pd06au01 Remarks on Receiving the Report of the National Commission on Federal...

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relationships between the department and neighborhoods all throughout 
New Orleans.
    Today, 7 years after his arrival, the people of New Orleans respect 
the police department because violent crime is down 75 percent in that 
city. A leader can make a difference, Chief Pennington, and you have 
done so. And by working hard in the neighborhoods, the police department 
has earned their respect. And that's important.
    My administration must offer more than just praise, however. We must 
promote policy that provides active support for police officers around 
the country. We've begun already with Project Safe Neighborhoods. I 
don't know whether you know this or not, but the NOBLE officers helped 
write the program, helped come up with the strategy that says that we 
need to develop local partnerships all across America to enforce gun 
laws on the books. We need to spend more resources and energy in a 
coordinated way that says to people, if you carry--illegally carry a 
gun, there is a consequence; that if you think you can act out your 
frustrations by illegally carrying weapons and/or illegally using them, 
there's only one consequence: That's arrest and jail.
    And so we've put $550 million aside for 2 years, that says, let's 
have a focused, concerted effort. Let's focus our time and energy and 
efforts on ferreting out those who hold others hostage in our society, 
and stand side by side with the police officers all across America--
arrest and prosecute and incarcerate those who illegally carry and use 
guns. It's a mission we must do to make our neighborhoods more safe. And 
I want to thank NOBLE for helping write and devise the strategy that in 
my heart of hearts I know is going to work.
    But we must have goals beyond just punishment. We must, at the 
deepest level, embrace our youth instead of fearing them. It starts with 
making sure we've got good education systems all around America. An 
educated child is one much less likely to commit a crime.
    And we're making pretty good progress here in Washington. We've got 
a bill passed out of the House and a bill passed out of the Senate, and 
one of these days, they may get together and put one on my desk--and the 
sooner, rather than later. The sooner, rather than later, because it's 
time to get some legislation out so that the local school boards and 
local districts can start the plan.
    And let me tell you the crux of the bill. I think you'll appreciate 
this. It challenges the soft bigotry of low expectations. It challenges 
the notion that there are certain children in our society who can't 
possibly learn, and therefore, let's just move them through. Let's just 
say, ``If you're 10, you're supposed to be in the fourth grade, and if 
you're 13, we'll put you here, regardless of what you may or may not 
know.'' Those days have got to end.
    What we've got to start asking of each child is, ``What do you know? 
And if you don't know what you're supposed to know, we will make sure 
you do, early, before it's too late.'' See, I believe every child can 
learn. And I believe our society must focus on accountability to make 
sure they do. And so we've got a good piece of legislation that starts 
with setting high standards, challenging that soft bigotry. It says, 
local people ought to be running the schools around America. One size 
does not fit all. But it also says that if you receive help, you must 
show us whether or not you're teaching our children to read and write 
and add and subtract. And if they were--and if they are, there will be 
thousands of hallelujahs. But if not, you must change what you're doing 
because no child in America should be left behind.
    Besides learning to read and write and add and subtract, it's so 
essential that our children learn values that defeat hostility and 
aggression, the values that will bring dignity and direction to their 
lives. We want to help them make decisions based upon character and 
conscience and integrity, not the fear of punishment.
    We must prevent crime by reclaiming lives of those who may have lost 
hope. And I believe we can do so in America. And I believe we've got a 
great chance to start here in Washington, DC. It starts with making sure 
that responsible adults are involved in the

[[Page 1118]]

