Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents 2003-01-20: Vol 39 Iss 3

33 Pages·8.1 MB·English

Weekly ¢ ‘ompilation of
Presidential
Documents
Si
aD
o iA f
Monday, January 20, 2003
Volume 39—Number 3
Pages 59-85
Contents
Addresses and Remarks Communications to Federal Agencies
Continued
See also Meetings With Foreign Leaders
African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum Waiver of Restrictions on Assistance to Russia
vice otape remarks—70 Under the Cooperative Threat Reduction
Michigan affirmative action case—7| Act of 1993 and Title V of the FREEDOM
Pennsylvania, University of Scranton in Support Act memorandum—63
Scranton—73
Radio address—59 Interviews With the News Media
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, remarks Exchange with reporters in the Oval Office
after visiting wounded soldiers—80O 64
Welfare-to-Work graduates—66
Meetings With Foreign Leaders
Communications to Congress
Poland, President Kwasniewski—64
Afghanistan, letter on modifying duty-free
treatment under the Generalized System of Notices
Preferences—61
Continuation of the National Emergency With
Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity
Respect to Sierra Leone and Liberia—79
LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, letter on review
of Title I1I—80
Proclamations
Sierra Leone and Liberia, national emergency
Letter on continuation—79 Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday—S]
Letter transmitting report—SO National Sanctity of Human Life Day—69
Colombia, letter transmitting report on U.S Religious Freedom Day—72
individuals involved in the antinarcotics The Centennial of Korean Immigration to the
campaign 63 United States—62
To Modify Duty-Free Treatment Under the
Communications to Federal Agencies Generalized System of Preferences—60
Pedestal Actuator Imports From the People S
Supplementary Materials
Republic of China, memorandum—S82
Waiver of Conditions on Obligation and Acts approved by the President—85
Expenditure of Funds for Planning, Design Checklist of White House press releases—84
and Construction of a Chemical We apons Digest of other White House
Destruction Facility in Russia announcements—S2
memorandum 62 Nominations submitted to the Senate—84
Editor’s Note: The President was at Camp David, MD, on January 17 the closing date of this
issue Releases and announcements issued by the Office of the Press Secretary but not received
in time for inclusion in this issue will be printed next week
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF
PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS
Week Ending Friday, January 7, 2003
The President’s Radio Address of their own money to spend and invest,
which will promote savings and return as
January 11, 2003
much as $20 billion this year to the private
Good morning. As a new Congress con- economy.
venes, we must take steps to speed up the Overall, my tax cut proposals will add near-
economic recovery and to strengthen public ly $59 billion to the economy in 2003 alone.
confidence in the integrity of American cor- Our Government is also acting to restore
porations. This week in Chicago, I an- investor confidence in the integrity and hon-
nounced my growth-and-jobs plan, specific esty of corporate America. In response to the
proposals to he ‘Ip workers, employers, and in- abuses of some corporations, we passed seri-
vestors across America ous reforms, and we will vigorously enforce
For unemployed Americans whose bene them. Our Corporate Fraud Task Force has
fits expired on December 28th, I asked Con- obtained convictions or guilty pleas in over
gress to act to extend those benefits. Con- 50. cases. More than 160 defendants have
gress did so quickly, and I signed the exten- been charged with criminal or civil wrong-
sion of unemployment benefits into law this doing. And 130 new corporate fraud inves-
week. tigations have been launched.
For Americans who face the greatest dif- In my budget for the coming year, I will
ficulty finding work, I propose special reem- also propose major increases in funding for
ployme nt accounts. These accounts will pro- the prosecutors of corporate crime. My 2004
vide up to $3,000 to help pay for training, budget funding for the Securities and Ex-
moving expenses, 0 r other costs of finding change Commission will be 73 percent high-
a job. er than 2002 levels. This will allow the agency
For all income-tax payers, | propose to hire hundreds of new accountants, law-
speeding up the tax cuts already approved yers, and examiners.
