[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 967-971]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

  The PRESIDENT. Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of 
Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:
  Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this 
rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us 
could have imagined. We have faced hard decisions about peace and war, 
rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of 
our citizens. These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it's 
fair to say we've answered that call. Yet history will record that amid 
our differences, we acted with purpose. And together we showed the 
world the power and resilience of American self-government.
  All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people's business. 
That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. And it 
remains our charge to keep.
  The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and 
prosperity of our Nation long after this session has ended. In this 
election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our 
responsibilities and are determined to meet them. And let us show them 
that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for 
results at the same time.
  From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we have made 
good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the 
American people expect us to get it done.
  In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our 
Nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to 
determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe 
that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom 
of ordinary citizens. So in all we do, we must trust in the ability of 
free people to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their 
lives and their futures.
  To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own 
money and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight, our 
economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America has added jobs 
for a record 52 straight months, but jobs are now growing at a slower 
pace. Wages are up, but so are prices for food and gas. Exports are 
rising, but the housing market has declined. And at kitchen tables 
across our country, there is concern about our economic future.
  In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic 
growth. But in the short run, we can all see that that growth is 
slowing. So last week, my administration reached agreement with Speaker 
Pelosi and Republican Leader Boehner on a robust growth package that 
includes tax relief for individuals and families and incentives for 
business investment. The temptation will be to load up the bill. That 
would delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable. This is 
a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and our people 
working. And this Congress must pass it as soon as possible.
  We have other work to do on taxes. Unless the Congress acts, most of 
the tax relief we have delivered over the past 7 years will be taken 
away. Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief expire is not a 
tax increase. Try explaining that to 116 million American taxpayers who 
would see their taxes rise by an average of $1,800. Others have said 
they would personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome their 
enthusiasm, and I am pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks 
and money orders.
  Most Americans think their taxes are high enough. With all the other 
pressures on their finances, American families should not have to worry 
about the Federal Government taking a bigger bite out of their 
paychecks. There is only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: make 
the tax relief permanent. And Members of Congress should know: If any 
bill raising taxes reaches my desk, I will veto it.
  Just as we trust Americans with their own money, we need to earn 
their trust by spending their tax dollars wisely. Next week, I will 
send you a budget that terminates or substantially reduces 151 wasteful 
or bloated programs totaling more than $18 billion. The budget that I 
will submit will keep America on track for a surplus in 2012. American 
families have to balance their budgets, and so should their government.
  The people's trust in their government is undermined by congressional 
earmarks, special interest projects that are often snuck in at the last 
minute, without discussion or debate. Last year, I asked you to 
voluntarily cut the number and cost of earmarks in half. I also asked 
you to stop slipping earmarks into committee reports that never even 
come to a vote. Unfortunately, neither goal was met. So this time, if 
you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and 
cost of earmarks in half, I will send it back to you with my veto. And 
tomorrow, I will issue an executive order that directs Federal agencies 
to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by the Congress. If 
these items are truly worth funding, the Congress should debate them in 
the open and hold a public vote.
  Our shared responsibilities extend beyond matters of taxes and 
spending.
  On housing, we must trust Americans with the responsibility of 
homeownership and empower them to weather turbulent times in the 
housing market. My administration brought together the HOPE NOW 
alliance, which is helping many struggling homeowners avoid 
foreclosure. The Congress can help even more. Tonight I ask you to pass 
legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, modernize the Federal 
Housing Administration, and allow State housing agencies to issue tax-
free bonds to help homeowners refinance their mortgages. These are 
difficult times for many American families, and by taking these steps, 
we can help more of them keep their homes.
  To build a future of quality health care, we must trust patients and 
doctors to make medical decisions and empower them with better 
information and better options. We share a common goal: Making health 
care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. The best way to 
achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not government 
control. So I have proposed ending the bias in the Tax Code against 
those who do not get their health insurance through their employer. 
This one reform would put private coverage within reach for millions, 
and I call on the Congress to pass it this year. The Congress must also 
expand health savings accounts, create association health plans for 
small businesses, promote health information technology, and confront 
the epidemic of junk medical lawsuits. With all these steps, we will 
help ensure that decisions about your medical care are made in the 
privacy of your doctor's office, not in the Halls of Congress.
