President Addresses Urban League
Remarks by the President to the 2003 Urban League Conference David Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
11:17 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for your kind
invitation. But, most importantly, thanks for your service to your
fellow Americans. (Applause.) The Urban League has always stood strong
for justice and hope and healing. It stood for opportunity for all our
citizens. I'm honored to be at such an organization.
I appreciate the chance, as well, to come to Pittsburgh. It's a
city that's rich in civil rights, the history of civil rights. In the
1800s, the Underground Railroad here delivered thousands out of slavery
and into freedom. In the 1930s and 1940s, Pittsburgh's Urban League led
successful protests against schools and department stores that refused
to hire African Americans. And today in this city, community leaders
are showing what good people can accomplish by working together. I now
know why they call it the Renaissance City, and I want to thank you for
your hospitality. (Applause.)
The work of the National Urban League represents one of the basic
commitments of this country. See. we believe in opportunity for all, a
society where every person can dream, and work, and realize his or her
potential.. We're dedicated to bringing economic hope to every
neighborhood, a good education to every child, and comfort and
compassion to the afflicted. And our nation has come a long way, and we
have a long way to go. And we will not stop, we will not tire until we
have extended the great promise of America to every neighborhood in
America. And that's what I want to talk about today. (Applause.)
I want to thank Mr. President, President Marc Morial for his kind
invitation and his willingness to lead this important American
institution. He replaces a good man in Hugh Price, who has ably led
the Urban League for nearly a decade. And there's no doubt in my mind
that Marc Morial will do a great job on behalf of America. Thank you.
(Applause.)
As he said, we grew up right around the corner from each other. And
I know what he was -- what New Orleans was like when he was the mayor
of that important city. Bourbon Street was never more alive when --
(laughter) -- never mind. (Laughter.)
I'm honored that the Secretary of Education is with us today, Rod
Paige. He is a good friend and a good man. (Applause.)
I appreciate so very much Michael Critelli, who is the Chairman of
the Board of the National Urban League. A businessman that understands
corporate responsibility. It means you've got to help somebody else, as
well as watching the bottom line. Mike, thank you for being here.
(Applause.)
I'm honored that members from the Pennsylvania Congressional
Delegation are with us today, Senators Specter and Santorum and
Congressman Tim Murphy. I appreciate them coming. A couple of them
jumped on Air Force One. (Laughter.) I'm not suggesting that's why
they came. (Laughter.) There's not a lot of air raids on Air Force One.
(Laughter.) But I'm glad to have them.
I see Reverend Jackson is with us today. Jesse Jackson, it's good
to see you. (Applause.)
Congressman Cummings, I'm honored to see you, Congressman. Thank
you for being here. (Applause.)
I appreciate so very much my friend, Mayor Jim Garner, who's the
President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors who is with us today. Mr.
Mayor, thank you for coming. (Applause.)
I know that Mike Fisher, the State Attorney General, is with us
today. And the Allegheny County Chief Executive, Jim Roddey, is with us
today. And I'm honored that they have come. I want to thank all the
elected officials. I want to thank the Board of the National Urban
League. And I want to thank the delegates for giving me a chance to
come by and say hello. (Applause.)
Today, I had the honor when I landed at the airport of meeting a
board member of the Urban League of Pittsburgh, a fellow named Xavier
Williams. He came to see me because one of the things I try to do is
herald the great strength of the country, which happens to be the heart
and soul of our citizens.
You see, Xavier works for a -- it's called Inroads. It's a
nonprofit organization which matches minority youth with successful
businesses and corporations to try to help them have the skills
necessary to realize the entrepreneurial spirit of America.
Xavier knows what I know, that the best way to serve your country
is to love a neighbor just like you would like to be loved yourself.
And I appreciate the example that Xavier Williams sets, for not only
the good folks here in Pittsburgh, but for people all around the
country. Thank you, Xavier, for your service to our country.
(Applause.)
Every generation of Americans must rise to its own challenges, and
this generation is rising to meet ours. We will never forget the
lessons of September the 11th, 2001. Great oceans no longer protect us
from dangers that gather far from home. And the other lesson is that
there are people who can't stand what America stands for, and desire to
conflict great harm on the American people. In the 22 months since that
day, we have put those who hate America on notice: wherever they plot,
wherever they plan, they will find no place to hide from American
justice. (Applause.)
The al Qaida terrorists still threaten our country, but they're on
the run. The regime in Afghanistan, the Taliban regime inflicted great
harm on the citizens of that country and protected the terrorists. But
that regime is no more. Afghanistan is now free.