by Congress, because Americans need that I'm also requesting an extra $25 million
relief today. Instead of gradually reducing for the Department of Justice to expand the
the marriage penalty between now and 2009, corporate fraud investigations. This will allow
we should ps it now. Instead of waiting until the Department to create 118 new positions
2008 to move more taxpayers from the 1L5- in the FBI, including 56 agents. In addition,
percent bracket to the 10- percent bracket, 94 new people will be hired to serve in the
we should make that change now. Instead U.S. attorneys’ offices and legal divisions
of slowly raising the child credit to $1,000 across theN ation.
by 2010, we should raise it now. When these The SEC and Justice Department are the
changes are made, 92 million Americans will referees of corporate conduct. Under my
keep an average of $1,083 more of their own budget, they will have every resource they
money. need to enforce the laws that punish fraud
And for America’s 84 million investors and and protect investors.
those who will become investors, I propose ask the Congress to support these en-
eliminating the double taxation on stock divi forcement measures and to pass my growth-
dends. Double taxation is unfair and bad for and-jobs plan as soon as possible. Our coun-
our economy. It falls especially hard on sen try has made great progress in restoring in-
iors, many of whom re ly on dividends for a vestor confidence and putting the recession
steady source of income in their retirement. behind us. We cannot be satisfied, however,
Abolishing double taxation of dividends will until every corporate wrongdoer is held to
leave nearly 35 million Americans with more account, and every part of our economy is
59
60 Jan 11 / Administraotf iGoeonrg e W. Bush, 2003
strong and every person who wants to work International Trade Commission USITC),
can find a job the President determines that such article is
Thank you for listening. not import-sensitive in the context of imports
from beneficiary sub-Saharan African coun-
Note: The address was recorded at 10:45 a.m tries.
on January LO in the Cabinet Room at the White
Pursuant to section 502 of the 1974 Act,
House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on January 11
and taking into account the factors set forth
The transcript was made available by the Office
in section 502(c) (19 U.S.C. 2462(c)), I have
of the Press Secretary on January 10 but was em-
decided to designate Afghanistan as a bene-
bargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office
of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish lan- ficiary developing country for purposes of the
guage transcript ol this address GSP.
Pursuant to section 502 of the 1974 Act,
and having considered the factors set forth
Proclamation 7637—To Modify in sections 501 and 502(c), I have also de-
Duty-Free Treatment Under the cided to designate Afghanistan as a least-de-
Generalized System of Preferences veloped beneficiary developing country for
purpoofs thee sGS P
January 10, 2003
Pursuant to section 503(c)(1 of the 1974
By the President of the United States Act, and having considered the factors set
of America forth in sections 501 and 502(c), I have deter-
mined to withdraw the application of duty-
A Proclamation free treatment under the GSP accorded to
Pursuant to section 502 of the Trade Act a certain article from Chile.
of 1974, as amended (the “1974 Act’) (19 Pursuant to section 503(d)(5), I have de-
U.S.C. 2462), the President is authorized to termined that the waiver granted under sec-
designate countries as beneficiary developing tion 503(d) to Chile for a certain article is
countries, and to designate any beneficiary no longer warranted due to changed cir-
developing country as a least-developed ben- cumstances.
eficiary developing country, for purposes of Pursuant to section 506A(b)(1) of the 1974
the Generalized System of Preferences Act, and having received the advice of the
GSP USITC, I have determined that a certain arti-
Pursuant to section 503(c)(1) of title V of cle is not import-sensitive in the context of
the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2463(c)(1)), the imports from beneficiary sub-Saharan Afri-
President may withdraw, suspend, or limit can countries. I have decided to provide
the application of duty-free treatment ac- duty-free treatment to this article when im-
corded under this title with respect to any ported from any beneficiary sub-Saharan Af-
article rican country
Section 503(d)(5) of the 1974 Act (19 Section 604 of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C.
