THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This coming week, my administration will release our proposed budget for fiscal year
2005.
In that detailed blueprint for government spending, Americans will
see
my priorities clearly at work. We will devote the resources
necessary
to win the war on terror and protect our homeland. We'll provide
compassionate help to seniors, to schoolchildren, and to Americans
in
need of job training. And we will be responsible with the people's
money by cutting the deficit in half over five years.
With troops currently on the ground fighting our enemies, my
budget increases defense spending by 7 percent, money that will go
the
pay for equipment, ammunition, and troop housing. We'll keep our
military strong and ready for every challenge that may come. Since
I
took office, we have increased pay for our men and women in uniform
by
21 percent. Next year, I propose raising their pay by another 3.5
percent. Our troops put their lives on the line to defend America,
and we owe them our best in return.
Given the continued terrorist threat against the American
people, my budget nearly triples homeland security spending over
2001
levels, including an increase of nearly 10 percent next year, to
$30.5
billion. This money will help tighten security at our borders,
airports and seaports, and improve our defenses against biological
attack.
I'm proposing to raise the budget for the FBI by 11 percent,
including a $357-million increase in spending on counterterrorism
activities. America will not let its guard down in our war on
terror.
My budget also focuses on our priorities at home. This year,
we'll begin moving towards prescription drug coverage under
Medicare
by providing drug discount cards to seniors. We'll also help
lower-income seniors this year and next with up to $600 in direct
assistance for drug costs.
We're devoting additional resources to our schools, to help them
meet the higher expectations set by the No Child Left Behind Act.
My budget calls for a 49-percent increase over 2001 spending on our
public schools. There will be additional money for early reading
programs for schools in low-income areas, and for enhanced Pell
Grant
scholarships for students who complete a rigorous curriculum.
My budget also asks Congress to fund my Jobs for the 21st
Century initiative, which will help young people and adults gain
the
skills they need to fill the new jobs in our changing economy.
This
initiative will help high school students who are falling behind in
reading and math by supporting better teaching methods. And with
the
support of Congress, we will provide new funding to America's fine
community colleges, to help them teach the skills our changing
economy
demands.
We're meeting these priorities within a responsible budget.
Under my plan, overall discretionary spending will grow at less
than 4
percent. And non-security-related spending would rise less than 1
percent, the smallest such proposed increase in 12 years. By
exercising spending discipline in Washington, D.C., we will reduce
the
deficit and meet our most basic priorities.
To assure that Congress observes spending discipline, now and in
the future, I propose making spending limits the law. This simple
step would mean that every additional dollar the Congress wants to
spend in excess of spending limits must be matched by a dollar in
spending cuts elsewhere. Budget limits must mean something, and
not
just serve as vague guidelines to be routinely violated. This
single
change in the procedures of the Congress would bring further
spending
restraint to Washington.
Americans expect government to meet its most basic
responsibilities -- protecting citizens from harm, and promoting
prosperity and compassion at home. Americans also expect our
government to live within spending limits. My 2005 budget is
designed
to meet both of these goals, using tax dollars wisely and by
focusing
resources where they are most needed.