For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
September 30, 2004
Remarks by First Lady Laura Bush at David Vitter for Senate Luncheon
The Petroleum Club of Shreveport Shreveport, Louisiana
11:35 A.M. CDT
MRS. BUSH: Thank you. Thanks so much for being here for
Congressman Vitter. And that was a very nice introduction he gave. I
think it's the first time I've been introduced by telephone.
(Laughter.)
I'm so glad to be here to make sure Congressman Vitter is elected
to represent the great state of Louisiana in the United States Senate.
(Applause.)
Special thanks to every one of you here, who are working so hard to
make sure Congressman Vitter is elected as your next senator. I know
that many of you are also working hard on my husband's campaign, and
President Bush and I appreciate that very, very much. (Applause.) The
President sends his very best regards, and he also thanks you for
supporting David Vitter.
I'm so glad that Wendy is here with me today. Wendy and I both
have a lot in common. We're both committed to finding a cure for
breast cancer, we've campaigned with our husbands for Congress, and we
both know what it's like to raise twins. (Laughter.) I'm just farther
along in that than Wendy. (Laughter.)
All of you know Congressman Vitter as a devoted father, as a
hardworking public servant, and as an experienced leader. He'll always
listen to a question or a concern, and you can count on David to speak
his mind. That's what Wendy told me. (Laughter.)
In Washington, we know Congressman Vitter as a principled, skilled
legislator, who is not afraid to reach across the aisle to get things
done for the people of Louisiana. From tax relief, to education
reform, to securing millions for the cleanup of Lake Pontchartrain,
David works on issues that matter to the families and the workers of
Louisiana. And President Bush and I are grateful to have David as a
friend.
I'm so proud of my husband and the way he has led our country with
strength and conviction through the greatest struggle of our
generation. And the President is grateful to have leaders like
Congressman Vitter to stand by his side during these challenging
times. (Applause.)
President Bush has taken decisive action to lead us out of
recession with the largest tax relief in a generation. And Congressman
Vitter supported doubling the child credit, reducing the marriage
penalty, and putting the estate tax on the road to extinction.
(Applause.)
My husband worked with David and other leaders in Congress to
improve our schools with higher standards, accountability, and the most
funding -- federal funding ever for elementary and secondary
education. Thanks to the No Child Left Behind Act, more children are
reading at grade level, scores in math are improving, and students in
Louisiana and across the country are closing the achievement gap. We
owe much of this success to America's incredible teachers. (Applause.)
In a new term, my husband wants to make sure that teachers who
choose to work in low-income schools and those who are working hard to
close the achievement gap are rewarded some way with extra
compensation. And David supports the recruitment efforts to bring
10,000 much-needed new teachers to our classrooms.
President Bush relied on David's support as he made the most
difficult decision any President ever has to make, and that's to send
troops to war to safeguard our country from terror.
We've been through a lot together these last four years, and these
are also times of change that require new ideas to move America
forward. Just think about the differences in our lives today and the
lives of our parents or grandparents. Today in most families, both
parents are working outside of the home, including two-thirds of all
mothers. And more single parents are doing double duty alone. More
entrepreneurs are starting their own businesses. Workers are changing
jobs often during their whole careers, rather than going to work for
one company and staying there for a lifetime. And more people are
going back to school to keep up with our changing economy.
President Bush and Congressman Vitter are committed to helping
families face the challenges of our changing world. David knows that
good jobs and a skilled work force are vital to Louisiana's economy,
and he supports the President's plan to strengthen math and science
education, to expand Internet learning in our high schools so that
graduates are prepared to compete in our changing economy. And David
will work with President Bush to make it easier for workers to attend
local community colleges so they can learn new job skills or even start
a new career.
And because higher education is a lifelong dream for so many, the
President wants more Pell grants to be available so that more Americans
can get a college diploma. (Applause.)
Our graduates and workers need an economy with abundant
opportunity, one in which businesses are growing and creating jobs.
This requires making America the best place in the world to do
business. David will work with the President to reform our federal tax
code and to reduce frivolous lawsuits that drive up the cost of
business and health care for all Americans. (Applause.)