U.S.C. 2463(d)(5)) provides that any waiver 2483), authorizes the President to embody
granted under section 503(d) of the 1974 Act in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
19 U.S.C. 2463(d)) shall remain in effect United States (HTS) the substance of the rel-
until the President determines that such evant provisions of that Act, and of other acts
waiver is no longer warranted due to changed affecting import treatment, and actions
circumstances thereunder, including the removal, modifica-
Section 506A(b)(1) of the 1974 Act (19 tion, continuance, or imposition of any rate
U.S.C. 2466a(b)(1}) authorizes the President of dutor yoth er import restriction.
to provide duty-free treatment for any article Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush,
described in section 503(b)(1)(B) through President of the United States of America,
G) of the 1974 Act 19 U.S.C acting under the authority vested in me by
2463(b)(1)(B)-(G)) that is the growth, prod- the Constitution and the laws of the United
uct, or manufacture of a designated bene- States of America, including title V and sec-
ficiary sub-Saharan African country, if, after tion 604 of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2461-
receiving the advice of the United States 7, 2483), do proclaim that:
Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 / Jan 6]
(1) In order to reflect in the HTS the addi- after the thirtieth day after the date
tion of Afghanistan as a beneficiary devel- of publication of this proclamation in
oping country and as a least-developed bene- the Federal Register.
ficiary developing country under the GSP, In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set
and the withdrawal of duty-free treatment my hand this tenth day of January, in the
under the( G¢S P accorded to a certain article year of our Lord two thousand three, and
from Chile, general note 4 to ye" HTS is of the Independence of the United States of
modified as provided section A of the America the two hundred and twenty-sev-
Annex to this proclamation enth.
2) In order to provide duty-free treatment
for a certain article when imported from a George W. Bush
beneficiary sub-Saharan African country, the
HTS is modified by amending and sub-divid
[Filed with the Office ol the Federal Register,
ing the nomenclature of an existing HTS sub- 10:38 a.m January 13, 2003]
heading as provided in section B of the
Annex to this proclamation
NoTI This proc lamation was released by the Of
3) In order to provide that Chile should fice of the Press Secretary on January 13, and it
not be treated as a beneficiary deve we was publ ished in the Federal Re: gister on January
country with re spect to a certain e ligible 14
cle for purposes of the GSP, the Rates “?
Duty 1-Special subcolumn for the HTS sub-
heading enumerated in section C of the Letter to Congressional Leaders on
Annex to this proclamation is modified Modifying Duty-Free Treatment
provided in such section Under the Generalized System of
1) A waiver of the application of section Preferences To Include Afghanistan
503(c)(2) of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C
January 10, 2003
2463(c)(2)) previously granted to Chile for
HTS subheading 0811.20.20 shall be termi Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President
nated on the date of publication of this proc- I am writing to inform you of my intent
lamation in the Federal Register to add Afghanistan to the list of beneficiary
5 Any provisions of previous proclama deve loping countries and to the list of least-
tions and Executive Orders that are incon- developed beneficiary developing countries
sistent with the actions taken in this prow la- under the Generalized System of Pref-
mation are superseded to the extent of such erences (GSP). I have carefully considered
inconsistency. the criteria identified in sections 501 and 502
6) (a) The modifications made by section of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. In
A of the Annex to this proclamation shall be light of these criteria, I have determined that
effective with respect to articles entered it is appropriate to extend GSP beneficiary
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, developing country and least-developed ben-
on or after the dates set forth in that section eficiary developing country benefits to Af-
b) The modifications made by section B ghi inist: in
of the Annex to this proclamation This notice is submitted in accordance
shall be effective with respect to arti- with section 502(f) of the Trade Act of 1974.
cles entered, or withdrawn from Sincerely,
warehouse for consumption, on or
after the fifteenth day after the date George W. Bush
of publication of this proclamation in
the Federal Register
Note: Letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert,
The modifications made by section ¢
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
of the Annex to this proclamation Richard B. Cheney, President of the Senate. This
shall be effective with respect to arti- letter was released by the Office of the Press Sec-
cles entered, or withdrawn from retary on January 13. An original was not available
warehouse for consumption, on or for verification of the content of this letter
62 Jan. 13 / Administroaf tGeiorogen W. Bush, 2003
Proclamation 7638—The Centennial Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush,
of Korean Immigration to the United President of the United States of America,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by
States
the Constitution and laws of the United
January 13, 2003
States, do hereby proclaim January 13, 2003,
By the President of the United States as the Centennial of Korean Immigration to
of America the United States. I call upon all Americans
to observe the anniversary with appropriate
A Proclamation programs, ceremonies, and activities hon-
From every corner of the world, immi- oring Korean immigrants and their descend-
grants have come to America to discover the ants for their countless contributions to
promise of our Nation. On January 13, 1903, America.
