U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

69–011 2008

110th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 110–82 

STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE 

MESSAGE 

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 

TRANSMITTING

A REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE UNION 

JANUARY 29, 2008.—Message and accompanying papers referred to the 

Committee on the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered 

to be printed 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARINGE:\Seals\Congress.#13

wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
(1) 

To the Congress of the United States: 

Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress, 

distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: 

Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of 

us could have imagined. We have faced hard decisions about peace 

and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health 

and welfare of our citizens. These issues call for vigorous debate, 

and I think it’s fair to say we’ve answered that call. Yet history will 

record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose. And together, we showed the world the power and resilience of American 

self-government. 

All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people’s business. That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our 

oath. And it remains our charge to keep. 

The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and 

prosperity of our Nation long after this session has ended. In this 

election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize 

our responsibilities and are determined to meet them. And let us 

show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes 

and cooperate for results at the same time. 

From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we have 

made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, 

and the American people expect us to get it done: 

In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that 

made our Nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of 

individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the 

collective wisdom of ordinary citizens. So in all we do, we must 

trust in the ability of free people to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives and their futures. 

To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their 

own money and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet 

tonight, our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America has added jobs for a record 52 straight months, but jobs are 

now growing at a slower pace. Wages are up, but so are prices for 

food and gas. Exports are rising, but the housing market has declined. And at kitchen tables across our country, there is concern 

about our economic future. 

In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic 

growth. But in the short run, we can all see that growth is slowing. 

So last week, my Administration reached agreement with Speaker 

Pelosi and Republican Leader Boehner on a robust growth package 

that includes tax relief for individuals and families and incentives 

for business investment. The temptation will be to load up the bill. 

That would delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable. 

This is a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
2 

our people working. And this Congress must pass it as soon as possible. 

We have other work to do on taxes. Unless the Congress acts, 

most of the tax relief we have delivered over the past 7 years will 

be taken away. Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief 

expire is not a tax increase. Try explaining that to 116 million 

American taxpayers who would see their taxes rise by an average 

of $1,800. Others have said they would personally be happy to pay 

higher taxes. I welcome their enthusiasm, and I am pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and money orders. 

Most Americans think their taxes are high enough. With all the 

other pressures on their finances, American families should not 

have to worry about the Federal Government taking a bigger bite 

out of their paychecks. There is only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: make the tax relief permanent. And Members of Congress should know: If any bill raising taxes reaches my desk, I will 

veto it. 

Just as we trust Americans with their own money, we need to 

earn their trust by spending their tax dollars wisely. Next week, 

I will send you a budget that terminates or substantially reduces 

151 wasteful or bloated programs totaling more than $18 billion. 

And this budget will keep America on track for a surplus in 2012. 

American families have to balance their budgets, and so should 

their Government. 

The people’s trust in their Government is undermined by congressional earmarks—special interest projects that are often snuck 

in at the last minute, without discussion or debate. Last year, I 

asked you to voluntarily cut the number and cost of earmarks in 

half. I also asked you to stop slipping earmarks into committee reports that never even come to a vote. Unfortunately, neither goal 

was met. So this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that 

does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I will send 

it back to you with my veto. And tomorrow, I will issue an Executive Order that directs Federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by the Congress. If these items are truly 

worth funding, the Congress should debate them in the open and 

hold a public vote. 

Our shared responsibilities extend beyond matters of taxes and 

spending. 

On housing, we must trust Americans with the responsibility of 

homeownership and empower them to weather turbulent times in 

the housing market. My Administration brought together the 

HOPE NOW alliance, which is helping many struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. The Congress can help even more. Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to reform Fannie Mae and 

Freddie Mac, modernize the Federal Housing Administration, and 

allow State housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to help homeowners refinance their mortgages. These are difficult times for 

many American families, and by taking these steps, we can help 

more of them keep their homes. 

