    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [December 2, 2003]
    [Pages 1662-1667]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Luncheon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    December 2, 2003

        I appreciate you coming. Thanks for being here. It's great to be
    back in Knowledge City--Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thanks for the warm
    welcome. I thought I'd start off by talking a little bit about Texas
    football. [Laughter] Then I ran into Jerome Bettis. [Laughter] I'm a man who listens to good advice.
    [Laughter] So I'd better talk about thanking you for coming. [Laughter]
        I appreciate your strong support. I'm proud to be back in
    Pennsylvania. We're laying the foundation for what is going to be a
    victory in Pennsylvania in 2004 and a nationwide victory in 2004.
        I'm getting ready. I'm loosening up. [Laughter] But politics will
    come in its own time. I've got a job to do. I've got a job to do for
    every single American. I want you to remind your friends as the
    political season unwinds that I will continue to work hard to earn the
    confidence of every American by keeping this Nation secure and strong
    and prosperous and free.
        I regret one thing about today, and that is that Laura is not traveling with me. Yes. You probably regret the
    fact that she's not the headline speaker. [Laughter] She is a fabulous
    lady. I love her dearly. She's a great wife, a wonderful mother, and
    she's doing a wonderful job for the people of this country as the First
    Lady.
        I appreciate Evans Rose's leadership and
    short introduction. [Laughter] Evans has done a fine job. He's been a
    friend for a long time. I want to thank you for responding to his call.
    I want to thank Arlen Specter, who is the
    State campaign cochairman for Bush-Cheney '04. I'm proud that he's
    traveling with me today on Air Force One. He'll attest to the fact
    there's not much air rage on Air Force One. [Laughter] But I'm proud of
    his leadership for the State of Pennsylvania. I look forward to working
    with him as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the United States
    Senate to make sure my judges get through and get appointed.
        I want to thank Congresswoman Melissa Hart
    and Congressman Tim Murphy for joining us today.
    Both are doing a fine job and are strong members of the mighty
    Pennsylvania delegation. I understand my friend Rob Portman has snuck across the border from the State of Ohio. I
    appreciate so very much Rob being here. He's one of the rising stars in
    the United States House of Representatives and is a strong ally.
        I'm honored that the Attorney General Mike Fisher has joined us. General, I'm glad you're here. I
    appreciate you coming.
        I want to thank the local and State officials who are here. I know
    we've got the--Roddey is with us, and other
    mayors might be with us. If you're a mayor who is here, my only advice
    is to make sure you fill the potholes--[laughter]--maybe pick up the
    garbage too. Thanks for serving.
        My friend Mercer Reynolds, who is the
    Bush-Cheney '04 national finance chairman, is here today. And I
    appreciate Mercer's strong support and hard work. David Girard-
    diCarlo is here, and Manny
    Stamatakis is here. They're both great
    friends. They're not from this part of the State; they're from down
    there in the Philadelphia area, like Arlen,
    but they're strong supporters and they're taking a leadership role to
    help us

    [[Page 1663]]

    raise money. I appreciate Leslie Gromis Baker for her hard work.
        And I want to thank all the grassroots politicians who are here, the
    people who are turning out the vote. I'm counting on you. I'm counting
    on you to go to your coffee shops and community centers, and I'm
    counting on you to put up the signs and to make the phone calls and to
    mail the letters. I'm counting on you to find the people and get them to
    the polls. That's how you win elections. And that's how we're going to
    win in Pennsylvania, because of your hard work and strong support.
        And finally, I'm proud to be here with Lynn Swann, my friend who is the chairman of the President's Council
    on Physical Fitness. What you need to do--[applause]--you need to
    exercise. [Laughter] And Lynn is helping us send the message to young
    and old alike in this country that a healthy America is a country that
    takes care of its physical fitness needs. As a matter of fact, when I
    get back this evening, I think I'll just get a good jog in. I appreciate
    Lynn's friendship.
        In the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront
    great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of
    passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to
    seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration
    is meeting the tests of our time.
        Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is
    what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of the Al
    Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In
    Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those
    regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million
    people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they
    live in freedom.
        Three years ago, our military was not receiving the help it needed,
    and morale was beginning to suffer, so we increased the defense budget
    to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world
    can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United
    States military.
        Three years ago, the economy was in trouble, and a recession was
    beginning. And then our country was attacked, and we had some scandals
    in corporate America, and we marched to war for our own security and for
    the peace of the world. All that affected the people's confidence. But
    we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to
    account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United
    States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people.
    When Americans have more take-home pay to spend, to save or invest, the
    whole economy grows, and some people are more likely to be able to find
    a job. So we're returning money to the American people to help them
    raise their families, reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to
    encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand
    so they can hire new people. With all these actions, this administration
    has laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across
    America, so every single citizen has a chance to realize the American
    Dream.
        The American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. Perhaps
    you saw the fact that the third quarter annualized growth numbers were
    increased to 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years.
    Yesterday, the Purchasing Managers Index was released, which shows
    strong growth in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy.
    Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing
    construction is strong. The economic stimulus package that we passed out
    of the United States Congress is working.
        Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but
    there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress
    passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority,
    we delivered the most dramatic education

