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Home , Margaret Spellings, Mike Leavitt

Feb. 22 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2004

Remarks at a Dinner for the Nation’s Governors February 22, 2004

Good evening. Welcome to the White gether. We’ve taken vital steps to secure House. Laura and I are honored to host our homeland, and I want to thank the so many of our friends and new acquaint- Governors for their hard work. I’m going ances. The Nation’s Governors were the to continue to work with you to fulfill our guests at our first official state dinner al- solemn duty to protect the American peo- most 3 years ago today. It’s great to see ple. so many of those same Governors with us We share responsibility as well to en- tonight. It’s kind of like being with mem- hance the entrepreneurial spirit so that our bers of your family. Right, Jeb? [Laughter] economy continues to grow and people can I appreciate the fact that the Vice Presi- find work; work together to make sure dent is with us. I oftentimes say Dick Americans can gain affordable access to Cheney is the finest Vice President our health care; to make sure every child learns country has ever had. Mother always says, to read and write and add and subtract. ‘‘Wait a minute.’’ [Laughter] I want to We’ve made good progress. We’ll continue thank the former Governors who are in my to meet our obligations in future years. Cabinet, and John I’ve got great confidence in America be- Ashcroft, , who is not with us cause I believe in the strength of the Amer- tonight, and the newest member of my ican people. I’ve got great confidence in Cabinet, . our Nation’s Governors because you rep- I want to welcome the Nation’s new resent your State’s highest ideals and you Governors, Barbour and Fletcher, Kernan, hold your people’s trust. Blanco, Walker, Tulafono, and It’s a pleasure to host you all here. And Schwarzenegger. [Laughter] Last time I now I’d like you all to join me in a toast was with Governor Schwarzenegger, it to the Governors of the United States. dawned on me that we have some things in common. We both married well. [Laugh- NOTE: The President spoke at 8:12 p.m. in ter] We both have trouble with the English the State Dining Room at the White House. language. [Laughter] We both have big bi- In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Jeb Bush ceps. [Laughter] Well, two out of the three. of Florida; Gov. Haley Barbour of Mis- [Laughter] sissippi; Gov. of Kentucky; In the past 3 years, our country has faced Gov. Joseph E. Kernan of Indiana; Gov. some great challenges. We’re still at war. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana; The war on terror is a new kind of war Gov. Olene S. Walker of ; Gov. Togiola in which every American is threatened and Tulafono of American Samoa; and Gov. Ar- every level of government must work to- nold Schwarzenegger of California.

Remarks to the National Governors Association Conference February 23, 2004

Well, that’s it? Okay. [Laughter] Always [Laughter] Laura and I really enjoyed that. love to get a short introduction. Hope you Thanks for coming. It was a lot of fun. all cleaned the room up after last night. Everybody seemed pretty well behaved. I

