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By President George W. Bush
(Excerpts from the State of the Union
Address)
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 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 seven 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.
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 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.
To be continued
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