[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 8 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Pages 305-306]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

February 17, 2001

    Good morning. As you listen to me today, I'm in Texas after a visit 
to Mexico, where I had a very good meeting with President Vicente Fox. 
Members of Congress this holiday weekend are in their States and 
districts. Soon, we'll all head back to Washington with a lot of work 
ahead of us.
    The work begins with a responsible budget. In Washington, people 
deal with trillions of dollars and sometimes can forget that every bit 
of it is someone's earnings. My job is to make sure no one forgets. We 
must be good stewards of your tax dollars.
    My budget will fund our priorities from education to defense to 
protecting Social Security and Medicare. It will pay down our national 
debt. And when we have done all

[[Page 306]]

that, we will still have some money left over. I strongly believe we 
should return that money, the leftover money, to you, the American 
people, in the form of tax relief. It is, after all, your money.
    My tax relief plan is a fair one, lowering the rate for all 
taxpayers. The typical family of four with two children will get $1,600 
in tax relief. And the greatest benefits, the largest percentage 
reductions, will go to those who need them most. My plan is pro-growth. 
It gives our economy a jump-start by leaving more money in the hands of 
those who have earned it.
    My proposal to cut income taxes across the board is now in the hands 
of Congress. Amid growing concern over the economy and high energy 
costs, we're seeing a good deal of bipartisan agreement that now is the 
time to reduce the tax burden and slow the growth of Government 
spending. In 10 days I'll be taking this case in person to a joint 
session of Congress.
    In addition to debt reduction and tax relief, we have some other 
important priorities, including a bold proposal to reform American 
education. Money isn't the whole answer. High standards and 
accountability matter most. But if we're serious about reforms, like 
early reading and teacher training, testing on reading and math in every 
school, the Federal budget must reflect these commitments.
    School districts don't need more vague mandates from Washington. 
They do need clear goals and real support. So my budget for the 
Department of Education will have a higher percentage increase than any 
other Federal department. We'll pay for new testing programs and new 
reading and intervention programs and new choices for parents with 
children in failing schools. We will spend more on our public schools, 
but we're going to expect more in return, and this will improve the 
lives of countless children.
    Not long ago, agreement on debt reduction, tax relief, and education 
reform seemed impossible. But today, people in both parties are 
impatient with the status quo--with high debt, high tax bills, high 
energy bills, and falling education standards. This is our chance to 
act, and we cannot let it pass.
    If you happen to see your Congressman or Senator home in your 
neighborhood this holiday weekend, I hope you'll take time to thank him 
for working with me to reform public schools and to give tax relief to 
everyone who pays taxes.
    Thank you very much for listening.

 Note:  The address was recorded at 5:50 p.m. on February 15 in the Oval 
Office at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on February 17. 
The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary 
on February 16 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.