[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 31 (Monday, August 5, 2002)]
[Page 1297]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Departure for Kennebunkport, Maine

August 2, 2002

Legislative Agenda

    The President. August was a month of accomplishment here in 
Washington. Today I signed a supplemental which provided needed money 
for our military, money for the ongoing war on terror, and money for 
homeland security. Next week I'm going to sign a trade promotion 
authority bill, which is very important for American workers.
    Today the statistics are out that show that the unemployment rate is 
holding steady. We've got a lot of work to do to make sure people can 
find work, and this trade bill is going to help a lot. It's going to 
help our ranchers. It's going to help our farmers. It's going to help 
people find jobs.
    I signed a bill that says loud and clear that if you try to fudge 
the numbers, if you're a CEO of an American corporation and you don't 
tell the truth, you'll be held to account.
    And when you look at these accomplishments, and you couple them with 
the tax cuts, the education bill, the brownfields legislation, it goes 
to show what is possible when people in this town set aside politics and 
focus on doing what's right for the American people. It goes to show 
that when we put our partisanship aside, when people stop all the 
yelling and hollering and finger-pointing and say, how can we help the 
American people, we can get a lot done in this town.
    I pledge to the American people, I'll continue leading Washington by 
defusing all the ugly talk, by keeping big goals in mind, by always 
remembering we're here to represent the American people.
    I hope you all have a fine weekend. I look forward to seeing you on 
Monday, and then I'll be signing that trade bill on Tuesday.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 11:30 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.