[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 17 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Pages 642-643]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

April 21, 2001

     Good morning. As you hear this I am in Canada for the Summit of the 
Americas, joined by leaders of 33 other democratic nations. Only one 
country in the Western Hemisphere is not represented because that 
country, Cuba, is the only one that is not yet a democracy.
     Democracy's progress in our part of the world is not total, but it 
is remarkable. We live in a hemisphere defined by the ideas and 
aspirations of freedom. Some 800 million people live in the Americas; 11 
million of them live under dictatorship.
     We are pleased that many countries in the Americas joined us in 
passing a resolution this week at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights; 
they have called upon Cuba to respect the rights of its citizens. We 
know that for the people of Cuba their day of freedom will come.
     The future of our country is closely tied to the future of our 
hemisphere. Many Americans trace their roots to other parts of the 
Americas, ties that have enriched our culture. Many American businesses 
are finding new markets and opportunities in the Americas, which creates 
jobs at home and promotes economic growth abroad. And all Americans 
benefit when our closest neighbors are peaceful, stable, and enjoy 
stronger economies.
     The forces of democracy in our hemisphere are strong, but they are 
threatened by poverty and illiteracy and the drug trade. So at this 
summit we are discussing a very practical agenda to strengthen 
democracy. We must tear down the barriers of ignorance

[[Page 643]]

and illiteracy that limit the ambitions of so many children in our 
hemisphere and feed their frustrations.
     We will work with our neighbors to find ways to give all our 
children quality schools, because learning and literacy are the 
foundations for development and democracy.
     We must make new efforts to confront the problem of illegal drugs. 
Our country is committed to reducing the demand for drugs at home, and 
we must help other countries fight the supply of drugs at their source.
     And we must renew our commitment to free trade. The people of 
Canada, Mexico, and the United States have benefited greatly from the 
North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA has created good jobs in all 
three nations. Now we must extend those opportunities to all with a free 
trade agreement for the entire Western Hemisphere. This will be good for 
American workers from farmers and ranchers to high-tech entrepreneurs. 
It will also be good for the poor in other countries, increasing their 
wages and opportunities. This is an agenda that stretches far beyond our 
borders.
     But when I return to Washington tomorrow the most pressing business 
concern, some long overdue reforms here in our own country. Early next 
week my plan to reform our public schools is expected to come up for 
debate in the Senate. It is the best chance we have had for meaningful 
education reform in a generation, and we must not waste it.
     Education reform must be a bipartisan effort. I have reached out to 
Members of Congress in both parties and we have achieved a broad 
consensus on major reforms. Yet the goal here is not just to pass 
legislation; it is to pass meaningful legislation. And some principles 
cannot be compromised. The final bill must have strong accountability 
for our schools, accountability developed by States and local 
jurisdictions. And for parents with children in failing schools, we must 
offer options. No parent should be left powerless and no child left 
helpless in a system that is not doing the job it is supposed to do.
     There is a lot going on in Washington and the world--a summit, a 
tax relief debate, major education reform. But few things are as 
important as giving all our children the tools of learning. I hope you 
will support my education reform plan. And I hope you encourage your 
Senators to do the same.
     Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 9:15 a.m. on April 20 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April 21. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
April 20 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.