THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, Vice
President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished
guests, fellow citizens: As we gather tonight, our
nation is at war, our economy is in recession, and
the civilized world faces unprecedented dangers. Yet
the state of our Union has never been stronger. (Applause.)
We last met in an hour of shock and suffering.
In four short months, our nation has comforted the
victims, begun to rebuild New York and the Pentagon,
rallied a great coalition, captured, arrested, and
rid the world of thousands of terrorists, destroyed
Afghanistan's terrorist training camps, saved a
people from starvation, and freed a country from
brutal oppression. (Applause.)
The American flag flies again over our embassy
in Kabul. Terrorists who once occupied Afghanistan
now occupy cells at Guantanamo Bay. (Applause.)
And terrorist leaders who urged followers to sacrifice
their lives are running for their own. (Applause.)
America and Afghanistan are now allies against
terror. We'll be partners in rebuilding that country.
And this evening we welcome the distinguished interim
leader of a liberated Afghanistan: Chairman Hamid
Karzai. (Applause.)
The last time we met in this chamber, the mothers
and daughters of Afghanistan were captives in their
own homes, forbidden from working or going to school.
Today women are free, and are part of Afghanistan's
new government. And we welcome the new Minister
of Women's Affairs, Doctor Sima Samar. (Applause.)
Our progress is a tribute to the spirit of the
Afghan people, to the resolve of our coalition,
and to the might of the United States military.
(Applause.) When I called our troops into action,
I did so with complete confidence in their courage
and skill. And tonight, thanks to them, we are winning
the war on terror. (Applause.) The man and women
of our Armed Forces have delivered a message now
clear to every enemy of the United States: Even
7,000 miles away, across oceans and continents,
on mountaintops and in caves -- you will not escape
the justice of this nation. (Applause.)
For many Americans, these 4-months have delivered
sorrow, and pain that will never completely go away.
Every day a retired firefighter returns to Ground
Zero, to feel closer to his two sons who died there.
At a memorial in New York, a little boy left his
football with a note for his lost father: Dear Daddy,
please take this to heaven. I don't want to play
football until I can play with you again some day.
Last month, at the grave of her husband, Michael,
a CIA officer and Marine who died in Mazur-e-Sharif,
Shannon Spann said these words of farewell: "Semper
Fi, my love." Shannon is with us tonight. (Applause.)
Shannon, I assure you and all who have lost a loved
one that our cause is just, and our country will
never forget the debt we owe Michael and all who
gave their lives for freedom.
Our cause is just, and it continues. Our discoveries
in Afghanistan confirmed our worst fears, and showed
us the true scope of the task ahead. We have seen
the depth of our enemies' hatred in videos, where
they laugh about the loss of innocent life. And
the depth of their hatred is equaled by the madness
of the destruction they design. We have found diagrams
of American nuclear power plants and public water
facilities, detailed instructions for making chemical
weapons, surveillance maps of American cities, and
thorough descriptions of landmarks in America and
throughout the world.
What we have found in Afghanistan confirms that,
far from ending there, our war against terror is
only beginning. Most of the 19 men who hijacked
planes on September the 11th were trained in Afghanistan's
camps, and so were tens of thousands of others.
Thousands of dangerous killers, schooled in the
methods of murder, often supported by outlaw regimes,
are now spread throughout the world like ticking
time bombs, set to go off without warning.
Thanks to the work of our law enforcement officials
and coalition partners, hundreds of terrorists have
been arrested. Yet, tens of thousands of trained
terrorists are still at large. These enemies view
the entire world as a battlefield, and we must pursue
them wherever they are. (Applause.) So long as training
camps operate, so long as nations harbor terrorists,
freedom is at risk. And America and our allies must
not, and will not, allow it. (Applause.)
Our nation will continue to be steadfast and patient
and persistent in the pursuit of two great objectives.
First, we will shut down terrorist camps, disrupt
terrorist plans, and bring terrorists to justice.
And, second, we must prevent the terrorists and
regimes who seek chemical, biological or nuclear
weapons from threatening the United States and the
world. (Applause.)
Our military has put the terror training camps
of Afghanistan out of business, yet camps still
exist in at least a dozen countries. A terrorist
underworld -- including groups like Hamas, Hezbollah,
Islamic Jihad, Jaish-i-Mohammed -- operates in remote
jungles and deserts, and hides in the centers of
large cities.
While the most visible military action is in Afghanistan,
America is acting elsewhere. We now have troops
in the Philippines, helping to train that country's
armed forces to go after terrorist cells that have
executed an American, and still hold hostages. Our
soldiers, working with the Bosnian government, seized
terrorists who were plotting to bomb our embassy.
Our Navy is patrolling the coast of Africa to block
the shipment of weapons and the establishment of
terrorist camps in Somalia.
