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Home , Rick Perry

June 14 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2002

and international organizations to achieve Human Rights adopted by the United Na- particular purposes and to require the Sec- tions General Assembly on December 10, retary to submit a report to congressional 1948,’’ added to section 2(b)(1)(B) of the committees on the contents of negotiations Export-Import Bank Act by section 15 of and certain related executive deliberations. the bill, as only providing examples of types These provisions interfere with the Presi- of human rights that the President may dent’s constitutional authority to conduct wish to consider in making a determination the Nation’s foreign affairs, supervise the under section 2(b)(1)(B) and not as giving unitary executive branch, and withhold in- the Universal Declaration the force of U.S. formation the disclosure of which could im- law. pair foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative processes of the executive, GEORGE W. BUSH or the performance of the executive’s con- The White House, stitutional duties. Accordingly, the executive branch shall construe these provisions as June 14, 2002. precatory rather than mandatory. The executive branch shall construe the NOTE: S. 1372, approved June 14, was as- reference to the ‘‘Universal Declaration of signed Public Law No. 107–189.

Remarks at a Reception for Governor Rick Perry of in Houston June 14, 2002

The President. Thank you for that warm It’s hard to believe that a public school welcome. It’s another reason I’m glad to librarian who didn’t particularly care about be home—[laughter]—that, plus getting a politics or politicians—[laughter]—is now little culture. [Laughter] I can’t tell you the First Lady of this great country, and how great it is to see so many friends. she’s doing a magnificent job. I’m really I want to thank you for your prayers, for proud of her. Of course she, like my moth- your friendship. I want to thank you for er, is still telling me what to do. [Laughter] helping Laura and me serve our country. Marjorie, I’m of course listening. [Laugh- I’m here today to talk about a man ter] But we’re doing great. We really are. who—there’s no doubt in my mind—is not Our family’s strong. Our spirit is strong. only going to win in November but do a Our love for our country has never been fine, fine job on behalf of the Texas people. greater. We’ve shared a lot. We have both been I want to thank all the elected officials Governors. And we both married above who are here. I particularly want to say ourselves. [Laughter] I appreciate Anita something about the next attorney general, Perry, the first lady of the State of Texas, . Greg, I want to thank you and she’s bringing a lot of class to the for your—[applause]. I want to thank office. for being here and for his I’m sorry Laura isn’t here with me. She’s work on behalf of our party and the Victory in Crawford. Committee. I want to thank Justices Audience member. We are, too. Jefferson and Rodriguez, who are here with The President. Well, I’m sure you are. us tonight. I can understand that. [Laughter] You I know there’s all kinds of candidates— probably wish she was speaking. [Laughter] Judge Carter, who’s running in the 31st

