[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 1 (Monday, January 6, 2003)]
[Pages 1-2]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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The President's Radio Address

December 28, 2002

    Good morning. Two thousand two brought great challenges to America, 
and we had many successes at home and abroad. In 2002, our economy was 
still recovering from the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, and it 
was pulling out of a recession that began before I took office.
    Our Government came together to pass an economic growth bill to 
jump-start the economy. We extended unemployment benefits for workers 
who lost their jobs after the terrorist attacks. Congress passed trade 
promotion authority, which gave me a stronger hand to help America's 
farmers and businesses sell their products abroad. And we worked 
together to enact terrorism insurance legislation, so our construction 
workers could get back on the job. As a result of these actions, the 
United States economy is growing again.
    Our Nation learned of scandalous abuses by some corporate leaders, 
and so I signed the most sweeping corporate reforms in more than a half 
a century. We are strictly enforcing the laws against fraud and 
deception in corporate America because workers and investors must have 
confidence in America's businesses and business leaders.
    America in 2002 continued our efforts to confront the danger of 
terrorism. We increased the security of our ports and coasts and 
airlines and created a new Department of Homeland Security. This 
Department will unite dozens of Federal agencies behind a single 
mission, protecting the American people. I hope the Senate will act 
quickly in the new session to confirm Governor Tom Ridge to serve as 
America's first Secretary of Homeland Security.
    In 2002, the war on terror that began with the liberation of 
Afghanistan continued on many fronts. Working with our allies around the 
world, we captured top Al Qaida leaders, destroyed terror training 
camps, and froze millions of dollars in terrorist assets.
    In the new year, we will prosecute the war on terror with patience 
and focus and determination. With the help of a broad coalition, we will 
make certain that terrorists and their supporters are not safe in any 
cave or corner of the world.
    The war on terror also requires us to confront the danger of 
catastrophic violence posed by Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction. 
The United Nations Security Council has unanimously affirmed that Saddam 
Hussein is a danger to his neighbors and to the peace of the world. The 
burden now is on Iraq's dictator to disclose and destroy his arsenal of 
weapons. If he refuses, then for the sake of peace, the United States 
will lead a coalition to disarm the Iraqi regime and free the Iraqi 
people.
    Also in the new year, we will press on in the effort to turn our 
economic recovery into sustained economic growth. This economy is 
strong, and it can be stronger. I will work with Congress on a jobs and 
growth package to add momentum to the recovery and to put people back to 
work.
    And one of my first priorities for the new Congress will be an 
extension of unemployment benefits for Americans who need them. We will 
also work to ensure that all Americans have access to high quality, 
affordable health care. We will keep our commitment to America's seniors 
by working to reform and modernize Medicare and include a prescription 
drug benefit to help seniors who are squeezed by rising drug prices.
    We will tackle the crisis of frivolous lawsuits that drive up the 
cost of health care. We will continue to carry out the comprehensive 
education reforms signed into law last January, so no child in America 
is left behind. My administration will work to continue to remove 
barriers that hinder the good work of faith-based and community groups. 
And we will work to reauthorize the historic

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welfare reform law that has improved so many lives.
    Our successes in the past year have prepared the way for great 
progress in 2003. Working together, we can make America more prosperous 
and keep the peace in the world.
    Thank you for listening, and Happy New Year.

Note: The address was recorded at 10:05 a.m. on December 27 at the Bush 
Ranch in Crawford, TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 28. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
December 27 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.