For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
July 12, 2004
Remarks by First Lady Laura Bush at George Nethercutt for Senate Reception
The Hay Adams One Lafayette Square
6:25 P.M. EDT
MRS. BUSH: Thank you all very, very much. Thank you, Congressman
Nethercutt for that introduction. I'm so happy to be here tonight, I'm
so happy to be here to support your candidacy for United States Senate
from Washington State. And I'm so glad that Congresswoman Dunn and
Congressman Hastings joined us here tonight.
Thank all of you, everyone out here for coming, and special thanks
to everyone who came all the way from Washington State, who's working
on the campaign for Congressman Nethercutt for Senate. And a lot of
you, I know, are also working on my husband's campaign, and I want to
thank you very much for that.
I'm so happy to see Mary Beth. Mary Beth and I have a lot in
common. We're both committed to finding a cure for breast cancer, we
campaigned with our husbands for Congress, and we both know what it's
like to raise teenagers. (Laughter.) You've done a really great job
with Meredith and Elliott, and I'm so glad that they are here with us
tonight.
My husband's first campaign was a race for Congress in West Texas
in 1978. Newly married, we spent most of our time in the car, driving
up and down the panhandle of West Texas. The race didn't turn out
quite as we hoped, but we had a great time. And, believe me, you learn
a lot about your husband when you spend that much time in a car with
him. (Laughter.)
President Bush sends his very best regards to all of you, and he
also thanks you for supporting Congressman George Nethercutt for the
United States Senate. He wants you to know how vitally important it is
to have a strong team in Washington State led by Senator George
Nethercutt. (Applause.)
All of you know Congressman Nethercutt is a devoted father, a
hardworking public servant, and an experienced leader. He'll always
listen to a question or a concern and you can count on George
Nethercutt to speak his mind. That's what Mary Beth told me.
(Laughter.)
Here in D.C., we know Congressman Nethercutt as a principled,
skilled legislator, who is not afraid to reach across the aisle to get
things done. He's respected by his colleagues in both parties. From
supporting tax relief to increasing funding for diabetes research,
Congressman Nethercutt has spent a lifetime working on issues that
matter to the people in his home state. He understands the priorities
of Washington State and he'll continue to make sure that your voice is
heard in Congress. And that's why it's so important to elect George
Nethercutt to the United States Senate.
President Bush and Congressman Nethercutt are working hard to keep
America strong and safe. Over the last three years, our country has
faced some of the toughest challenges in our history. I've watched as
President Bush has led our country with compassion and conviction.
President Bush has been a steady and determined leader as he has made
the most difficult decision any President can make, and that's to send
young Americans to war to protect our national security and to defend
the cause of freedom. And President Bush is grateful to have leaders
like George Nethercutt to stand by his side during these very difficult
times.
Congressman Nethercutt knows that we must defend our homeland and
the peace of free people around the world. George has been to Iraq and
he understands the challenges facing our country and the military. As
a leader on the Defense Appropriations Committee, he increased defense
spending by 40 percent, reversing the devastating cuts from a decade
ago. He supported greater pay for training for our troops and he
secured millions of dollars to modernize Fairchild Air Force Base. And
he's working with Secretary Ridge and the Department of Homeland
Security to strengthen Washington's ports from terrorist attacks.
September 11th was a defining moment for all of us. We'll never
forget the bravery of our fellow Americans or the spirit of unity that
spread across our country. And since that fateful day, I've watched as
President Bush's leadership has made not only the world safer but also
people's lives better. (Applause.)
Thanks to my husband's decisions and America's actions, 50 million
people are free from tyranny and oppression. 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 without
male supervision. And if they didn't have a male relative -- and many
didn't because they were widowed from long years of wars -- they were
forced to beg because they were forbidden to go to school or to work.
Now the people of Afghanistan have new leaders, new freedoms, and a
constitution guaranteeing the rights of women. And millions of girls
are in school in Afghanistan, many for the first time in their lives.
And thanks to America's actions, the people of Iraq are free from
the tyranny and torture of Saddam Hussein. We're now seeing great
progress in Iraq's transition to democracy. The new Iraqi Interim
Government assumed the responsibility for the citizens of Iraq.
They're now making decisions about the economy, security and other
issues important to their fellow citizens. And Saddam Hussein will be
put on trial to face justice for his atrocities.