And our current mission in Iraq is essential to the broader war on
terror, it's essential to the security of the American people. You see,
a free, democratic, peaceful Iraq will not threaten America or our
friends with weapons; a free Iraq will not be a training ground for
terrorists, or a funnel of money to terrorists, or provide weapons to
terrorists who would willingly use them to strike our country; a free
Iraq will not destabilize the Middle East. A free Iraq can set a
hopeful example to the entire region and lead other nations to choose
freedom. And as the pursuits of freedom replace hatred and resentment
and terror in the Middle East, the American people will be more secure.
Our men and women in uniform are serving our nation and the cause of
security and peace. We're proud of them. We appreciate their progress.
We appreciate their dedication to the country called America.
(Applause.)
This nation has another great challenge. While we stand for freedom
and opportunity abroad, we must make those same values real in the
lives of all Americans. This nation has got work to do. There are
citizens who can't find jobs. There are citizens looking for homes for
their families. There are students, who go to school that are letting
them down every day, and don't seem to improve. There are children who
need mentors in their lives, and people struggling with addiction, who
need to know they don't face that struggle alone.
To make the promise of America real for everyone, we need active
citizens who help their neighbors, we need active churches and active
communities, and we need active government. We can make a difference in
people's lives with creative, innovative policies that focus on
results. (Applause.)
Greater opportunity and hope begins with a growing economy. The
stock market started to decline in March of 2000. And then we had
recession in the first quarter of 2001. So we acted. We provided
historic tax relief for families. And then as the economy was beginning
to come back, we found out some of our citizens, corporate CEOs forgot
what it means to be a responsible citizen and they did not tell the
truth to shareholder and employee alike. So we acted, and we're now
holding corporate criminals to account. (Applause.)
Last year, we saw too many Americans were still struggling find a
job, so we acted again. We brought the marriage penalty down. It
doesn't make any sense, by the way, to penalize marriage in the tax
code. It seems like the tax code ought to encourage marriage, not
penalize it. (Applause.) We reduced income tax rates. We expanded the
child credit from $600 to $1,000 per child, and we made the change
retroactive to January 1st, so the checks are in the mail. (Applause.)
And as a matter of fairness, Congress should make the child credit
refundable -- low income families need help, as well, during these
economic slow times.
To add more jobs to the economy, we're also focusing a lot on small
businesses, because small businesses create the most new jobs in an
economy. (Applause.) Most small businesses are sole-proprietorships or
sub-Chapter S's, so when you reduce the income tax rates, you help
small businesses. They pay tax at the individual rates. We're also
allowing a higher expense deduction for small businesses, which will
make it easier for small businesses to buy new equipment and to hire
new people. We're working through the Small Business Administration and
Minority Business Development Agency to ensure that minority businesses
get access to federal contracting, and financing and technical
assistance for start-ups. Because we understand small businesses are
the path to the American Dream, and this path must be more open to all
our citizens. (Applause.)
You hear a lot of talk about tax relief. Let me tell you my belief.
When a person has got more money in his or her pocket, he or she is
likely to demand an additional good or a service. And when somebody
demands a good or a service, in our society, somebody is going to
produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or
a service, it means somebody is more likely find a job. The tax relief
we packaged is good for helping people find work in America.
(Applause.)
We've been through a lot: recession, war, emergencies and corporate
scandals. But I'm optimistic about the future. I'm optimistic about the
future because I see hopeful signs home sales are strong and people are
refinancing their mortgages to put more money in their pockets;
inflation is low; retail sales have begun to show growth; productivity
is high. and the good news is, a lot of the economists are beginning to
forecast a better tomorrow, which is important for making sure that
people have hope in our society.
No, we're dealing with the economy. We saw a problem and we dealt
with it straight up. (Applause.)
And as the economy expands, we've got to help Americans who find
the greatest difficulty finding work. So I have proposed what we call
re-employment accounts. The job-seeker would have an account up to
$3,000 for job training or child care or transportation, or relocating
to get a new job in a new city. If a worker find a new job quickly,
within 13 weeks, he or she gets to keep the balance of the cash as a
re-employment account. (Applause.) Congress needs to put this plan in
effect. Congress needs to help those who are having trouble finding
work.
Congress also needs to understand we need a sound energy policy in
America. We need to cut down on frivolous litigation, which inhibits
economy growth. We need a trade policy that opens new markets for
American products. We also need good housing policy. A good way to make
sure this economy remains strong is a housing policy which closes the
minority homeownership gap in America. (Applause.)
We need greater tax incentives for people to build homes in inner
cities. I believe our government should provide down payment assistance
to people who want to buy a home, but need a little extra help. I
understand there's a lot of fine print when it comes to mortgages, so
we need to help people understand what's in the fine print. We need
grant programs to help counsel low and moderate income folks across our
country, to teach them what it means to buy a home and to make sure
that the fine print is understood by all.
No, we've got a goal in America of helping 5.5 million more
minority citizens become homeowners by the end of this decade.
(Applause.)
