Feb. 19 / Administration of George Bush, 1992 ing Government officials together with pri- be pleased to witness the signing of the vate businesses to let them know what Gov- agreement. I believe that’s going to take ernment can offer in technology. We must place. Here it is. Thank you all very much. move these developments out of the labora- tory and into the marketplace and create Note: The President spoke at 10:52 a.m. at more American jobs. And that’s what this is the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Alvin about. Trivelpiece, Director of the Laboratory, and I’m very, very pleased to be here with Joe Coors, Jr., president and chairman of you all today. So without further ado, I’ll Coors Ceramics Co., signed the agreement.

Remarks to Community and Business Leaders in Knoxville, February 19, 1992

Thank you for such a warm welcome Larry Martin and Jack Hammontree and back. And thank you, Senator Baker, my Susan Shay. And I’m pleased that John Wa- esteemed friend, for that overly generous ters of the TVA could join us here today. introduction. I feel very much at home, and I’m de- May I extend my greetings to another lighted to be here. Tennessee is a State with longtime friend, Mayor Victor Ashe, who is a special significance for me. After all, it’s doing a great job here in this community, the Volunteer State. And during Operation and to thank all of the other Knoxville com- Desert Storm you proved it all over again. munity leaders here today. And I’m not sure So let me take this opportunity, thinking that that description includes the marvelous back a year just almost from this minute, music we’ve had, but my thanks to those when the ground war started, let me take from the Vols over here who provided some this opportunity to thank the 6,700 Ten- upbeat sounds. And I also want to single nessee reservists and National Guard who out with great pride two Cabinet members were called up for Desert Storm and who who are with me here today: First, our Sec- served this State and served this country retary of Energy, Jim Watkins, doing a su- with such distinction. perb job, with us over here, Jim; and then, It’s a pleasure to be here in Knoxville, of course, one that you all know so well, for what you’ve done here is a model for Lamar Alexander, our Secretary of Edu- the Nation. This city combines in one place cation. the enthusiasm of cutting-edge research, the You may know that Lamar, as part of his resources of Government, and then the en- mission to promote lifetime learning in ergy, the dynamic energy of the private en- keeping with one of our education goals, terprise. You are pointing our country to- one is never too old to learn, convinced me ward the next American century. to learn how to use a computer. It’s really We stand today at what I think most peo- paid off. I can now make typographical er- ple would agree is a pivot point in history, rors twice as fast as I used to on the type- at the end of one era and the beginning writer. of another. As imperial communism died And may I also single out three Members and as the clouds of the cold war part, of the Tennessee congressional delegation, America stands alone, the undisputed leader Jimmy Duncan, Jimmy Quillen, and Don of the world. The old era demanded great Sundquist, all three doing a fantastic job sacrifices of our country; we met them, each for us in Washington. And a very heartfelt and every one of them. But the new era thanks, quick thanks, to the people at the opens up to us limitless possibilities, fresh Knoxville Chamber of Commerce who challenges of the kind that have always helped pull this magnificent event together, brought out the best in America.

