President Bush will offer the American people "great goals and great challenges" in his January 20 State of the Union address to Congress, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said at his January 16 daily briefly.

"In terms of the State of the Union, there are big issues facing the American people," McClellan said. "And this is a time to unite the American people around big priorities. It is a time that requires leadership that brings the country together around great goals and great challenges. And I think you will hear the President talk about that in his remarks."

McClellan said "we have been working to meet our priorities, both at home and abroad, but there is much that remains to be done to continue to make America more secure, to continue to make America more prosperous, and to continue to make America more hopeful. And it will be in that tone that the president will address the Congress and the American people."

McClellan also said the president will talk about Iraq and the Middle East. The Middle East, he said, will continue as a priority for the United States. "[W]e are promoting democracy and offering hope for a region that has been a breeding ground for terrorism, we have removed brutal regimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and have liberated millions of people in those two nations".

Final drafts of the State of the Union address, McClellan said, were submitted to Bush the week of January 11. The president "will continue to work on it over the weekend, at Camp David, and do some more speech preparation on Monday and Tuesday" of the coming week, McClellan told reporters.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday, January 19, 2004 --
President Bush will attend a luncheon with African-American clergy spouses in the State Dinning Room to be hosted by Mrs. Bush.

Tuesday, January 20, 2004 --
President will give the State of the Union address at the Capitol.

Wednesday, January 21, 2004 --
President will travel to Toledo, Ohio, where he will remark on the state of the union, attend fundraising event and then travel to Phoenix, Arizona, for additional remarks.

Thursday, January 22, 2004 --
President will travel to Roswell, New Mexico, where he will make remarks.

Friday, January 23, 2004 --
President will participate in a photo-op at the White House with the 2003 baseball World Series champions, the Florida Marlins.

Saturday, January 24, 2004 --
Alpha-Alpha Club Dinner, Capitol Hilton.

Vice President Cheney Schedule:

Saturday, January 24 --
Cheney has accepted an invitation to address the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Monday, January 26 --
Cheney to address the Italian Senate in Rome.

Tuesday, January 27 --
Cheney to meet with Pope John Paul II, and then give a speech for U.S. servicemen and women at Aviano Airbase.