pd09se02 Message to the Senate Transmitting the Liechtenstein-United States...

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sell, everybody else does. What's good for the head person is good for 
the people on the shop floor. We also allow people to diversify out of 
their 401(k)s. You ought not to be stuck in one stock forever. After a 
reasonable period of time, you ought to be able to diversify. You need 
to get the best investment advice. We need to make sure our workers are 
protected when it comes to pension reform. And the Congress needs to act 
on it. For the good of the economy, they need to act on this, just like 
they acted on corporate reform.

[[Page 1479]]

    And now it's my turn to act. Let me tell you what's going to happen. 
If we catch somebody cooking the books, like we have been doing, it's no 
more easy money; it's just hard time. By far, the vast majority of our 
fellow citizens are honest and decent and honorable people; they just 
are. But a few have created a--put a bad name out there. They've created 
a sense of--lack of--they diminish the confidence of the American 
people. We're putting those days behind us.
    We had Republicans and Democrats work together to pass the most 
comprehensive corporate reform since Franklin Roosevelt was the 
President. I put together a task force. And I want to assure you, my 
fellow Americans, here on Labor Day, that if we catch them cooking the 
books, if we catch them fudging the numbers, if we catch people trying 
to put a sleight of hand to the detriment of employees and shareholders 
alike, there are going to be serious consequences here in America. We 
expect people to behave responsibly in our society.
    And finally, in order to make sure the economy continues to grow and 
there's jobs, we've got to be wise about how you spend your money. See, 
every idea sounds like a good idea up there. Everybody throws something 
out there, and it sounds like a brilliant idea. But they always cost in 
the billions, it seems like. One way I like to remind Congress about how 
to be fiscally responsible is to remind them whose money they're 
spending. It's not the Government's money they spend. It's your money. 
It's the people's money.
    No, we can meet our needs. We can meet our needs. And by the way, we 
can make that tax relief a permanent part of the Tax Code. You need to 
have more money in your pocket, as far as I'm concerned. No, those are 
ways for us to make America a stronger place by continuing to focus on 
the economic security of all our citizens--every citizen.
    And we've got to make sure that America is not only safer and 
stronger but a better place--a better place. And there are ways to do 
that. One, America will be a better place when our seniors have got 
prescription drugs as a part of Medicare. That's a better country, a 
country that understands that Medicare serves an important purpose. 
Medicine has changed. Medicare hasn't. And therefore, our seniors don't 
have prescription drugs. It will be a better country when we do that.
    It's a better country when we focus on educating every child, not 
just a few children but every single child. I want to thank the teachers 
who are here. [Applause] I could tell. But remember, if you're a mom or 
a dad, you're a teacher.
    We're a better country when we help people get off welfare by 
finding them work. We're a better country when people learn to work. 
This training center here makes us a better country. It's a better 
country when you've got people who are willing to help people help 
themselves. It's a better country.
    It's a better country when people can own their own homes. When you 
own something, it makes America a better place. We've got a minority gap 
in ownership here for homes in America. We need to do something about 
it. We need to close that gap. We need to help people with downpayments. 
We need to get some--we need to get more capital into the marketplace, 
so people can find ways to borrow money to build--to buy their own home.
    No, it's a--the goal is more than just a safer country; it's a 
better place for all of us, see. I mean for all of us. You know, the 
enemy didn't realize, but out of the evil is going to come some 
incredible good here in America. I truly believe that. I believe that.
    I believe that we can achieve peace. And I want you to tell your 
sons and daughters that we fight for our freedom in order for there to 
be peace, for the world to be more peaceful, not only here at home but 
for children all across the world. See, we value each human life as 
important. We don't try to distinguish--everybody has got worth in the 
eyes of the Almighty, as far as we're concerned in this Nation.
    But peace is our goal--peace. There's going to be some steep hills 
to climb, no question about it, but we're going to work hard to achieve 
peace. Out of the evil done by these killers will come peace, we think--
I think. We have to be tough and determined and resolute, but we can 
achieve peace.
    And at home, we can have a better America. People say, ``Well, what 
can I do to

