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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 2, 2001

Remarks by the President and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi During Swearing-In Ceremony
The Oval Office

1:28 P.M. EST

     THE  PRESIDENT:   Thank  you all for coming.  Liz, thank you for being here,  and  family members who are here, Mom.  We are honored you are here, and thank you so much for witnessing the swearing-in of a good man.

     Today  we  honor a man, and swear-in a man, who has served his country in many ways.  Tony Principi came to understand the military in war time as a  decorated  soldier  in Vietnam.  As a veteran, he came to understand the Department  of Veterans Affairs by serving there.  To fill this position, I looked carefully, and I chose well.

     America has 25 million veterans.  They ask that their government honor its  commitments  as they honored theirs.  They ask that their interests be protected, as they protected their country's interests in the line of duty. Secretary  Principi  is  prepared  not only to lead this department, but to modernize it.      Veteran's  claims  are often poorly handled, and many veterans are not treated as well as they should be by the health care bureaucracy.  Tony and his department will set new goals for better service.  More importantly, we both expect the department to meet the goals.

     As  I  said to Congress on Tuesday night, we must honor our commitment to  veterans by ensuring access to the finest health care.  This is a basic obligation  of  our  country.  In last year's campaign, I promised American veterans  they'd  have  an  advocate  in  the  White  House.   In Secretary Principi,  they  now have a strong and faithful friend at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

     Mr. Secretary, thank you for your service.  Congratulations.

     SECRETARY  PRINCIPI:   Thank  you,  Mr. President, Mr. Vice President. I'm  deeply  honored  that you have entrusted me with the responsibility to care  for the 25 million men and women who have kept our country free.  You certainly  honor my family with this appointment.  And I commit to you, and to  our  nation's  veterans,  that I will give my utmost to ensure that the services and benefits that they have rightfully earned will be fulfilled.

     And  I  look forward to working under your great leadership during the next four years.  Thank you.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

     SECRETARY PRINCIPI:  Thank you, sir.

                             END                 1:30 P.M. EST