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The President's State of the Union Address
The United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.

Listen to the President's Remarks      View the State of the Union   En Español

9:15 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Mr.Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguishedguests, fellow citizens:  As we gather tonight, our nation isat war, our economy is in recession, and the civilized world facesunprecedented dangers.  Yet the state of our Union has neverbeen stronger.  (Applause.)

We last met in an hour of shock and suffering.  In fourshort months, our nation has comforted the victims, begun to rebuildNew York and the Pentagon, rallied a great coalition, captured,arrested, and rid the world of thousands of terrorists, destroyedAfghanistan'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 inKabul.  Terrorists who once occupied Afghanistan now occupycells at Guantanamo Bay.  (Applause.)  And terrorist leaderswho urged followers to sacrifice their lives are running for theirown.  (Applause.)

America and Afghanistan are now allies againstterror.  We'll be partners in rebuilding thatcountry.  And this evening we welcome the distinguishedinterim leader of a liberated Afghanistan:  Chairman HamidKarzai.  (Applause.)

The last time we met in this chamber, the mothers and daughters ofAfghanistan were captives in their own homes, forbidden from working orgoing to school.  Today women are free, and are part ofAfghanistan's new government.  And we welcome the newMinister of Women's Affairs, Doctor Sima Samar.  (Applause.)

Our progress is a tribute to the spirit of the Afghan people, tothe resolve of our coalition, and to the might of the United Statesmilitary.  (Applause.)  When I called our troops into action,I did so with complete confidence in their courage andskill.  And tonight, thanks to them, we are winning the waron terror.  (Applause.)  The man and women of ourArmed Forces have delivered a message now clear to every enemy of theUnited States:  Even 7,000 miles away, across oceans andcontinents, on mountaintops and in caves -- you will not escape thejustice of this nation.  (Applause.)

For many Americans, these four months have brought sorrow, and painthat will never completely go away.  Every day a retiredfirefighter returns to Ground Zero, to feel closer to his two sons whodied there.  At a memorial in New York, a little boy left hisfootball with a note for his lost father:  Dear Daddy, pleasetake this to heaven.  I don't want to play football until Ican play with you again some day.

Last month, at the grave of her husband, Michael, a CIA officer andMarine who died in Mazur-e-Sharif, Shannon Spann said these words offarewell:  "Semper Fi, my love."  Shannon is withus tonight.  (Applause.)

Shannon, I assure you and all who have lost a loved one that ourcause is just, and our country will never forget the debt we oweMichael and all who gave their lives for freedom.

Our cause is just, and it continues.  Our discoveries inAfghanistan confirmed our worst fears, and showed us the true scope ofthe task ahead.  We have seen the depth of our enemies' hatred invideos, where they laugh about the loss of innocentlife.  And the depth of their hatred is equaled by themadness of the destruction they design.  We have founddiagrams of American nuclear power plants and public water facilities,detailed instructions for making chemical weapons, surveillance maps ofAmerican cities, and thorough descriptions of landmarks in America andthroughout the world.

What we have found in Afghanistan confirms that, far from endingthere, our war against terror is only beginning.  Most of the19 men who hijacked planes on September the 11th were trained inAfghanistan's camps, and so were tens of thousands ofothers.   Thousands of dangerous killers, schooled in themethods of murder, often supported by outlaw regimes, are now spreadthroughout the world like ticking time bombs, set to go off withoutwarning.

Thanks to the work of our law enforcement officials and coalitionpartners, hundreds of terrorists have been arrested.  Yet,tens of thousands of trained terrorists are still atlarge.  These enemies view the entire world as a battlefield,and we must pursue them wherever they are.  (Applause.)  Solong as training camps operate, so long as nations harbor terrorists,freedom is at risk.  And America and our allies must not, andwill not, allow it.  (Applause.)

Our nation will continue to be steadfast and patient and persistentin the pursuit of two great objectives.  First, we will shutdown terrorist camps, disrupt terrorist plans, and bring terrorists tojustice.  And, second, we must prevent the terrorists andregimes who seek chemical, biological or nuclear weapons fromthreatening the United States and the world.  (Applause.)

Our military has put the terror training camps of Afghanistan outof business, yet camps still exist in at least a dozencountries.  A terrorist underworld -- including groups likeHamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Jaish-i-Mohammed -- operates in remotejungles and deserts, and hides in the centers of large cities.

While the most visible military action is in Afghanistan, Americais acting elsewhere.  We now have troops in the Philippines,helping to train that country's armed forces to go after terroristcells that have executed an American, and still holdhostages.  Our soldiers, working with the Bosnian government,seized terrorists who were plotting to bomb our embassy.  OurNavy is patrolling the coast of Africa to block the shipment of weaponsand the establishment of terrorist camps in Somalia.

