[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 6 (Monday, February 10, 2003)]
[Pages 150-151]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

February 1, 2003

    Good morning. Earlier this week, I reported to the American people 
on the state of our Union. I asked Congress to join me in meeting the 
great challenges that confront our Nation with the courage and resolve 
our times require.
    Working together, we'll strengthen our economy and lay the 
foundation for sustained growth so that every person who wants to work 
can find a job. We will modernize Medicare to make sure that seniors can 
choose the coverage that fits them best, including coverage for 
prescription drugs. We will reform America's medical liability system to 
cut down on excessive lawsuits that are driving up the cost of health 
care. We will make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy 
by speeding up development of pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen. 
We will renew the hope of welfare reform and support the faith-based and 
community groups who bring hope and healing to children who need mentors 
and men and women who struggle with drug addiction.
    The qualities of courage and compassion that we strive for in 
America also determine our conduct abroad. Across the world, we are 
meeting the threat of terrorism to make the world safer and confronting 
the grave dangers posed by outlaw regimes. At the same time, America can 
also make this world better by bringing the merciful powers of modern 
medicine to people in great need.
    Today in Africa, nearly 30 million people have the AIDS virus, 
including 3 million children under the age of 15. To meet this growing 
crisis, I am proposing the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. This 
comprehensive plan will prevent 7 million new AIDS infections, treat at 
least 2 million people with life-extending drugs, and provide humane 
care for millions of people suffering from AIDS and for children 
orphaned by AIDS. Facilities across Africa will have the medicine to 
treat AIDS because it will be purchased with funds provided by the 
United States.
    I'm asking the Congress to commit $15 billion to fight AIDS overseas 
for the next 5 years, beginning with $2 billion in 2004. This plan, 
coupled with our ongoing efforts, will nearly triple our current annual 
spending on the global fight against AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
    Our efforts to combat AIDS in Africa are made more difficult by 
severe food shortage sweeping that continent, a crisis that affects up 
to 30 million people in southern Africa and the Horn of Africa, 
particularly Ethiopia. Hunger, sickness, and grief have left people 
across the continent even more vulnerable to the effects of AIDS.
    Across the Earth, America is feeding the hungry. More than 60 
percent of international emergency food aid comes as a gift from the 
people of the United States. Building on this commitment, my budget for 
2004 calls for more than $1 billion to meet emergency food needs 
worldwide. Today I announced a new proposal for a $200 million famine 
fund to bring immediate assistance to Africa and other regions facing 
starvation. Money from the fund will be available to purchase food 
supplies directly or to support farmers in food production. We will 
encourage friends around the world to set up similar funds and leverage 
our combined resources to provide the most help to famine-stricken 
lands.
    Through all our efforts to fight disease and hunger, we can spare 
people in many nations from untold suffering, and Africa especially. 
Millions are facing great affliction, but with our help, they will not 
face it alone. America has a special calling to come to their aid, and

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we will do so with the compassion and generosity that have always 
defined the United States.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 9:43 a.m. on January 31 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on February 1. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
January 31 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office 
of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of 
this address.