This is historical material frozen in time The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work  Home State of the Union Text of the Speech For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary January 29 2002 President Delivers State of the Union Address The President's State of the Union Address The United States Capitol Washington D C       View the State of the Union       Read about USA Freedom Corps       Go to the State of the Union web page 9 15 P M EST 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 four months have brought 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