To build a future of quality health care, we must trust patients 

and doctors to make medical decisions and empower them with better information and better options. We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
3 

The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, 

not government control. So I have proposed ending the bias in the 

tax code against those who do not get their health insurance 

through their employer. This one reform would put private coverage within reach for millions, and I call on the Congress to pass 

it this year. The Congress must also expand health savings accounts, create Association Health Plans for small businesses, promote health information technology, and confront the epidemic of 

junk medical lawsuits. With all these steps, we will help ensure 

that decisions about your medical care are made in the privacy of 

your doctor’s office—not in the halls of Congress. 

On education, we must trust students to learn if given the 

chance and empower parents to demand results from our schools. 

In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with 

dreams—and a decent education is their only hope of achieving 

them. Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left 

Behind Act, and today no one can deny its results. Last year, 

fourth and eighth graders achieved the highest math scores on 

record. Reading scores are on the rise. And African-American and 

Hispanic students posted all-time highs. Now we must work together to increase accountability, add flexibility for States and districts, reduce the number of high school dropouts, and provide 

extra help for struggling schools. Members of Congress: The No 

Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan achievement. It is succeeding. 

And we owe it to America’s children, their parents, and their teachers to strengthen this good law. 

We must also do more to help children when their schools do not 

measure up. Thanks to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships you approved, more than 2,600 of the poorest children in our Nation’s capital have found new hope at a faith-based or other non-public 

school. Sadly, these schools are disappearing at an alarming rate 

in many of America’s inner cities. So I will convene a White House 

summit aimed at strengthening these lifelines of learning. And to 

open the doors of these schools to more children, I ask you to support a new $300 million program called Pell Grants for Kids. We 

have seen how Pell Grants help low-income college students realize 

their full potential. Together, we have expanded the size and reach 

of these grants. Now let’s apply that same spirit to help liberate 

poor children trapped in failing public schools. 

On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in the world and empower them by opening up new markets 

overseas. Today, our economic growth increasingly depends on our 

ability to sell American goods, crops, and services all over the 

world. So we are working to break down barriers to trade and investment wherever we can. We are working for a successful Doha 

round of trade talks, and we must complete a good agreement this 

year. At the same time, we are pursuing opportunities to open up 

new markets by passing free trade agreements. 

I thank the Congress for approving a good agreement with Peru. 

Now I ask you to approve agreements with Colombia, Panama, and 

South Korea. Many products from these nations now enter America 

duty-free, yet many of our products face steep tariffs in their markets. These agreements will level the playing field. They will give 

us better access to nearly 100 million customers. And they will supVerDate Aug 31 2005 03:34 Jan 30, 2008 Jkt 069011 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HD082.XXX HD082

wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
4 

port good jobs for the finest workers in the world: those whose 

products say ‘‘Made in the USA.’’ These agreements also promote America’s strategic interests. The 

first agreement that will come before you is with Colombia, a 

friend of America that is confronting violence and terror and fighting drug traffickers. If we fail to pass this agreement, we will embolden the purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere. So we 

must come together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors 

in the region that democracy leads to a better life. 

Trade brings better jobs, better choices, and better prices. Yet for 

some Americans, trade can mean losing a job, and the Federal Government has a responsibility to help. I ask the Congress to reauthorize and reform trade adjustment assistance, so we can help 

these displaced workers learn new skills and find new jobs. 

To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology. Our security, our prosperity, and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil. Last year, I asked you to 

pass legislation to reduce oil consumption over the next decade, 

and you responded. Together we should take the next steps: Let us 

fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions. Let us increase the use of renewable 

power and emissions-free nuclear power. Let us continue investing 

in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power the 

cars and trucks of the future. Let us create a new international 

clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like 

India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let 

us complete an international agreement that has the potential to 

slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. 

This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by 

every major economy and gives none a free ride. The United States 

is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting 

global climate change. And the best way to meet these goals is for 

America to continue leading the way toward the development of 

cleaner and more efficient technology. 

To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in 

the skill of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the breakthroughs of tomorrow. Last year, the Congress passed 

legislation supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but 

never followed through with the funding. This funding is essential 

to keeping our scientific edge. So I ask the Congress to double Federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and 

ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on Earth. 

On matters of science and life, we must trust in the innovative 

spirit of medical researchers and empower them to discover new 

treatments while respecting moral boundaries. In November, we 

witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a 

way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. 

