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President Bush to Ask Congress for Four Billion in Homeland Secuirty Aid

Aired March 31, 2003 - 15:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: These are pictures from moments ago at the Philadelphia port, where President Bush paid tribute to the Coast Guard.
Our White House correspondent Dana Bash has traveled with the president to Philadelphia.

Dane it seemed the president gave us an update not only on homeland security and on the war in Iraq. He also had an unmistakable message to for the Iraqi people -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: He sure did, Judy. He used this particular event, talking to the men and women of the Coast Guard, about 1,000 were here at the port of Philadelphia. He used it to weave in three major themes, one is homeland security and the war on terrorism. Second is the war on terrorist. But third is the war in Iraq. And he used the Coast Guard in particular to talk about -- to weave in the three themes, because the Coast Guard is involved in all of that. The Coast Guard is, of course, involved in defending America's ports, and they're also in the Persian Gulf in the theater right now defending the ports there.

But as you said, in terms of Iraq, the president had a specific message. First of all he talked about the fact that he believes there are many successes so far in the war. He talked about the fact that they have secured the oil fields in the south and that they are getting closer and closer, he said, day by day, to Baghdad. But as you mentioned, he also made very clear, from the very clear message to the Iraqi people that they are not -- the United States Coalition, as far as he's concerned, is not going to, as he put it, let them down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I give this pledge to the citizens of Iraq. We are coming. With a mighty force to end the reign of your oppressors. We're coming to bring you food and medicine and a better life. And we are coming and we will not stop. We will not relent until your country is free.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: And. Judy, he also talked about the issue of homeland security, discussing the fact that he's requested about $4 billion as part of his large aid package requested from Congress. The money for homeland security about $500 million would go to the Coast Guard. Now, the Democrats have been busily trying to reach reporters to explain the fact that they think this is a very nice event here to talk about homeland security, but they are saying, very forcefully, they believe that the president's request for money, for homeland security, is woefully inadequate and very late. Because they say it cost as lot of money, billions of dollars per year to defend the -- America's ports and that the president needs to ask for additional money. The president, of course, has asked for additional money in a supplemental request, but also has asked for about a billion dollars in this year's budget for -- to aid the Coast Guard in the homeland security effort -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: So, Dana, quickly, the administration saying that they believe they're doing enough and they're trying to get more?

BASH: Absolutely. The administration is saying that they have put -- they had a massive increase in their original budget request. In this particular request, that the president just sent this time last week to Congress for additional money, there is about $4 billion that the president asked Congress for. Democrats are saying that's still not enough.

WOODRUFF: All right, Dana Bash who traveled with the president to Philadelphia, we heard him moments ago at the port of Philadelphia. As Dana said, giving us an update on homeland security and the war.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Homeland Secuirty Aid>


Aired March 31, 2003 - 15:17   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: These are pictures from moments ago at the Philadelphia port, where President Bush paid tribute to the Coast Guard.
Our White House correspondent Dana Bash has traveled with the president to Philadelphia.

Dane it seemed the president gave us an update not only on homeland security and on the war in Iraq. He also had an unmistakable message to for the Iraqi people -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: He sure did, Judy. He used this particular event, talking to the men and women of the Coast Guard, about 1,000 were here at the port of Philadelphia. He used it to weave in three major themes, one is homeland security and the war on terrorism. Second is the war on terrorist. But third is the war in Iraq. And he used the Coast Guard in particular to talk about -- to weave in the three themes, because the Coast Guard is involved in all of that. The Coast Guard is, of course, involved in defending America's ports, and they're also in the Persian Gulf in the theater right now defending the ports there.

But as you said, in terms of Iraq, the president had a specific message. First of all he talked about the fact that he believes there are many successes so far in the war. He talked about the fact that they have secured the oil fields in the south and that they are getting closer and closer, he said, day by day, to Baghdad. But as you mentioned, he also made very clear, from the very clear message to the Iraqi people that they are not -- the United States Coalition, as far as he's concerned, is not going to, as he put it, let them down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I give this pledge to the citizens of Iraq. We are coming. With a mighty force to end the reign of your oppressors. We're coming to bring you food and medicine and a better life. And we are coming and we will not stop. We will not relent until your country is free.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: And. Judy, he also talked about the issue of homeland security, discussing the fact that he's requested about $4 billion as part of his large aid package requested from Congress. The money for homeland security about $500 million would go to the Coast Guard. Now, the Democrats have been busily trying to reach reporters to explain the fact that they think this is a very nice event here to talk about homeland security, but they are saying, very forcefully, they believe that the president's request for money, for homeland security, is woefully inadequate and very late. Because they say it cost as lot of money, billions of dollars per year to defend the -- America's ports and that the president needs to ask for additional money. The president, of course, has asked for additional money in a supplemental request, but also has asked for about a billion dollars in this year's budget for -- to aid the Coast Guard in the homeland security effort -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: So, Dana, quickly, the administration saying that they believe they're doing enough and they're trying to get more?

BASH: Absolutely. The administration is saying that they have put -- they had a massive increase in their original budget request. In this particular request, that the president just sent this time last week to Congress for additional money, there is about $4 billion that the president asked Congress for. Democrats are saying that's still not enough.

WOODRUFF: All right, Dana Bash who traveled with the president to Philadelphia, we heard him moments ago at the port of Philadelphia. As Dana said, giving us an update on homeland security and the war.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Homeland Secuirty Aid>