[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 9 (Monday, March 4, 2002)]
[Pages 292-294]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the National Governors' Association

February 25, 2002

    The President. Thank you all. Welcome back. I've got a few remarks 
I'd like to make. I understand a couple of Governors are going to make 
some remarks, and then I'll be glad to answer some questions if you have 
any.
    First, I again want to say what I said last night. This has been a 
trying time for all of us. We've been tested here in the Nation's 
Capital, but you all have been tested, as well. And I want to 
congratulate you on your great leadership.
    You know, the people of our country looked to all of us to determine 
how we'd react after September 11th. And I was impressed by the calm 
demeanor of the Governors and the steady resolve to lead the people. The 
country cried for leadership, and

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you all provided it. And thanks a lot for doing that.
    I also love to welcome Governors because Governors are problem-
solvers. In this town, there's a lot of talkers and kind of problem-
shufflers. But Governors are problem-solvers. And it's going to be good 
to be able to talk to each other about how to solve problems that we 
face, budget problems, the issue of homeland security, education, as 
well as welfare reform.
    And I want to talk about three of them briefly today, and that's 
homeland security--first, I appreciate the Governor, the leadership. I 
want to thank Engler, and Governor Patton for you hosting the NGA here 
and coming by the White House.
    I also want to thank my friend Tom Ridge. You know, he was doing 
pretty good as the Governor of Pennsylvania, just sitting around--
[laughter]--looking for something to do. And I called him, and I said, 
``We've got a problem. We've got to secure our homeland.'' I said, 
``This is an enemy that wants to hit us again,'' and I said, ``We'd 
better be ready.'' And I said, ``Would you come and be a member of my 
Cabinet, be sitting at my right hand there, and design a national 
strategy for homeland security?'' And fortunately for the country, he 
said yes, and he's doing a fine job.
    And we've begun, as you all know, an extensive program to have a 
better first-responders initiative. And we've got $1.6 billion of new 
money in the budget for that--no--yes, 3.5--right. But I mean--for 
homeland, for first-responders is how much?
    Director Ridge. We're going--different parts of it are going up, but 
this is 3.5.
    The President. Three-point-five, and then we've got 1.6 for 
bioterrorism. And we're working on a border security initiative, and 
we're reforming the INS.
    As I like to tell people, we now need to know who's coming in and 
when they're leaving, for the good of the security of the country. I 
remember going up to Maine and talking about strengthening the Coast 
Guard, which matters to those of you who live on the oceans and on the 
Gulf of Mexico. The Coast Guard is such a valuable part of our homeland 
security piece, and our budget includes increases for the Coast Guard, a 
modernization of our fleet.
    And so I'm real proud of the efforts we're making. And obviously, 
you all play a crucial role in not only helping develop a homeland 
defense strategy but the implementation of the strategy. And I think 
you'll find--I guess Tom has talked to you already--that we understand 
the need to coordinate. And both of us were Governors, and we simply do 
not want the Federal Government to be--seem distant and removed on this 
important issue.
    And then education, we passed a great education bill. As I used to--
I tease people, I said it came as a complete shock to people in 
Crawford, Texas, that I would say that Ted Kennedy did a great job on a 
bill, but he did. This is a good piece of legislation because it sets 
clear priorities, it encourages accountability so that no child is quit 
on, that people--we focus on each individual child.
    It also provides States more flexibility than ever before, and it's 
got some money in it. It's got more Title--$1 billion in more Title I 
money. It's got a substantial increase for the reading initiative. It is 
a good piece of legislation. And now, obviously, it depends upon its 
implementation. And so we're working closely with Rod Paige and the 
Department of Education to make sure that the intent of the law is now 
implemented fully. And we look forward to working with you on that.
    Obviously--I used to say that education is to a Governor what 
national defense is to the President. It is by far the most important 
priority for a Governor. And I know that, and I understand that. And 
this bill is--it reflects that. And we'll make sure the implementation 
of it reflects that, as well.
    And then welfare reform, welfare authorization is coming up. I start 
with the idea that the '96 bill was a really good piece of legislation. 
And it changed welfare for the better, primarily because it relied upon 
Governors. It had a substantial local control element in it. And so as 
we reauthorize welfare, we want to make sure that there is substantial 
authority at the local level.
    We'll talk about funding. The budget I laid out for welfare reform 
holds the grants constant. Actually, it increases the--as a result of 
the supplemental and the contingency fund, it increases funding by--
let's see, 3.2

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billion over the next 5 years, on top of the grants that are already in 
place.
    And so the fundamental question is, will there be enough local 
authority, enough flexibility at the local level to meet what I hope 
Congress passes, which are new work requirements. See, I think work 
ought to be the core of welfare reform. I think in order to make sure 
that welfare reform works, that there's flexibility at the States, that 
there's recognition people need training or drug rehabilitation, but 
work ought to be the centerpiece of a good welfare law.
    And the bill I'm going to outline tomorrow, with Tommy at my side--
where are you, Tommy? There he is--is going to take the positive pieces 
of the '96 welfare law, changing welfare as we know it, and we're going 
to make it better. There's more to do, and we look forward to working 
with you on that, as well.
    And so those are the things that are on my mind. I know you've got 
things on your mind, and I look forward to hearing them. And we can have 
a good discussion today.
    I want to welcome you back. I recognize I'm not exactly Bernadette 
Peters--[laughter]--but she did a fabulous job last night to fill this 
hall. It was such a joyous night, and it's particularly joyous for me 
and Laura to be with our old friends, the Governors.
    God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 3:12 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. John Engler of Michigan; Gov. 
Paul E. Patton of Kentucky; and entertainer Bernadette Peters.