    [[Page 1664]]

    reforms in a generation. This administration is challenging the soft
    bigotry of low expectations. We believe every child can learn the basics
    of reading and math. We expect every school to teach the basics of
    reading and math. In return for increased Federal money for Title I
    students, we want States to measure so that not one single child is left
    behind in America.
        We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland
    Security, ably headed by former Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Ridge. We
    did so to better safeguard our borders and our ports and to better
    protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open
    up new markets for America's entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers and
    manufacturers. We passed much needed budget agreements to maintain
    spending discipline. In Washington, DC, on issue after issue, this
    administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made
    progress for the American people.
        The Congress gets a lot of credit. I enjoy working with Speaker
    Denny Hastert and Senate Majority Leader
    Bill Frist. I enjoy working with the Pennsylvania
    Senators and the Members of the House. I enjoy working on the people's
    business. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, DC.
    It's--there's just too much backbiting and endless politics. And the
    best way to change the tone is to focus on results, is to do the work on
    behalf of the American people. And that's exactly what we're doing.
        And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my
    administration. I've assembled a fine group of Americans, people from
    all walks of life, people from different backgrounds, who have come to
    Washington, DC, with one thing in mind, and that is to serve the
    greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Our country has had no finer
    Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother has a second opinion. [Laughter]
        In 3 years, we have come far. We have done a lot for the people, but
    our work is only beginning. We have great--I have set great goals worthy
    of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of
    freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world.
    And second, in our own country, we must work for a society that is
    prosperous and compassionate so that every single citizen has a chance
    to realize the great promise of America.
        It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the
    actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's
    defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The
    war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and
    neither are we. This country will not rest, we will not stop, we will
    not tire until this danger to civilization is removed.
        We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying
    to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces or international
    aid workers and innocent Iraqi citizens. See, they know that the advance
    of freedom in the heart of the Middle East would be a major defeat for
    the cause of terror. This collection of coldblooded killers is trying to
    shake the will of the United States. America will never be intimidated
    by a bunch of thugs and assassins.
        We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them
    there so we do not have to face them in our own cities. Other nations
    are helping in Iraq, because they understand a free Iraq will make us
    all more secure. And we're standing with the brave Iraqi citizens as
    they assume more of their own defense and move towards self-government.
    These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We will finish
    what we have begun, and we will win this important victory in the war
    against terror.
        Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty,
    because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack
    their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons

    [[Page 1665]]