And George and Congressman Vitter know that another important issue
for Louisiana families and for our whole country is affordable health
care. Because now so many people change jobs several times during
their careers, workers need health care insurance that they can take
with them. President Bush is making health care more affordable with
ideas like health savings accounts. These plans allow you to save tax
free for routine health care expenses in accounts that you control,
that you own and that you can take with you from job to job. In other
words, you can buy less expensive insurance with a high deductible and
then save the amount of your deductible in your health savings account,
and end up with better health care and your own health savings
account. (Applause.)
And my husband will make sure that patients and doctors are in
charge of health care, not bureaucrats in Washington. (Applause.)
George and David Vitter believe that government should try to help
people improve their lives, not try to run them. (Applause.)
All of these issues are important to our country. But as we mark
the third anniversary of September 11th, I believe that what's most
important is our work to protect our country and to defeat terror
around the world. (Applause.)
For all Americans, September 11th was a defining moment. We'll
never forget the bravery of our fellow Americans or the spirit of unity
that spread across our country. And we'll never forget the courage of
our military men and women or the dedication of their families.
As the leader on the Military Construction Appropriations
Committee, David knows that defending our freedom is the most important
responsibility we have. David has been a leader in securing more than
$48 million in funding for Barksdale Air Force Base. (Applause.) And
he'll continue to make supporting and strengthening our military his
top priority in the United States Senate.
As we do the hard work of confronting terror, we can be proud that
today 50 million more men, women and children have the chance to live
in freedom, thanks to the United States of America and our allies.
(Applause.)
After years of being treated as virtual prisoners in their homes by
the Taliban, the women of Afghanistan are now free to walk outside
without a male escort, and the little girls of Afghanistan, who were
forbidden to be educated, are now in school. (Applause.) Next week,
more than 10.5 million Afghans, including 4 million women, will vote in
their first free election in the history of their country. (Applause.)
And because we acted, the people of Iraq are free from the tyranny
of Saddam Hussein. President Bush met with Iraq's new leader, Prime
Minister Allawi, at the White House last week. Prime Minister Allawi
said that the Iraqi people are determined to exercise their right to
vote this January, even as they face violence from those who oppose
democracy. These acts are grim reminders of why our work to defeat
terror and to support free societies in the Middle East is so
important.
We still have hard work to do, but we'll stand with the people of
Iraq and Afghanistan while they build free countries. (Applause.)
We must remember that building a democracy takes time. Think of
how long it took us in our country. It took almost 100 years after our
founders declared that all men are created equal to abolish slavery in
America -- and not until 84 years ago did American women get the right
to vote.
We know that it's possible to build a democracy, and we see the
great examples of all the Central European countries that were once
part of the Soviet Union. They now have 11- and 12-year-old
democracies, so we know it can also happen in the Middle East.
President Bush and Congressman Vitter will work to make our country
safer and stronger and more hopeful for all Americans. (Applause.)
When you leave here today, redouble your efforts to reelect David
Vitter -- or elect him to the United States Senate. And while you're
at it -- (laughter) -- talk to your neighbors and your friends about
the President's accomplishments and his plans for a new term.
(Applause.)
Reach out to Democrats and Independents who appreciate strong and
optimistic leadership. Make sure your friends are all registered to
vote, and then make sure they turn out at the polls. Everything you do
to help will be great for the President's and David's campaign.
And tonight, at the first debate in Miami, the American people will
see the strong and decisive man I've been married to for 27 years --
(applause) -- a man who says what he means and does what he says.
That's the kind of leader David Vitter is as well. Congressman Vitter
will serve the people of Louisiana with integrity and conviction, and
these are values we need in the United States Senate.
In the next few weeks, do everything you can to ensure David Vitter
represents you as senator from the great state of Louisiana. Thank you
all very much for your friendship. Thank you for your support, and
thanks for joining President Bush and me in supporting David Vitter for
Senate. Thank you all so much. (Applause.)
END 11:50 A.M. CDT
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