the first Korean immigrants to the United In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set
States arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, on the my hand this thirteenth day of January, in
SS Gaelic. Today, Korean Americans live the year of our Lord two thousand three, and
throughout the United States, representing of the Independence of the United States of
one of our largest Asian-American popu- America the two hundred and twenty-sev-
lations. As we commemorate the centennial enth.
anniversary of Korean immigration to the George W. Bush
United States, we recognize the invaluable
contributions of Korean Americans to our [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register
Nation’s rich cultural diversity, economic 10:22 a.m., January 14, 2003]
strength, and proud heritage.
Note: This proclamation was published in the
For the past century, Korean immigrants Federal Register on January 15
and their descendants have helped build
America’s prosperity, strengthened Amer-
ica’s communities, and defended America’s Memorandum on Waiver of
freedoms. Through their service in World Conditions on Obligation and
War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, Expenditure of Funds for Planning,
the Vietnam War, and other wars, Korean Design, and Construction of a
Americans have served our Nation with
Chemical Weapons Destruction
honor and courage, upholding the values that
Facility in Russia
maoukr ceount ry strong.
January 10, 2003
The American and Korean people share
a love of freedom and a dedication to peace.
Presidential Determination No. 2003-10
The United States was the first Western
country to sign a treaty of commerce and
Memorandufmo r the Secretary of State
amity with Korea in 1882, promising “per-
Subject: Presidential Determination on
petual peace and friendship” between our
Waiver of Conditions on Obligation and
nations. Since that time, the United States
Expenditure of Funds for Planning, Design,
has built a strong friendship with Korea—
and Construction of a Chemical Weapons
a friendship based on our common commit-
Destruction Facility in Russia
ment to human dignity, prosperity, and de-
mocracy In the coming months, more than Pursuant to the authority vested in me by
1 million Korean Americans throughout our section 8144 of the Department of Defense
Nation will celebrate the 100th anniversary Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2003
of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants Public Law 107-248) (the “Act”), I hereby
to the United States. During this time, we certify that waiving the conditions described
acknowledge and commend Korean Ameri- in section 1305 of the National Defense Au-
cans for their distinguished achievements in thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public
all sectors of life and for their important role Law 106-65) is important to the national se-
in building, defending, and sustaining the curity interests of the United States, and in-
United States of America. clude herein, for submission to the Congress,
Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 Jan. 14
the statement, justification and plan de for the publication of this certification in the
scribed in section 8144(a) of the Act. Federal Register
You are authorized and directed to trans
George W. Bush
mit this certification, including the state
ment, justification, and plan to the Congress [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register,
and to arrange for its publication in the Fed 8:45 a.m., January 16, 2003]
eral Register
Nore: This memorandum was released by the Of-
George W. Bush fice of the Press Secretary on January 14, and it
was published in the Federal Register on January
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register ] ‘
8:45 a.m., January 16, 2003]
Not! This memorandum was released by the Of-
Letter to Congressional Leaders
fice of the Press Secretary on January 14, and it
was published in the Federal Register on January Transmitting a Report on United
States Individuals Involved in the
Antinarcotics Campaign in Colombia
January 13, 2003
Memorandum on Waiver of
Restrictions on Assistance to Russia Dear Mr. Speaker Dear Mr. President:
Under the Cooperative Threat Pursuant to section 3204(f), title III, chap-
Reduction Act of 1993 and Title V of ter 2 of the Emergency Supplemental Act,
the FREEDOM Support Act 2000 (the “Act”), as enacted in the Military
Construction Appropriations Act, 2001, Pub-
January 10, 2003
lic Law 106-246, I am providing a report pre-
pared by my Administration that provides
Presidential Determination No. 2003-11
‘the aggregate number, locations, activities,
and lengths of assignment for all temporary
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
and permanent U.S. military personnel and
Subject Presidential Determination on U.S. individual civilians retained as contrac-
Waiver of Restrictions on Assistance to tors involved in the antinarcotics campaign
Russia under the ¢ ooperative Threat in Colombia.’
