Social Security
President Calls for Social Security Reform
President
Bush Thursday discussed the need to reform Social Security
for younger workers. "[T]he first thing I want to say
to those who receive a Social Security check today: nothing
changes for you; you're in good shape. The system is solvent
for people receiving a check.... The question is whether younger
Americans will be able to have a safety net, a retirement
system just like today's generation gets.
"And here's why we have a problem. There's a lot of
people, like me, getting ready to retire.... About 70 million-plus
of us are getting ready to retire.... There's now about
40 million retirees. So you get a sense of the problem.
In other words, a whole bunch of people are getting ready
to retire, and we're living longer than the previous generation,
and we've been promised greater benefits than the previous
generation....
"The problem we have is that there are fewer people
paying into the system. In 1950, there were about 16 workers
for every beneficiary. Today, there's 3.3 workers for every
beneficiary. Soon there will be two workers for every beneficiary.
You've got a lot of people living longer, getting greater
benefits with fewer people paying for us. And the system,
as a result, starts going into the red when the baby boomer
generation begins to retire....
"I believe future generations ought to receive benefits
equal to or greater than the previous generation. I like
the idea that has been put on the table by a Democrat economist
named Pozen. It's called progressive indexing... [E]verybody's
benefits go up. The wealthier people's benefits will go
up slower than the poorer benefits. And in between, there's
a scale. That's called progressive indexing. It basically
says we can make a commitment to poor Americans that if
you worked all your life, you're not going to retire into
poverty....
"I also think we ought to make the system a better
deal for younger workers, and that means giving younger
workers the option, the ability, if they so choose, to take
some of their money... and set it aside in what we call
a voluntary personal savings account. I like the idea of
giving somebody a chance to build a nest egg that the government
can't spend....
"I like the idea of encouraging people to own assets
that they get to manage.... So I think you ought to be allowed
to take some of your money, set it aside in a voluntary
personal savings account so you can invest in bonds or stocks
-- bonds and stocks, whatever you so choose....
"See, the system is not fair today. It's not fair
for younger workers to know it's going broke and you have
to contribute into it. It's not fair for people living today,
who worked in their system all their -- paid into the system
and there's not an asset upon death, early death. It's not
right. And I think now is the time to get something done."
Iraq
President Welcomes Iraqi Prime Minister Jaafari
President
Bush on Friday held a press availability with Iraqi Prime
Minister Jaafari. He said, "I am honored to welcome you
to the White House. As the leader of Iraq's first democratically
elected government in more than 50 years, you are helping
to lift your country from decades of fear and oppression.
"The Prime Minister is a great Iraqi patriot, he's
a friend of liberty, he's a strong partner for peace and
freedom....
"I told the Prime Minister that the American people
share his democratic vision for Iraq. I told him of our
nation's deep and abiding respect for Islam, for the people
of Iraq, and for the potential of the nation that now belongs
to them.
"Today we meet at a critical moment in the history
of this proud nation. In just a few days, we will mark the
first anniversary of the return of Iraq to its people....
"Seven months after resuming sovereignty over their
nation, the Iraqi people defied the car bombers and assassins
to hold their first free elections in a half century. In
April, the newly elected Transitional National Assembly
formed a government and appointed Dr. Jaafari as the Prime
Minister. This month, after a spirited debate, the Iraqis
reached an agreement to expand their constitutional drafting
committee to include more Sunni Arabs, so that this important
community also has a strong voice in shaping the future
of their country."
CAFTA-DR
President Discusses CAFTA-DR with Bipartisan Leaders
President
Bush on Thursday said, "Today, CAFTA presents us with
an historic opportunity to advance a free and fair trading
system that will bring benefits to all sides.... It's a good
deal for America because CAFTA will help level the playing
field for our goods and services. Under existing rules, nearly
80 percent of imports from Central America and the Dominican
Republic already enter the United States duty free. But US
exports into the region face heavy tariffs....
