[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
[January 21, 2004]
[Pages 96-101]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks in a Discussion at Mesa Community College in Phoenix, Arizona
January 21, 2004

    The President. Well, I appreciate you having me here. You've got an 
interesting accent--[laughter]--thought for a minute you were from 
Texas. [Laughter] Then he told me he was from Australia. And we really 
appreciate our friends from Australia.
    First, I want to thank you for letting me come by. This is going to 
be an interesting dialog to talk about how to make sure our community 
college systems--not only here in Arizona but around the country--meet 
the needs of the modern workforce. Let me put it another way--make sure 
that people get the skills necessary to find work. And that's what we're 
really here to talk about.
    The reason why we're here at Mesa is because you're doing a great 
job. I'm sure we'll hear some of that soon. Before we do, though, I want 
to recognize Members of the United States Congress who are here. I 
appreciate so very much them coming. That would be J.D. 
Hayworth and Trent Franks and Jeff Flake. I don't know if 
you guys were there last night--this is the ultimate loyalty, when they 
hear a long speech last night, then they come and get to hear another 
speech, back to back. But thank you all for being here. I appreciate 
your service to our country and your State.
    I know there's elected officials here. I know there are members of 
the community college board of trustees. I met the chairman, by the way, 
who did a fine job of lobbying on behalf of the funding for the 
community college system--[laughter]--in this vital part of our country.
    Let me--just a couple of comments, and then we'll start the dialog. 
First, we're still at war. And we're going to win the war, because 
there's a lot of really brave, capable, courageous Americans who are 
willing to sacrifice for liberty and freedom.
    I was so touched, when I went to Baghdad or when I met our troops 
around our country, to realize there are people in our country who are 
serving something greater than themself. I think that's such a wonderful 
part of our Nation and our culture. And you just got to know, our 
Government will do everything we can to keep us safe--keep us safe by 
staying on the offensive, by changing parts of the world that had 
embraced tyranny. We believe strongly in America that freedom is the 
Almighty God's gift to every person who lives in the world, every man 
and woman. And America will continue to have a forward strategy of 
freedom to make the world more peaceful.
    And it's hard work. I know it is. But in my judgment, it's essential 
work. It's essential work so that our children can grow up in a peaceful 
and free society. It's essential work so others' children can grow up in 
a peaceful and free world as well.
    At home, we got a lot of good people working in homeland security. I 
met the Governor at the airport today. It 
rained. [Laughter] I said, ``Do you want to take credit for the rain, or 
do you want me to take credit for the rain?'' [Laughter] But she's 
working hard, and the coordination between the Federal and State and 
local authorities is good. We're doing everything we can to protect us.
    The other thing that's happening is, is that our economy is 
beginning to grow. And that's important. There's no need to talk about 
job training if we're not creating new jobs. And that's what we're here 
to discuss.
    I just want to remind everybody right quick what we have been 
through, just to show you how strong America is and how great the 
American people are. We've been through a recession. We went--we were 
attacked, and make no mistake about it, the attack hurt. The attack hurt 
because it made it abundantly clear that this Nation

[[Page 97]]

