12 January 2002
Transcript: Defense and Economy Are Nation's Top Priorities, Says President
(Bush calls for passage of economic plan in weekly radio address)
(710)
President George W. Bush said that the war against terror, homeland
security, and economic recovery constitute the nation's most urgent
priorities.
In his weekly radio address to the nation on January 12, President
Bush said that, along with giving the military the tools and weapons
to prevail in the war against terror, the government must work "to get
the economy growing and creating jobs once again."
The President said that his plan to stimulate growth and create jobs
"is based on the simple truth that people out of work need an
unemployment check; but what they need even more is a steady
paycheck."
President Bush said that among the initiatives in his budget proposals
to Congress will be:
-- Extension of unemployment insurance and protection of health
insurance for workers who have lost jobs;
-- Increased funding for the Women, Infants and Children program,
which counsels mothers on nutrition and health care for their
children; and
-- Expansion of the Job Corps, which provides employment training for
poor and disadvantaged young people.
Following is the transcript of President Bush's Radio Address to the
Nation on January 12, 2002:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
January 12, 2002
RADIO ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. We have entered a busy season here in
Washington. Soon, Congress will be back in session. I will go to the
Capitol to report on the state of our union and I will present a
budget that sets the priorities of our government for fiscal year
2003.
Our highest priorities are clear to all. We must give our military
every tool and weapon it needs to prevail in the war against terror.
We must strengthen our country's defenses against further attack, with
a comprehensive program of homeland security. And we must get our
country's economy growing and creating jobs once again.
The economy is a concern for all Americans, especially for those out
of work. These Americans need extra help. My economic plan proposes an
additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits for workers who
have lost their jobs and direct assistance to protect their health
insurance.
My plan is based on the simple truth that people out of work need an
unemployment check; but what they need even more is a steady paycheck.
So I have joined with Republicans and Democrats in proposing concrete
steps to create more jobs and help spur more growth in the economy.
The House passed this plan. The Senate needs to act on it.
Difficult economic times brings hardship to many other Americans, as
well: single moms or disadvantaged young people trying to get into the
work force. My budget seeks to help them, too, by adding resources to
vital programs that have proven their value. One of our government's
most effective services is the Women, Infants and Children program,
which counsels mothers on nutrition and health care for their
children. In my budget for the coming fiscal year, I will propose an
increase of $364 million for the WIC program. This will be enough to
serve nearly 8 million women and children each month.
Another vital program is the Job Corp, which provides employment
training to more than 72,000 disadvantaged young Americans. In my
budget, I will ask Congress for an additional $73 million to expand
the good work of the Job Corp. This will help to pay for new
residential training centers. We will also secure high school
accreditation for Job Corps training so that more young people can
have the advantage of a high school diploma.
These are some of the elements of the budget I will be sending to
Congress. My budget focuses on the pressing needs of our country and
on the basic needs of our citizens. I am committed to building a
strong economy that spreads its benefits to everyone. This goal
reaches beyond politics or party, and I'm confident that Congress will
join me in the work ahead.
Thank you for listening.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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