  On education, we must trust students to learn if given the chance and 
empower parents to demand results from our schools. In neighborhoods 
across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams, and a decent 
education is their only hope of achieving them. Six years ago, we came 
together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, and today no one can 
deny its results. Last year, fourth and eighth graders achieved the 
highest math scores on record. Reading scores are on the rise.

[[Page 968]]

And African American and Hispanic students posted all-time highs. Now 
we must work together to increase accountability, add flexibility for 
States and districts, reduce the number of high school dropouts, and 
provide extra help for struggling schools. Members of Congress, the No 
Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan achievement. It is succeeding. 
And we owe it to America's children, their parents, and their teachers 
to strengthen this good law.
  We must also do more to help children when their schools do not 
measure up. Thanks to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships you approved, 
more than 2,600 of the poorest children in our Nation's capital have 
found new hope at a faith-based or other nonpublic school. Sadly, these 
schools are disappearing at an alarming rate in many of America's inner 
cities. So I will convene a White House summit aimed at strengthening 
these lifelines of learning. And to open the doors of these schools to 
more children, I ask you to support a new $300 million program called 
Pell Grants for Kids. We have seen how Pell Grants help low-income 
college students realize their full potential. Together, we have 
expanded the size and reach of these grants. Now let's apply that same 
spirit to help liberate poor children trapped in failing public 
schools.
  On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in 
the world and empower them by opening up new markets overseas. Today, 
our economic growth increasingly depends on our ability to sell 
American goods, crops, and services all over the world. So we are 
working to break down barriers to trade and investment wherever we can. 
We are working for a successful Doha round of trade talks, and we must 
complete a good agreement this year. At the same time, we are pursuing 
opportunities to open up new markets by passing free trade agreements.
  I thank the Congress for approving a good agreement with Peru. Now I 
ask you to approve agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. 
Many products from these nations now enter America duty-free, yet many 
of our products face steep tariffs in their markets. These agreements 
will level the playing field. They will give us better access to nearly 
100 million customers. And they will support good jobs for the finest 
workers in the world, those whose products say ``Made in the USA.''
  These agreements also promote America's strategic interests. The 
first agreement that will come before you is with Colombia, a friend of 
America that is confronting violence and terror and fighting drug 
traffickers. If we fail to pass this agreement, we will embolden the 
purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere. So we must come 
together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors in the region 
that democracy leads to a better life.
  Trade brings better jobs, better choices, and better prices. Yet for 
some Americans, trade can mean losing a job, and the Federal Government 
has a responsibility to help. I ask the Congress to reauthorize and 
reform trade adjustment assistance, so we can help these displaced 
workers learn new skills and find new jobs.
  To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative 
genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to 
pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology. Our security, our 
prosperity, and our environment all require reducing our dependence on 
oil. Last year, I asked you to pass legislation to reduce oil 
consumption over the next decade, and you responded. Together we should 
take the next steps: Let us fund new technologies that can generate 
coal power while capturing carbon emissions. Let us increase the use of 
renewable power and emissions-free nuclear power. Let us continue 
investing in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power 
the cars and trucks of the future. Let us create a new international 
clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like India 
and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete 
an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and 
eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. This agreement will 
be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and 
gives none a free ride. The United States is committed to strengthening 
our energy security and confronting global climate change. And the best 
way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way 
toward the development of cleaner and more energy-efficient technology.
  To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the 
skill of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the 
breakthroughs of tomorrow. Last year, the Congress passed legislation 
supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed 
through with the funding. This funding is essential to keeping our 
scientific edge. So I ask the Congress to double Federal support for 
critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America 
remains the most dynamic Nation on Earth.
  On matters of science and life, we must trust in the innovative 
spirit of medical researchers and empower them to discover new 
treatments while respecting moral boundaries. In November, we witnessed 
a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram 
adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough 
has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by 
extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human 
life. So we are expanding funding for this type of ethical medical 
research. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also 
ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves. And so I 
call on the Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices, 
such as the buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life.