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Congressional District this year. I know my But when we find children who aren’t friend—thank you, Judge. I know my friend learning, children who can’t read, we’ve got Tommy Craddick is here. And members to address the problems early, before it’s of the statehouse, both Republicans and too late. You see, every child is important Democrats, are here tonight, and I want in the State of Texas. Every child matters. to thank you all for coming. And you can’t tell whether or not children I want to thank you all for supporting are learning to read and write and add and Rick. I want to thank you for contributing subtract unless you have the courage to your money and, as importantly, thank you hold people accountable. for contributing your time. I see a lot of Texas must not go backwards. Texas what they call grassroots activists here. I must continue to have strong accountability tell you, I know I could never have won systems, so that this business about just the Governor’s race and/or the Presidency shuffling children through the system stops. without those of you who man the phones You see, it’s easy to quit on a young black and sign the envelopes and lick them and child. It’s easy to say, ‘‘That person can’t mail them and do all the hard work. And learn. Let’s just move them through.’’ It’s so on behalf of grateful candidates, thanks easy to quit on somebody whose parents for what you have done and thanks for may not speak English as a first language. what you’re going to do come November. It’s easy to quit. But by having account- I appreciate Rick’s record. I want to talk ability and local control of schools, we a little bit about education. It is a passion measure each child, because each child of mine, and it’s a passion of Rick’s. It counts. You cannot possibly fix the problem is absolutely essential that at all levels of unless you know the problem exists. government we have people who are willing to raise standards for every child. It is abso- Education is the number one priority for lutely essential for the good of the State this Governor. And it’s the number one of Texas that we have a Governor who be- priority for the State of Texas, and that’s lieves every child can learn, somebody who as it should be. And we’re making progress. doesn’t lower the bar. See, if you lower We are. One of the things I love about the standards, if you expect mediocrity, Rick is, his vision of Texas includes every- you’ll get mediocrity, and that’s not good body, not just a few. His vision of Texas enough for the State of Texas. says every child counts, and no child will As Rick mentioned, we reformed the be left behind in the great State of Texas. education code out of the Federal Govern- One of the big initiatives in Washington, ment. It mirrors what Rick is doing here DC, is the reauthorization of welfare. One in Texas. Let me explain it to you right of the great successes in our country has quick. It says that if you receive money been the 1996 welfare reform bill. And it from the taxpayers, you’ve got to measure. basically said that we can do better than If you get help from the Federal Govern- dependency upon Government, that we can ment or the State Government, you’ve got free people by insisting upon work and by to show the taxpayers but more importantly helping those learn how to work. It gives the parents whether or not the children me great confidence to know that Rick is all across the State of Texas are learning. going to be the as we And if they’re learning, we’ll praise the talk about reauthorization. The cornerstone teachers. If they’re meeting standards, if of helping people is to help them find the they’re meeting expectations, there will be dignity of a job. And with Rick Perry as all kinds of praise for the hard-working Governor, I’m confident that that dignity teachers all across the country and in the will spread throughout all parts of the great State of Texas. State of Texas.

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I appreciate a man who understands it came at exactly the right time. There’s there needs to be fiscal sanity when it a school of thought in Washington that comes to spending money, spending your says, if you take more of the people’s money. And Rick saved the State $500 mil- money, the economy will benefit. I don’t lion as a result of some bold actions he read the same textbook. [Laughter] My atti- took. And as you know, the economy kind tude is, when times are slow, you let people of slowed down a little bit, and thankfully, have their own money. And when they you had a Governor who is willing to make keep their own money, they spend it. And the tough fiscal choices that’s going to when they spend their own money, they stand Texas in good stead in the years to demand a good and service. And when you come. I appreciate your courage, Rick, and demand a good and service, somebody’s I appreciate your leadership. going to provide the good and service, But the thing I appreciate most is your which means somebody’s going to be able integrity and your values, the fact that you to work. This tax cut happened at the right make your family your top priority. I love time, and we need to make the tax cuts the fact that you love your wife, and you permanent. love your kids. You know, we were going In order to make sure people can find down the Gulf Freeway today. [Laughter] jobs and can work in America, we need Traffic wasn’t all that bad, by the way. an energy policy. We need an energy policy [Laughter] If you got stuck in one of the that, on the one hand, encourages conserva- Laughter exits, I apologize. [ ] We spent tion and makes sure that we promote re- more time talking about our family. I ap- newable sources of energy, an energy policy preciate a Governor who wanted to share that promotes the new technologies that with me the hopes and aspirations of his are coming on line. But we need an energy children. It’s important for the State of policy as well that encourages exploration Texas to have somebody in the Governor’s office who’s got his priorities absolutely for oil and gas in the of straight, faith and family and the great America. State of Texas. The nay-sayers and the skeptics, you You know, when I was one time cam- know, challenge that policy. They don’t un- paigning in Chicago, a reporter said, derstand the technologies now available ‘‘Would you ever have a deficit?’’ And I that allow us to provide domestic energy said, ‘‘I can’t imagine it, but there would and at the same time protect our environ- be one if we had a war or a national emer- ment. But let me put it to you this way: gency or a recession.’’ [Laughter] Never did For the sake of economic security, we need I dream we’d get the trifecta. [Laughter] a sound energy policy. And for the sake But I want you to know we’re making of national security, we must become less progress on all three fronts. I’m concerned reliant on foreign sources of energy. Some about the economic security of the Amer- of those sources don’t particularly care ican people. I know there’s a lot of focus about America, I might add. on statistics—this number comes out or This Congress needs to give me a trade that number comes out. Here’s my attitude: bill so I can open up markets for Texas So long as somebody wants to work and agricultural products, for high-tech prod- can’t find a job, we have a problem. And ucts. Listen, if you’re good at something— my focus is going to be to continue to and we’re good at a lot of things when expand the job base of this country so peo- it comes to our economy—we ought to be ple can find work. selling them to people around the world. We made a pretty good start when we This country ought to be feeding the peo- cut the taxes on the working people. And ple of the world. I need trade promotion

