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NOTE: The President spoke at 2:33 p.m. In his I appreciate so very much Senator Kit remarks, he referred to Yolanda Moss, principal, Bond’s leadership in the Sen- and Regina Davis, parent and volunteer, Pierre ate. I also appreciate a short introduction. Laclede Elementary School; Joyce Roberts, exec- [Laughter] I also want to thank my friend utive director, Middle School and Priority School Education, St. Louis Public Schools, and former Senator as well for doing a great principal, Pierre Laclede Elementary School; job for the people of . I’m pleased Catherine Hanaway, speaker, Missouri State that Congresswoman is with house of representatives; and Peter Kinder, presi- us tonight as well as , two fine dent pro tempore, Missouri State senate. He also Members of the referred to Title I of the Improving America’s from Missouri. Schools Act of 1994 (Public Law No. 103–382), I know the secretary of state is with us, which amended Title I of the Elementary and . Thank you for coming, Matt. I’m Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Public Law No. proud you’re here. I appreciate the speaker 89–10). coming, Catherine Hanaway, as well as Sen- ate Majority Leader Peter Kinder. Thank you Remarks at a Bush-Cheney all for coming. I want to thank all the mem- Reception in St. Louis bers of the statehouse for being here and the local officials. I’m so honored you take time January 5, 2004 to come. Thank you all very much. Thanks for com- I particularly want to thank my friend Sam ing. Thank you all. Thanks for your warm Fox, who is the State finance chairman for welcome. I appreciate such a warm response. Bush-Cheney. I’m honored that Sam has I appreciate such a huge crowd. It’s great taken on such a big role, and I appreciate to be back here in St. Louis. I don’t know the hard work of Sam and the team he has if you know this or not, but my grandmother put together to make this such a strong and was raised right here in St. Louis. And I’ve successful event. I call him Foxie. Foxie, got a lot of relatives here. By the way, if thanks for your friendship. you’re looking for a great uncle, model some- I also appreciate Ann Wagner from the body after Bucky Bush. great State of Missouri. She’s the cochairman This record-setting event really means of the Republican National Committee. I’m we’re laying the foundation for what is going proud to have her friendship and proud to to be a victory in the State of Missouri in have her support here as the chairman of the November of 2004 and a nationwide victory party in Missouri. in 2004. I want to thank all the event orga- I want to thank Ambassador Steve Brauer nizers. I want to thank those of you who are and his wife, Kimmy. By the way, they did in the grassroots. I want to thank you for a fabulous job representing our country over- working hard. I want to thank you for what seas, and I want to thank them for their hard you’re going to do. work at this event. The political season is going to come in I know my friend former Senator Jack its own time. I admit I’m loosening up— Danforth is here. I named him to a special [laughter]—and I’m getting ready. But right mission, to be the envoy to the Sudan, and now, I’m focused on the people’s business. he has done incredibly good work in that war- See, I have a lot on the agenda. I want you ravaged country. I appreciate your service, to remind your fellow citizens that I will con- Jack, and your friendship. tinue to work hard to earn the confidence But most of all, I thank you all for coming. of all Americans by keeping this Nation se- It lifts my spirits to see so many people here. cure and strong and prosperous and free. It is—it gives me great confidence that we’re My one regret tonight is that Laura isn’t on the path to victory, to know that I’ve got here. She is a fabulous lady. She’s a great such broad support in this important State First Lady for our country. She is a wonder- of Missouri. ful wife, a great mother, and she’s doing a In the last 3 years, our Nation has acted heck of a job on behalf of the American peo- decisively to confront great challenges. I ple. came to this office to solve problems instead

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of passing them on to future Presidents and ity is increasing. And we’ve added 300,000 future generations. I came to seize opportu- new jobs over the last 4 months. The tax re- nities instead of letting them slip away. My lief we passed is working. administration is meeting the tests of our Three years ago, there was a lot of talk time. about education reform, but there wasn’t Terrorists declared war on the United much action. So I called for and the Congress States of America, and war is what they got. passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With We’ve captured or killed many of the key a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest most dramatic education reforms in a genera- of them know we’re on their trail. In Afghani- tion. We’re bringing high standards and stan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to ter- strong accountability measures to every pub- ror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, lic school in America. See, we believe every and those regimes are no more. Fifty-million child—every child—can learn the basics of people in those