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districts, greater local control, more options for parents, and more
funding for what works. I urge Members of the House and Senate to act
soon and send me this legislation so that States and school districts
can begin implementing these important reforms.
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Week Ending Friday, December 14, 2001
Remarks Following a Meeting With the Economic Team
December 12, 2001
Economic Stimulus Package
Thank you all for coming. I've just met with my top economic team to
discuss the importance of an economic stimulus package to our--to the
future of our economy. We strongly agree that we need an economic
stimulus package, and I'm hopeful we'll be able to achieve one.
Last night I met with people from the United States Senate, Senators
Breaux and Nelson and Miller, along with centrist Republicans, and we
agree that there is enough votes to get a good package out of the
Senate, a package that I think will help our economy, a package that
these Democrats and Republicans think will help workers and the economy.
And I am hopeful that with good work with the people around this table
and with the leadership out of the Senate and the House, that we'll get
a good package.
It's important to take care of those workers that have been affected
by the attacks of September the 11th, and it's also important to focus
on ways to grow our economy. And so this administration is committed to
helping the Congress do its job, and that is to respond to the economic
times we find ourselves in.
I want to thank you for coming. Happy holidays. Looking forward to
seeing you at the event, the Christmas event at the White House. Oh, and
see you at the next event. [Laughter]
Note: The President spoke at 10:55 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
White House.
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Week Ending Friday, December 14, 2001
Remarks on Signing the Afghan Women and Children Relief Act of 2001
December 12, 2001
Thank you all. For several years, the people of Afghanistan have
suffered under one of the most brutal regimes--brutal regimes--in modern
history, a regime allied with terrorists and a regime at war with women.
Thanks to our military and our allies and the brave fighters of
Afghanistan, the Taliban regime is coming to an end.
Yet, our responsibilities to the people of Afghanistan have not
ended. We work for a new era of human rights and human dignity in that
country. The agreement reached in Bonn last week means that in 10 days
the international community will have a new partner, an interim
government of a new Afghanistan.
We join those in the interim government who seek education and
better health for every Afghan woman and child. And today, with the
Afghan Women and Children Relief Act, we take an important step toward
that goal.
I want to thank Laura for her introduction, and I want to thank her
for her steadiness during this crisis. I want to thank Farida for her
courage. I want to thank the Members of the House and the Senate who
sponsored this piece of legislation, and all the Members of Congress who
are here today.
I want to thank Sima Wali, who is the president and CEO of Refugee
Women in Development, a key advocate for women's
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rights at the conference of Bonn negotiations last week.
I thank the members of my Cabinet who are here, Secretary Veneman
and Administrator Whitman, thank you all for being here. I want to thank
the ambassadors who are here representing the diplomatic corps. Thank
you all for coming. And I also want to thank Billie Holladay for opening
up this beautiful museum for all of us to come and celebrate this
important piece of legislation.
America is beginning to realize that the dreams of the terrorists
and the Taliban were a waking nightmare for Afghan women and their
children. The Taliban murdered teenagers for laughing in the presence of
soldiers. They jailed children as young as 10 years old and tortured
them for supposed crimes of their parents.
Afghan women were banned from speaking or laughing loudly. They were
banned from riding bicycles or attending school. They were denied basic
health care and were killed on suspicion of adultery. One news magazine
reports, ``It's hard to find a woman in Kabul who does not remember a
beating at the hands of the Taliban.''
In Afghanistan, America not only fights for our security, but we
fight for the values we hold dear. We strongly reject the Taliban way.
We strongly reject their brutality toward women and children. They not
only violate basic human rights; they're barbaric in their indefensible
meting of justice. It's wrong. Their attitude is wrong for any culture.
Their attitude is wrong for any religion.
You know, life in Afghanistan wasn't always this way. Before the
Taliban came, women played an incredibly important part of that society.
Seventy percent of the nation's teachers were women. Half of the
government workers in Afghanistan were women, and 40 percent of the
doctors in the capital of Kabul were women. The Taliban destroyed that
progress. And in the process, they offered us a clear image of the world
they and the terrorists would like to impose on the rest of us.
The central goal of the terrorists is the brutal oppression of
women, and not only the women of Afghanistan. The terrorists who help
rule Afghanistan are found in dozens and dozens of countries around the
world. And that is the reason this great Nation, with our friends and
allies, will not rest until we bring them all to justice.
America is so proud of our military and our allies, because like the
rest of us here, we've seen the pictures of joy when we liberated city
after city in Afghanistan. And none of us will ever forget the laughter
and the music and the cheering and the clapping at a stadium that was
once used for public execution. Children now fly kites, and they play
games. Women now come out of their homes from house arrest, able to walk
the streets without chaperons. ``It feels like we've all been released
from prison,'' said one young person in Kabul, ``that the whole of
Afghanistan has been released from prison.''
This is an important achievement. Yet, a liberated Afghanistan must
now be rebuilt so that it will never again practice terror at home or
abroad. This work begins by ensuring the essential rights of all
Afghans.
