    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [September 29, 2008]
    [Pages 1255-1256]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Presenting the 2007 National Medals of Science and Technology
    and Innovation
    September 29, 2008

        Please be seated. Thanks. Welcome. This is a joyous day for the
    White House as we honor some of our Nation's most gifted and visionary
    men and women. I congratulate you all on your achievements. I'm looking
    forward to presenting you with the National Medals of Science and
    Technology and Innovation. And I welcome your friends, but most
    importantly, I welcome your family members. We are glad you're here, and
    thank you for standing by these--by the side of these pioneers and doers
    and achievers.
        I want to thank members of the administration who've joined us,
    particularly Deputy Secretary John Sullivan; Dr. Arden Bement,
    Director of the National Science Foundation. I welcome the chairs and
    members of the 2007 and 2008 nominating committees. These recipients
    welcome you as well. [Laughter] They appreciate your good judgment.
    [Laughter] And I welcome the previous medal recipients who are here. But
    most of all, thank you all for coming.
        You know, it's very interesting that we're having this in the East
    Room. It turns out that Thomas Jefferson reportedly used this room as a
    place to lay out his fossils. [Laughter] Three hundred fossils and bones
    were catalogued right here in the East Room, including a tusk of nearly
    10 feet. Barney has been looking for that tusk for a long time.
    [Laughter]
        Anyway, our history is rich with pioneers and innovators who have
    used their God-given talents to improve our Nation. After all, it was
    Benjamin Franklin who invented the bifocals, and you will see his
    picture hanging here in the White House--or Alexander Graham Bell and
    the telephone.
        Creative men and women are building on the foundation laid by those
    geniuses, and the same thing is going to happen in the future with the
    foundation laid by these geniuses. I mean, after all, Franklin's
    bifocals are giving way to LASIK surgery--[laughter]--and Alexander
    Graham Bell's telephone plays MP3s. [Laughter]
        We're proud to honor a new generation of people who have strived for
    excellence, people whose discoveries have changed America and the world.
    And that's what we're here to honor: discovery and hard work and
    creative minds.

    [[Page 1256]]

        The men and women we honor here hold more than 100 patents. They are
    the leaders in business and industry. They public--publish influential
    books. They chair academic departments in some of our country's finest
    universities. Our honorees have made breakthroughs in the range of--in a
    range of fields, including polymer chemistry, neurobiology, condensed
    matter physics--all a little esoteric for a history major, I might add.
    [Laughter]
        Each of our honorees has extended the frontiers of knowledge, and in
    so doing, they've inspired a wave of innovation. We're an innovative
    society, and one of the main reasons why is we got very capable people
    who are willing to use their talents to push for new innovations. The
    work has helped inspire new medicines to treat diseases, strengthen
    security in Americans' airports, build new jet engines. They have helped
    create a global marketplace through a single phrase: ``Find it on
    eBay.'' [Laughter]
        Each of these folks up here has earned the appreciation of our
    country. And one way to express our appreciation is to present a medal,
    and that's what we're doing.
        I do want to thank the members of our academic community for helping
    youngsters understand the importance of math and science and
    engineering. Today we've got students from Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin
    Banneker Academic High Schools. And I know that some of the recipients
    here took time out to inspire, and I hope scientists and mathematicians
    and engineers all across the country will serve as mentors and role
    models to encourage young folks to take a serious interest in
    academics--in the academic of engineering and physics and sciences and
    biology so that someday another American President will be able to hang
    a medal around their neck.
        All in all, this is an important day for our country, because it
    reminds people that innovation and science are important for our future
    and that good education is important for that future as well. I want to
    thank you all again for your many contributions to our Nation. I want to
    thank you all for coming to witness this important ceremony.
        And now I ask the military aide to read the citations.

    [At this point, Maj. Curtis Buzzard, USA, Army Aide to the President,
    read the citations, and the President presented the medals.]

    Note: The President spoke at 10 a.m. in the East Room at the White
    House.