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don’t know about Coach, but yes, I know, and their offices of emergency prepared- it’s hard to take him out. ness. I’m glad members of my Cabinet are Ridge is doing a good job, from my per- here. Obviously, the more communications spective. He’s taken on a tough assignment. we can have about issues that worry you, I see Governor Rendell is nodding his the easier it is for us to solve problems. head. You trained him well. But he’s taken Governors are problem-solvers, and so is on a tough assignment, to bring together the President. Our jobs are to identify diverse agencies under one roof and have problems and deal with them, and the best it function smoothly not only here in Wash- way to do so is in the spirit of cooperation. ington but in the field. And we’ll continue That’s sometimes hard in Washington, I to work and make sure that the Office of readily concede. This is not a town that Homeland Security enables you to do your thrives upon cooperation, like most State job better. capitals. But we’ll continue to work hard There’s talk about the PATRIOT Act. to help you, because by helping our Gov- Let me just tell you it needs to be re- ernors, we really help our people. That’s newed, and I’ll tell you why. Prior to the the job of a President. PATRIOT Act, the CIA and the FBI couldn’t communicate on matters of intel- Yesterday in my toast, I said the war ligence. And yet, we’re fighting a war on terror goes on, and it does. I wish I against individuals and killers that can hide could report otherwise, but that’s not a true in our communities, hide in dark parts of assessment of the world. We are chasing the world, hide in caves, and we need to Al Qaida. We’re dealing with rogue nations be able to communicate. It makes no sense and proliferation, but the war still goes on. not to have the tools available to chase And as a fellow Commander in Chief, it’s these terrorists down. So you’ll see me ac- important for you to know that. And there- tively pursuing renewal of the PATRIOT fore, it’s essential that we continue to co- Act, so not only can we do our job, the operate on matters of homeland security. Federal Government, but people in the We’ll have a robust budget in front of State and local level can too—do so as well. the Congress, and we expect it to be The Joint Terrorism Task Force in your passed. Tom, evidently, has met with you community require cooperation—inter- all to talk about ways to make sure that agency cooperation. It’s essential they have the flow of money is expedited from the the tools necessary to find these people Federal Government to the State govern- and bring them to justice. That is our sol- ments to the local governments. And that’s emn call in this, the beginning of the 21st essential. And I appreciate that he has con- century. After all, the most important job vened a conference of Governors and may- of anybody in office is to protect the people ors and local responders to make sure that of our country, which means we got to we all do our jobs well. That’s the purpose stay on the offense when it comes to deal- of the meeting. ing with Al Qaida, and we got to be wise I will tell you, the response to emergency about dealing with threats before they be- and/or threats has been, from my perspec- come imminent or fully materialize. That’s tive, really good. Governor Easley and Gov- the—to me, those are the lessons of Sep- ernor Warner of Virginia had to suffer tember the 11th, 2001. It changed the cal- through a devastating act of nature. But culation as to how you analyze and deal the response between the Federal Govern- with threat. ment and the State governments and the We are on the hunt for Al Qaida. You local governments was more seamless than just got to know that there’s a lot of brave ever, and I want to thank the Governors people searching them out. And I view the

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hunt for Al Qaida as part of the war on continue the progress toward a more free terror. And it requires all assets, intel- society. ligence assets and military assets, to chase And in Iraq, obviously, I made a tough them down and bring them to justice. And choice. But my attitude is, is that the les- we’re doing pretty good—better than pretty sons of September the 11th mean that we good. If Al Qaida were a corporation, mid- must be clear-eyed and realistic and deal dle management has been brought to jus- with threats before they fully materialize. tice. And that’s important for you to know. I looked at the intelligence and came to We can take comfort about the progress the conclusion that Saddam was a threat. we’re making. But we’ve got a lot more The Congress looked at the same intel- to do, and so we’ll just stay on the hunt ligence, and it came to the conclusion that here in—out of Washington, DC. Saddam Hussein was a threat. The United As you know, I laid out some doctrine Nations Security Council looked at the in- that said, ‘‘If you harbor a terrorist, you’re telligence, and it concluded that Saddam just as guilty as the terrorist.’’ And it’s very Hussein was a threat. My predecessor and important for the administration to follow his administration looked at the same intel- through when they say something. It makes ligence and concluded that Saddam Hus- diplomacy a little easier when your word sein was a threat, and that’s why Congress means something, and in Al Qaida, our passed a—resolved to remove Saddam from word meant something. The Taliban is no power, that regime change was a—was pol- longer in power. We’ve still got work there icy for the Government. to do, but the country is now more free And there’s a reason why not only did than ever before. the intelligence say that he was a threat, You ought to see the movie ‘‘Osama.’’ his actions said he was a threat. He had It’s an interesting movie. It talks about used weapons of mass destruction on his what it was like to be a woman in Afghani- own people. He hid weapons of mass de- stan during the Taliban era. It will give struction from inspectors. In other words, you a perspective about what it means to he wouldn’t be open. The United Nations be a Governor in a nation which is willing Security Council, at my request, took a look to sacrifice not only for its own security at the issue one last time and unanimously but for the freedom of others. When you voted to have Saddam reveal, disclose, and hear talk about being a liberator, that destroy weapons of mass destruction and/ movie will bring home what it means to or weapons of mass destruction programs be liberated from the clutches of barba- and, if not, face serious consequences. rism. September the 11th affected my way of A lot of my foreign policy is driven by thinking when it came to the security of the fact that I truly believe that freedom the country. We saw a danger, and so I is a gift from the Almighty to every person gave him an ultimatum. The world, really, and that America has a responsibility to gave him an ultimatum. And he refused. take a lead in the world, to help people And rather than take the word of a mad- be free. And we’re making progress in Af- man whose actions had proven unworthy ghanistan. We really are. Just look at the of leadership, we acted, and we removed fact that young girls are now going to him. And the world is better off for it, school for the first time in a long period in my judgment. of time. It is essential we succeed in Iraq, just Secretary Rumsfeld’s wife and Karen like it’s essential we succeed in Afghanistan. Hughes and , who is my A free Iraq is an historic opportunity to Domestic Policy Adviser—they’re on a help change the world. And I want to thank plane right now heading to Afghanistan to the Governors for going to Iraq. I want

