[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 34 (Monday, August 26, 2002)]
[Pages 1389-1390]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

August 17, 2002

    Good morning. This week I hosted an economic forum at Baylor 
University in Texas. Participants shared their concerns about the 
economic challenges we face and their ideas for making the economy 
stronger. A common theme among many panelists was that we must leave 
every dollar we can in the hands of the people who have earned it. We 
must be disciplined with our taxpayers' money, which requires Congress 
to focus on funding our Nation's priorities.
    Winning the war on terror is our top priority. The men and women 
fighting the war must have every tool and all the training they need to 
fight and win. That is why my budget includes the largest increase in 
defense spending in a generation. And that is why I urge the Congress to 
pass a final defense appropriations bill as soon as they return to 
Washington.
    Keeping our homeland secure is another high priority. My budget 
would nearly double funding for homeland security to almost $38 
billion--money to train and equip firefighters, police officers, and 
emergency medical personnel; money for the Coast Guard, to protect our 
ports and coasts; money to keep our water treatment plants and nuclear 
facilities safe.
    A few weeks ago, Congress passed an emergency funding bill that 
provides more than $13 billion in immediate funding for the war on 
terror, more than $4 billion for homeland security, and completes our 
$20 billion commitment to the people of New York. I was pleased to sign 
it.
    But Congress also sent along more than $5 billion in extra spending 
I did not ask for. Some of that $5 billion I have endorsed and will work 
to secure, but a lot of that money has nothing to do with a national 
emergency. Those who wrote the bill designed it so either I have to 
spend all the money or none of it. At the economic forum on Tuesday, I 
made my position clear: I will spend none of the $5 billion.
    We must remember the lessons of the past. In the 1960s, increased 
spending required by war was not balanced by slower spending in the rest 
of the Government. As a result, in the 1970s we faced unemployment and 
growing deficits and spiraling inflation.
    We cannot go down the path of soaring budget deficits. We must meet 
our defense and homeland security needs and hold the line on other 
spending. My budget raises defense spending by more than 14 percent. It 
nearly doubles homeland security funding. In all other areas, it 
increases spending by 2 percent. Many families are living with raises 
like that, and so should the Government.
    The House of Representatives has done well by staying within these 
limits. Unfortunately, the Senate has not even passed a budget 
framework, and so far it has been ignoring fiscal discipline. I 
requested $2.4 billion for public housing; the bill moving through the 
Senate includes $300 million more. I requested $2.2 billion for 
agricultural research; again, the Senate wants to spend $300 million 
more. I requested $3.1 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; the Senate wants to spend $200 million more. And these 
levels could go higher. I challenge Congress to respect the taxpayers 
and show restraint with their money. It is very important they do so in 
order for our economy to continue to grow.
    If Congress will not show spending restraint, I will enforce 
spending restraint. For the good of our economy, for the good of the 
people who pay taxes, my administration will spend what is truly needed, 
and not a dollar more.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 10:45 a.m. on August 16 at the Bush 
Ranch in Crawford, TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 17. The

[[Page 1390]]

transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
August 16 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office 
of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of 
this address.