My hope is that all nations will heed our call, and eliminate theterrorist parasites who threaten their countries and ourown.  Many nations are acting forcefully.  Pakistanis now cracking down on terror, and I admire the strong leadership ofPresident Musharraf.  (Applause.)

But some governments will be timid in the face ofterror.  And make no mistake about it:  If they donot act, America will.  (Applause.)

Our second goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror fromthreatening America or our friends and allies with weapons of massdestruction.  Some of these regimes have been pretty quietsince September the 11th.  But we know their truenature.  North Korea is a regime arming with missiles andweapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens.

Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, whilean unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom.

Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and tosupport terror.  The Iraqi regime has plotted to developanthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over adecade.  This is a regime that has already used poison gas tomurder thousands of its own citizens -- leaving the bodies of mothershuddled over their dead children.  This is a regime thatagreed 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 axisof evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world.  Byseeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave andgrowing danger.  They could provide these arms to terrorists,giving them the means to match their hatred.  They couldattack our allies or attempt to blackmail the UnitedStates.  In any of these cases, the price of indifferencewould be catastrophic.

We will work closely with our coalition to deny terrorists andtheir state sponsors the materials, technology, and expertise to makeand deliver weapons of mass destruction.  We will develop anddeploy effective missile defenses to protect America and our alliesfrom sudden attack.  (Applause.) And all nations shouldknow:  America will do what is necessary to ensure ournation's security.

We'll be deliberate, yet time is not on our side.  I willnot wait on events, while dangers gather.  I will not standby, as peril draws closer and closer.  The United States ofAmerica will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threatenus with the world's most destructive weapons.  (Applause.)

Our war on terror is well begun, but it is onlybegun.  This campaign may not be finished on our watch -- yetit must be and it will be waged on our watch.

We can't stop short.  If we stop now -- leaving terrorcamps intact and terror states unchecked -- our sense of security wouldbe false and temporary.  History has called America and ourallies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our privilegeto fight freedom's fight.  (Applause.)

Our first priority must always be the security of our nation, andthat will be reflected in the budget I send to Congress.  Mybudget supports three great goals for America:  We will winthis war; we'll protect our homeland; and we will revive our economy.

September the 11th brought out the best in America, and the best inthis Congress.  And I join the American people in applaudingyour unity and resolve.  (Applause.)  Now Americansdeserve to have this same spirit directed toward addressing problemshere at home.  I'm a proud member of my party -- yet as weact to win the war, protect our people, and create jobs in America, wemust act, first and foremost, not as Republicans, not as Democrats, butas Americans.  (Applause.)

It costs a lot to fight this war.  We have spent morethan a billion dollars a month -- over $30 million a day -- and we mustbe prepared for future operations.  Afghanistan proved thatexpensive precision weapons defeat the enemy and spare innocent lives,and we need more of them.  We need to replace aging aircraftand make our military more agile, to put our troops anywhere in theworld quickly and safely.  Our men and women in uniformdeserve the best weapons, the best equipment, the best training -- andthey also deserve another pay raise.  (Applause.)

My budget includes the largest increase in defense spending in twodecades -- because while the price of freedom and security is high, itis 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 toprotect our citizens and strengthen our nation against the ongoingthreat of another attack.  Time and distance from the eventsof September the 11th will not make us safer unless we act on itslessons.  America is no longer protected by vastoceans.  We are protected from attack only by vigorous actionabroad, and increased vigilance at home.

My budget nearly doubles funding for a sustained strategy ofhomeland security, focused on four key areas:  bioterrorism,emergency response, airport and border security, and improvedintelligence.  We will develop vaccines to fight anthrax andother deadly diseases.  We'll increase funding to help statesand communities train and equip our heroic police andfirefighters.  (Applause.)  We will improveintelligence collection and sharing, expand patrols at our borders,strengthen the security of air travel, and use technology to track thearrivals and departures of visitors to the UnitedStates.  (Applause.)

Homeland security will make America not only stronger, but, in manyways, better.  Knowledge gained from bioterrorism researchwill improve public health.  Stronger police and firedepartments will mean safer neighborhoods.  Stricter borderenforcement will help combat illegal drugs.  (Applause.)  Andas government works to better secure our homeland, America willcontinue to depend on the eyes and ears of alert citizens.

A few days before Christmas, an airline flight attendant spotted apassenger lighting a match.  The crew and passengers quicklysubdued the man, who had been trained by al Qaeda and was armed withexplosives.  The people on that plane were alert and, as aresult, likely saved nearly 200 lives.  And tonight wewelcome and thank flight attendants Hermis Moutardier and ChristinaJones.  (Applause.)