This week is Human Rights Week, when we celebrate the adoption of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights more than a century ago--a
half-century ago. The preamble to that document declares that the people
of the world reaffirm their ``faith in fundamental human rights, in the
dignity and worth of the human person, and in equal rights of men and
women.'' This is a great goal, and that's why I'm so pleased that
Afghanistan's new government will respect the rights of all people,
women and men.
America and our allies will do our part in the rebuilding of
Afghanistan. We learned our lessons from the past. We will not leave
until the mission is complete. We will work with international
institutions on long-term development--on the long-term development of
Afghanistan. We will provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the
people of Afghanistan.
After years of civil war and misrule by the Taliban, this is going
to be an incredibly difficult winter in Afghanistan. We're doing what we
can to help alleviate the suffering. In the month of November, the
United Nations World Food Program, with our strong support, provided
enough supplies to feed 4.3 million Afghans. And the Defense Department
will continue to make sure that
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food is delivered in remote regions of that impoverished, poor, starving
country.
The bill I sign today extends and strengthens our efforts. The
Afghan Women and Children Relief Act commits the United States to
providing education and medical assistance to Afghan women and children
and to Afghan refugees in surrounding countries.
The overwhelming support for this legislation sends a clear message:
As we drive out the Taliban and the terrorists, we are determined to
lift up the people of Afghanistan. The women and children of Afghanistan
have suffered enough. This great Nation will work hard to bring them
hope and help. To the bill's sponsors, thank you from the bottom of our
hearts. You show the true compassion of this great land.
May God bless the women and children of Afghanistan.
Note: The President spoke at 11:35 a.m. in the Great Hall of the
National Museum of Women in the Arts. In his remarks, he referred to
Afghan human rights activist Farida; and Wilhelmina ``Billie'' Cole
Holladay, founder and chair of the board, the National Museum of Women
in the Arts. S. 1573, approved December 12, was assigned Public Law No.
107-81.
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Week Ending Friday, December 14, 2001
Statement on Representative Richard K. Armey's Decision Not To Seek
Reelection
December 12, 2001
The country, the people of Texas, and the Congress have been well
served by Congressman Dick Armey. As a fellow Texan, I know his
effective leadership firsthand.
When he was a sophomore lawmaker, and a member of the then minority
party, Dick Armey proved his mettle by authoring and passing a major
base closure initiative that was signed into law. As majority leader, he
has skillfully guided legislation through Congress; his dedication to
reforming Government, lowering taxes, and simplifying the tax system has
deeply influenced public policy.
I know Dick's dedication to public service will remain strong, even
during his retirement. His sense of humor, candor, and leadership will
be sorely missed in Congress.
Laura and I extend our thanks to Dick, his wife, Susan, and their
family, and we wish each of them the best in the future.
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Week Ending Friday, December 14, 2001
Statement on House of Representatives Action on the ``Help America Vote Act''
December 12, 2001
I commend the House of Representatives for today's overwhelming
passage of the bipartisan ``Help America Vote Act.'' This legislation
goes a long way toward adopting reforms advocated by the Ford/Carter
Commission on Federal Election Reform and is based on principles I
endorsed and recommended to Congress in July. The Ney-Hoyer bill is a
good start in achieving these goals--it respects the value of every
eligible vote and the primary role of State, county, and local
governments in elections. I look forward to working with Congress to
enact responsible election reform before the upcoming 2002 elections.
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Week Ending Friday, December 14, 2001
Statement on Congressional Action on Bioterrorism Defense Legislation
December 12, 2001
I commend Congressmen Tauzin and Dingell for successfully passing
bipartisan legislation that will help meet our immediate bioterrorism
defense needs. Their legislation includes many of my priorities,
including proposals to expand the pharmaceutical stockpile, increase our
supply of smallpox vaccines, strengthen State and local preparedness,
and improve the safety of our food supply.
I look forward to working closely with Congressmen Tauzin and
Dingell, as well as Senators Kennedy, Gregg, and Frist, to quickly reach
a bipartisan consensus on this important legislation.
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Week Ending Friday, December 14, 2001
Memorandum on the Congressional Subpoena for Executive Branch Documents
December 12, 2001
Memorandum for the Attorney General
Subject: Congressional Subpoena for Executive Branch Documents
I have been advised that the Committee on Government Reform of the
House of Representatives has subpoenaed confidential Department of
Justice documents. The documents consist of memoranda from the Chief of
the Campaign Financing Task Force to former Attorney General Janet Reno
recommending that a Special Counsel be appointed to investigate a matter
under review by the Task Force, memoranda written in response to those
memoranda, and deliberative memoranda from other investigations
containing advice and recommendations concerning whether particular
criminal prosecutions should be brought. I understand that, among other
accommodations the Department has provided the Committee concerning the
matters that are the subject of these documents, the Department has
provided briefings with explanations of the reasons for the
prosecutorial decisions, and is willing to provide further briefings. I
also understand that you believe it would be inconsistent with the
constitutional doctrine of separation of powers and the Department's law
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