My hope is that all nations will heed our call,
and eliminate the terrorist parasites who threaten
their countries and our own. Many nations are acting
forcefully. Pakistan is now cracking down on terror,
and I admire the strong leadership of President
Musharraf. (Applause.)
But some governments will be timid in the face
of terror. And make no mistake about it: If they
do not act, America will. (Applause.)
Our second goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor
terror from threatening America or our friends and
allies with weapons of mass destruction. Some of
these regimes have been pretty quiet since September
the 11th. But we know their true nature. North Korea
is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of
mass destruction, while starving its citizens.
Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports
terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian
people's hope for freedom.
Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America
and to support terror. The Iraqi regime has plotted
to develop anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons
for over a decade. This is a regime that has already
used poison gas to murder thousands of its own citizens
-- leaving the bodies of mothers huddled over their
dead children. This is a regime that agreed to international
inspections -- then kicked out the inspectors. This
is a regime that has something to hide from the
civilized world.
States like these, and their terrorist allies,
constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the
peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction,
these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They
could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them
the means to match their hatred. They could attack
our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States.
In any of these cases, the price of indifference
would be catastrophic.
We will work closely with our coalition to deny
terrorists and their state sponsors the materials,
technology, and expertise to make and deliver weapons
of mass destruction. We will develop and deploy
effective missile defenses to protect America and
our allies from sudden attack. (Applause.) And all
nations should know: America will do what is necessary
to ensure our nation's security.
We'll be deliberate, yet time is not on our side.
I will not wait on events, while dangers gather.
I will not stand by, as peril draws closer and closer.
The United States of America will not permit the
world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with
the world's most destructive weapons. (Applause.)
Our war on terror is well begun, but it is only
begun. This campaign may not be finished on our
watch -- yet it must be and it will be waged on
our watch.
We can't stop short. If we stop now -- leaving
terror camps intact and terror states unchecked
-- our sense of security would be false and temporary.
History has called America and our allies to action,
and it is both our responsibility and our privilege
to fight freedom's fight. (Applause.)
Our first priority must always be the security
of our nation, and that will be reflected in the
budget I send to Congress. My budget supports three
great goals for America: We will win this war; we'll
protect our homeland; and we will revive our economy.
September the 11th brought out the best in America,
and the best in this Congress. And I join the American
people in applauding your unity and resolve. (Applause.)
Now Americans deserve to have this same spirit directed
toward addressing problems here at home. I'm a proud
member of my party -- yet as we act to win the war,
protect our people, and create jobs in America,
we must act, first and foremost, not as Republicans,
not as Democrats, but as Americans. (Applause.)
It costs a lot to fight this war. We have spent
more than a billion dollars a month -- over $30
million a day -- and we must be prepared for future
operations. Afghanistan proved that expensive precision
weapons defeat the enemy and spare innocent lives,
and we need more of them. We need to replace aging
aircraft and make our military more agile, to put
our troops anywhere in the world quickly and safely.
Our men and women in uniform deserve the best weapons,
the best equipment, the best training -- and they
also deserve another pay raise. (Applause.)
My budget includes the largest increase in defense
spending in two decades -- because while the price
of freedom and security is high, it is never too
high. Whatever it costs to defend our country, we
will pay. (Applause.)
The next priority of my budget is to do everything
possible to protect our citizens and strengthen
our nation against the ongoing threat of another
attack. Time and distance from the events of September
the 11th will not make us safer unless we act on
its lessons. America is no longer protected by vast
oceans. We are protected from attack only by vigorous
action abroad, and increased vigilance at home.
My budget nearly doubles funding for a sustained
strategy of homeland security, focused on four key
areas: bioterrorism, emergency response, airport
and border security, and improved intelligence.
We will develop vaccines to fight anthrax and other
deadly diseases. We'll increase funding to help
states and communities train and equip our heroic
police and firefighters. (Applause.) We will improve
intelligence collection and sharing, expand patrols
at our borders, strengthen the security of air travel,
and use technology to track the arrivals and departures
of visitors to the United States. (Applause.)
Homeland security will make America not only stronger,
but, in many ways, better. Knowledge gained from
bioterrorism research will improve public health.
Stronger police and fire departments will mean safer
neighborhoods. Stricter border enforcement will
help combat illegal drugs. (Applause.) And as government
works to better secure our homeland, America will
continue to depend on the eyes and ears of alert
citizens.
A few days before Christmas, an airline flight
attendant spotted a passenger lighting a match.
The crew and passengers quickly subdued the man,
who had been trained by al Qaeda and was armed with
explosives. The people on that plane were alert
and, as a result, likely saved nearly 200 lives.
And tonight we welcome and thank flight attendants
Hermis Moutardier and Christina Jones. (Applause.)
Once we have funded our national security and our
homeland security, the final great priority of my
budget is economic security for the American people.
