[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 10 (Monday, March 14, 2005)]
[Pages 382-383]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Helping America's Youth in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

March 7, 2005

    Thanks for the warm welcome here to ``Knowledge City.'' Laura and I 
just came from the Providence Family Support Center. [Applause] You've 
got a reason to cheer. [Laughter] It is a fabulous place, and we really 
appreciate the Sisters of Divine Providence for letting us visit, 
particularly Mary Joan Coultas and all the other sisters there, for 
filling that space with love and compassion, trying to save souls one 
person at a time, and advancing a goal we all want, and that's for 
America to be the most hopeful country in the world for every single 
citizen. And that's really what we're here to talk about.
    I said that's what we're here to talk about, but the truth of the 
matter is, I'm the introducer. [Applause] Yes. Not the first time people 
have cheered when I said, ``I'm the introducer, and Laura's the 
speaker.'' [Laughter]
    I do want to thank Senator Arlen Specter for joining us today, and I 
appreciate him coming here. He's always telling me what to do, and I'm 
telling him what to do. [Laughter] Since it's my airplane--well, 
actually--[laughter]. I'm proud of Congressman Tim Murphy. It's good to 
see you, Murph. Thank you for coming. Congresswoman Melissa Hart, thank 
you for being here.
    It's always good to see Bishop Donald Wuerl. Gosh, I think I've been 
with the Bishop three or four, maybe five times. Every time I'm with 
him, he talks about education. [Laughter] He loves education.
    And it's--one of the things--when you talk about a hopeful America, 
it's important to always keep in mind the cornerstone of a hopeful 
America, the foundation of a hopeful America, is an education system 
which makes sure every single child can read, write, and add and 
subtract. It's the beginnings of what a hopeful America is about.
    And I appreciate, Bishop, your leadership when it comes to the 
Catholic education system here in Pittsburgh. It's a model of 
excellence. It is--someday I hope that we're able to further the ability 
for parents to escape failure and go to any school they choose--

[[Page 383]]

or send their children to any school they choose.
    Speaking about organizations that work, I appreciate the Community 
College of Allegheny County for, one, lending us the facility, and two, 
providing an education that is affordable and flexible and market-
driven. I want to thank Paul Whitehead and Brian Johnson for being good 
hosts.
    The community college system is a vital part of making sure people 
are able to gain the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st 
century. Community colleges are able to adjust their curriculum to the 
needs of the local employer base. And if somebody needs nurses, they 
come to a community college system and help--they help design a 
curriculum so we can train nurses. They need computer technology people. 
I mean, the community college system is vital and important.
    Melissa happens to be a board [member] * of this community college 
system. And this administration will continue to support our community 
colleges to make sure that people have the skills necessary to fill the 
jobs which are being created in America, the jobs of the 21st century. 
So thank you for letting us come here today.
    * White House correction.
    And now it's my honor to introduce Laura. [Laughter] She and I share 
a passion that we've got to make sure that the great strength of our 
country--that is, the hearts and souls of our citizens--are directed in 
such a way that every child can be saved. That's what we want, and we're 
worried. We're worried about gangs. We're worried about drugs. We're 
worried about bad choices. But we also know that if we can, in our small 
way, encourage people to put their arm around somebody and say, ``I love 
you. What can I do to help you,'' if we can encourage people to step 
forward and to volunteer their time and talent and compassion, this 
country can be a better place. So one of the big initiatives that she 
is--will be leading on behalf of my administration and the country is 
how to utilize the assets at our disposal to make sure that every single 
child, every single person has a bright and hopeful future.
    You know, de Tocqueville, years ago, wrote about America. In 1832, 
he wrote about the great capacity of our country to have people of--who 
cared about their country to be able to associate in a voluntary way to 
kind of transcend individualism. In other words, what he was really 
saying is, America is a unique place where people come together to serve 
a cause greater than themselves. And I think the patriotism of the 21st 
century is--can be found when somebody goes to the center we just came 
at and volunteer his or her time, and says to a child, ``I love you. 
What can I do to help you to realize your dream?'' And Laura's here to 
talk about that on behalf of our country.
    I'm proud of her as the First Lady. I love her dearly as a wife. 
She's a fabulous mother. Laura Bush.

Note: The President spoke at 3:58 p.m. at the Community College of 
Allegheny County--Allegheny Campus. In his remarks, he referred to Mary 
Joan Coultas, CDP, provincial director, Sisters of Divine Providence, 
Pittsburgh, PA; Bishop Donald Wuerl of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, PA; 
Paul V. Whitehead, chair, board of trustees, Community College of 
Allegheny County; and Brian Johnson, senior vice president for community 
and student services, Community College of Allegheny County, and chief 
executive officer, Community College of Allegheny County--Allegheny 
Campus. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary 
also included the remarks of the First Lady.