WASHINGTON, May 14 (UPI) -- President Bush voiced optimism over the nation's growing economy Saturday and the need for new measures to strengthen long-term economic security.
The U.S. Senate, he said, needs to follow the example of the House and pass a comprehensive energy bill that would cut dependence on foreign oil. Congress also needs to approve free trade legislation with Central America and move forward with Social Security reform, he said.
"The American economy is the envy of the world," Bush said during his weekly radio address. "For the sake of our nation's hardworking families, we must work together to achieve long-term economic security ...."
Bush said positive signs his pro-growth policies were working to overcome the earlier recession included:
-- Creation of nearly 3.5 million jobs over the past two years, including 274,000 in April;
-- Unemployment trimmed to 5.2 percent, below the average of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s; and
-- Economic growth of 3.5 percent over the past four quarters, together with low inflation.
The president said he would travel to West Virginia and Wisconsin next week and hold an event at the White House to focus on each of his three economic priorities.