(Applause.) To achieve these great national objectives
-- to win the war, protect the homeland, and revitalize
our economy -- our budget will run a deficit that
will be small and short-term, so long as Congress
restrains spending and acts in a fiscally responsible
manner. (Applause.) We have clear priorities and
we must act at home with the same purpose and resolve
we have shown overseas: We'll prevail in the war,
and we will defeat this recession. (Applause.)
Americans who have lost their jobs need our help
and I support extending unemployment benefits and
direct assistance for health care coverage. (Applause.)
Yet, American workers want more than unemployment
checks -- they want a steady paycheck. (Applause.)
When America works, America prospers, so my economic
security plan can be summed up in one word: jobs.
(Applause.)
Good jobs begin with good schools, and here we've
made a fine start. (Applause.) Republicans and Democrats
worked together to achieve historic education reform
so that no child is left behind. I was proud to
work with members of both parties: Chairman John
Boehner and Congressman George Miller. (Applause.)
Senator Judd Gregg. (Applause.) And I was so proud
of our work, I even had nice things to say about
my friend, Ted Kennedy. (Laughter and applause.)
I know the folks at the Crawford coffee shop couldn't
believe I'd say such a thing -- (laughter) -- but
our work on this bill shows what is possible if
we set aside posturing and focus on results. (Applause.)
There is more to do. We need to prepare our children
to read and succeed in school with improved Head
Start and early childhood development programs.
(Applause.) We must upgrade our teacher colleges
and teacher training and launch a major recruiting
drive with a great goal for America: a quality teacher
in every classroom. (Applause.)
Good jobs also depend on reliable and affordable
energy. This Congress must act to encourage conservation,
promote technology, build infrastructure, and it
must act to increase energy production at home so
America is less dependent on foreign oil. (Applause.)
Good jobs depend on expanded trade. Selling into
new markets creates new jobs, so I ask Congress
to finally approve trade promotion authority. (Applause.)
On these two key issues, trade and energy, the House
of Representatives has acted to create jobs, and
I urge the Senate to pass this legislation. (Applause.)
Good jobs depend on sound tax policy. (Applause.)
Last year, some in this hall thought my tax relief
plan was too small; some thought it was too big.
(Applause.) But when the checks arrived in the mail,
most Americans thought tax relief was just about
right. (Applause.) Congress listened to the people
and responded by reducing tax rates, doubling the
child credit, and ending the death tax. For the
sake of long-term growth and to help Americans plan
for the future, let's make these tax cuts permanent.
(Applause.)
The way out of this recession, the way to create
jobs, is to grow the economy by encouraging investment
in factories and equipment, and by speeding up tax
relief so people have more money to spend. For the
sake of American workers, let's pass a stimulus
package. (Applause.)
Good jobs must be the aim of welfare reform. As
we reauthorize these important reforms, we must
always remember the goal is to reduce dependency
on government and offer every American the dignity
of a job. (Applause.)
Americans know economic security can vanish in
an instant without health security. I ask Congress
to join me this year to enact a patients' bill of
rights -- (applause) -- to give uninsured workers
credits to help buy health coverage -- (applause)
-- to approve an historic increase in the spending
for veterans' health -- (applause) -- and to give
seniors a sound and modern Medicare system that
includes coverage for prescription drugs. (Applause.)
A good job should lead to security in retirement.
I ask Congress to enact new safeguards for 401K
and pension plans. (Applause.) Employees who have
worked hard and saved all their lives should not
have to risk losing everything if their company
fails. (Applause.) Through stricter accounting standards
and tougher disclosure requirements, corporate America
must be made more accountable to employees and shareholders
and held to the highest standards of conduct. (Applause.)
Retirement security also depends upon keeping the
commitments of Social Security, and we will. We
must make Social Security financially stable and
allow personal retirement accounts for younger workers
who choose them. (Applause.)
Members, you and I will work together in the months
ahead on other issues: productive farm policy --
(applause) -- a cleaner environment -- (applause)
-- broader home ownership, especially among minorities
-- (applause) -- and ways to encourage the good
work of charities and faith-based groups. (Applause.)
I ask you to join me on these important domestic
issues in the same spirit of cooperation we've applied
to our war against terrorism. (Applause.)
During these last few months, I've been humbled
and privileged to see the true character of this
country in a time of testing. Our enemies believed
America was weak and materialistic, that we would
splinter in fear and selfishness. They were as wrong
as they are evil. (Applause.)
The American people have responded magnificently,
with courage and compassion, strength and resolve.
As I have met the heroes, hugged the families, and
looked into the tired faces of rescuers, I have
stood in awe of the American people.
And I hope you will join me -- I hope you will
join me in expressing thanks to one American for
the strength and calm and comfort she brings to
our nation in crisis, our First Lady, Laura Bush.
