Tax cuts that are much higher than the Presidents' proposals would require us to make program reductions that would unduly harm our economy and our society. I hope we can close this gap. Second, the President's budget bolsters areas critical to future productivity. The surest way to enhance productivity, and maintain our country's competitive edge in the future, is by investing in areas that have long term payoffs. I mention moving families from welfare to work in the context of enhancing productivity because I believe that bringing welfare recipients into the economic mainstream and eliminating the social costs associated with welfare is critical to the future economic growth of the country and affects everyone.
Welfare reform is an economic issue, as well as a social issue.
Revitalizing our cities and moving welfare recipients to work is part of a much broader effort to bring the economically disenfranchised, many of whom are not welfare recipients, into the economic mainstream. This is the right time to implement these leaner, private-sector oriented approaches toward fostering growth in the inner cities as we move to balance the budget. The final area I wish to mention regards the importance of providing adequate resources to maintain U.S. leadership in the global economy. The budget seeks a significant increase in overall funding to sustain our international engagement, and our role, as the President says, as the world's indispensable nation. To shape world events to advance our security and economic self-interest, we must meet our international obligations and support and lead in the United Nations and in the international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, the International Development Association and the International Monetary Fund.