  On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our Founders 
and empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it 
says. I have submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of 
the law, not the whim of the gavel. Many of these nominees are being 
unfairly delayed. They are worthy of confirmation, and the Senate 
should give each of them a prompt up-or-down vote.
  In communities across our land, we must trust in the good heart of 
the American people and empower them to serve their neighbors in need. 
Over the past 7 years, more of our fellow citizens have discovered that 
the pursuit of happiness leads to the path of service. Americans have 
volunteered in record numbers. Charitable donations are higher than 
ever. Faith-based groups are bringing hope to pockets of despair, with 
newfound support from the Federal Government. And to help guarantee 
equal treatment for faith-based organizations when they compete for 
Federal funds, I ask you to permanently extend Charitable Choice.
  Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in 
the gulf coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the 
people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build 
stronger and better than before. And tonight I am pleased to announce 
that in April we will host this year's North American Summit of Canada, 
Mexico, and the United States in the great City of New Orleans.
  There are two other pressing challenges that I have raised repeatedly 
before this body, and that this body has failed to address: entitlement 
spending and immigration.
  Every Member in this Chamber knows that spending on entitlement 
programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is growing faster 
than we can afford. And we all know the painful choices ahead if 
America stays on this path: massive tax increases, sudden and drastic 
cuts in benefits, or crippling deficits. I have laid out proposals to 
reform these programs. Now I ask Members of Congress to offer your 
proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital 
programs for our children and our grandchildren.
  The other pressing challenge is immigration. America needs to secure 
our borders, and with your help, my administration is taking steps to 
do so. We are increasing worksite enforcement, we are deploying fences 
and advanced technologies to stop illegal crossings,

[[Page 969]]

we have effectively ended the policy of ``catch and release'' at the 
border, and by the end of this year, we will have doubled the number of 
border patrol agents. Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will 
never fully secure our border until we create a lawful way for foreign 
workers to come here and support our economy. This will take pressure 
off the border and allow law enforcement to concentrate on those who 
mean us harm. We must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with 
people here illegally. Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can 
be resolved. And it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our 
laws and our highest ideals.
  This is the business of our Nation here at home. Yet building a 
prosperous future for our citizens also depends on confronting enemies 
abroad, and advancing liberty in troubled regions of the world.
  Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, 
when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace. In 
the last 7 years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the history of 
liberty. We have seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand up for 
their right to free and fair elections. We have seen people in Lebanon 
take to the streets to demand their independence. We have seen Afghans 
emerge from the tyranny of the Taliban to choose a new president and a 
new parliament. We have seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained 
fingers and celebrating their freedom. And these images of liberty have 
inspired us.
  In the past 7 years, we have also seen images that have sobered us. 
We have watched throngs of mourners in Lebanon and Pakistan carrying 
the caskets of beloved leaders taken by the assassin's hand. We have 
seen wedding guests in blood-soaked finery staggering from a hotel in 
Jordan, Afghans and Iraqis blown up in mosques and markets, and trains 
in London and Madrid ripped apart by bombs. And on a clear September 
day, we saw thousands of our fellow citizens taken from us in an 
instant. These horrific images serve as a grim reminder: The advance of 
liberty is opposed by terrorists and extremists, evil men who despise 
freedom, despise America, and aim to subject millions to their violent 
rule.
  Since September 11, we have taken the fight to these terrorists and 
extremists. We will stay on the offense, we will keep up the pressure, 
and we will deliver justice to our enemies.
  We are engaged in the defining ideological struggle of the 21st 
century. The terrorists oppose every principle of humanity and decency 
that we hold dear. Yet in this war on terror, there is one thing we and 
our enemies agree on: In the long run, men and women who are free to 
determine their own destinies will reject terror and refuse to live in 
tyranny. That is why the terrorists are fighting to deny this choice to 
the people in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Palestinian 
territories. And that is why, for the security of America and the peace 
of the world, we are spreading the hope of freedom.
  In Afghanistan, America, our 25 NATO allies, and 15 partner nations 
are helping the Afghan people defend their freedom and rebuild their 
country. Thanks to the courage of these military and civilian 
personnel, a nation that was once a safe haven for al Qaeda is now a 
young democracy where boys and girls are going to school, new roads and 
hospitals are being built, and people are looking to the future with 
new hope. These successes must continue, so we are adding 3,200 marines 
to our forces in Afghanistan, where they will fight the terrorists and 
train the Afghan army and police. Defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda is 
critical to our security, and I thank the Congress for supporting 
America's vital mission in Afghanistan.
