[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 38 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Pages 1211-1216]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Power Center in Houston, Texas

September 12, 2003

    The President. Thank you all very much. Be seated. Kirbyjon can tell 
it. [Laughter] Heck, I might sound inarticulate compared to him. 
[Laughter]
    Reverend Caldwell. No, no.
    The President. Yes. Let's see how to start here. First, it's glad to 
be back--I'm glad to be back to Texas. It's good to see some of my 
buddies. I'm looking at a man right here on the front row I went to the 
seventh grade with in Houston, Texas. I see my friend ``Big Tuna'' I 
used to play basketball with at the Y. I never forget my friends, and 
I've got a lot of friends here in Texas, and I'm thrilled to be with 
you. Thank you all for coming tonight.
    But thank you for coming to support this wonderful program. You'll 
hear me say this a couple of times in what's going to be a short 
address. Pastor Caldwell said, ``Speak all you want, but don't exceed 7 
minutes.'' [Laughter]
    I think the fact that people are willing to contribute money to save 
lives is a powerful testimony to the strength of America. I think that 
when people are willing to support a social entrepreneur like Kirbyjon 
Caldwell and the others at the Windsor Village Church who have heard a 
call and are out to save any life they can find that needs to be saved--
the fact that you support them speaks to your heart as well. And so 
today I first want to say thanks. Thanks for contributing hard-earned 
money to make Houston, Texas, the best place it can be.
    And I'm proud to be up here with my friend. Sometimes it's not easy 
to be the friend of George W. Bush--I know that--[laughter]--if you know 
what I mean. [Laughter] But let me tell you something. It's good to have 
a friend that I can call before a debate and say, ``Do you mind saying a 
prayer?'' It's good to have a friend to go with you to Ground Zero. He's 
not a political friend; he's a friend. He rises above that, that 
friendship. And it's good for this community to lift up a man like 
Kirbyjon Caldwell who acts for the best interests of all the citizens of 
this community. And I'm proud to call him friend.
    And we both married above ourselves.
    Reverend Caldwell. Amen.
    The President. Yes, sir. Well, you don't need to ``amen'' it that 
loud, but--[laughter]. Laura sends her love to Kirbyjon and Suzette and 
to all our buddies here. She is a fantastic First Lady, by the way. I 
really lucked out. And she's doing great, she really is.
    Suzette is a unique person. I just had had my picture taken with a 
group of Prayer Warriors organized by Suzette Caldwell. You know, it's a 
unique country, when you think about it, that people would pray for me. 
People I'll never know, people I'll never have a chance to say thank you 
to, pray for me. Suzette organized such a group, and I had a chance to 
say thank you to the group. But it shows the kind of person Suzette is. 
And I want to thank you for your friendship as well. I want to thank you 
for your prayers. I feel them, and it means a lot--it means a lot. And 
so, Suzette, I want to thank you for your friendship as well. It's great 
seeing your kids. They're little livewires, little--one of them is like 
a little Kirbyjon, you know--[laughter]--hard to control. [Laughter]
    It's great to see Booker and Jean Caldwell as well. Kirbyjon and I 
both lucked out; we've got good, strong mothers. I hope you're still 
listening to yours, Kirbyjon. [Laughter] I'm listening to mine, I can 
assure you. [Laughter]
    I'm traveling today with a great friend of Houston, Texas, a friend 
of mine, a man who has agreed to serve our community--communities all 
across the country as the Secretary of Education, Mr. Rod Paige. I like 
to remind people that when I was picking

