    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [September 16, 2004]
    [Page 2093]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Millennium Challenge Account
    September 16, 2004

        The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) is a groundbreaking
    initiative that encourages all nations to embrace political and economic
    reform and has enjoyed bipartisan support since I announced it 2 years
    ago. The powerful combination of trade, open markets, and good
    government is history's proven method to defeat poverty on a large
    scale, to vastly improve health and education, to build a modern
    infrastructure while safeguarding the environment, and to spread liberty
    and enterprise.
        Already, the MCA has encouraged countries to govern justly, invest
    in their people, and promote economic freedom. The MCA will support
    these efforts, helping the poorest countries seize the opportunities of
    the global economy and meet the needs of their people for better health
    and education, cleaner water, and a brighter future. I urge Congress to
    ensure that the MCA can fulfill its promise as a bold new vision for
    international development and a powerful expression of the generous
    spirit of the American people.