  In Iraq, the terrorists and extremists are fighting to deny a proud 
people their liberty and fighting to establish safe havens for attacks 
across the world. One year ago, our enemies were succeeding in their 
efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos. So we reviewed our strategy and 
changed course. We launched a surge of American forces into Iraq. And 
we gave our troops a new mission: Work with Iraqi forces to protect the 
Iraqi people, pursue the enemy in its strongholds, and deny the 
terrorists sanctuary anywhere in the country.
  The Iraqi people quickly realized that something dramatic had 
happened. Those who had worried that America was preparing to abandon 
them instead saw tens of thousands of American forces flowing into 
their country. They saw our forces moving into neighborhoods, clearing 
out the terrorists and staying behind to ensure the enemy did not 
return. And they saw our troops, along with Provincial Reconstruction 
Teams that include Foreign Service officers, and other skilled public 
servants, coming in to ensure that improved security was followed by 
improvements in daily life. Our military and civilians in Iraq are 
performing with courage and distinction, and they have the gratitude of 
our whole Nation.
  The Iraqis launched a surge of their own. In the fall of 2006, Sunni 
tribal leaders grew tired of al Qaeda's brutality and started a popular 
uprising called ``The Anbar Awakening.'' Over the past year, similar 
movements have spread across the country. And today, this grassroots 
surge includes more than 80,000 Iraqi citizens who are fighting the 
terrorists. The government in Baghdad has stepped forward as well, 
adding more than 100,000 new Iraqi soldiers and police during the past 
year.
  While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the 
American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have 
imagined just 1 year ago:
  When we met last year, many said that containing the violence was 
impossible. A year later, high-profile terrorist attacks are down, 
civilian deaths are down, and sectarian killings are down.
  When we met last year, militia extremists, some armed and trained by 
Iran, were wreaking havoc in large areas of Iraq. A year later, 
coalition and Iraqi forces have killed or captured hundreds of militia 
fighters. And Iraqis of all backgrounds increasingly realize that 
defeating these militia fighters is critical to the future of their 
country.
  When we met last year, al Qaeda had sanctuaries in many areas of 
Iraq, and their leaders had just offered American forces safe passage 
out of the country. Today, it is al Qaeda that is searching for safe 
passage. They have been driven from many of the strongholds they once 
held, and over the past year, we have captured or killed thousands of 
extremists in Iraq, including hundreds of key al Qaeda leaders and 
operatives. Last month, Osama bin Laden released a tape in which he 
railed against Iraqi tribal leaders who have turned on al Qaeda and 
admitted that coalition forces are growing stronger in Iraq. Ladies and 
gentlemen, some may deny the surge is working, but among the 
terrorists, there is no doubt. Al Qaeda is on the run in Iraq, and this 
enemy will be defeated.
  When we met last year, our troop levels in Iraq were on the rise. 
Today, because of the progress just described, we are implementing a 
policy of ``return on success,'' and the surge forces we sent to Iraq 
are beginning to come home.
  This progress is a credit to the valor of our troops and the 
brilliance of their commanders. This evening, I want to speak directly 
to our men and women on the front lines. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, 
marines and coast guardsmen: In the past year, you have done everything 
we have asked of you, and more. Our Nation is grateful for your 
courage. We are proud of your accomplishments. And tonight in this 
hallowed Chamber, with the American people as our witness, we make you 
a solemn pledge: In the fight ahead, you will have all you need to 
protect our Nation. And I ask the Congress to meet its responsibilities 
to these brave men and women by fully funding our troops.
  Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, 
and we can still expect tough fighting ahead. Our objective in the 
coming year is to sustain and build on the gains we made in 2007, while 
transitioning to the next phase of our strategy. American troops are 
shifting from leading operations, to

[[Page 970]]

partnering with Iraqi forces, and, eventually, to a protective 
overwatch mission. As part of this transition, one Army brigade combat 
team and one Marine Expeditionary Unit have already come home and will 
not be replaced. In the coming months, four additional brigades and two 
Marine battalions will follow suit. Taken together, this means more 
than 20,000 of our troops are coming home.
