Reducing unneeded red tape and regulations, and deregulating the energy, transportation, and financial industries have unleashed new competition, giving consumers more choices, better services, and lower prices.  In just one set of grant programs we have reduced 905 pages of regulations to 31.  We seek to fully deregulate natural gas to bring on new supplies and bring us closer to energy independence.  Consistent with safety standards, we will continue removing restraints on the bus and railroad industries, we will soon end up legislation—­or send up legislation, I should say—­to return Conrail to the private sector where it belongs, and we will support further deregulation of the trucking industry.

Every dollar the Federal Government does not take from us, every decision it does not make for us will make our economy stronger, our lives more abundant, our future more free.

Our second American revolution will push on to new possibilities not only on Earth but in the next frontier of space.  Despite budget restraints, we will seek record funding for research and development.

We’ve seen the success of the space shuttle.  Now we’re going to develop a permanently manned space station and new opportunities for free enterprise, because in the next decade Americans and our friends around the world will be living and working together in space.

In the zero gravity of space, we could manufacture in 30 days lifesaving medicines it would take 30 years to make on Earth.  We can make crystals of exceptional purity to produce super computers, creating jobs, technologies, and medical breakthroughs beyond anything we ever dreamed possible.

As we do all this, we’ll continue to protect our natural resources.  We will seek reauthorization and expanded funding for the Superfund program to continue cleaning up hazardous waste sites which threaten human health and the environment.

Now, there’s another great heritage to speak of this evening.  Of all the changes that have swept America the past 4 years, none brings greater promise than our rediscovery of the values of faith, freedom, family, work, and neighborhood.

We see signs of renewal in increased attendance in places of worship; renewed optimism and faith in our future; love of country rediscovered by our young, who are leading the way.  We’ve rediscovered that work is good in and of itself, that it ennobles us to create and contribute no matter how seemingly humble our jobs.  We’ve seen a powerful new current from an old and honorable tradition—­American generosity.

From thousands answering Peace Corps appeals to help boost food production in Africa, to millions volunteering time, corporations adopting schools, and communities pulling together to help the neediest among us at home, we have refound our values.  Private sector initiatives are crucial to our future.

I thank the Congress for passing equal access legislation giving religious groups the same right to use classrooms after school that other groups enjoy.  But no citizen need tremble, nor the world shudder, if a child stands in a classroom and breathes a prayer.  We ask you again, give children back a right they had for a century and a half or more in this country.