[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 28 (Monday, July 15, 2002)]
[Pages 1183-1184]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the Recipients of the 2001 Presidential Early Career Awards 
for Scientists and Engineers

July 12, 2002

    Well, thank you all very much for coming today. It's a privilege to 
welcome our country's best minds to the White House. Today it is my 
honor, high honor to welcome the men and women receiving the 2001 
Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.
    I want to thank you all for coming. I appreciate so very much the 
first steps in the careers of discovery that you've taken. And the 
amazing thing is, your colleagues already recognize the great potential 
of your work. Dr. Marburger was telling me that it was only 5 years ago 
that a person who had--who received an award that you're receiving today 
became a Nobel laureate. Maybe I'm looking at another Nobel laureate or 
two here. [Laughter]
    You need to know that the breakthroughs that you have made will make 
life better for all Americans. Your explorations will expand our 
understanding of the world, and that's important. Your innovations will 
help America stay at the forefront of technological development for 
decades to come.
    Most Americans may not understand all you do and all the details of 
your work. But we understand your promise and your commitment and your 
dedication. And we're grateful for it, so thanks for coming.
    I appreciate Larry Lindsey, my Director of the National Economic 
Council, and Jack Marburger, the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, for spearheading this event. I want to thank a couple 
of my Cabinet Secretaries who are here: Ann Veneman of Agriculture and 
Spence Abraham of Energy. Thank you both for your service.
    I appreciate Rita Colwell, as Director of the National Science 
Foundation, for being here, for her work. I want to thank Elias Zerhouni 
from the NIH for being here. Dr. Zerhouni is--we plucked him out of the 
private sector to serve our country, and he's doing a fine job. I just 
want to remind everybody that the commitment we made that we would 
double the budget in the NIH has been completed, and I appreciate your 
leadership there, Dr. Zerhouni.
    I want to thank Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher of--the 
Administrator of NOAA, National Oceanic and Administrative--Atmospheric 
Administration. I want to thank Dr. Arden Bement, the Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology--Arden, thank you very 
much, sir--John Hopps, the Deputy Director of the Defense Research and 
Engineering at the Department of Defense. I want to thank James Burris, 
the Deputy Chief Research and Development Officer of the Veterans Health 
Administration, and Shannon Lucid, who is the Chief Scientist of NASA.
    The reason I mention these fine folks is that they all picked you. 
So when you see them at the reception--[laughter]--be nice to them. 
[Laughter]
    I want to welcome the family member or friend that you picked to 
come here. I'm sorry the room is so small. I suspect we could

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have accommodated a lot more people if we had a bigger room. But Dr. 
Marburger told me that at the reception other family members will be 
there. Please give them my best, and sorry I couldn't extol your virtues 
in front of them, in their person. But I want to welcome you all as well 
to the White House. It's quite a place to go to work, as I'm sure you 
can imagine. And I hope you recognize it's quite a place to receive an 
award too.
    The honorees are--you're serving America; that's what you're doing. 
And you're doing so in the best of--in the best of the public interest. 
And for that, we're grateful.
    You're learning how the smallest known particles operate and 
interact. You're laying down the foundation for new methods of 
diagnosing and treating cancer and heart disease, doing research to 
protect Americans against threats posed by chemical weapons. You're 
exploring the unchartered territory of the human mind.
    Your work advances important national goals. And accomplishing these 
goals requires the cooperation amongst scientists and engineers in our 
universities, our Government agencies, and, of course, in the private 
sector.
    This award is a statement of our confidence, the Nation's confidence 
and the tremendous good that can come when the America Government 
supports the genius of the American people.
    My administration is continuing a great tradition. Whether finding 
cures for diseases or learning how to better predict natural disasters 
or developing information technology that unites the world, Government-
funded basic research expands knowledge and learning and helps our 
people to live longer and healthier and more satisfying lives. We are 
committed to basic research from the Federal Government. And we will 
keep that commitment so long as we're here.
    Innovation is one of our greatest national strengths. It drives our 
economy. It helps protect our environment. And the truth of the matter 
is, it improves lives all across the globe. In all of your work, you're 
contributing to the strength of America and to the well-being of our 
people.
    You probably have become scientists or engineers because you're 
motivated by the thrill of discovery--I suspect that's the case--or by 
the quest to push outward the bounds of human knowledge. And many of you 
will make significant discoveries. It probably won't be household 
names--not all that bad, I might add. [Laughter] But Americans will know 
your work because it will touch their lives, and I hope you understand 
that that in itself is a great honor and a great accomplishment.
    You'll blaze the trail for others who will build on your successes 
and then, of course, discover their own. That's the wonders of science 
and engineering.
    I appreciate the fact that many of you are already inspiring young 
boys and girls to explore their interest in science and engineering. 
That in itself is an incredibly important contribution to our country, 
to excite youngsters about the promise and hope of science and promise 
and hope of engineering. By involving students in your work and creating 
opportunities for young Americans to learn about career opportunities in 
the sciences, you're opening minds and opening doors to future 
researchers. Your impact will be felt for decades to come, and that's 
why I've come to speak to you.
    So on behalf of all Americans, I want to thank you for your 
commitment to improving lives and exploring new horizons. I congratulate 
you for your hard work. I urge you not to stop, to keep using your God-
given talents and your God-given genius to make the world better for all 
of us.
    May God bless your work, and God bless America. Congratulations.

Note: The President spoke at 10:10 a.m. in Presidential Hall in the 
Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building.