2004 Press Releases

President Bush Presents the 2004 State of the Union Address

Jan. 21, 2004

President of the United States George W. Bush presented the State of the Union Address to the United States Congress, the American people and the world on the evening of January 20, 2004. The Address is used by the President to communicate important information about U.S. foreign and domestic policies.

President Bush spoke of America's campaign against terrorists. "America is on the offensive against the terrorists who started this war," he said, "and one by one we will bring these terrorists to justice." Across the greater Middle East, America is confronting dangers and promoting democracy and hope as the alternative to terror and violence.

Afghanistan, once ruled by the brutal Taliban regime, has adopted a new constitution and is following the path of democracy, including providing fundamental rights to women. The leader of Libya has now pledged to disclose and dismantle all of his weapons of mass destruction programs. And in Iraq, the enemies of freedom are being systematically routed from their hiding places and rounded up. Iraqis are also assuming greater responsibility for their own security and future government.

"America is committed to keeping the world's most dangerous weapons out of the hands of the world's most dangerous regimes," President Bush said, noting that the United States along with nations in East Asia, "are insisting that North Korea eliminate its nuclear program," and "America and the international community are demanding that Iran meet its commitments and not develop nuclear weapons."

On domestic priorities, Bush said he's optimistic about the reviving U.S. economy, and called on Congress to take action that will help turn the economic revival into a lasting recovery.

Bush also discussed the importance of health care and said the administration's goal is "to ensure that Americans can choose and afford private health care coverage that best fits their individual needs. To make insurance more affordable, Congress must act to address rapidly rising health care costs."

The President also asked Congress to reform the nation's immigration laws to include his proposed new temporary worker program that would match willing foreign workers with willing employers, when no U.S. citizen can be found to fill the job.

The State of the Union Address, a tradition going back to 1790, gives the President an opportunity to reflect on the past while presenting his hopes for the future to Congress, the American people and the world. The formal basis for the annual message by the President is provided for in the U.S. Constitution. The State of the Union is one of only a few presidential speeches that are televised live in prime time on all major U.S. networks.

The full text of President Bush's 2004 State of the Union Address in English and a translation of the address summary and foreign policy content into Russian and Turkmen will be available on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat (www.usemb-ashgabat.rpo.at) or at the Embassy's Information Resource Center (tel.: 35-00-45) beginning Thursday, January 22, 2004. The Information Resource Center will also have the recorded video of the State of the Union Address in English and Russian available for loan.