is no longer protected by oceans and that we've got to get on the 
offensive if we're interested in keeping us peace and safe. We had some 
corporate scandals. That hurt us. It hurt us when citizens who should 
know better didn't tell the truth to their employees and their 
shareholders. They're now being held to account, by the way, because of 
good laws we passed. Then we marched to war. When you're marching to war 
to make our country more secure and the world more free, it is not 
conducive to capital investment. That's a negative thought. When you 
turn on your TV screens for a lot of last year, it said ``March To 
War.'' And that didn't instill a lot of confidence in the people, 
because there's a lot of uncertainty when ``a march to war.'' We're now 
marching to peace, and we're changing the world in a better way.
    And the economy is growing, and jobs are getting better. There will 
be honest disagreement about what I'm about to tell you, but I strongly 
believe that the tax relief we passed is helping this economy grow and 
that people have more money in their pocket. So there are jobs.
    Now, I'm going to talk about--we'll talk about the new jobs of the 
21st century. There are some old jobs, however, that are being filled by 
people from other countries. Let's be very frank about what I'm about to 
tell you. There are some jobs that employers are having trouble filling 
because Americans don't want to do them. And therefore, there are people 
from foreign countries coming to do the jobs.
    There's a spirit of parenthood in everybody's heart, if you happen 
to be a mom or a dad. There's a deep desire for people to put food on 
the table to fulfill their obligations. And that's what's happening a 
lot when people come from countries like Mexico to work. They're coming 
to make a living, and they're filling jobs that, frankly, others won't 
do. It seems like to me that we ought to have a policy that's open and 
honest about this phenomena. It's a policy that, in my judgment, should 
say, where there's a willing worker and a willing employer, those two 
ought to be matched up together in a legal way, so long as the employer 
can't find an American to do the job.
    What I'm talking about is a temporary-worker program that recognizes 
the reality of our economy. It's a temporary-worker program that also 
says clearly, we're a land of rule of law, that having people in the 
shadows of our economy is not really the American way, is it? So what I 
want to do is to say, let's have it all legal, in this sense: You can 
come to our country for a period of time so long as there's a job 
available for you.
    Now, that doesn't mean there's automatic citizenship, quite the 
contrary. I strongly oppose what they call ``amnesty'' because all 
amnesty would do is invite more illegal immigration. All amnesty would 
do would say to those who are waiting in line in a legal way to become a 
citizen that legality--being legal doesn't matter in America. It does 
matter. So what I wanted Congress to consider for certain kinds of jobs 
is to put out a temporary-worker card; to get rid of all this business 
about people forging documents that put employers at risk; that say, for 
the period of time you're here, you can go home and take money back 
without fear of being arrested. It's a humane way to approach citizens 
of the world. Imagine being a worker here, and you get abused, and you 
don't dare call the abuser to account because you might get sent home 
and you can't do your job of making money for your family. So that's 
what I call on Congress to do.
    It also is going to help our Border Patrol. It's essential for the 
security of this country that we have a legal system so we don't have 
this terrible problem of ``coyotes'' smuggling these people across the 
hot Arizona or Texas deserts, making money off the system that has now 
developed in America. I think we ought to let the sunshine in, have a 
legal system, recognize realities.

[[Page 98]]

    At the same time in our country we have a debate over those kind of 
jobs, we've always got to remember to make sure that Americans can find 
work too, of course. One of the interesting phenomena is the 
technological changes that are charging through our economy. And this 
Government--[inaudible]--for us to understand that as technologies 
change, oftentimes people can be left behind. And we've got to address 
it straight on.
    And one of the greatest places to address that phenomena is at the 
community college system. And the reason why it's the community college 
system, it's flexible in its curriculum. The old days of workforce 
training are now changing. It used to be they said, ``Look, just go 
train people,'' so States would go out and train 1,000 beauticians for 
50 jobs. And there would be 950 beauticians without work. But they'd 
say, ``Oh, we punched our ticket. We actually trained people.''
    Now we've got a new attitude in America. We're going to train people 
for the jobs that actually exist, and therefore requires a system that 
is flexible, a system willing to take input from the employers, a system 
that is willing to change curriculum, if need be, to meet the demands of 
local--of the local workplace.
    So last night in my speech, I talked about spending additional money 
to focus directly on these programs, these collaborative programs at the 
community college level, that takes the input from business, takes the 
desire of workers, matches them so people can find good work. And so 
Congress needs to pass $250-million job training money to go 
specifically to community colleges to fund the kind of programs we're 
going to talk about here today.
    I've been talking too much over the last 24 hours, so I want 
Martin to tell us how this collaborative effort 
got going. Now, one of the things that's interesting, I told our 
panelists, is that not only are you speaking to the folks here, but 
there's a lot of people listening. I hope community college systems pay 
attention to what they're about to hear, pay attention to what they're--
what's taking place here in Arizona. It's a interesting idea. And it's 
one, I might add, that the Department of Labor has helped fund to get 
started.
    So Martin, why don't you educate the people?

[At this point, Martin Bean, chief operating officer, New Horizons 
Computer Learning Centers, and chair, CompTIA Policy Committee, made 
brief remarks.]

