    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 51 (Monday, December 24, 2001)]
    [Pages 1808-1810]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks to Martha's Table Leaders and Volunteers

    December 20, 2001

        Thank you all. It must be hard to describe how to cause people to
    love one another, which is precisely why this program is so meaningful
    and so real to people. I'm here because I want the American people to
    understand the greatest gift they can give this holiday season is to
    programs such as Martha's Table.
        We're such a generous nation, and after September the 11th, people
    gave very generously to those whose lives were affected as

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    a result of the terrorist activity. But unfortunately, contributions to
    organizations, community-based organizations all aimed at helping
    brothers and sisters in need, have fallen off.
        And so my wish for Christmas, for the holiday season, is for our
    country to be at peace, to be protected, that our men and women overseas
    are protected, but that the great generosity of Americans come to the
    surface again to help people whose sole purpose is to say, ``What can I
    do to help somebody? What can I do? How can I live the Biblical
    admonition to treat somebody just like I'd like to be treated myself?''
        I want to thank the leadership of this great program. It's a pretty
    strong leadership. First of all, they got my mother to come--
    [laughter]--who said, ``When you get up there, you make sure you go by
    Martha's Table.'' I said, ``Yes, ma'am.'' [Laughter] And by the way, I'm
    going to see her Saturday, and I look forward to telling her you're
    doing great. I got to see the expansion, the new addition to this
    program. And I want to congratulate the members of the board and the
    hard workers who've gone out to raise the money to see that the
    expansion came to be. I want to thank all the volunteers who are here.
        You know, part of my vision for a better America is that our country
    understands the power of faith-based and community-based organizations--
    and government should do everything it can to facilitate their expansion
    all around the country--that a lot of times faith can do things that
    others can't. And while governments should never promote a particular
    religion, governments should not fear faith and should welcome those
    programs based upon faith, because government couldn't possibly
    duplicate what goes on inside this building. There is no way that our
    Government could mandate love. I used to tell people, I wish I could
    make people love one another, and I'd sign the bill, but that's not the
    way life works. What happens is, dedicated citizens decide they're going
    to do something to embetter the community in which they live and,
    without government, say, ``Let's go. Let's roll. Let's make it happen.''
    And that's what's happened here at Martha's Table.
        So I urge my fellow citizens to find ways to contribute not only
    time but money. Instead of giving a gift this year, for example, one of
    the things I hope people do instead of sending Laura and me something,
    if they choose to do so, I would hope they would figure out a way to
    help a community, a charitable-based organization. It would be the best
    gift you could possibly give us. If they're trying to send Barney a
    gift, they ought to send it to a charitable-based organization. That
    would make our hearts feel great, and I know it would help people in
    need.
        And while we're here in this joyous season, we've also got to
    remember, people hurt in our society. And as a result of September the
    11th, people have lost work. And I'm worried about that. I've been
    working hard to try to get the Congress to take care of unemployed
    people, people who lost their jobs.
        I thought we made pretty good progress yesterday when Republicans
    and Democrats decided to set aside the typical partisanship that takes
    place in Washington and put a pretty good package out there--not a
    pretty good, a real good package--that said that we're going to extend
    the unemployment benefits for displaced workers; that we're going to
    help people with health care needs in a significant way; over $30
    billion to help unemployed people take care of themselves during this
    period of national tragedy.
        As well, in the package that passed the House of Representatives,
    there are ways to stimulate small business growth. And the truth of the
    matter is, we've got to figure out ways to create jobs in America. A job
    is the best thing that you can do to help anybody.
        And unfortunately, that particular piece of legislation was declared
    dead before it even got to the Senate floor, even though I'm confident
    that, if it was ever voted on, it would pass. I think we need to pass
    that bill. I think, for the good of the American people, that bill ought
    to get out of the United States Senate and get to my desk so that we can
    help the unemployed people and help grow jobs.
        And I hope, as well, next year when we come back, that the Faith-
    Based Initiative passes. I think this--again, this isn't a partisan
    issue; this is a good American issue. This

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    is an issue that will help people. And that's what I want to see. I want
    to see people in need have hope, people who live with despair in their
    lives have sunshine. And I know how to get it done, and that is to
    encourage places like Martha's Table to flourish and grow.
        My fellow Americans need to know that as we head into this time of
    joy, that our Nation is doing everything we can to protect our citizens,
    that we'll be on alert during the holiday season, that if we have any
    hint anybody wants to hurt us, we'll respond, to make sure that the good
    citizens of our land are able to celebrate peacefully with their
    families.
        I wish everybody a happy holiday season. I want to thank you all for
    giving me the chance to come by a place of love and compassion. I want
    to thank you for what you do, on behalf of all Americans.
        God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:34 p.m. in the upstairs after-school
    program room at Martha's Table. In his remarks, he referred to his
    mother, Barbara Bush, and his dog Barney.