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For the short term, of course, our chal- pete, and it will win. lenge is to fire up the economy. I’ve put This century has taught us many lessons. together a two-part plan, starting with a But above them all stands an overarching short-term package, seven commonsense truth: If America is to succeed economically steps to spur investment and create jobs. at home, we must lead economically abroad. With inflation down and interest rates lower Now, our leadership ensures markets for than they’ve been in 20 years, our plan of- American products and jobs for American fers incentives to business to buy equip- workers. And it gives us room to spread ment, upgrade their plants, and start hiring our wings and show the world what we can again. It offers a real boost to the housing do. Let us never forget: Our national sym- market, often at the forefront of economic bol is the eagle; it is not the ostrich. recovery, with a $5,000 tax credit for first- Each generation of Americans makes an time homebuyers. implicit compact with the generations that I have asked the Congress to pass this follow. We pledge that their opportunities plan by March 20th. You may have heard will be greater than ours. Our generation about other tax plans floated up on Capitol will make good on that pledge but only if Hill. The House Democrats are offering 25 we continue to lead the world. cents a day, literally, in income tax relief So for the last 3 years, my administration in exchange for cuts in Medicare, student has been laying the foundation for Ameri- loans, farm payments, and true to form, a ca’s continued leadership. We’ve ap- large permanent tax increase. That plan will deepen the deficit by $30 billion and cost proached this pivot point in history, this mo- jobs as well. That is a lose-lose proposition ment of unparalleled opportunity, with a if ever there was one. Here in Knoxville, positive strategy to build on the enduring let me again remind the Con- strengths of the American people, our ca- gress: We are a month and a day away from pacity for hard work, our cutting-edge tech- the deadline. Help your country. Put poli- nology, our willingness to take risks. To con- tics aside for just those 31 days that it takes. tinue as the world’s economic leader we No more games. Pass our plan and get this must excel in two vital areas: education and economy moving again all across the coun- technology. That’s where our future lies. try. Our strategy must target both, and it does. But then we must look forward, beyond American science is the best in the world. the short-term into the next century. Be- We’ve got to make sure that the same is lieve it or not, looking forward has become true of American science education. Tomor- a more radical notion than it sounds. For row’s marketplace will demand workers some quarters, we hear the dim voice of highly skilled in math and science. Ten- defeatism, that tin trumpet sounding re- nesseans know the importance of that, and treat. We’re told that our future lies in turn- I thank you for lending me your Governor ing away from the world, pulling down the and U.T. president, Lamar Alexander. He’s shades, and hoping that the rest of the on the cutting edge. He’s out front in trying world just goes away. Well, don’t be fooled to revolutionize the schools in this country. by the tough talk and the patriotic bluster. Through our America 2000 education strat- Protectionism comes from fear, fear that egy, we’re getting that education message American workers can’t compete, fear that to the rest of the country. American ingenuity is spent, fear that we Working with the Nation’s Governors, must turn away from the world because we Secretary Alexander and I set six ambitious can no longer lead the world. That’s not education goals, done on a bipartisan basis, the future that I see for the United States wasn’t Republican, Democrat, liberal, con- of America. The America of the future must servative. The Governors came together embrace challenges, not cut and run. It under Lamar’s leadership, and we came up must put back the frontiers of knowledge with these goals. And one of the most im- and technology and use our great strengths portant ones was this: By the year 2000, of individual initiative and determination. If American students will be first in the world we do, the America of the future will com- in math and science. The budget that I’ve

279 Feb. 19 / Administration of George Bush, 1992 recently submitted to Congress calls for transportation R&D. To relieve our over- more than $2 billion in math and science burdened highways and airports, we’re stim- education programs. That’s more than a ulating research in new transportation tech- 120-percent increase over the past 3 years nologies such as intelligent vehicle-highway for programs at the precollege level. systems and high-speed rail. Some of you Just 2 years ago, when I was last here unintelligent drivers beware; you may be re- in your wonderful city, I mentioned that placed. our Energy Secretary, Jim Watkins, had We’re increasing investment in bio- joined up with U.T. and Oak Ridge to start technology research for a total of more than a new math and science academy for Ameri- $4 billion, so that we continue to lead the ca’s teachers. Once again, Tennessee set the world in conquering disease and relieving pace for our country. To better train teach- world hunger. Now, this research can pay ers, we plan to double the number of math dividends undreamed of just a few years and science instructors receiving federally ago, not only in health care but in manufac- assisted in-depth instruction in their field. turing, energy, and in environmental protec- This year, almost half the Nation’s tion. One recent development: microorga- precollege math and science teachers will nisms that emit light signals when they en- receive some federally funded training. counter pollution in the environment. In the old era now ending, many of our And there’s much more, substantial in- best scientists helped America win the cold creases for the superconducting super war. The new era will free up those price- collider, agricultural research, and the de- less talents to transform the arsenal of de- velopment of advanced materials. We will mocracy into the engine of economic double the budget for the National Science growth. That is the mission, that is the chal- Foundation, home to some of our most fan- lenge of the nineties. tastic scientific and technological advances. It will take the right kind of investments, the kind we’ve been making for years, for And for a generation, when Americans 3 years. And these have been tough deci- have looked to the future, they have looked sions. This year, I’ve asked for a freeze on to the stars. Well, we’re intensifying our ef- discretionary domestic spending—got to do forts to explore the Moon and the planets, that for the overall budget—which means a quest that not only lifts our spirits but that any increases have to be the result of brings tangible benefits in new technology hard thinking about priorities. Well, we’ve and economic growth. done the hard thinking, and we’ve made These incredible technologies can’t just sit a fundamental decision. Our future eco- in the science books; they need to work nomic competitiveness demands that we in- for America. And so, we’re moving them vest today in one of our greatest strengths, out of the laboratory and into the market- research and development. And I’ve asked place. We’ve been busy sweeping away the for a record investment in R&D, $76 billion obstacles that block the transfer of tech- next year alone. nology from the Government to private en- Now, let me give you just a few examples terprise. And just over, I think it was 2 years of what this means. This year we’re invest- ago, I signed a bill that allows private indus- ing $803 million to assist private enterprise try to take competitive advantage of Gov- in the development of a high-performance ernment research. computing system 1,000 times more power- There are 675 public-private agreements ful than today’s computer. And such a sys- active today. In fact, I had a great morning. tem will forecast droughts and hurricanes, I just witnessed another one out at Oak design better aircraft, unlock the riddle of Ridge this morning. The Coors Structural the genome. Ceramics Company and Oak Ridge will be We’re investing more than $1 billion for perfecting a new ceramic material that’s research in energy technologies to improve tougher than steel. In fact, Coors has de- energy efficiency, nuclear fusion, clean coal cided to locate in this area to be near the technologies, and alternatives to petroleum. scientists and facilities at Oak Ridge. And in We’re investing almost $1.5 billion in doing that, Coors joins more than 20 other

