[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 6 (Monday, February 11, 2002)]
[Page 180]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters During Tour of University of Pittsburgh Medical 
Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

February 5, 2002

Voluntarism

    Q. Mr. President, Dick Armey today came out against your volunteer 
program, saying it's not the Government's business to teach Americans 
charity. What's your response to that?
    The President. I think the country needs to provide opportunities 
for people to serve. Expanding AmeriCorps, expanding Senior Corps--it's 
a good way for Americans to fight evil, and there's all kinds of 
opportunities. Senior Corps is one opportunity; AmeriCorps is one; 
church, synagogue, or mosque programs are another.
    As I said in my speech, if you don't know where to serve your 2 
years of public service or 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime, 
here's a really good opportunity.
    Q. Is his opposition--does that threaten the program, threaten----
    The President. No, I don't think so. I think Congress understands 
that we need to provide opportunities for teachers to teach in the 
inner-city schools and seniors to provide homeland defense volunteer 
activities. The key thing, the key point I was making in my speech is 
that many in the country are asking how they can help, how they can help 
fight terror. And one way to do so is through acts of kindness and 
compassion and decency. And the good news is, a lot of Americans are 
responding.

Enron/Pension Reform

    Q. Mr. President, Senator Hollings yesterday asked for a special 
counsel to investigate your administration's relations with Enron. How 
do you feel about that, sir?
    The President. I feel like Congress needs to pass my pension reform 
legislation I sent up there. I sent up a good piece of legislation that 
will help protect workers, and they ought to get after it and respond to 
that. Listen, this is a business problem, and my Justice Department is 
going to investigate. And if there's wrongdoing, we'll hold them 
accountable for mistreatment of employees and shareholders.
    Q. You don't see a need for a special counsel?
    The President. I see a need for laws, and I see a need for a full 
investigation, and that's what we're providing. The Justice Department 
is gathering information, and we're going to determine whether there was 
any wrongdoing. And if there is, there will be consequences.
    In the meantime, I've sent up pension reform legislation that 
Congress needs to get after. It's a good piece of legislation, it will 
help workers, and we ought to do it now.
    Thank you, all.

Note: The exchange began at 1:05 p.m. at the clinical microbiology lab 
in Scaife Hall. A tape was not available for verification of the content 
of this exchange.