One day after he delivered his last State of the Union address, President Bush is asking Congress to keep aiding faith-based programs after he leaves office.

The President visited Baltimore's Jericho Program today, a faith-based work that helps ex-prisoners adjust to society and find jobs. Bush is seeking keep some attention on his faith-based programs.

Jericho Program boasts that only 22 percent of its people end up back in prison, compared to a 52 percent rate among other ex-cons in the Baltimore area.

"These are all programs where a faith-based or community group has dedicated their lives to solve a problem," Bush said, while embracing two ex-prisoners. "And it makes sense for the federal government to give these programs a chance to access taxpayers' money."

Bush said he relates to faith-based programs because it was faith that helped him break his alcohol addiction two decades ago.

"Addiction is hard to overcome," Bush said. "As you might remember, I drank too much at one time in my life. I understand faith-based programs. I understand that sometimes you can find the inspiration from a higher power to solve an addiction problem."

Bush, 61, decided to quit drinking alcohol after a boozy night in 1986 celebrating his 40th birthday.

Source: The Associated Press