Reduction Act of 1993 and Title V of the In so doing, I note and appreciate the con-
FREEDOM Support Act tinued strong bipartisan support given to
Pursuant to the authority vested in me by U.S. programs assisting Colombia in the Act
section 1306 of the National Defense Au- and elsewhere
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public This report is classified because of force
Law 107-314), I hereby certify that waiving protection considerations and the high level
the restrictions contained in subsection (d of terrorist threat in Colombia. However, the
of section 1203 of the Cooperative Threat aggregate numbers given below are unclassi-
Reduction Act of 1993 (22 U.S.C. 5952), as fied.
amended, and the requirements contained in The report indicates that as of November
section 502 of the FREEDOM Support Act 13, 2002, the end of this reporting period,
22 U.S.C. 5852) during Fiscal Year 2003 there were 267 temporary and permanent
with respect to the Russian Federation is im- U.S. military personnel and 270 U.S. civilians
portant to the national security interests ol retained as individual contractors in Colom-
the United States bia involved in supporting Plan Colombia.
I have enclosed the unclassified report de- This report further indicates that during Sep-
scribed in section 1306(b)(1) of the National tember, October, and November 2002, these
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year figures never exceeded the ceilings estab-
2003, together with a classified annex. lished in section 3204(b) of the Act, as
You are authorized and directed to trans- amended.
mit this certification and report with its clas- Sincerely,
sified annex to the Congress and to arrange George W. Bush
64 Jan. / Administration of George W. Bush, 2003
Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis terror, at the national situation. And I think
Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives, today is the best time to discuss, because be-
and Richard B. Cheney, President of the Senate
fore action, before -last decisions, it’s nec-
rhis letter was released by the Office of the Press
essary to exchange opinions, of experiences,
Secretary on January 14
of some ideas. And that is very substantial
element of my trip to Washington now
Remarks Prior to Discussions With Second, what President Bush mentioned,
President Aleksander Kwasniewski Poland decided to have your fighter F-16.
of Poland and an Exchange With It was ve ry transparent, very open, and ve ry
Reporters well prepared tender, and I think we have
a chance not only to have good place for Pol-
January 14, 2003
ish army, not only to have a good contribu-
President Bush. What we're going to do tion to our NATO membership, but we have
here is have a couple of opening statements, a chance to open new chapter in the eco-
two questions from the American press, two nomic relations between Poland and United
questions from the Polish press States, and this is the next reason of my visit
Let me first start by saying how much I’m and of our discussion
honored that my friend the President of Po- America has unique chance to accelerate
land is back in Washington. We're thrilled economic activities, investment activities in
you're here. My only regret is that you didn’t Poland. We are open, we are prepared, we
bring your beautiful wife with you, the First have good practice, w e have specialists. And
Lady of P ai nd. what is my satisfaction, America wants to do
But we're here to have a substantive talk That’s what is good news, good message
on a lot of issues issues ranging from the for all of us here in the United States and
war on terror to the recent decision by the
Poland as well
Polish Government on the purchase of U.S.-
President Bush. Fournier {Ron Fournie1
made aircraft, how best to implement that
Associated Press|
decision, to let the Polish people benefit so
the de , ision is not only good for the de fen se
ministry of Poland, but it’s good for the peo- North Korea
ple of Poland. Q. Thank you, sir. Jack Kelly has very pub-
And the President cares deeply about the licly promised North Korea energy aid in ex-
people of Poland, and we'll have a good dis- change for Pyongyang giving up its nuclear
cussion along those lines. I've got no better program. Isn’t that rewarding North Korea
friend in Europe today than Poland. One of for bad behavior, something you promised
the reasons why is because this man has never to do?
made a commitment to work together as
President Bush. First of all, there’s a big
equal partners, in the war on terror, on the
concern here in our country about North
desire to lift the—find freedom for people
Korea, and I'm absolutely convinced this
who live in misery
issue will be solved in a peaceful way. I want
And so Mr President, we're so glad you re
to remind the American people that prior to
back, and welcome back to the Oval Office.
