[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 41 (Monday, October 15, 2001)]
[Pages 1453-1454]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Cabinet Meeting

October 11, 2001

    I have asked my Cabinet to come in and give me a briefing on the 
progress that we're making on the war on terrorism. I can report to the 
American people we're making substantial progress.
    First, our Secretary of State and our diplomats around the world 
have put together a broad coalition of nations to make a stand against 
terrorists, terrorism, and those who harbor terrorists. And I'm really 
pleased. This coalition includes not only our friends in Europe and 
South America, but as we saw at the OIC conference, the Organization of 
Islamic Conferences, many Muslim nations have taken a very firm stand 
against terrorist activities, as well.
    Obviously, the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Department has 
been busy. As I said today, America is very proud of the men and women 
who wear the uniform; they're proud of your leadership too, sir. We'll 
leave the military briefing for the Pentagon.
    I had a good visit with our Secretary of Treasury, who informed me 
that we've now frozen $40 million worth of assets--Taliban and Al Qaida 
assets all around the world, and we've just begun. We want the 
terrorists to know that we're after them in all kinds of ways, and one 
good way to make them ineffective is to cut off their money.
    The Attorney General has reported that here at the homeland--in the 
homeland we've interrogated over 600 people that may have been involved 
with the bombings, as well as spending a great deal of time analyzing 
information that could lead to the disruption of any potential attack on 
America.
    And then we discussed our legislative priorities before the Congress 
goes home. One of those, of course, is an economic stimulus package that 
must include tax relief that has got a positive effect on the economy in 
the short run.
    But there are two other aspects to a good, strong economic stimulus 
package, one of which is trade promotion authority. And the other is an 
energy bill. Now, there was a good energy bill passed out of the House 
of Representatives. And the reason it passed is because members of both 
parties understand an energy bill is not only good for jobs, it's 
important for our national security to have a good energy policy.
    And I urge the Senate to listen to the will of the Senators and move 
a bill--move a bill that will help Americans find work and also make it 
easier for all of us around this table to protect the security of the 
country. The less dependent we are on foreign sources of crude oil, the 
more secure we are at home.
    We've spent a lot of time talking about homeland security. An 
integral piece of homeland security is energy independence. And I ask 
the Senate to respond to the call to get an energy bill moving.
    We have got a lot of work to do, and everybody around this table 
understands that. We're a patient group of people; we're a disciplined 
group of people. But one thing we've got in mind as well is, we've got 
the best interests of the American people in mind. And I'm proud of the 
job everybody

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is doing here. I want to thank you on behalf of America for your hard 
work.
    I will see you all tonight.

Note: The President spoke at 3:02 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House.