[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 5 (Monday, February 4, 2002)]
[Page 125]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

January 26, 2002

    Good morning. A few days from now I will go before Congress to 
report on the State of the Union and lay out my priorities for the 
coming year and beyond. These priorities reflect a single, overarching 
commitment to enhance the security of America and its people.
    Government's responsibilities begin with the defense of our Nation. 
Our fight against terrorism began in Afghanistan, but it will not end 
there. America must not rest until every terrorist group of global reach 
has been found, stopped, and defeated. In this work, our military must 
have every resource, every weapon needed to achieve full and final 
victory.
    My budget calls for the largest increase in defense spending in the 
last 20 years, investing in more precision weapons, missile defenses, 
unmanned vehicles, and high-tech equipment for our soldiers on the 
ground. I will also seek another pay increase for the men and women who 
wear our country's uniform. We will spend what it takes to win the war 
against terrorism.
    A related priority is homeland security. We will pursue a sustained 
strategy to protect our people from the threat of terrorism. The Federal 
Government has already acted to increase airport security, investigate 
terrorist activity, and improve our response capability. In the next 
budget, we will do even more. I'll be calling on Congress to nearly 
double funding for homeland defense to $38 billion. We will complete the 
hiring of tens of thousands of new Federal airport security workers. We 
will strengthen the border patrol, hire another 300 FBI agents to help 
fight the war on terror. We'll provide more money so that State and 
local firefighters, police officers, and EMTs have the equipment they 
need. The American people are on watch against future attacks, and their 
Government will be, as well.
    The third key of my budget is to fight the recession and build 
economic security for the American people. Government doesn't create 
jobs, but it can encourage an environment in which jobs are created. I'm 
glad the Senate is finally moving forward, and I urge it to pass a 
strong stimulus bill like one that passed the House last year.
    Every budget reflects fundamental choices, and my administration has 
made choices to fit the times. We'll work to create jobs and renew the 
strength of our economy. We'll protect our people in every way 
necessary, and we will carry on the campaign against global terror until 
we achieve our goal, the peace that comes from victory.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 9:21 a.m. on January 25 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on January 26. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
January 25 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office 
of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of 
this address.