This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive 

debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without 

the destruction of human life. So we are expanding funding for this 

type of ethical medical research. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
5 

nues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with 

the dignity it deserves. So I call on the Congress to pass legislation 

that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting, 

or cloning of human life. 

On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our Founders and empower judges who understand that the Constitution 

means what it says. I have submitted judicial nominees who will 

rule by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel. Many of 

these nominees are being unfairly delayed. They are worthy of confirmation, and the Senate should give each of them a prompt upor-down vote. 

In communities across our land, we must trust in the good heart 

of the American people and empower them to serve their neighbors 

in need. Over the past 7 years, more of our fellow citizens have discovered that the pursuit of happiness leads to the path of service. 

Americans have volunteered in record numbers. Charitable donations are higher than ever. Faith-based groups are bringing hope 

to pockets of despair, with newfound support from the Federal Government. And to help guarantee equal treatment for faith-based organizations when they compete for Federal funds, I ask you to permanently extend Charitable Choice. 

Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new 

day in the Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience 

of the people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them 

build stronger and better than before. And tonight I am pleased to 

announce that in April we will host this year’s North American 

Summit of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the great city 

of New Orleans. 

There are two other pressing challenges that I have raised repeatedly before this body, and that this body has failed to address: 

entitlement spending and immigration. 

Every Member in this chamber knows that spending on entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is 

growing faster than we can afford. And we all know the painful 

choices ahead if America stays on this path: massive tax increases, 

sudden and drastic cuts in benefits, or crippling deficits. I have laid 

out proposals to reform these programs. Now I ask Members of 

Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital programs for our children and grandchildren. 

The other pressing challenge is immigration. America needs to 

secure our borders—and with your help, my Administration is taking steps to do so. We are increasing worksite enforcement, we are 

deploying fences and advanced technologies to stop illegal crossings, we have effectively ended the policy of ‘‘catch and release’’ at 

the border, and by the end of this year, we will have doubled the 

number of border patrol agents. Yet we also need to acknowledge 

that we will never fully secure our border until we create a lawful 

way for foreign workers to come here and support our economy. 

This will take pressure off the border and allow law enforcement 

to concentrate on those who mean us harm. We must also find a 

sensible and humane way to deal with people here illegally. Illegal 

immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved. And it must be 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
6 

resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest 

ideals. 

This is the business of our Nation here at home. Yet building a 

prosperous future for our citizens also depends on confronting enemies abroad and advancing liberty in troubled regions of the 

world. 

Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and 

peace. In the last 7 years, we have witnessed stirring moments in 

the history of liberty. We have seen citizens in Georgia and 

Ukraine stand up for their right to free and fair elections. We have 

seen people in Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. We have seen Afghans emerge from the tyranny of the 

Taliban to choose a new president and a new parliament. We have 

seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained fingers and celebrating 

their freedom. And these images of liberty have inspired us. 

In the past 7 years, we have also seen images that have sobered 

us. We have watched throngs of mourners in Lebanon and Pakistan carrying the caskets of beloved leaders taken by the assassin’s 

hand. We have seen wedding guests in blood-soaked finery staggering from a hotel in Jordan, Afghans and Iraqis blown up in 

mosques and markets, and trains in London and Madrid ripped 

apart by bombs. And on a clear September day, we saw thousands 

of our fellow citizens taken from us in an instant. These horrific 

images serve as a grim reminder: The advance of liberty is opposed 

by terrorists and extremists—evil men who despise freedom, despise America, and aim to subject millions to their violent rule. 

Since September 11, we have taken the fight to these terrorists 

and extremists. We will stay on the offense, we will keep up the 

pressure, and we will deliver justice to the enemies of America. 

We are engaged in the defining ideological struggle of the 21st 

century. The terrorists oppose every principle of humanity and decency that we hold dear. Yet in this war on terror, there is one 

thing we and our enemies agree on: In the long run, men and 

women who are free to determine their own destinies will reject 

terror and refuse to live in tyranny. That is why the terrorists are 

fighting to deny this choice to people in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Palestinian Territories. And that is why, 

for the security of America and the peace of the world, we are 

spreading the hope of freedom. 

