[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 9 (Monday, March 5, 2001)]
[Pages 391-392]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Swearing-In Ceremony for Spencer Abraham as Secretary of 
Energy and an Exchange With Reporters

March 2, 2001

    The President. It's my honor to welcome the Secretary and his 
family. I forgot that he and I were members of the fathers of twins 
club. [Laughter] Jane, it's good to see you. I want to welcome you all 
here. We look forward to having a picture-taking session next door after 
our brief remarks.
    Two months ago, in Austin, I announced my intention to nominate 
Senator Spence Abraham as the Energy Secretary. He's obviously since 
then been confirmed by the Senate. His performance in office has already 
confirmed that I chose the right man for the job.
    Secretary Abraham knows energy policy. He understands the many 
challenges and opportunities before us. Today, we are seeing the 
consequences of going too long without an energy policy. Many Americans 
are struggling with the high cost of energy. People who live in the West 
face a major energy shortage, which has caused rising prices and growing 
uncertainty.
    I have asked Federal agencies to work with California officials to 
bring more energy to the people of that State, as quickly as possible. 
Also I've asked Secretary Abraham to work with Vice President Cheney and 
Secretary of Commerce Evans and other senior officials to develop a 
comprehensive energy policy for the United States.
    Our objective should not only be to manage the current situation but 
to avoid any crisis in the first instance. This requires a four-part 
strategy: first, to make energy security a priority of our foreign 
policy, by restoring American credibility with overseas suppliers and 
building strong relationships with energy-producing nations in our 
hemisphere; second, to encourage environmentally friendly exploration 
and production of domestic energy sources like oil, natural gas, and 
coal; third, to promote the production of electricity to keep pace with 
America's growing demands; fourth, to support the development of cost-
effective alternative energy sources.
    The goals of this strategy are clear: to ensure a steady supply of 
affordable energy for America's homes and businesses and industries, and 
to work toward the day when America achieves energy independence.
    It was in the State of Michigan that I first pledged a comprehensive 
energy policy for our country. This afternoon I welcome to the Cabinet a 
proud son of Michigan, a grandson of immigrants, and a good man.
    Mr. Secretary.

[At this point, Secretary Abraham made brief remarks.]

    Q. Mr. President, do you have time for questions, sir?
    The President. No. [Laughter]

Camp David

    Q. You're going to Camp David a lot. Can you tell us why you like 
going there, what you do when you're up there?
    The President. I guess I do. He's asking--I'm going to Camp David, 
and I like to spend time with my family. And my brother Marvin and my 
sister, Dorothy, will join us up there.

[[Page 392]]

It's a good place to relax, and it's also a good place to catch up on my 
work. I'm a little bit behind on my mail right now. But I intend, every 
chance I get, to go. If I'm not going to Crawford and I don't have to 
give a speech here on the weekend, I'm going to go to Camp David.

Federal Spending Limits

    Q. Mr. President, some members of your own party are chafing at the 
idea of holding Federal spending increases for----
    The President. Yes.
    Q. What argument can you make----
    The President. Well, I know there's a lot of folks that are used to 
big spending. After all, the spending increases were very dramatic at 
the end of the last session. And my answer is, let's--why don't we have 
some fiscal sanity in Washington. My budget increases the rate of growth 
in discretionary spending by 4 percent. And surely, Congress will be 
willing to work with the administration to bring--to control the 
appetite by 4 percent.
    And I believe when people are willing to take a hard look at setting 
priorities in different spending programs, we'll be able to meet that 
target and thereby be able to send some of the surplus back to the 
people, which is an important part about making sure our economy gets a 
second wind. And it's an important part--and this country has got to 
remember, the people up here in this--have got to remember that this 
country, in this country, a lot of folks are paying high energy bills, 
and a lot of folks have got a lot of debt, personal debt. And if we're 
wise about how we spend money in Washington, we will enable people to 
have more money in their own pocket, and that would be wise economic 
policy.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 2:02 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary Abraham's wife, Jane. 
The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also 
included the remarks of Secretary Abraham.