two countries once lived reading and math, and we expect every under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. school to teach the basics of reading and Three years ago, our military was not re- math. This administration is challenging the ceiving the resources it needed, and morale soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of was beginning to suffer. So we increased the excusemaking are over. We expect results so defense budgets to prepare for the threats that not one single child is left behind in of a new era. And today, no one in the world America. can question the skill and the strength and We reorganized the Government and cre- the spirit of the United States military. ated the Department of Homeland Security Three years ago, the economy was in trou- to better safeguard our borders and ports and ble, and a recession was beginning. And then to protect the American people. We passed our country was attacked, and we had scan- trade promotion authority to open up new dals in corporate America and the march to war, all of which affected the people’s con- markets for Missouri’s farmers and ranchers fidence. But we acted. We passed tough new and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We laws to hold corporate criminals to account. passed budget agreements that is helping to And to get the economy going again, I have maintain much needed spending discipline twice led the United States Congress to pass in Washington, DC. historic tax relief for the American people. And last month, we completed the greatest We understand that when Americans have advance in health care coverage for Amer- more take-home pay to spend, to save, or ica’s seniors since the founding of Medicare. invest, the whole economy grows, and people The new Medicare law will give older Ameri- are likely to find a job. We are returning cans the option of a prescription drug benefit more money to the people to help them raise and more control over their health care, so their families. We’re reducing taxes on divi- they receive the modern medical care they dends and capital gains to encourage invest- deserve. ment. We’ve given small businesses incen- On issue after issue, this administration tives to expand and to hire new people. With has acted on principle, has kept its word, and all these actions, we are laying the foundation has made progress for the American people. for greater prosperity and more jobs across The United States Congress deserves a lot America so every single person in this coun- of credit. I enjoy my relationship with Speak- try has the chance to realize the American er Denny Hastert and Leader Bill Frist. Dream. These are two strong, fine leaders. Today, the American economy is strong, I appreciate working with the Members, and it is getting stronger. The figures for the the Senators from the State of Missouri and third quarter of 2003 show the economy grew the Members of the House of Representa- at an annual rate of 8.2 percent, the fastest tives. We’re working hard to change the tone pace in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. in Washington, DC. There’s too much need- Business investment is rising. Housing con- less politics and endless backbiting, and the struction is expanding. Manufacturing activ- best way to change the tone is to focus on

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results, to be results-oriented people, to de- have to face them in our own country. We’re liver progress on behalf of all Americans. And calling on other nations to help build a free those are the kind of people I’ve attracted Iraq, because a free Iraq will make the whole to my administration. world more secure. We’re standing with the I’ve put together the finest administration Iraqi people as they assume more of their of any President in our Nation’s history, own defense and move toward self-govern- good, honorable, decent, hard-working peo- ment. These aren’t easy tasks, but they’re es- ple who have come to Washington, DC, to sential tasks. We will finish what we have serve a cause greater than their own self-in- begun, and we will win this essential victory terest. Our country has had no finer Vice in the war on terror. President than Dick Cheney. Mother may We’re working hard to oppose prolifera- have a second opinion. [Laughter] tion around the world. Last month, after talks In 3 years, we’ve come far. We have done with the United States and Great Britain, a lot, but our work is only beginning. I’ve Libya voluntarily committed to disclose and set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, dismantle all its weapons of mass destruction America is committed to expanding the programs. Leaders around the world now realm of freedom and peace for our own se- know weapons of mass destruction do not curity and for the benefit of the world. And bring influence or prestige; they bring isola- second, in our own country, we must work tion and unwelcome consequences. And na- for a society that is prosperous and compas- tions who abandon the pursuit of these weap- sionate so that every citizen has a chance to ons will find an open path to better relations work and to succeed and to realize the great with the United States of America. promise of our country. Our greatest security comes from the ad- It is clear that the future of freedom and vance of human liberty because