Text 3340, 205 rader
Skriven 2006-10-04 23:31:40 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (061004) for Wed, 2006 Oct 4
==================================================

===========================================================================
Mrs. Bush's Remarks at Curt Weldon for Congress Breakfast
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
October 4, 2006

Mrs. Bush's Remarks at Curt Weldon for Congress Breakfast
Springfield Country Club
Springfield, Pennsylvania



9:50 A.M. EDT

MRS. BUSH: Thank you all, thanks so much. Thank you very much, Congressman
Weldon. Thank you for the very warm welcome to each and every one of you.

First, I'd like to express my deepest sympathy to the people of
Pennsylvania, and especially the people of Lancaster County, for the loss
of those precious girls. It's really -- I know President Bush joins me also
in sending our love and our sympathy to the families and the loved ones of
those children. It's really hard for all of us to understand how a one-room
schoolhouse couldn't be safe. And it's really so -- such a heartbreaker for
the people here, and the people, really, all over our country as we follow
what happened. But I wanted everyone here in Pennsylvania to know that
first.

Mary Weldon, thank you for joining us today. When your spouse is in
politics, you're involved whether you want to be or not. (Laughter.) And we
know that successful politicians have family members who stand with them
and are with them all the time. And Mary, you're certainly that. So thank
you very, very much for your support. (Applause.)

I'm delighted to be with all of you today to support Curt Weldon's campaign
for the United States Congress. A lifelong resident of southeastern
Pennsylvania, Curt cares deeply about the people of this state. And during
his 19 years in Congress, Congressman Weldon has distinguished himself as a
passionate advocate for families of the 7th district. (Applause.)

Curt strongly supports our country's first responders. Congressman Weldon
has visited fire departments in all 50 states, and soon after he took
office, he established the Congressional Fire Services Caucus to ensure
that emergency workers have the resources they need to protect
Pennsylvanians and people throughout our country.

Since 2001 fire departments in the 7th district have received more than $5
million in federal funding as part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Program, which was passed in Congress because of Curt's leadership. And of
course, many other fire departments around the country benefit, as well.
(Applause.)

Congressman Weldon is helping Pennsylvania's families by keeping America's
economy strong. Like my husband, Curt supports tax cuts. And this year,
with Congressman Weldon's help, President Bush signed into law the largest
tax relief package in America's history. These tax cuts have fueled the
economy, and they've helped add 5.7 million new jobs since 2003.
(Applause.) And that means 5.7 million more Americans wake up every morning
with the dignity and the sense of purpose that comes with a job.

Something else Congressman Weldon and the President have in common -- and
something I share with them -- is a commitment to historic preservation. In
2003, President Bush announced the Preserve America Initiative, which
encourages communities to safeguard both their natural and their historical
treasures. Preserve America can help boost local economies, because
recognized historical landmarks attract visitors and businesses.

In Washington, Congressman Weldon has been an enthusiastic steward of our
country's natural resources. Through his leadership on the House Science
Committee, and as a member of the Congressional Oceans Caucus, Curt has
sponsored legislation to protect the seas and the diverse marine species
that live in them.

He supports the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and is committed
to preserving our country's green spaces and national historic sites,
especially Pennsylvania's Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields.

And, as a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, Congressman
Weldon secured federal funding to protect bird life here in the John Heinz
National Wildlife Refuge.

Thank you, Congressman Weldon, for this vital preservation work.
(Applause.)

One of the benefits of natural and historical preservation is that it gives
our children more opportunities to learn about our country. Visits to
museums, aquariums, monuments and national parks are great activities for
young people, offering them healthy and positive ways to learn and to spend
time with their families.

In his 2005 State of the Union address, President Bush announced the
Helping America's Youth Initiative, and he asked me to lead it. Helping
young people learn to make wise decisions for their lives is at the heart
of Helping America's Youth.

Since the President announced the initiative, I've traveled to many parts
of our country, including two trips here in Pennsylvania, one of them to a
Boys and Girls Club, where I visited a Passport to Manhood program for
young boys and young men. It was the very first trip I made after the
President announced the initiative.

