pd17fe03 Statement on Initiatives To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions...

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all his life--$3,500 means something to him.
    When you hear the debate about this kind of class warfare, rhetoric 
about, ``Oh, this is for the rich, only for the rich,'' I want you to 
think about the Joe Kempers of the world. I certainly will. A fellow who 
worked for our Government and now a fellow who we trust

[[Page 192]]

with that $3,500, because it's his money. And when he invests it, it's 
going to have a positive effect. All the Joe Kempers of the world taking 
that extra money and investing it will mean somebody else is likely to 
find a job, and that's important for our fellow Americans to understand.
    We met with Tim Roberts and the Lanes, Brian and Wendy Lane. They 
were--they are younger parents. The tax relief plan will mean they will 
have more money to invest for their children. When they set aside the--
some of the money that they get in a child's education trust, for 
example, and that compounds over time, it means it's more likely that 
that child is going to have a pretty good nest egg. The more money they 
have, the more likely it is they'll be able to save for their children's 
future.
    If we get rid of the double taxation of dividends, it means that one 
of the good investment vehicles for a child who is young today will be a 
dividend-paying stock, because not only will the person be able to get 
the yield, the person will get the appreciation of the company in which 
they invest.
    These good couples work hard for their children. They make 
sacrifices for their children. And it makes sense for our tax policy to 
reward them for their sacrifices.
    The plan we've laid out is good for job creation. The plan we've 
laid out also speaks to the aspirations of many of our citizens. And 
that's very important for Congress to understand when they debate this 
plan. It speaks for the aspirations of the senior citizen to have a 
comfortable lifestyle when they retire. It speaks to the aspirations of 
the moms and dads to be able to invest for their children. It speaks to 
the aspirations of a person looking for work today. It really speaks to 
the hopes of our country that we want our economy to be as strong as it 
possibly can be, as we take on some of the great challenges which this 
country has ever faced.
    This country will accomplish anything we set our mind to. We will 
achieve peace in the world. We will work for freedom, not only here in 
America, a free and just society. We believe in freedom around the world 
because everybody has got worth. See, one of the great principles of 
America is everybody has dignity. Everybody counts. Everybody matters. 
As I said in my State of the Union, liberty is not America's gift to the 
world. It is God's gift to human--mankind, and that's what I believe.
    And as we think about how to have a better society and a more 
peaceful world, we've got to trust in the wisdom and strength of the 
American people. After all, the American people is this country's 
greatest asset.
    I boldly predict that with good policy this economy will be strong. 
I boldly predict that with wise diplomatic policy the world will be more 
peaceful. And I can predict that, because we happen to live in the 
greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you all for coming. And 
may God bless America.

Note: The President spoke at 2:13 p.m. in the Founders Room at the 
Society for Human Resource Management. In his remarks, he referred to 
Charles Schwab, chairman, Charles Schwab Corp.; Susan Meisinger, 
president and chief executive officer, and David B. Hutchins, chair, 
Society for Human Resource Management. The Office of the Press Secretary 
also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.


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[Page 192-193]
 
Pages 175-211
 
Week Ending Friday, February 14, 2003
 
Statement on Initiatives To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

February 12, 2003

    The United States is taking prudent steps to address the long-term 
challenge of global climate change. We are reducing projected greenhouse 
gas emissions in the near term, while devoting greater resources to 
improving climate change science and developing advanced energy 
technologies. America has already made great progress in this effort: 
Between 1990 and 2001, industrial sector emissions were held constant, 
while our economy grew by almost 40 percent. Sustaining and accelerating 
this progress will help us meet our goal of reducing the greenhouse gas 
intensity of the American economy by 18 percent by 2012.

[[Page 193]]

    A year ago, I challenged American businesses to develop new, 
voluntary initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I am pleased 
to announce today that 12 major industrial sectors and the membership of 
the Business Roundtable have responded with ambitious commitments to 
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decade.
    America's electric utilities; petroleum refiners and natural gas 
producers; chemical, automotive, magnesium, iron and steel 
manufacturers; forest and paper producers; railroads; the mining, 
cement, aluminum and semiconductor industries; and many of America's 
leading corporations have committed to actions that will prevent 
millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decade. I 
commend these initiatives which will help these businesses and 
industries continue to improve their energy efficiency and overall 
productivity, while contributing toward achieving our goal to reduce the 
greenhouse gas intensity of the American economy.
    As I said last year, every sector of the economy will need to 
contribute to our efforts to achieve our ambitious national goal. These 
initiatives are a first step in what we expect to be an ongoing 
engagement with these and other sectors of our economy in the years 
ahead.
    Underpinning our approach to climate change is an understanding that 
meeting this long-term challenge requires policies that recognize that 
sustained economic growth is an essential part of the solution. Policies 
that undermine the health of our economy would only hamper America's 
ability to develop and deploy new energy technologies and invest in 
energy efficiency and productivity improvements. The United States is 
the world's leader in technological development, industrial 
productivity, and environmental quality. These strengths make possible 
the initiatives that have been announced today to reduce or capture and 
store greenhouse gas emissions.


