    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [December 16, 1997]
    [Pages 1770-1771]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Presenting the National Medals of Science and Technology
    December 16, 1997

        The President. Thank you very much, Dr. Gibbons, Secretary Daley.
    I'm also delighted that Neal Lane, the Director of the National Science
    Foundation, and Dr. Harold Varmus, the Director of the NIH, are here
    with us, as well as the chairman of the House Science Committee;
    Congressman Sensenbrenner, thank you very much for being here.
        Today we honor 14 remarkable men and women for extraordinary
    individual accomplishments from discovering new ways to chart the
    universe to exploring the internal universe of human nature. We honor
    them, however, also for their collective achievement. By giving these
    awards, we honor the American passion for discovery that has driven our
    Nation forward from field to factory to the far reaches of cyberspace.
    This spirit of discovery will lead us into a new century and a new
    millennium.
        This is a moment of great challenge for our Nation, a time where we
    must rise to master the forces of change and progress as we move forward
    to the 21st century. Later this week I will announce or discuss the new
    economy, one of the most powerful forces of change. This morning I want
    to talk about the force of scientific and technological innovation. It
    is helping to fuel and shape that new economy, but its impact goes well
    beyond it.

    [[Page 1771]]

        For 5 years in a row, I have increased our investments in science
    and technology while bringing down the deficit, often in the face of
    opposition. These investments have surely paid off in higher paying
    jobs, better health care, stronger national security, and improved
    quality of life for all Americans. They are essential to our efforts to
    address global climate change, a process begun last week in Kyoto with
    the strong leadership of the Vice President. They are critical to
    America's ability to maintain our leadership in cutting-edge industries
    that will power the global economy of the new century.
        Half our economic growth in the last half-century has come from
    technological innovation and the science that supports it. The
    information, communications, and electronics industries already employ
    millions of Americans in jobs that can pay up to 73 percent above the
    national average. Firms that use advanced technologies are more
    productive and profitable than those which do not.
        But technological innovation also depends upon Government support in
    research and development. Let me give you just two examples. Five years
    ago, the Internet was unknown to most Americans. Today, thanks to
    farsighted investments, tens of millions of Americans surf the Web on a
    daily basis, and our investments in the next generation Internet will
    give our universities and national labs a powerful research and
    communication tool. Five years ago, the mystery of the human genetic
    system was only partly known. Today, Government-funded scientists have
    discovered genes linked to breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and our
    human genome project is revolutionizing how we understand, treat, and
    prevent some of our most devastating diseases.
        These ground-breaking innovations could not have happened without
    dedication, downright genius, and Government investment. Today I'm
    pleased to announce $96 million in new research and investments to
    continue that progress.
        First, the Defense Department will invest $14 million to help our
    universities, in partnership with private industry, to develop a new
    supercomputer on a chip, among other new projects. These chips will be
    no larger than my fingernail, but their computing power will be 25,000
    times greater than this entire mainframe computer. Let me try to
    illustrate; this is the size of the chip. It equals 25,000 of those.
    Pretty good work. [Laughter] This technology, once developed, will make
    possible everything from faster, cheaper home computers to advanced
    weapons systems to cleaner, more efficient car engines and many, many
    others.
        Second, the Commerce Department's advanced technology program will
    sponsor a series of private-sector competitions for $82 million in new
    grants to foster innovations like cleaner energy sources that reduce
    greenhouse gases, low-cost methods of producing lifesaving drugs, and
    radio-transmitting ID cards that can help to locate lost children, to
    name just a few. These investments will help to usher in a new era of
    discovery we can only dream of today.
        Benjamin Franklin once said he was sorry to have been born so soon
    because he would not, and I quote, ``have the happiness of knowing what
    will be known 100 years hence.'' It's hard to imagine what he would
    think if he were here, 200 years later. I'm sure he'd be filled with awe
    and pride that the American tradition of innovation he helped to
    establish is still driving our Nation forward.
        And who knows what will be known in only 25 years, whom we will be
    honoring: the researchers who find cures for cancer, perhaps scientists
    who discover life on other planets, the engineers who devise new energy
    sources to preserve our environment and sustain our economy for
    generations to come. The discoveries of tomorrow will be made possible
    by the scientists of today and by our continued commitment to their
    passionate quest.
        Now I am honored to present the men and women with the National
    Medals of Science and Technology. Please read the citations.

    [At this point, Lt. Comdr. Wesley Huey, USN, Naval Aide to the
    President, read the citations, and the President presented the medals
    and congratulated the recipients.]

        The President. Give them all a hand here. [Applause]

    [A group photograph was then taken.]

        The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:45 a.m. in Room 450 of the Old Executive
    Office Building.