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.

The question of abortion grips our nation.  Abortion is either the taking of a human life or it isn’t.  And if it is—­and medical technology is increasingly showing it is—­it must be stopped.  It is a terrible irony that while some turn to abortion, so many others who cannot become parents cry out for children to adopt.  We have room for these children.  We can fill the cradles of those who want a child to love.  And tonight I ask you in the Congress to move this year on legislation to protect the unborn.

In the area of education, we’re returning to excellence, and again, the heroes are our people, not government.  We’re stressing basics of discipline, rigorous testing, and homework, while helping children become computer-smart as well.  For 20 years scholastic aptitude test scores of our high school students went down, but now they have gone up 2 of the last 3 years.  We must go forward in our commitment to the new basics, giving parents greater authority and making sure good teachers are rewarded for hard work and achievement through merit pay.