WASHINGTON, The following is a transcript of
remarks by President Bush at the presentation of National Medals of Science
and Technology:

East Room

10:45 A.
I want to thank members of my Cabinet who have joined us: Secretary
Gutierrez, Secretary Bodman. Kathie
Olsen, the Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation. I want to
thank the representative from the National Science Foundation and members of
the board of the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation. (Laughter. Bill Jeffrey who is with us, Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology. I want to thank the previous
recipients of the National Medals of Science and Technology who've joined us. Thank you both for coming. They recognize
work that has helped expand the horizons of human knowledge.
The spirit of discovery is one of our national strengths . Twenty-five years
ago, most Americans used typewriters instead of computers. If we want this country to be the most competitive
country in the world, we have got to spend money now to make sure we stay on
the leading edge of technological change. We've also got to recognize it's in
the private sector where most money is spent on research and development, yet
we unwisely have allowed the research and development tax credit to expire. They provide incentives for their employees to go
into the classrooms of local high schools and community colleges to say to
youngsters, join us in these exciting fields.
I appreciate the work that today's laureates are doing to inspire young
scientists . Thank you all for joining us.
I hope that you are inspired by the examples of excellence and success that
you see right here in this ceremony today.)

(The medals are presented. May God continue to bless our great nation. Thank you.

President Honors Nation's Leading Elementary School Math and Science Teachers

gov.

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M.)
I thank Dr.
Most of all, thank you all for joining us . Most of us had rolodexes -- you might remember those --
(laughter) -- and on the long family trip we'd play the license plate game --
(laughter) -- and now we're watching DVDs.
Our nation has a vital stake in the research and discovery that makes
these advances possible. I think that 's a good use of taxpayers' money.
(Applause.)
We can't be the leading country in the world in science and technology
unless we educate scientists and young mathematicians. And so as part of the
Competitive Initiative I'm going to work with the Congress to make sure we
extend the same standards in the No Child Left Behind Act that we apply to
reading and math.
We can't make sure our children have got math and science -- fine math and
science courses unless we've got teachers capable of teaching math and
science. And one way to do that is to expand education to high school
teachers in how to teach advanced placement.
You know, I was out in Albuquerque and had a good visit in Intel. And the exciting jobs of the
21st century are going to be in math and science . And the American people
must understand that if we don't educate our kids in math and science, the
jobs are going to go elsewhere in the years to come. (Laughter. And so today we're here to say thanks for what you've done; thanks
for helping improve the quality of life in this country; thanks for inspiring
others. The award was
established in 1983. Territories, and the
U.C.

John H.

CONTACT: Bob Hopkins of the Office of Science and Technology Policy,
+1-202-456 -6098, or rhopkins@ostp.

top science

Remarks by President Bush at Presentation of National Medals of Science and Technology

Each of our
honorees has been blessed with talent, and each has used their talent to the
fullest . The medals are our nation's
way of expressing gratitude to gifted and visionary citizens. I want to thank Dr. Those
were the folks who decided that you won.
I thank my friends, Congressman Sherry Boehlert, as well as Dave Reichert, of
the United States Congress, for being here.
The medals I'm about to present are the highest award a President can
bestow for astounding achievement in science and technology. And the National Medal of Technology recognizes
innovators whose work keeps America on the cutting edge with discoveries that
change the way we live. Most of us used
payphones instead of cell phones. Most of us used carbon paper instead of
laser printers.
Many technologies that are in our laboratories today will bring cures and
technologies that are beyond our imagination . These
laureates have done work that have revolutionized organ transplants and led to
development of global positioning systems and helped feed millions around the
world. And so in my State of the Union I encouraged our
nation to stay on the leading edge of technology and education. I've talked
about an American Competitiveness Initiative that will double over the next 10
years the federal commitment to the most critical, basic research programs in
the physical sciences. The facts also are these, that we're falling off the face
of the charts when it comes to 8th grade math. They've
got an interesting program. I appreciate you being here.) The work of discovery is quiet and often solitary. Congratulations on your medals, and now the military aide will read
the citations.)

THE PRESIDENT: Again, thank you for coming. Got a little reception back
here for the honorees and their families.
(Applause.)

