    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [April 23, 2005]
    [Pages 657-658]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    April 23, 2005

        Good morning. My most solemn responsibility as Commander in Chief is
    to protect the American people. At this moment, our courageous men and
    women in uniform are serving in distant lands, risking their lives to
    ensure our security. We must give them all the resources they need to
    protect us from the threats of determined enemies and to prevail in the
    war on terror.
        I applaud the House and Senate for their strong support of my
    supplemental funding request for our troops serving on the frontlines.
    This funding will help provide the weapons, ammunition, spare parts, and
    equipment that our troops need to do their job. I urge Congress to come
    together to resolve their remaining differences and send me a bill
    quickly.
        As our service men and women make our Nation more secure, they're
    also helping to transform other nations that until recently knew only
    tyranny and despair. In Afghanistan, millions went to the polls after we
    helped liberate that country from the Taliban. In Iraq, the sacrifices
    made by our Armed Forces are helping Iraqis build a Government that
    answers to the people instead of the other way around.
        As Iraqis assume increasing responsibility for the stability of
    their country, Iraqi security forces are becoming more self-reliant and
    taking on greater responsibilities. Today, more than 150,000 Iraqi
    security forces have been trained and equipped, and for the first time,
    the Iraqi army, police, and security forces outnumber U.S. forces in
    Iraq. Like free people everywhere, Iraqis want to be defended and led by
    their own countrymen. We will help them achieve this objective, and then
    our troops will come home with the honor they have earned.
        As we fight the war on terror and spread freedom abroad, we continue
    to pursue pro-growth economic policies at home. Sustaining America's
    prosperity requires restraining the spending appetite of the Federal
    Government. That's why the 2006 budget I submitted to Congress holds the
    growth of discretionary spending to 2.1
    percent, below the projected rate of inflation.

    [[Page 658]]

        Spending discipline requires difficult choices. Every Government
    program was created with good intentions, but not all are matching good
    intentions with good results. My 2006 budget eliminates or substantially
    reduces more than 150 Federal programs that are not succeeding, that are
    duplicating existing efforts, or that are not fulfilling an essential
    priority. The principle is simple: Taxpayer dollars must be spent wisely
    or not spent at all.
        Spending wisely means reducing wasteful spending that can threaten
    the viability of essential programs like Medicaid. We must end
    overpayment for prescription drugs by States and the Federal Government.
    We will work with States to ensure that Federal Medicaid dollars are
    spent properly and go to help those in need. And we must close loopholes
    that allow people who can afford to pay for their health care to shift
    the costs to Medicaid and drain resources needed to provide health care
    for the poorest Americans.
        The savings in my budget are critical in helping us to keep our
    economy growing and creating jobs. Now Members of Congress need to come
    together and send me a budget that funds our priorities, ensures that
    taxes stay low, and keeps us on track to cut the deficit in half by
    2009.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:52 a.m. on April 22 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April 23. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    April 22 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office
    of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of
    this address.