Remarks on signing the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Jan 14, 2002

January 11, 2002

Thank you very much for that warm welcome. It's great to be back here in Pennsylvania.

I'm glad to be traveling with one of the most effective members of my Cabinet, the former Governor of New Jersey, now the Administrator of the EPA, Christie Todd Whit- man. America is getting to know what people in this part of the world understand, that she is an able Administrator, a fine person, a person who cares deeply about the environment and our country. And she's going to go down as one of the best selections I have made in my Cabinet. So Christie Todd, thank you for coming, and thank you for your leadership.

I want to thank you all for coming. When I saw the family over there, it reminded me that we have more responsibilities than just those on the war. And that is, we've got a responsibility of making sure every child is educated and that the environment in which our children grow up is healthy and clean.

I'm here to sign ill and it's a very important piece of legislation. It's a great accomplishment. And I do so in Pennsylvania because your State has been on the forefront of brownfield legislation, thanks to now the-- in part, to the Director of our homeland security effort, Governor Tom Ridge.

I want to share with you, just right quick, my attitudes about how to keep the peace. And the reason I brought up the family is, is that it's so important for our fellow Americans to understand that our efforts overseas and our efforts at home are all aimed at making sure that little fellow can grow up in a peaceful world and in a world that understands freedom.

We have learned that there are some on this globe that hate America and hate what America stands for. Those folks didn't understand our country. They thought, because we were prosperous and free, we would be soft and complacent. They made a grave mistake. Our war overseas and our war at home to stop terrorist activity is all aimed at making sure the youth of America can grow up in a free society. They will not stop us. They will not deter us. We will achieve our aims and bring the terrorists to justice no matter where they hide or where they exist.

So we'll be focused overseas, and we'll be making sure we follow every single lead about whether or not there going to try to hit us again. But we've also got a lot of work to do here at home. I made that clear the other day when I signed a really good piece of legislation, and that's the education reform bill. And I'm now making that statement again when I sign this sensible piece of legislation, one that emphasizes the need for environmental stewardship all across the country, and a piece of legislation that will enhance prosperity and the safety of Americans living in urban areas.

This bill was passed because of the work of both Republicans and Democrats. It's an example of what can happen when people put partisanship aside and focus on what's best for America. It shows what can happen when people say, "I'm proud of my political party, but I'm more proud of my country, and I'm in Washington, DC, to do what's right for America first, not my political party."

And so I want to thank Paul Gillmor, from the State of Ohio, Paul flew over today from his district outside of Toledo, in order to watch this bill being signed. And it's right that he's here, because he was the main sponsor in the House, who has worked hard to get this piece of legislation through. Paul, I xvant to thank you for coming. I look forward to giving you the pen, as I sign the bill. This should be one of the high marks of your leadership and your service to the country. So thank you for being here, sir.

I want to thank two members of the Pennsylvania delegation for being here, Joe Hoeffel and Bob Borski. Thank you both for being here and taking time out of your day to come. It's good to see the old Governor here. I appreciate Mark coming today. I appreciate his leadership, and I know the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania appreciate his willingness to step in when Ridge left, and he's doing a fine job. I want to thank the attorney general, Mike Fisher, for being here as well. Michael, thanks for coming, and thanks for your service to Pennsylvania.

And then I want to thank Brian O'Neill. I knew the O'Neills were a big family, but I didn't realize--[laughter]--they were that big. But I thank Brian for being a risktaker; somebody who understands that in order to create jobs, you have to take risk; somebody who is an entrepreneur; somebody who has had the vision to take these eyesores and convert them into positive economic assets that benefit the community at large. And so, Brian, I'm proud of the work you do, no more so than the citizens of this community. You're leaving behind a legacy that is positive and strong. And I'm honored to be here at your place of business. Thank you, sir.

I also want to thank some of the Senators that worked on this piece of legislation, none of whom could be here today. They're traveling around in different parts of the globe. One is Senator Lincoln Chafee from Rhode Island; he sponsored the bill. Kit Bond worked on it; Senator Bob Smith, Senator Harry Reid all worked hard to get this legislation out of the Senate and eventually onto my desk.