North Korea making the decision it made,
President Kwasniewski. Thank you
that I had instructed our Secretary of State
President Bush. | appreciate you
to approach North Korea about a bold initia-
President Kwasniewski. Mr. President,
tive, an initiative which would talk about en-
dear friends, so after very short time—be-
ergy and food, because we care deeply about
cause I paid official visit to the United States
the suffering of the North Korean people.
July last year—I am again in Oval Office, in
White House in Washington, and I think this And then the North Koreans made a deci-
is a good sign that our cooperation our rela- sion. And the decision they made was to ig-
tions are very active and very friendly nore international norm, ignore treaties that
Now we'll have consultations. We will dis- they had—agreements that they had reached
cuss all the problems concerning war against and start building potential nuclear we apons,
Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 / Jan 14 65
enriching uranium. And now they have ex- together to cut off money. And we will hunt
pelled —are in the process of kicking out the killers down, one at a time. And that’s
[AEA® people. exactly what we are doing and exactly what
I view this as an opportunity to bindt ve are goitnog do .
gether nations in the ne sighborhood cad We're going to find them. They think they
around the world to make it clear to the can hide in a cave in the outer reaches of
North Koreans that we expect this issue to Afghanistan. We will go in the cave and find
be resolved peacefully, and we expect them them. And one by one, we are dismantling
to disarm. We expect them not to develop this terrorist network. It requires a lot of
nuclear weapons. And if they so choose to communication. It requires a lot of coopera-
do so—their choice —then I will reconsider tion. And it requires a lot of patience. And
whether or not we will start the bold initiative this Government has got all three
that I talked to Secretary Powell about
Pe -ople say, “Well, are you willing to talk Polish American Community
to North Korea? ’ Of course we are. But what Q. Mr. President, there are 10 million of
this Nation won't do is be blackmailed. And the Polish Americans in the United States.
what this Nation will do is use this as an op- What is your perception about the Polish
portunity to bring the Chinese and the Rus- Americans?
sians and South Koreans and the Japanese President Bush. 1 think that one of the
to the table to solve this “pe peacefully greatest contributions to Poland to our coun-
President Kwasniewski. agree I think try is Polish Americans, people who are en-
in the Korean case absolutely fe to compare terprising, hard-working, God-fearing, fam-
with Iraq’s case And we have a chance to ily-loving people. One of the great strengths
discuss about North Korea with very serious of our country is our diversity, and part ol
partners which are thinking the same way our diversity is the fact that a lot of our citi-
I mean Japan, Russia, China, South Korea zens were born in Poland and/or their fathers
We have a chance to propose something very and mothers were born in Poland or their
positive to North Korea, maybe not for re grandparents were born in Poland. Truly,
gime— —because when I read some informa- one of the great blessings and gifts from Po-
tion about this regime, it’s not so easy to pro- land to this country is the Polish heritage.
pose something—something special. But ab Scott.
solutely. I am sure that we have enough pos Q. Sir, Mr. President, the N. weapons
sibilities to propose positive solution for this inspectors say they need until—
case, but with all international partners President Bush. I mean Steve |Steve Hol-
President Bush. Would you care to call land, Reuters | Is vour name Steve or Scott?
on somebody from Poland, Polish press?
U.N. Weapons Inspectors
War on Terror Q. The weapons inspectors say they need
,
Q. Can the war of terror be decisively until March, maybe 6 months, maybe a year
won? This is a question for both Presidents Is this what you had in mind whe ‘n you went
And what would be Poland’s role in the war to the U.N. back in Se pte »mber?
of terror on terror? President Bush. What I have in mind for
President Bush. Let me start. You bet the Saddam Hussein is to disarm. The United
war on terror can be won. And not only can Nations spoke with one voice. We said, “We
it be won; we're going to win it. And the expect Saddam Hussein, for the sake of
way you win it is you work together You peace, to disarm.” That’s the question: Is
share intelligence You complement each Saddam Hussein disarming? He’s been given
other’s efforts If we find somebody y thinking 11 years to disarm. And so the world came
about doing something to our friends in Po- together, and we have given him one last
land, we'll share the information with this chance to disarm. So far, I haven’t seen any
Government and vice versa. We will work evidence that he is disarming.
