For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 13, 2003
President's Radio Address
Audio
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week I was honored to sign the
Medicare Act of 2003, the greatest advance in health coverage for
America's seniors since Medicare was founded nearly four decades ago.
This new law will give seniors better choices and more control over
their health care, and provide a prescription drug benefit.
Beginning in 2006, most seniors now without prescription coverage
can expect to see their current drug bills cut roughly in half, in
exchange for a monthly premium of about $35. And for the first time,
seniors will have peace of mind that they will not face unlimited
expenses for their Medicare.
These and other major improvements in Medicare came about because
Republicans and Democrats in Congress were willing to work together for
the interests of our senior citizens. We were able to pass this law
because we listened to the people, set the right priorities and worked
hard until we finished the job.
The reform and modernization of Medicare was one milestone in a
year of accomplishment. We worked with Congress to take action in a
number of areas on behalf of the American people. Last May, the House
and Senate passed my jobs and growth package into law, delivering
substantial tax relief to 91 million Americans. We reduced taxes for
everyone who pays income taxes, increased the child tax credit, cut the
taxes on dividends and capital gains, and gave 23 million small
business owners incentives to invest for the future.
And now we are seeing the results. In the third quarter, the
economy grew at the fastest pace in almost 20 years. Productivity,
manufacturing and housing construction are expanding. And we have
added over 300,000 jobs since August. The tax relief we passed is
working, and our economy is gaining strength.
Legislation passed this year also showed the compassion and the
good heart of America. We created the American Dream Down Payment Fund
to help low-income citizens afford the down payment on homes of their
own. We defended children from the violence of partial birth abortion,
and passed new incentives to promote the adoption of children in foster
care. And we acted to fight the global spread of AIDS by launching a
multi-year emergency effort to prevent millions of new infections in
Africa and the Caribbean, and to provide medicine and humane care to
millions more who suffer.
This year we took important action to protect the environment. Our
whole nation saw the devastation left by wildfires in the west, and we
passed healthy forest legislation to thin the underbrush that fuels
catastrophic blazes.
Our government also took urgent action on every front in the war on
terror. Congress appropriated more than $31 billion for the Department
of Homeland Security to prepare first responders and safeguard our
ports and infrastructure, and help scientists develop vaccines against
dangerous biological threats. Our country stood behind the men and
women of our Armed Forces as they liberated Iraq and helped carry out
the work of reconstruction there and in Afghanistan. In Congress,
members of both parties worked together to provide vital resources for
our troops, who are fulfilling their responsibility to defend the
nation.
All these actions have made us safer, more prosperous, and a better
country. We confronted problems with determination and bipartisan
spirit. Yet our work is not done. There will be pressing business in
the new year on issues from job creation to health care to public
schools. And above all, we will continue to fight the war on terror
until the war is won.
On behalf of all Americans, I thank the Congress for a productive
year. Working together, we can add to this progress in the year to
come.
Thank you for listening.
END
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