The truth of the matter is, the future of our economy and our
country depend upon good schools in all our neighborhoods. Equal
education is one of the most pressing civil rights of our day. Nearly
half a century after Brown versus Board of Education, there's still an
achievement gap in America. On the most recent National Assessment of
Educational Progress, on the reading test, 41 percent of white 4th
graders were proficient and better readers, but only 12 percent of
African-Americans met that standard. That means we've got a problem.
Both numbers are too low.
I think too many of our schools are leaving too many children
unprepared. And so we acted. I worked with Congress to pass what we
call The No Child Left Behind Act. It says every child can learn. We
must challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. And you know what
I'm talking about. (Applause.)
And as Rod Paige will brief you, states are beginning to respond.
We said, in return for record levels of education spending at the
federal level, we expect results.
You see, if you believe every child can learn, then you ought to be
asking the question to those who are spending our money: are you
teaching the child? That's what we ought to be asking all across
America. And now there's accountability plans being put in place in 50
states, plus Puerto Rico and the District. I know people are concerned
about testing. I've heard this debate a lot. They say it's
discriminatory to measure and compare results. I say it is
discriminatory not to measure. I think it's important to know whether
or not our schools are succeeding. We simply have got to stop shuffling
our children from grade to grade without asking the question, have they
been taught to learn to read and write and add and subtract?
(Applause.)
I believe it is those who believe certain can't learn that are
willing to shuffle them through. And the No Child Left Behind Act ends
that, in return for record levels of money, you've got to show us
whether or not the children can read and write and add and subtract.
And when schools don't measure up, parents must have more options. It's
one thing to measure, but there has to be consequences for failing
schools. So in that Act parents are able to send their children to a
different public school or a charter school, or get special tutorial
help.
I also believe it makes sense to explore private school choices, so
I'm working with the leadership in Washington, D.C. This isn't a
Democrat issue or Republican issue, this is an issue that focuses on
children. (Applause.)
I know setting high standards works. I know measuring and using the
measurement system as a way to diagnose problems so you can focus on
the problems works. In my state, 73 percent of the white students
passed the math test in 1994, while only 38 percent of African-American
students passed it. So we made that the point of reference. We had
people focused on the results for the first time -- not process, but
results. And because teachers rose to the challenge, because the
problem became clear, that gap has now closed to 10 points. Because
every child can learn, you've just got to focus the attention and the
resources when necessary. Accountability tells you what's going right
and it tells you what's going wrong and it shows you where the emphasis
needs to be.
We're having the same results in North Carolina. In states that
measure, you'll find that the achievement gap is closing dramatically.
(Applause.)
Our opportunity in society must also be a compassionate society. As
Americans, when we see hopelessness and suffering and injustice, we
will not turn our backs. And one of the best ways to build hope is to
recognize where some of the great works of compassion are done. You
see, a government can hand out money -- and sometimes we do a pretty
good job of it -- but what it can't do is put hope in people's hearts
or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That happens when people who
have been called to love a neighbor interface with a neighbor in need.
You see, every day across America, faith-based and community groups
are touching people's lives in profound ways -- give shelter to the
homeless and provide safety for battered women; they bring compassion
to lonely seniors. America's neighborhood healers have long experience
and deep understanding of the problems that many face. And many of them
have something extra besides experience. They have inspiration, as they
carry God's love to people in need. (Applause.)
I like to call the neighborhood healers America's social
entrepreneurs. And they need the support of foundation America and
corporate America. They need the support of individuals and, of course,
congregations. And, when appropriate, they deserve the support of the
government.
Government has no business endorsing a religious creed, or directly
funding religious worship. But for too long, government treated people
of faith like second-class citizens in the grant making process.
Government can and should support effective social services provided by
religious people, as long as those services go to anyone in need.
(Applause.) And when government gives that support, faith-based
institutions should not be forced to change the character of their
service or compromise their principles.****
Neighborhood healers have not been treated well by the federal
government, so I signed an executive order banning discrimination
against faith-based charities by federal agencies. I created a special
offices in my key Cabinet departments to speak up for faith-based
groups, and to help them access government funding. I've asked the
departments to report to me on a regular basis to make sure the old
days are gone, to make sure we challenge and harness the great strength
of the country, the heart and soul of our citizens. We're changing the
focus of government from process to results. Instead of asking the
question, is this a faith-based program? We're now asking the question,
does the program work? And if so, it deserves our support. (Applause.)
And the support is making a difference. Here in Pittsburgh, the
North Hills Community Outreach and Interfaith Human Services Agency
uses about $76,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services to
help people get through tough times. In other words, we're using
taxpayers' money to help support programs that use the faith component
to help change lives and save lives.
A fellow named Royal Patterson went to this program. He was a
painter for 27 years. And then he was unable to climb up a ladder. So
he goes to North Hills. They gave him food. They gave him bus passes.
They helped him to get a new job. But what he said was, most important,
he said it was so uplifting, you figure nobody cares, but they care.