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to thank you for taking the risk to go and matter of fact, later on this year, we’ll be to say thanks to the troops on the ground, having a pretty good argument about gov- whether they be your Guard’s troops or ernment. [Laughter] But it’s a good sign reservists or whether they be active duty in Iraq. That’s part of the process of head- personnel. ing for a society in which minority rights We can debate all day long about wheth- are recognized and human dignity is para- er or not I made the right decision, but mount. Again, I’ll repeat to you, I view what is not in question is the bravery and this as an historic moment. I truly believe skill of our troops. And I want to thank that a free Iraq is going to change the you for your support—support for people world for the better. who are serving a cause greater than them- I had a dinner with Koizumi—Prime selves, people who are willing to sacrifice Minister Koizumi in Tokyo, and we were not only for our own security but people eating Kobe beef, which is quite good, I who when, by and large, when you talk might add. And we were talking about, of to them, understand that the long-term all things, North Korea, how best, as consequences of a free Iraq will make us friends, to deal with North Korea. It more secure. dawned on me in the midst of that con- Some of the stories from Iraq are amaz- versation, what would it have been like if ing stories. Just ask your Governors to ac- we’d blown the peace with Japan. Would count for what they saw and heard. It’s I have ever—or any American President important for you to know that we fully ever been sitting down with a Prime Min- recognize there needs to be certainty in ister talking about how to deal with the troop rotation, that we’re asking families current threat, for the common good? and troops to go serve the country, and During the course of the conversation, there needs to be a certain timeframe. It’s I also realized that 50 years from now, important for you to know that our troops when we get it right in Iraq, some Amer- will get the best equipment and best pos- ican President will be sitting down with sible training. the leader of Iraq, talking about the com- I went to Fort Polk in Louisiana, and mon good, how to maintain the peace, how they showed me some of the training mis- to create a more hopeful society. This is sions that our Guard units are going an historic opportunity, and this country through, particularly the Guard unit out of will not flinch from the hard duty ahead Arkansas—Huckabee. And the training is of us. very good. It is intense. It is realistic. It At home, obviously, the economy and is preparing these souls for duty. And again, jobs are on my mind. I know they’re on I want to thank you, as Commander in yours as well. I’m pleased that the economy Chief, for understanding the mission. is growing; 5.6 percent unemployment is See, the danger is, is that the Iraqi peo- a good national number. It’s not good ple think we’ll cut and run. That’s what enough, but it’s a good number, particularly they’re worried about. I think if you ask since what we’ve been through, which has the Governors, they’ll tell you they heard been a recession, an emergency, and cor- that same sentiment. We’re not going to porate scandal and war. And yet, the econ- cut and run. We’ve got to make it clear omy is growing, which is a good sign. we’re there to succeed, and we will. My view of government is to create an And they’re making progress on the environment that is good for the entre- ground. I don’t think it’s all that bad that preneur, that encourages capital formation, people are arguing about the nature of gov- particularly among small businesses. The ernment. It’s a pretty good sign. We argue tax relief we passed not only put more about government all the time here. As a money into the pockets of individuals,

