    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [January 31, 2004]
    [Pages 166-167]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    January 31, 2004

        Good morning. This coming week, my administration will release our
    proposed budget for fiscal year 2005. In that detailed blueprint for
    Government spending, Americans will see my priorities clearly at work.
    We will devote the resources necessary to win the war on terror and
    protect our homeland. We'll provide compassionate help to seniors, to
    schoolchildren, and to Americans in need of job training. And we will be
    responsible with the people's money by cutting the deficit in half over
    5 years.
        With troops currently on the ground fighting our enemies, my budget
    increases defense spending by 7 percent, money that will go the pay for
    equipment, ammunition, and troop housing. We'll keep our military strong
    and ready for every challenge that may come. Since I took office, we
    have increased pay for our men and women in uniform by 21 percent. Next
    year, I propose raising their pay by another 3.5 percent. Our troops put
    their lives on the line to defend America, and we owe them our best in
    return.
        Given the continued terrorist threat against the American people, my
    budget nearly triples homeland security spending over 2001 levels,
    including an increase of nearly 10 percent next year, to $30.5 billion.
    This money will help tighten security at our borders, airports, and
    seaports, and improve our defenses against biological attack. I'm
    proposing to raise the budget for the FBI by 11 percent, including a
    $357 million increase in spending on counterterrorism activities.
    America will not let its guard down in our war on terror.
        My budget also focuses on our priorities at home. This year, we'll
    begin moving towards prescription drug coverage under Medicare by
    providing drug discount cards to seniors. We'll also help lower-income
    seniors this year and next with up to $600 in direct assistance for drug
    costs.
        We're devoting additional resources to our schools to help them meet
    the higher

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    expectations set by the No Child Left Behind Act. My budget calls for a
    49-percent increase over 2001 spending on our public schools. There will
    be additional money for early reading programs for schools in low-income
    areas and for enhanced Pell grant scholarships for students who complete
    a rigorous curriculum.
        My budget also asks Congress to fund my Jobs for the 21st Century
    Initiative, which will help young people and adults gain the skills they
    need to fill the new jobs in our changing economy. This initiative will
    help high school students who are falling behind in reading and math by
    supporting better teaching methods. And with the support of Congress, we
    will provide new funding to America's fine community colleges to help
    them teach the skills our changing economy demands.
        We're meeting these priorities within a responsible budget. Under my
    plan, overall discretionary spending will grow at less than 4 percent.
    And non-security-related spending would rise less than 1 percent, the
    smallest such proposed increase in 12 years. By exercising spending
    discipline in Washington, DC, we will reduce the deficit and meet our
    most basic priorities.
        To assure that Congress observes spending discipline, now and in the
    future, I propose making spending limits the law. This simple step would
    mean that every additional dollar the Congress wants to spend in excess
    of spending limits must be matched by a dollar in spending cuts
    elsewhere. Budget limits must mean something and not just serve as vague
    guidelines to be routinely violated. This single change in the
    procedures of the Congress would bring further spending restraint to
    Washington.
        Americans expect Government to meet its most basic responsibilities,
    protecting citizens from harm and promoting prosperity and compassion at
    home. Americans also expect our Government to live within spending
    limits. My 2005 budget is designed to meet both of these goals, using
    tax dollars wisely and by focusing resources where they are most needed.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 10:13 a.m. on January 30 in the
    Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on January
    31. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on January 30 but was embargoed for release until the
    broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of this address.