    The President. Obviously, the IT industry is strong here in Arizona.
    Mr. Bean. Absolutely.
    The President. Well--and tell us how this got started.
    Mr. Bean. How we got started?
    The President. Yes. Did you call everybody in the room and said, 
``All right, let's get after it?'' Somebody needs workers, obviously. 
And so you came up with an interesting idea.
    Mr. Bean. It really got started because 
educators got frustrated that they had to reinvent the wheel in every 
community college, and employers got frustrated that there was no clear 
way for them to be able to mentor and coach employees. And as the 
industry's association, CompTIA said, ``Fine, we'll work with the 
Department of Labor, and instead of building programs for where there 
aren't any jobs, we'll build a set of standards for people to educate to 
employers' needs to get work.''
    The President. A strategy.
    Mr. Bean. There we go. And now we're 
executing.
    The President. Now you're implementing.
    Mr. Bean. Exactly.
    The President. Well, why don't we hear--let's talk to some of the 
implementers. Larry is the president of Mesa Community College, Larry 
Christiansen. Thank you for your 
hospitality.
    Larry K. Christiansen. Thank you, 
Mr. President.

[[Page 99]]

    The President. I appreciate your staff for putting up with this 
giant entourage of mine. [Laughter]
    Dr. Christiansen. It's been a fun 
few days.
    The President. I bet it has, yes. [Laughter]

[Dr. Christiansen made brief remarks.]

    The President. Good. How many people come to this particular campus?
    Dr. Christiansen. Just at our 
little place here, at Mesa Community College, we have 27,000 students.
    The President. Right.
    Dr. Christiansen. We have about 
3,000 that participate in our Business and Industry Center.
    The President. And the Business and Industry Center's sole purpose 
is to train people for jobs?
    Dr. Christiansen. That's correct.
    The President. And you've got 3,000 now?
    Dr. Christiansen. Right. That is 
in addition to, as all of our colleges, we have other occupational 
programs that focus on job training as well. But much of what our 
Business and Industry Center does is partnering with industry.
    The President. Right. Here we're talking about IT. I went to a 
community college in North Carolina. There we talked about health care. 
And the only reason I bring that up is that there are several fields 
where there's really fast-growing opportunities. It just requires a 
certain skill. You just can't walk into the job unless you're able to be 
educated into the ways of that particular industry. And in our country, 
it's--a changing economy provides interesting opportunities. And 
Mary is responsible for making sure it all 
works, aren't you?
    Mary I. Vanis. We hope so.
    The President. Yes. Tell us your job.

[Dr. Vanis, director, Center for Workforce Development, Maricopa 
Community Colleges, made brief remarks.]

    The President. It's the ultimate community outreach.
    Dr. Vanis. It's a great community 
outreach.
    The President. It works because it's administered at the State and 
local level. It's really good public policy.
    Dr. Vanis. It's a great policy.
    The President. I presume some of our students--it's interesting to 
call you a student, isn't it? [Laughter] You never thought you would be 
a student, did you, at this stage of your life, which sets a classic 
example for others to understand that if times get tough and if you've 
got the desire, somebody will want to help you. And in Arizona, you get 
help right here. Good job.
    You want to start? Stacey is with us, Stacey Leedom. She is a student. Stacey, why don't you tell us your 
story? I told Stacey and Bill and Bob that you just don't know, somebody might be watching our 
discussion here, wondering whether or not he or she can have a bright 
future. And to the extent that you can help shed light on where you've 
been and where you're going, it would awfully helpful.

[Stacey Leedom made brief remarks, concluding as follows.]

    Ms. Leedom. I was lucky enough to get 
hired on by a company called Cable One, contracting first through a 
temporary service. But they are actually owned by the Washington Post. 
[Laughter]
    The President. Can you change the editorial page? [Laughter]
    Ms. Leedom. I'll ask. [Laughter]
    The President. Good luck. I hope you rise quickly in the ranks. 
[Laughter]
    Ms. Leedom. Sorry about that.
    The President. Yes.
    Ms. Leedom. Again, it helps me with a 
daughter. I want her to go to college. I don't want her to make mistakes 
I made of not going at a young age and having a full future and a full 
retirement plan and everything. I now have insurance for her. I have 
insurance for myself. It's a future.