  Any further drawdown of U.S. troops will be based on conditions in 
Iraq and the recommendations of our commanders. General Petraeus has 
warned that too fast a drawdown could result in the ``disintegration of 
the Iraqi security forces, al Qaeda-Iraq regaining lost ground, and a 
marked increase in violence.'' Members of Congress, having come so far 
and achieved so much, we must not allow this to happen.
  In the coming year, we will work with Iraqi leaders as they build on 
the progress they are making toward political reconciliation. At the 
local level, Sunnis, Shia, and Kurds are beginning to come together to 
reclaim their communities and rebuild their lives. Progress in the 
provinces must be matched by progress in Baghdad. And we are seeing 
some encouraging signs. The national government is sharing oil revenues 
with the provinces. The parliament recently passed both a pension law 
and de-Ba'athification reform. Now they are debating a provincial 
powers law. The Iraqis still have a distance to travel. But after 
decades of dictatorship and the pain of sectarian violence, 
reconciliation is taking place, and the Iraqi people are taking control 
of their future.
  The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our Nation. But 
it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed. A 
free Iraq will deny al Qaeda a safe haven. A free Iraq will show 
millions across the Middle East that a future of liberty is possible. 
And a free Iraq will be a friend of America, a partner in fighting 
terror, and a source of stability in a dangerous part of the world.
  By contrast, a failed Iraq would embolden extremists, strengthen 
Iran, and give terrorists a base from which to launch new attacks on 
our friends, our allies, and our homeland. The enemy has made its 
intentions clear. At a time when the momentum seemed to favor them, al 
Qaeda's top commander in Iraq declared that they will not rest until 
they have attacked us here in Washington. My fellow Americans, we will 
not rest, either. We will not rest until this enemy has been defeated. 
We must do the difficult work today, so that years from now people will 
look back and say that this generation rose to the moment, prevailed in 
a tough fight, and left behind a more hopeful region and a safer 
America.
  We are also standing against the forces of extremism in the Holy 
Land, where we have new cause for hope. Palestinians have elected a 
president who recognizes that confronting terror is essential to 
achieving a state where his people can live in dignity and at peace 
with Israel. Israelis have leaders who recognize that a peaceful, 
democratic Palestinian state will be a source of lasting security. This 
month in Ramallah and Jerusalem, I assured leaders from both sides that 
America will do, and I will do, everything we can to help them achieve 
a peace agreement that defines a Palestinian state by the end of this 
year. The time has come for a Holy Land where a democratic Israel and a 
democratic Palestine live side by side in peace.
  We are also standing against the forces of extremism embodied by the 
regime in Tehran. Iran's rulers oppress a good and talented people. And 
wherever freedom advances in the Middle East, it seems the Iranian 
regime is there to oppose it. Iran is funding and training militia 
groups in Iraq, supporting Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, and backing 
Hamas' efforts to undermine peace in the Holy Land. Tehran is also 
developing ballistic missiles of increasing range and continues to 
develop its capability to enrich uranium, which could be used to create 
a nuclear weapon. Our message to the people of Iran is clear: We have 
no quarrel with you, we respect your traditions and your history, and 
we look forward to the day when you have your freedom. Our message to 
the leaders of Iran is also clear: Verifiably suspend your nuclear 
enrichment, so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of 
nations, come clean about your nuclear intention and past actions, stop 
your oppression at home, and cease your support for terror abroad. But 
above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our 
troops, we will stand by our allies, and we will defend our vital 
interests in the Persian Gulf.
  On the homefront, we will continue to take every lawful and effective 
measure to protect our country. This is our most solemn duty. We are 
grateful that there has not been another attack on our soil since 9/11. 
This is not for a lack of desire or effort on the part of the enemy. In 
the past 6 years, we have stopped numerous attacks, including a plot to 
fly a plane into the tallest building in Los Angeles, and another to 
blow up passenger jets bound for America over the Atlantic. Dedicated 
men and women in our government toil day and night to stop the 
terrorists from carrying out their plans. These good citizens are 
saving American lives, and everyone in this Chamber owes them our 
thanks. And we owe them something more: We owe them the tools they need 
to keep our people safe.
