For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 14, 2001
Remarks by the President While Touring Youth Entertainment Academy
Grace Episcopal Church Plainfield, New Jersey
10:45 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: It talks about
armies -- there is an army of compassion in America,
too. That's what I'm here to highlight, not only the
technology, but the hearts.
One of the things our government is going to
do is to recognize the way faith-based initiatives -- they take place
in neighborhoods all around America. And I believe strongly
that Congress ought to fund programs that will allow for low income
parents to access after-school programs, that can be run by faith-based
programs as well as secular programs.
We ought to ask the question: does
it work? And if it works, we ought to empower those who are
making it work.
One of the problems we face in society is
government cannot make people love one another. I wish we
could. But we darn sure can find those who do love their
neighbor and facilitate programs that will change people's lives.
So I'm honored to be here and I want to thank
you for your compassion and your love.
* * * * *
THE
PRESIDENT: I'm honored, and I can't
thank you all enough for providing a little haven of love and haven of
hope. And I want to thank you all for your fantastic
music. But, more importantly, I want to thank you for the
example you've set. All of us who are in positions where
people look at us must understand we've got to set examples.
And the drummer was telling me not only was he
learning how to hone his skills, but he's learning how to send the
right signal to people in his church and in his family about making the
right choices; lessons he's learned here. And I am so
grateful for your love and your compassion.
Our government must serve as a spawning ground
for social entrepreneurs, many of whom have heard the call to help a
neighbor in need through their religion. We ought to welcome
faith-based programs into our society, not fear them. And I
have come to this program to not only herald what you do, but to say to
others who are wondering whether or not the government is going to
thwart efforts or enable, that we intend to be enablers.
So thank you for letting me
come. And, Governor, thank you for your time, appreciate
your support. And Congressmen, and Mayor, and Buster --
(laughter) -- Madame President. Thank you all.
* * * * *
Q Mr. President, on the
economy, sir, how concerned do you think Americans should be, how
concerned are you about the turmoil in the markets and the state of the
economy in general? And do you think it's time to start
talking the economy up?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm concerned
that a lot of American's portfolio's have been affected; people that
put aside money in the stock market are now seeing their asset base
decline. But I've got great faith in our
economy. I've got great faith in the entrepreneurial
spirit. And I believe the plans we're putting in place by
working with the Congress are going to serve as a second wind for
economic growth.
Q Why did you change
your mind on making carbon dioxide -- regulating carbon dioxide?
THE PRESIDENT: We'll enforce our --
this administration will enforce the clean air laws of the
country. We will work with our utilities to encourage better
efficiency, so as to clean up the air. We've got an energy
crisis in America that we have to deal with in a common sense way. It
is important to not only encourage conservation, but we need to
increase the supplies of energy, so as the make sure that our consumers
and small businesses and large business have got the energy necessary
to not only heat their homes, but to run their businesses.
Q What has changed,
though, since the campaign, when you said we should regulate it, so now
when you say we shouldn't --
THE PRESIDENT: We're in an energy
crisis now. We're going to have to recognize -- our country
has got to recognize that we need more power plants, that we -- 50
percent of our fuel source for our utilities comes from
coal. I'm confident with better efficiencies we'll keep
improving our air quality.
But this is an administration that will
address our problems in a common sense way, and we've got an energy
crisis.
Q How do you respond to
criticism, sir, that you have gone back on a campaign promise here?
THE PRESIDENT: Ours is an
administration that will deal with the problems of the
day. We've got an energy crisis in America. We
use a lot of coal and we need a lot of coal to fuel our plants, to make
sure Americans have got the ability to heat and cool their homes.
Q Are you feeling a lot
of pressure from industry on this issue?
THE PRESIDENT: I was responding to
reality. And reality is the nation has got a real problem
when it comes to energy. We need more sources of
energy. We need more power plants. We need more
exploration for natural gas. And we need clean coal
technology.
I am concerned that if we don't act in a
common sense way that our people will not be able to eat and cool their
homes. And I'm worried about a failure of an energy policy
could affect our economy, and we're dealing with it in a common sense
way.
Q This is the first
time you've been back to New Jersey since the election, and we have a
governor's race coming up. How often are you going to come
back, and are you going to campaign for the new acting governor?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, everybody
knows the new acting governor is my good friend. And I value
his friendship. I will be back in the general election to
help him win -- if he wants me. (Laughter.)
Q Mr. President, your
charitable choice proposals are probably not going to be in the
legislation that goes to the Senate. Are you disappointed
about that?
THE PRESIDENT: First of all, the
reports about our charitable choice legislation not going full steam
ahead is just simply not true. We're moving on a timetable
that we're comfortable with. And part of our faith-based
initiative was to make sure we take a full inventory of programs that
now exist within the federal government.
So we'll move our package and I'm confident it
will get passed. So I really appreciate the bipartisan
effort that has taken place. Joe Lieberman has said some
very positive things, for example, about our
program. Americans are -- want to see the government welcome
faith-based programs and a compassionate delivery of health.
So we're going to have a good package and I'll
be signing a good bill.
Q It's not a setback,
sir, that they've decided that there's a little too much controversy on
that for now?
THE PRESIDENT: I'm not sure what
report you're referring to. But the reports I get is that
there is bipartisan support for the faith-based
initiative. And I'm pretty confident we're going to get a
very good bill. And I appreciate those members who are working with us
on it.
END 11:14 A.M. EST
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