On January 28, President Bush delivered his second State of the Union address to Congress and the American people, placing a possible war with Iraq and the security of the nation at the top of his agenda. The President also touched on several issues important to women and their families.
He began by stating that this session of Congress has “the duty to reform domestic programs vital to our country.” He then noted that “during the last two years we have seen what can be accomplished when we work together” and highlighted improvements made to the education system, saying “We achieved historic education reform which must now be carried out in every school and in every classroom.”
During his speech, the President highlighted issues that will be addressed in the budget that he plans to send to Congress next week, including the economy, health care coverage, and funding for international HIV/AIDS programs.
He stressed that the United States must have “an economy that grows fast enough to employ every man and woman who seeks a job.” He called for immediately implementing tax reductions for married couples not scheduled to take effect until 2009. He also proposed immediately raising the annual child tax credit from $600 to $1,000, instead of waiting for scheduled implementation in 2010. “If this tax relief is good for Americans three or five years from now, it is even better for Americans today,” he said.
The President also touched on affordable health care for all Americans. He urged Congress to “reform and strengthen Medicare” by including a new prescription drug benefit and increasing spending for the health care program by $400 billion over the next 10 years. He emphasized that “health care reform must begin with Medicare; Medicare is the binding commitment of a caring society.”
The President also noted another goal–to “apply the compassion of America to the deepest problems of America.” He added, “Americans are doing the work of compassion every day: visiting prisoners, providing shelter for battered women, bringing companionship to lonely seniors.” He stressed that these efforts, “when appropriate…deserve the assistance of the federal government.”
He also urged Congress to pass his faith-based initiative and the Citizen Service Act “to encourage acts of compassion.” He proposed a $450 million program to bring mentors to more than a million disadvantaged youth, saying the government “will support the training and recruiting of mentors, yet it is the men and women of America who will fill the need. One mentor, one person, can change a life forever.”
The President also proposed a new $600 million program to treat drug addictions. He added, “by caring for…addicted men and women who need treatment, we are building a more welcoming society, a culture that values every life.” The President then urged Congress to end the practice of “partial-birth” abortion and to pass a law banning all human cloning.
In his remarks, the President also spoke of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. Noting that on that continent nearly 30 million people are suffering from HIV/AIDS, he said, “Seldom has history offered a greater opportunity to do so much for so many.” He explained his new proposal, the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, calling it “a work of mercy beyond all current international efforts to help the people of Africa.” The President asked Congress to commit $15 billion over the next five years to “prevent 7 million new AIDS infections, treat at least 2 million people with life-extending drugs and provide humane care for millions of people suffering from AIDS and for children orphaned by AIDS.” He continued, “This nation can lead the world in sparing innocent people from a plague of nature.”