[[Page 1480]]

help?'' You can love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved 
yourself. You can help a neighbor in need. You can go to a shut-in and 
say, ``I love you.'' That's just a part of being--a part of loving your 
neighbor. You can mentor a child. You can understand your most important 
responsibility, if you're a mom or a dad, is to love your children with 
all your heart and all your soul. You should tell them you love them 
every single day. Put your arm around them. Find somebody who hurts, 
understand there's deep addiction and hopelessness in parts of our 
neighborhoods in America, and we can help change that, one person at a 
time.
    See, Government can hand out money--pretty good at it--[laughter]--
but it can't put hope into people's hearts. It can't put a sense of 
purpose in people's lives. Somebody said, ``Well, I can't do 
everything.'' No, but you can do something. You can do something. See, 
we can change America, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time.
    And I call upon our fellow Americans, here on Labor Day, to be a 
part of that change in America. Be a part of the gathering momentum of 
millions of acts of kindness and decency which show the true face and 
character of the greatest Nation, the greatest Nation on the face of the 
Earth.
    God bless you all. God bless. God bless America. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 2:35 p.m. outside the Carpenters' Training 
Center. In his remarks, he referred to Douglas J. McCarron, general 
president, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners; John A. 
``Jack'' Brooks, executive secretary-treasurer, Greater Pennsylvania 
Regional Council of Carpenters; Ray Vogel, coordinator, Carpenters' 
Training Center; and Jim Roddey, chief executive, Allegheny County, PA.


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[Page 1480]
 
Pages 1473	1516
 
Week Ending Friday, September 6, 2002
 
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Honduras-United States Treaty for 
the Return of Stolen, Robbed, or Embezzled Vehicles and Aircraft With 
Documentation

September 3, 2002

To the Senate of the United States:

    With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty Between the Government of 
the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of 
Honduras for the Return of Stolen, Robbed, or Embezzled Vehicles and 
Aircraft, with Annexes and a related exchange of notes, signed at 
Tegucigalpa on November 23, 2001. I transmit also, for the information 
of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to the 
Treaty.
    The Treaty is one of a series of stolen vehicle treaties being 
negotiated by the United States in order to eliminate the difficulties 
faced by owners of vehicles that have been stolen and transported across 
international borders. Like several in this series, this Treaty also 
covers aircraft. When it enters into force, it will be an effective tool 
to facilitate the return of U.S. vehicles and aircraft that have been 
stolen, robbed, or embezzled and found in Honduras.
    I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration 
to the Treaty and give its advice and consent to ratification.
                                                George W. Bush
The White House,
September 3, 2002.


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[Page 1480-1481]
 
Pages 1473	1516
 
Week Ending Friday, September 6, 2002
 
Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Transmitting 
Budget Amendments on Health, Transportation Security, and International 
Assistance

September 3, 2002

Dear Mr. Speaker:

    I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed requests for FY 2003 
budget amendments for the Departments of Health and Human Services and 
Transportation, and for International Assistance Programs.
    These amendments continue my commitment to provide necessary 
resources to enhance transportation security, to assist Israel and the 
people of the West Bank and Gaza, and to fight the growing pandemic of 
HIV/AIDS among developing countries.
    The details of these requests are set forth in the enclosed letter 
from the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and

[[Page 1481]]

Budget. I concur with her comments and observations.
    Sincerely,
                                                George W. Bush

Note: This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
September 4. An original was not available for verification of the 
content of this letter.


