    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [April 3, 2004]
    [Pages 513-514]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    April 3, 2004

        Good morning. This week, we received a powerful confirmation that
    America's economy is growing stronger. The Department of Labor reported
    that America added 308,000 jobs in March, the highest monthly job growth
    number since the spring of 2000. And since August, we've added over
    three-quarters of a million new jobs in America. The unemployment rate
    has fallen from 6.3 percent last June, to 5.7 percent last month. Over
    the last year, the unemployment rate has fallen in 45 of the 50 States.
    This is good news for American workers and good news for American
    families.
        Inflation is low, and interest rates and mortgage rates are near
    historic lows. Manufacturing activity is high. Worker productivity is
    high, which means rising wages for American families. After-tax
    disposable income is up 10 percent since the end of 2000. And more
    Americans own their own home than at any time in history. Our economy's
    momentum is building. People are finding jobs, and the Nation's future
    is bright. America's families and workers have reason to be optimistic.
        Tax relief put this economy on the path to growth. Since 2001, we've
    cut tax rates for everyone who pays income taxes. We've reduced the
    marriage penalty in our Tax Code. We raised the child credit to $1,000
    per child, and we have reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains.
    This tax relief is critical because all workers are keeping more of what
    they earn, and small businesses, which create most of the new jobs in
    America, have the resources to expand and hire.
        As our economy adds more jobs, we will need to make sure all
    Americans are prepared to take advantage of new opportunity. We must
    help current workers and future workers learn the skills they need today
    and in the years to come.
        Our economy has increasing demand for workers with advanced skills,
    such as teachers, health care workers, and environmental engineers, but
    too many Americans do not have these kinds of skills. So on Monday, I
    will travel to North Carolina to propose reforms of our Federal job
    training system, to give our workers the help they need. Better job
    training will mean better jobs for American workers.
        We must also make sure our schools are preparing the next generation
    of workers. We've already taken action to improve our elementary schools
    with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act. This good law is
    raising standards and hopes for all our children. But we must also
    address the needs of older students in high schools and colleges.
        On Tuesday, I will travel to Arkansas, where I will propose ways to
    help high school students who are struggling in math and reading. I'll
    propose reforms that will strengthen vocational programs at our high
    schools, and I will propose more incentives for college students to take
    math and science, so America can continue to lead the world economy.
        Over the past 3 years, our economy has overcome a lot of challenges,
    from stock market declines to recession to terrorist attacks to
    corporate scandals to war. Yet, our economy is moving forward, and jobs
    are being created steadily and increasingly. I'm optimistic about the
    future because I'm confident in the American worker and the American
    entrepreneur. And with the right policies in Washington, there are even
    brighter days ahead for American workers and American families.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 9:20 a.m. on April 2 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April

    [[Page 514]]

    3. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on April 2 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.
    The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.