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the Cabinet, I wanted for the education man, somebody that had actually 
been an educator. We had enough theory in Washington. We wanted somebody 
that had actually done the job. And as you know, he did a great job as 
the superintendent of the Houston Independent School District. What I 
love about Rod is, he is willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low 
expectations. He raises the bar, and he's not afraid to measure to 
determine whether or not we're meeting those standards.
    We passed a really important piece of legislation called the No 
Child Left Behind Act. And the way you make sure no child is left behind 
is, you raise standards. You hold people accountable. You correct 
problems before--early, before they're too late. I am absolutely 
convinced that under Rod's leadership at the Department of Education, it 
is less likely a child is going to be left behind in America. And I want 
to thank you for your service.
    I know some of my running buddies from the State Government are 
here, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and Railroad Commissioner 
Michael Williams. I want to thank you all for coming. I'm proud you're 
here. I know Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is here, and I'm--there 
she is--and I'm honored that you're here. Thank you for coming, 
Congresswoman. I appreciate it. One thing about Sheila Jackson Lee is, 
when I see her, she's never afraid to offer up any advice. [Laughter] 
It's become a habit of ours, hasn't it? [Laughter]
    I appreciate the fact that we've got two former Secretaries of 
Commerce here, one Houstonian, Bob Mosbacher, and new Texan Bill Daley. 
And I want to thank them both for coming. I appreciate them being here. 
I appreciate my friend Oxford. He's actually making a pretty good hand. 
Thanks for putting on this event. Great to see you.
    Genora Boykins, who's the chairperson of the CDC, I want to thank 
her for opening this event up. I thank my friend Jodi Jiles, who's the 
treasurer of the Community Development Corporation. I've known Jodi for 
a long time.
    You know, I have had the chance to hear Kirbyjon preach, and he's a 
pretty darn good preacher. He reminds me of the preacher that got going 
one day, and about three-quarters of the way through the sermon, a guy 
was so moved on about pew three that he popped up and screamed, ``Use 
me, Lord. Use me.'' The preacher plowed on through and finished up and 
didn't think anything of it until the next Sunday. About the same time 
in his sermon, this guy gets so moved--I'm sure some of you have been so 
moved by Kirbyjon that you think about popping up--this guy popped up 
again and he screamed, ``Use me, Lord. Use me.'' After the service was 
over, the preacher sought the fellow out. He said, ``Fine, I appreciate 
your willingness to help, and therefore, I suggest and would like for 
you to scrape and paint all the pews.'' The next Sunday the preacher is 
up there letting it go. The guy pops up and he says, ``Use me, Lord. Use 
me, but in an advisory capacity.'' [Laughter]
    I'm at the Power Center today because this place is full of doers, 
not advisers. This was once an empty Kmart building. It is now a 
building full of love. It was used to sell goods, and now it provides 
incredibly important services to help save lives.
    I find it interesting that they named the center the Power Center. 
This--we're not talking about electricity in this power. We're talking 
about a higher power that caused this center to be. I find it also 
interesting that in the midst of this--or at least the last time I came, 
Suzette showed me the prayer facility right in the middle of the center. 
You had a bank. You've got a school, and you've got a women and 
children's clinic, the WIC program--it's a Government program. You've 
got some job training. You've got the Houston Community Center--
Community College facility, I mean. But in the midst, there's a prayer 
center. People should realize that the reason why this program is 
successful is because the power in the Power Center comes from a higher 
calling, a higher source of power.
    And the reason why I came to see the Power Center in the first place 
was twofold: One, I felt I had an obligation as the Governor of the 
State to support programs that were changing people's lives in a 
positive way; and secondly, I had heard that beyond good intentions 
there were good results here and that the Power Center was a unique

[[Page 1213]]

faith-based program. And it helped me develop a philosophy of government 
that I want to explain right quick to you.
    And part of my reason I'm doing this is because I'm sending a 
message to the Congress at the same time. [Laughter] They might not be 
here, except for one very distinguished Congresswoman, but the TV 
cameras are here. It gives me a chance to speak directly to good social 
policy in America.
    I saw people's lives changed because of faith. Right here at the 
Power Center is a good example. I saw the fact that with the proper 
application of the call to love a neighbor like you'd like--love 
yourself, with resources and social entrepreneurship, souls could 
change. And I recognized that, at the time in Texas and now nationally, 
that the absolute best way to make sure that the promise of America 
extends its reach into every neighborhood, the best way to help heal 
those who hurt is to bring all the resources of our country to bear. And 
the most powerful resource of all is the ability to transform lives 
through faith.
    I don't talk about a particular faith. I believe the Lord can work 
through many faiths, whether it be the Christian faith, Jewish faith, 
Muslim faith, Hindu faith. When I speak of faith, I speak of all faiths, 
because there is a universal call, and that main universal call is to 
love your neighbor. It extends throughout all faith.
    That's what the Power Center says to me. It's a living example of 
what is possible not only in Houston but in communities all around our 
country, because there are faith-based communities all around our 
country. There are churches on every corner. There are synagogues in 
every town. There are people of faith who have heard a call. It seems 
like to me, this society of ours must rally the people of faith. Amongst 
our plenty, there are people who hurt. There's addiction and loneliness, 
social problems that can only be cured by love.
    I've been searching for that bill, by the way, ever since I've been 
in government, the bill that says you'll love somebody. Sheila Jackson 
will sponsor it, and I'll sign it. [Laughter] But there is no such bill. 
People don't get their inspiration to help a neighbor in need from 
government. They get their inspiration from a higher being. And yet, 
government has thwarted faith to be involved in our communities because 
of what they call the doctrine of separation of church and state. And 
that's a noble doctrine. The church should never be the state, and the 
state certainly should never be the church. But our Government must not 
fear the application of faith into solving social problems. We must not 
worry about people of faith receiving taxpayers' money to help people in 
need.
    In my judgment, that doesn't obscure the line of church and state. 
It enhances the capacity of state to save lives by tapping into this 
fundamental powerful resource of ours, the heart and soul of the 
American people.
    And yet in Washington, DC, there is an attitude that we should not 
welcome faith-based programs into the budgets of our Government. As a 
matter of fact, there are regulations that specifically prohibit faith-
based programs from job training, for example, or Head Start or some 
housing programs. There is a fear that funding faith will somehow change 
the doctrine of church and state.
    I completely disagree. The discrimination against faith-based 
programs at the Federal level prevents us from using all our resources 
to save lives. And for those who hurt, we need to use every resource we 
have. For those who are lonely, we need to use every resource. For those 
who are hungry, we need to use every resource. For those who look for 
housing, we need to use every resource. And so one of my missions is to 
work with people to end the discrimination in Washington, DC, against 
faith-based programs.
    The other problem we have, besides just outright regulations saying 
that you cannot use money for housing or Head Start or job training 
programs, is the fact that oftentimes groups that try to access Federal 
money--by the way, and the purpose of the money is to save lives, in 
many cases--the groups that apply have to change their board of 
directors in order to access the money, or have to take the cross off 
the wall, in the case of the Christian faith-based program. But it's 
hard to be a faith-based program if you can't practice faith. If the 
effectiveness of the program is based upon faith, our Government must 
allow that program to practice its faith.