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And I'm right now, at an entry level, where I was after 15 years of 
being a graphic artist, on income. And that is--in the end, who has to 
pay the bills? Mom has to pay the bills.
    The President. That's a really--first of all, being a single mom is 
the toughest job in America. Being a single mom who needs more education 
and has the desire to do so is doubly tough. And yours is a wonderful 
story. It is a story that others need to listen to. If you're worried 
about your skill set, you're never too old to learn. As a matter of 
fact, we all learn in different ways, don't we? You've been able to take 
your desire to do your duty as a responsible citizen and convert it to a 
employable skill.
    What's really interesting about what she 
said--I want people to hear this--when you hear about productivity 
increases and the changing economy, she just said by taking time to 
develop new skills, she makes more in her new job, in the new world, 
than she did after 15 years in her old job.
    The changing economy can leave people behind if we're not wise. But 
the changing economy also is good news. It creates higher paying, higher 
quality jobs. And that's what's happening here in America. And that's 
why it's essential that these kind of programs that we're talking about 
provide willing souls with the skills necessary to take advantage of it. 
Fifteen years of work, her pay now is higher in one year--how long have 
you been at Capital One?
    Ms. Leedom. I've actually not been there a 
year; I've been there about 6 months.
    The President. I rest my case. I appreciate that. Good job.
    Ms. Leedom. Thank you, sir.
    The President. Bob Chapman.

[Bob Chapman, a Mesa Community College student, made brief remarks, 
concluding as follows.]

    Mr. Chapman. And at the moment now, I plan 
on getting my degree this spring, and so I'm right now out looking for a 
job. I was able to use some of the resources at the----
    The President. Yes, one-stop center.
    Mr. Chapman. One-stop center. [Laughter] 
That's the easiest way. I was trying to say the formal name for it--at 
the one-stop center.
    The President. It happens to me all the time. [Laughter]
    Mr. Chapman. Then I'm in good company. 
[Laughter]
    The President. Well, thank you.

[The discussion continued.]

    The President. I think it's important for people who wonder whether 
or not they can afford to go back to community college, there's pots of 
money that will help--Pell grants in this case, trade adjustment money 
in your case. And I assume the financial burden has been eased quite 
significantly.

[The discussion continued.]

    The President. You mentioned a word that I want to spring off here 
for a second--mentoring. I just want everybody to know that the true 
strength of the country is not our military power or the fact that we're 
the wealthiest nation in the world. The true strength of the country is 
the fact that we've got people with really good hearts. That's the 
strength of America; it's the decency and honor of our people. 
Obviously, what you just said is part of what I'm talking about, 
mentoring to help people.
    Hilary Juel is with us today. Hilary, I'm 
sorry to embarrass you. You shouldn't have come out to see me at Air 
Force One if you didn't want me to introduce you. [Laughter] She is a--
she's with Make a Difference service group here in Phoenix. Their job is 
to match loving hearts with broken hearts, is the best way to describe 
it; is to help people who heard the call to love a neighbor to just do 
that; is to help save this community and ultimately our country, one 
soul at a time.

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    I want to thank you for being a soldier in the army of compassion. I 
want to urge people in this community to gather up the spirit of the 
Hilarys or what you've heard here today, to make a difference in 
somebody's lives. And it doesn't take much to do so, by the way. If you 
teach a child to read, you're helping America. If you go to a shut-in's 
house and just tell him you love him on a regular basis, you're making a 
difference. No, the strength of this country is the fact that we've got 
citizens willing to serve something greater than themself.
    I think the community college system of America is one of our great 
strengths. I hope that people who have listened here can see that in the 
living proof of three 
citizens who, because of their own will and 
their own desire, took advantage of the opportunity and are now working 
or soon-to-be working. [Laughter] Well, two working and one filling out 
a resume. [Laughter]
    But I appreciate you all sharing your stories with us. It's 
important to know that--for people to know that as this economy changes, 
there's opportunity. You've just got to seize it, just like you three 
have done. I want to thank you for your--for the example you've set. I 
want to thank the folks here for providing a great service to our 
Nation.
    And may God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 4:06 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona; and Bill Moses, student, Mesa 
Community College.