Bush Looks to Maintain Homeland, Economic Security

In his first State of the Union address Tuesday evening, President Bush called for a near-doubling of funding for homeland security, focusing on four key areas: bioterrorism, emergency response, airport and border security and improved intelligence.

ush used the 48-minute televised address to try and marshal support, not only for the war on terror, but for his vision for economic recovery. Much of the speech was aimed at foreign policy issues, but the president did address some issues that could impact trucking.

Bush said that as part of improving airport and border security, the United States would expand border patrols and utilize new technologies to monitor the arrivals and departures of visitors to the U.S.

Bush revealed to the nation that maps of U.S. cities and landmarks, plans for public water facilities and nuclear power plants and plans for how to manufacture and deliver chemical weapons were all found in Afghanistan, indicating that plans for another September 11-like attack was in the works.

Bush said that because of the current recession, he supported extending unemployment benefits and health coverage for the jobless, but that his economic security plan focused on the creation of jobs.

Lower unemployment would benefit the trucking industry because it would likely lead to increased factory production, more freight shipments and greater consumer spending – all of which benefit trucking.

Bush said a solid energy policy, one that reduces U.S. reliance on foreign oil, is critical to any economic recovery.

If a new energy policy called for greater use of alternative fuels and cleaner running fuels could be a boost to the trucking industry, which is faced with tougher environmental standards.

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