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[Page 193-194]
 
Pages 175-211
 
Week Ending Friday, February 14, 2003
 
Memorandum on the Interagency Working Group on Assistive Technology 
Mobility Devices

February 12, 2003

Memorandum for the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, the Secretary of Labor, the Commissioner of Social 
Security

Subject: Interagency Working Group on Assistive Technology Mobility 
Devices

    When President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990, America opened its door to a new age for 
people with disabilities. Although much progress has been made since 
then, significant challenges remain for individuals with disabilities 
who seek full participation in American society.
    My Administration is committed to increasing education and 
employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. My New 
Freedom Initiative strives to provide people with disabilities increased 
opportunities to lead more independent lives by expanding education and 
job opportunities, and by ensuring that the latest technologies, which 
often make education and employment possible, are readily available.
    Often, individuals with disabilities require assistive technology 
mobility devices--such as powered wheelchairs and scooters--in order to 
access education, training, and competitive employment. While there are 
several Federal programs, as well as State and local efforts, that help 
individuals with disabilities obtain these and other assistive 
technologies, they are not adequately coordinated. Other Federal 
programs provide funding of assistive technology mobility devices for 
medical purposes, but the intent of these programs has always been, and 
should remain, medical rather than educational or vocational.
    Consistent with my interest in improving the coordination of the 
Federal programs that help provide individuals with assistive technology 
mobility devices, I hereby direct the following:

[[Page 194]]

    Section 1. Establishment of the Interagency Working Group on 
Assistive Technology Mobility Devices. (a) There is hereby established, 
within the Department of Education for administrative purposes, the 
``Interagency Working Group on Assistive Technology Mobility Devices'' 
(Working Group). The Working Group shall consist exclusively of:
 (i)         the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and 
            Human Services, the Secretary of Labor, and the Commissioner 
            of Social Security; and
 (ii)        such other Federal officials as the Assistant to the 
            President for Domestic Policy from time to time, on my 
            behalf, may designate.
    (b) The Secretary of Education shall serve as Chairman of the 
Working Group. The Chairman shall convene and preside at any meetings of 
the Working Group, determine its agenda, direct its work, and, as 
appropriate to particular subject matters, establish and direct 
subgroups of the Working Group, which shall consist exclusively of 
Working Group members.
    (c) A member of the Working Group may designate, to perform the 
Working Group or Working Group subgroup functions of the member, any 
person who is part of the member's agency and who is an officer 
appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, or 
a member of the Senior Executive Service.
    Sec. 2. Functions of the Working Group. The Working Group shall: (a) 
identify existing Federal Government programs and resources that are 
designed to help individuals with disabilities obtain the assistive 
technology mobility devices that they need for education and employment; 
and (b) work with State, local, and tribal governments, as appropriate, 
to identify State, local, and tribal programs that are designed to help 
individuals with disabilities obtain assistive technology mobility 
devices for education and employment. The Secretary of Education shall 
take the lead in coordinating these efforts.
    Sec. 3. Report. In performing its functions the Working Group shall 
present to me, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic 
Policy, a report not later than 180 days from the date of this 
memorandum. The report shall include the specific steps that each of the 
agencies represented on the Working Group will take to: (a) improve 
coordination among their existing programs; (b) train vocational 
rehabilitation counselors, other service providers, and individuals with 
disabilities, as provided by law; and (c) inform individuals with 
disabilities about these opportunities. The report shall also include a 
description of how individuals with disabilities can pool funding from 
existing resources to obtain the assistive technology mobility devices 
that they need to pursue their educational and employment goals.
    Sec. 4. Termination. The Working Group shall terminate 30 days after 
the date of the submission of the report as described in section 3 of 
this memorandum.
    Sec. 5. General. (a) Agencies shall assist the Working Group and 
provide information to the Working Group consistent with applicable law 
as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Working Group. To 
the extent permitted by law, the Department of Education shall provide 
funding and administrative support for the Working Group.
    (b) As used in this memorandum, the term ``agency'' means an 
executive department or agency of the Federal Government.
    (c) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or 
otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative 
proposals.
    (d) This memorandum is intended only to improve the internal 
management of the Federal Government and is not intended to, and does 
not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable 
at law or equity by a party against the United States, its departments, 
agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its officers or employees, or 
any other person.
                                                George W. Bush

[[Page 195]]


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[Page 195]
 
Pages 175-211
 
Week Ending Friday, February 14, 2003
 
Memorandum on Designation of Officers of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs To Act as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

February 12, 2003

Memorandum for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Subject: Designation of Officers of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to Act as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

    By the authority vested in me as President under the Constitution 
and laws of the United States of America and pursuant to the Federal 
Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., I hereby order 
that:
    Section 1. Order of Succession.
    During any period when the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
(Secretary), the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Deputy 
Secretary), and the officers designated by Executive Order 13247 of 
December 18, 2001, to perform the functions and duties of the office of 
Secretary have died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the 
functions and duties of the office of Secretary, the following officers 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, in the order listed, shall 
perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary, if they are 
eligible to act as Secretary under the provisions of the Federal 
Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, until such time as at least one of the 
officers mentioned above is able to perform the functions and duties of 
the office of Secretary:
     Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 8 Director, Veterans 
      Health Administration;
     VISN 7 Director, Veterans Health Administration;
     Veterans Benefits Administration Southern Area Director; and
     North Florida/South Georgia Healthcare System Director.
    Sec. 2. Exceptions.
 (a)         No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 
            1 in an acting capacity, by virtue of so serving, shall act 
            as Secretary pursuant to this memorandum.
 (b)         Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the 
            President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by the 
            Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., 
            to depart from this memorandum in designating an acting 
            Secretary.
    Sec. 3. Publication.
    You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the 
Federal Register.
                                                George W. Bush


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