Once we have funded our national security and our homelandsecurity, the final great priority of my budget is economic securityfor the American people.  (Applause.)  To achievethese great national objectives -- to win the war, protect thehomeland, and revitalize our economy -- our budget will run a deficitthat will be small and short-term, so long as Congress restrainsspending and acts in a fiscally responsiblemanner.  (Applause.) We have clear priorities and we must actat home with the same purpose and resolve we have shownoverseas:  We'll prevail in the war, and we will defeat thisrecession.  (Applause.)

Americans who have lost their jobs need our help and I supportextending unemployment benefits and direct assistance for health carecoverage.  (Applause.)  Yet, American workers wantmore than unemployment checks -- they want a steadypaycheck.  (Applause.)  When America works, Americaprospers, so my economic security plan can be summed up in oneword:  jobs.  (Applause.)

Good jobs begin with good schools, and here we've made a finestart.  (Applause.)  Republicans and Democrats workedtogether to achieve historic education reform so that no child is leftbehind.  I was proud to work with members of bothparties:  Chairman John Boehner and Congressman GeorgeMiller.  (Applause.)  Senator JuddGregg.  (Applause.)  And I was so proud of ourwork, I even had nice things to say about my friend, Ted Kennedy.(Laughter and applause.)  I know the folks at the Crawfordcoffee shop couldn't believe I'd say such a thing -- (laughter) -- butour work on this bill shows what is possible if we set aside posturingand focus on results.  (Applause.)

There is more to do.  We need to prepare our children toread and succeed in school with improved Head Start and early childhooddevelopment programs.  (Applause.)  We must upgradeour teacher colleges and teacher training and launch a major recruitingdrive with a great goal for America:  a quality teacher in everyclassroom.  (Applause.)

Good jobs also depend on reliable and affordableenergy.  This Congress must act to encourage conservation,promote technology, build infrastructure, and it must act to increaseenergy production at home so America is less dependent on foreignoil.  (Applause.)

Good jobs depend on expanded trade.  Selling into newmarkets creates new jobs, so I ask Congress to finally approve tradepromotion authority.  (Applause.)  On these two key issues,trade and energy, the House of Representatives has acted to createjobs, and I urge the Senate to pass thislegislation.  (Applause.)

Good jobs depend on sound taxpolicy.  (Applause.)  Last year, some in this hallthought my tax relief plan was too small; some thought it was toobig.  (Applause.)  But when the checks arrived inthe mail, most Americans thought tax relief was just aboutright.  (Applause.)  Congress listened to thepeople and responded by reducing tax rates, doubling the child credit,and ending the death tax.  For the sake of long-term growthand to help Americans plan for the future, let's make these tax cutspermanent.  (Applause.)

The way out of this recession, the way to create jobs, is to growthe economy by encouraging investment in factories and equipment, andby speeding up tax relief so people have more money tospend.  For the sake of American workers, let's pass astimulus package.  (Applause.)

Good jobs must be the aim of welfare reform.  As wereauthorize these important reforms, we must always remember the goalis to reduce dependency on government and offer every American thedignity of a job.  (Applause.)

Americans know economic security can vanish in an instant withouthealth security.  I ask Congress to join me this year toenact a patients' bill of rights -- (applause) -- to give uninsuredworkers credits to help buy health coverage -- (applause) -- to approvean historic increase in the spending for veterans' health -- (applause)-- and to give seniors a sound and modern Medicare system that includescoverage for prescription drugs.  (Applause.)

A good job should lead to security in retirement.  I askCongress to enact new safeguards for 401K and pensionplans.  (Applause.)  Employees who have worked hardand saved all their lives should not have to risk losing everything iftheir company fails.  (Applause.)  Through stricteraccounting standards and tougher disclosure requirements, corporateAmerica must be made more accountable to employees and shareholders andheld to the highest standards of conduct.  (Applause.)

Retirement security also depends upon keeping the commitments ofSocial Security, and we will.  We must make Social Securityfinancially stable and allow personal retirement accounts for youngerworkers who choose them.  (Applause.)

Members, you and I will work together in the months ahead on otherissues:  productive farm policy -- (applause) -- a cleanerenvironment -- (applause) -- broader home ownership, especially amongminorities -- (applause) -- and ways to encourage the good work ofcharities and faith-based groups.  (Applause.)  Iask you to join me on these important domestic issues in the samespirit of cooperation we've applied to our war againstterrorism.  (Applause.)

During these last few months, I've been humbled and privileged tosee the true character of this country in a time oftesting.  Our enemies believed America was weak andmaterialistic, that we would splinter in fear andselfishness.  They were as wrong as they areevil.  (Applause.)

The American people have responded magnificently, with courage andcompassion, strength and resolve.  As I have met the heroes,hugged the families, and looked into the tired faces of rescuers, Ihave stood in awe of the American people.

