[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.