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    You see, up to now, the question has been, what is the process? My 
question is, what are the results? If we're saving lives, if the 
Salvation Army is doing what it does so very well, we ought to welcome 
programs that succeed. We ought to say, ``You're welcome into the 
fabric, the social fabric, of America in changing lives.''
    So that's what we're off to do. And I have signed an Executive 
order--Presidents sign Executive orders. [Laughter] It says that we'll 
have a level playing field for faith-based programs when they apply for 
Federal money. I've got offices in each Cabinet set up to make sure that 
the faith-based programs have a friendly ear when they come to apply, 
that they're not facing the same old bureaucratic morass, that they get 
a welcoming ear. Rod has got one in his office. HUD has got one. 
Social--Cabinets have got them in their offices because I want people 
who have got a good idea about how to change somebody's life to have a 
sympathetic ear in Washington, DC.
    I want people to know that you ought to come. Not only are people 
allowed to come and make their case and to get help on grantmaking, but 
we also assure them that, in reverse, the Government is not going to 
force them to change their habits and change their ways and change their 
basic reason for existing.
    And we're beginning to make some progress. Slowly but surely, we're 
changing the culture. We'll finalize new regulations later this month 
that will open up a lot of money available to faith-based programs. And 
that's important, because it means that we'll do a better job of 
encouraging the neighborhood healers to fulfill their mission.
    Obviously, not all money will be Federal money. That would be bad 
for the fabric of America. That's why you're here, see. That's why I 
came. I want to encourage private foundations not to discriminate 
against faith-based programs. I want to encourage individuals to give. 
But what I'm also telling you is that the Federal Government needs to 
take an active role, in my judgment.
    Let me tell you some of the kinds of things that are taking place, 
and hopefully this will stimulate other thought for others who may want 
to try to compete for taxpayers' money to help save lives. The 
Department of Health and Human Services recently awarded $7 million of 
grants to 15 faith-based groups who support abstinence education. One of 
the grants, for nearly $500,000, a new grant, went to A Woman's Concern. 
It's a group of faith-based health centers in the Boston area. It seems 
like it makes sense to me that when you're trying to help people make 
right choices, that you ask people of faith to be included in the 
process. This won't be a punitive--it wouldn't be punitive education. It 
would be education done out of the kindness of somebody's heart. Faith-
based programs work.
    We've got a--the Department of Labor has awarded $21 million to 
faith-based groups for job training. I asked Kirbyjon on the way in from 
Ellington Field, I said, ``Are you able to access Federal money for your 
job training program?'' He said, ``I didn't know we were able to.'' 
Well, you will be able to. What's wrong with having faith-based 
programs? What's wrong with having a church be able to reach out to a 
prisoner, somebody who just got out of prison, somebody who's desperate 
for love? What's wrong with a church, a place of love, surrounding that 
soul and at the same time having a job training program to help them? 
I'll tell you what's wrong with it. Nothing's wrong with it. And the 
Federal Government ought to welcome faith-based programs to help save 
lives.
    In East Harlem, the Exodus Transitional Community is using grants 
from Labor and Justice to help released prisoners get a job. That's the 
kind of thing I'm talking about. Exodus helped 252 people last year. 
This year, with the new grant, they'll help 375. And that may not sound 
like a lot because there's a lot of prisoners. But think about if there 
was Exodus programs or Exodus-type programs all over. Instead of 375, 
we'll be talking about 375 times thousands. And then all of a sudden, 
souls who were once lost are then found. People who thought they didn't 
have hope can find hope.
    HUD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is supporting 
faith-based groups like Uplift Fourth Ward. You may have heard about the 
program. The Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church

