President Bush visited wounded Marines at a Navy hospital outside the capital after receiving his own annual physical Saturday.
"It's a remarkable experience to meet with these incredibly courageous souls who keep their spirit and understand why they are serving the country," he said.
The president also spent time with parents of the wounded Marines and met with medical staff at the hospital, who he called a great credit to the nation.
In his weekly radio address, President Bush focused on legislative accomplishments of the last several months, including new funding for U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"I requested vital funds for our men and women in uniform, so Congress passed, and I proudly signed, critical legislation to give our troops the resources they need to fight and win the war on terror," he added.
President Bush says U.S. troops are spreading freedom in the world, because free countries, he says, are peaceful. America is staying on the offensive against terrorists because Mr. Bush says fighting them abroad means Americans will not have to face them at home.
In the Democratic radio address, Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye says the president and congressional Republicans are not doing enough to help troops returning from Iraq.
The Republican-led Senate this past week delayed completion of a $491 billion defense bill to act on legislation shielding gun manufacturers and gun dealers from liability suits resulting from gun crimes.
Senator Inouye says Republicans put veterans on hold so they could take up the business of America's powerful gun lobby.
"For years, we've heard the president and congressional Republicans speak eloquently about honoring our troops. But this week, when push came to shove, their priorities were different. They found time for special interests, but not an extra day or an hour for our troops," he said.
Senator Inouye is a veteran of the Second World War and says soldiers returning from that conflict were met by a nation that honored its commitment by providing health care, money for college, job training, and help buying homes.
He says soldiers returning from Iraq have made equal sacrifices to those who served in World War II, but Republicans have failed to provide an equal response.
Senator Inouye lost his right arm in combat in April of 1945. He was helped through two years of recovery by what he called the finest health care the nation could provide. The senator says a soldier returning from Iraq today with a similar injury would be discharged in less than one year.
"Our men and women who have served should not worry about funding for health care year after year. And our soldiers on the front lines should get the resources they need," said Mr. Inouye.
Senator Inouye says Congress should consider America's men and women in uniform as the nation's top priority.
