    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [June 15, 2004]
    [Pages 1057-1059]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Satellite Remarks to the Southern Baptist Convention
     June 15, 2004

        Thank you all. Thank you very much, Jack.
    Thank you all very much. Thank you all. Thanks a lot. I appreciate that
    kind introduction from a fellow Texan. And I'm grateful for the chance
    to speak to this annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.
    Jack, you've done a great job, and I'm proud to call you friend.
        Laura and I are also thankful for your
    prayers. I have felt them at crucial hours.
        Your convention has a proud tradition going back to your first
    gathering in Augusta, Georgia, almost 160 years ago. You represent more
    than 16 million Southern Baptists and congregations all across our
    country and many others who serve as

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    missionaries far from home. And all of you are living out the high
    calling of spreading the good news and proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
        Since I spoke to this convention 2 years ago, our country has been
    meeting great challenges. To defend our Nation, we have continued to
    pursue terrorists wherever they hide and plan, and one by one, we are
    bringing them to justice. In Afghanistan, we are standing with the
    Afghan people as they move toward free elections. In Iraq, America and
    our allies have set an entire nation free from the rule of a
    dictator. And at the end of this month, the
    world will see a sovereign government in Baghdad.
        The rise of free societies in Afghanistan and Iraq will provide a
    powerful example of liberty in a troubled region, and it will make the
    American people more secure. There are tough challenges remaining in
    both these nations. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we will finish the job.
        I appreciate your strong support for our efforts in the war on
    terror. I understand, as you do, that freedom is not America's gift to
    the world; freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman who
    lives in this world.
        We are grateful for the blessing to live in a free nation with the
    strength to defend our Nation. And we will always be grateful to the
    brave men and women of the United States military who volunteer to
    defend us all.
        Here at home, we're making tremendous progress, and we've made
    tremendous progress over the past few years. We've reduced the tax
    burden on America's families and small businesses, leaving more money in
    the hands that earned it and, therefore, adding momentum to the growth
    of our economy. We've created more than 1.4 million jobs since last
    August. And over the past year, our economy has grown at its fastest
    rate in nearly 20 years.
        We brought high standards and accountability to the public schools
    so that no child is left behind. We've kept the commitments of Medicare
    by extending the benefits of modern health care and prescription drugs
    to millions of America's seniors and people with disabilities.
        We will build on our achievements in other areas as well. I will
    keep working to build a culture of life in America. I've been proud to
    sign the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act and legislation supporting
    maternity group homes. Earlier this year, I signed the Unborn Victims of
    Violence Act. Common sense and conscience tell us that when an expectant
    mother is killed, two lives are ended, and the criminal should answer
    for both crimes. Last November, I signed a law to end the brutal
    practice of partial-birth abortion. This law is not only valid and
    constitutional; it is compassionate and urgently needed; and my
    administration will fight to uphold it.
        We will also continue our support for crisis pregnancy centers,
    incentives for adoption, and parental notification laws. I proposed to
    double Federal funding for abstinence programs in schools and community-
    based programs. And I will work with Congress to pass a comprehensive
    and effective ban on human cloning. Life is a creation of God, not a
    commodity to be exploited by man.
        My administration is defending the sanctity of marriage against
    activist courts and local officials who want to redefine marriage
    forever. The union of a man and woman is the most enduring human
    institution, honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every
    religious faith. And Government, by strengthening and protecting
    marriage, serves the interests of all. So I am calling for funding for
    healthy marriage programs, and I support a constitutional amendment to
    protect marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
        I will continue our efforts to defend the liberty of religious
    organizations. Faith-based charities have a right to provide publicly
    funded social services, just like any other group. You see, our
    Government

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    should welcome faith. So I have signed an Executive order allowing
    religious charities who seek Government support to compete for funding
    on a level playing field. I call on Congress to codify my Faith-Based
    Initiative into law, so that people of faith can know Government will
    never discriminate against them again.
        It is my responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial
    system runs well, and I am meeting that duty. I have nominated superb
    men and women for the Federal courts, people who will strictly interpret
    the law, not legislate from the bench as activist judges. Some Members
    of the Senate are resorting to unprecedented tactics to block votes on
    my good nominees. This is unfair to the nominees and damaging to the
    judicial system. Every nominee deserves a fair hearing and a timely vote
    on the Senate floor. It is time for those Senators to stop playing
    politics with American justice.
        These years have brought trials we did not ask for and challenges we
    never expected to face. We have worked together, and we are rising to
    meet the duties of our time. Now we look forward with confidence and
    faith toward greater security and wider prosperity and a stronger
    culture of life. We pray always for God's guidance and strength in our
    lives and for this great nation.
        I thank you for the opportunity to speak to this convention. I'm
    sorry I couldn't be there in person. May God bless all of you, and may
    God continue to bless the United States of America.

    Note: The President spoke by satellite at 3:51 p.m. from the Map Room at
    the White House to the annual meeting in Indianapolis, IN. In his
    remarks, he referred to Jack Graham, president, Southern Baptist
    Convention; and former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.