    of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and
    hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every
    nation. I know that freedom is not America's gift to the world; freedom
    is God's gift to every man and woman in this world.
        America also understands that unprecedented influence brings
    tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. When we see
    disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. And
    that is why, on the continent of Africa, America is committed to
    bringing the healing power of medicine to the millions of men and women
    and children suffering with AIDS. This great, powerful nation is leading
    the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue.
        We face challenges here at home, and our actions will prove we're
    equal to the challenges. I'm going to stay focused on a progrowth
    economic agenda, one that elevates the entrepreneurial spirit of
    America, until everybody who wants to work can find a job.
        We're keeping our commitment to our country's seniors by
    strengthening and modernizing Medicare. For years, our seniors have
    called for a modern Medicare system that provides more choices and
    prescription drug coverage. For years, the United States Congress did
    nothing. Finally, the Congress acted. The House and the Senate have
    approved historic legislation that I look forward to signing soon that
    will keep this country's promise to our Nation's elderly citizens.
        For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the
    frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have
    been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court, yet the system
    should not reward lawyers who are fishing for a rich settlement.
    Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care. They therefore
    affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue
    that requires a national solution.
        I proposed a good plan to the Congress. The House of Representatives
    passed a good bill to reform the system. The bill is stuck in the United
    States Senate. I appreciate the hard work of Senator Specter and Senator
    Santorum to get the bill to the floor of the United States Senate. Yet
    it is being blocked. It is time for some of the Members of the United
    States Senate to understand that no one has ever been healed by a
    frivolous lawsuit in America. We need medical liability reform now.
        I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial
    system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men
    and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not
    legislate from the bench. My nominees have been strongly supported by
    your two United States Senators, yet some Members of the Senate are
    trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up-or-down votes.
    Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up-or-down vote on
    the floor of the Senate. It is time for some members of the United
    States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice.
        This country needs a national energy policy. We need an energy bill
    out of the United States Congress. I appreciate the hard work in both
    bodies, but they need to get a bill to my desk. We need to encourage
    conservation. We need energy efficiency. We need new technologies to
    help us explore for energy in environmentally friendly ways. But for the
    sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this
    country must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy.
        A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation.
    I will continue to advance what I call compassionate conservation, which
    means we'll apply the best, most efficient, and most innovative ideas to
    the task of helping our fellow citizens who are in need. There are still
    millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on the
    Government and become independent through hard work. I

    [[Page 1666]]

    look forward to working with Congress to expand on the success of
    welfare reform and to help people better prepare themselves and to
    better find a job and the dignity that comes from working.
        Congress should complete the ``Citizen Service Act'' so more of our
    citizens can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses
    should reach agreement on my Faith-Based Initiative. It will help
    support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children, caring
    for the homeless, offering hope to the addicted. America's strength is
    based upon our religious diversity. People of all faiths have heard a
    call to help somebody who hurts. Our Government must not fear faith; we
    must welcome faith into helping solve the intractable problems that face
    our country.
        A compassionate society is one that promotes opportunity for
    everybody, including the independence that comes from owning something.
    This administration is working hard to promote an ownership society in
    America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority
    homeownership gap in America, and I presented plans to help close that
    gap. We want people owning and managing their own retirement accounts,
    owning and controlling their own health care accounts. We want more
    people owning their own small business. This administration understands
    that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the
    future of our country.
        A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another,
    respect their opinions, respect their religious beliefs, and a society
    in which people take responsibility for the decisions they make. The
    culture of this country is changing from one that has said, ``If it
    feels good, just go ahead and do it,'' and ``If you've got a problem,
    blame somebody else,'' to a culture in which each of us is responsible
    for the decisions we make. If you're a mom or a dad, you're responsible
    for loving your child with all your heart. If you don't like the quality
    of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible
    for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you
    are responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your
    employees. In a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for
    loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves.
        The culture of service is strong in America. The culture of
    responsibility is growing. You know, I started what's called the USA
    Freedom Corps; it's a chance to encourage Americans to extend a
    compassionate hand to somebody who hurts. And the response is strong.
    The charitable organizations in America are growing. I want to thank you
    for supporting our local charities, thank you for helping people who
    hurt. You know, the true strength of the country is found in the heart
    and souls of the American citizens. Policemen and firefighters and
    people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to
    sacrifice for something greater than ourselves. Once again the children
    of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day.
        In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the
    courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and
    the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years
    have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that
    strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in
    ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift
    up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives
    by spreading opportunity to every corner of this country. This is the
    work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for
    our country, the best days lie ahead.
        God bless you all. Thank you for coming. Proud you're here.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:58 a.m. at the Westin Convention Center
    Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Pittsburgh Steelers

    [[Page 1667]]

    running back Jerome Bettis; Pennsylvania State Attorney General Mike
    Fisher; Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey; and David Girard-
    diCarlo, Pennsylvania State cochairman, and Leslie Gromis Baker,
    campaign chairperson for the mid-Atlantic region, Bush-Cheney '04, Inc.