"The President's calls for unity and bipartisanship ring with sincerity. They're backed up with results from his first year in office. He showed he can make good on his promises with sweeping education reform and the largest tax relief package in a generation.
"His greatest achievement so far has been leading the American people through one of the darkest days of our democracy stemming from the national nightmare on September 11. Immediately, George W. Bush showed he has what it takes to form a world alliance against terrorism and launch exhaustive efforts to protect the homeland.
"In tonight's speech, President Bush spelled out a vision for America that builds on his commitment to national, domestic and economic security. The budget he'll propose next week will show the President says what he means and means what he says. He'll beef up military and homeland security spending, secure full funding for the farm bill, and seek large increases in health research and money for a prescription drug benefit for low-income Medicare patients.
"President Bush has set the stage for another productive year in Washington. Let's hope Congress will take him up on his offer for bipartisanship for the good of our country, especially when it comes to policies that will create jobs and grow the economy.
"I'm already at work in the Senate to address the growing concerns of workers and retirees about their pension security. Tonight the President put the full weight of the White House behind efforts to guarantee every pensioner in America that their retirement savings will be protected if their employer runs into financial trouble."