    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [October 4, 2001]
    [Pages 1193-1196]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to Department of Labor Employees
    October 4, 2001

        Well, thank you all very much for that warm welcome. I'm glad to be
    in the midst of patriots, people who love their country and people
    willing to work hard to help our fellow Americans who may be in need.
        First, I want to thank Elaine Chao for
    her leadership. I knew I picked a good one when I picked her to become
    the Secretary of Labor, and she's proven me right. And my old Governor
    buddy is doing a pretty good job, too.
    [Laughter] I appreciate the hard work of our Cabinet during this period.
    Like the country, we're united. We know we've got a job to do. The
    evildoers struck. But they may have hurt our buildings, and they are
    obviously affecting some family lives in such a profound and sad way,
    but they will not touch the soul of America. They cannot dim our spirit.
        We've got a job to do, all of us. And I'm here to thank you in the
    Department of Labor for your hard work, your concern for your fellow
    Americans. All of us, from the President all the way throughout our
    Government, must be diligent and strong and unwavering in our
    determination and our dedication to win the war on terrorism.
        I've got a job to do, and that's to explain to the American people
    the truth. And the truth is that we're now facing a new threat for
    freedom, that on September the 11th, war was declared on the United
    States, not by a religious group, not by one country versus another but
    by people motivated by evil. And I'm going to make it clear to the world
    what I've made clear to America, that this great country will not let
    evil stand.
        The attack on our land roused a mighty nation. We're--never been
    united like we have been--as we are today. And we're examining a lot of
    things. We're examining, as moms and dads, what it means to be a parent.
    There are many Americans on bended knee from all different religions,
    praying to an almighty God. We're a nation united in our conviction that
    we must find those evildoers and bring them to justice. We seek not
    revenge in America; we seek justice.
        Americans understand that this is a different type of campaign; it's
    a different type of struggle to defeat an enemy that's sometimes hard to
    see and sometimes hard to find. But what the enemy has found out is,
    we're a determined people, and we're patient, and we will do what it
    takes to bring them to justice.
        We built a vast coalition of nations from all around the world to
    join us, nations which understand that what happened in New York and
    Washington could happen to them as well. They understand it's now time
    to unite to defeat evil. Each nation comes with a different set of
    capabilities and a different set of--a different willingness to help.
    America says, ``We don't care how you help; just help. Either you're for
    us, or you're against us.''
        And the progress to date has been positive, really positive. We've
    got nations around the world willing to join us in cutting off the money
    of the evil ones. Our attitude is, if they can't fund evil deeds,
    they're not going to be able to affect freedom. And so we're talking to
    countries and banks and financial institutions and saying,

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    ``Either you're with us, or against us. Cut off their money.''
        We're applying diplomatic pressure from around the world. I promise
    you this: I will enforce the doctrine that says that if you house a
    terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists themselves.
        This is our calling. This is our Nation's time to lead the world,
    and we're going to do that. And we must do so in a bold and strong and
    determined fashion. We will not waver.
        I fully understand, as I said to Congress, there will be times when
    people feel a sense of normalcy--and I hope that happens sooner rather
    than later--and that September 11th may be a distant memory to some, but
    not to me, and not to this Nation. Now is the time--now is the time to
    root out evil so that our children and grandchildren can live with
    freedom as the beacon all around the world.
        The evildoers cost America a lot of lives. And for the two here in the Justice--I mean,
    in the Labor Department, I say: We will get justice, and we grieve with
    you, the two good folks who suffer as a result of September the 11th. I
    can't tell you how many people are praying for you and praying for the
    victims all across America. People you can't even imagine, can't even--
    will never know, are on bended knee.
        And they've also changed a lot of lives, these evil actions. It's
    clear, as a result of today's new unemployment claims, that the attack
    of September the 11th sent a shock wave throughout our economy. And we
    need to do something about it. And I'm going to lead the Congress in a
    way that provides the help and stimulus necessary for there to be
    economic growth.
        It is not time to worry about partisan politics here in America. It
    is time for our Government to continue to work together, to say: We hear
    the cries of those who have been laid off; we worry about the shock
    waves throughout our economy; and instead of talking, we're going to do
    something about it.
        And we've started. We have started. There are $40 billion of tax
    rebates that have been disbursed over the last months that should help
    our economy. The Congress came together and passed 15 billion in
    emergency help for airlines and $40 billion in supplemental spending
    that will help New York rebuild herself and will be a part of--a means
    for enhancing our economic growth.
        But there's more to do. Now is not the time to be timid. It's the
    time to be wise. It's also the time to act. And that's why yesterday the
    Secretary of Treasury and I both said that we need to have more stimulus
    available. We need for there to be more tax cuts.
        I want to remind my fellow Americans that starting next year, there
    will be 70 billion additional dollars of tax reductions and larger child
    credits coming, as a result of the tax package we passed and I signed.
    So there's stimulus available.
        But I look forward to working with Congress in the interim, between
    now and when those tax cuts kick in, to do more. I think we must do
    more. I know we must do more to make sure that our economy gets started.
    And I'm going to ask Congress to ask this question, ``Will what I vote
    for encourage economic growth?'' Not ``Will it make me look better at
    home,'' or ``Will it satisfy a narrow constituency,'' but ``Will my vote
    stimulate economic vitality and growth?'' That's the question that
    Americans are asking when we vote on a tax reduction package. And that's
    the question I will be asking.
        I strongly believe we need to make sure that consumer confidence
    stays high, by giving people more of their own money back. We need to
    counter the shock wave of the evildoer by having individual rate cuts
    accelerated and by thinking about tax rebates.
        Secondly, in order to make sure our economy grows, within the 60 to
    75 billion dollar package that we've--the parameters of which we
    outlined, we need to make

