    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [July 29, 2002]
    [Pages 1307-1313]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1307]]

    Remarks at West Ashley High School in Charleston, South Carolina
    July 29, 2002

        Thank you all very much. It's great to be back in Charleston. I want
    to thank you for taking time out of your day to come by and say hello.
    It's good to be back to the place where my mother graduated from high
    school. She must have learned there that if you ever get to be a mother,
    make sure you tell your oldest son what to do all the time. [Laughter]
    I'm still listening.
        I am so honored that Tommy traveled
    down with me. You know, Tommy and I were fellow Governors. I knew he had
    a good record as the Governor of Wisconsin in helping move people from
    welfare to work. So that when I--one, I asked Tommy to join us as the
    Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services,
    because I know--I know his passion for helping people in need, and I
    know his philosophy. And so I want to thank Tommy for agreeing to leave
    the life he had there in Wisconsin and moving to Washington, DC, and
    serving our Nation with such class and such distinction. I appreciate
    you, Mr. Secretary.
        I want to thank some of the members of the mighty South Carolina
    congressional delegation who have joined us here today, Congressmen
    Brown, Wilson,
    Graham, and DeMint,
    who represent your State with such class. And I appreciate you all
    coming. And it's good to see that my friend the Lieutenant Governor, Bob
    Peeler, is here with us as well. Thank you, Bob,
    appreciate you coming.
        And I want to give a special thanks to Bob Olson, the principal of this high school. I know it's not easy
    to host a Presidential visit. The entourages are quite large. But you
    all have done a fabulous job. It's such an honor to be here in this high
    school. I want to thank you for--Bob, you and the teachers, all the
    folks who work here--for being involved in education. There's nothing
    more important to make sure that every single child in America gets a
    quality education.
        I just had what they call a roundtable discussion about some of the
    programs that are taking place here in South Carolina, programs all
    aimed at helping people help themselves. I don't have time to go through
    all the stories, but there are some remarkable people that joined us
    today, those who have worked hard to get off welfare to succeed and
    those kind, compassionate souls who are helping them. And I want to
    thank the participants for coming today. I really appreciate our
    discussions.
        I also met Steve Riggs, who is a volunteer
    here in South Carolina. He came out to Air Force One. Steve's job is
    to--as a volunteer is to work with the South Carolina military
    department, which reenacts moments of American history. Steve believes
    it's important to teach history--live history or history that--through
    people wearing uniforms, so they can see history come to life. He
    believes it's important to teach our youngsters values that they can
    hold dear for the rest of their life. Steve decided to do this on his
    own. It didn't require any Government edict or any proclamation. He's a
    volunteer to make South Carolina the best State it can be, and I'm
    honored you're with us today, Steve. Thank you for coming.
        The reason I like to talk about people like
    Steve--and many of the people I met this morning share the same concept
    that one person can do something to help change America, and each of us
    have got to be a person helping to change America. If you want to fight
    evil, if you want to join the war on terror, do some good in your
    society. If you want to send a message to the evil ones who attacked us,
    one way to do so is to love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved
    yourself. And that's what's happening all across America.

    [[Page 1308]]

        I can't imagine what went through the mind of the enemy when they
    attacked us. They must have thought America and Americans were shallow
    people, so materialistic that when it came to defending something we
    hold dear, we'd just kind of file a lawsuit or, you know, wring our
    hands, be afraid of our shadows. But they didn't understand America,
    see. And they're learning a pretty tough lesson about this country: When
    it comes to the defense of our freedom, when it comes to defending that
    which we hold dear, we're plenty tough, and we're determined, and we
    will succeed.
        Now, we're making progress on the war against terror. It's a
    different kind of war. Steve reenacts battles
    where there used to be infantries moving against infantries and
    artilleries moving against artilleries and flights of aircraft flying
    all over the--this is a different type of war. These folks are nothing
    but a bunch of coldblooded killers who--they'll send youngsters to their
    death, and they'll hide. And so this country, in order to protect
    America, is going to hunt them down one person at a time, no matter how
    long it takes, one person at a time.
        I know this is a great military town, and I want to thank all of you
    who have got loved ones in the United States military. Please pass on
    from their Commander in Chief that we're proud. We're proud of their
    service, and we're proud of their sacrifice.
        We're making progress on our economy. The foundation for growth is
    strong in America. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. Monetary
    policy is sound. Fiscal policy is sound. Productivity is up. And
    tomorrow I'm going to sign a bill that says as clearly as we can
    possibly say it out of Washington, DC--by the way, a bill supported by
    both Republicans and Democrats--that if you're a CEO and you think you
    can fudge the books in order to make yourself look better, we're going
    to find you; we're going to arrest you; and we're going to hold you to
    account.
        And as Tommy mentioned, we're making
    great progress on helping people help themselves, so they do not become
    dependent upon Government. We're helping people become independent
    people, so they can realize their full human potential.
        The welfare reform is a true success story. Since the passage of the
    bill in 1996, welfare caseloads have dropped more than 50 percent. It's
    a remarkable achievement--50 percent fewer people on welfare. Today, 5.4
    million fewer people live in poverty than in 1996; 2.8 million fewer
    children live in poverty. And that's positive for America. And an
    incredibly vital statistic is, the percentage of African Americans and
    children in poverty is the lowest ever.
        The success of welfare reform is not in the numbers, however. The
    success of welfare reform is not in the caseloads cut. The success in
    welfare reform is the number of people whose lives have been changed in
    a positive way. That's the success. And we've got many success stories
    in South Carolina and all across the country. I'm sure there are some
    here who I haven't had a chance to meet.
        Today I did meet Lushanda Bright. She
    talked about her life and her story. First of all, she had the toughest
    job in America, which is being a single mother. That's the hardest work
    in this country, by the way, is trying to raise your children on your
    own. And that's what she was doing. She was a 24-year-old at the time.
    She had two young children. She was on unemployment benefits, and they
    were about to run out in August. But she didn't just want a job. She
    wanted to do something better for herself and for her children. And so
    she hooked up with a group here, all aimed at helping people go from
    welfare to work, a group that came to be after the '96 law, because the
    Federal Government finally in its wisdom said, ``We ought to trust the
    local people to help, the local people to design the programs that best
    work for South Carolina, people we're trying to

