Text of Bush's Address to Congress
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001
Editor's note: This is the text of President Bush's address Tuesday night to
a joint session of Congress.
It is a great privilege to be here to outline a new budget and a new
approach for governing our great country.
I thank you for your invitation to speak here tonight. 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.
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 of our 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, but by what we are able to
accomplish.
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 for each
other.
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.
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.
'Chart a Different Course'
We should leave those arguments to the last century and chart a different
course. Government has a role, and an important one. 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.
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.
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.
The highest percentage increase in our budget should go to our children's
education. Education is my top priority and by supporting this budget, you
will make it yours as well.
Reading is the foundation of all learning, so during the next 5 years, we
triple spending, adding another $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.
We have increased funding to train and recruit teachers, because we know a
good education starts with a good teacher. And I have a wonderful partner in
this effort. I like teachers so much, I married one. Please help me salute
our gracious first lady, Laura Bush.
Laura has begun a new effort to recruit Americans to the profession that
will shape our future: teaching. Laura will travel across America, to
promote sound teaching practices and early reading skills in our schools and
in programs such as Head Start.
'Tie Funding to Higher Standards'
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.
I believe in local control of schools: we should not and we will not run our
public schools from Washington. 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.
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
children 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.
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. Yet if they do not, 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 not an option.
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.
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
low-income seniors. No senior in America should have to choose between
buying food and buying prescriptions.
To make sure the retirement savings of America's seniors are not diverted to
any other program - my budget protects all $2.6 trillion of the Social
Security surplus for Social Security and for Social Security alone.
'Priority on Access to Health Care'
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. 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.
And we will address the concerns of those who have health coverage yet worry
their insurance company does not care and will not 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.
When it comes to their health, people want to get the medical care they
need, not be forced to go to court because they did not 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.
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. God bless you, Joe.
And 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.
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.
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.
America's veterans honored their commitment to our country through their
military service. I will honor our commitment to them with a billion dollar
increase to ensure better access to quality care and faster decisions on
benefit claims.
My budget will improve our environment by accelerating the cleanup of toxic
Brownfields. And I propose we make a major investment in conservation by
fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
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 in
resources over 5 years for the upkeep of these national treasures.
And my budget adopts a hopeful new approach to help the poor and
disadvantaged. We must encourage and support the work of charities and
faith-based 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.
Government cannot be replaced by charities or volunteers. And government
should not fund religious activities. But our Nation should support the good
works of these good people who are helping neighbors in need.
So I am proposing 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.
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 to 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.
With us tonight is the mayor of Philadelphia. Please help me welcome Mayor
John Street. Mayor Street has encouraged faith-based and community
organizations to make a difference in Philadelphia and 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. Mayor Street is a
Democrat. Let the record show that I lost his city. But some things are
bigger than politics. So I look forward to coming to your city to see your
faith-based programs in action.
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 Attorney
General Ashcroft to develop specific recommendations to end racial
profiling. It is wrong and we must end it.
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.
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.
'Pay Down Our National Debt'
Many of you have talked about the need to pay down our national debt. I have
listened, and I agree.
My budget proposal pays down an unprecedented amount of public debt. We owe
it to our children and grandchildren to act now, and I hope you will join me
to pay down $2 trillion in debt during the next 10 years.
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.
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. For
example, after a strategic review, we may need to increase defense spending,
we may need additional money for our farmers, or additional money to reform
Medicare. And 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.
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. 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.
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, to fund their own priorities and
pay down their own debts. I hope you will join me and stand firmly on the
side of the people.
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 to ask for a refund.
'This Tax Relief Is Just Right'
Some say my tax plan is too big, others say it is too small. I respectfully
disagree. This tax relief is just right.
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 cost to fix them.
A tax rate of 15 percent is too high for those who earn low wages, so we
lowered 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. 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.
We simplified the tax code by reducing the number of tax rates from the
current five rates to four lower ones: 10, 15, 25, and 33 percent. In my
plan, no one is targeted in or targeted out ... everyone who pays income
taxes will get tax relief.
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. 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.
These changes add up to significant help. A typical family with two children
will save $1,600 a year on their Federal income taxes. Sixteen hundred
dollars may not sound like a lot to some, but it means a lot to many
families. 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.
With us tonight, representing many American families, are Steven and
Josefina Ramos. Please help me welcome them. The Ramoses 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-year-old daughter, Lianna. 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. Let me tell you what Steven says: "Two
thousand dollars 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 two years
time." After that, Steven and Josefina want to start saving for Lianna's
college education. Government should never stand in the way of families
achieving their dreams. The surplus is not the government's money, the
surplus is the people's money.
For lower-income families, my tax relief 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. Her 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.
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.
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.
Forty years ago and then twenty 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.
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.
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.
America has a window of opportunity to extend and secure our present peace
by promoting a distinctly American inter-nationalism. 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.
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 downpayment 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.
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.
And as we transform our military, we can discard Cold War relics, and reduce
our own nuclear forces to reflect today's needs.
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.
Each of the previous five Presidents has had the ability to negotiate
far-reaching trade agreements. Tonight I ask you to give me the strong hand
of presidential trade promotion authority, and to do so quickly.
'National Energy Policy'
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
recommend a national energy policy.
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.
Perhaps the biggest test of our foresight and courage will be reforming
Medicare and Social Security.
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, it
is time to act. Medicare must be modernized. And we must make sure that
every senior on Medicare can choose a health plan that offers prescription
drugs.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 finance
reforms.
The agenda I have set before you tonight is worthy of a great country.
America is a nation at peace, but not a nation at rest. Much has been given
to us, and much is expected.
Let us agree to bridge old divides. But let us also agree that our good will
must be dedicated to great goals. Bipartisanship is more than minding our
manners, it is doing our duty.
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.
Yet America's purpose is never found only in statues or history. America's
purpose always stands before us.
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.
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.
Thank you. Good night. And God bless America. |
