    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [November 6, 2003]
    [Pages 1478-1479]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1478]]

    Remarks on Presenting the National Medals of Science and Technology
    November 6, 2003

        Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Welcome to the White
    House. I'm pleased to be in such distinguished company here in the East
    Room. I want to congratulate our honorees, and I want to welcome your
    families and friends.
        Each year, our Nation honors outstanding work in science and
    technology. These honorees have given exceptional service in their
    fields and bring great credit to themselves and credit to our country.
    Today we express America's pride in their achievement and our respect
    for these national laureates of science and technology.
        I want to thank Sam Bodman, who is the
    Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce, for joining us. I thank
    Phil Bond, who is the Under Secretary of
    Technology for the Department of Commerce. I want to thank the Director
    of the Office of Science and Technology Policy for the President, Dr.
    John Marburger, for being here. Arden
    Bement is the Director of the National
    Institute of Standards and Technology; thank you, sir. Rita
    Colwell is the Director of the National
    Science Foundation. John Bordogna is the
    Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation. Thank you all for
    coming.
        I want to thank the panelists who selected this outstanding group of
    laureates for their hard work. We've got two Members of the United
    States Senate with us today, members from the mighty Delaware
    delegation. [Laughter] Joe Biden and
    Tom Carper, welcome. Thank you all for coming,
    appreciate you being here.
        We've got students from Benjamin Banneker High School with us today.
    I found it very interesting and wise that the students met one-on-one
    with each of the laureates to help develop their interest in science.
    Thank you for not only being scholars and pioneers but teachers as well.
        The National Medal of Science honors pioneering scientific research
    that has enhanced our basic understanding of life and the world around
    us. The National Medal of Technology recognizes the achievements of men
    and women who embody the spirit of American innovation and have enhanced
    the Nation's global competitiveness. Both these medals are authorized by
    acts of Congress. They're the highest honors the President can bestow
    for attainment in science and technology.
        The men and women we honor today probably didn't begin their careers
    with the expectation of receiving such honors. Most great achievers in
    the fields of science and technology have a sense of calling. They're
    drawn to the work by their curiosity and by their talent. They carry out
    their work with patient effort and the openness to truth that leads to
    discovery. The highest reward for their work is the good they do and the
    knowledge they leave behind.
        The medals we confer today are a way of expressing our own gratitude
    to some of the most gifted and visionary men and women in America. The
    men and women are helping to enhance the Nation's health and economic
    prosperity. They've made their contributions to progress in a variety of
    fields, from physics to genetics to mathematical theory to engineering
    to the development of semiconductors. Some of them have made
    achievements beyond their own fields of endeavor, thereby showing the
    great potential of interdisciplinary research. Each of these recipients
    has set a standard of excellence. Each is widely admired by peers and
    sets a fine example for the next generation of scientists,
    mathematicians, and engineers. And all of them represent the finest
    qualities of their professions and the finest qualities of our country.

    [[Page 1479]]

        This great Nation provides opportunities and institutions that make
    achievement possible. We've got a vibrant free enterprise system. We've
    got the world's finest universities and generous support for scientific
    and technological endeavor. Yet, all the great achievements we honor
    today are the sum of individual effort. And when we speak of American
    creativity and American ingenuity, we're speaking of men and women like
    our national laureates of science and technology. They have freely
    accepted the toil of overcoming challenges. They have put their
    considerable gifts to good purpose. Their fellow Americans are grateful
    to them. All humanity is in your debt.
        And now I ask the military aide to read the citations. It's my honor
    to present the medals to the national laureates of science and
    technology.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:04 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. Following his remarks, the President presented the medals.