05-0054 BushPamphletNEW.indd I 11/10/04 2:34:50 PM FIRST TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM • In 2003, coalition forces acted with skill and bravery to liberate the Iraqi people and remove a grave and gathering danger to America and the world. • In 2001, with less than a month’s notice, American and British forces in Afghanistan joined with local anti-Taliban troops in an assault on the al Qaeda network and the Taliban regime that gave it safe harbor in Afghanistan. • The murderous regimes of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban are history and more than 50 million people have been liberated. • In 2002, President Bush proposed and Congress approved a single, unifi ed Department of Homeland Security to improve protection against today’s threats and be fl exible enough to help meet the unknown threats of the future. By unifying over 22 agencies and offi ces, the president has improved the government’s ability to guard U.S. borders and infrastructure and patrol the skies. • Passage of the USA Patriot Act met one of the president’s goals. This law brought down the artifi cial wall separating law enforcement and intelligence offi cers and allowed them to talk to each other as they work to prevent future attacks. JOBS AND THE U.S. ECONOMY • In September 2003, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported the lowest unemployment rate (5.4%) since October 2001. • Between 2000 and 2003, productivity grew at the fastest three-year rate in more than 50 years. • The president’s tax relief allowed families to keep more of what they earn by cutting tax rates across the board. HELPING THE NEEDY • In 2003, President Bush announced the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a fi ve-year, $15-billion initiative to turn the tide in combating the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. Just one month after Congress appropriated funds for the president’s plan, $350 million was awarded to service providers for critical prevention efforts and to bring life-saving treatment to suffering people in some of the hardest-hit countries in Africa and the Caribbean. EDUCATION REFORM • President Bush submitted his framework for education reform, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), three days after taking offi ce and secured overwhelming bipartisan support less than a year later. NCLB represents the most signifi cant overhaul of U.S. education policy since 1965, when the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed. MAKING HEALTH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE • The President signed legislation that makes Health Savings Accounts available to millions of Americans. Health Savings Accounts offer fl exible, affordable insurance options for small businesses and individuals. • In December 2003, President Bush signed legislation that will make prescription drug coverage available to 40 million senior citizens and people with disabilities through the Medicare healthcare system. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT • President Bush has committed America to meeting the challenge of long-term global climate change by reducing the ratio of greenhouse gas emissions to economic output, or greenhouse gas intensity, by 18 percent by 2012 compared to 2002. • In December 2003, President Bush signed legislation implementing key provisions of his Healthy Forests Initiative. The President’s initiative is helping restore the health and vitality of forests and rangelands, and helping reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfi res. 05-0054 BushPamphletNEW.indd II 11/10/04 2:35:03 PM “Historians in the future will refl ect on an extraordinary, undeniable fact: Over time, free nations grow stronger and dictatorships grow weaker...Freedom honors and unleashes human creativity – and creativity determines the strength and wealth of nations. Liberty is both the plan of Heaven for humanity, and the best hope for progress here on Earth.” PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH NOVEMBER 6, 2003 1 05-0054 BushPamphletNEW.indd 1 11/10/04 2:35:12 PM George W. Bush, the 43rd America. In President Bush’s President of the United States, words, “in our grief and anger we will be sworn into office January have found our mission and our 20, 2005, for his second term. moment.” During his campaign for re- Speaking to the nation and the election, President Bush set world during his 2004 State of the ambitious goals, including making Union address, Bush emphasized, America and the world safer “America is a nation with a with decisive action to win the mission, and that mission comes war on terror; keeping America from our most basic beliefs. We on track for a more prosperous have no desire to dominate, no future; strengthening health ambitions of empire. Our aim is Aftermath of September 11 care for millions of Americans; a democratic peace — a peace and building a better and more founded upon the dignity and “None of us would ever wish rights of every man and woman. the evil that was done on America acts in this cause with friends and allies at our side, yet September the 11th. Yet we understand our special calling: after America was attacked, This great republic will lead the it was as if our entire country cause of freedom.” looked into a mirror and saw Shortly after these attacks, our better selves. We were President Bush declared war against terror, and he has made reminded that we are citizens, victory in the war on terrorism and with obligations to each the advance of human freedom other, to our country, and to the priorities of his administration. history. We began to Already, the U.S. military and a think less of the goods we can coalition of nations have liberated accumulate, and more the people of Afghanistan from the brutal Taliban regime and about the good we can do.” denied al Qaeda its safe haven January 29, 2002 of operations. Thousands of terrorists have been captured compassionate America for all. or killed and operations have During his first term as been disrupted in many president, Bush on the domestic countries around the world. In front signed into law initiatives to the president’s words, “our nation improve America’s public schools — this generation — will lift a dark by raising academic standards, threat of violence from our people requiring teacher accountability, and our future. We will rally the and strengthening local control. He world to this cause by our efforts, signed historic tax relief measures by our courage. We will not tire, that have provided rebate checks we will not falter, and we will not and lower tax rates for everyone fail.” who pays income taxes in To the people of Iraq, President America. He increased pay and Bush committed the support of benefits for America’s military and the United States, pledging, “I will is working to save and strengthen not lose my will; that we will help the Social Security and Medicare Iraq become free and peaceful; programs. that we will stand with those who The attacks on the World want a new Iraq after Saddam Trade Center in New York City Hussein to develop, where on September 11, 2001, changed mothers and dads can raise their 2 05-0054 BushPamphletNEW.indd 2 11/10/04 2:35:20 PM children in a peaceful world, where that governments respond to liberty — the right to serve business and shopkeepers can the will of the people, and not and honor God without fear grow their businesses, where the the will of an elite. Successful of persecution. Successful education system works well.” societies protect freedom with societies privatize their In a November 2003 speech the consistent and impartial rule economies, and secure the President Bush further described of law, instead of selectively rights of property. They prohibit his vision for change in Iraq and applying the law to punish and punish official corruption, the Middle East: political opponents. Successful and invest in the health and “There are, however, essential societies allow room for healthy education of their people. They principles common to every civic institutions — for political recognize the rights of women. successful society, in every parties and labor unions and And instead of directing hatred culture. Successful societies independent newspapers and and resentment against others, limit the power of the state and broadcast media. Successful successful societies appeal to the power of the military — so societies guarantee religious the hopes of their own people.” (Far left, bottom): President joint session of the U.S. (Above, top): President Bush George W. Bush speaks to Congress, January 20, 2004 at delivers the State of the Union rescue workers, fi refi ghters, and the Capitol in Washington, D.C. address in the Chamber of the police offi cers from the rubble of Behind the president sits Vice U.S. House of Representatives, the World Trade Center, President Richard Cheney, January 20, 2004. September 14, 2001 in left, and Speaker of (Above, bottom): President Bush is New York City. the House of Representatives seen with his cabinet in the Oval Offi ce at the White House, (Far left, top): President Bush Dennis Hastert, right. April 9, 2001. delivers the annual State of the Union address to a 3 05-0054 BushPamphletNEW.indd 3 11/12/04 10:26:55 AM THE CALL OF PUBLIC George W. Bush was born SERVICE when his father was a student at Yale University in Connecticut. President Bush comes from a Two years later, after graduating family that has long seen politics from Yale, the elder Bush took as a worthy calling. George his wife, Barbara, and young son Bush’s paternal grandfather, to West Texas, where he began Prescott Bush, was a U. S. his career in the oil business. senator from Connecticut from Young George W.