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authority from the United States Congress prepared to respond to bioterrorism. We for the good of the job creation. need the capacity to analyze the informa- We’re making progress on economic se- tion we’re getting to predict what might curity. And we’ve got a long way to go. happen so that we can react. But I just want you to know, so long as Now, this isn’t going to be as easy as somebody can’t find work that wants to it seems, reorganizing Government. After work, I’m working. all, there’s a lot of turf in Washington, DC, And we’ve got a lot to do on homeland and people are guarding their turf. There’s security as well. I want you to know what an appropriation chairman here, a ranking I think about the people that we’re fighting. member there that likes the idea of decid- They are nothing but coldblooded killers. ing how much money goes to this agency There was a bombing in Karachi. Innocent or another. For the good of the American people lost their lives. Most of the innocent people, I call upon Congress to think about people were Muslims. These people, these not turf but security. terrorists, these killers have hijacked a I’ll never forget my first hard discussion noble religion, but the world is seeing what with the Director of the FBI. I don’t know they’re made out of, what they’re like. They if you are aware of this fact, but he came do not value individual life. And for the on to work one week before September good of freedom and for the good of Amer- the 11th, so he got right in the middle ica and our allies and friends, we’re going of the action pretty quickly. And he was to hunt them down, one by one, and bring talking to me about, you know, they’re them to justice. doing a pretty good job of going after this We’ve made some progress. The other white-collar criminal and arresting this per- night when I announced this Department son. And I said, ‘‘That’s all fine and good, of Homeland Security, I laid out a statistic and you need to keep doing it. But your that said we’ve rounded up about 2,400 most important priority now is to prevent of them so far—make it 2,401. attack. I want you running down every lead. Audience member. That’s right. If you’ve got a hint that somebody might The President. And that’s good. And be coming in here to do something to that’s good, except there’s still a lot of them America, I want to know about it, and I out there. And so it is—it is my most im- want you on them. I want you doing every- portant job to do everything in my power thing in your power. Your agency is vital, to prevent the enemy from taking innocent but your mission has—the priority of the life again. agency—your new mission is to use the We’ve got over 100 agencies in Wash- resources of the United States of America ington, DC, involved with homeland secu- to protect the homeland.’’ rity. They’re scattered all throughout the And we’re making progress. We really bureaucracy. As you can imagine, it makes are. The CIA and the FBI communicate it kind of tough to get an efficient plan in a lot closer way these days. There’s a in place. And so I’ve asked the Congress lot better sharing of information. You’ve to make the most impressive and far-reach- just go to know that there’s a lot of hard- ing reorganization since Harry Truman re- working people doing everything they can organized the Defense Department. to protect you. But the best way to secure I want it all under one—one authority. the homeland, the best way, is to chase I want to align authority and responsibility. these killers down, one by one, and bring I want it to be said that, as a result of them to justice. reorganizing Government, our country is We will use every tool at our disposal. better prepared to enforce our border, to We’ve assembled a vast coalition of free- respond to emergency; our country is better dom-loving countries, and we’re—and

