[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 3 (Monday, January 21, 2002)]
[Page 83]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in a Meeting With Labor Leaders

January 17, 2002

    Thank you all. Let me just be to the point: A good energy plan is 
important for our national security, and it's important for job 
security. Around the table, I'm honored to be sitting with people who 
represent thousands of working people. And they asked the same question 
I asked: What can the Federal Government do to help people find work; 
what can we do to create jobs?
    And this energy bill that we're working on is a jobs bill. And when 
we explore for power--U.S. power--U.S. energy in ANWR, we're not only 
helping us become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil and 
foreign sources of energy, we're creating jobs for American workers--
jobs so that men and women can put food on the table.
    That's the question these two leaders ask all the time, ``How best 
can I help the members of my union find work? What can I do to make 
them, you know, be able to feed their families?'' It's the same question 
I ask. And that's why we're linked up on this issue. We've got 
Republicans sitting around this table; we've got Democrats sitting 
around this table; we've probably got some people who don't care about 
politics sitting around the table. But all of us know that the energy 
bill that's now stuck in the Senate, that can't get voted on in the 
Senate, will be good for America. It will be good for our foreign 
policy, good for our national security, and more importantly, it will be 
good for jobs.
    And so I want to thank you, Jimmy, for your leadership. And Doug, 
thank you very much. I appreciate you all working with us. I appreciate 
members of my Cabinet for coming. Together, we can show the country that 
when we work together, we can do what's right--do what's right for the 
working folks.
    And so I'm honored you would let me come by. It's a privilege to be 
around this table. There's no telling what kind of conversations have 
gone on around this table. [Laughter] But it is a huge honor. Thank you, 
sir. Doug, thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 1:11 p.m. in the boardroom at the 
International Brotherhood of Teamsters headquarters building. In his 
remarks, he referred to James P. Hoffa, general president, International 
Brotherhood of Teamsters; and Douglas J. McCarron, general president, 
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. A tape was not available 
for verification of the content of these remarks.