And I hope you will join me -- I hope you will join me inexpressing thanks to one American for the strength and calm and comfortshe brings to our nation in crisis, our First Lady, LauraBush.  (Applause.)

None of us would ever wish the evil that was done on September the11th.  Yet after America was attacked, it was as if ourentire country looked into a mirror and saw our betterselves.  We were reminded that we are citizens, withobligations to each other, to our country, and tohistory.  We began to think less of the goods we canaccumulate, and more about the good we can do.

For too long our culture has said, "If it feels good, doit."  Now America is embracing a new ethic and a new creed:"Let's roll." (Applause.) In the sacrifice of soldiers, the fiercebrotherhood of firefighters, and the bravery and generosity of ordinarycitizens, we have glimpsed what a new culture of responsibility couldlook like.  We want to be a nation that serves goals largerthan self.  We've been offered a unique opportunity, and wemust 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 yourneighbors and your nation.  (Applause.)  Many arealready serving, and I thank you.  If you aren't sure how tohelp, I've got a good place to start.  To sustain and extend the bestthat has emerged in America, I invite you to join the new USA FreedomCorps.  The Freedom Corps will focus on three areas ofneed:  responding in case of crisis at home; rebuilding ourcommunities; 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 majoremergencies; volunteers to help police and fire departments;transportation and utility workers well-trained in spotting danger.

Our country also needs citizens working to rebuild ourcommunities.  We need mentors to love children, especially childrenwhose parents are in prison.  And we need more talentedteachers in troubled schools.  USA Freedom Corps will expandand improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to recruitmore than 200,000 new volunteers.

And America needs citizens to extend the compassion of our countryto every part of the world.  So we will renew the promise ofthe Peace Corps, double its volunteers over the next five years --(applause) -- and ask it to join a new effort to encourage developmentand education and opportunity in the Islamicworld.  (Applause.)

This time of adversity offers a unique moment of opportunity -- amoment we must seize to change our culture.  Through thegathering momentum of millions of acts of service and decency andkindness, I know we can overcome evil with greatergood.  (Applause.)  And we have a great opportunityduring this time of war to lead the world toward the values that willbring lasting peace.

All fathers and mothers, in all societies, want their children tobe educated, and live free from poverty and violence.  Nopeople on Earth yearn to be oppressed, or aspire to servitude, oreagerly await the midnight knock of the secret police.

If anyone doubts this, let them look to Afghanistan, where theIslamic "street" greeted the fall of tyranny with song andcelebration.  Let the skeptics look to Islam's own richhistory, with its centuries of learning, and tolerance and progress.America will lead by defending liberty and justice because they areright and true and unchanging for all peopleeverywhere.  (Applause.)

No nation owns these aspirations, and no nation is exempt fromthem.  We have no intention of imposing our culture.  ButAmerica will always stand firm for the non-negotiable demands of humandignity:  the rule of law; limits on the power of the state;respect for women; private property; free speech; equal justice; andreligious tolerance.  (Applause.)

America will take the side of brave men and women who advocatethese values around the world, including the Islamic world, because wehave a greater objective than eliminating threats and containingresentment.  We seek a just and peaceful world beyond the waron terror.

In this moment of opportunity, a common danger is erasing oldrivalries.  America is working with Russia and China andIndia, in ways we have never before, to achieve peace andprosperity.  In every region, free markets and free trade andfree societies are proving their power to liftlives.  Together with friends and allies from Europe to Asia,and Africa to Latin America, we will demonstrate that the forces ofterror cannot stop the momentum of freedom.  (Applause.)

The last time I spoke here, I expressed the hope that life wouldreturn to normal.  In some ways, it has.  Inothers, it never will.  Those of us who have lived throughthese challenging times have been changed by them.  We'vecome to know truths that we will never question:  evil isreal, and it must be opposed.  (Applause.)  Beyondall differences of race or creed, we are one country, mourning togetherand facing danger together.  Deep in the American character, there ishonor, and it is stronger than cynicism.  And many havediscovered again that even in tragedy -- especially in tragedy -- Godis near.  (Applause.)

In a single instant, we realized that this will be a decisivedecade in the history of liberty, that we've been called to a uniquerole in human events.  Rarely has the world faced a choicemore clear or consequential.

Our enemies send other people's children on missions of suicide andmurder.  They embrace tyranny and death as a cause and acreed.  We stand for a different choice, made long ago, onthe day of our founding.  We affirm it againtoday.  We choose freedom and the dignity of every life.(Applause.)

Steadfast in our purpose, we now press on.  We have knownfreedom's price.  We have shown freedom'spower.  And in this great conflict, my fellow Americans, wewill see freedom's victory.

Thank you all.  May God bless.  (Applause.)

END          10:03P.M. EST

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