[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.