[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 30 (Monday, July 30, 2001)]
[Pages 1108-1111]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the National Future Farmers of America Organization

July 27, 2001

    Well, thank you all for coming. I look forward to discussing an 
incredibly important topic, and that's agriculture and what it means to 
America. It's important for folks up here in Washington to listen to 
Senators like Chuck Grassley and Blanche Lincoln, people who come from 
the farm areas, Phil Crane, who understand that agriculture is an 
incredibly important part of our economic future. But agriculture also 
is an important part of American life, because it represents the great 
values of America.
    So I want to thank you all for coming. My fellow Texan, I appreciate 
that fine introduction. [Laughter] Trent's from Throckmorton. It's a 
rural part of our State. But rural Texas is incredibly a part of the 
State of Texas, but rural America is an incredibly important part of 
America, as well, and we must never forget that.
    I want to thank Jennifer Edwards, as well, for being here. I want to 
thank all the officers for coming. I want to thank again the Members of 
Congress for being here to discuss with all of us how we make sure 
American agriculture thrives as we head into the 21st century. I mean, 
after all, we're talking about national security. It's important for our 
Nation to be able to grow foodstuffs to feed our people. Can you imagine 
a country that was unable to grow enough food to feed the people? It 
would be a nation that would be subject to international pressure. It 
would be a nation at risk. And so when we're talking about American 
agriculture, we're really talking about a national security issue.
    Well, one way we can help is something we've already done, and that 
is to eliminate the death tax, so that farms and ranches can be passed 
from one generation to the next, so that people don't have to liquidate 
their prized possession, their most singular important asset, in order 
for a young son or daughter to become a farmer or a rancher. And we did 
just that, thanks to the Members of the United States Senate here and 
thanks to the Member of the Congress who are here. It was a tough vote 
for some, but it was the right vote for American agriculture, to get rid 
of the death tax.
    And given the economic news of the day, the tax cut was--looks more 
and more wise. I mean, after all, there's a new report out that shows 
that over the last four quarters, economic growth has been slow. It 
hasn't been up to standard. The economy is puttering along. It's not 
nearly as strong as it should be. And what the tax cut does--by sending 
money back to the American working people, it provides an incredibly 
important boost to economic vitality and economic growth.
    Now, there's a lot of talk about the amount of money available to 
spend here in Washington. Make no mistake about it: The appropriators 
are looking for money. And it may not be as much as they want to spend, 
because the economy has slowed down. And this tax cut is incredibly 
important for revitalizing the economy of America, and it was the right 
thing to do.
    A second thing we can do to make sure folks in the agricultural 
sector have got a

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bright future is to work to enhance trade, trade all around the world. I 
want America's farmers and ranchers feeding those who are hungry, those 
who need foodstuffs. We're the best in the world at growing product. Our 
farmers and ranchers are not only some of the hardest working people in 
the world, but we're better at it than everybody else is, too. And 
therefore, we ought to work hard to open up all avenues, all markets, so 
we can feed people.
    And that includes--necessary to do that, we've got to make sure the 
President has what's called trade promotion authority. That gives me the 
ability to negotiate trade agreements on behalf of the American people, 
submit it to the Senate to be ratified, up or down.
    I don't have that authority. It lapsed, unfortunately. I'm one of 
the few Presidents never to have had that authority. I'm asking Congress 
to give it to me for the good of the American people, for the good of 
the agricultural sector, so that I can use my efforts to knock down the 
trade barriers, the protectionist tendencies around the world that 
prevent our products from getting into markets.
    I'm pleased to report, for example, that we are making some 
progress. There was a big debate--I'm sure you heard about it--as to 
whether or not China ought to be allowed into what's called the World 
Trade Organization. I argued vociferously that they should be, because I 
believe a country that trades with the rest of the world is a country 
more likely to embrace freedom.
    I also know that by opening up Chinese markets to American 
foodstuffs, it will be beneficial to American farmers. And my Trade 
Representative, our Nation's Trade Representative, Robert Zoellick, has 
made great progress in negotiations with China, opening up their markets 
to U.S. foodstuffs, to our products.
    I used to say, during the debate, to try to make it clear to people 
where I was coming from--maybe it's the west Texan in me--I said, ``We 
want to be feeding the Chinese. We want our American farmers to be 
growing the products that the Chinese use to eat.'' And that's what, to 
me, trade means.
    And so, we need to work with Congress to get a trade promotion 
authority bill out pretty darn quickly. And my pledge to the people of 
America, particularly in the agricultural sector is, American 
agriculture will not be viewed as a secondary issue for me.
    There's a lot of folks out there who are somewhat skeptical when a 
U.S. President talks about trade and agriculture. You know why? Because 
agriculture has always been a secondary issue. They'll negotiate all the 
other important subjects, but when it comes to agriculture, say, ``We'll 
just leave it the way it is. We won't work to knock down the barriers 
that prevent U.S. products from going into other markets.'' Those days 
are over with. Agriculture will be the cornerstone of our international 
trade negotiations. We'll use what's called single undertaking 
negotiation to keep agriculture at the forefront of our negotiating 
policy, and the reason is simple: We're good at it, and we ought to work 
hard to promote products that we're good at growing or good at raising.
    Another important part of making sure that your future is bright is 
that the education systems all around America work. One of the things I 
took great pride in, in the State of Texas, is an education reform 
package for all of the people that go to school in Texas that said, ``We 
expect results.'' I will tell you this: If you're in the agricultural 
sector, you're judged by results. You're judged by the size of the crop 
you grow. You're judged whether or not you can plow the straight line. 
You're judged by whether you're not any good. It's a results-oriented 
world, and that's what education ought to be, as well.
    And there's a fundamental reason why: Because we don't want anybody 
left behind, is why. And if you don't measure, how do you know whether 
somebody is being left behind? If you don't hold people accountable for 
results, how do you know whether or not some children cannot read or 
write and add and subtract? And I darn sure want to know.
    Laura, my wife, the First Lady, is having a seminar, series of 
seminars about how to introduce the sound science of education into 
curriculum all around the country. It says, ``Look, let's have some 
common sense about our education curriculum. Let's make sure it works 
before we insist that we use

