    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [February 5, 2002]
    [Pages 173-174]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    February 5, 2002

    Voluntarism

        Q. Mr. President, Dick Armey today came out against your volunteer
    program, saying it's not the Government's business to teach Americans
    charity. What's your response to that?
        The President. I think the country needs to provide opportunities
    for people to serve. Expanding AmeriCorps, expanding

    [[Page 174]]

    Senior Corps--it's a good way for Americans to fight evil, and there's
    all kinds of opportunities. Senior Corps is one opportunity; AmeriCorps
    is one; church, synagogue, or mosque programs are another.
        As I said in my speech, if you don't know where to serve your 2
    years of public service or 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime,
    here's a really good opportunity.
        Q. Is his opposition--does that threaten the program, threaten----
        The President. No, I don't think so. I think Congress understands
    that we need to provide opportunities for teachers to teach in the
    inner-city schools and seniors to provide homeland defense volunteer
    activities. The key thing, the key point I was making in my speech is
    that many in the country are asking how they can help, how they can help
    fight terror. And one way to do so is through acts of kindness and
    compassion and decency. And the good news is, a lot of Americans are
    responding.

    Enron/Pension Reform

        Q. Mr. President, Senator Hollings yesterday asked for a special
    counsel to investigate your administration's relations with Enron. How
    do you feel about that, sir?
        The President. I feel like Congress needs to pass my pension reform
    legislation I sent up there. I sent up a good piece of legislation that
    will help protect workers, and they ought to get after it and respond to
    that. Listen, this is a business problem, and my Justice Department is
    going to investigate. And if there's wrongdoing, we'll hold them
    accountable for mistreatment of employees and shareholders.
        Q. You don't see a need for a special counsel?
        The President. I see a need for laws, and I see a need for a full
    investigation, and that's what we're providing. The Justice Department
    is gathering information, and we're going to determine whether there was
    any wrongdoing. And if there is, there will be consequences.
        In the meantime, I've sent up pension reform legislation that
    Congress needs to get after. It's a good piece of legislation, it will
    help workers, and we ought to do it now.
        Thank you, all.

    Note: The exchange began at 1:05 p.m. at the clinical microbiology
    laboratory in Scaife Hall, during a tour of the University of Pittsburgh
    Medical Center. A tape was not available for verification of the content
    of this exchange.