And it is a responsible budget. The President's approach keeps spending in line with inflation while meeting the nation's most important priorities. As the President has said, there is no greater priority than education. Our children are our greatest investment. They are our legacy.
Education is the first step out of poverty and into a world of opportunity.
That is why President Bush has made his greatest investment in the Department of Education with a nearly 12 percent increase in its budget. There will be increased funding for reading programs that will open the doors of learning for a lifetime. And more money will be available to recruit and train the teachers who are so critical to a child's educational development. A prescription drug benefit for low-income seniors is created so that no one will have to choose between buying food and buying medicine. Our national defense is strengthened and the quality of life for military personnel will be improved.