[House Document 107-157]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
107th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-157
STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE
__________
MESSAGE
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
A REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE UNION
February 4, 2002.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress,
distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: As we gather
tonight, our Nation is at war, our economy is in recession, and
the civilized world faces unprecedented dangers. Yet the state
of our Union has never been stronger.
We last met in an hour of shock and suffering. In four
short months, our Nation has comforted the victims . . . begun
to rebuild New York and the Pentagon . . . rallied a great
coalition . . . captured, arrested, and rid the world of
thousands of terrorists . . . destroyed Afghanistan's terrorist
training camps . . . saved a people from starvation . . . and
freed a country from brutal oppression.
The American flag flies again over our embassy in Kabul.
Terrorists who once occupied Afghanistan now occupy cells at
Guantanamo Bay. And terrorist leaders who urged followers to
sacrifice their lives are running for their own.
America and Afghanistan are now allies against terror . . .
we will be partners in rebuilding that country . . . and this
evening we welcome the distinguished interim leader of a
liberated Afghanistan: Chairman Hamid Karzai.
The last time we met in this chamber, the mothers and
daughters of Afghanistan were captives in their own homes,
forbidden from working or going to school. Today women are
free, and are part of Afghanistan's new government, and we
welcome the new Minister of Women's Affairs, Doctor Sima Samar.
Our progress is a tribute to the spirit of the Afghan
people, to the resolve of our coalition, and to the might of
the United States military. When I called our troops into
action, I did so with complete confidence in their courage and
skill--and tonight, thanks to them, we are winning the war
against terror. The men and women of our armed forces have
delivered a message now clear to every enemy of the United
States: Even seven thousand miles away, across oceans and
continents, on mountaintops and in caves--you will not escape
the justice of this Nation.
For many Americans, these four months have brought sorrow,
and pain that will never completely go away. Every day a
retired firefighter returns to Ground Zero, to feel closer to
his two sons who dies there. At a memorial in New York, a
little boy left his football with a note for his lost father:
``Dear Daddy, Please take this to Heaven. I don't want to play
football until I can play with you again someday.'' Last month,
at the grave of her husband, Micheal, a CIA officer and marine
who died in Mazar-e Sharif, Shannon Spann said these words of
farewell: ``Semper Fi, my love.'' Shannon is with us tonight.
Shannon, I assure you and all who have lost a loved one
that our cause is just, and our country will never forget the
debt we owe Micheal and all who gave their lives for freedom.
Our cause is just, and it continues. Our discoveries in
Afghanistan confirmed our worst fears, and show us the true
scope of the task ahead. We have seen the depth of our enemies'
hatred in videos where they laugh about the loss of innocent
life. And the depth of their hatred is equaled by the madness
of the destruction they design. We have found diagrams of
American nuclear power plants and public water facilities . . .
detailed instructions for making chemical weapons . . .
surveillance maps of American cities, and thorough descriptions
of landmarks in America and throughout the world.
What we have found in Afghanistan confirms that--far from
ending there--our war against terror is only beginning. Most of
the 19 men who hijacked planes on September 11th were trained
in Afghanistan's camps--and so were tens of thousands of
others. Thousands of dangerous killers, schooled in the methods
of murder, often supported by outlaw regimes, are now spread
throughout the world like ticking time bombs--set to go off
without warning.
Thanks to the work of our law enforcement officials and
coalition partners, hundreds of terrorists have been arrested .
. . yet tens of thousands of trained terrorists are still at
large. These enemies view the entire world as a battlefield,
and we must pursue them wherever they are. So long as training
camps operate, so long as nations harbor terrorists, freedom is
at risk--and America and our allies must not, and will not,
allow it.
Our Nation will continue to be steadfast, and patient, and
persistent in the pursuit of two great objectives. First, we
will shut down terrorist camps, disrupt terrorist plans, and
bring terrorists to justice. Second, we must prevent the
terrorists and regimes who seek chemical, biological, or
nuclear weapons from threatening the United States and the
world.
Our military has put the terror training camps of
Afghanistan out of business, yet camps still exist in at least
a dozen boundaries. A terrorist underworld--including groups
like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and Jaish-i-Mohammed--
operates in remote jungles and deserts, and hides in the
centers of large cities.