    [[Page 1309]]

    help''--that all knowledge isn't in Washington, DC. As a matter of fact,
    the more we trust the local people, the more likely it is that good
    programs will spring forward to help the Lushanda Brights of the world.
        And such a program is called Moving Up. And they helped
    Lushanda. They asked what she wanted. They
    asked what they could do to help. She enrolled in Northeastern Technical
    College. She completed several courses on medical insurance and
    billing--by the way, while working at a convenience store and being a
    mother of two. Today, she has a full time job at Marlboro Park Hospital.
    In the fall she's going back to school to continue her education. And
    here's what she had to say: ``A whole lot has changed for me. My life
    has turned around. It was hard, but I went from having nothing and ended
    up with a job I love.''
        Lushanda, thank you for coming. Thank
    you for sharing with us. I appreciate you being here.
        These are the human stories. These are stories which are repeated
    over and over again all across America because of a philosophy inherent
    in the 1996 welfare reform bill that says people can achieve, just give
    them a chance. Help people help themselves, and amazing things will
    happen in America.
        I understand leaving welfare is not easy, but it's an essential step
    toward independence from Government. Work is the pathway to dignity and
    to freedom and to self-respect. The stories that you hear across America
    are a tribute to personal effort. They're a tribute to the organizations
    which help them, and they're a tribute to the businesses which employ
    the people who want help. They're a tribute to corporate America, which
    understands there is a responsibility not only to be honest about the
    books but a responsibility to help in the communities in which they
    exist by helping people who want to help themselves.
        And so the welfare reform bill passed in '96 is a real success. And
    so the fundamental question facing the country and facing the Members of
    Congress is, what to do when the bill becomes--comes up for
    reauthorization. In other words, the way things work in Washington is,
    if you pass a law, sometimes it doesn't exist forever. In this case,
    this requires a reauthorization. And Congress has got to choose whether
    or not we will continue to reform to help people, or will law undermine
    the clear successes that have taken place since '96? That's the
    fundamental choice facing your elected Representatives.
        I believe that compassionate welfare reform must move forward, to
    strengthen work, to insist upon work as one of the benchmarks for
    success, because I believe work increases somebody's self-worth and
    dignity. I know that the welfare bill, the reauthorization, needs to
    encourage marriage and family. In order to help people, we also have got
    to start with our youngsters early, and the welfare reform effort, the
    reauthorization, must support effective teen abstinence programs. I urge
    Congress to join me on these principles, these practical ways to help
    make America a better place.
        Congress must always remember that when they write law, that we've
    got to trust the local folks as well, that one size doesn't fit all when
    it comes to trying to help people help themselves, that the more
    flexibility there is for people at the local level to design programs
    that work, the more likely it is we'll achieve national objectives,
    which is: fewer people on welfare, more people working; fewer people
    despondent, more people hopeful; fewer people addicted, more people
    free--free to realize the great potential here in America.
        And so we--and we made some work--made some progress. The House of
    Representatives, these Members here, stayed with us on a very important
    bill that--on the reauthorization bill which supports stronger work
    requirements.

