Fact Sheet: President Bush: Farewell Address to the Nation
White House News
President
Bush Expresses His Gratitude To The Nation, Recaps The Events And
Accomplishments Of His Presidency, And Describes The Challenges That
Lie Ahead
Tonight, President Bush will deliver his farewell
address to the Nation from the East Room of the White House, and
discuss the journey traveled over the past eight years and the course
ahead. The President will thank the American people for allowing him to
serve and thank the military for serving our Nation and keeping us
safe. The following are excerpts from the President's address as
prepared for delivery, followed by supporting facts and data.
President Bush:
"As
the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it
had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received a
briefing on the threats to our Nation. And I vowed to do everything in
my power to keep us safe."
**
Consolidated 22 agencies and 180,000 employees under one agency, the
Department of Homeland Security, to foster a comprehensive, coordinated
approach to protecting our country.
**
Provided our military with the tools, equipment, and resources to
combat terrorism and other emerging threats and started moving American
forces from Cold War garrisons in Europe and Asia so they can deploy
more quickly to any region of the world.
**
Established a unified, collaborative intelligence community, led by the
DNI, to ensure information is shared among all intelligence and law
enforcement professionals so they have the information they need to
protect the American people.
** Combined the
counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and intelligence elements of the
FBI under the leadership of a senior FBI official.
**
Advocated for and signed the Patriot Act, the Intelligence Reform and
Terrorism Prevention Act, and a modernization of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act.
** Arrested and
convicted more than two dozen terrorists and their supporters in
America since 9/11. Froze the financial assets in the United States of
hundreds of individuals and entities linked to terrorism.
**
Disrupted terrorist plots and built a coalition of more than 90 nations
to fight terrorism. Partnered with nations in Europe, the Middle East,
Asia, Africa, and Latin America on intelligence sharing and law
enforcement coordination to break up terrorist networks and bring
terrorists to justice.
** Removed the Taliban
from power and brought freedom to the people of Afghanistan. Supported
the creation of an Afghan government that is elected by its people,
respects the rule of law, and guarantees women the right to vote. More
than six million children, approximately two million of whom are girls,
are now in Afghan schools, compared to fewer than one million in 2001.
**
Freed Iraqis from the rule of Saddam Hussein, a dictator who murdered
his own people, invaded his neighbors, and repeatedly defied United
Nations resolutions. Supported the creation of a democratic Iraqi
government that is operating under one of the most progressive
constitutions in the Arab world, and helped train and equip more than
half a million Iraqi Army and police forces.
**
Successfully negotiated a Strategic Framework Agreement and a Security
Agreement with Iraq, which will further strengthen the relationship
between our nations, provide the United States with vital protections
and authorities to continue our mission to help stabilize Iraq, and
establish a path for U.S. forces to reduce their presence in Iraq and
return home on success.
President
Bush Strengthened Support for Dissidents and Democracy Activists And
Helped Millions Of People Around The World Through A New Approach To
Development
** President Bush: "When
people live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders who pursue
campaigns of terror. When people have hope in the future, they will not
cede their lives to violence and extremism. So around the world,
America is promoting human liberty, human rights, and human dignity."
**
Met with activists from more than 35 countries and helped unify
democracy advocates and boost the international standing of the
opposition in countries run by totalitarian and oppressive regimes.
**
Supported life-saving treatment for more than 2.1 million people and
care for more than 10 million people (including more than four million
orphans and vulnerable children) around the world through the
President's Emergency Plan.
** Committed $1.2
billion in funding through the President's Malaria Initiative over a
five-year period, which is on track to help reduce malaria deaths by 50
percent in 15 targeted countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
President Bush's Domestic Policy Achievements Built A More Hopeful America
** President Bush: "For eight years, we have also strived to expand opportunity and hope here at home."
**
Held public schools accountable, through the No Child Left Behind Act,
for producing results for all students and required highly-qualified
teachers in every classroom. Since No Child Left Behind took effect,
test scores have risen, accountability has increased, and we have begun
to close the achievement gap between white and minority students.
Helped African-American and Hispanic students post all-time highs in
several categories on national assessments.
**
Provided more than 40 million Americans with better access to
prescription drugs through the market-based Medicare Prescription Drug
Benefit.
** Provided tax relief to every
American who pays income taxes, which helped fuel six years of
uninterrupted economic growth and 52 consecutive months of job growth.
Reduced individual income tax rates, doubled the child tax credit,
created a new 10 percent bracket rate, provided marriage penalty
relief, eliminated income taxes for 13 million American taxpayers, and
began a phase-out of the estate tax.
**
Through the Faith-Based and Community Initiative, helped millions in
need by expanding partnerships with nonprofits and leveling the playing
field for faith-based and community organizations. These partnerships
helped provide care for more than ten million people affected by
HIV/AIDS, supported the recovery of more than 260,000 addicts, and
matched mentors with more than 100,000 children of prisoners.
**
Outlawed partial birth abortion, ensured that every infant born alive
is protected, established consequences for violence toward unborn
children, and took steps to protect the rights of health care providers
to act according to their conscience. Provided government funding for
stem cell research while refusing to sanction the destruction of human
life.
** Increased total funding for the
Department of Veterans Affairs more than 98 percent since 2001 and
helped millions of veterans receive expedited and improved care.
**
Instituted policies that helped reduce air pollution by 12 percent from
2001 to 2007 and adopted new policies that will produce even deeper
reductions. Improved and protected the health of more than 27 million
acres of Federal forest and grasslands and protected, restored, and
improved more than three million acres of wetlands. Provided the
highest recognition and protection to nearly 335,000 square miles as
marine national monuments, the largest marine area in history.
**
Appointed Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice
Samuel Alito, and more than one-third of all active Federal judges, who
will not legislate from the bench.
**
Addressed the weakness in the economy early in 2008 by leading the
bipartisan passage of an economic growth package that boosted consumer
spending and encouraged businesses to expand. Responded with bold
action when the financial crisis intensified by leading the passage and
implementation of a rescue plan that helped address the root of the
financial crisis, protected the deposits of individuals and small
businesses, and helped ensure credit would remain available to
individuals and families. Had the President not acted, the toll would
be far worse on hardworking American families.
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