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they’re working. We’re communicating with ably looked at America and thought we these folks. Every time I meet with a for- were so self-absorbed and materialistic and eign leader, I remind him or her that our selfish that after they killed thousands of most important collective job is to win this our citizens, all we would do is file a law- war on terror. History has called us into suit or two. [Laughter] They and the world action. History will look back and deter- have seen the true character of America. mine the mettle and drive and desire of We love our freedom. We care about all of us who have been given awesome our children. We love our values. We love responsibilities. the fact that people can worship freely in We’re cutting off their money, and that’s America. We love the fact that you can vital. It’s kind of hard for them to operate have honest political discourse. That’s what unless they have cash. And although the we love. We love our lifestyle, and we will enemy doesn’t require much money, if they use all our might to protect it. don’t have any, it’s going to be hard for The threats we face go beyond just one them to move. So we’re working with finan- terrorist network. The threats we face are cial institutions all round the world on a bigger than a group of these shadowy fig- regular basis to cut off their money. ures who try to hide in caves and then Probably the most effective force we’ve send youngsters to their death. We face used, of course, thus far is the United threats of weapons of mass destruction. In States military. For those of you who’ve the past, we used to have a doctrine called got relatives in the military or are in the containment and deterrence. You can’t con- military yourselves, thanks from the bottom tain a shadowy terrorist network. You can’t of my heart and our Nation’s heart. deter somebody who doesn’t have a coun- I was at West Point the other day, and try. And you’re not going to be able—fu- I was honored to give a graduation speech ture Presidents won’t be able to deter or where I laid out a new doctrine called pre- contain one of these nations which harbors emption, which I’ll describe here in a sec- weapons of mass destruction, nations who ond. But I shook every hand of the grad- hate America. For the good of the Amer- uates. Let me tell you, the military’s in ican people, I will use all the resources good shape. These are fine, fine young at my disposal to make sure the world’s Americans. worst regimes do not threaten, blackmail I sent up to Congress the largest increase America and our friends with the world’s in defense spending since Ronald Reagan worst weapons. was the President, and I did it for two I believe that out of the evil done to reasons, and I want to explain it to you America is going to come incredible good. right quickly. One, anytime we commit our I’ve got a great painting by Tom Lea. Many men and women into harm’s way, they de- of you know Tom Lea from El Paso. He serve the best equipment, the best training, passed away, unfortunately, earlier this the best possible pay. And secondly, I sub- year. And on my wall is his fantastic pic- mitted a significant increase, because we’re ture—painting, I guess you’d call it—of in for a long war. I know some would hope West Texas. And it reminds me of a quote the enemy would go away. They’re not Tom Lea said; it’s something I said at our going away until we get them. That’s a convention. He said, ‘‘Sarah and I live on fact. The good news is, the American peo- the east side of the mountain. It is the ple are united and strong and resolved. sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the They understand what I know, that we side to see the day that is coming, not must defend our freedoms at all costs. to see the day that is gone.’’ You know, I can’t imagine what went The day I see coming for this great coun- through the mind of the enemy. They prob- try is one of peace. I want you to tell