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which I believe is good when you’re trying are planning for the future to have—won- to come out of a recession, but it also helps der about tax relief, whether it will be small businesses. Remember, most small there. It’s essential that there be certainty businesses in your States are sole propri- in the Tax Code. etorships or Subchapter S corporations. We also recognize that these are chang- That’s a fact, and when you cut income ing times. The economy is changing. People taxes—all taxes, not a few but all—you’re go to work in different ways. And therefore, providing additional capital for Subchapter the policy ought to reflect that. The policy S and sole proprietorships. ought to reflect it through health care, And if you’re worried about job growth, where people have got more control over it seems like it makes sense to give a little their health care decisions. Health savings fuel to those who create jobs, the small- accounts are one such way to do that. business sector. So I’ll vigorously defend The education system is vital. However, the permanency of the tax cuts, not only as the economy changes, people have got for the sake of the economy but for the to be prepared to work in the changing sake of the entrepreneurial spirit, which is economy. I’m going to vigorously defend important in your States. It’s important that No Child Left Behind because I know in people have got incentive to create jobs. my heart of hearts it’s the absolute right Not only is it good for those people looking role for the Federal Government to provide for work, it’s good for the soul of the coun- money but insist upon results, to say for try for people to own something. We want the first time, ‘‘Would you please show us us to be an ownership society in America. whether or not the children are learning There’s more to do. We need an energy to read and write and add and subtract.’’ bill. We’ll try to get one out of the Con- And if not, there will be special help to gress here. We need tort reform, it seems make sure they do. And if so, there will like to me. We need tort reform for class be ample praise. action; we need tort reform for asbestos. You design the accountability. I know We need medical—national medical liability Rod talked to you about flexibility and how reform in order to help control the rising we get to the numbers, which is good. Ac- cost of health care, associated health care countability isn’t meant to punish anybody. plans. I hope you support these. These are Accountability systems are meant to help opportunities for small businesses to pool determine whether curriculum are working, risk in order to better control the cost of whether or not the strategy is working, and health. That’s where the focus ought to be, whether or not people are being just shuf- how best to address the rising cost of fled through from grade to grade without health care. And this administration will concern as to whether or not they can read continue to do so for the sake of jobs— or write. That’s what this is all about, and less regulations, obviously. I look forward to working with you to make We won’t back off our desire to open sure the system works well. And I just can up markets for U.S. products—farm prod- assure you this is—there will be a vigorous ucts, ranch products, manufacturing prod- defense of what I think is the one of the ucts. It’s pretty easy to trade into America. most constructive reforms in education pol- What’s hard is for Americans to trade into icy at the Federal Government ever. other countries. And so it’s important for We have put out some policies to en- the administration to continue to focus on courage reading and math, a program for trade and the benefits of trade here at high school students who are falling behind, home. additional money for advanced placement And I mentioned the permanency of the for low-income schools, increasing—larger tax cuts. It’s very important for people who Pell grants for students who prepare for

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college by taking more rigorous courses. criminated against. There was a process ar- And of course, I’ve always felt that the gument, and Governors are results-oriented community college system provides a great people, and so am I. And it seems like opportunity for job training. Elaine will talk to me, you ought have the flexibility and about that to you. Community colleges are people at your grassroots level ought to available, affordable; they’re flexible. We have the flexibility to access taxpayers’ don’t need to be training 500 hairdressers money if they’re able to meet common ob- for 50 jobs which exist. The system ought jectives. Now—and so—well, I couldn’t get to be designed toward meeting the demand the bill out of the Congress, so I just signed of your employers, and a good community an Executive order which opened up Fed- college system will make it much easier eral grant money to faith-based groups on for Governors and mayors to attract jobs a competitive basis. to your communities. And I know a lot We’re also making sure that our bureauc- of you have used your community college racies don’t say to faith-based groups, ‘‘You system wisely. can’t be a faith-based group.’’ If faith is Governor Napolitano—I was in Arizona, part of being an effective program, it went to the Mesa Community College Sys- doesn’t make sense to say to somebody, tem. It’s a fine community college system. you can’t practice your faith. And so we One of the interesting stories there, a lady recognize, here in Washington, faith-based who worked for 15 years as a graphic de- programs are a two-way street—one, there’s sign artist, and she went to the community a Federal interface, and two, that some- college system to help get the skills nec- times can be frightening to people of faith. essary to become a viable employee in the And by the way, I’m talking about all faiths. high-tech world. And her starting pay—I This isn’t just a single faith. It’s Christian, believe it’s called Cable One—was higher Jewish, Muslim faiths, all of which exist than her 15th year as a graphic artist be- because they’ve heard the universal admo- cause she took time, with Government nition to love a neighbor like you’d like help—I think a Pell grant in her case— to be loved yourself. to become reeducated. So we’ve got money And so I want to applaud those of you in our budget to help invigorate the com- who have set up faith-based offices and munity college system. encourage you, if you haven’t, to do so. Another issue that I think we need to There is a lot of Federal money available work on—I know we need to work on is to effective providers of social services. One welfare. They need to reauthorize welfare. such program is going to be the $100 mil- I hope the Congress will reauthorize wel- lion drug treatment programs, where now fare. Welfare reform had worked. You need vouchers can be issued to people where to have certainty as you plan your—on how they can choose where they go, whether to help people become less dependent on it be kind of a clinical program or a pro- government, and we need a welfare reform gram designed to help change somebody’s bill. And we’ll push it here in Washington. heart. By the way, if your heart gets And finally, the Faith-Based Initiative— changed, it’s a lot easier to quit drinking. I want to talk a little bit about that. My I know. And so it’s—so this is an oppor- attitude is, if a program works, let’s use tunity that I think is a viable opportunity it. If a program can help save somebody’s for Governors and States to really help peo- life, it seems like to me that program ought ple. And that’s why we’re in office, isn’t to be allowed to access monies aimed at it, is to do the best—[applause]. helping people help themselves. And yet, So regardless of your party, I hope you that’s not the way it was here in Wash- have this sense of optimism I do. You see ington. Faith-based programs were dis- the people in your States—we are lucky

