about the defense budget , i raise a hope and a caution . as we restructure our military forces to meet the new threats of the post - cold - war world , it is true that we can responsibly reduce our defense budget . and we may all doubt what that range of reductions is , but let me say that as long as i am president , i will do everything i can to make sure that the men and women who serve under the american flag will remain the best trained , the best prepared , the best equipped fighting force in the world . and every one of you should make that solemn pledge . we still have responsibilities around the world . we are the world's only superpower . this is still a dangerous and uncertain time , and we owe it to the people in uniform to make sure that we adequately provide for the national defense and for their interests and needs . backed by an effective national defense and a stronger economy , our nation will be prepared to lead a world challenged as it is everywhere by ethnic conflict , by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction , by the global democratic revolution , and by challenges to the health of our global environment .
my fellow americans , the problem of violence is an american problem . it has no partisan or philosophical element . therefore , i urge you to find ways as quickly as possible to set aside partisan differences and pass a strong , smart , tough crime bill . but further , i urge you to consider this : as you demand tougher penalties for those who choose violence , let us also remember how we came to this sad point . in our toughest neighborhoods , on our meanest streets , in our poorest rural areas , we have seen a stunning and simultaneous breakdown of community , family , and work , the heart and soul of civilized society . this has created a vast vacuum which has been filled by violence and drugs and gangs . so i ask you to remember that even as we say " no " to crime , we must give people , especially our young people , something to say " yes " to .
i know that a lot of you have your own ideas about tax relief , and some of them i find quite interesting . i really want to work with all of you . my test for our proposals will be : will it create jobs and raise incomes ; will it strengthen our families and support our children ; is it paid for ; will it build the middle class and shrink the underclass ? if it does , i'll support it . but if it doesn't , i won't .
and even as we enact savings in these programs , we must have a common commitment to preserve the basic protections of medicare and medicaid , not just to the poor but to people in working families , including children , people with disabilities , people with aids , senior citizens in nursing homes .
i challenge congress not to cut our support for drug - free schools . people like the d . a . r . e . officers are making a real impression on grade schoolchildren that will give them the strength to say no when the time comes .
now we must act to expand our exports , especially to asia and latin america , two of the fastest growing regions on earth , or be left behind as these emerging economies forge new ties with other nations . that is why we need the authority now to conclude new trade agreements that open markets to our goods and services even as we preserve our values .
we should all be proud that america led the effort to rescue our neighbor mexico from its economic crises . and we should all be proud that last month mexico repaid the united states , 3 full years ahead of schedule , with half a billion dollar profit to us .
and this october , a true american hero , a veteran pilot of 149 combat missions and one 5- hour space flight that changed the world , will return to the heavens . godspeed , john glenn . [ applause ] john , you will carry with you america's hopes . and on your uniform , once again , you will carry america's flag , marking the unbroken connection between the deeds of america's past and the daring of america's future .
tonight i propose another major expansion of the eitc : to reduce the marriage penalty , to make sure it rewards marriage as it rewards work , and also to expand the tax credit for families that have more than two children . it punishes people with more than two children today . our proposal would allow families with three or more children to get up to $100 more in tax relief . these are working families ; their children should not be in poverty .
if we take the steps just discussed , we can go a long , long way toward empowering parents to succeed at home and at work and ensuring that no child is raised in poverty . we can make these vital investments in health care , education , support for working families , and still offer tax cuts to help pay for college , for retirement , to care for aging parents , to reduce the marriage penalty . we can do these things without forsaking the path of fiscal discipline that got us to this point here tonight .