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    sure we have investment incentives for U.S. businesses, both large and
    small.
        Not only should we make sure that the individual consumer confidence
    remains high but that we've got to understand that by encouraging
    investment, it will encourage employment. And one of the things that
    Elaine mentioned is that you're a Department that makes sure that people
    find work. We've got to have good policy coming out of Congress to make
    sure that as you work hard to help people find work, there's a stimulus
    package that does so.
        People say, ``Well, why did you say that the parameters ought to be
    60 to 75 billion dollars?'' Well, one, we think that's the right size to
    encourage growth without affecting the economy in the long term. And
    secondly, I think it makes sense to have parameters, so that Congress
    doesn't feel like it has to invent a series of new programs in order to
    stimulate economic growth. We know what we need to do. And I look
    forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to get it done.
    It's the right thing for the American people.
        And there is no question that not only should our Government act to
    encourage economic growth; our Government ought to act to take care of
    people whose lives were affected on September the 11th. We need to move,
    and I've got some ideas as to how we ought to move.
        First, in the post-attack economy, some workers need more help for
    more time. So I propose extending the unemployment benefits by 13 weeks
    in States that have been hardest hit by job losses related to the
    September 11th attack. This emergency extension will be paid entirely by
    Federal dollars and should remain in place for 18 months.
        And secondly, I believe the best way to help people meet health care
    needs or job training needs or income support is to fund the National
    Emergency Grant System by an additional $3 billion. This will be Federal
    money that will go to States so they can distribute monies directly to
    people whose lives have been affected.
        I urge the Congress, as they plan ways to deal with this tragedy, to
    look at the Government programs that already exist. We don't have time
    to try to invent new programs. What we ought to do is make those
    programs that exist work better, and here's two solutions to do so.
        And finally, I want to remind Governors and folks in the States what
    Tommy told me earlier today. Tommy said
    there's $11 billion available to help States provide health insurance
    for low-income workers and their families through the SCHIP program.
    It's an important opportunity for States to expand coverage to people
    whose lives have been severely affected by the September 11th attack.
        This is a way we can help. This is a set of principles for Congress
    to work together to help the American people, stimulate growth, and at
    the same time take care of the workers whose lives have been impacted by
    the September 11th attack.
        And that's what we must do, because, you see, the terrorists hope to
    change our way of life. On the one hand, they hoped that America would
    become timid and cower in the face of their barbaric acts. They were
    wrong. On the other hand, they would hope that we'd become paralyzed and
    unable to act at home in order to do what's right for the American
    people. They were wrong again.
        Instead, they have provided interesting opportunities for America. I
    told some world leaders, through our tears we see opportunity; that
    we're sad and angry, but we've got a clear vision of the world; that
    this is a remarkable moment in history which our Nation will seize.
    We'll act boldly at home to encourage economic growth. We'll take care
    of people who hurt. We will comfort those who lost lives. We'll be
    compassionate as to how we deal with Afghan citizens, for example, by
    making sure there's humanitarian aid.

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        And we'll be tough and resolute as we unite, to make sure freedom
    stands, to rout out evil, to say to our children and grandchildren, ``We
    were bold enough to act, without tiring, so that you can live in a great
    land and in a peaceful world.''
        And there's no doubt in my mind--not one doubt in my mind--that we
    will fail; failure is not a part of our vocabulary. This great Nation
    will lead the world, and we will be successful.
        Thank you for working for the Government. Thank you for caring about
    our fellow Americans. May God bless you all and your families, and may
    God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:40 p.m. in the Great Hall at the Frances
    Perkins Department of Labor Building. In his remarks, he referred to
    Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson; and Labor
    Department employees Eloise Clark and Paul Hylind, both of whom lost
    relatives in the September 11th attacks.