    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [January 31, 2005]
    [Pages 111-112]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Swearing-In Ceremony for Margaret Spellings as Secretary of Education
    January 31, 2005

        Please be seated. Thanks for coming. Laura
    and I are pleased to be here at the Department of Education with
    Margaret Spellings. Madam Secretary, thanks for inviting us over.
        I have known Margaret for a long time, before we both came to
    Washington. When I was the Governor of Texas, she was the senior adviser
    for education, and at the White House she has been my senior domestic
    policy adviser. For more than 10 years, she's been right down the hall
    or by my side, and now I look forward to having her take her seat in the
    Cabinet Room.
        It's good to be here with members of her family. I've known her
    husband for a while, Robert Spellings. It's
    good that Robert and
    Britain are with us. Mary and Grace are with us as
    well, Margaret's daughters. Her parents, John and
    Peg Dudar, are here, as are other members of her
    family. Welcome to Washington, DC.
        I'm pleased Members of the Congress have come. I am so grateful that
    Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator Mike
    Enzi are with us today. Thank you both for
    coming. I appreciate Congressmen John Boehner, Ralph Regula, and Mac
    Thornberry from Texas for being here. You're
    very gracious to take time to be here. Thank you all for being here.
        Looking around, I see other nominees for the Cabinet and members of
    our administration, all fans of Margaret. I see a few Texans have come
    up from the great State. Thank you all for being here. We're honored
    you're here. I know Margaret is especially honored you're here.
        She will be an outstanding Secretary of Education. She has been
    involved in all our efforts to strengthen American public schools. She
    was instrumental in getting the No Child Left Behind Act passed, that
    will help raise standards in our public schools. She believes, as I do,
    that every child can learn, and that every school must teach.
        In the past 4 years, we have made great strides. Today, children
    across America are scoring higher on State reading and math tests. The
    achievement gap in America is closing. We've made important progress,
    but Margaret understands there is still more work to be done.
        We will maintain the high standards of No Child Left Behind. We will
    extend those high standards and accountability to America's public high
    schools. Today, only about 60 out of every 100 students entering our
    public high schools ever make it to graduation 4 years later. Margaret
    understands, as do I, that is unacceptable. We're committed to ensuring
    that every high school student succeeds and leaves with the skills he or
    she needs to succeed in college or the workplace.
        Because most new jobs in our 21st century economy will require post-
    secondary education or training, Margaret understands we need to make
    higher education more affordable and accessible for all Americans. We
    will reform the student aid system and increase college assistance for
    low-income students. We'll increase the maximum award for Pell grants
    and make them available to students year-round. And we will expand
    access to community colleges, so that more Americans can develop the
    skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the workplace.
        Margaret is the right person to carry out a reform agenda. She is
    talented. She is smart. She is capable, and she is a lot of fun to be
    around. [Laughter] She is a mom. She has a personal stake in the success
    of our Nation's schools. She knows that to build on the progress of No
    Child Left Behind, the Government, the President,

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    and the Secretary of Education and those who work in this building must
    listen to those closest to our children--their parents, their teachers,
    and their principals. She will be a thoughtful and determined leader of
    this Department. The people who work in this building will find out that
    they are very lucky to have been led by the likes of Margaret Spellings.
    I am proud to welcome her into my Cabinet.
        Margaret.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:47 a.m. at the U.S. Department of
    Education. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    also included the remarks of Secretary Spellings.