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in Houston runs it. Uplift Fourth Ward, the folks in it--there you go. 
[Laughter] I'm glad you invited somebody, Kirbyjon--[laughter]--from 
Uplift Fourth Ward. It is a chance to rehabilitate historic buildings 
and provide safe and affordable housing to low-income seniors. Who says 
housing programs have to be done out of the old traditional construction 
company? Why can't housing companies be started out of faith-based 
institutions?
    There's program after program that have started--but we're just 
starting, is my point to you. Congress needs to hear the call. Congress 
needs to not thwart efforts. You see, my attitude is, if a faith-based 
program provides help to anybody in need regardless of their religion, 
we should not fear that program. My view is, is that the program ought 
to stand on its own. The money won't go for proselytizing. The money 
will go to the social service intended for that program.
    I believe we ought to empower people to be able to make choices on 
where they receive their help. I can't think of anything more vital in 
America than to have a program aimed at changing drug addiction in 
America and a program that will allow faith-based programs to be an 
integral part of helping somebody kick alcohol and drugs. I say that 
because I know firsthand what it takes to quit drinking, and it takes 
something other than a textbook or a manual. If you change a person's 
heart, you can change their life.
    Our society must not fear the use of faith to solve life's problems. 
We must welcome faith, and Congress must not block these important 
initiatives. There are lives to be saved. There are soldiers in the army 
of compassion ready to save them, and the Federal Government ought to be 
on the side of the soldiers in the armies of compassion.
    We'll continue working on the Compassionate Capital Fund. I've asked 
for $100 million this year. It's a way to help startup social 
entrepreneurs learn how to apply for grants. It gives people ways to 
fulfill their mission, to realize their dreams. I believe we ought to 
have a national mentoring program, particularly for children whose mom 
and dad may be in a prison, for junior high students. I've asked for 
$450 million. I hope Congress funds it. I just told you about my view on 
drug rehabilitation. Look, when we find suffering in our society today, 
we can't turn away.
    And just as an aside, we can't turn away overseas, either. I'm proud 
of the United States of America. This great Nation is going to spend $15 
billion over the next 5 years in the important work of human rescue by 
providing medicine and help to millions and millions of men, women, and 
children suffering from AIDS on the continent of Africa.
    I'm incredibly proud of our country. We're a really strong nation. 
We need to be strong. We're at a war with people who hate America, and 
I'll keep us strong militarily. We'll be strong to meet the challenges. 
We'll continue to push for freedom and peace overseas. The world is 
going to be peaceful, thanks to the United States of America. America 
will be more secure, thanks to the focus and strength of the American 
people.
    But at home, we need to work to save lives as well. A secure America 
is a hopeful America. A secure America is an educated America. A secure 
America is a place where people realize the American Dream is meant for 
them as much as it is meant for me.
    People say, ``Well, your country's strong.'' I say, ``Yes, we are, 
but you don't really understand the strength of America. It's the hearts 
and souls of our citizens.'' That's the true strength of this country. 
The Power Center tapped into that strength. Your contributions tonight 
recognize that strength and support it. And our Government must stand 
side by side with that strength as well.
    I'm incredibly optimistic about our country and its future. I've 
seen firsthand the great character of the American people. And it's that 
character, it's that determination, it is that optimism that allows me 
to boldly predict: America will overcome any problem she faces, abroad 
and here at home.
    Thank you all for coming. May God bless you, and may God bless our 
country.

Note: The President spoke at 5:49 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Rev. Kirbyjon H. Caldwell, senior pastor, Windsor Village United 
Methodist Church, his wife Suzette, and his parents Booker and Jean 
Caldwell; Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst of Texas; Michael L. Williams, chair, 
Texas Railroad Commission; and Genora Boykins, chairperson of the board, 
and Jodi Jiles, treasurer, Pyramid Community Development Corp. This

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item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate issue.