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your children that behind all the war rhet- the street and tell somebody shut in that oric is a strong desire for peace, that I you love them, it’s a part of making our long for peace not only in America, but society whole and complete. Mentor a I think if the United States of America child. Grab a child around the shoulders remains tough and vigilant and strong and and tell them you love them and teach steady, that we will be able to achieve them how to read. It’s these acts of com- peace in parts of the world where there passion and decency which will help lay is no hope for peace right now. I believe the foundation for a more hopeful America that. I believe that the enemy, much to in the future. their chagrin—much to their chagrin—out You know, when I was campaigning for of the evil will come a more peaceful Governor and still as President, I’ve talked world. And at home, I know out of the about a cultural change. I said, it’s so im- evil will come a better America. portant for us to change the culture away Today I had the honor of speaking at from that of my generation, which has said, the Ohio State University graduation cere- ‘‘If it feels good, just go ahead and do monies. I told those kids, I said that patri- it,’’ and ‘‘If you’ve got a problem, blame otism is more than saluting the flag. Patri- somebody else.’’ That’s happening in Amer- otism is service to your country. Patriotism ica. People understand that they are re- is loving your neighbor just like you’d like sponsible for the decisions they make in to be loved yourself. If you want to fight life. evil, if you want to join the war on terror, I believe a culture of personal responsi- love somebody. Do some good. It’s the bility is beginning to take hold, and perhaps gathering momentum of thousands of acts the most important catalyst for that cultural of kindness and generosity which will show shift is what took place on Flight 93. Peo- the world the compassionate face of Amer- ple were driving—flying across the country, ica and, at the same time, show the world trying to get home, and all of a sudden that this country is not going to be cowed they realized their airplane was a weapon. by evil people. And they said a prayer, and they told their One person can’t do everything in this loved ones goodbye, and they served a society. I know that. But one person can cause greater than self by driving that air- do something to save a soul. Listen, in this plane into the ground. great land of ours, a land of plenty, there It’s that sense of sacrifice and courage are pockets of hopelessness and despair. that will serve as an example for young There are too many children who wonder and old alike. It’s that concept of serving whether America is meant for them, and something greater than you which will allow we’re going to do something about that this great Nation to show the world that here in America. There are too many peo- we will overcome evil with good. ple addicted and sad and lonely, and we’ll I want to thank you all for your friend- do something about that too. The Govern- ship. I repeat, I want to thank you for ment can hand out checks. But what Gov- the greatest gift you can give a President ernment cannot do is put hope in people’s and his wife, and that’s your prayers. I want hearts or a sense of purpose in their lives to thank you for supporting my friend, the or love people. That’s going to happen be- current and next Governor of the State of cause this great country is full of loving Texas. I want to thank you all for coming. and decent and caring souls. May God bless you all, and may God I call upon you all to continue what bless America. you’re doing when it comes to helping a neighbor in need. The acts don’t have to NOTE: The President spoke at 6:09 p.m. in be huge acts. Listen, if you just walk across the Imperial Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency

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Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Mar- Rodriguez of the Texas Supreme Court; jorie Arsht, Republican Party activist; Greg Texas State Representative Tom Craddick; Abbott, candidate for ; and John R. Carter, candidate for Texas’ 31st Justices Wallace Jefferson and Xavier Congressional District.

The President’s Radio Address June 15, 2002

Good morning. Owning a home lies at A third major obstacle to minority home- the heart of the American Dream. A home ownership is the complexity and difficulty is a foundation for families and a source of the purchasing process, so we’re stepping of stability for communities. It serves as up our efforts to better educate first-time the foundation of many Americans’ finan- home buyers. Consumers need to know cial security. Yet today, while nearly three- their rights and responsibilities as home quarters of all white Americans own their buyers. Education is the best protection for homes, less than half of all African Ameri- families against abusive and unscrupulous cans and Hispanic Americans are home- lenders. Financial education and housing owners. We must begin to close this home- counseling can help protect home buyers ownership gap by dismantling the barriers against abuses, greatly improve the loan that prevent minorities from owning a piece terms they are offered, and help families of the American Dream. get through tough times with their homes The single greatest hurdle to first-time intact. homeownership is a high downpayment re- Through these important initiatives, we quirement that can put a home out of can help thousands of American families reach, so my administration is proposing live the kinds of lives they had once only the American Dream Downpayment Fund. dreamed about. But Government action When a low-income family is qualified to isn’t enough. We need to energize and en- buy a home but comes up short on the gage the private sector as well. That is why downpayment, the American Dream Down- I have challenged the real estate industry payment Fund will help provide the needed funds. We estimate that this fund will open leaders to join with the Government, with the door to homeownership for 40,000 low- non-profit organizations, and with private- income families annually. sector financial institutions in a major na- A second obstacle to minority home- tionwide effort to increase minority home- ownership is a lack of affordable housing. ownership. To encourage the production of single-fam- My approach to broadening homeowner- ily homes for sale in neighborhoods where ship focuses on empowering people to help affordable housing is scarce, my administra- themselves and to help one another. These tion is proposing a single-family affordable important initiatives will accomplish their housing credit. Over the next 5 years, this purpose because Americans, working to- will provide developers nearly $2.4 billion gether and taking responsibility for one an- in tax credits for building affordable single- other, will make this great country even family housing in distressed areas. These greater. credits will make 200,000 new homes avail- The strength of America lies in the honor able over its first 5 years to low-income and the character and good will of its peo- purchasers. ple. When we tap into that strength, we

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