Remarks at the Farm Progress Show in Alleman, Iowa

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Sept 6, 2004

And yet, we've got an economy that's growing. We've overcome the obstacles. We've overcome them because we've got great workers. We've overcome them because we've got great farmers. We've overcome those obstacles because the entrepreneurial spirit is strong and the small-business sector of this economy is alive and well. And I believe we've overcome those obstacles because of well-timed tax cuts.

Our view was, "If you pay taxes, you ought to get relief." We also helped our families by raising the child credit. We reduced the marriage penalty. I think the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. We helped our small businesses. We helped them purchase equipment. This time, the check was actually in the mail, too. [Laughter]

Because we acted, our economy has been growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. The national unemployment rate is at 5.5 percent, which is well below the national average of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The unemployment rate in your great State is at 4.4 percent. Our economic recovery plan is working.

A strong farm economy is good for our Nation's economy, and we have a strong farm economy today. We're seeing record exports for farm products. Farm income is up. And that means people are making a living here in rural Iowa. And that is good for the United States of America, and I intend to keep it that way.

There's more work to be done to make sure this economy grows. I submitted an energy plan to the United States Congress. It needs to get the energy plan to my desk. The energy plan says, "We'll work on conservation. We'll have clean coal technology. We'll explore for natural gas in environmentally friendly ways." But it's an energy plan that also recognizes the vast potential of corn and soybeans. I believe in ethanol, and I believe in biodiesel. See, I think, one of these days, with good research, a President is going to be sitting at the desk there in the Oval Office; somebody is going to walk in and say, "Guess what, Mr. President. The corn crop is up, and we're less dependent on foreign sources of energy."

I believe we ought to have wise trade policy in order to make sure this economy grows and people can find work here in America. We open up our markets for other--to other countries, and that's good for you. You see, when you have more product to choose from, you're going to get a--what you're demanding at a better price and better quality. That's the way the market works. So instead of shutting down our markets, we'll continue to open up other people's markets. If people treat us the way we treat them, we can compete with anybody, anyplace, anywhere in the world.

That's why we've been--I've been out there working to have free trade agreements with countries all around the world. It's good for Iowa farmers that we're opening up markets. See, I think you can compete with any farmer, anyplace, anytime, and all you need is a chance, a level playing field. This administration is committed to making sure Iowa farm products are sold all over the world.