    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [August 31, 2001]
    [Pages 1055-1057]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Launching the New White House Web Site and an Exchange With
    Reporters
    August 31, 2001

        The President. Jane, thanks, you did a great
    job. And thank all the folks who worked on it. I'm very impressed, and I
    think the people who access this web site will be impressed as well.
        A couple of points I want to make: One, I appreciate so very much
    the web site being available in more than just one language. There are a
    lot of Spanish-speaking folks in America, and they'll be able to access
    the web site. And that's important because I want all Americans to
    understand that our priorities coming into the fall will be our economy,
    education, opportunity, and security. And concerned citizens can read
    about those four categories, those four priorities of the
    administration, across the web page.
        I was particularly impressed that Barney plays a major role--
    [laughter]--in helping the young understand what's going on in
    Washington, DC. I say that somewhat in jest, but I'm very serious about
    the need for all of us involved in Government to do all we can to
    involve our citizenry in government. There is a lot of cynicism about
    politics in Washington, DC, and it seems like to me the more accessible
    Washington becomes, the more likely it is people will participate in the
    process. And clearly, one way to do so is across the web page. I
    appreciate so very much, Jane, your artistic
    talents and your creativity and the team that worked with you, as well.
    This page will be updated on a regular basis, obviously, as the news
    unfolds. But we'll be looking for more imaginative ways to continue
    people's interest in accessing the White House.
        Finally, it's good to be here with the First Lady. As we say in Texas, she cut her teeth in libraries, and
    she, too, is concerned about making sure that information flows freely
    and that, as importantly, people are able to read what comes up on the
    screen.
        As I said, education, the economy, opportunity, and security will be
    our priorities. And one of the things that I hope Congress does is work
    and act quickly on the education bill and get it to my desk as soon as
    they get back. It's an important piece of legislation. The House has
    passed a version; the Senate has passed a version. And I know that the
    leadership has had their teams working to resolve differences over the
    last couple of weeks. And I'm confident that if the will is there, they
    can get a bill to me quickly. I look forward to signing one.
        I'd be glad to answer a few questions.

    Funding the Legislative Agenda

        Q. Sir, you talk about your priorities. Are you confident that the
    money will be there to fund all those priorities?

    [[Page 1056]]

        The President. Yes, I am, so long as Congress doesn't overspend.
         Yes, Fournier [Ron Fournier, Associated Press].

    Little League

        Q. What is your reaction to this 12- or 14-year-old boy who--it
    turns out he is 14 years old, the Little Leaguer?
        The President. Well, my answer is, I'm disappointed that adults
    would fudge the boy's age. I wasn't
    disappointed in his fastball and his slider; the guy was awesome. I
    mean, he's a great pitcher. But I was sorely disappointed that people
    felt like they could send in a false age--particularly when it comes to
    Little League baseball, of all places. And so Little League, I'm sure,
    will take the appropriate actions.
        Q. What do you think the appropriate action is?
        The President. I guess disqualification of the team. I'm sure there
    are rules at the Little League level.
        Laura and I went to the Little League World Series. It was an
    amazing event, by the way. As I told them, I said, really, when I was a
    kid, I never dreamt that I would be standing in front of a bunch of
    Little Leaguers as President, but I did dream about making it to
    Williamsport as a Little League player.

    Mexico and Immigration Policy

        Q. Are you disappointed, sir, that you were unable to come up with
    more concrete agreement with Mexico on immigration?
        The President. I'm thrilled at the progress we're making with
    Mexico. What you'll see is that our administrations, mine and that of
    Vicente Fox, are cooperating better than any
    administrations in the past on a wide range of issues. And I'm very
    pleased with the progress we're making. The immigration issue is one
    that is a complex issue. We've made progress on principles.
        And President Fox knows that the issue will
    require more than just the administrations' involvement; it requires a
    willing Congress to address the issue. So we'll be discussing
    principles, starting with, people need to be treated well and treated
    respectfully. And then it makes sense for the United States to help
    match willing--a willing employee with a willing employer. It's in our
    Nation's interest, that if someone's looking for a worker, that we
    figure out how to combine the two.
        And we made great progress. I was briefed this morning by Colin
    Powell and John Ashcroft on their meetings with their counterparts in Mexico. I
    think it's safe to say, without hyperbole, that the interaction between
    our administrations is the best it's ever been, of any administrations
    in the past.

    High Speed Internet Access

        Q. Mr. President, what role should the Federal Government play in
    helping deploy high speed Internet access?
        The President. Helping?
        Q. Deploy high speed Internet access?
        The President. Well, a lot of that is going to be taking place
    through the market. And technology is such that areas that might not get
    access quickly as a result of no economies of purchase, or economies of
    scale, will be able to have Internet access.
        I think, for example, of Crawford, Texas. It's a place where you're
    not going to generally get a lot of fiber optics, although I think there
    may be some there as a result of Laura's and my presence. Hopefully that
    high speed access will come as a result of--over the air as opposed to
    through fiber optics. And once we get over-the-air high speed access,
    then a lot of rural America that heretofore hasn't had access will get
    it. The technologies are evolving.
        One of my concerns, of course, is the economic slowdown will perhaps
    slow down some of the progress made, as far as high speed access. And
    we've done something about it. I'm going to remind Congress that

    [[Page 1057]]

    they need not overspend and should not overspend. It's going to affect
    economic growth; that all of us in Washington need to be thinking about
    how to grow the economy.
        And I've laid out an economic growth plan, starting with tax relief.
    I hear there are some up here that are now second-guessing tax relief,
    and surely they're not advocating a tax increase, because if they are,
    they will find mighty resistance in the White House. Plus, that's bad
    economics. So for those who criticize the tax relief plan, the next step
    is, what do you have in mind? And if it's a tax increase, that would be
    bad for America.
        Good to see everybody. Thank you. Fournier, we missed you in
    Crawford.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:47 p.m. in the Executive Office of the
    President Library in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
    In his remarks, he referred to White House Webmaster Jane Cook; Little
    League player Danny Almonte; and President Vicente Fox of Mexico.