[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 31 (Monday, August 8, 2005)]
[Pages 1235-1236]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

July 30, 2005

    Good morning. This year Congress and I have addressed many key 
priorities of the American people, and we're making great progress.
    At the start of the year, I urged Congress to ease the burden of 
junk lawsuits on American workers, businesses, and families, so Congress 
passed, and I signed bipartisan class-action reform. We called for 
restoring integrity to the bankruptcy process, so Congress passed, and I 
signed commonsense reform of our Nation's bankruptcy laws. I requested 
vital funds for our men and women in uniform, so Congress passed, and I 
proudly signed critical legislation to give our troops the resources 
they need to fight and win the war on terror.
    This past week has brought even more progress, with four major 
achievements. First, I signed into law a patient safety bill that will 
improve our health care system by reducing medical errors. Second, 
Congress came to an agreement on a highway bill that will improve 
safety, modernize our roads and bridges, and create jobs. Third, 
Congress passed the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade 
Agreement. This historic agreement will reduce barriers to American 
goods, services, and crops, and make our Nation more secure by 
strengthening the young democracies in our neighborhood.
    Finally, after years of debate, Republicans and Democrats in 
Congress came together to pass a comprehensive energy plan that will 
reduce America's dependence on foreign sources of energy. This bill will 
encourage conservation and efficiency, increase domestic production, 
promote alternative and renewable resources, and modernize the 
electricity grid. I thank the Members of Congress who worked so hard on 
this vital legislation, and I look forward to signing it into law.
    As Members of Congress return home for their August recess, I plan 
to travel to seven States around the country. I will talk to Americans 
about our growing economy. Thanks to the tax relief we passed and the 
spending restraint, our economy today is growing faster than any other 
major industrialized country. The unemployment rate is down to 5 
percent, lower than the average of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. We 
created more than 2 million jobs in the past 12 months. More Americans 
are working today than ever before in our Nation's history.
    The 2005 deficit is projected to be $94 billion less than previously 
expected, and we're now ahead of the pace needed to meet my goal of 
cutting the deficit in half by 2009.
    We have more to do, and I will not be satisfied until every American 
who wants to work can find a job. I look forward to talking to the 
American people about our plans to continue strengthening the economic 
security of America's seniors and working families.
    During August, I will also meet with our troops and their families 
and update the

[[Page 1236]]

American people on the latest developments in the war on terror. We have 
a comprehensive strategy in place. We're improving our homeland security 
and intelligence. The House renewed the key provisions of the PATRIOT 
Act that were set to expire at the end of this year, and I call on the 
Senate to do the same.
    We're also spreading freedom, because free countries are peaceful. 
And we're staying on the offensive against the terrorists, fighting them 
abroad so we do not have to face them here at home.
    I also urge Members of the Senate to use August to prepare to act on 
my nomination of Judge John Roberts to serve on the Supreme Court. This 
talented and capable man will fairly interpret the Constitution and 
laws, not legislate from the bench. Judge Roberts' time on the DC 
Circuit Court, his service at the Department of Justice and at the White 
House in two administrations, his impressive career as a top attorney in 
private practice, and his stellar academic and legal background 
demonstrate why Americans of all points of view have expressed their 
support for him.
    One of the highest honors for any lawyer is to argue a case before 
the Supreme Court. In his extraordinary career, Judge Roberts has argued 
a remarkable 39 cases before the Nation's highest court. I look forward 
to working with the Senate in the weeks ahead so that Judge Roberts can 
receive a timely and dignified hearing and be confirmed before the Court 
reconvenes on October the 3d.
    Our achievements so far this year show how much can be done when we 
come together to do what is right for the American people. When Congress 
returns in September, I will continue to work with the Republicans and 
Democrats to build on this good progress for all Americans.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:36 a.m. on July 29 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on July 30. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
July 29 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of 
the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this 
address.