    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [December 29, 2001]
    [Pages 1555-1556]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    December 29, 2001

        Good morning. Two thousand and one has been a year that Americans
    will always remember. We suffered great loss, and we found a new unity.
    We were attacked, and we responded swiftly. We have seen the strength of
    America in countless acts of kindness, compassion, and courage.
        This year ends with progress on the battlefield and accomplishment
    at home. The men and women of our military have successfully fought a
    new kind of war. They applied new tactics and new technology to rout a
    new kind of enemy. The lessons we learn in Afghanistan will guide our
    military to the future and make our country stronger and more secure.
        On the homefront, we're strengthening our defenses against terrorist
    attack while upholding our constitutional liberties. Our

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    airways are more secure, and we are standing on alert.
        And here in Washington, we have built a record of achievement. We've
    set out clear priorities of tax relief and education reform, and we
    achieved them.
        Strengthening a troubled economy was one of my first priorities, so
    we passed the biggest tax reduction in a generation. And on January 1st,
    the next round of tax relief takes effect. As of January 1st, the
    marginal tax rate for moderate-income taxpayers falls to 10 percent. Tax
    credits to encourage businesses to provide daycare will expand, and the
    adoption tax credit will increase to $10,000.
        Yet, we cannot stop here. I was disappointed by the failure of the
    Senate to act on my proposals to help laid-off workers and to stimulate
    job creation. I outlined these proposals in October, more than 800,000
    lost jobs ago. My ideas passed the House of Representatives, and,
    according to the Council of Economic Advisers, they could save 300,000
    endangered jobs, but the Senate would not schedule them for a vote. I
    hope that we can resolve in the new year to put politics aside and get
    the job done for the American people.
        Education was another top priority, and we passed the boldest reform
    of the Federal education program in nearly four decades. We raised
    standards, put a new emphasis on reading, protected local control, and
    made sure that our schools teach all of our children. These are real
    achievements, and we must do more.
        We must have quick action on other issues that passed the House of
    Representatives but languished in the Senate. I'm counting on the Senate
    to take up my proposals to assure America's energy independence, to
    stimulate our economy and create jobs, to adopt a solid Patients' Bill
    of Rights, to mobilize faith-based institutions for a new era of
    effective compassion, and to enhance our ability to negotiate favorable
    trade agreements for the United States.
        We have work to do to strengthen Social Security and put Medicare on
    sound footing for the future.
        Above all, this coming year will require our sustained commitment to
    the war against terrorism. We cannot know how long this struggle will
    last. But it can end only one way: in victory for America and the cause
    of freedom.
        We look back on 2001 with sadness and with pride. We must look
    forward with determination and with resolve.
        Thank you so much for listening, and Happy New Year to you all.

    Note: The address was recorded at 11:30 a.m. on December 28 at the Bush
    Ranch in Crawford, TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 29. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    December 28 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language version
    of this address.