    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [August 17, 2002]
    [Pages 1428-1429]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    August 17, 2002

        Good morning. This week I hosted an economic forum at Baylor
    University in Texas. Participants shared their concerns about the
    economic challenges we face and their ideas for making the economy
    stronger. A common theme among many panelists was that we must leave
    every dollar we can in the hands of the people who have earned it. We
    must be disciplined with our taxpayers' money, which requires Congress
    to focus on funding our Nation's priorities.
        Winning the war on terror is our top priority. The men and women
    fighting the war must have every tool and all the training they need to
    fight and win. That is why my budget includes the largest increase in
    defense spending in a generation. And that is why I urge the Congress to
    pass a final defense appropriations bill as soon as they return to
    Washington.
        Keeping our homeland secure is another high priority. My budget
    would nearly double funding for homeland security to almost $38
    billion--money to train and equip firefighters, police officers, and
    emergency medical personnel; money for the Coast Guard, to protect our
    ports and coasts;

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    money to keep our water treatment plants and nuclear facilities safe.
        A few weeks ago, Congress passed an emergency funding bill that
    provides more than $13 billion in immediate funding for the war on
    terror, more than $4 billion for homeland security, and completes our
    $20 billion commitment to the people of New York. I was pleased to sign
    it.
        But Congress also sent along more than $5 billion in extra spending
    I did not ask for. Some of that $5 billion I have endorsed and will work
    to secure, but a lot of that money has nothing to do with a national
    emergency. Those who wrote the bill designed it so either I have to
    spend all the money or none of it. At the economic forum on Tuesday, I
    made my position clear: I will spend none of the $5 billion.
        We must remember the lessons of the past. In the 1960s, increased
    spending required by war was not balanced by slower spending in the rest
    of the Government. As a result, in the 1970s we faced unemployment and
    growing deficits and spiraling inflation.
        We cannot go down the path of soaring budget deficits. We must meet
    our defense and homeland security needs and hold the line on other
    spending. My budget raises defense spending by more than 14 percent. It
    nearly doubles homeland security funding. In all other areas, it
    increases spending by 2 percent. Many families are living with raises
    like that, and so should the Government.
        The House of Representatives has done well by staying within these
    limits. Unfortunately, the Senate has not even passed a budget
    framework, and so far it has been ignoring fiscal discipline. I
    requested $2.4 billion for public housing; the bill moving through the
    Senate includes $300 million more. I requested $2.2 billion for
    agricultural research; again, the Senate wants to spend $300 million
    more. I requested $3.1 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
    Administration; the Senate wants to spend $200 million more. And these
    levels could go higher. I challenge Congress to respect the taxpayers
    and show restraint with their money. It is very important they do so in
    order for our economy to continue to grow.
        If Congress will not show spending restraint, I will enforce
    spending restraint. For the good of our economy, for the good of the
    people who pay taxes, my administration will spend what is truly needed,
    and not a dollar more.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 10:45 a.m. on August 16 at the Bush
    Ranch in Crawford, TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 17. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    August 16 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office
    of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of
    this address.