(Applause.)
None of us would ever wish the evil that was done
on September the 11th. Yet after America was attacked,
it was as if our entire country looked into a mirror
and saw our better selves. We were reminded that
we are citizens, with obligations to each other,
to our country, and to history. We began to think
less of the goods we can accumulate, and more about
the good we can do.
For too long our culture has said, "If it
feels good, do it." Now America is embracing
a new ethic and a new creed: "Let's roll."
(Applause.) In the sacrifice of soldiers, the fierce
brotherhood of firefighters, and the bravery and
generosity of ordinary citizens, we have glimpsed
what a new culture of responsibility could look
like. We want to be a nation that serves goals larger
than self. We've been offered a unique opportunity,
and we must not let this moment pass. (Applause.)
My call tonight is for every American to commit
at least two years -- 4,000 hours over the rest
of your lifetime -- to the service of your neighbors
and your nation. (Applause.) Many are already serving,
and I thank you. If you aren't sure how to help,
I've got a good place to start. To sustain and extend
the best that has emerged in America, I invite you
to join the new USA Freedom Corps. The Freedom Corps
will focus on three areas of need: responding in
case of crisis at home; rebuilding our communities;
and extending American compassion throughout the
world.
One purpose of the USA Freedom Corps will be homeland
security. America needs retired doctors and nurses
who can be mobilized in major emergencies; volunteers
to help police and fire departments; transportation
and utility workers well-trained in spotting danger.
Our country also needs citizens working to rebuild
our communities. We need mentors to love children,
especially children whose parents are in prison.
And we need more talented teachers in troubled schools.
USA Freedom Corps will expand and improve the good
efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to recruit
more than 200,000 new volunteers.
And America needs citizens to extend the compassion
of our country to every part of the world. So we
will renew the promise of the Peace Corps, double
its volunteers over the next five years -- (applause)
-- and ask it to join a new effort to encourage
development and education and opportunity in the
Islamic world. (Applause.)
This time of adversity offers a unique moment of
opportunity -- a moment we must seize to change
our culture. Through the gathering momentum of millions
of acts of service and decency and kindness, I know
we can overcome evil with greater good. (Applause.)
And we have a great opportunity during this time
of war to lead the world toward the values that
will bring lasting peace.
All fathers and mothers, in all societies, want
their children to be educated, and live free from
poverty and violence. No people on Earth yearn to
be oppressed, or aspire to servitude, or eagerly
await the midnight knock of the secret police.
If anyone doubts this, let them look to Afghanistan,
where the Islamic "street" greeted the
fall of tyranny with song and celebration. Let the
skeptics look to Islam's own rich history, with
its centuries of learning, and tolerance and progress.
America will lead by defending liberty and justice
because they are right and true and unchanging for
all people everywhere. (Applause.)
No nation owns these aspirations, and no nation
is exempt from them. We have no intention of imposing
our culture. But America will always stand firm
for the non-negotiable demands of human dignity:
the rule of law; limits on the power of the state;
respect for women; private property; free speech;
equal justice; and religious tolerance. (Applause.)
America will take the side of brave men and women
who advocate these values around the world, including
the Islamic world, because we have a greater objective
than eliminating threats and containing resentment.
We seek a just and peaceful world beyond the war
on terror.
In this moment of opportunity, a common danger
is erasing old rivalries. America is working with
Russia and China and India, in ways we have never
before, to achieve peace and prosperity. In every
region, free markets and free trade and free societies
are proving their power to lift lives. Together
with friends and allies from Europe to Asia, and
Africa to Latin America, we will demonstrate that
the forces of terror cannot stop the momentum of
freedom. (Applause.)
The last time I spoke here, I expressed the hope
that life would return to normal. In some ways,
it has. In others, it never will. Those of us who
have lived through these challenging times have
been changed by them. We've come to know truths
that we will never question: evil is real, and it
must be opposed. (Applause.) Beyond all differences
of race or creed, we are one country, mourning together
and facing danger together. Deep in the American
character, there is honor, and it is stronger than
cynicism. And many have discovered again that even
in tragedy -- especially in tragedy -- God is near.
(Applause.)
In a single instant, we realized that this will
be a decisive decade in the history of liberty,
that we've been called to a unique role in human
events. Rarely has the world faced a choice more
clear or consequential.
Our enemies send other people's children on missions
of suicide and murder. They embrace tyranny and
death as a cause and a creed. We stand for a different
choice, made long ago, on the day of our founding.
We affirm it again today. We choose freedom and
the dignity of every life. (Applause.)
Steadfast in our purpose, we now press on. We have
known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power.
And in this great conflict, my fellow Americans,
we will see freedom's victory.
Thank you all. May God bless. (Applause.)
END 10:03 P.M. EST