While the most visible military action is in Afghanistan,
America is acting elsewhere. We now have troops in the
Philippines helping to train that country's armed forces to go
after terrorist cells that have executed an American, and still
hold hostages. Our soldiers, working with the Bosnian
government, seized terrorists who were plotting to bomb our
embassy. Our navy is patrolling the coast of Africa to block
the shipment of weapons and the establishment of terrorist
camps in Somalia.
My hope is that all nations will heed our call, and
eliminate the terrorist parasites who threaten their countries,
and our own. Many nations are acting forcefully. Pakistan is
now cracking down on terror, and I admire the leadership of
President Musharraf. But some governments will be timid in the
face of terror. And make no mistake: if they do not act,
America will.
Our second goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror
from threatening America or our friends and allies with weapons
of mass destruction.
Some of these regimes have been pretty quiet since
September 11th. But we know their true nature. North Korea is a
regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction,
while starving its citizens.
Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror,
while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for
freedom.
Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and
to support terror. The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop
anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade.
This is a regime that has already used poison gas to murder
thousands of its own citizens--leaving the bodies of mothers
huddled over their dead children. This is a regime that agreed
to international inspections--then kicked out the inspectors.
This is a regime that has something to hide from the civilized
world.
States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute
an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By
seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave
and growing danger. They could provide these arms to
terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They
could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United
States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would
be catastrophic.
We will work closely with our coalition to deny terrorists
and their state sponsors the materials, technology, and
expertise to make and deliver weapons of mass destruction. We
will develop and deploy effective missile defenses to protect
America and our allies from sudden attack. And all nations
should know: America will do what is necessary to ensure our
Nation's security.
We will be deliberate, yet time is not on our side. I will
not wait on events, while dangers gather. I will not stand by,
as peril draws closer and closer. The United States of America
will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten
us with the world's most destructive weapons.
Our war on terror is well begun, but it is only begun. Thus
campaign may not be finished on our watch--yet it must be and
it will be waged on our watch.
We cannot stop short. If we stopped now--leaving terror
camps intact and terror states unchecked--our sense of security
would be false and temporary. History has called America and
our allies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our
privilege to fight freedom's fight.
Our first priority must always be the security of our
Nation, and that will be reflected in the budget I send to
Congress. My budget supports three great goals for America: We
will win this war, we will protect our homeland, and we will
revive our economy.
September 11th brought out the best in America, and the
best in this Congress, and I join the American people in
applauding your unity and resolve. Now Americans deserve to
have this same spirit directed toward addressing problems here
at home. I am a proud member of my party--yet as we act to win
the war, protect our people, and create jobs in America, we
must act first and foremost not as Republicans, not as
Democrats, but as Americans.
It costs a lot to fight this war. We have spent more than a
billion dollars a month--over 30 million dollars a day--and we
must be prepared for future operations. Afghanistan proved that
expensive precision weapons defeat the enemy and spare innocent
lives, and we need more of them. We need to replace aging
aircraft and make our military more agile to put our troops
anywhere in the world quickly and safely. Our men and women in
uniform deserve the best weapons, the best equipment, and the
best training--and they also deserve another pay raise. My
budget includes the largest increase in defense spending in two
decades . . . because while the price of freedom and security
is high, it is never too high--whatever it costs to defend our
country, we will pay it.
The next priority of my budget is to do everything possible
to protect our citizens and strengthen our Nation against the
ongoing threat of another attack. Time and distance from the
events of September 11th will not make us safer unless we act
on its lessons. America is not longer protected by vast oceans.
We are protected from attack only by vigorous action abroad,
and increased vigilance at home.
My budget nearly doubles funding for a sustained strategy
of homeland security, focused on four key areas: bioterrorism,
emergency response, airport and border security, and improved
intelligence. We will develop vaccines to fight anthrax and
other deadly diseases. We will increase funding to help states
and communities train and equip our heroic police and
firefighters. We will improve intelligence collection and
sharing, expand patrols at our borders, strengthen the security
of air travel, and use technology to track the arrivals and
departures of visitors to the United States.
Homeland security will make America, not only stronger, but
in many ways better. Knowledge gained from bioterrorism
research will improve public health . . . stronger police and
fire departments will means safer neighborhoods . . . stricter
border enforcement will help combat illegal drugs.
And as government works to better secure our homeland,
America will continue to depend on the eyes and ears of alert
citizens. A few days before Christmas, an airline flight
attendant spotted a passenger lighting a match. The crew and
passengers quickly subdued the man, who had been trained by al-
Qaida, and was armed with explosives. The people on
thatairplane were alert, and as a result, likely saved nearly 200
lives--and tonight we welcome and thank flight attendants Hermis
Moutardier and Christina Jones.