In Afghanistan, America, our 25 NATO allies, and 15 partner nations are helping the Afghan people defend their freedom and rebuild their country. Thanks to the courage of these military and civilian personnel, a nation that was once a safe haven for al Qaida 

is now a young democracy where boys and girls are going to school, 

new roads and hospitals are being built, and people are looking to 

the future with new hope. These successes must continue, so we 

are adding 3,200 Marines to our forces in Afghanistan, where they 

will fight the terrorists and train the Afghan Army and police. Defeating the Taliban and al Qaida is critical to our security, and I 

thank the Congress for supporting America’s vital mission in Afghanistan. 

In Iraq, the terrorists and extremists are fighting to deny a 

proud people their liberty and to establish safe havens for attacks 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
7 

across the world. One year ago, our enemies were succeeding in 

their efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos. So we reviewed our strategy 

and changed course. We launched a surge of American forces into 

Iraq. And we gave our troops a new mission: Work with Iraqi forces 

to protect the Iraqi people, pursue the enemy in its strongholds, 

and deny the terrorists sanctuary anywhere in the country. 

The Iraqi people quickly realized that something dramatic had 

happened. Those who had worried that America was preparing to 

abandon them instead saw tens of thousands of American forces 

flowing into their country. They saw our forces moving into neighborhoods, clearing out the terrorists, and staying behind to ensure 

the enemy did not return. And they saw our troops, along with Provincial Reconstruction Teams that include Foreign Service Officers 

and other skilled public servants, coming in to ensure that improved security was followed by improvements in daily life. Our 

military and civilians in Iraq are performing with courage and distinction, and they have the gratitude of our whole Nation. 

The Iraqis launched a surge of their own. In the fall of 2006, 

Sunni tribal leaders grew tired of al Qaida’s brutality and started 

a popular uprising called ‘‘The Anbar Awakening.’’ Over the past 

year, similar movements have spread across the country. And 

today, this grassroots surge includes more than 80,000 Iraqi citizens who are fighting the terrorists. The government in Baghdad 

has stepped forward as well—adding more than 100,000 new Iraqi 

soldiers and police during the past year. 

While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the 

American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could 

have imagined just 1 year ago: 

When we met last year, many said containing the violence was 

impossible. A year later, high profile terrorist attacks are down, civilian deaths are down, and sectarian killings are down. 

When we met last year, militia extremists—some armed and 

trained by Iran—were wreaking havoc in large areas of Iraq. A 

year later, Coalition and Iraqi forces have killed or captured hundreds of militia fighters. And Iraqis of all backgrounds increasingly 

realize that defeating these militia fighters is critical to the future 

of their country. 

When we met last year, al Qaida had sanctuaries in many areas 

of Iraq, and their leaders had just offered American forces safe passage out of the country. Today, it is al Qaida that is searching for 

safe passage. They have been driven from many of the strongholds 

they once held, and over the past year, we have captured or killed 

thousands of extremists in Iraq, including hundreds of key al Qaida 

leaders and operatives. Last month, Osama bin Laden released a 

tape in which he railed against Iraqi tribal leaders who have 

turned on al Qaida and admitted that Coalition forces are growing 

stronger in Iraq. Ladies and gentlemen, some may deny the surge 

is working, but among the terrorists there is no doubt. Al Qaida 

is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated. 

When we met last year, our troop levels in Iraq were on the rise. 

Today, because of the progress just described, we are implementing 

a policy of ‘‘return on success,’’ and the surge forces we sent to Iraq 

are beginning to come home. 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
8 

This progress is a credit to the valor of our troops and the brilliance of their commanders. This evening, I want to speak directly 

to our men and women on the frontlines. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, 

Marines, and Coast Guardsmen: In the past year, you have done 

everything we have asked of you, and more. Our Nation is grateful 

for your courage. We are proud of your accomplishments. And tonight in this hallowed chamber, with the American people as our 

witness, we make you a solemn pledge: In the fight ahead, you will 

have all you need to protect our Nation. And I ask the Congress 

to meet its responsibilities to these brave men and women by fully 

funding our troops. 

Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, and we can still expect tough fighting ahead. Our objective 

in the coming year is to sustain and build on the gains we made 

in 2007, while transitioning to the next phase of our strategy. 

American troops are shifting from leading operations, to partnering 

with Iraqi forces, and, eventually, to a protective overwatch mission. As part of this transition, one Army brigade combat team and 

one Marine Expeditionary Unit have already come home and will 

not be replaced. In the coming months, four additional brigades 

and two Marine battalions will follow suit. Taken together, this 

means more than 20,000 of our troops are coming home. 

Any further drawdown of U.S. troops will be based on conditions 

in Iraq and the recommendations of our commanders. General 

Petraeus has warned that too fast a drawdown could result in the 

‘‘disintegration of the Iraqi Security Forces, al Qaida-Iraq regaining 

lost ground, [and] a marked increase in violence.’’ Members of Congress: Having come so far and achieved so much, we must not 

allow this to happen. 

In the coming year, we will work with Iraqi leaders as they build 

on the progress they are making toward political reconciliation. At 

the local level, Sunnis, Shia, and Kurds are beginning to come together to reclaim their communities and rebuild their lives. 

Progress in the provinces must be matched by progress in Baghdad. And we are seeing some encouraging signs. The national government is sharing oil revenues with the provinces. The parliament 

recently passed both a pension law and de-Ba’athification reform. 

Now they are debating a provincial powers law. The Iraqis still 

have a distance to travel. But after decades of dictatorship and the 

pain of sectarian violence, reconciliation is taking place—and the 

Iraqi people are taking control of their future. 

The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our Nation. 

But it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed. 

A free Iraq will deny al Qaida a safe haven. A free Iraq will show 

millions across the Middle East that a future of liberty is possible. 

And a free Iraq will be a friend of America, a partner in fighting 

terror, and a source of stability in a dangerous part of the world. 

By contrast, a failed Iraq would embolden extremists, strengthen 

Iran, and give terrorists a base from which to launch new attacks 

on our friends, our allies, and our homeland. The enemy has made 

its intentions clear. At a time when the momentum seemed to favor 

them, al Qaida’s top commander in Iraq declared that they will not 

rest until they have attacked us here in Washington. My fellow 

Americans: We will not rest either. We will not rest until this 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
9 

enemy has been defeated. We must do the difficult work today, so 

that years from now people will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment, prevailed in a tough fight, and left behind 

a more hopeful region and a safer America. 

We are also standing against the forces of extremism in the Holy 

Land, where we have new cause for hope. Palestinians have elected 

a president who recognizes that confronting terror is essential to 

achieving a state where his people can live in dignity and at peace 

with Israel. Israelis have leaders who recognize that a peaceful, 

democratic Palestinian state will be a source of lasting security. 

This month in Ramallah and Jerusalem, I assured leaders from 

both sides that America will do, and I will do, everything we can 

to help them achieve a peace agreement that defines a Palestinian 

state by the end of this year. The time has come for a Holy Land 

where a democratic Israel and a democratic Palestine live side-byside in peace. 

We are also standing against the forces of extremism embodied 

by the regime in Tehran. Iran’s rulers oppress a good and talented 

people. And wherever freedom advances in the Middle East, it 

seems the Iranian regime is there to oppose it. Iran is funding and 

training militia groups in Iraq, supporting Hezbollah terrorists in 

Lebanon, and backing Hamas’s efforts to undermine peace in the 

Holy Land. Tehran is also developing ballistic missiles of increasing range and continues to develop its capability to enrich uranium, which could be used to create a nuclear weapon. Our message to the people of Iran is clear: We have no quarrel with you, 

we respect your traditions and your history, and we look forward 

to the day when you have your freedom. Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear: Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment, so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of 

nations, come clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions, 

stop your oppression at home, and cease your support for terror 

abroad. But above all, know this: America will confront those who 

threaten our troops, we will stand by our allies, and we will defend 

our vital interests in the Persian Gulf. 

