For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 7, 2001
Radio Address by the President to the Nation
Listen to the President's
Remarks
THE PRESIDENT: Good
morning. This weekend, Congress begins its Easter
recess. Senators and members of the House of Representatives
return home to meet with their constituents and listen to the
people. I hope they'll listen carefully; there are large
decisions that must be made when Congress returns.
I have sent Congress an education reform plan
that offers greater federal support to schools, but requires higher
standards and improved accountability. And I have sent
Congress a tax plan that will accelerate our economic growth and leave
more money with the people who earned it.
Passing these two measures will be a long
process that will require many votes in Congress. But the
choices Congress makes will shape our country for
decades. The tax plan I sent to Congress will help ensure
that our children will grow up in a country bustling with
opportunities. My education plan prepares our children to
take advantage of those opportunities. These
are not routine votes. They are not ordinary
business. They are decisions that we cannot afford to get
wrong. Important reform is never easy, and it will always be
tempting to postpone it. On education, there are some
interest groups who don't like the idea of changes. On
taxes, there are powerful institutions in Washington that would prefer
to keep the people's money for themselves.
But I'm committed to moving
forward. The old saying goes, the President proposes,
Congress disposes; but in the end, the people rule. If we
want higher educational standards, if we're to pass a substantial tax
cut, the people must make their voices heard.
Many of you have already telephoned your
members of Congress or sent letters and e-mails expressing your support
for my education and tax plans, and I want to thank you for doing
that. I hope you'll keep it up.
The crucial votes on education and taxes are
still ahead. And many members of Congress are still making
up their minds. Don't just send them what you earn, tell
them what you think. So I have a
suggestion: during the recess, many members of Congress will
be holding town hall meetings, where constituents are welcome to come
and express their views. You can find a list of these town
halls at www.bushtaxrelief.com. If your congressman has a
town hall scheduled, I hope you'll consider attending it. Maybe you
might want to bring a relative or a friend.
And I hope that if you do go, you'll stand up
and let your representative hear from you on school reform and tax
relief. It's good citizenship, and it will make a big
difference.
Before I close, let me send my best wishes to
all who will be sitting down tonight to their Passover seder.
Thank you for listening.
END
|