    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [February 5, 2005]
    [Pages 174-176]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    February 5, 2005

        Good morning. This week, in my address to Congress and the American
    people, I was pleased to report that the state of our Union is confident
    and strong. Many challenges still lie before us, and I will work with
    Congress to do what Americans have always done, leave a better world for
    our children and grandchildren.
        Meeting this responsibility to the future starts with being good
    stewards of the American economy. I welcome the bipartisan calls to
    control the spending appetite of the Federal Government. On Monday, my
    administration will submit a budget that holds the growth of
    discretionary spending below inflation, makes tax relief permanent, and
    stays on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009. In the long run, the
    best way to reduce the deficit is to grow the economy, and we will take
    steps to make the American economy stronger, more innovative, and more
    competitive.

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        We must also strengthen and save Social Security for our children
    and grandchildren. For those of you born before 1950, I have a message:
    The Social Security system will not change in any way for you. For
    younger workers, the system has serious problems that will grow worse
    with time. With every year that passes, we have fewer workers paying
    ever-larger benefits to ever-increasing numbers of retirees. In 2018,
    Social Security will be paying out more than it takes in. By the time
    today's younger workers retire in 2042, the system will be bankrupt
    unless we act now.
        Fixing Social Security will require an open, candid review of the
    options. I will listen to anyone who has a good idea to offer, and I
    will work with Members of Congress to find the most effective
    combination of reforms. As we proceed, we will adhere to a few basic
    principles. We will make Social Security's finances permanently sound,
    not leave the task for another day. We will not increase payroll taxes.
    We will make the system a better deal for younger workers by allowing
    them to save some of their payroll taxes in voluntary personal
    retirement accounts, a nest egg they can call their own which Government
    can never take away.
        Our second broad responsibility to the future is to preserve and
    pass on the values that sustain a free society. We must continue to
    build a culture of life that respects human dignity while advancing
    science. To promote the compassionate character of America, we will
    pursue initiatives to fight the scourge of HIV/AIDS, help our at-risk
    youth reject gangs and violence, and help prevent wrongful convictions
    in our courts. I will continue to nominate well-qualified judges who
    understand the proper role of courts in our democracy, and the Senate
    must fulfill its constitutional responsibility and give every nominee an
    up-or-down vote.
        Finally, our commitment to human dignity and freedom at home also
    leads us to spread freedom and peace around the world. We remain at war
    against the forces of terror, and we will not rest until the fight is
    won. We will continue to hunt down terrorists abroad, so we do not have
    to face them here at home. Our budget will give our military all the
    tools they need for victory, and we will also honor the sacrifices of
    the fallen by increasing substantially the payments made to the families
    of our service men and women who have given their lives in the war on
    terror.
        Recently, we have seen freedom's gathering momentum in Afghanistan,
    the Palestinian Territories, Ukraine, and last Sunday, in Iraq. On that
    day, millions of brave Iraqis defied the threats of terrorists and cast
    votes to determine their nation's future. The whole world can now see
    that the assassins and car-bombers are doomed to fail, because they are
    fighting the desire of the Iraqi people to live in freedom. And when
    Iraq is democratic, at peace with its neighbors, and able to defend
    itself, our Nation will be safer, and our troops will return home with
    the honor they have earned.
        The work ahead is not easy. But we go forward with confidence,
    knowing that America's best days are yet to come.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 9 a.m. on February 4 at the Omaha
    Hilton in Omaha, NE, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on February 5. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    February 4 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office
    of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of
    this address.

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