free nations peace depend on the actions of America. This do not support terror, free nations do not Nation is freedom’s home and freedom’s de- attack their neighbors, free nations do not fender. We welcome this charge of history, threaten the world with weapons of mass ter- and we are keeping it. ror. Americans believe that freedom is the The war on terror continues. The enemies deepest need and hope of every human of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. heart. I believe that freedom is the future This country will not rest; we will not tire; of every nation. And we know that freedom we will not stop until this danger to civiliza- is not America’s gift to the world. Freedom tion is removed. is God’s gift to every man and woman who We are confronting that danger in Iraq, lives in this world. where all people can be certain they will America also understands that unprece- never again have to fear the rule of Saddam dented influence brings tremendous respon- Hussein. The Ba’athist holdouts, largely re- sibilities. We have duties in this world, and sponsible for the current violence, now know when we see disease and starvation and there will be no return to the corrupt power hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On and privilege they once held. All Iraqis who the continent of Africa, this great country is have taken the side of freedom have taken now committed to bringing the healing the winning side. power of medicine to millions of men and We still face terrorists who would rather women and children now suffering with go on killing the innocent than accept the AIDS. This great, compassionate land is lead- rise of liberty in the Middle East. They know ing the world in this incredibly important that the advance of freedom in Iraq would work of human rescue. be a major defeat for the cause of terror. We face challenges here at home, and our This collection of killers is trying to shake actions will prove that we’re equal to those the will of the United States, but America challenges. My administration will stay fo- will never be intimidated by a bunch of assas- cused on a progrowth agenda until everyone sins and thugs. who wants to work can find a job. We are aggressively striking the terrorists And for the sake of our health care system, in Iraq, defeating them there so we will never we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits

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which increase the cost of medicine. People Congress should complete the ‘‘Citizen who get harmed by a bad doc deserve their Service Act’’ so more Americans can serve day in court. Yet the system should not re- their communities and their country. Both ward lawyers who are simply fishing for a houses should reach agreement on my Faith- rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits Based Initiative, so we can better support the drive up the cost of health care, they affect armies of compassion, people of all faiths the Federal budget. Therefore, medical li- who are willing to lead with their heart and ability reform is a national issue that requires help solve the problems that seem intractable a national solution. The House of Represent- in our society. We need to support those sol- atives passed a good bill to reform the sys- diers in the armies of compassion who are tem. The bill is stuck in the United States mentoring the children, caring for the home- Senate. I want to thank the two Missouri less, and offering hope for the addicted. This Senators for supporting this incredibly im- Nation must not fear the influence of faith portant piece of legislation. Other Members in our society. We must welcome the works of the Senate must understand that no one of faith in our society. has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit A compassionate society must promote op- in America. portunity for every one of us, including the I have a responsibility as President to make independence and dignity that come from sure the judicial system runs well, and I have ownership. My administration will constantly met that duty. I have nominated superb men strive to promote an ownership society in and women for the Federal courts, people America. We want more people owning their who will interpret the law, not legislate from own home. We have a minority homeowner- the bench. Some Members of the Senate are ship gap in America. I want to thank the Sen- trying to keep my nominees off the bench ate for passing the downpayment assistance by blocking up-or-down votes. Every judicial plan to help more people afford a new home. nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up- We want people owning and managing their or-down vote on the Senate floor. It is time own retirement accounts and owning and for some of the Members of the United managing their own health care accounts. We States Senate to stop playing politics with want more people to own their own small American justice. business. This administration understands The Congress needs to complete work on that when a person owns something, he or a comprehensive energy bill and get it to my she has a vital stake in the future of this coun- desk. This Nation must promote energy effi- try. ciency and conservation. We must work to In a compassionate society, people respect develop cleaner technology to help us ex- one