For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 25, 2003
President Bush Discusses State of the Union
Radio Address of the President to the Nation
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This coming Tuesday I will deliver
the State of the Union address to Congress and the American people.
Our nation faces many great challenges all at once. We will meet all
of them with courage and steady purpose.
In 2003, we must work to strengthen our economy; improve
access to affordable, high quality health care for all our seniors;
encourage compassion at home and abroad; and defend our nation against
the threats of a new era. The war on terror is an ongoing priority for
our nation. We will take every measure that is necessary to
protect the American people from terrorist groups and outlaw
regimes. The world depends on America's strength and purpose, and
we will meet our responsibilities for peace.
Today, I want to speak to you about a few key domestic
priorities. When I address Congress, I will urge them to pass my plan
to strengthen our economy and help more Americans find jobs. The tax
relief already planned for later in this decade should be made
effective this year, including income tax reduction, marriage penalty
relief, and an increase in the child tax credit. When Congress acts,
I will direct the Treasury to return this money to taxpayers right
away, which will provide immediate help to our economy.
We can also lay the foundation for future prosperity by
encouraging investment and helping Americans to prepare for the new
jobs a growing economy will bring. I will ask Congress to
eliminate the unfair double taxation of dividends and raise the
deduction limit for small businesses that invest in new machinery and
equipment. And to help unemployed workers find a job as soon as
possible, I propose new re-employment accounts. These accounts will
assist with the cost of finding work, including training and child care
and moving expenses, and provide a cash bonus to workers who find a job
quickly.
Strengthening and improving Medicare is also a priority
for my administration in the coming year. I will urge Congress to
join me in keeping our commitment to America's seniors by
working to modernize Medicare, and include a prescription drug
benefit to help seniors who are squeezed by rising drug prices. As
a prosperous nation, we have an obligation to help Americans who are
struggling to build better lives for themselves. So I will propose new
initiatives to bring the work of faith-based and community groups to
the needs of our fellow citizens. All of these priorities will be
reflected in the budget I submit to Congress in early February.
As we fund important priorities, however, we must also practice
spending discipline in Washington. Spending restraint is important
to economic growth and job creation. And it is critical to reducing
the deficit caused by war and national emergency and recession.
Under my budget, discretionary federal spending will rise by 4
percent, about the same as the increase in family incomes.
Government should not grow faster than workers' paychecks. Government
should follow the example of American families by setting priorities
and staying with them.
In this session of Congress, we must work to make our nation
safer, more prosperous and more compassionate. I look forward
to working with the Republicans and Democrats in this important
year for America and the world. Thank you for listening.
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