disarm, +reject terrorism, and work for lasting peace. Saudi Arabia has taken +the first steps of reform -- now it can offer its people a better future +by pressing forward with those efforts. Democracies in the Middle East +will not look like our own, because they will reflect the traditions of +their own citizens. Yet liberty is the future of every nation in the +Middle East, because liberty is the right and hope of all humanity. +</p> + +<p> +The same is true of Iran, a nation now held hostage by a small clerical +elite that is isolating and repressing its people. The regime in that +country sponsors terrorists in the Palestinian territories and in +Lebanon -- and that must come to an end. The Iranian government is +defying the world with its nuclear ambitions -- and the nations of the +world must not permit the Iranian regime to gain nuclear weapons. +America will continue to rally the world to confront these threats. And +tonight, let me speak directly to the citizens of Iran: America +respects you, and we respect your country. We respect your right to +choose your own future and win your own freedom. And our Nation hopes +one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran. +</p> + +<p> +To overcome dangers in our world, we must also take the offensive by +encouraging economic progress, fighting disease, and spreading hope in +hopeless lands. Isolationism would not only tie our hands in fighting +enemies, it would keep us from helping our friends in desperate need. +We show compassion abroad because Americans believe in the God-given +dignity and worth of a villager with HIV/AIDS, or an infant with +malaria, or a refugee fleeing genocide, or a young girl sold into +slavery. We also show compassion abroad because regions overwhelmed by +poverty, corruption, and despair are sources of terrorism, organized +crime, human trafficking, and the drug trade. +</p> + +<p> +In recent years, you and I have taken unprecedented action to fight +AIDS and malaria, expand the education of girls, and reward developing +nations that are moving forward with economic and political reform. For +people everywhere, the United States is a partner for a better life. +Short-changing these efforts would increase the suffering and chaos of +our world, undercut our long-term security, and dull the conscience of +our country. I urge Members of Congress to serve the interests of +America by showing the compassion of America. +</p> + +<p> +Our country must also remain on the offensive against terrorism here at +home. The enemy has not lost the desire or capability to attack us. +Fortunately, this Nation has superb professionals in law enforcement, +intelligence, the military, and homeland security. These men and women +are dedicating their lives to protecting us all, and they deserve our +support and our thanks. They also deserve the same tools they already +use to fight drug trafficking and organized crime -- so I ask you to +reauthorize the Patriot Act. +</p> + +<p> +It is said that prior to the attacks of September 11th, our government +failed to connect the dots of the conspiracy. We now know that two of +the hijackers in the United States placed telephone calls to al-Qaida +operatives overseas. But we did not know about their plans until it was +too late. So to prevent another attack -- based on authority given to me +by the Constitution and by statute -- I have authorized a terrorist +surveillance program to aggressively pursue the international +communications of suspected al-Qaida operatives and affiliates to and +from America. Previous presidents have used the same constitutional +authority I have -- and Federal courts have approved the use of that +authority. Appropriate Members of Congress have been kept informed. +This terrorist surveillance program has helped prevent terrorist +attacks. It remains essential to the security of America. If there are +people inside our country who are talking with al-Qaida, we want to +know about it -- because we will not sit back and wait to be hit again. +</p> + +<p> +In all these areas -- from the disruption of terror networks, to victory +in Iraq, to the spread of freedom and hope in troubled regions -- we +need the support of friends and allies. To draw that support, we must +always be clear in our principles and willing to act. The only +alternative to American leadership is a dramatically more dangerous and +anxious world. Yet we also choose to lead because it is a privilege to +serve the values that gave us birth. American leaders -- from Roosevelt +to Truman to Kennedy to Reagan -- rejected isolation and retreat, +because they knew that America is always more secure when freedom is on +the march. Our own generation is in a long war against a determined +enemy -- a war that will be fought by Presidents of both parties, who +will need steady bipartisan support from the Congress. And tonight I +ask for yours. Together, let us protect our country, support the men +and women who defend us, and lead this world toward freedom. +</p> + +<p> +Here at home, America also has a great opportunity: We will build the +prosperity of our country by strengthening our economic leadership in +the world. +</p> + +<p> +Our economy is healthy, and vigorous, and growing faster than other +major industrialized nations. In the last two-and-a-half years, America +has created 4.6 million new jobs -- more than Japan and the European +Union combined. Even in the face of higher energy prices and natural +disasters, the American people have turned in an economic performance +that is the envy of the world. +</p> + +<p> +The American economy is pre-eminent -- but we cannot afford to be +complacent. In a dynamic world economy, we are seeing new competitors +like China and India. This creates uncertainty, which makes it easier +to feed people's fears. And so we are seeing some old temptations +return. Protectionists want to escape competition, pretending that we +can keep our high standard of living while walling off our economy. +Others say that the government needs to take a larger role in directing +the economy, centralizing more power in Washington and increasing +taxes. We hear claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy -- +even though this economy could not function without them. All these are +forms of economic retreat, and they lead in the same direction -- toward +a stagnant and second-rate economy. +</p> + +<p> +Tonight I will set out a better path -- an agenda for a Nation that +competes with confidence -- an agenda that will raise standards of +living and generate new jobs. Americans should not fear our economic +future, because we intend to shape it. +</p> + +<p> +Keeping America competitive begins with keeping our economy growing. +And our economy grows when Americans have more of their own money to +spend, save, and invest. In the last five years, the tax relief you +passed has left 880 billion dollars in the hands of American workers, +investors, small businesses, and families -- and they have used it to +help produce more than four years of uninterrupted economic growth. Yet +the tax relief is set to expire in the next few years. If we do +nothing, American families will face a massive tax increase they do not +expect and will not welcome. +</p> + +<p> +Because America needs more than a temporary expansion, we need more +than temporary tax relief. I urge the Congress to act responsibly, and +make the tax cuts permanent. +</p> + +<p> +Keeping America competitive requires us to be good stewards of tax +dollars. Every year of my presidency, we have reduced the growth of +non-security discretionary spending -- and last year you passed bills +that cut this spending. This year my budget will cut it again, and +reduce or eliminate more than 140 programs that are performing poorly +or not fulfilling essential priorities. By passing these reforms, we +will save the American taxpayer another 14 billion dollars next year -- +and stay on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009. I am pleased that +Members of Congress are working on earmark reform -- because the Federal +budget has too many special interest projects. And we can tackle this +problem together, if you pass the line-item veto. +</p> + +<p> +We must also confront the larger challenge of mandatory spending, or +entitlements. This year, the first of about 78 million Baby Boomers +turn 60, including two of my Dad's favorite people -- me, and President +Bill Clinton. This milestone is more than a personal crisis -- it is a +national challenge. The retirement of the Baby Boom generation will put +unprecedented strains on the Federal government. By 2030, spending for +Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid alone will be almost 60 percent +of the entire Federal budget. And that will present future Congresses +with impossible choices -- staggering tax increases, immense deficits, +or deep cuts in every category of spending. +</p> + +<p> +Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security, +yet the rising cost of entitlements is a problem that is not going away +-- and with every year we fail to act, the situation gets worse. So +tonight, I ask you to join me in creating a commission to examine the +full impact of Baby Boom retirements on Social Security, Medicare, and +Medicaid. This commission should include Members of Congress of both +parties, and offer bipartisan answers. We need to put aside partisan +politics, work together, and get this problem solved. +</p> + +<p> +Keeping America competitive requires us to open more markets for all +that Americans make and grow. One out of every five factory jobs in +America is related to global trade, and we want people everywhere to +buy American. With open markets and a level playing field, no one can +out-produce or out-compete the American worker. +</p> + +<p> +Keeping America competitive requires an immigration system that upholds +our laws, reflects our values, and serves the interests of our economy. +Our Nation needs orderly and secure borders. To meet this goal, we must +have stronger immigration enforcement and border protection. And we +must have a rational, humane guest worker program that rejects amnesty +... allows temporary jobs for people who seek them legally ... and reduces +smuggling and crime at the border. +</p> + +<p> +Keeping America competitive requires affordable health care. Our +government has a responsibility to help provide health care for the +poor and the elderly, and we are meeting that responsibility. For all +Americans, we must confront the rising cost of care ... strengthen the +doctor-patient relationship ... and help people afford the insurance +coverage they need. We will make wider use of electronic records and +other health information technology, to help control costs and reduce +dangerous medical errors. We will strengthen Health Savings Accounts -- +by making sure individuals and small business employees can buy +insurance with the same advantages that people working for big +businesses now get. We will do more to make this coverage portable, so +workers can switch jobs without having to worry about losing their +health insurance. And because lawsuits are driving many good doctors +out of practice -- leaving women in nearly 1,500 American counties +without a single OB-GYN -- I ask the Congress to pass medical liability +reform this year. +</p> + +<p> +Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. Here we have a +serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported +from unstable parts of the world. +</p> + +<p> +The best way to break this addiction is through technology. Since 2001, +we have spent nearly 10 billion dollars to develop cleaner, cheaper, +more reliable alternative energy sources -- and