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[Page 1481-1482]
 
Pages 1473	1516
 
Week Ending Friday, September 6, 2002
 
Remarks Following a Meeting With Congressional Leaders and an Exchange 
With Reporters

September 4, 2002

    The President. Thank you all for coming. It's been my honor to 
welcome the leadership of the United States Congress here, to welcome 
them back from the August recess. We talked about a variety of issues--
talked about the defense appropriations bill and terrorism insurance and 
an energy bill, spent most of our time talking about a serious threat to 
the United States, a serious threat to the world, and that's Saddam 
Hussein.
    One of the things I made very clear to the Members here is that 
doing nothing about that serious threat is not an option for the United 
States. I also made it very clear that we look forward to a open dialog 
with Congress and the American people about the threat and that not only 
will we consult with the United States Congress--``we'' being the 
administration--but that my administration will fully participate in any 
hearings that the Congress wishes to have on this subject, on the 
subject about how to make America a more secure country, how to best 
protect the American families in our country. At the appropriate time, 
this administration will go to the Congress to seek approval for--
necessary to deal with the threat.
    At the same time, I will work with our friends in the world. I've 
invited Prime Minister Blair to come to Camp David on Saturday, and 
he'll--he's coming. I've looked forward to talking with him about our 
mutual concerns about how to make the world more secure and safe. I will 
see Jean Chretien on Monday, as we--we'll talk about how to make our 
borders work better, but at the same time, I'll talk to him about this 
subject. I'll be on the phone to leaders of the--China and Russia and 
France, and then I'll be giving the speech at the United Nations.
    Saddam Hussein is a serious threat. He is a significant problem. And 
it's something that this country must deal with. And today the process 
starts about how to have an open dialog with the elected officials and, 
therefore, the American people about our future and how best to deal 
with it.
    Let me answer a couple of questions. Steve Holland [Reuters], 
Fournier [Ron Fournier, Associated Press], and then Gregory [David 
Gregory, NBC News], and that's it.

U.N. Weapons Inspectors in Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, what's your opinion on putting U.N. weapons 
inspectors back in Iraq? Will you ask the U.N. to do that? Is that a 
viable option?
    The President. First of all, I'll be giving a speech on Tuesday--or 
the 12th--and you can come and listen to it. But let me say to you that 
the issue is not inspectors; the issue is disarmament. This is a man who 
said he would not arm up. This is a man who told the world that he would 
not harbor weapons of mass destruction. That's the primary issue, and 
I'll be discussing ways to make sure that that is the case.
    Ron.
    Q. So you will be--you will be discussing ways to make sure that he 
disarms? Are you talking about having inspectors back in?
    The President. I will first remind the United Nations that for 11 
long years, Saddam Hussein has sidestepped, crawfished, wheedled out of 
any agreement he had made not to harbor--not to develop weapons of mass 
destruction, agreements he's made to treat the people within his country 
with respect. And so I'm going to call upon the world to recognize that 
he is stiffing the world. And I will lay out, and I will talk about ways 
to make sure that he fulfills his obligations.

Consultation With Congress

    Q. Let me just follow up on your opening statement. When you say 
you're going to seek congressional approval, does that mean, in effect, 
Congress will have veto authority over your plan to oust Saddam Hussein?

[[Page 1482]]

    The President. I'm confident we will be able to--I'll be able to 
work with Congress to deal with this threat to the American people. And 
that's what I meant.

President Saddam Hussein of Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, you talked about Saddam Hussein stiffing the 
world. In your mind, has the time come to issue the Iraqi leader an 
ultimatum similar to that that you issued to the Taliban?
    The President. I am going to state clearly to the United Nations 
what I think. And I think that he has not fulfilled any of the 
obligations that he made to the world. And I believe it's important for 
the world to deal with this man. And I believe it's really important for 
the United States Congress to have an open dialog about how to deal with 
this threat.
    We are in a new era. The first battle of the--the first war of the 
21st century took place in Afghanistan. The United States is under 
threats. We are--we spent a lot of time, people around this table, good-
hearted people who care deeply about America spent a lot of time 
thinking about how best to secure our homeland even further. And this is 
a debate the American people must hear, must understand. And the world 
must understand as well that its credibility is at stake.
    Thank you all for coming.

Maxwell Gregory

    Q. Are you suggesting an ultimatum is coming? Is a deadline coming, 

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