another, respect another person’s reli- plore for energy in environmentally sensitive gion and their point of view. And people take ways. For the sake of economic security and responsibility for the decisions they make. for the sake of national security, we need to The culture of America is changing from one become less dependent on foreign sources that has said, ‘‘If it feels good, do it,’’ and of energy. ‘‘If you’ve got a problem, blame somebody Our strong and prosperous Nation must else,’’ to a culture in which each of us under- also be a compassionate nation. I will con- stands we are responsible for the decisions tinue to advance our agenda of compas- we make in life. sionate , applying the best and If you’re fortunate enough to be a mother most innovative ideas to the task of helping or a dad, you’re responsible for loving your our fellow citizens in need. child with all your heart. If you’re worried There are still millions of men and women about the quality of the education in the who want to end their dependence on the community in which you live, you’re respon- Government and become independent sible for doing something about it. If you’re through hard work. We must continue to a CEO in corporate America, you are respon- build on the successes of welfare reform to sible for telling the truth to your shareholders bring work and dignity into the lives of more and your employees. And in the responsi- of our fellow citizens. bility society, each of us is responsible for

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loving a neighbor just like we’d like to be Memorandum on Eligibility of the loved ourselves. Regional Security System (RSS) To We can see the culture of service and re- Receive Defense Articles and sponsibility growing around us. I started Services Under the Foreign what’s called the USA Freedom Corps to en- Assistance Act and the Arms Export courage Americans to extend a compas- Control Act sionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been incredibly strong. People January 5, 2004 are serving our Nation by helping somebody Presidential Determination No. 2004–20 who hurts. You know, the great fabric of America ex- Memorandum for the Secretary of State ists at the community level, where civic Subject: Eligibility of the Regional Security groups are formed to put—reach out a hand System (RSS) to Receive Defense Articles to someone in need. It’s really one of the and Services under the Foreign Assistance great strengths of our country. Policemen Act and the Arms Export Control Act and firefighters and people who wear our Na- tion’s uniform remind us on a daily basis what Consistent with the provisions of section it means to sacrifice for something greater 503(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, than ourselves. Once again, the children of as amended, and section 3(a)(1) of the Arms America believe in heroes, because they see Export Control Act, I hereby find that the them every day. furnishing of defense articles and services to the RSS will strengthen the security of the In these challenging times, the world has United States and promote world peace. seen the resolve and the courage of America, You are authorized and directed to report and I have been privileged to see the com- this finding to the Congress and to publish passion and the character of the American it in the Federal Register. people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We’re a strong George W. Bush country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We’re an optimistic country, con- fident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than Notice—Continuation of the ourselves. National Emergency With Respect to Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations Libya by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to January 5, 2004 lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that his- On January 7, 1986, by Executive Order tory has set before us. We welcome it, and 12543, President Reagan declared a national emergency to deal with the unusual and ex- we know that for our country, the best days traordinary threat to the national security and lie ahead. foreign policy of the United States con- May God bless you all. stituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Libya. On January 8, 1986, NOTE: The President spoke at 5:50 p.m. at Amer- by Executive Order 12544, the President ica’s Center. In his remarks, he referred to Wil- took additional measures to block Libyan as- liam H.T. ‘‘Bucky’’ Bush, Missouri State chairman, sets in the United States. The President has Bush-Cheney ’04, Inc.; Missouri Secretary of State transmitted a notice continuing this emer- Matt Blunt; Catherine Hanaway, speaker, Mis- gency to the Congress and the Federal Reg- souri State house of representatives; Peter Kinder, ister every year since 1986. president pro tempore, Missouri State senate; Ste- The crisis between the United States and phen Brauer, former U.S. Ambassador to Bel- Libya that led to the declaration of a national gium, and his wife, Camilla; former Senator John emergency on January 7, 1986, has not been Danforth, Special Envoy for Peace in the Sudan; and former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. fully resolved, although there have been some positive developments.

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