[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2328-2329]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               BUDGET MESSAGE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004--PM 8

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred jointly, pursuant to the order of January 
30, 1975

[[Page 2329]]

as modified by the order of April 11, 1986, received on February 3, 
2003; to the Committees on Appropriations; and the Budget:


                  THE BUDGET MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT

  The budget for 2004 meets the challenges posed by three national 
priorities: winning the war against terrorism, securing the homeland, 
and generating long-term economic growth. It restrains the growth in 
federal spending and addresses the long-term fiscal challenges 
presented by Medicare and Social Security's unfunded promises. This 
year's budget also helps America meet its goals both at home and 
overseas.
  We remain at war with an enemy that seeks to use murder, stealth, and 
fear against all free nations. Yet our response has been resolute. The 
people of Afghanistan have been freed from the oppressive regime that 
sponsors the terrorists who planned and carried out the attacks of 
September 11, 2001. We are hunting down the terrorist leaders and their 
collaborators, one by one. And we continue to disrupt their plots, shut 
down their financing, and deny them safe haven.
  We have moved to secure the nation's safety. Just 10 days ago, the 
new Department of Homeland Security began operations in the biggest 
reorganization of the Federal Government in a half-century. The 
cabinet-level department unifies the work of 22 programs and agencies 
and will move quickly to better protect Americans from threats here at 
home. We also have moved to defend America's interests abroad, and to 
confront danger wherever it emerges. Working with our allies and 
partners, we will face down regimes that govern by fear and deception, 
and we will devote the necessary resources to protect ourselves and our 
friends against the use of weapons of mass destruction.
  We are strengthening our economy by allowing American families to 
keep more of their own money and encouraging businesses to save, spend, 
and grow. While the economy is growing, it is not growing fast enough. 
Too many Americans who want to work can't find a job, and too many 
American families are falling behind.
  The growth and jobs plan I outlined earlier this year will provide 
critical momentum to our economic recovery. For every American paying 
income taxes, I propose speeding up the tax cuts already approved by 
the Congress, because Americans need that relief today. And for 
America's 84 million investors, and those who will become investors, I 
propose eliminating the double taxation of stock dividends. Double 
taxation is unfair and bad for our economy.
  Government cannot manage or control the economy. But government can 
remove the barriers blocking stronger economic growth. My plan will 
give Americans more tools to achieve that growth.
  A recession and a war we did not choose have led to the return of 
deficits. My administration firmly believes in controlling the deficit 
and reducing it as the economy strengthens and our national security 
interests are met. Compared to the overall federal budget and the $10.5 
trillion national economy, our budget gap is small by historical 
standards. By protecting our vital national security interests and 
promoting economic growth, we will meet the challenges and concerns of 
the American people. We will not let them down.
  I will also insist on spending discipline in Washington, D.C., so we 
can meet our priorities. We must prepare for the future costs of Social 
Security and Medicare. My budget takes the first steps toward 
modernizing Medicare and includes prescription drug coverage.
  We will continue to focus on getting results from federal spending. A 
federal program's measure of success is not its size, but the value it 
delivers. And my budget will focus on this goal in a new and important 
way. If federal programs cannot show results, they should be 
overhauled, or retired.
  And while human compassion cannot be summarized in dollars and cents, 
this budget addresses the many challenges our society faces: bridging 
the gap for low-income families, so they can buy affordable homes; 
helping communities of faith pull the addicted from the grip of drugs; 
lifting children out of poverty and hopelessness by creating good 
schools and offering them caring adult mentors; and easing the pain and 
hardship of the global epidemic of AIDS.
  Some of the challenges we face will endure for many years and require 
great resources. As we look down that path, we will not always get to 
choose which battles we fight. It is, however, our duty to fight them. 
History may not remember every single way we contributed to this 
nation's betterment, but it will remember if we failed to try. The 
courage to take on challenges, and the enterprise with which we have 
succeeded in meeting them, have always distinguished America. This same 
courage and enterprise will help America meet these challenges, and 
prevail once again.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, February 3, 2003.

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