280 Administration of George Bush, 1992 / Feb. 19 companies that have moved to your area for ment by as much as 20 percent. American the same reason. And that’s the bottom line businesses must be able to plan for the fu- of these agreements: jobs for Knoxville, jobs ture knowing those savings are secure. for America. Each one of these measures has world- Our national technology initiative brings shaping implications. There is a strategy for Government officials together with private a competitive, vigorous America, and it businesses to let them know what Govern- springs from a vision of what our future ment can offer in new technology. This ini- should be. The great blessing of our country tiative will take advantage of the irreplace- is that we Americans have the power to cre- able resources at our national labs, including ate our own future. We have that extraor- Oak Ridge, to foster technological excel- dinary opportunity, once again, to guarantee lence. that when our children attend school, they But make no mistake, Government has receive the best education in the world and no business setting what’s known as an in- that when they leave school, they enter a dustrial policy, where you pick winners and growing economy with good jobs of their losers and protect favorite industries from choosing. Let us never forget, the future market forces, no business doing that. The we plan for today belongs to them. lightning pace of today’s economy is too I am fortunate, very, very fortunate to be quick. It’s too vital for the deadening hand President of the United States at an exciting of the bureaucrat. We will continue to lead time in our country’s marvelous history. The only if we give the marketplace full play. world still looks to this great country for A competitive market cuts fat, it encourages leadership. And we have so much to be efficiency, and it rewards innovation. grateful for, and I am proud to serve as That’s why for 3 years we’ve tried to en- your President. courage private venture capital. You know, May God bless you, and God bless the America taxes capital gains at a rate higher United States of America. Thank you very, than any of our world competitors. And yet very much. the same pessimists who complain we can’t compete still stand in the way of lower cap- Note: The President spoke at 12:06 p.m. at ital gains taxes. So, let’s put an end to that the Knoxville Auditorium-Coliseum. In his self-defeating nonsense. Congress must remarks, he referred to former Senator lower that capital gains tax to create jobs, ; Jack Hammontree, presi- and the time to lower it is right now. dent, Larry Martin, chairman, and Susan Finally, we’ve asked Congress to make the Shay, member of the board of directors, R&E tax credit a permanent part of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce; and John Tax Code. For private companies, this cred- B. Waters, member of the Board of Direc- it reduces the cost of research and develop- tors, Tennessee Valley Authority.

Remarks on the Observance of African-American History Month February 19, 1992

Welcome to the White House, and thank here, very famous, all. Welcome. you all very, very much for coming. The And to Mr. Justice White and members finalists and the semifinalists of the McDon- of our Cabinet, Chairman Powell, and others, ald’s Black History Makers of Tomorrow are let me just say that I am honored to join here, and I want to salute them right off you in celebrating African-American History hand, over here. Welcome to the White Month. I’m especially proud to introduce two House. And next let me single out, as a special guests that we’re going to hear fan, the representatives of the Negro League Baseball Players Association, over

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