Once we have funded our national security and our homeland
security, the final great priority of my budget is economic
security for the American people. To achieve these great
national objectives--to win the war, protect the homeland, and
revitalize our economy--our budget will run a deficit that will
be small and short term so long as Congress restrains spending
and acts in a fiscally responsible way. We have clear
priorities and we must act at home with the same purpose and
resolve we have shown overseas: We will prevail in the war, and
we will defeat this recession.
Americans who have lost their jobs need our help and I
support extending unemployment benefits, and direct assistance
for health care coverage. Yet American workers want more than
unemployment checks--they want a steady paycheck. When America
works, America prospers, so my economic security plan can be
summed up in one word: jobs.
Good jobs begin with good schools--and here we've made a
fine start. Republicans and Democrats worked together to
achieve historic education reform so no child in America will
be left behind. I was proud to work with Members of both
parties--Chairman John Boehner and Congressman George Miller,
Senator Judd Gregg--and I was so proud of our work I even had
nice things to say about my friend Ted Kennedy. The folks at
the Crawford coffee shop couldn't quite believe it--but our
work on this bill shows what is possible if we set aside
posturing and focus on results.
There is more to do. We need to prepare our children to
read and succeed in school with improved Head Start and early
childhood development programs. We must upgrade our teacher
colleges and teacher training and launch a major recruiting
drive with a great goal for America: a quality teacher in every
classroom.
Good jobs also depend on reliable and affordable energy.
This Congress must act to encourage conservation, promote
technology, build infrastructure, and it must act to increase
energy production at home so America is less dependent on
foreign oil.
Good jobs depend on expanded trade. Selling into new
markets creates new jobs, so I ask Congress to finally approve
Trade Promotion Authority. On these two key issues, trade and
energy, the House of Representatives has acted to create jobs--
and I urge the Senate to pass this legislation.
Good jobs depend on sound tax policy. Last year, some in
this hall thought my tax relief plan was too small--and some
thought it was too big. But when those checks arrived in the
mail, most Americans thought tax relief was just about right.
Congress listened to the people and responded by reducing tax
rates, doubling the child credit, and ending the death tax. For
the sake of long-term growth and to help Americans plan for the
future, let's make these tax cuts permanent.
The way out of this recession, the way to create jobs, is
to grow the economy by encouraging investment in factories and
equipment, and by speeding up tax relief so people have more
money to spend. For the sake of American workers, let's pass a
stimulus package.
Good jobs must be the aim of welfare reform. As we
reauthorize these important reforms, we must always remember
the goal is to reduce dependency on government and offer every
American the dignity of a job.
Americans know economic security can vanish in an instant
without health security. I ask Congress to join me this year to
enact a Patients' Bill of Rights . . . to give uninsured
workers credits to help buy health coverage . . . to approve an
historic increase in spending for veterans' health . . . and to
give seniors a sound and modern Medicare system that includes
coverage for prescription drugs.
A good job should lead to security in retirement. I ask
Congress to enact new safeguards for 401(k) and pension plans,
because employees who have worked hard and saved all their
lives should not have to risk losing everything if their
company fails. Through stricter accounting standards and
tougher disclosure requirements, corporate America must be made
more accountable to employees and shareholders and held to the
highest standards of conduct.
Retirement security also depends upon keeping the
commitments of Social Security--and we will. We must make
Social Security financially stable and allow personal
retirement accounts for younger workers who choose them.
Members, you and I will work together in the months ahead
on other issues: productive farm policy . . . a cleaner
environment . . . broader home ownership, especially among
minorities . . . and ways to encourage the good work of
charities and faith-based groups. I ask you to join me on these
important domestic issues in the same spirit of cooperation we
have applied to our war against terrorism.
During these last few months, I have been humbled and
privileged to see the true character of this country in a time
of testing. Our enemies believed America was weak and
materialistic, that we would splinter in fear and selfishness.
They were as wrong as they are evil.
The American people have responded magnificently, with
courage and compassion, strength and resolve. As I have met the
heroes, hugged the families, and looked into the tired faces of
rescuers, I have stood in awe of the American people.
And I hope you will join me in expressing thanks to one
American for the strength, and calm, and comfort she brings to
our Nation in crisis: our First Lady, Laura Bush.
