For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 3, 2002
Radio Address by the President to the Nation
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. We've had a month of accomplishment
in Washington. Congress acted on several important proposals to
strengthen our national security and our homeland security and our
economic security. Republicans and Democrats worked in a spirit of
unity and purpose that I hope to see more of in the fall.
I requested more money for our military and for our homeland
security, and Congress provided crucial funding to continue military
operations, to train and equip medics, police officers and firefighters
around America, and to support the Coast Guard operations that protect
our ports and coasts.
I proposed tough new standards for corporate executives and
accountants, and increased penalties for fraud and abuse. Congress
responded with strong corporate accountability reforms, which I signed
into law on Tuesday. And we are rigorously enforcing the laws against
corporate crimes with new arrests just this week.
For nearly a year and a half, I've been pressing Congress for trade
promotion authority so I can aggressively push for open trade with
other nations. This week, the Senate followed the lead of the House by
giving me that authority, which I will sign into law next week.
Expanded trade will mean more business for America's farmers and
ranchers and manufacturers, better buys for American consumers, and
good jobs for America's workers. Together, we made significant
progress on national priorities.
Yet, when Congress returns from its summer recess, important work
remains. In march, I urged Congress in a time of war to pass the
defense budget first. After four months, the House and the Senate have
acted on their own bills -- but they have not sent me a final bill
that works out their differences. When the Congress returns in
September, its first priority should be to complete the defense budget
so our military can plan for, and pay for, the war on terror and all
the missions that lie ahead.
The Senate should also act quickly to pass a bill authorizing the
new Department of Homeland Security, which it failed to do before the
recess. This department will consolidate dozens of federal agencies
charged with protecting our homeland, giving them one main focus:
protecting the American people.
And when we create this department, the new Secretary of Homeland
Security will need the freedom and flexibility to respond to threats by
getting the right people into the right jobs at the right time --
without a lot of bureaucratic hurdles.
The Senate must understand that the protection of our homeland is
much more important than the narrow politics of special interests.
Congress should also act to strengthen the economic security of all
Americans. The Senate must pass reforms to protect workers' savings
and investments; and reform Medicare to include prescription drug
benefits. Both Houses must reach a consensus on final terrorism
insurance legislation, to spur building projects and create
construction jobs.
And they must agree on a comprehensive energy bill that will
increase production and promote conservation and reduce our dependence
on foreign energy sources. And as we work to strengthen America's
economy, we must remember Americans who are struggling. The Senate
should follow the House's lead and pass welfare reform that encourages
work and promotes strong families.
And they should pass legislation to promote the vital work of
private and religious charities, and helping disadvantaged children and
people struggling with addiction, the homeless and many others.
I know in the fall of an election year the tendency is to focus
more on scoring political points than on making progress. I hope the
Congress will reject this approach. In the last month we've proven how
much we can get done when everyone in Washington works together on
behalf of the American people. Come September, I look forward to
working with the Republicans and Democrats to build on that progress.
Thank you for listening.
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