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it.'' And that's what we need to do in education. We need to have strong 
accountability.
    Again, I want to thank the Members of the Senate and the House who 
are here, who support an education package that's going to reform 
schools all around the country. But make no mistake about it: I haven't 
forgotten where I came from. Inherent in the education reform package is 
a strong belief in local control of schools. I don't think the schools 
ought to be run out of Washington. You know why? Because we're 
different. School districts in Texas were different. And they're a heck 
of a lot different, I can assure you, from, you know, places like 
Vermont and New Hampshire. I mean, it's just a different world, and 
therefore we've got to have strong local control of schools, coupled 
with strong accountability, to make sure our education systems work for 
everybody, urban and rural alike.
    And finally, before I come out and shake a few hands, if you would 
like to, I do want to remind you all that one of the things that makes 
this country so unique is our values system, the values of hard work, 
family, faith, values that sound pretty much like the heartland of 
America to me.
    We're winding down the legislative session here, and I hope, a week 
from tomorrow, the Congress takes off and gives all of us a break. 
[Laughter] And I'm heading back to the heartland. I'm going back to 
Crawford, Texas, where Laura and I have got some property. A fellow runs 
some cows on our country. I love to go walking out there, seeing the 
cows. Occasionally, they talk to me--[laughter]--being the good listener 
that I am. [Laughter] But it's important for all of us in Washington to 
stay in touch with the values of the heartland, because they're values 
that really are unique. It basically says that values--a value system of 
basic, inherent values that override politics and different demographies 
and different religions--it's what makes America so unique and great.
    I've just come back from overseas. I'm so proud to represent this 
great Nation overseas, because we're a nation that can bring people from 
all walks of life together, a nation that says, ``You're free to worship 
any religion you want,'' and yet we're bound by common values. You 
should never be afraid of embracing the values you find in the heartland 
of America, the values you bring to Washington, DC; you should never 
walk away from those. They're important. It's important to keep them as 
priorities in your life, because the strength of our Nation exists in 
the value system that we oftentimes find on America's farms and ranches, 
the value that--of worship and faith, the value of the importance of 
family, the values of hard work, the values of taking a risk, the values 
of understanding that if you own a farm or a ranch, every day is Earth 
Day. Every day is an important day if you're stewards of the land. Those 
are incredibly important values that you all embrace in your 
organization.
    And finally, let me tell you, America is a country that needs your 
help. It needs your help by you all living good--setting good examples 
for others. It needs your help. All of us can be leaders in individual 
ways by making right choices, for starters, by being responsible for the 
decisions you make in life.
    But there's something else you can do, too. Our society--there are 
some people in our society who hurt. And we can change America one soul 
at a time. If you find somebody in need, help them out. If you've got a 
neighbor who needs some compassion, take time to help your neighbor 
understand, somebody loves him. If you've got a friend who maybe is 
lonely and hopeless, put your arm around him or her; become a mentor; 
become a pal. They may not be the coolest kid in class, but reach out to 
somebody in need. And you'll be amazed at what happens.
    My job is to rally what I call the armies of compassion, the people 
all across America who say, ``How can I love somebody just like I'd like 
to be loved myself?'' And the great strengths of the country lay in the 
fact there are millions of people who are helping somebody in need. They 
don't need a Government law; they don't need somebody doing this, that, 
or the other. What they need is to follow their hearts, and that's what 
I ask you to do.
    I'm honored to be able to receive you here in the Nation's Capital. 
It's a huge honor to be the President of the greatest land on the face 
of the Earth. And thank you for coming. May God bless you all.

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Note: The President spoke at 11:01 a.m. in Presidential Hall in the 
Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he 
referred to Trent McKnight, president, and Jennifer Edwards, secretary, 
National Future Farmers of America Organization.