[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

[[Page 1313]]

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.