We must take immediate steps to strengthen our educational system.  In many parts of our country, young people are being handicapped for life because of a poor education.  The rapidly increasing number of children of school age, coupled with the shortage of qualified teachers, makes this problem more critical each year.  I believe that the Congress should no longer delay in providing Federal assistance to the States so that they can maintain adequate schools.

As we go forward in achieving greater economic security and greater opportunity for all our people, we should make every effort to extend the benefits of our democratic institutions to every citizen.  The religious ideals which we profess, and the heritage of freedom which we have received from the past, clearly place that duty upon us.  I again urge the Congress to enact the civil rights proposals I made in February 1948.  These proposals are for the enactment of Federal statutes which will protect all our people in the exercise of their democratic rights and their search for economic opportunity, grant statehood to Alaska and Hawaii, provide a greater measure of self-government for our island possessions, and accord home rule to the District of Columbia.  Some of those proposals have been before the Congress for a long time.  Those who oppose them, as well as those who favor them, should recognize that it is the duty of the elected representatives of the people to let these proposals come to a vote.

Our democratic ideals, as well as our best interests, require that we do our fair share in providing homes for the unfortunate victims of war and tyranny.  In so doing, we shall add strength to our democracy through the abilities and skills which these men and women will bring here.  I urge the prompt enactment by the Congress of the legislation now before it to extend and broaden the existing displaced persons law and remove its discriminatory features.

The measures I am recommending to the Congress concerning both our foreign and our domestic policies represent a carefully considered program to meet our national needs.  It is a program which necessarily requires large expenditures of funds.  More than 70 percent of the Government’s expenditures are required to meet the costs of past wars and to work for world peace.  This is the dominant factor in our fiscal policy.  At the same time, the Government must make substantial expenditures which are necessary to the growth and expansion of the domestic economy.

At present, largely because of the ill-considered tax reduction of the Both Congress, the Government is not receiving enough revenue to meet its necessary expenditures.

To meet this situation, I am proposing that Federal expenditures be held to the lowest levels consistent with our international requirements and the essential needs of economic growth, and the well-being of our people.  I think I had better read that over; you interrupted me in the middle.