But I've been all over our country visiting with young people and with the
adults who are so important to their lives. I've been to schools and to
after-school programs. I've visited fatherhood initiatives and initiatives
for young men. I've met with mentors, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
I've visited gang intervention programs, where I met the young people who
are leaving gangs and finding jobs.

All of these visits led to the White House Conference on Helping America's
Youth last October, and then to two regional conferences since in
Indianapolis and Denver. At the conference, we introduced an online,
interactive Community Guide. This guide helps concerned adults learn more
about the problems facing youth in their own communities, and what local
resources are available to address these problems. The guide is available
on the Helping America's Youth website, and I encourage you to look at the
website to see what you can do in your own communities. The website is
www.helpingamericasyouth.gov -- that's g-o-v.

Congressman Weldon has a strong record of commitment to young people. In
Congress, he supported legislation to keep harmful drugs out of
southeastern Pennsylvanian communities, and to keeping gangs and violent
crime off Pennsylvania streets. A former teacher, Curt has dedicated
himself to improving educational opportunities for Pennsylvania's youth. He
helped establish the Delaware County library system, and you know that's
really close to my heart. (Applause.) And he has brought federal funding to
libraries across the United States.

Congressman Weldon is especially supportive of young people with
disabilities. He's helped fund programs for developmentally disabled
children at the Child Guidance Resource Center in Havertown, and at the
Children and Adults Disabilities and Educational Services School in
Swarthmore.

And Congressman Weldon supported the IDEA Act -- I-D-E-A -- which provides
millions of dollars to education programs for young people with
disabilities.

We all know, though, that the well-being of young people ultimately depends
on adults' ability to keep them safe. As we've seen in recent days by the
school shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin, and of course, now, here in
Pennsylvania. Families across the country are saddened and troubled by
these attacks.

Next week, the White House, in partnership with the Department of Education
and Justice, will host a National Conference on School Violence. The
conference will help affected communities heal in the wake of these
terrible tragedies, and will help equip Americans with the information they
need to ensure that their children can learn in safety, which is what we
all expect.

But keeping young Pennsylvanians safe also requires protecting them from
foreign threats, by defeating terrorism and increasing liberty abroad.

Curt Weldon understands the needs of our troops at this crucial time in our
country's history. As Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee,
Curt is a respected voice on issues vital to Pennsylvanians serving in
uniform. And in the House, Curt is a champion of the men and women of the
United States military. (Applause.) Thank you for that, Curt.

And thanks to our troops, the Iraqi people are now free from the oppression
of Saddam Hussein. (Applause.) And in Afghanistan, women and girls can now
be educated. (Applause.) It's hard for any of us to imagine a country that
would prohibit half of its people from being educated. But now little girls
are in school in Afghanistan.

All of us are so proud of the young men and women who are deployed around
the world, defending our country overseas to make sure that our families
are safe here in the United States. (Applause.)

Curt's dedication to the people of Pennsylvania, and his achievements,
remind us of why he must be reelected to the United States Congress.
(Applause.)

Congressman Weldon understands that America faces challenges too important
to be reduced to simple politics. President Bush has an ambitious agenda
for the rest of his time in Washington, and he takes his responsibility to
the American people very seriously.

Ending our dependence on foreign oil, reforming our immigration system,
rebuilding the Gulf Coast, and keeping our country safe from terrorism are
not easy tasks, but they are absolutely vital goals. (Applause.)

And to accomplish them, we must have serious national conversations,
conducted with civility and respect. And Curt Weldon is a thoughtful,
positive and powerful part of that dialogue. (Applause.)

This is just one reason why Curt is a wonderful leader for Pennsylvania.
When you look through his distinguished record of public service, you'll
find many more.

Thank you very much for coming out to support Curt. (Applause.) Thank you
for your generous support of his reelection. And I urge you to redouble
your efforts between now and November to make sure Curt Weldon is reelected
to the United States Congress.

Thank you all very, very much. (Applause.)

END 10:03 A.M. EDT
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061004.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)