Thanks to a unanimous vote in the United Nations Security Council,
the new Iraqi government has the full support of the international
community. We pledge to stand with the Iraqi people at this historic
and hopeful time for their nation.
We still face many challenges every day. But we know that there's
no safe alternative to resolute action. The defeat of violence and
terror in Iraq is vital to the defeat of violence and terror around the
world.
A strong economy is also essential to our security. And President
Bush needs Congressman Nethercutt's leadership in the Senate to help
make tax relief permanent. George Nethercutt was recently named "Hero
of the Taxpayer" for defending tax cuts for Washington's families and
businesses. George's strong support for this economic stimulus plan is
enabling millions of families to keep more of their own money.
For many families, tax relief means money to pay the monthly bills,
to start a college savings plan for their children, or to save for
their own retirement. For small business owners, tax relief means
expanding the operations of their business and the ability to hire more
employees.
These millions of individual decisions that people are making with
their own money are lifting our economy and improving the lives of
people around the country.
And the economy just keeps getting better. We're experiencing the
fastest economic growth in 20 years. The home ownership rate is at its
highest level ever. Minority home ownership is particularly strong,
and I'm proud that we've set a new record in the first quarter of this
year. Now more than half of all minority families own their own
homes. And since August, more than 1.5 million new jobs have been
created around our country.
To keep our economy strong, George Nethercutt knows that we must
expand trade opportunities around the world for America's goods. He
led the effort to open up $7 billion in new export opportunities for
Washington products.
President Bush believes that American workers are the best in the
world and that, when given a level playing field, we can compete
against workers anywhere. The President has negotiated trade
agreements that reduce foreign tariffs and trade barriers and he is
providing more resources to educate and equip American workers with the
skills to meet the demands of an ever-changing work force.
President Bush also knows how vitally important it is that every
child in America receives an excellent education. Congressman
Nethercutt knows that this is the single most important responsibility
we have. He supports the No Child Left Behind Act which provides more
federal money for schools than ever before, and higher standards for
our children and teachers. George Nethercutt also increased grant
funding and job training to help more Washington students go to
college.
Congressman Nethercutt has always been a great advocate for
children. As a family attorney, he helped hundreds of parents adopt
children. And as a father of a child with diabetes, he has increased
funding for research and treatment of this disease for millions of
Americans. He even started the Diabetes Caucus on the Hill in honor of
his daughter, Meredith.
Like President Bush, Congressman Nethercutt knows that reliable
health care is fundamental to our economic security. No one can feel
confident about the future if they feel that the next illness they have
might wipe out their savings or drive them into debt. That's why
President Bush is taking action to make health care more affordable and
more accessible to millions of Americans. He worked with Congressman
Nethercutt in Congress to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare
to help seniors afford their medicines. He is expanding health
insurance options for Americans and promoting new ideas like health
savings accounts.
And Congressman Nethercutt supports the President's plan to reform
the medical liability system to reduce junk lawsuits. (Applause.)
These junk lawsuits drive up the cost of medicine and they drive good
doctors out of their practice.
I know that you're here today because, like Congressman Nethercutt,
you believe that every child deserves to grow up healthy and safe. And
you believe that every American deserves an excellent education. And
you believe that we can help secure peace and freedom in the world.
And you believe that through acts of faith and love, we can build a
more compassionate America.
President Bush and Congressman Nethercutt share your beliefs and
they will continue to make them their priorities as they strive to
build a stronger America. Congressman Nethercutt will work with
President Bush to keep our children and families safe, so that we can
live in a world free from terror. And he will work with the President
to make our country a more compassionate nation, where neighbors help
neighbors in need. I know that's the Washington State way.
When you leave here today, redouble your efforts to elect George
Nethercutt to the United States Senate. I urge you to work in the
months ahead, talk to your friends and make sure your neighbors vote.
Remember that every single vote matters, and every vote for Congressman
Nethercutt is a vote for a better and stronger America. (Applause.)
The people of Washington State are electing someone who will
represent their hopes and dreams in our nation's capital, someone who
will uphold the strong character of the people of Washington State.
Congressman Nethercutt serves the people of Washington State with
integrity and conviction, and these are values we need in the United
States Senate.
Please join President Bush and me in supporting Congressman
Nethercutt for the United States Senate. Thank you all very much.
(Applause.)
END 6:38 P.M. EDT
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