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, Tennessee 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. 278 Administration of George Bush, 1992 / Feb. 19 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 United States 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.