"By passing CAFTA, the United States would open up
a market of 44 million consumers for our farmers and small
business people and entrepreneurs. By lowering barriers
in key segments like textiles, CAFTA will put our region
in a better position to compete with low-cost producers
in Asia.
"For the young democracies of Central America and
the Dominican Republic, CAFTA would continue the current
trade benefits. That means good jobs and higher labor standards
for their workers. And because of reduced tariffs on US
goods, consumers in these countries would have access to
better goods at lower prices....
"By transforming our hemisphere into a powerful trading
area, CAFTA will help promote democracy, security and prosperity.
The United States was built on freedom, and the more of
it we have in our own backyard, the freer and safer and
more prosperous America will be. The leaders from both parties
here today share this vision."
Energy
President Discusses Energy Policy, Economic Security
In
Maryland on Wednesday, President Bush called on Congress to
pass the energy bill for the good of the American economy.
"These are incredibly hopeful times for our country,
and the state of our economy is strong.... Over the past year,
America's economy has grown faster than any major industrialized
economy in the world....
"Over the past two years, America has added more than
3.5 million new jobs. The unemployment rate is down to 5.1
percent. That's lower than the average rate in the 1970s,
the 1980s, and the 1990s.
"...I understand parts of our country are still struggling
from the effects of the recession and the attacks. I know
some workers are concerned about jobs going overseas. I
know some are concerned about gaining the skills necessary
to compete in the global market that we live in. I know
that families are worried about health care and retirement.
And I know moms and dads are worried about their children
finding good jobs.
"See, even though the numbers are still good, there
are still worries out there in the country. And these are
the challenges of a rapidly changing economy. And we've
got the responsibility in government to take the side of
our working families. So we're moving aggressively -- we're
not taking the good numbers for granted; we're moving aggressively
with a pro-growth, pro-worker set of economic policies that'll
enhance economic security in the country....
"The United States Congress has now an opportunity
to create more economic security by passing an energy bill
that will make energy more affordable and reliable for generations
to come. Energy is vital to the future of this country....
"Our nation needs to confront a basic problem -- we're
using energy faster than we're producing it.... Over the
past decade, America's energy consumption has been growing
about 40 times faster than our energy production....
"So now is the time, for the sake of our consumers
and business folks and people who are trying to heat their
homes in the winter and cool them in the summer and find
reasonable gas prices at the -- gasoline prices at the pump,
it's time for Congress to stop the debate, stop the inaction,
and pass an energy bill."
Baptist Convention
President Addresses Southern Baptist Convention
Tuesday, in an address via satellite to attendees at the annual
Southern Baptist Convention, President Bush said, "...I
want to thank the Southern Baptists' campaign to send out
postcards to our troops in the field. I appreciate what you're
doing. Our men and women appreciate even more. They appreciate
your prayerful support as they protect our liberty.
"Laura and I also want to -- at least I want to tell
you, on behalf of Laura, that we really appreciate your
prayers, the prayers of our Baptist friends that have sustained
us and uplifted us....
"You believe that the ideal of religious liberty is
a free church in a free state. And you know that freedom
is a divine gift that carries serious responsibilities.
We are called by our Creator to use this gift of freedom
to build a more compassionate society -- where families
are strong, life is valued, and the poor and the sick can
count on the love and help of their neighbors....
"Building a more compassionate society starts with
preserving the source of compassion -- the family. Strong
families teach children to live moral lives and help us
pass down the values that define a caring society.... Because
marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society,
it should not be re-defined by local officials and activist
judges....
"And for the good of our legal system, I will also
continue to nominate federal judges who faithfully interpret
the law and do not legislate from the bench. Every judicial
nominee deserves an up or down vote on the floor of the
United States Senate...
"Building a more compassionate society also depends
on building a culture of life. A compassionate society protects
and defends its most vulnerable members at every stage of
life. A compassionate society supports the principles of
ethical science. When we seek to improve human life, we
must always preserve human dignity...
