For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 17, 2002
Radio Address by the President to the Nation
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, I hosted an economic
forum at Baylor University in Texas. Participants shared their
concerns about the economic challenges we face, and their ideas for
making the economy stronger.
A common theme among many panelists was that we must leave every
dollar we can in the hands of the people who have earned it. We must
be disciplined with our taxpayers' money, which requires Congress to
focus on funding our nation's priorities.
Winning the war on terror is our top priority. The men and women
fighting the war must have every tool and all the training they need to
fight and win. That is why my budget includes the largest increase in
defense spending in a generation. And that is why I urge the Congress
to pass a final defense appropriations bill as soon as they return to
Washington.
Keeping our homeland secure is another high priority. My budget
would nearly double funding for homeland security to almost $38
billion -- money to train and equip firefighters, police officers, and
emergency medical personnel; money for the Coast Guard, to protect our
ports and coasts; money to keep our water treatment plants and nuclear
facilities safe.
A few weeks ago, Congress passed an emergency funding bill that
provides more than $13 billion in immediate funding for the war on
terror, more than $4 billion for homeland security, and completes our
$20 billion commitment to the people of New York. I was pleased to
sign it.
But Congress also sent along more than $5 billion in extra spending
I did not ask for. Some of that $5 billion I have endorsed and will
work to secure, but a lot of that money has nothing to do with a
national emergency. Those who wrote the bill designed it so either I
have to spend all the money, or none of it. At the economic forum on
Tuesday, I made my position clear: I will spend none of the $5
billion.
We must remember the lessons of the past. In the 1960s, increased
spending required by war was not balanced by slower spending in the
rest of the government. As a result, in the 1970s we faced
unemployment and growing deficits and spiraling inflation.
We cannot go down the path of soaring budget deficits. We must
meet our defense and homeland security needs, and hold the line on
other spending. My budget raises defense spending by more than 14
percent. It nearly doubles homeland security funding. In all other
areas, it increases spending by two percent. Many families are living
with raises like that, and so should the government.
The House of Representatives has done well by staying within these
limits. Unfortunately, the Senate has not even passed a budget
framework, and so far it has been ignoring fiscal discipline. I
requested $2.4 billion for public housing; the bill moving through the
Senate includes $300 million more. I requested $2.2 billion for
agricultural research; again, the Senate wants to spend $300 million
more.
I requested $3.1 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration; the Senate wants to spend $200 million more. And these
levels could go higher. I challenge Congress to respect the taxpayers
and show restraint with their money. It is very important they do so
in order for our economy to continue to grow.
If Congress will not show spending restraint, I will enforce
spending restraint. For the good of our economy, for the good of the
people who pay taxes, my administration will spend what is truly
needed, and not a dollar more.
Thank you for listening.
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