    [[Page 1310]]

        Today, for example, on the average in the State--States require work
    of only about 5 percent of the adults on welfare. In other words, the
    goal is incredibly low. If you require work from only 5 percent of the
    adults on welfare, you're likely to achieve that objective. That means a
    lot of other people aren't working, and that's not right. Every State
    should be required within 5 years to have 70 percent of the people on
    welfare working.
        That's not just a statistic, however. Inherent in the 70 percent
    number means that we've got to help people at the same time, that we've
    got to provide the resources, the flexibility--and the flexibility so we
    can help people find work. Programs like Moving Up work, and we've got
    to encourage programs such as that, not stifle them but encourage them.
        And here's what I mean by work: That means 40 hours a week. Now, I
    fully understand some people need help, and so as part of the 40-hour
    workweek, 16 of those hours can be hours spent on job training or
    education, on skills, on going to courses which help on changing skills.
    It is so important that we have high standards, flexibility, but also
    recognize that people need help. People that want to work, and on
    welfare, many times don't understand how to even get started. Many of
    them haven't even graduated from high school. And that's why the
    proposal also recognizes that an adolescent mom, for example, can meet
    her work requirements and still be helped by attending high school.
        There are some in our society who are addicted. They might want to
    work, but they've got to deal with their addiction first. And so part of
    the work requirements can be 3 months in full-time drug rehabilitation
    programs.
        The point is, is that we've got to give people the tools necessary
    to improve their lives and at the same time understand how important
    work is in freeing people from the clutches of our Government. And
    Congress must hear that message when it comes to work.
        It is also important to understand that a more hopeful society is
    one in which we encourage strong marriages and families. I understand
    building and preserving a family is not always possible; I know that.
    But it should be a national goal. We ought to aspire for what's best,
    and what's best is for our families to remain intact.
        All you've got to hear is from the man I met today,
    Patrick, talk about the fatherhood
    initiative. He talked in compelling terms about what it's like to have
    dads want to be a dad and, when Dad is reunited with their families, how
    vital and how real that person's life becomes and, more importantly, how
    hopeful the life becomes for the children. He works for the Sisters of
    Charity Foundation on the Fatherhood Initiative. There are such
    initiatives throughout our society--many in the faith community, by the
    way--initiatives that ought to be supported by the Federal Government.
        And so, therefore, the bill that the House passed, that I proposed--
    in my budget, I have $300 million on an annual basis to support
    education programs and counseling programs, out of the faith community
    and out of the charitable community and out of the government community,
    all aimed at encouraging marriage, all aimed at helping couples to build
    and sustain healthy marriage in our society. Families are important for
    our children. Families are important for American women and American
    men. Families are important for America.
        In order to help people help themselves, I strongly believe that we
    must encourage teen abstinence programs. We've got to help people
    understand that, one, it's okay to abstain, and secondly, having a baby
    out of wedlock early in life is going to make it awfully tough--awfully
    tough on the child, awfully tough on the mom. We've got to make it clear
    that we've got a health issue when it comes to sexually transmitted
    disease and that we've got to deal with it in an upfront way with our
    youngsters.

    [[Page 1311]]

        You know, I've heard all the talk about the abstinence programs and
    this, that, and the other. But let me just be perfectly plain: If you're
    worried about teenage pregnancy or if you're worried about sexually
    transmitted disease, abstinence works every single time.
        The citizens of this State understand--which is what I said--
    citizens, by the way, from all walks of life understand what I just
    said. You've got one of the finest teen abstinence education programs in
    the Nation. A lot of States are turning to you for advice. You know
    this, that when our children face a choice between exercising self-
    restraint and engaging in harmful behavior, the Government should not be
    neutral.
         People say, ``Well, do you have enough money in the budget to meet
    your goal?'' Well, the budget I submitted and the one passed by the
    House spends $17 billion a year on welfare for 2003. Now, that's the
    same amount that was spent in '96, but the difference is, the caseloads
    have dropped by half. So you've got the same amount of money with half
    the clientele, which means there's a--like, for example, on the average,
    across the country, $16,000 per family will be spent on helping people
    help themselves, as opposed to $7,000 in 1996. Here in the State of
    South Carolina, the amount of money per family would double from '96 to
    today, from $4,200 to $10,700 per family to help. No, there's ample
    money in the budget, because of the successes of the past, because
    there's fewer people to help. If you keep the funding constant, you've
    got more money to help. And so that shouldn't be an excuse for people
    not to move forward with a reform package that works.
        Now, the Senate is writing a bill, and I want to share with you some
    of my thoughts about the bill that the Senate is writing. First, I
    believe the bill is a retreat from the success. I believe they're not
    moving forward. I believe, if the bill goes through the way they've
    written it, it's going to go back--we're going to go backward here in
    America. And the bill would hurt the very people we're trying to help.
        For example, the bill that passed the Senate Finance Committee has
    so many work exceptions that it would result in many fewer welfare
    recipients moving from welfare to work. There are so many exceptions, so
    many loopholes, so many ways out of holding people to high standards,
    that fewer people would actually be moving from welfare to work, and
    that's not right. That hurts our fellow Americans. There are so many
    loopholes that a State could meet its work requirement without having
    even one person working at a job.
        Now, let me give you an example. Under the way they're kind of
    writing it right now, out of the Senate Finance Committee, some people
    could spend their entire 5 years--there's a 5-year work requirement--on
    welfare, going to college. Now, that's not my view of helping people
    become independent. And it's certainly not my view of understanding the
    importance of work and helping people achieve the dignity necessary so
    they can live a free life, free from Government control.
        I'm also--I'm not happy with the fact that they reduced the amount
    of money by a third, available to promote healthy marriage. That doesn't
    make sense to me. As a matter of fact, some of the money that they
    believe they ought to be spent on so-called family building will go to
    programs that have nothing to do with promoting marriage.
        On top of that, the Senate bill is weak on the budget. In other
    words, they're saying, ``We've got to spend a bunch more money in order
    to make us feel better and make things work better.'' We don't need
    that. What we need is focus on what works, focus on reforms, focus on
    flexibility, focus on elevating the programs that have been proven over
    the last years to help people. We need a welfare bill that's strong on
    work, not weak on work, strong on marriage, and a welfare bill that's
    good for