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to be leaders in such a fabulous country. You’re out of here. We really are—good, honest, decent, hon- orable people. We’ve overcome a lot. There’s more to do. There’s a lot we can do together. So thanks for coming by the NOTE: The President spoke at 10:20 a.m. in White House. the State Dining Room at the White House. That’s my pledge. This is going to be In his remarks, he referred to Raymond a year in which a lot of people are probably ‘‘Coach’’ Blanco, husband of Gov. Kathleen going to think nothing can get done, right, Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana; Secretary of because we’re all out campaigning. Well, Homeland Security Tom Ridge; Gov. Mi- that’s not my attitude. I fully understand chael F. Easley of North Carolina; Gov. Mark it’s going to be the year of the sharp elbow R. Warner of Virginia; Joyce Rumsfeld, wife and the quick tongue. But my pledge to of Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rums- you is, we’ll continue to work with you. feld; Karen Hughes, former Counselor to the You’ve got what you—you’ve got to do what President; Margaret Spellings, Assistant to you’ve got to do in your home States, in the President for Domestic Policy; former terms of politics. But surely we can shuffle President Saddam Hussein of Iraq; Gov. that aside sometimes and focus on our peo- of Arkansas; Prime Minister ple, do what you were elected to do and Junichiro Koizumi of Japan; Secretary of what I was elected to do to make this coun- Labor Elaine L. Chao; and Gov. Janet try hopeful. Napolitano of Arizona. The Office of the So thanks for coming by. I’ll be glad Press Secretary also released a Spanish lan- to answer a couple of questions. guage transcript of these remarks.

Message to the Senate Transmitting the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and Two Supplementary Protocols February 23, 2004

To the Senate of the United States: cial records (or ‘‘travaux preparatoires’’) that With a view to receiving the advice and were prepared by the Secretariat of the consent of the Senate to ratification, I Ad Hoc Committee that conducted the ne- transmit herewith the United Nations Con- gotiations, based on discussions that took vention Against Transnational Organized place throughout the process of negotia- Crime (the ‘‘Convention’’), as well as two tions. These notes are being submitted to supplementary protocols: (1) the Protocol the Senate for information purposes. I also to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Traf- transmit the report of the Department of ficking in Persons, Especially Women and State with respect to the Convention and Children, and (2) the Protocol Against Protocols. Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and The Convention and Protocols are the Air, which were adopted by the United Na- first multilateral treaties to address the phe- tions General Assembly on November 15, nomenon of transnational organized crime. 2000. The Convention and Protocols were Their provisions are explained in the ac- signed by the United States on December companying report of the Department of 13, 2000, at Palermo, Italy. State. The report also sets forth proposed Accompanying the Convention and Pro- reservations and understandings that would tocols are interpretative notes for the offi- be deposited by the United States with its

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