There's a lot of programs around based on faith that care for
people. And our government must recognize their potential in our
society if we want to heal lives all across America. (Applause.)
I've asked Congress to fund $100 million for the Compassionate
Capital Fund. That's a fancy word for providing money for organizations
like the Urban League to teach some of these small faith programs how
to apply for grants, how to help manage and train their staffs. In
other words, I fully recognize that some of the programs in some of the
neighborhoods need management help. They need guidance. And I would
hope that Marc would take advantage of this program to help some faith
programs all around the country be fully prepared to do what they're
called to do, which is love somebody in need.
I've asked Congress for $600 million over three years to extend
drug and alcohol treatment to 300,000 Americans, and that faith-based
providers must be allowed to compete for these funds. (Applause.)
Sometimes when a person changes their heart, they change their
habits. (Applause.) And our Congress must recognize that and provide
opportunity for faith-based programs such as the Sojourner House, named
after Sojourner Truth right here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is a
program which helps mothers with drug and alcohol problems. A child can
live in a loving environment while a mom works to break free from
addiction. They help the people get on their feet. They help people see
themselves as a worthy child of God. (Applause.)
That may not sound like your average government program. But we're
no longer asking, is it a faith-based program? We're asking, does it
work? The Sojourner House works, and this country of ours ought to
support programs like the Sojourner House. (Applause.)
It's important for our nation to recognize that too many young
people are growing up without enough caring adults in their lives. Too
many people wonder whether anybody loves them. We need more mentors,
committed adults to serve as role models to help shepherd children
through the early years of their life.
Congress -- I called upon Congress to spend $450 million over three
years to bring more mentors to more than a million disadvantaged
children. We've got a goal: mentors for a million children -- junior
high children, who are making life decisions, as well as the children
of prisoners who face so many problems through no fault of their own,
and they need somebody to surround them with some love.
Faith communities are a great source for mentors, and we must make
sure that faith-based groups have a chance to participate in this
program, as well. More Americans volunteer through their houses of
worship than any other organization, and Congress must recognize that.
Our government should not fear faith, we ought to welcome it as an
equal partner in helping people who need help. (Applause.)
We believe in the value and possibility of every life. And we'll
help those who need help here at home, and we must help those who need
help abroad, as well.
I have recently seen for myself the great possibilities of Africa
and the great needs of Africa. That continent's economic future depends
upon trade. We'll continue to help African countries become full
partners in trade and prosperity. Many African people struggle with
hunger. You need to know your government and your country is the most
generous country in the world for providing aid and help for those who
are hungry. America's progress -- Africa's progress is threatened by
terrorism and civil wars, and so we're working with African governments
to rid that continent of regional conflict and terrorist violence.
They're suffering in Liberia today. I directed the Secretary of
Defense to position appropriate military capabilities off the coast of
Liberia in order to support the deployment of an ECOWAS force. We're
committed to working with ECOWAS to create the conditions in which
lives can be saved and aid can be delivered. (Applause.)
We're also helping Africa overcome one of the deadliest enemies it
has ever faced, the spread of HIV/AIDS. Over the next five years, the
United States has pledged $15 billion to fight AIDS around the world,
with special focus on nations in Africa and the Caribbean. (Applause.)
We are working with governments, and private groups, and faith-based
organizations to help with prevention and to provide much needed
anti-retroviral drugs for treatment. We are determined to turn the
tide against AIDS in Africa. (Applause.)
Recently, on my trip to Africa, I visited Goree Island in Senegal,
where for centuries, men and women were delivered and sorted and
branded and shipped. It's a haunting place, a reminder of mankind's
capacity for cruelty and injustice.
Yet Goree Island is also a reminder of the strength of the human
spirit, and the capacity for good to overcome evil. The men and women
who boarded slave ships on that island and wound up in America endured
the separation of their families, the brutality of their oppressors,
and the indifference of laws that regarded them only as articles of
commerce. Still, the spirit of Africans in America did not break.
(Applause.) All the generations of oppression under the laws of man
could not crush the hope of freedom. And by a plan known only to
Providence, the stolen sons and daughters of Africa helped to awake the
conscience of America. The very people traded into slavery helped to
set America free. (Applause.)
The moral vision of African Americans and of groups like the Urban
League caused Americans to examine our hearts, to correct our
Constitution, and to teach our children the dignity and equality of
every person of every race.
Our journey toward justice has not been easy and it is not over.
Yet I am confident that we will reach our destination. We have been
called to great work in our time, and we will answer that call. We will
defend our freedom, and we will lead the world toward peace. And we
will unite American behind the great goals of opportunity for all, and
compassion for those in need.
I want to thank each of you for serving this cause in your own
lives. May God bless your work, may God bless the Urban League, and may
God continue to bless the United States of America. (Applause.)