On the homefront, we will continue to take every lawful and effective measure to protect our country. This is our most solemn 

duty. We are grateful that there has not been another attack on 

our soil since September 11. This is not for a lack of desire or effort 

on the part of the enemy. In the past 6 years, we have stopped numerous attacks, including a plot to fly a plane into the tallest 

building in Los Angeles and another to blow up passenger jets 

bound for America over the Atlantic. Dedicated men and women in 

our Government toil day and night to stop the terrorists from carrying out their plans. These good citizens are saving American 

lives, and everyone in this chamber owes them our thanks. And we 

owe them something more: We owe them the tools they need to 

keep our people safe. 

One of the most important tools we can give them is the ability 

to monitor terrorist communications. To protect America, we need 

to know who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying, 

and what they are planning. Last year, the Congress passed legislation to help us do that. Unfortunately, the Congress set the legislation to expire on February 1. This means that if you do not act 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
10 

by Friday, our ability to track terrorist threats would be weakened 

and our citizens will be in greater danger. The Congress must ensure the flow of vital intelligence is not disrupted. The Congress 

must pass liability protection for companies believed to have assisted in the efforts to defend America. We have had ample time 

for debate. The time to act is now. 

Protecting our Nation from the dangers of a new century requires more than good intelligence and a strong military. It also requires changing the conditions that breed resentment and allow extremists to prey on despair. So America is using its influence to 

build a freer, more hopeful, and more compassionate world. This is 

a reflection of our national interest and the calling of our conscience. 

America is opposing genocide in Sudan and supporting freedom 

in countries from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and Burma. 

America is leading the fight against global poverty, with strong 

education initiatives and humanitarian assistance. We have also 

changed the way we deliver aid by launching the Millennium Challenge Account. This program strengthens democracy, transparency, 

and the rule of law in developing nations, and I ask you to fully 

fund this important initiative. 

America is leading the fight against global hunger. Today, more 

than half the world’s food aid comes from the United States. And 

tonight, I ask the Congress to support an innovative proposal to 

provide food assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers 

in the developing world, so we can build up local agriculture and 

help break the cycle of famine. 

America is leading the fight against disease. With your help, we 

are working to cut by half the number of malaria-related deaths in 

15 African nations. And our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is 

treating 1.4 million people. We can bring healing and hope to many 

more. So I ask you to maintain the principles that have changed 

behavior and made this program a success. And I call on you to 

double our initial commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS by approving 

an additional $30 billion over the next 5 years. 

America is a force for hope in the world because we are a compassionate people, and some of the most compassionate Americans 

are those who have stepped forward to protect us. We must keep 

faith with all who have risked life and limb so that we might live 

in freedom and peace. Over the past 7 years, we have increased 

funding for veterans by more than 95 percent. As we increase funding, we must also reform our veterans system to meet the needs 

of a new war and a new generation. I call on the Congress to enact 

the reforms recommended by Senator Bob Dole and Secretary 

Donna Shalala, so we can improve the system of care for our 

wounded warriors and help them build lives of hope, promise, and 

dignity. 

Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure 

sleepless nights and the daily struggle of providing for children 

while a loved one is serving far from home. We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I ask you to join me in expanding 

their access to childcare, creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across the Federal Government, and allowing our 

troops to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouses 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING
11 

or children. Our military families serve our Nation, they inspire 

our Nation, and tonight our Nation honors them. 

The secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our 

greatness lies not in our Government, but in the spirit and determination of our people. When the Federal Convention met in Philadelphia in 1787, our Nation was bound by the Articles of Confederation, which began with the words, ‘‘We the undersigned delegates.’’ When Gouverneur Morris was asked to draft the preamble 

to our new Constitution, he offered an important revision and 

opened with words that changed the course of our Nation and the 

history of the world: ‘‘We the people.’’ By trusting the people, our Founders wagered that a great and 

noble Nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts 

of all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful Nation on earth and a beacon of hope for millions. And so 

long as we continue to trust the people, our Nation will prosper, 

our liberty will be secure, and the State of our Union will remain 

strong. So tonight, with confidence in freedom’s power, and trust in 

the people, let us set forth to do their business. 

GEORGE W. BUSH. 

THE WHITE HOUSE, January 28, 2008. 

Æ 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HEARING