we are on the threshold +of incredible advances. So tonight, I announce the Advanced Energy +Initiative -- a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research at the +Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To +change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in +zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind +technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy. +</p> + +<p> +We must also change how we power our automobiles. We will increase our +research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in +pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen. We will also fund additional +research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from +corn but from wood chips, stalks, or switch grass. Our goal is to make +this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years. +Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach +another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports +from the Middle East by 2025. By applying the talent and technology of +America, this country can dramatically improve our environment ... move +beyond a petroleum-based economy ... and make our dependence on Middle +Eastern oil a thing of the past. +</p> + +<p> +And to keep America competitive, one commitment is necessary above all: +We must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity. Our +greatest advantage in the world has always been our educated, +hard-working, ambitious people -- and we are going to keep that edge. +Tonight I announce the American Competitiveness Initiative, to +encourage innovation throughout our economy, and to give our Nation's +children a firm grounding in math and science. +</p> + +<p> +First: I propose to double the Federal commitment to the most critical +basic research programs in the physical sciences over the next ten +years. This funding will support the work of America's most creative +minds as they explore promising areas such as nanotechnology, +supercomputing, and alternative energy sources. +</p> + +<p> +Second: I propose to make permanent the research and development tax +credit, to encourage bolder private-sector investment in technology. +With more research in both the public and private sectors, we will +improve our quality of life -- and ensure that America will lead the +world in opportunity and innovation for decades to come. +</p> + +<p> +Third: We need to encourage children to take more math and science, and +make sure those courses are rigorous enough to compete with other +nations. We have made a good start in the early grades with the No +Child Left Behind Act, which is raising standards and lifting test +scores across our country. Tonight I propose to train 70,000 high +school teachers, to lead advanced-placement courses in math and science +... bring 30,000 math and science professionals to teach in classrooms ... +and give early help to students who struggle with math, so they have a +better chance at good, high-wage jobs. If we ensure that America's +children succeed in life, they will ensure that America succeeds in the +world. +</p> + +<p> +Preparing our Nation to compete in the world is a goal that all of us +can share. I urge you to support the American Competitiveness +Initiative ... and together we will show the world what the American +people can achieve. +</p> + +<p> +America is a great force for freedom and prosperity. Yet our greatness +is not measured in power or luxuries, but by who we are and how we +treat one another. So we strive to be a compassionate, decent, hopeful +society. +</p> + +<p> +In recent years, America has become a more hopeful Nation. Violent +crime rates have fallen to their lowest levels since the 1970s. Welfare +cases have dropped by more than half over the past decade. Drug use +among youth is down 19 percent since 2001. There are fewer abortions in +America than at any point in the last three decades, and the number of +children born to teenage mothers has been falling for a dozen years in +a row. +</p> + +<p> +These gains are evidence of a quiet transformation -- a revolution of +conscience, in which a rising generation is finding that a life of +personal responsibility is a life of fulfillment. Government has played +a role. Wise policies such as welfare reform, drug education, and +support for abstinence and adoption have made a difference in the +character of our country. And everyone here tonight, Democrat and +Republican, has a right to be proud of this record. +</p> + +<p> +Yet many Americans, especially parents, still have deep concerns about +the direction of our culture, and the health of our most basic +institutions. They are concerned about unethical conduct by public +officials, and discouraged by activist courts that try to redefine +marriage. And they worry about children in our society who need +direction and love ... and about fellow citizens still displaced by +natural disaster ... and about suffering caused by treatable diseases. +</p> + +<p> +As we look at these challenges, we must never give in to the belief +that America is in decline, or that our culture is doomed to unravel. +The American people know better than that. We have proven the +pessimists wrong before -- and we will do it again. +</p> + +<p> +A hopeful society depends on courts that deliver equal justice under +law. The Supreme Court now has two superb new members, Chief Justice +John Roberts and Justice Sam Alito. I thank the Senate for confirming +both of them. And I will continue to nominate men and women who +understand that judges must be servants of the law, and not legislate +from the bench. Today marks the official retirement of a very special +American. For 24 years of faithful service to our Nation, the United +States is grateful to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. +</p> + +<p> +A hopeful society has institutions of science and medicine that do not +cut ethical corners, and that recognize the matchless value of every +life. Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to prohibit the most +egregious abuses of medical research -- human cloning in all its forms ... +creating or implanting embryos for experiments ... creating human-animal +hybrids ... and buying, selling, or patenting human embryos. Human life +is a gift from our Creator -- and that gift should never be discarded, +devalued, or put up for sale. +</p> + +<p> +A hopeful society expects elected officials to uphold the public trust. +Honorable people in both parties are working on reforms to strengthen +the ethical standards of Washington -- and I support your efforts. Each +of us has made a pledge to be worthy of public responsibility -- and +that is a pledge we must never forget, never dismiss, and never betray. +</p> + +<p> +As we renew the promise of our institutions, let us also show the +character of America in our compassion and care for one another. +</p> + +<p> +A hopeful society gives special attention to children who lack +direction and love. Through the Helping America's Youth Initiative, we +are encouraging caring adults to get involved in the life of a child -- +and this good work is led by our First Lady, Laura Bush. This year we +will add resources to encourage young people to stay in school -- so +more of America's youth can raise their sights and achieve their dreams. +</p> + +<p> +A hopeful society comes to the aid of fellow citizens in times of +suffering and emergency -- and stays at it until they are back on their +feet. So far the Federal government has committed 85 billion dollars to +the people of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans. We are removing debris, +repairing highways, and building stronger levees. We are providing +business loans and housing assistance. Yet as we meet these immediate +needs, we must also address deeper challenges that existed before the +storm arrived. In New Orleans and in other places, many of our fellow +citizens have felt excluded from the promise of our country. The answer +is not only temporary relief, but schools that teach every child ... and +job skills that bring upward mobility ... and more opportunities to own a +home and start a business. As we recover from a disaster, let us also +work for the day when all Americans are protected by justice, equal in +hope, and rich in opportunity. +</p> + +<p> +A hopeful society acts boldly to fight diseases like HIV/AIDS, which +can be prevented, and treated, and defeated. More than a million +Americans live with HIV, and half of all AIDS cases occur among +African-Americans. I ask Congress to reform and reauthorize the Ryan +White Act ... and provide new funding to states, so we end the waiting +lists for AIDS medicine in America. We will also lead a nationwide +effort, working closely with African-American churches and faith-based +groups, to deliver rapid HIV tests to millions, end the stigma of AIDS, +and come closer to the day when there are no new infections in America. +</p> + +<p> +Fellow citizens, we have been called to leadership in a period of +consequence. We have entered a great ideological conflict we did +nothing to invite. We see great changes in science and commerce that +will influence all our lives. And sometimes it can seem that history is +turning in a wide arc, toward an unknown shore. +</p> + +<p> +Yet the destination of history is determined by human action, and every +great movement of history comes to a point of choosing. Lincoln could +have accepted peace at the cost of disunity and continued slavery. +Martin Luther King could have stopped at Birmingham or at Selma, and +achieved only half a victory over segregation. The United States could +have accepted the permanent division of Europe, and been complicit in +the oppression of others. Today, having come far in our own historical +journey, we must decide: Will we turn back, or finish well? +</p> + +<p> +Before history is written down in books, it is written in courage. Like +Americans before us, we will show that courage and we will finish well. +We will lead freedom's advance. We will compete and excel in the global +economy. We will renew the defining moral commitments of this land. And +so we move forward -- optimistic about our country, faithful to its +cause, and confident of victories to come. +</p> + +<p> +Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="t3"> +*** +</p> + +<p><a id="jan2007"></a></p> + +<p class="noindent"> +State of the Union Address<br /> +George W. Bush<br /> +January 23, 2007<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Thank you very much. And tonight, I have a high privilege and distinct +honor of my own -- as the first President to begin the State of the +Union message with these words: Madam Speaker (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +In his day, the late Congressman Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr. from +Baltimore, Maryland, saw Presidents Roosevelt and Truman at this +rostrum. But nothing could compare with the sight of his only daughter, +Nancy, presiding tonight as Speaker of the House of Representatives. +(Applause.) Congratulations, Madam Speaker. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Two members of the House and Senate are not with us tonight, and we +pray for the recovery and speedy return of Senator Tim Johnson and +Congressman Charlie Norwood. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, +distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: +</p> + +<p> +The rite of custom brings us together at a defining hour -- when +decisions are hard and courage is needed. We enter the year 2007 with +large endeavors underway, and others that are ours to begin. In all of +this, much is asked of us. We must have the will to face difficult +challenges and determined enemies -- and the wisdom to face them +together. +</p> + +<p> +Some in this chamber are new to the House and the Senate -- and I +congratulate the Democrat majority. (Applause.) Congress has changed, +but not our responsibilities. Each of us is guided by our own +convictions -- and to these we must stay faithful. Yet we're all held +to the same standards, and called to serve the same good purposes: To +extend this nation's prosperity; to spend the people's money wisely; to +solve problems, not leave them to future generations; to guard America +against all evil; and to keep faith with those we have sent forth to +defend us. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +We're not the first to come here with a government divided and +uncertainty in the air. Like many before us, we can work through our +differences, and achieve big things for the American people. Our +citizens don't much care which side of the aisle we sit on -- as long +as we're willing to cross that aisle when there is work to be done. +(Applause.) Our job is to make life better for our fellow Americans, +and to help them to build a future of hope and opportunity -- and this +is the business before us tonight. +</p> + +<p> +A future of hope and opportunity begins with a growing economy -- and +that is what we have. We're now in the 41st month of uninterrupted job +growth, in a recovery that has created 7.2 million new jobs -- so far. +Unemployment is low, inflation is low, and wages are rising. This +economy is on the move, and our job is to keep it that way, not with +more government, but with more enterprise. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Next week, I'll deliver a full report on the state of our economy. +Tonight, I want to discuss three economic reforms that deserve to be +priorities for this Congress. +</p> + +<p> +First, we must balance the federal budget. (Applause.) We can do so +without raising taxes. (Applause.) What we need is impose spending +discipline in Washington, D.C. We set a goal of cutting the deficit in +half by 2009, and met that goal three years ahead of schedule. +(Applause.) Now let us take the next step. In the coming weeks, I will +submit a budget that eliminates the federal deficit within the next +five years. (Applause.) I ask you to make the same commitment. +Together, we can restrain the spending appetite of the federal +government, and we can balance the federal budget. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Next, there is the matter of earmarks. These special interest items are +often slipped into bills at the last hour -- when not even C-SPAN is +watching. (Laughter.) In 2005 alone, the number of earmarks grew to +over 13,000 and totaled nearly $18 billion. Even worse, over 90 percent +of earmarks never make it to the floor of the House and Senate -- they +are dropped into committee reports that are not even part of the bill +that arrives on my desk. You didn't vote them into law. I didn't sign +them into law. Yet, they're treated as if they have the force of law. +The time has come to end this practice. So let us work together to +reform the budget process, expose every earmark to the light of day and +to a vote in Congress, and cut the number and cost of earmarks at least +in half by the end of this session. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +And, finally, to keep this economy strong we must take on the challenge +of entitlements. Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid are +commitments of conscience, and so it is our duty to keep them +permanently sound. Yet, we're failing in that duty. And this failure +will one day leave our children with three bad options: huge tax +increases, huge deficits, or huge and immediate cuts in benefits. +Everyone in this chamber knows this to be true -- yet somehow we have +not found it in ourselves to act. So let us work together and do it +now. With enough good sense and goodwill, you and I can fix Medicare +and Medicaid -- and save Social Security. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Spreading opportunity and hope in America also requires public schools +that give children the knowledge and character they need in life. Five +years ago, we rose above partisan differences to pass the No Child Left +Behind Act, preserving local control, raising standards, and holding +those schools accountable for results. And because we acted, students +are performing better in reading and math, and minority students are +closing the achievement gap. +</p> + +<p> +Now the task is to build on the success, without watering down +standards, without taking control from local communities, and without +backsliding and calling it reform. We can lift student achievement even +higher by giving local leaders flexibility to turn around failing +schools, and by giving families with children stuck in failing schools +the right to choose someplace better. (Applause.) We must increase +funds for students who struggle -- and make sure these children get the +special help they need. (Applause.) And we can make sure our children +are prepared for the jobs of the future and our country is more +competitive by strengthening math and science skills. The No Child Left +Behind Act has worked for America's children -- and I ask Congress to +reauthorize this good law. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +A future of hope and opportunity requires that all our citizens have +affordable and available health care. (Applause.) When it comes to +health care, government has an obligation to care for the elderly, the +disabled, and poor children. And we will meet those responsibilities. +For all other Americans, private health insurance is the best way to +meet their needs. (Applause.) But many Americans cannot afford a health +insurance policy. +</p> + +<p> +And so tonight, I propose two new initiatives to help more Americans +afford their own insurance. First, I propose a standard tax deduction +for health insurance that will be like the standard tax deduction for +dependents. Families with health insurance will pay no income on +payroll tax -- or payroll taxes on $15,000 of their income. Single +Americans with health insurance will pay no income or payroll taxes on +$7,500 of their income. With this reform, more than 100 million men, +women, and children who are now covered by employer-provided insurance +will benefit from lower tax bills. At the same time, this reform will +level the playing field for those who do not get health insurance +through their job. For Americans who now purchase health insurance on +their own, this proposal would mean a substantial tax savings -- $4,500 +for a family of four making $60,000 a year. And for the millions of +other Americans who have no health insurance at all, this deduction +would help put a basic private health insurance plan within their +reach. Changing the tax code is a vital and necessary step to making +health care affordable for more Americans. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +My second proposal is to help the states that are coming up with +innovative ways to cover the uninsured. States that make basic private +health insurance available to all their citizens should receive federal +funds to help them provide this coverage to the poor and the sick. I +have asked the Secretary of Health and Human Services to work with +Congress to take existing federal funds and use them to create +"Affordable Choices" grants. These grants would give our nation's +governors more money and more flexibility to get private health +insurance to those most in need. +</p> + +<p> +There are many other ways that Congress can help. We need to expand +Health Savings Accounts. (Applause.) We need to help small businesses +through Association Health Plans. (Applause.) We need to reduce costs +and medical errors with better information technology. (Applause.) We +will encourage price transparency. And to protect good doctors from +junk lawsuits, we passing medical liability reform. (Applause.) In all +we do, we must remember that the best health care decisions are made +not by government and insurance companies, but by patients and their +doctors. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Extending hope and opportunity in our country requires an immigration +system worthy of America -- with laws that are fair and borders that +are secure. When laws and borders are routinely violated, this harms +the interests of our country. To secure our border, we're doubling the +size of the Border Patrol, and funding new infrastructure and +technology. +</p> + +<p> +Yet even with all these steps, we cannot fully secure the border unless +we take pressure off the border -- and that requires a temporary worker +program. We should establish a legal and orderly path for foreign +workers to enter our country to work on a temporary basis. As a result, +they won't have to try to sneak in, and that will leave Border Agents +free to chase down drug smugglers and criminals and terrorists. +(Applause.) We'll enforce our immigration laws at the work site and +give employers the tools to verify the legal status of their workers, +so there's no excuse left for violating the law. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +We need to uphold the great tradition of the melting pot that welcomes +and assimilates new arrivals. (Applause.) We need to resolve the status +of the illegal immigrants who are already in our country without +animosity and without amnesty. (Applause.) Convictions run deep in this +Capitol when it comes to immigration. Let us have a serious, civil, and +conclusive debate, so that you can pass, and I can sign, comprehensive +immigration reform into law. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Extending hope and opportunity depends on a stable supply of energy +that keeps America's economy running and America's environment clean. +For too long our nation has been dependent on foreign oil. And this +dependence leaves us more vulnerable to hostile regimes, and to +terrorists -- who could cause huge disruptions of oil shipments, and +raise the price of oil, and do great harm to our economy. +</p> + +<p> +It's in our vital interest to diversify America's energy supply -- the +way forward is through technology. We must continue changing the way +America generates electric power, by even greater use of clean coal +technology, solar and wind energy, and clean, safe nuclear power. +(Applause.) We need to press on with battery research for plug-in and +hybrid vehicles, and expand the use of clean diesel vehicles and +biodiesel fuel. (Applause.) We must continue investing in new methods +of producing ethanol -- (applause) -- using everything from wood chips +to grasses, to agricultural wastes. +</p> + +<p> +We made a lot of progress, thanks to good policies here in Washington +and the strong response of the market. And now even more dramatic +advances are within reach. Tonight, I ask Congress to join me in +pursuing a great goal. Let us build on the work we've done and reduce +gasoline usage in the United States by 20 percent in the next 10 years. +(Applause.) When we do that we will have cut our total imports by the +equivalent of three-quarters of all the oil we now import from the +Middle East. +</p> + +<p> +To reach this goal, we must increase the supply of alternative fuels, +by setting a mandatory fuels standard to require 35 billion gallons of +renewable and alternative fuels in 2017 -- and that is nearly five +times the current target. (Applause.) At the same time, we need to +reform and modernize fuel economy standards for cars the way we did for +light trucks -- and conserve up to 8.5 billion more gallons of gasoline +by 2017. +</p> + +<p> +Achieving these ambitious goals will dramatically reduce our dependence +on foreign oil, but it's not going to eliminate it. And so as we +continue to diversify our fuel supply, we must step up domestic oil +production in environmentally sensitive ways. (Applause.) And to +further protect America against severe disruptions to our oil supply, I +ask Congress to double the current capacity of the Strategic Petroleum +Reserve. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable +us to live our lives less dependent on oil. And these technologies will +help us be better stewards of the environment, and they will help us to +confront the serious challenge of global climate change. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +A future of hope and opportunity requires a fair, impartial system of +justice. The lives of our citizens across our nation are affected by +the outcome of cases pending in our federal courts. We have a shared +obligation to ensure that the federal courts have enough judges to hear +those cases and deliver timely rulings. As President, I have a duty to +nominate qualified men and women to vacancies on the federal bench. And +the United States Senate has a duty, as well, to give those nominees a +fair hearing, and a prompt up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +For all of us in this room, there is no higher responsibility than to +protect the people of this country from danger. Five years have come +and gone since we saw the scenes and felt the sorrow that the +terrorists can cause. We've had time to take stock of our situation. +We've added many critical protections to guard the homeland. We know +with certainty that the horrors of that September morning were just a +glimpse of what the terrorists intend for us -- unless we stop them. +</p> + +<p> +With the distance of time, we find ourselves debating the causes of +conflict and the course we have followed. Such debates are essential +when a great democracy faces great questions. Yet one question has +surely been settled: that to win the war on terror we must take the +fight to the enemy. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +From the start, America and our allies have protected our people by +staying on the offense. The enemy knows that the days of comfortable +sanctuary, easy movement, steady financing, and free flowing +communications are long over. For the terrorists, life since 9/11 has +never been the same. +</p> + +<p> +Our success in this war is often measured by the things that did not +happen. We cannot know the full extent of the attacks that we and our +allies have prevented, but here is some of what we do know: We stopped +an al Qaeda plot to fly a hijacked airplane into the tallest building +on the West Coast. We broke up a Southeast Asian terror cell grooming +operatives for attacks inside the United States. We uncovered an al +Qaeda cell developing anthrax to be used in attacks against America. +And just last August, British authorities uncovered a plot to blow up +passenger planes bound for America over the Atlantic Ocean. For each +life saved, we owe a debt of gratitude to the brave public servants who +devote their lives to finding the terrorists and stopping them. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Every success against the terrorists is a reminder of the shoreless +ambitions of this enemy. The evil that inspired and rejoiced in 9/11 is +still at work in the world. And so long as that's the case, America is +still a nation at war. +</p> + +<p> +In the mind of the terrorist, this war began well before September the +11th, and will not end until their radical vision is fulfilled. And +these past five years have given us a much clearer view of the nature +of this enemy. Al Qaeda and its followers are Sunni extremists, +possessed by hatred and commanded by a harsh and narrow ideology. Take +almost any principle of civilization, and their goal is the opposite. +They preach with threats, instruct with bullets and bombs, and promise +paradise for the murder of the innocent. +</p> + +<p> +Our enemies are quite explicit about their intentions. They want to +overthrow moderate governments, and establish safe havens from which to +plan and carry out new attacks on our country. By killing and +terrorizing Americans, they want to force our country to retreat from +the world and abandon the cause of liberty. They would then be free to +impose their will and spread their totalitarian ideology. Listen to +this warning from the late terrorist Zarqawi: "We will sacrifice our +blood and bodies to put an end to your dreams, and what is coming is +even worse." Osama bin Laden declared: "Death is better than living on +this Earth with the unbelievers among us." +</p> + +<p> +These men are not given to idle words, and they are just one camp in +the Islamist radical movement. In recent times, it has also become +clear that we face an escalating danger from Shia extremists who are +just as hostile to America, and are also determined to dominate the +Middle East. Many are known to take direction from the regime in Iran, +which is funding and arming terrorists like Hezbollah -- a group second +only to al Qaeda in the American lives it has taken. +</p> + +<p> +The Shia and Sunni extremists are different faces of the same +totalitarian threat. Whatever slogans they chant, when they slaughter +the innocent they have the same wicked purposes. They want to kill +Americans, kill democracy in the Middle East, and gain the weapons to +kill on an even more horrific scale. +</p> + +<p> +In the sixth year since our nation was attacked, I wish I could report +to you that the dangers had ended. They have not. And so it remains the +policy of this government to use every lawful and proper tool of +intelligence, diplomacy, law enforcement, and military action to do our +duty, to find these enemies, and to protect the American people. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +This war is more than a clash of arms -- it is a decisive ideological +struggle, and the security of our nation is in the balance. To prevail, +we must remove the conditions that inspire blind hatred, and drove 19 +men to get onto airplanes and to come and kill us. What every terrorist +fears most is human freedom +</p> + +<p> +-- societies where men and women make their own choices, answer to +their own conscience, and live by their hopes instead of their +resentments. Free people are not drawn to violent and malignant +ideologies -- and most will choose a better way when they're given a +chance. So we advance our own security interests by helping moderates +and reformers and brave voices for democracy. The great question of our +day is whether America will help men and women in the Middle East to +build free societies and share in the rights of all humanity. And I +say, for the sake of our own security, we must. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +In the last two years, we've seen the desire for liberty in the broader +Middle East -- and we have been sobered by the enemy's fierce reaction. +In 2005, the world watched as the citizens of Lebanon raised the banner +of the Cedar Revolution, they drove out the Syrian occupiers and chose +new leaders in free elections. In 2005, the people of Afghanistan +defied the terrorists and elected a democratic legislature. And in +2005, the Iraqi people held three national elections, choosing a +transitional government, adopting the most progressive, democratic +constitution in the Arab world, and then electing a government under +that constitution. Despite endless threats from the killers in their +midst, nearly 12 million Iraqi citizens came out to vote in a show of +hope and solidarity that we should never forget. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +A thinking enemy watched all of these scenes, adjusted their tactics, +and in 2006 they struck back. In Lebanon, assassins took the life of +Pierre Gemayel, a prominent participant in the Cedar Revolution. +Hezbollah terrorists, with support from Syria and Iran, sowed conflict +in the region and are seeking to undermine Lebanon's legitimately +elected government. In Afghanistan, Taliban and al Qaeda fighters tried +to regain power by regrouping and engaging Afghan and NATO forces. In +Iraq, al Qaeda and other Sunni extremists blew up one of the most +sacred places in Shia Islam -- the Golden Mosque of Samarra. This +atrocity, directed at a Muslim house of prayer, was designed to provoke +retaliation from Iraqi Shia -- and it succeeded. Radical Shia elements, +some of whom receive support from Iran, formed death squads. The result +was a tragic escalation of sectarian rage and reprisal that continues +to this day. +</p> + +<p> +This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we're in. +Every one of us wishes this war were over and won. Yet it would not be +like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned, and our +own security at risk. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen: On this day, at +this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this +battle. Let us find our resolve, and turn events toward victory. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +We're carrying out a new strategy in Iraq -- a plan that demands more +from Iraq's elected government, and gives our forces in Iraq the +reinforcements they need to complete their mission. Our goal is a +democratic Iraq that upholds the rule of law, respects the rights of +its people, provides them security, and is an ally in the war on terror. +</p> + +<p> +In order to make progress toward this goal, the Iraqi government must +stop the sectarian violence in its capital. But the Iraqis are not yet +ready to do this on their own. So we're deploying reinforcements of +more than 20,000 additional soldiers and Marines to Iraq. The vast +majority will go to Baghdad, where they will help Iraqi forces to clear +and secure neighborhoods, and serve as advisers embedded in Iraqi Army +units. With Iraqis in the lead, our forces will help secure the city by +chasing down the terrorists, insurgents, and the roaming death squads. +And in Anbar Province, where al Qaeda terrorists have gathered and +local forces have begun showing a willingness to fight them, we're +sending an additional 4,000 United States Marines, with orders to find +the terrorists and clear them out. (Applause.) We didn't drive al Qaeda +out of their safe haven in Afghanistan only to let them set up a new +safe haven in a free Iraq. +</p> + +<p> +The people of Iraq want to live in peace, and now it's time for their +government to act. Iraq's leaders know that our commitment is not +open-ended. They have promised to deploy more of their own troops to +secure Baghdad -- and they must do so. They pledged that they will +confront violent radicals of any faction or political party -- and they +need to follow through, and lift needless restrictions on Iraqi and +coalition forces, so these troops can achieve their mission of bringing +security to all of the people of Baghdad. Iraq's leaders have committed +themselves to a series of benchmarks -- to achieve reconciliation, to +share oil revenues among all of Iraq's citizens, to put the wealth of +Iraq into the rebuilding of Iraq, to allow more Iraqis to re-enter +their nation's civic life, to hold local elections, and to take +responsibility for security in every Iraqi province. But for all of +this to happen, Baghdad must be secure. And our plan will help the +Iraqi government take back its capital and make good on its commitments. +</p> + +<p> +My fellow citizens, our military commanders and I have carefully +weighed the options. We discussed every possible approach. In the end, +I chose this course of action because it provides the best chance for +success. Many in this chamber understand that America must not fail in +Iraq, because you understand that the consequences of failure would be +grievous and far-reaching. +</p> + +<p> +If American forces step back before Baghdad is secure, the Iraqi +government would be overrun by extremists on all sides. We could expect +an epic battle between Shia extremists backed by Iran, and Sunni +extremists aided by al Qaeda and supporters of the old regime. A +contagion of violence could spill out across the country -- and in +time, the entire region could be drawn into the conflict. +</p> + +<p> +For America, this is a nightmare scenario. For the enemy, this is the +objective. Chaos is the greatest ally -- their greatest ally in this +struggle. And out of chaos in Iraq would emerge an emboldened enemy +with new safe havens, new recruits, new resources, and an even greater +determination to harm America. To allow this to happen would be to +ignore the lessons of September the 11th and invite tragedy. Ladies and +gentlemen, nothing is more important at this moment in our history than +for America to succeed in the Middle East, to succeed in Iraq and to +spare the American people from this danger. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +This is where matters stand tonight, in the here and now. I have spoken +with many of you in person. I respect you and the arguments you've +made. We went into this largely united, in our assumptions and in our +convictions. And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure. +Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq, and I ask you to give +it a chance to work. And I ask you to support our troops in the field, +and those on their way. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +The war on terror we fight today is a generational struggle that will +continue long after you and I have turned our duties over to others. +And that's why it's important to work together so our nation can see +this great effort through. Both parties and both branches should work +in close consultation. It's why I propose to establish a special +advisory council on the war on terror, made up of leaders in Congress +from both political parties. We will share ideas for how to position +America to meet every challenge that confronts us. We'll show our +enemies abroad that we are united in the goal of victory. +</p> + +<p> +And one of the first steps we can take together is to add to the ranks +of our military so that the American Armed Forces are ready for all the +challenges ahead. (Applause.) Tonight I ask the Congress to authorize +an increase in the size of our active Army and Marine Corps by 92,000 +in the next five years. (Applause.) A second task we can take on +together is to design and establish a volunteer Civilian Reserve Corps. +Such a corps would function much like our military reserve. It would +ease the burden on the Armed Forces by allowing us to hire civilians +with critical skills to serve on missions abroad when America needs +them. It would give people across America who do not wear the uniform a +chance to serve in the defining struggle of our time. +</p> + +<p> +Americans can have confidence in the outcome of this struggle because +we're not in this struggle alone. We have a diplomatic strategy that is +rallying the world to join in the fight against extremism. In Iraq, +multinational forces are operating under a mandate from the United +Nations. We're working with Jordan and Saudi Arabia and Egypt and the +Gulf States to increase support for Iraq's government. +</p> + +<p> +The United Nations has imposed sanctions on Iran, and made it clear +that the world will not allow the regime in Tehran to acquire nuclear +weapons. (Applause.) With the other members of the Quartet -- the U.N., +the European Union, and Russia -- we're pursuing diplomacy to help +bring peace to the Holy Land, and pursuing the establishment of a +democratic Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel in peace +and security. (Applause.) In Afghanistan, NATO has taken the lead in +turning back the Taliban and al Qaeda offensive -- the first time the +Alliance has deployed forces outside the North Atlantic area. Together +with our partners in China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, we're +pursuing intensive diplomacy to achieve a Korean Peninsula free of +nuclear weapons. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +We will continue to speak out for the cause of freedom in places like +Cuba, Belarus, and Burma [1] -- and continue to awaken the conscience +of the world to save the people of Darfur. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +American foreign policy is more than a matter of war and diplomacy. Our +work in the world is also based on a timeless truth: To whom much is +given, much is required. We hear the call to take on the challenges of +hunger and poverty and disease -- and that is precisely what America is +doing. We must continue to fight HIV/AIDS, especially on the continent +of Africa. (Applause.) Because you funded our Emergency Plan for AIDS +Relief, the number of people receiving life-saving drugs has grown from +50,000 to more than 800,000 in three short years. I ask you to continue +funding our efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. I ask you to provide $1.2 +billion over five years so we can combat malaria in 15 African +countries. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +I ask that you fund the Millennium Challenge Account, so that American +aid reaches the people who need it, in nations where democracy is on +the rise and corruption is in retreat. And let us continue to support +the expanded trade and debt relief that are the best hope for lifting +lives and eliminating poverty. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +When America serves others in this way, we show the strength and +generosity of our country. These deeds reflect the character of our +people. The greatest strength we have is the heroic kindness, courage, +and self-sacrifice of the American people. You see this spirit often if +you know where to look -- and tonight we need only look above to the +gallery. +</p> + +<p> +Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa, amid great poverty and disease. He +came to Georgetown University on a scholarship to study medicine -- but +Coach John Thompson got a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. +(Laughter.) Dikembe became a star in the NBA, and a citizen of the +United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth, or the duty +to share his blessings with others. He built a brand new hospital in +his old hometown. A friend has said of this good-hearted man: "Mutombo +believes that God has given him this opportunity to do great things." +And we are proud to call this son of the Congo [2] a citizen of the +United States of America. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +After her daughter was born, Julie Aigner-Clark searched for ways to +share her love of music and art with her child. So she borrowed some +equipment, and began filming children's videos in her basement. The +Baby Einstein Company was born, and in just five years her business +grew to more than $20 million in sales. In November 2001, Julie sold +Baby Einstein to the Walt Disney Company, and with her help Baby +Einstein has grown into a $200 million business. Julie represents the +great enterprising spirit of America. And she is using her success to +help others -- producing child safety videos with John Walsh of the +National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Julie says of her +new project: "I believe it's the most important thing that I have ever +done. I believe that children have the right to live in a world that is +safe." And so tonight, we are pleased to welcome this talented business +entrepreneur and generous social entrepreneur -- Julie Aigner-Clark. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Three weeks ago, Wesley Autrey was waiting at a Harlem subway station +with his two little girls, when he saw a man fall into the path of a +train. With seconds to act, Wesley jumped onto the tracks, pulled the +man into the space between the rails, and held him as the train passed +right above their heads. He insists he's not a hero. He says: "We got +guys and girls overseas dying for us to have our freedoms. We have got +to show each other some love." There is something wonderful about a +country that produces a brave and humble man like Wesley Autrey. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Tommy Rieman was a teenager pumping gas in Independence, Kentucky, when +he enlisted in the United States Army. In December 2003, he was on a +reconnaissance mission in Iraq when his team came under heavy enemy +fire. From his Humvee, Sergeant Rieman returned fire; he used his body +as a shield to protect his gunner. He was shot in the chest and arm, +and received shrapnel wounds to his legs -- yet he refused medical +attention, and stayed in the fight. He helped to repel a second attack, +firing grenades at the enemy's position. For his exceptional courage, +Sergeant Rieman was awarded the Silver Star. And like so many other +Americans who have volunteered to defend us, he has earned the respect +and the gratitude of our entire country. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +In such courage and compassion, ladies and gentlemen, we see the spirit +and character of America -- and these qualities are not in short +supply. This is a decent and honorable country -- and resilient, too. +We've been through a lot together. We've met challenges and faced +dangers, and we know that more lie ahead. Yet we can go forward with +confidence -- because the State of our Union is strong, our cause in +the world is right, and tonight that cause goes on. God bless. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +See you next year. Thank you for your prayers. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="t3"> +*** +</p> + +<p><a id="jan2008"></a></p> + +<p class="noindent"> +State of the Union Address<br /> +George W. Bush<br /> +January 28, 2008<br /> +</p> + +<p> +THE PRESIDENT: Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of +Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Seven years have +passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, +our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We +faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the +world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens. These issues +call for vigorous debate, and I think it's fair to say we've answered +the call. Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted +with purpose. And together, we showed the world the power and +resilience of American self-government. +</p> + +<p> +All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people's business. +That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. It +remains our charge to keep. +</p> + +<p> +The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and +prosperity of our nation long after this session has ended. In this +election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our +responsibilities and are determined to meet them. Let us show them that +Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for +results at the same time. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we've made good +progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American +people expect us to get it done. +</p> + +<p> +In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our +nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to +determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe +that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom +of ordinary citizens. And so in all we do, we must trust in the ability +of free peoples to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve +their lives for their futures. +</p> + +<p> +To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money +and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight, our economy +is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America has added jobs for a +record 52 straight months, but jobs are now growing at a slower pace. +Wages are up, but so are prices for food and gas. Exports are rising, +but the housing market has declined. At kitchen tables across our +country, there is a concern about our economic future. +</p> + +<p> +In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth. +But in the short run, we can all see that that growth is slowing. So +last week, my administration reached agreement with Speaker Pelosi and +Republican Leader Boehner on a robust growth package that includes tax +relief for individuals and families and incentives for business +investment. The temptation will be to load up the bill. That would +delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable. (Applause.) +This is a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and our +people working. And this Congress must pass it as soon as possible. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +We have other work to do on taxes. Unless Congress acts, most of the +tax relief we've delivered over the past seven years will be taken +away. Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief expire is not a +tax increase. Try explaining that to 116 million American taxpayers who +would see their taxes rise by an average of $1,800. Others have said +they would personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome their +enthusiasm. I'm pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and +money orders. (Laughter and applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Most Americans think their taxes are high enough. With all the other +pressures on their finances, American families should not have to worry +about their federal government taking a bigger bite out of their +paychecks. There's only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: Make the +tax relief permanent. (Applause.) And members of Congress should know: +If any bill raises taxes reaches my desk, I will veto it. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Just as we trust Americans with their own money, we need to earn their +trust by spending their tax dollars wisely. Next week, I'll send you a +budget that terminates or substantially reduces 151 wasteful or bloated +programs, totaling more than $18 billion. The budget that I will submit +will keep America on track for a surplus in 2012. American families +have to balance their budgets; so should their government. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +The people's trust in their government is undermined by congressional +earmarks -- special interest projects that are often snuck in at the +last minute, without discussion or debate. Last year, I asked you to +voluntarily cut the number and cost of earmarks in half. I also asked +you to stop slipping earmarks into committee reports that never even +come to a vote. Unfortunately, neither goal was met. So this time, if +you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and +cost of earmarks in half, I'll send it back to you with my veto. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +And tomorrow, I will issue an executive order that directs federal +agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by Congress. +If these items are truly worth funding, Congress should debate them in +the open and hold a public vote. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Our shared responsibilities extend beyond matters of taxes and +spending. On housing, we must trust Americans with the responsibility +of homeownership and empower them to weather turbulent times in the +housing market. My administration brought together the HOPE NOW +alliance, which is helping many struggling homeowners avoid +foreclosure. And Congress can help even more. Tonight I ask you to pass +legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, modernize the Federal +Housing Administration, and allow state housing agencies to issue +tax-free bonds to help homeowners refinance their mortgages. +(Applause.) These are difficult times for many American families, and +by taking these steps, we can help more of them keep their homes. +</p> + +<p> +To build a future of quality health care, we must trust patients and +doctors to make medical decisions and empower them with better +information and better options. We share a common goal: making health +care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. (Applause.) The +best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not +government control. (Applause.) So I have proposed ending the bias in +the tax code against those who do not get their health insurance +through their employer. This one reform would put private coverage +within reach for millions, and I call on the Congress to pass it this +year. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +The Congress must also expand health savings accounts, create +Association Health Plans for small businesses, promote health +information technology, and confront the epidemic of junk medical +lawsuits. (Applause.) With all these steps, we will help ensure that +decisions about your medical care are made in the privacy of your +doctor's office -- not in the halls of Congress. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +On education, we must trust students to learn if given the chance, and +empower parents to demand results from our schools. In neighborhoods +across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams -- and a +decent education is their only hope of achieving them. +</p> + +<p> +Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, +and today no one can deny its results. Last year, fourth and eighth +graders achieved the highest math scores on record. Reading scores are +on the rise. African American and Hispanic students posted all-time +highs. (Applause.) Now we must work together to increase +accountability, add flexibility for states and districts, reduce the +number of high school dropouts, provide extra help for struggling +schools. +</p> + +<p> +Members of Congress: The No Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan +achievement. It is succeeding. And we owe it to America's children, +their parents, and their teachers to strengthen this good law. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +We must also do more to help children when their schools do not measure +up. Thanks to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships you approved, more than +2,600 of the poorest children in our Nation's Capital have found new +hope at a faith-based or other non-public school. Sadly, these schools +are disappearing at an alarming rate in many of America's inner cities. +So I will convene a White House summit aimed at strengthening these +lifelines of learning. And to open the doors of these schools to more +children, I ask you to support a new $300 million program called Pell +Grants for Kids. We have seen how Pell Grants help low-income college +students realize their full potential. Together, we've expanded the +size and reach of these grants. Now let us apply that same spirit to +help liberate poor children trapped in failing public schools. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in the +world and empower them by opening up new markets overseas. Today, our +economic growth increasingly depends on our ability to sell American +goods and crops and services all over the world. So we're working to +break down barriers to trade and investment wherever we can. We're +working for a successful Doha Round of trade talks, and we must +complete a good agreement this year. At the same time, we're pursuing +opportunities to open up new markets by passing free trade agreements. +</p> + +<p> +I thank the Congress for approving a good agreement with Peru. And now +I ask you to approve agreements with Colombia and Panama and South +Korea. (Applause.) Many products from these nations now enter America +duty-free, yet many of our products face steep tariffs in their +markets. These agreements will level the playing field. They will give +us better access to nearly 100 million customers. They will support +good jobs for the finest workers in the world: those whose products say +"Made in the USA." (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +These agreements also promote America's strategic interests. The first +agreement that will come before you is with Colombia, a friend of +America that is confronting violence and terror, and fighting drug +traffickers. If we fail to pass this agreement, we will embolden the +purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere. So we must come +together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors in the region +that democracy leads to a better life. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Trade brings better jobs and better choices and better prices. Yet for +some Americans, trade can mean losing a job, and the federal government +has a responsibility to help. (Applause.) I ask Congress to reauthorize +and reform trade adjustment assistance, so we can help these displaced +workers learn new skills and find new jobs. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative +genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to +pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology. (Applause.) Our +security, our prosperity, and our environment all require reducing our +dependence on oil. Last year, I asked you to pass legislation to reduce +oil consumption over the next decade, and you responded. Together we +should take the next steps: Let us fund new technologies that can +generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions. (Applause.) Let +us increase the use of renewable power and emissions-free nuclear +power. (Applause.) Let us continue investing in advanced battery +technology and renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the +future. (Applause.) Let us create a new international clean technology +fund, which will help developing nations like India and China make +greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete an +international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and +eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by +every major economy and gives none a free ride. (Applause.) The United +States is committed to strengthening our energy security and +confronting global climate change. And the best way to meet these goals +is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of +cleaner and more energy-efficient technology. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the skill +of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the +breakthroughs of tomorrow. Last year, Congress passed legislation +supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed +through with the funding. This funding is essential to keeping our +scientific edge. So I ask Congress to double federal support for +critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America +remains the most dynamic nation on Earth. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +On matters of life and science, we must trust in the innovative spirit +of medical researchers and empower them to discover new treatments +while respecting moral boundaries. In November, we witnessed a landmark +achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin +cells to act like embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough has the +potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by +extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human +life. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +So we're expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research. +And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure +that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves. And so I call on +Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the +buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders and +empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it says. +(Applause.) I've submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the +letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel. Many of these nominees +are being unfairly delayed. They are worthy of confirmation, and the +Senate should give each of them a prompt up-or-down vote. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +In communities across our land, we must trust in the good heart of the +American people and empower them to serve their neighbors in need. Over +the past seven years, more of our fellow citizens have discovered that +the pursuit of happiness leads to the path of service. Americans have +volunteered in record numbers. Charitable donations are higher than +ever. Faith-based groups are bringing hope to pockets of despair, with +newfound support from the federal government. And to help guarantee +equal treatment of faith-based organizations when they compete for +federal funds, I ask you to permanently extend Charitable Choice. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in the +Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the people of +this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build stronger and +better than before. And tonight I'm pleased to announce that in April +we will host this year's North American Summit of Canada, Mexico, and +the United States in the great city of New Orleans. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +There are two other pressing challenges that I've raised repeatedly +before this body, and that this body has failed to address: entitlement +spending and immigration. Every member in this chamber knows that +spending on entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and +Medicaid is growing faster than we can afford. We all know the painful +choices ahead if America stays on this path: massive tax increases, +sudden and drastic cuts in benefits, or crippling deficits. I've laid +out proposals to reform these programs. Now I ask members of Congress +to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save +these vital programs for our children and our grandchildren. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +The other pressing challenge is immigration. America needs to secure +our borders -- and with your help, my administration is taking steps to +do so. We're increasing worksite enforcement, deploying fences and +advanced technologies to stop illegal crossings. We've effectively +ended the policy of "catch and release" at the border, and by the end +of this year, we will have doubled the number of border patrol agents. +Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will never fully secure our +border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here +and support our economy. (Applause.) This will take pressure off the +border and allow law enforcement to concentrate on those who mean us +harm. We must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with people +here illegally. Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be +resolved. And it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws +and our highest ideals. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +This is the business of our nation here at home. Yet building a +prosperous future for our citizens also depends on confronting enemies +abroad and advancing liberty in troubled regions of the world. +</p> + +<p> +Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, +when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace. In +the last seven years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the history +of liberty. We've seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand up for +their right to free and fair elections. We've seen people in Lebanon +take to the streets to demand their independence. We've seen Afghans +emerge from the tyranny of the Taliban and choose a new president and a +new parliament. We've seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained +fingers and celebrating their freedom. These images of liberty have +inspired us. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +In the past seven years, we've also seen images that have sobered us. +We've watched throngs of mourners in Lebanon and Pakistan carrying the +caskets of beloved leaders taken by the assassin's hand. We've seen +wedding guests in blood-soaked finery staggering from a hotel in +Jordan, Afghans and Iraqis blown up in mosques and markets, and trains +in London and Madrid ripped apart by bombs. On a clear September day, +we saw thousands of our fellow citizens taken from us in an instant. +These horrific images serve as a grim reminder: The advance of liberty +is opposed by terrorists and extremists -- evil men who despise +freedom, despise America, and aim to subject millions to their violent +rule. +</p> + +<p> +Since 9/11, we have taken the fight to these terrorists and extremists. +We will stay on the offense, we will keep up the pressure, and we will +deliver justice to our enemies. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +We are engaged in the defining ideological struggle of the 21st +century. The terrorists oppose every principle of humanity and decency +that we hold dear. Yet in this war on terror, there is one thing we and +our enemies agree on: In the long run, men and women who are free to +determine their own destinies will reject terror and refuse to live in +tyranny. And that is why the terrorists are fighting to deny this +choice to the people in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the +Palestinian Territories. And that is why, for the security of America +and the peace of the world, we are spreading the hope of freedom. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +In Afghanistan, America, our 25 NATO allies, and 15 partner nations are +helping the Afghan people defend their freedom and rebuild their +country. Thanks to the courage of these military and civilian +personnel, a nation that was once a safe haven for al Qaeda is now a +young democracy where boys and girls are going to school, new roads and +hospitals are being built, and people are looking to the future with +new hope. These successes must continue, so we're adding 3,200 Marines +to our forces in Afghanistan, where they will fight the terrorists and +train the Afghan Army and police. Defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda is +critical to our security, and I thank the Congress for supporting +America's vital mission in Afghanistan. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +In Iraq, the terrorists and extremists are fighting to deny a proud +people their liberty, and fighting to establish safe havens for attacks +across the world. One year ago, our enemies were succeeding in their +efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos. So we reviewed our strategy and +changed course. We launched a surge of American forces into Iraq. We +gave our troops a new mission: Work with the Iraqi forces to protect +the Iraqi people, pursue the enemy in its strongholds, and deny the +terrorists sanctuary anywhere in the country. +</p> + +<p> +The Iraqi people quickly realized that something dramatic had happened. +Those who had worried that America was preparing to abandon them +instead saw tens of thousands of American forces flowing into their +country. They saw our forces moving into neighborhoods, clearing out +the terrorists, and staying behind to ensure the enemy did not return. +And they saw our troops, along with Provincial Reconstruction Teams +that include Foreign Service officers and other skilled public +servants, coming in to ensure that improved security was followed by +improvements in daily life. Our military and civilians in Iraq are +performing with courage and distinction, and they have the gratitude of +our whole nation. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +The Iraqis launched a surge of their own. In the fall of 2006, Sunni +tribal leaders grew tired of al Qaeda's brutality and started a popular +uprising called "The Anbar Awakening." Over the past year, similar +movements have spread across the country. And today, the grassroots +surge includes more than 80,000 Iraqi citizens who are fighting the +terrorists. The government in Baghdad has stepped forward, as well -- +adding more than 100,000 new Iraqi soldiers and police during the past +year. +</p> + +<p> +While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American +and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined +just one year ago. (Applause.) When we met last year, many said that +containing the violence was impossible. A year later, high profile +terrorist attacks are down, civilian deaths are down, sectarian +killings are down. +</p> + +<p> +When we met last year, militia extremists -- some armed and trained by +Iran -- were wreaking havoc in large areas of Iraq. A year later, +coalition and Iraqi forces have killed or captured hundreds of militia +fighters. And Iraqis of all backgrounds increasingly realize that +defeating these militia fighters is critical to the future of their +country. +</p> + +<p> +When we met last year, al Qaeda had sanctuaries in many areas of Iraq, +and their leaders had just offered American forces safe passage out of +the country. Today, it is al Qaeda that is searching for safe passage. +They have been driven from many of the strongholds they once held, and +over the past year, we've captured or killed thousands of extremists in +Iraq, including hundreds of key al Qaeda leaders and operatives. +</p> + +<p> +Last month, Osama bin Laden released a tape in which he railed against +Iraqi tribal leaders who have turned on al Qaeda and admitted that +coalition forces are growing stronger in Iraq. Ladies and gentlemen, +some may deny the surge is working, but among the terrorists there is +no doubt. Al Qaeda is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be +defeated. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +When we met last year, our troop levels in Iraq were on the rise. +Today, because of the progress just described, we are implementing a +policy of "return on success," and the surge forces we sent to Iraq are +beginning to come home. +</p> + +<p> +This progress is a credit to the valor of our troops and the brilliance +of their commanders. This evening, I want to speak directly to our men +and women on the front lines. Soldiers and sailors, airmen, Marines, +and Coast Guardsmen: In the past year, you have done everything we've +asked of you, and more. Our nation is grateful for your courage. We are +proud of your accomplishments. And tonight in this hallowed chamber, +with the American people as our witness, we make you a solemn pledge: +In the fight ahead, you will have all you need to protect our nation. +(Applause.) And I ask Congress to meet its responsibilities to these +brave men and women by fully funding our troops. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, and +we can still expect tough fighting ahead. Our objective in the coming +year is to sustain and build on the gains we made in 2007, while +transitioning to the next phase of our strategy. American troops are +shifting from leading operations, to partnering with Iraqi forces, and, +eventually, to a protective overwatch mission. As part of this +transition, one Army brigade combat team and one Marine Expeditionary +Unit have already come home and will not be replaced. In the coming +months, four additional brigades and two Marine battalions will follow +suit. Taken together, this means more than 20,000 of our troops are +coming home. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Any further drawdown of U.S. troops will be based on conditions in Iraq +and the recommendations of our commanders. General Petraeus has warned +that too fast a drawdown could result in the "disintegration of the +Iraqi security forces, al Qaeda-Iraq regaining lost ground, [and] a +marked increase in violence." Members of Congress: Having come so far +and achieved so much, we must not allow this to happen. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +In the coming year, we will work with Iraqi leaders as they build on +the progress they're making toward political reconciliation. At the +local level, Sunnis, Shia, and Kurds are beginning to come together to +reclaim their communities and rebuild their lives. Progress in the +provinces must be matched by progress in Baghdad. (Applause.) We're +seeing some encouraging signs. The national government is sharing oil +revenues with the provinces. The parliament recently passed both a +pension law and de-Baathification reform. They're now debating a +provincial powers law. The Iraqis still have a distance to travel. But +after decades of dictatorship and the pain of sectarian violence, +reconciliation is taking place -- and the Iraqi people are taking +control of their future. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our nation. But +it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed. A +free Iraq will deny al Qaeda a safe haven. A free Iraq will show +millions across the Middle East that a future of liberty is possible. A +free Iraq will be a friend of America, a partner in fighting terror, +and a source of stability in a dangerous part of the world. +</p> + +<p> +By contrast, a failed Iraq would embolden the extremists, strengthen +Iran, and give terrorists a base from which to launch new attacks on +our friends, our allies, and our homeland. The enemy has made its +intentions clear. At a time when the momentum seemed to favor them, al +Qaida's top commander in Iraq declared that they will not rest until +they have attacked us here in Washington. My fellow Americans: We will +not rest either. We will not rest until this enemy has been defeated. +(Applause.) We must do the difficult work today, so that years from now +people will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment, +prevailed in a tough fight, and left behind a more hopeful region and a +safer America. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +We're also standing against the forces of extremism in the Holy Land, +where we have new cause for hope. Palestinians have elected a president +who recognizes that confronting terror is essential to achieving a +state where his people can live in dignity and at peace with Israel. +Israelis have leaders who recognize that a peaceful, democratic +Palestinian state will be a source of lasting security. This month in +Ramallah and Jerusalem, I assured leaders from both sides that America +will do, and I will do, everything we can to help them achieve a peace +agreement that defines a Palestinian state by the end of this year. The +time has come for a Holy Land where a democratic Israel and a +democratic Palestine live side-by-side in peace. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +We're also standing against the forces of extremism embodied by the +regime in Tehran. Iran's rulers oppress a good and talented people. And +wherever freedom advances in the Middle East, it seems the Iranian +regime is there to oppose it. Iran is funding and training militia +groups in Iraq, supporting Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, and backing +Hamas' efforts to undermine peace in the Holy Land. Tehran is also +developing ballistic missiles of increasing range, and continues to +develop its capability to enrich uranium, which could be used to create +a nuclear weapon. +</p> + +<p> +Our message to the people of Iran is clear: We have no quarrel with +you. We respect your traditions and your history. We look forward to +the day when you have your freedom. Our message to the leaders of Iran +is also clear: Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment, so +negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of nations, come +clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions, stop your +oppression at home, cease your support for terror abroad. But above +all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops. We +will stand by our allies, and we will defend our vital interests in the +Persian Gulf. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +On the home front, we will continue to take every lawful and effective +measure to protect our country. This is our most solemn duty. We are +grateful that there has not been another attack on our soil since 9/11. +This is not for the lack of desire or effort on the part of the enemy. +In the past six years, we've stopped numerous attacks, including a plot +to fly a plane into the tallest building in Los Angeles and another to +blow up passenger jets bound for America over the Atlantic. Dedicated +men and women in our government toil day and night to stop the +terrorists from carrying out their plans. These good citizens are +saving American lives, and everyone in this chamber owes them our +thanks. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +And we owe them something more: We owe them the tools they need to keep +our people safe. And one of the most important tools we can give them +is the ability to monitor terrorist communications. To protect America, +we need to know who the terrorists are talking to, what they are +saying, and what they're planning. Last year, Congress passed +legislation to help us do that. Unfortunately, Congress set the +legislation to expire on February the 1st. That means if you don't act +by Friday, our ability to track terrorist threats would be weakened and +our citizens will be in greater danger. Congress must ensure the flow +of vital intelligence is not disrupted. Congress must pass liability +protection for companies believed to have assisted in the efforts to +defend America. We've had ample time for debate. The time to act is +now. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Protecting our nation from the dangers of a new century requires more +than good intelligence and a strong military. It also requires changing +the conditions that breed resentment and allow extremists to prey on +despair. So America is using its influence to build a freer, more +hopeful, and more compassionate world. This is a reflection of our +national interest; it is the calling of our conscience. +</p> + +<p> +America opposes genocide in Sudan. (Applause.) We support freedom in +countries from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and Burma. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +America is leading the fight against global poverty, with strong +education initiatives and humanitarian assistance. We've also changed +the way we deliver aid by launching the Millennium Challenge Account. +This program strengthens democracy, transparency, and the rule of law +in developing nations, and I ask you to fully fund this important +initiative. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +America is leading the fight against global hunger. Today, more than +half the world's food aid comes from the United States. And tonight, I +ask Congress to support an innovative proposal to provide food +assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers in the developing +world, so we can build up local agriculture and help break the cycle of +famine. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +America is leading the fight against disease. With your help, we're +working to cut by half the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 +African nations. And our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is treating 1.4 +million people. We can bring healing and hope to many more. So I ask +you to maintain the principles that have changed behavior and made this +program a success. And I call on you to double our initial commitment +to fighting HIV/AIDS by approving an additional $30 billion over the +next five years. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +America is a force for hope in the world because we are a compassionate +people, and some of the most compassionate Americans are those who have +stepped forward to protect us. We must keep faith with all who have +risked life and limb so that we might live in freedom and peace. Over +the past seven years, we've increased funding for veterans by more than +95 percent. And as we increase funding -- (applause.) And as increase +funding we must also reform our veterans system to meet the needs of a +new war and a new generation. (Applause.) I call on the Congress to +enact the reforms recommended by Senator Bob Dole and Secretary Donna +Shalala, so we can improve the system of care for our wounded warriors +and help them build lives of hope and promise and dignity. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure sleepless +nights and the daily struggle of providing for children while a loved +one is serving far from home. We have a responsibility to provide for +them. So I ask you to join me in expanding their access to child care, +creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across the federal +government, and allowing our troops to transfer their unused education +benefits to their spouses or children. (Applause.) Our military +families serve our nation, they inspire our nation, and tonight our +nation honors them. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +The strength -- the secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is +that our greatness lies not in our government, but in the spirit and +determination of our people. (Applause.) When the Federal Convention +met in Philadelphia in 1787, our nation was bound by the Articles of +Confederation, which began with the words, "We the undersigned +delegates." When Gouverneur Morris was asked to draft a preamble to our +new Constitution, he offered an important revision and opened with +words that changed the course of our nation and the history of the +world: "We the people." +</p> + +<p> +By trusting the people, our Founders wagered that a great and noble +nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all +men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations +transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation +on Earth and a beacon of hope for millions. And so long as we continue +to trust the people, our nation will prosper, our liberty will be +secure, and the state of our Union will remain strong. (Applause.) +</p> + +<p> +So tonight, with confidence in freedom's power, and trust in the +people, let us set forth to do their business. God bless America. +(Applause.) +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of State of the Union Addresses of George +W. Bush, by George W. Bush + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES *** + +***** This file should be named 5049-h.htm or 5049-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/4/5049/ + +Produced by James Linden. 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