[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 42 (Monday, October 22, 2001)]
[Pages 1476-1477]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Videotaped Remarks to the American Society of Anesthesiologists

 October 14, 2001

    Thank you very much. I'm honored to have this opportunity to speak 
to the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
    During the past few days, our Nation has experienced one of the 
darkest moments in our history. Yet, even in the midst of this tragedy, 
the eternal lights of America's goodness and greatness have shown 
through. We've seen it in the countless Americans who gave blood or 
donated money. We've seen it in the tales of heroic police officers and 
firemen who went into the World Trade Centers to save lives. And we've 
seen it in the simple yet profound gestures of love and patriotism from 
every part of the American family.
    It's been said that public service is not limited to public office. 
And the events of the past few days have shown how true that is. I want 
to thank all of you in the American Society of Anesthesiologists for 
doing your part during the difficult past few days. Whether it was the 
doctors who worked overtime to help victims in New York and Washington 
or those who gave money and offered prayers, our Nation is blessed by so 
many dedicated health care professionals.
    But the business of our Nation goes forward. America faces many 
challenges, including those in health care. Let me be clear about this: 
We will win the war on terrorism, and we will also continue to fight 
important battles at home. And that means my administration remains 
committed to improving the quality of health care for all Americans and 
improving Medicare for all seniors.
    My administration remains committed to passing a real Patients' Bill 
of Rights. With your help, we'll pass a bill that puts the care of 
patients in the hands of doctors, not trial lawyers. I will continue to 
support commonsense reforms that enhance the rights of the patient 
without unnecessarily raising the cost of health care and increasing the 
number of uninsured. And I believe this can be done.
    The compromise Congressman Norwood and I forged this summer--and 
passed by the House of Representatives--represents the best and most 
real solution. Simply put, it achieves both the goals of improving the 
quality of health without unnecessarily raising health care costs.
    And for our seniors, we're committed to reforming Medicare. For too 
long, too many doctors and too many Medicare patients have had to fight 
not only illness but also bureaucracy. My goal in reforming Medicare is 
to make it less bureaucratic and more efficient.
    Here are the main principles for strengthening and improving 
Medicare: Nobody on Medicare will see any change in Medicare unless he 
or she wants it. There will be new Medicare choices, and all of these 
new choices will offer prescription drugs. Medicare plans will compete 
by offering better service and lower premiums. Medicare will respond 
better to the needs of seniors, especially low-income seniors and 
seniors with high medical bills. And Medicare modernization will 
strengthen the program's long-term financial security.
    These are principles which will strengthen one of our Nation's most 
sacred obligations, the health of our senior citizens. We will protect 
seniors now, offering exciting new services and more choices to seniors 
in the future and guarantee prescription drug coverage. And we will do 
it without overtaxing our children and our grandchildren.
    Medicine is constantly improving. Medicare must keep pace. That's my 
administration's commitment today and its exciting new vision for health 
care in America.
    Again, thank you all for allowing me to join you. And thanks for all 
you are doing to make America great. God bless you all, and may God 
bless America.

[[Page 1477]]

Note: The President's remarks were videotaped on September 24 at 
approximately 3 p.m. in the Library at the White House for later 
transmission to a meeting of the House of Delegates of the American 
Society of Anesthesiologists in New Orleans, LA. The transcript was 
released by the Office of the Press Secretary on October 14. A tape was 
not available for verification of the content of these remarks.