"We share a common goal" of "making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans," Bush said. "Congress must also expand health savings accounts, create association health plans for small businesses, promote health information technology and confront the epidemic of junk medical lawsuits."
The president said the ultimate way of achieving this goal was to empower Americans with more information and better options so that they can made sound medical decisions through privatization, "By expanding consumer choice, not government control."
"With all these steps, we will ensure that decisions about your medical care are made in the privacy of your doctor's office, not in the halls of Congress," Bush said.
The president also touched on American assistance overseas.
"America is leading the fight against global hunger. Today, more than half the world's food aid comes from the United States. And tonight, I ask Congress to support an innovative proposal to provide food assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers in the developing world, so we can build up local agriculture and help break the cycle of famine," Bush said.
"America is leading the fight against disease. With your help, we're working to cut by half the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 African nations. And our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is treating 1.4 million people. We can bring healing and hope to many more," Bush added. "So I ask you to maintain the principles that have changed behavior and made this program a success. And I call on you to double our initial commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS by approving an additional $30 billion over the next five years."