Time is running out on Saddam Hussein
° White House correction He must disarm. I’m sick and tired of games
66 Jan 14 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2003
and deception And that’s my view of time- borhood Enterprise. He’s one of these inno-
tables vative thinkers about how to best help people
Thank you all very much help themselves in America, make sure that
hope extends to all neighborhoods, not just
Nore: The President spoke at 11:28 a.m. in the
some neighborhoods but every neighborhood
Oval Office at the White House In his remarks
pap a rere
he referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq
\ reporter referred to Assistant Secretary of State I appreciate Rodney Carroll, who is the
for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James A. Kelly pre ssident and CEO of the Welfare-To-Work
Partnership. His job has been to gather up
people who are willing to help people go
Remarks to Welfare-to-Work from welfare to work. And he’s done a mag-
Graduates nificent job. | remember well our meeting
January 14, 2003 in Chicago with the “Big Brown, UPS,
which is one of the leading companies in
The President. Thank you all for coming America to—helping people find the dignity
Please be seated. Thanks for coming, and of work. And we sat there on the stage and
welcome to the White House. I'm especially heard the stories of those who have gone
pleased to welcome the -our fine fellow citi-
from welfare to work It must have made you
zens who have lifted themselves out of pov-
feel good Rodney, because you had a lot to
erty. I welcome you all here You're tantastic
do with helping these individuals. So thanks
examples of what is possible in America, what
for coming
ve hope happens in America.
John Gregory is the pre -sident of TE ACH,
I particularly want to thank Lorey Wilson
The ee ant Association of Community
and Pamela Hedrick. Each of them have in-
Healing. I appreciate John being here and
credible success stories and Pam has agreed
all the rest of you for coming. Welcome. Glad
to share her story with us I want to thank
you're here
her family for being here as well. Both
The reforms of the 1990s recognized that
women show us the dignity that comes with
people on welfare are not charges of the
work and the great hopes that have been real-
state; they’ 're citizens of this country, with
ized through the welfare reform.
abilities and aspirations. Both parties in Con-
The welfare law of 1996 has enabled mil-
gress realize that welfare system as we knew
lions of Americans to build better lives—bet-
it sapped the soul and drained the spirit from
ter lives for themselves and better lives for
our citizens. They came together, the people
their families and, hence, better lives for our
of both parties, to put an end to the culture
country. The time has come to strengthen
of dependency that welfare had created
that law, and that’s what I want to talk about
today. The obligation of Government did not end
Leading the charge will be Department of with just mailingo f a check, and that’s impor-
Health and Human Services leader Tommy tant for our citizens to realize Men and
Thompson And | appreciate Tommy women deserved a chance to learn new skills
Tommy when he was the Governor of Wis- That was an obligation of Government, to
consin was on the leading edge of welfare help people learn, to use their talent so that
change. He was an innovative Governor. He’s they could realize dreams, to gain the fulfill-
an innovative ( ‘abinet officer as well. ment of sense of purpose that comes with
And I appreciate Elaine Chao for being striving and working and providing for their
here as well. She’s Secretary of the Depart- own families.
ment of Labor. When we're interested in In the 7 years since welfare was reformed,
jobs, we think about the Department of millions of Americans have shared in this ex-
Labor. So, thank you for coming, Elaine. perience Their lives and our country are bet-
appreciate your work. ter off. Today, more than 2 million fewer
‘| peated Bob Woodson for being families are on welfare—2 million fewer than
here—Woody. Thanks for coming. He’s the in 1996. It’s a reduction of 54 percent That’s
director of the National Center for Neigh- a number, but behind each number is a life.