[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 39 (Monday, October 1, 2001)]
[Pages 1357-1358]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
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The President's Radio Address
September 22, 2001
Good morning. The terrorists who attacked the United States on
September 11th targeted our economy, as well as our people. They brought
down a symbol of American prosperity, but they could not touch its
source. Our country's wealth is not contained in glass and steel. It is
found in the skill and hard work and entrepreneurship of our people, and
those are as strong today as they were 2 weeks ago.
Our economy has had a shock. Many workers lost their jobs this week,
especially in the airline and hospitality industries, in restaurants and
in tourism, as companies struggle to remain afloat. I applaud those
companies who are making extra efforts to avoid laying off workers even
during difficult times. Many Americans have also seen the value of their
stocks decline. Yet, for all these challenges, the American economy is
fundamentally strong. We have the best educated, most productive
workforce in the world. Our factories produce more goods and a broader
variety of goods than any country in the world.
Our scientists continue to push forward the frontiers of technology
and science, and our entrepreneurs continue to invent new ways to bring
these advances to market. This is why people from around the world
invest in America.
We have taken action to address our year long economic slowdown. Tax
rebate checks continue to arrive in Americans' mailboxes. The $40
billion in tax relief these rebates represent will nearly double next
year to over 70 billion in tax relief, with more in each of the next 10
years as the child credit gets bigger, tax rates come down, and the
marriage penalty relief kicks in.
You can look forward to an improved business climate in America in
the years ahead. The Federal Reserve has done its job of keeping our
financial system strong and stable, cutting interest rates in half in
the last 8 months. Energy prices have remained steady. In fact, they are
lower now than they were in the spring.
And Members of Congress are working together, regardless of party,
in the best American spirit, to help get our economy moving again. The
administration and congressional leaders of both parties have agreed to
deliver emergency aid to keep our airlines flying. This will help the
airlines maintain short-term stability as they work toward long-term
viability for the benefit of all the workers and companies that depend
on air travel.
And as well, we can assure the American traveler we are working hard
to make sure that a tough new security program is implemented in our
airports and our airplanes.
I appreciate so very much working with Congress to assure the safety
of the travelers in America. I'm also working with Congress to
strengthen our broader economy and to get Americans back to work. Both
parties in both Houses of Congress are united in our determination to
use the fundamental strength of our economy to meet our immediate
economic challenges.
I'm deeply grateful to Speaker Hastert and Minority Leader Gephardt,
to Majority Leader Senator Tom Daschle and Senator Trent Lott, for their
helpful advice and for their constant support, and for their
extraordinary service to our country in a difficult time.
I want to thank America for the outpouring of support. I want to
thank America for their strong will. And I want to remind the people of
America, we're still the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, and
no terrorist will ever be able to decide our fate.
May God bless you all, and thank you for listening.
Note: The address was recorded at 3:33 p.m. on September 21 in the
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on September
[[Page 1358]]
22. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press
Secretary on September 21 but was embargoed for release until the
broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
language transcript of this address.