  One of the most important tools we can give them is the ability to 
monitor terrorist communications. To protect America, we need to know 
who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying, and what they 
are planning. Last year, the Congress passed legislation to help us do 
that. Unfortunately, the Congress set the legislation to expire on 
February 1. This means that if you don't act by Friday, our ability to 
track terrorists' threats would be weakened and our citizens will be in 
greater danger. The Congress must ensure the flow of vital intelligence 
is not disrupted. The Congress must pass liability protection for 
companies believed to have assisted in the efforts to defend America. 
We have had ample time for debate. The time to act is now.
  Protecting our Nation from the dangers of a new century requires more 
than good intelligence and a strong military. It also requires changing 
the conditions that breed resentment and allow extremists to prey on 
despair. So America is using its influence to build a freer, more 
hopeful, and more compassionate world. This is a reflection of our 
national interest and the calling of our conscience.
  America opposes genocide in Sudan. We support freedom in countries 
from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and Burma. America is leading the 
fight against global poverty, with strong education initiatives and 
humanitarian assistance. We have also changed the way we deliver aid by 
launching the Millennium Challenge Account. This program strengthens 
democracy, transparency, and the rule of law in developing nations, and 
I ask you to fully fund this important initiative.
  America is leading the fight against global hunger. Today, more than 
half the world's food aid comes from the United States. And tonight, I 
ask the Congress to support an innovative proposal to provide food 
assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers in the developing 
world, so we can build up local agriculture and help break the cycle of 
famine.
  America is leading the fight against disease. With your help, we are 
working to cut by half the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 
African nations. And our emergency plan for AIDS relief is treating 1.4 
million people. We can bring healing and hope to many more. So I ask 
you to maintain the principles that have changed behavior and made this 
program a success. And I call on you to double our initial commitment 
to fighting HIV/AIDS by approving an additional $30 billion over the 
next 5 years.
  America is a force for hope in the world because we are a 
compassionate people, and some of the most compassionate Americans are 
those who have stepped forward to protect us. We must keep faith with 
all who have risked life and limb so that we might live in freedom and 
peace. Over the past 7 years, we have increased funding for veterans

[[Page 971]]

by more than 95 percent. And as we increase funding, we must also 
reform our veterans' system to meet the needs of a new war and a new 
generation. I call on the Congress to enact the reforms recommended by 
Senator Bob Dole and Secretary Donna Shalala, so we can improve the 
system of care for our wounded warriors and help them build lives of 
hope, promise, and dignity.
  Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure 
sleepless nights and the daily struggle of providing for children while 
a loved one is serving far from home. We have a responsibility to 
provide for them. So I ask you to join me in expanding their access to 
child care, creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across 
the Federal Government, and allowing our troops to transfer their 
unused education benefits to their spouses or children. Our military 
families serve our Nation, they inspire our Nation, and tonight our 
Nation honors them.
  The secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our 
greatness lies not in our government, but in the spirit and 
determination of our people. When the Federal Convention met in 
Philadelphia in 1787, our Nation was bound by the Articles of 
Confederation, which began with the words, ``We the undersigned 
delegates.'' When Gouverneur Morris was asked to draft the preamble to 
our new Constitution, he offered an important revision and opened with 
words that changed the course of our Nation and the history of the 
world: ``We the people.''
  By trusting the people, our Founders wagered that a great and noble 
Nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all 
men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations 
transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful Nation 
on Earth and a beacon of hope for millions. And so long as we continue 
to trust the people, our Nation will prosper, our liberty will be 
secure, and the state of our Union will remain strong. So tonight, with 
confidence in freedom's power, and trust in the people, let us set 
forth to do their business.
  God bless America.
  (Applause, the Members rising.)
  At 10 o'clock and 5 minutes p.m., the President of the United States, 
accompanied by the committee of escort, retired from the Hall of the 
House of Representatives.
  The Majority Floor Services Chief escorted the invited guests from 
the Chamber in the following order:
  The members of the President's Cabinet; Chief Justice of the United 
States and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court; the Dean of the 
Diplomatic Corps.

                          ____________________