[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 4 (Monday, January 29, 2001)]
[Pages 223-225]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Congressional Education Leaders and an 
Exchange With Reporters

January 25, 2001

Legislative Agenda on Education

    The President. Thank you all for coming. It's an honor to be here 
with the chairman and ranking member of the committee, members of the 
Education Committee in the House of Representatives.
    We're going to spend a lot of time talking about education until a 
bill works its way through the House and the Senate. It's a priority of 
mine, but the good news is, it's also a priority of the Members here 
around the table. And I am actually confident that we can forge an 
education bill that will achieve a lot of objectives: high standards, 
local control of schools, but the most important objective of all is 
that every child in America gets

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educated. It is a national priority, and it's a goal that I'm actually 
confident that this great Nation can achieve.
    So it's an honor to welcome Members of the Congress here to have a 
frank discussion. I'll be glad to answer a few questions.

Federal Reserve Chairman's Congressional Testimony

    Q. Is there a comment at all on Mr. Greenspan's comment this morning 
on the need for tax cuts and the effect it might have on the economy?
    The President. I was pleased to hear Mr. Greenspan's words. I felt 
they were measured and just right. He recognizes that we need good 
monetary policy and sound fiscal policy to make sure that the economy 
grows. So I was pleased.
    Q. He also seemed to indicate that having the tax cut in place was 
one of the issues--or one of the main criteria in having a tax cut that 
would benefit the economy. Do you read that as support for a retroactive 
tax cut or an accelerated measure?
    The President. I don't think Alan Greenspan was supporting any 
particular plan. I know he wasn't going to the Hill to say, ``Well, 
President Bush has got the right plan.'' I felt like he was speaking 
about policy in general. His job is to report to the Congress in an 
objective way, and that's exactly how I read it.
    I've got my view of how to enact tax relief. I suspect others in the 
Congress will have their view. But what Alan Greenspan was saying to the 
Nation is that in order to make sure our economy grows, we've got to 
have good monetary policy and sound fiscal policy, a component of which 
is wise spending, as well as tax relief.

Bipartisanship

    Representative John A. Boehner. Mr. President, on behalf of my 
colleagues--if I could just say something.
    On behalf of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I want to 
thank you for inviting us here. All week you've spent a great deal of 
time talking about your proposal but, more importantly, meeting with 
Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, trying to build 
consensus for this very serious proposal.
    And on behalf of all of us, I just want to say, thank you.
    The President. Mr. Chairman, thank you.

Dinner With Catholic Leaders

    Q. Mr. President, you're meeting tonight with the Archbishop; what 
do you hope to accomplish?
    The President. I hope to have a good meal. [Laughter] I will tell 
you something about the Cardinal-to-be and the other leaders I'll be 
meeting with. These are men of great faith, huge compassion for the poor 
and the oppressed. I can't wait to talk to them about education reform, 
because education to the Cardinal-to-be is a paramount concern. He knows 
what we know: An educated child is one much more likely to realize the 
greatness of America. And I'm going to discuss that, and I'm there to 
listen, as well. It's a huge honor to go there, and I'm looking forward 
to it.

Faith-Based Initiatives

    Q. Mr. President, how do you expect to address concerns about 
separation of church and state in dealing with faith-based initiatives, 
both for education and other services?
    The President. I'll have a lot to say about that next week. But I 
will just tell you this, that a compassionate society is one which 
recognizes the great power of faith, not a particular religion, for the 
great power faith can play in the lives of everyday citizens and that we 
in Government must not fear faith-based programs. We must welcome faith-
based programs.
    This issue was debated, hotly debated in the Congress in previous 
sessions, all based upon what's called charitable choice, which is a 
constitutional provision which recognizes Government will never fund 
religion. But Government should not fear funding programs that can 
change people's lives, nor should Government fear funding--providing 
funding for an individual and allow that individual to choose a faith-
based program, so long as there is a secular alternative available.

Note: The President spoke at 5:07 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Archbishop Theodore E.

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McCarrick of the Archdiocese of Washington, who will be elevated to 
cardinal on February 21 at a ceremony at the Vatican. A tape was not 
available for verification of the content of these remarks.