 Vice President of the United States, that's not emotion. That's that light right there in front of me Well, thank you all and please be seated vice president Bush Governor Kane members of the Congress and Secretary go dole candy lightener all of you who've been fighting this good fight Good afternoon and welcome to the White House when I accepted my party's nomination that for the presidency that was four years ago today I shared a vision of the future I Said that we needed a rebirth of an American tradition of leadership at every level of government and private life as well I Said that we needed a rebirth of an American tradition of leadership of that kind Because the United States of America is unique in world history It has a genius for leaders at many Of many leaders on many levels and since then we've seen the rise of a great National movement a movement that's led by men and women in all walks of life It began in the community it's spread to state governments and Now it's one wide support here in our nation's capital the movement against drunk driving the Bill we're gathered to sign today reflects the will of the American people It takes the battle to stop drunk driving one crucial step further And permit me to tell you why I believe that this bill is so important We know that drinking plus driving Spelled death and disaster We know that people in the 18 to 20 age group are more likely to be an alcohol related accidents than those in any other age group we know that America has a clear stake in making certain that her sons and daughters so full of vitality and promise Will not be crippled or killed And I know there's one we all know that there is one simple Measure that will save thousands of young lives that are in the drinking age If we or if we raise the drinking age, I should say to 21 now Raising that drinking age is not a fad or an experiment. It's a proven success Nearly every state that has raised the drinking age to 21 has produced a significant drop in the teenage driving fatalities in the state of New Jersey whose governor made it a very personal crusade for himself the great rate dropped by 26% Illinois it has fallen 23% in Michigan 31% And when the Commission on drunk driving submitted its report it forcefully recommended that all 50 states should make 21 the legal drinking age and Yet less today less than half that number have the age 21 law And that leaves us with a crazy quilt of different states drinking laws and far too many blood borders Borders routines drive across to reach states with lower drinking ages and these teenagers Drink and then careen home and all too often cause crippling or fatal accidents This problem is bigger than the individual states. It's a grave national problem and it touches all our lives With a problem so clear-cut And the proven solution at hand We have no misgiving about this judicious use of federal power I'm convinced That it will help persuade state legislators to act in the national interest to save our children's lives By raising the drinking age to 21 across the country Now many have toiled Hard to make this bill possible members of Congress Secretary dole Thousands of concerned Americans like members of mothers against drunk driving The students against drunk driving by supporting legislation They've done this nation a service and each of them certainly have my heart felt thanks And I think the thanks of all the people in our country So God bless you and I am now going to write instead of talk. I'll sign I Thank you very much