"Finally, building a more compassionate society requires
that we mobilize our nation's armies of compassion to help
the poor, the sick, and those who hurt. America's faith-based
institutions change hearts every day.... Yet for too long,
governments have discriminated against faith-based programs...
And that's why I signed an executive order that said that
faith-based groups providing social services are entitled
to the same access to federal money as other groups."
CEA Chairman
President Congratulates CEA Chairman Ben Bernanke
At
an event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Tuesday,
President Bush said, "I'm pleased to congratulate a distinguished
economist and public servant, Ben Bernanke, on becoming the
new Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers.... Ben has
taught advanced economics at some of our nation's top universities
for over two decades. And for nearly three years, he has done
an outstanding work as a member of the Federal Reserve Board
of Governors. He's a talented and visionary thinker -- I'll
look forward to his advice, I'll look forward to his counsel,
and there's no doubt in my mind he will be an outstanding
chairman of the CEA."
Vietnam
President Welcomes Vietnamese Prime Minister
After
a meeting on Tuesday with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, President
Bush said, "I want to thank you for the constructive
visit we just had. We discussed a wide range of subjects.
We discussed our economic relations.... We talked about our
desire for Vietnam to join the WTO. We talked about security
issues and a mutual desire to coordinate in the war on terror.
"We talked about humanitarian issues. As the Prime
Minister noted, the United States is supporting the fight
against HIV/AIDS in Vietnam... We signed a landmark agreement
that will make it easier for people to worship freely in
Vietnam....
"And finally, the Prime Minister graciously invited
me to Vietnam. I will be going in 2006. I'm looking forward
to my trip."
US-EU Summit
President Hosts United States - European Union Summit
In
a join press availability on Monday, President Bush thanked
European Union leaders Jean-Claude Juncker, Jose Manuel
Barroso, and Javier Solana for visiting the White House.
He said, "[O]ur talks reminded me about the importance
of our partnership... The United States continues to support
a strong European Union as a partner in spreading freedom
and democracy and security and prosperity throughout the
world. My message to these leaders and these friends was
that we want Europe strong so we can work together to achieve
important objectives and important goals.
"One of those important objectives and important goals
is the advance of freedom in order to spread peace. We talked
about the Middle East. We support the vision of two democratic
states, Israel and Palestinian living side by side in peace.
We talked about Iraq.... We talked about Afghanistan, and
I appreciate the contributions of EU member nations...
"We talked about our collaborative efforts in Darfur.
The EU and NATO are working together to help deploy AU peacekeepers
in Darfur. And I want to thank the leadership here.
"We talked about our economies. There's about a trillion
dollars' worth of trade that takes place on an annual basis
between the EU and the United States....
"We're committed to the Doha round of the WTO. We're
committed to trade that is fair and free. We spent a lot
of time talking about China and how to make sure that China
understands there are WTO rules that must be adhered to,
and that China should work to do something with her currency
so that the trade between our respective countries is fair.
That's all we want. We just want there to be a level playing
field."
Tee Ball
Tee Ball at the White House
The
first game of the fourth-annual "Tee Ball on the White
House South Lawn" will be held Sunday, June 26, 2005.
On Ask the White House Friday, Barry Larkin, White House
Tee Ball Commissioner and former Cincinnati Reds Captain,
discussed this tradition.
Kuwait
President to Welcome Prime Minister Sabah of Kuwait
President Bush will welcome Prime Minister Sabah of Kuwait
to the White House on July 1, 2005. President Bush looks
forward to discussing with Prime Minister Sabah a range
of bilateral and regional issues and congratulating the
Prime Minister on Kuwaiti women achieving full political
rights.
Australia
President to Welcome Australian Prime Minister Howard
President Bush will welcome Prime Minister John Howard to
the White House on July 19, 2005. The leaders will discuss
important regional and international issues and ways to
further deepen and broaden bilateral relations between the
United States and Australia.
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