None of us would ever wish the evil that was done on
September 11th, yet after America was attacked, it was as if
our entire country looked into a mirror, and saw our better
selves. We were reminded that we are citizens, with obligations
to each other, to our country, and to history. We began to
think less of the goods we can accumulate, and more about the
good we can do.
For too long our culture has said, ``If it feels good, do
it.'' Now America is embracing a new ethic and a new creed:
``Let's roll.'' In the sacrifice of soldiers, the fierce
brotherhood of firefighters, and the bravery and generosity of
ordinary citizens, we have glimpsed what a new culture of
responsibility could look like. We want to be a Nation that
serves goals larger than self. We have been offered a unique
opportunity, and we must not let this moment pass.
My call tonight is for every American to commit at least
two years--four thousand hours over the rest of your lifetime--
to the service of your neighbors and your Nation.
Many are already serving and I thank you. If you aren't
sure how to help, I've got a good place to start. To sustain
and extend the best that has emerged in America, I invite you
to join the new USA Freedom Corps. The Freedom Corps will focus
on three areas of need: responding in case of crisis at home,
rebuilding our communities, and extending American compassion
throughout the world.
One purpose of the USA Freedom Corps will be homeland
security. America needs retired doctors and nurses who can be
mobilized in major emergencies . . . volunteers to help police
and fire departments . . . transportation and utility workers
well-trained in spotting danger.
Our country also needs citizens working to rebuild our
communities. We need mentors to love children, especially
children whose parents are in prison, and we need more talented
teachers in troubled schools. USA Freedom Corps will expand and
improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to
recruit more than 200,000 new volunteers.
And America needs citizens to extend the compassion of our
country to every part of the world. So we will renew the
promise of the Peace Corps, double its volunteers over the next
five years, and ask it to join a new effort to encourage
development, and education, and opportunity in the Islamic
world.
This time of adversity offers a unique moment of
opportunity--a moment we must seize to change our culture.
Through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of service
and decency and kindness, I know: We can overcome evil with
greater good.
And we have a great opportunity during this time of war to
lead the world toward the values that will bring lasting peace.
All fathers and mothers, in all societies, want their children
to be educated and live free from poverty and violence. No
people on earth yearn to be oppressed, or aspire to servitude,
or eagerly await the midnight knock of the secret police.
If anyone doubts this, let them look to Afghanistan, where
the Islamic ``street'' greeted the fall of tyranny with song
and celebration. Let the skeptics look to Islam's own rich
history--with its centuries of learning, and tolerance, and
progress.
America will lead by defending liberty and justice because
they are right and true and unchanging for all people
everywhere. No nation owns these aspirations, and no nation is
exempt from them. We have no intention of imposing our
culture--but America will always stand firm for the non-
negotiable demands of human dignity: the rule of law . . .
limits on the power of the state . . . respect for women . . .
private property . . . free speech . . . equal justice . . .
and religious tolerance.
America will take the side of brave men and women who
advocate these values around the world--including the Islamic
world--because we a greater objective than eliminating threats
and containing resentment. We seek a just and peaceful world
beyond the war on terror.
In this moment of opportunity, a common danger is erasing
old rivalries. America is working with Russia, China, and India
in ways we never have before to achieve peace and prosperity.
In every region, free markets and free trade and free societies
are proving their power to lift lives. Together with friends
and allies from Europe to Asia, from Africa to Latin America,
we will demonstrate that the forces of terror cannot stop the
momentum of freedom.
The last time I spoke here, I expressed the hope that life
would return to normal. In some ways, it has. In others, it
never will. Those of us who have lived through these
challenging times have been changed by them. We've come to know
truths that we will never question: Evil is real, and it must
be opposed. Beyond all differences of race or creed, we are one
country, mourning together and facing danger together. Deep in
the American character, there is honor, and it is stronger than
cynicism. Many have discovered again that even in tragedy--
especially in tragedy--God is near.
In a single instant, we realized that this will be a
decisive decade in the history of liberty--that we have been
called to a unique role in human events. Rarely has the world
faced a choice more clear or consequential.
Our enemies send other people's children on missions of
suicide and murder. They embrace tyranny and death as a cause
and a creed. We stand for a different choice--made long ago, on
the day of our founding. We affirm it again today. We choose
freedom and the dignity of every life.
Steadfast in our purpose, we now press on. We have known
freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. And in this
great conflict, my fellow Americans, we will see freedom's
victory.
Thank you, and my God bless the United States of America.
George W. Bush.
The White House, January 29, 2002.