 |
|
||
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
   | 
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Key statements: Domestic issues
 President Bush lays out his agenda. RELATEDYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSWASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush addressed a wide range of issues in his annual State of the Union speech Tuesday evening. Click on a topic below for what he said on key subjects.
"Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security, yet the rising cost of entitlements is a problem that is not going away -- and with every year we fail to act, the situation gets worse. So tonight, I ask you to join me in creating a commission to examine the full impact of baby boom retirements on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid." (Watch Bush talk about creating a commission to save Social Security -- 2:03) "I have authorized a terrorist surveillance program to aggressively pursue the international communications of suspected al Qaeda operatives and affiliates to and from America. Previous presidents have used the same constitutional authority I have -- and federal courts have approved the use of that authority ... If there are people inside our country who are talking with al Qaeda, we want to know about it -- because we will not sit back and wait to be hit again." (Watch Bush explain why wiretaps are imperative to national security -- 1:09) "The American economy is pre-eminent -- but we cannot afford to be complacent. In a dynamic world economy, we are seeing new competitors like China and India. "We must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity. Our greatest advantage in the world has always been our educated, hard-working, ambitious people -- and we are going to keep that edge." "America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world. The best way to break this addiction is through technology ... So tonight, I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative -- a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy." (Full story | Watch Bush press the need for alternative energy sources -- 2:20) "This year my budget will cut it again, and reduce or eliminate more than 140 programs that are performing poorly or not fulfilling essential priorities. By passing these reforms, we will save the American taxpayer another $14 billion next year -- and stay on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009." (Watch why Americans must be 'good stewards of tax dollars' -- 1:11) "Our government has a responsibility to help provide health care for the poor and the elderly, and we are meeting that responsibility." "Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to prohibit the most egregious abuses of medical research -- human cloning in all its forms -- creating or implanting embryos for experiments, creating human-animal hybrids and buying, selling, or patenting human embryos." (Watch why Bush believes 'human life is a gift from our creator' -- :37) "Our nation needs orderly and secure borders. To meet this goal, we must have stronger immigration enforcement and border protection. And we must have a rational, humane guest worker program that rejects amnesty ... allows temporary jobs for people who seek them legally ... and reduces smuggling and crime at the border." (Watch Bush discuss the need for immigration policy that upholds the law and respects U.S. values -- :44) "I propose to train 70,000 high school teachers, to lead advanced-placement courses in math and science, bring 30,000 math and science professionals to teach in classrooms, and give early help to students who struggle with math, so they have a better chance at good, high-wage jobs." (Watch the president present the American Competitiveness Initiative -- 1:23) "Because America needs more than a temporary expansion, we need more than temporary tax relief. I urge the Congress to act responsibly and make the tax cuts permanent." (Watch Bush explain why Americans need tax relief -- :55) 
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
| © 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video. 
