[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001, Book I)]
[March 21, 2001]
[Page 276]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Proposed Legislation To Implement the Faith-Based 
Initiative
March 21, 2001

    Earlier this year, I sent to the Congress my agenda to rally 
America's armies of compassion to address many of our toughest community 
challenges.
    Government does not have a monopoly on compassion. And while 
Government cannot be replaced by charities, it should welcome them as 
partners, not view them as rivals.
    Today, on a bipartisan basis, Members of the House and Senate took 
important first steps to advance this agenda to aid churches, 
synagogues, mosques, and communities in helping neighbors in need.
    I welcome the bipartisan proposals that have been offered in the 
House by Representative J.C. Watts, 
Representative Tony Hall, and Speaker Dennis 
Hastert, and in the Senate by Senator Rick 
Santorum and Senator Joseph 
Lieberman. These new legislative 
initiatives demonstrate that momentum continues to build behind my 
agenda to rally America's armies of compassion. They represent a 
bipartisan consensus that Government must support our quiet heroes who 
are lifting lives and healing neighborhoods one heart and one act of 
kindness at a time.
    I will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion with Congress to 
help those most in need by encouraging charitable giving and eliminating 
barriers to charitable works.