    [[Page 1312]]

    the taxpayers. And the Senate needs to do the right thing in order to
    help with these reforms.
        And finally, encouraging work and supporting families and effective
    teen abstinence program is not enough. That's not enough. They're not
    enough. We need more. An abandoned child needs something larger and more
    important than welfare reform. She needs a loving mentor. She needs
    somebody who is willing to put their arm around a child and say, ``I
    love you. What can I do to help you?'' People who struggle with
    addiction or who are victimized by abuse need more than a check. They
    need personal support and concern and care and compassion.
        This city is known as the Holy City because of your many churches.
    It's also known as the Holy City because of the many good deeds done by
    the citizens here, charities and faith-based groups. What we must
    understand in our society, faith-based programs and charities fill needs
    that no welfare system can fill, fill the needs that no matter--
    [applause]--the programs fill the needs that no carefully designed
    program out of Washington, DC, can meet. Government can hand out money,
    but it cannot put hope into people's hearts. It cannot put faith into
    people's lives.
        I'm a strong proponent of the faith-based groups in America, because
    they're reclaiming America one block at a time. They're helping save one
    life at a time. They understand the power of changing a person's heart
    is a way to freedom and independence and to better behavior. No, our
    Government should not fear faith-based programs in America; we ought to
    welcome them.
        Faith-based programs ought to be treated equally with nonfaith-based
    programs. We ought not to ask the question, ``Who?'' We ought to ask the
    question, ``What works?'' If your program is a faith-based program and
    it changes people's lives and they become less addicted, we ought to say
    thank you, and you can have equal access to money, and you don't even
    have to change your mission. We understand the power of faith in our
    society, and we ought to welcome it.
        I understand the strength of America. The strength of America is our
    people. It's not our Government. It's the people. And ours is a
    compassionate and decent nation. You know, I said earlier, out of the
    evil done to us will come some good. People in America understand that
    we're into a different era, we're heading into a different culture. It's
    one that says, ``Serving something greater than yourself is an important
    part of being an American.'' It's a lesson that came through on Flight
    93. People flew an airplane in the ground to save other's lives.
        That example is one that I think is going to stand like a beacon for
    future generations to understand what it means to be an American. It
    means that you, of course, make a living for your family. But it also
    means that when you find a neighbor in need, you love that person. It
    also means that while one of us can't do everything, each of us can do
    something to change America, one soul at a time.
        Out of the evil done to America will come incredible good, because
    our fellow citizens have taken a step back, taken an assessment of
    what's important in life, and realized serving our Nation means helping
    somebody in need. The old culture used to say, ``If it feels good, just
    go ahead and do it,'' and ``If you've got a problem, blame somebody
    else.'' I sense a new change in America, where each of us understands
    we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. Each of us are
    responsible for loving our children, if we're fortunate enough to be a
    mom or a dad, loving our children with all our heart and all our soul.
    And each of us understands that in order to be a patriotic American, we
    must love our neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourself, help a fellow
    American in need.
        And that's happening all across our country. I want to thank those
    of you who are

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    doing just that. I want to thank you for hearing the call. I want to
    thank you for setting an example. I want to thank you for being a part
    of the greatest country on the face of the Earth.
        May God bless you all, and may God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 11 a.m. in the gymnasium. In his remarks,
    he referred to Patrick J. Patterson, program assistant, Sisters of
    Charity Foundation. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a
    Spanish language transcript of these remarks.