lives of our children. These children need consistent, committed love 
that breaks down walls of distrust. They need a sense of belonging and 
respect from someone other than the local gang leader. These things are 
most often done by parents, no question about it. But sometimes, we must 
encourage mentors and ministers and faith healers to become actively 
involved in the lives of these young children.
    There are so many stories, all around America. Frankly, these 
stories exist not because of government but because somebody is talking 
to a higher authority; somebody has heard the call to love a neighbor 
like he or she would like to be loved themselves.
    I think, for example, of the program in Chicago called From Gangs to 
Grace. It works out of the New Life Covenant Church, which sits right in 
the middle of gang territory. The program was formed 3 years ago by 
former gang members whose lives were torn upside down because of drugs. 
One of them, a fellow, was named Pedro Munez. He spoke eloquently about 
the program. He says, ``My vocabulary has changed, and I don't curse 
anymore. I treat my family with respect. I just treat everybody with 
respect now.''
    A young man who has learned the value of respect is going to be a 
better man. He's going to honor his father and mother. He's going to 
treat young women as he should treat them. He's going to live up to his 
responsibilities. He'll serve to be a good example. There's no limit to 
what comes when you change one heart, one young man learning to learn 
because of the virtue of respect.
    Most effective police programs in America have learned the value of 
working with charities and churches and synagogues and mosques on youth 
development and crime prevention. Most of you have learned that strong 
communities and strong values make your work a lot easier. Most of you 
have been involved in the so-called faith-based initiative way before I 
proposed it to the United States Congress, and I understand that. As a 
matter of fact, much of the work that you have done that proceeded me 
here has become the basis for meaningful legislation.
    It's legislation that says to the United States Congress, let us 
fund the faith-based organizations all across America. Let's give them a 
chance to compete for Federal dollars. Let's not lock them out just 
because they have the word ``faith'' in front of their program. After 
all, faith-based initiatives and programs can change people's hearts. 
And when they change people's hearts, they change people's lives. And a 
changed life is much more likely to be a person--peaceful, respectful 
person.
    We should not fear faith in our society. We should not fear 
welcoming community groups that not necessarily have been sanctioned by 
Government, that exists as--apart from Government. We should welcome 
them. These are the soldiers in the armies of compassion. These are the 
people whose calling exists because of the church or the synagogue or 
the mosque, but people who are intent upon helping young people make the 
right choices in life.
    You know, it's amazing, as I travel around the country I hear from 
people at the grassroots level who have gotten the message. Sometimes it 
seems like, to me, the word hadn't quite gotten up to Washington, DC, 
and it's time for Congress to pass legislation to rally the faith-based 
programs, so they can stand side by side with those folks in the 
community who are trying to bring peace and law and order, the people 
who wear the uniform.
    A bill came out of the House of Representatives the other day, and I 
had a good meeting with Senator Lieberman and Senator Santorum, talking 
about making sure that the faith-based initiative continues its 
momentum. It's the right thing to do for America. It is the next step 
beyond welfare. It is a way to recognize there are still people who are 
hopeless, people who need help. And it's making sure the American Dream 
extends its reach in all neighborhoods.
    We must call upon all folks, all people who are willing to help 
change lives in a positive way. Listen, this is a great country, and the 
reason it's a great country is because it's full of so many decent and 
honorable and loving citizens. It's a great country because there's love 
in a lot of people's hearts. It's a great country, and we must rally the 
greatness of the country, and that's our people. And it's a great 
country, as well, because there are

[[Page 1119]]

thousands of people who are willing to serve a concept greater than 
themselves in life. And there's no greater concept in life than to try 
to bring peace to neighborhoods. There's no greater concept than to take 
risk, like the men and women who wear the uniform do on a daily basis.
    And so I'm here to thank you for your work. I'm here to tell you, 
this is a Government that stands by your side, a Government that 
understands that an educated child is going to make your job a lot 
easier, but a Government that also understands that as we rally the 
community- and faith-based programs--interface with people--it's going 
to make America a much more compassionate and decent and hopeful land.
    Again, I'm so honored that you invited me here. Thank you for 
hearing me out, and may God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 1:30 p.m. in the Marriott Ballroom at the 
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Ida L. 
Gillis, national president, Maurice Foster, executive director, Leonard 
G. Cooke, national vice president, and Hubert T. Bell, Jr., special 
assistant to the president, National Organization of Black Law 
Enforcement Executives; and Charles H. Ramsey, chief of police, 
Washington, DC.


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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 1119-1120]
 
