For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
March 29, 2004
Remarks by First Lady Laura Bush at Kilmer for Congress Luncheon
University Center Club
Tallahassee, Florida
12:50 P.M. EST
MRS. BUSH: Thank you all very much. Thank you, Bev. Thank you for
inviting me to Tallahassee to be with you. I'm so glad to be with all
of you here in Florida. I want to thank Representative Baker for
leading us in the Pledge. And just in case the press doesn't know in
the back, he just returned from serving in Iraq. So he serves your
state in the Florida House and he serves our country in the United
States military, and I'm very, very grateful. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
There are other elected officials here that I also want to thank.
Thank you all for your hard work for your state and for our country. I
want to thank all the people here who work on the campaigns of these
elected officials, including my husband's campaign. Thank you all for
your hard work and for your friendship. And thanks for coming out today
to support Bev.
George and I were in Orlando just a couple of weeks ago for the
first Presidential rally for the 2004 campaign. I hope some of you were
there; I think you probably were. But you know that that rally was very
inspirational with red, white and blue balloons and confetti and
patriotic music. And I'll have to say, my heart swelled with pride when
I heard the Star Spangled Banner.
We all know that feeling, that great feeling that we all get
because we love our country. And that's why we're here today, to help
elect people who will keep our country strong. And that's exactly what
Bev Kilmer will do in the United States Congress. (Applause.)
All of you know Bev as a hardworking public servant, a mother and a
grandmother, and an experienced leader, deeply devoted to serving the
people of northwest Florida. She'll always listen to a question or a
concern, and you can count on Bev to speak her mind. That's what her
husband, Larry, told me. (Laughter.)
In the state capital, Bev is known as a principled, skilled
legislator who puts people before politics. And she is respected by
colleagues in both parties, and she's not afraid to reach across the
aisle to get things done. Bev is a very strong supporter of Florida's
farmers, small business owners and seniors. And she'll represent their
views in Washington.
From supporting the largest tax cut in Florida's history, to
securing health care for uninsured children, Bev has been an advocate
for the people of Florida. She understands your priorities and she'll
make sure your voice is heard in Washington. And that's why it's so
important to elect Bev Kilmer to the United States Congress.
(Applause.)
President Bush sends his very best regards to all of you and his
very best wishes for success to Bev. President Bush is working hard to
keep our country strong and safe. Over the last three years, our
country has faced some of the toughest challenges in our history, and
I've watched as our President has led our country with compassion and
conviction. President Bush has been steady and determined as he has
made the most difficult decision any President can make, and that's to
send Americans to war to protect our national security, and to defend
the cause of freedom. And President Bush is grateful to have leaders
like Bev Kilmer to stand by his side during these difficult times.
Bev knows that we must defend our homeland and the peace of free
people around the world. September 11th was the defining moment for all
of us. We'll never forget the bravery of our fellow Americans or the
spirit of unity that spread over our country. And since that fateful
day, I've watched as the President's leadership has not only made our
world safer, but has also made people's lives better.
Thanks to my husband's decisions and America's actions, 50 million
people are free from tyranny and oppression. (Applause.) Consider the
women and girls of Afghanistan. During the long years of the Taliban
regime, they were virtual prisoners in their homes, unable to leave
their home without a male relative. And if they didn't have a male
relative, they were actually forced to have to beg, because they were
outlawed from going to school or to work.
Now the people of Afghanistan have new leaders, new freedoms and a
constitution guaranteeing the rights of women. And thanks to my
husband's leadership and America's actions, the people of Iraq are free
from the tyranny and the torture of Saddam Hussein and today they are
building a free and democratic society.
We still face many challenges. Terrorists commit acts of hate in
the hopes that we will abandon the Afghan and the Iraqi people. But
America's resolve is strong. We know that the work of building a
democracy isn't easy, but we know it's always right. We know this from
our own history and from the history of other emerging democracies. For
more than 200 years, dedicated Americans have worked to fulfill the
promise of our democracy and today our work to strengthen America
continues.
President Bush is taking the steps to strengthen our economy and he
needs Bev's leadership to help make tax relief permanent. The
President's tax cuts have put money back in people's pockets and we're
beginning to see real results. Economic growth is at a 20-year high and
home ownership is at the highest ever.
Bev is a leader on the Appropriations and Finance and Taxation
Committees. She organized Opportunity Florida to create jobs and
expand economic development. She understands that when families keep
more of their own money, they can make their own decisions. And their
decisions help strengthen our economy and improve the lives of people
across the country. (Applause.)
Our economy is in a period of great change. Increases in
productivity, advances in technology and competition from foreign
countries requires us to educate and equip workers with the new skills
of the future.
For our work force to succeed, we must ensure that every child
receives an excellent education. (Applause.) This morning, I spoke to
the National Association of School Boards, the school board members
from across the United States, who are meeting in Orlando for their
annual meeting. And it was really a pleasure to see people, all these
people who volunteer, who run for school board, and then who serve
their communities. And I know there are people in this room who have
run for school board and you know what a very difficult job it is, but
what a very important job it is. And I was excited to be there today to
talk about the No Child Left Behind Act and the real results that we're
starting to see across the country because school districts and states
are focusing on making sure children learn how to read and do better in
school.
Bev's experience as chairman of the Committee on Education will be
vital in Congress. Like President Bush, Bev believes that providing a
quality education for our children is the single most important
responsibility we have. She supports No Child Left Behind, which
provides more money for our schools and higher standards for our
children and teachers. In the legislature, Bev secured over $3 billion
in additional funding for Florida's public schools. She established a
teacher's advisory council and increased teacher quality and pay.
I know that you're here today because, like Bev, you believe that
every American deserves the opportunity and education so they can
achieve their dreams. And you believe that we can help secure peace in
the world. You believe that through acts of faith and love, we can
build a more compassionate America.
President Bush and Bev Kilmer share your beliefs and they will
continue to make them their priorities as they strive to build a
stronger America. Bev will work with President Bush to strengthen our
national security, our homeland security and our economic security. She
will work with the President to make America stronger and to keep our
children and families safe so we can live in a world free from terror.
And Bev will work with the President to make our country a more
compassionate nation, where neighbors help neighbors in need.
I know that's the Florida way for neighbors to help a neighbor in
need. And I also know that in this room are many, many people who work
for your neighbors in your cities or in your state or in our country,
and I want to thank each one of you for that.
When you leave here today, I hope you'll go to work to elect Bev
Kilmer. I urge you to redouble your efforts in the months ahead. Talk
to your friends, make sure your neighbors vote. Do everything you can
to send Bev to the United States Congress. Remember that every single
vote matters, and every vote for Bev is a vote for a better and
stronger America.
This election is important to the President and to our country, but
most of all it's important to you, because you're electing someone who
will represent your hopes and dreams in our nation's capital and
someone who will uphold the strong character of the people of this
state. Bev serves the people of northwest Florida with integrity,
compassion and conviction. And these are the qualities we need in the
United States Congress.
Please join President Bush and me in supporting Bev Kilmer for
Congress. Thank you all very, very much. (Applause.)
END 1:00 P.M. EST
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