For Release: Saturday, January 20th, 2001
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

COSTELLO STATEMENT ON THE INAUGURATION OF GEORGE W. BUSH AS THE 43RD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) issued the following statement today concerning the inauguration of George W. Bush as the 43rd President of the United States:

"I congratulate President Bush on his swearing in and the themes of his inaugural address: unity, compassion, and personal responsibility. I was especially pleased to hear him use the word 'civility' several times. He clearly made an effort to unite the country after a very divisive election."

"I agree with President Bush that the American people should rededicate themselves to their communities by helping each other at every opportunity. His belief that government can play a role in helping those in need is encouraging, and I am hopeful that he will pursue a legislative agenda that reflects this principle - whether it is ensuring the solvency of Social Security for our seniors, providing more children with health insurance, or passing tax cuts that benefit working families. I look forward to working with President Bush in the coming weeks and months to accomplish these goals."

###