END 11:06 A. EST

Bush today
announced that 95 educators will receive the annual Presidential Awards for
Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 2004. This year, the White House recognizes the best of the
Nation's K-6 mathematics and science teachers.
The awardees are selected from mathematics and science teachers in all 50
States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U. After an initial selection process at the
State or Territorial level, a national panel of distinguished scientists,
mathematicians, and educators recommends teachers to receive the Presidential
Awards. The awards are administered by the National Science Foundation. The teachers will be in the
Nation's capital from April 11-16, 2005, to receive the award and participate
in a variety of educational and celebratory events.
They will also meet with members of Congress and the Administration to discuss
the latest issues in mathematics and science teaching, and share their
expertise and viewpoints with their colleagues.org.

About the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Congress established OSTP in 1976 with a broad mandate to advise the
President and others within the Executive Office of the President on the
impacts of science and technology on domestic and international affairs.gov.

math v

EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks and welcome to the White House. I also
appreciate the family members and friends who are here, as well. I want to thank Dr. Arden Bement, the
Director of the National Science Foundation , who is with us. Dr. And we will then wonder how we
ever lived without them. These kinds of changes are the result of years of
hard work by American innovators, like those we honor here today.)
Six of today's eight science laureates have benefited from past investment
in this kind of research . (Applause. And we've got to change that. They make a significant difference in the lives of our children. And
so by making sure more teachers can teach AP, this country will be better off
in making sure that we've got the future scientists and mathematicians living
right here in the United States of America. I
mean, we want young kids to think math and science -- math and science are
cool subjects, that it's okay to be a mathematician, that it's exciting to be
a scientist. And there's no better way to make sure that young students are
encouraged to take math and science than to have successful scientists explain
to our students just the wonders of exploration.
You know, it's interesting, people generally do not pursue a career in
science or technology with the goal of fame. I'm kind of trying to change
that today. (Applause.M.S.
Awardees receive a $10,000 educational grant for their schools and a trip
to Washington, D.
During the week the teachers will tour the White House and be honored in
an awards ceremony hosted by Dr. Marburger III , Science Advisor to the
President and Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy .paemst. The
1976 Act also authorizes OSTP to lead an interagency effort to develop and to
implement sound science and technology policies and budgets and to work with
the private sector, state and local governments, the science and higher
education communities, and other nations toward this end . The Director of
OSTP serves as co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and
Technology and oversees the National Science and Technology Council on behalf
of the President. For more information visit http://www.eop.

mathematicians math

It is an honor to
be in the company of so many bright and distinguished Americans .
The work we honor today has improved the lives of people everywhere. It
has helped to move our economy forward and it's helped to make sure that
America is the leader of innovation in our world. Jack Marburger, who is the
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. I thank David
Sampson, from Commerce, for joining us. The National
Medal of Science honors those whose research has enhanced our understanding of
life and the world around us. Our greatest
resource has always been the educated, hardworking, ambitious people who call
this country their home. From Thomas Edison's light bulb, to Robert Ledley's
CAT scan machine, most of America's revolutionary inventions began with men
and women with the vision to see beyond what is, and the desire to pursue what
might be.
Think back to how much this country has changed since the -- since we
first created the National Medal of Technology in 1980.
Over the years, National Science and Technology laureates have been
responsible for breakthroughs that revolutionized telecommunications,
discovered the structure of DNA, led to the invention of the microchip.
If the United States expects to remain competitive in a global economy, we
must encourage our private sector to continue to invest in leading -edge
technologies, and therefore, we ought to make the research and development tax
credit a permanent part of our tax code. The facts are that we're doing fine with 4th grade kids in
math and science .
And one of the sure ways to change that is to apply special money for kids who
need extra help in junior high for math and science. Advanced placement programs
work.
Another part of the initiative is to encourage school districts to recruit
30,000 math and science professionals to teach in our nation's classrooms. The Competitive
Initiative recognizes we're great when it comes to research and development,
and we intend to stay that way. But we've also got to be great when it comes
to making sure our students have got the skills necessary to compete in the
21st century. We've got some young scientists from Benjamin Banneker High
School with us.
Yet, all Americans benefit from your imagination and your talent and your
resolve. I'm proud to have you here in the
White House . WASHINGTON, President George W.S. Department of Defense Schools., to accept a certificate.
For a complete listing of the 2004 awardees visit http://www.ostp.

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