Pages 1115-1139
 
Week Ending Friday, August 3, 2001
 
Videotape Remarks to the Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree

 July 30, 2001

    Hello, Boy Scouts, and thanks for this opportunity to send a word of 
greeting to your National Jamboree. Let me also thank General Colby 
Broadwater and the fine men and women of Fort A.P. Hill for hosting this 
event.
    I'm so sorry the weather didn't allow me to join you in person, but 
I wanted to say a few words to the Scouts and Scoutmasters who have come 
to this jamboree from all across the country.
    You know, next month I'll be going to my ranch in Crawford, where 
I'll work and take a little time off. I think it is so important for a 
President to spend some time away from Washington in the heartland of 
America. And whenever I go home to the heartland, I am reminded of the 
values that build strong families, strong communities, and strong 
character, the values that make our people unique.
    It is those values that are such an important part of Boy Scouts. 
And I want to thank the adults here who have shown good values, who have 
taken the responsibility upon yourself to build the wisdom and character 
of our young people. And the Scoutmasters of America accept this 
responsibility every day. I want to thank all the Scoutmasters who set a 
good example and help Scouts learn the values that give direction to 
their lives.
    When you join a Scout troop and put on the Boy Scout uniform, you, 
too, make a statement. Like every uniform, yours is a symbol of 
commitment. It is a sign to all that you believe in high standards and 
that you are trying to live up to them every single day. As you do that, 
you bring credit to the Scout uniform and credit to your country. And I 
want you to know your country is proud of you.
    Many of you have been to Washington this past week, maybe for the 
first time. You know, it's interesting, one of my predecessors, 
President Gerald Ford, saw Washington for the first time a few years 
after he became an Eagle Scout. Back then, in the thirties, Scouts 
helped collect food and clothing for people suffering from the Great 
Depression.
    In our own time, you all have taken the lead in the fight against 
drug abuse. In Texas, Boy Scouts were among the first to take up a 
reading challenge that I set. All across America, Boy Scouts are doing 
good turns daily. And every time you do a good turn, this becomes a 
better country. There are needs in every community, and those needs can 
be met one heart, one soul at a time.
    You can make a difference for America by the life you lead and the 
lives you serve. Times and challenges change, yet the values of Scouting 
will never change. Scouts of any era would recognize every word that you 
live by today, because those words have always defined Scouting. The 
goodness of a person and of the society he or she lives in often comes 
down to very simple things and words found in the Scout law. Every 
society depends on trust and loyalty, on courtesy and kindness, on 
bravery and reverence. These

[[Page 1120]]

are the values of Scouting and these are the values of America.
    What you have learned in Scouting will see you through life. In good 
times and difficult ones, the Scout motto will always help you: ``Be 
prepared.'' And whatever you do, the Scout oath will always guide you: 
On your honor, do your best.
    I thank every Scout and Scoutmaster for being a part of this great 
organization and for being a part of this successful jamboree. May God 
bless you all, and may God bless the United States of America.

Note: The President's remarks were videotaped at approximately 2:30 p.m. 
in the Map Room for later transmission to the jamboree in Bowling Green, 
VA. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.


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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 1120-1121]
 
Pages 1115-1139
 
Week Ending Friday, August 3, 2001
 
Remarks on Receiving the Report of the National Commission on Federal 
Election Reform

July 31, 2001

    Thank you, all. Please be seated. After the last election, two 
former Presidents and a panel of distinguished Americans--from both 
political parties, I might add--gathered to consider ways to improve 
America's election system. And they have produced an impressive report. 
Today I accept their report and recommend the key principles drawn from 
the report as guidelines for meaningful reform.
    I want to welcome President Jimmy Carter back to the Rose Garden and 
to the Oval Office. President Gerald Ford could not be with us today, 
but he is well represented by House Minority Leader Bob Michel. Thank 
you for being here, Mr. Leader.
    I want to thank Phil Zelikow for being the executive director of the 
Commission. I want to thank all the Commission members who are here, and 
I appreciate the Attorney General for being here, as well. Thanks for 
coming, John.
    Our American democracy is really an inspiration to the world. Yet, 
the work of improving it is never finished. Presidents Jimmy Carter and 
Gerald Ford--two men who took part in another close election, I might 
add, and who went on to have a close friendship--have come together to 
produce recommendations for modernizing the electoral system.
    I want to thank the University of Virginia's Miller Center and the 
Century Foundation, as well. Mr. Carter and Mr. Ford recruited a 
Commission of 20 distinguished Americans from both parties and every 
region of the country. I respect the members so much that I appointed 
one of them to become the Ambassador to Japan, Howard Baker.
    The others continued to take testimony. They held hearings in four 
States, listened to dozens of witnesses, and consulted widely with State 
and local officials. They identified some important concerns. For 
example, the overeagerness of the media to report the outcome of the 
elections. [Laughter]
    Some voting methods have much higher error rates than others. And 
citizens with disabilities or limited proficiency in English can 
encounter obstacles to the exercise of their democratic rights.
    The Commissioners brought a broad diversity of personal experience 
to bear. Seven Commissioners, in addition to President Ford and 
President Carter, have been elected to office, themselves, and have seen 
Americans' voting procedures up close and personal. Other members have 
had experience enforcing our Nation's civil rights and voting rights 
laws. Others are experts in constitutional law and the mechanics of 
government. This Commission's idealism is reinforced by deep practical 
experience.
    The Commissioners offer many recommendations to strengthen our 
electoral system. Those recommendations are grounded in four fundamental 
principles, which I heartily endorse and recommend to the Congress.
    First, our Nation must continue to respect the primary role of 
State, county, and local governments in elections. In 2000 more than 100 

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