Comentarios del Presidente Barack Obama Discurso a la Nación sobre Inmigración La Casa Blanca

Cross Hall

8:01 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Conciudadanos, esta noche, me gustaría hablarles acerca de la inmigración.

Durante más de 200 años, nuestra tradición de acoger a los inmigrantes de todo el mundo nos ha dado una enorme ventaja sobre otras naciones. Nos ha mantenido jóvenes, dinámicos y emprendedores. Ha modelado nuestro carácter como pueblo con posibilidades ilimitadas, personas no atrapadas por nuestro pasado, sino capaces de reinventarnos como queramos.

Pero hoy en día, nuestro sistema de inmigración no funciona, y todos lo saben.

Las familias que entran en nuestro país de la manera correcta y respetan las reglas ven como otros las incumplen. Los dueños de negocios que ofrecen a sus trabajadores buenos salarios y beneficios ven a la competencia explotar inmigrantes indocumentados pagándoles mucho menos. A todos nosotros nos ofende que cualquiera se lleve todas las recompensas de vivir en Estados Unidos sin cumplir con las responsabilidades que acarrea vivir en Estados Unidos. Y los inmigrantes indocumentados que desesperadamente quieren abrazar esas responsabilidades no ven más opción que permanecer en las sombras, o arriesgarse a que sus familias se vean separadas.

Ha sido así durante décadas. Y durante décadas, no hemos hecho mucho al respecto.

Cuando asumí el cargo, me comprometí a arreglar este sistema de inmigración que no funciona. Y empecé haciendo lo que pude para asegurar nuestras fronteras. Hoy en día, contamos con más agentes y tecnología desplegados para asegurar nuestra frontera sur que en cualquier otro momento de nuestra historia. Y en los últimos seis años, los cruces ilegales de la frontera se han reducido en más de la mitad. A pesar de que este verano, hubo un breve repunte en los niños no acompañados que se aprehendieron en nuestra frontera, el número de esos niños es ahora en realidad menor de lo que ha sido en casi dos años. En general, el número de personas que tratan de cruzar nuestra frontera ilegalmente está en su nivel más bajo desde la década de los 70. Esos son los hechos.

Mientras tanto, he trabajado con el Congreso en una solución integral, y el año pasado, 68 demócratas, republicanos e independientes se unieron para aprobar un proyecto de ley bipartidista en el Senado. No era perfecto. Era un compromiso, pero reflejaba el sentido común. Habría duplicado el número de agentes de la patrulla fronteriza, mientras ofrecía a los inmigrantes indocumentados un camino hacia la ciudadanía si pagaban una multa, comenzaban a pagar impuestos y volvían  al final de la fila. Y expertos independientes dijeron que ello ayudaría a crecer nuestra economía y reducir nuestro déficit.

Si la Cámara de Representantes hubiese permitido a ese tipo de proyecto de ley una simple votación a favor o en contra, habría sido aprobado con el apoyo de ambos partidos, y hoy en día sería la ley. Pero durante un año y medio, los líderes republicanos de la Cámara se han negado a permitir esa simple votación.

Sigo creyendo que la mejor manera de resolver este problema es trabajar juntos para aprobar ese tipo de ley de sentido común. Pero hasta que eso ocurra, hay medidas que tengo la autoridad legal para tomar como Presidente –los mismos tipos de medidas adoptadas por presidentes demócratas y republicanos antes que yo- que ayudarán a que nuestro sistema de inmigración sea más justo y más adecuado.

Esta noche, estoy anunciando esas medidas.

En primer lugar, construiremos sobre nuestro progreso en la frontera con recursos adicionales para nuestras fuerzas del orden público para que puedan detener el flujo de cruces ilegales, y acelerar el retorno de aquellos que crucen.

En segundo lugar, haré que sea más fácil y más rápido para los inmigrantes altamente cualificados, licenciados y empresarios quedarse y contribuir a nuestra economía, como han propuesto muchos líderes empresariales.

En tercer lugar, tomaremos medidas para hacer frente de manera responsable a los millones de inmigrantes indocumentados que ya viven en nuestro país.

Deseo decir algo más acerca de este tercer asunto, ya que genera más pasión y controversia. A pesar de que somos una nación de inmigrantes, también somos una nación de leyes. Los trabajadores indocumentados incumplieron nuestras leyes de inmigración, y creo que deben rendir cuentas -especialmente aquellos que pueden ser peligrosas. Por eso, en los últimos seis años, las deportaciones de delincuentes han aumentado hasta un 80 por ciento. Y es por eso que vamos a seguir concentrando los recursos de aplicación del orden público en las amenazas reales a nuestra seguridad. En los delincuentes, no en las familias. En los criminales, no en los niños. En los miembros de pandillas, no en una madre que está trabajando duro para mantener a sus hijos. Daremos prioridad, como lo hace cada día la aplicación de ley.

Pero incluso mientras nos centramos en la deportación de criminales, el hecho es que millones de inmigrantes -en todos los estados, de toda raza y nacionalidad- todavía vivirán aquí ilegalmente. Y seamos honestos -rastrear, detener y deportar a millones de personas no es realista. Cualquiera que sugiera lo contrario no está siendo sincero. Tampoco es lo que somos como personas que viven en Estados Unidos. Después de todo, la mayoría de estos inmigrantes han estado aquí mucho tiempo. Trabajan duro, a menudo en empleos difíciles y de baja remuneración. Mantienen a sus familias. Rezan en nuestras iglesias. Muchos de sus hijos han nacido en Estados Unidos o han pasado aquí la mayor parte de sus vidas, y sus esperanzas, sueños y patriotismo son los mismos que los nuestros.

Como mi predecesor, el Presidente Bush, dijo hace tiempo: “Son parte de la vida de Estados Unidos”.

Ahora, la cuestión es esta: esperamos que la gente que vive en este país siga las reglas. Esperamos que aquellos que se meten en la fila  no serán recompensados injustamente. Así que vamos a ofrecer lo siguiente: Si usted ha estado en Estados Unidos por más de cinco años; si tiene hijos que son ciudadanos de EE. UU. o residentes legales; si se inscribe, se comprueba que no tiene antecedentes penales, y está dispuesto a pagar la parte de impuestos que le corresponde, entonces podrá pedir quedarse en este país de manera temporal sin temor a ser deportado. Podrá salir de la oscuridad y tener todo en regla.

De eso se trata esta oportunidad. Ahora, aclaremos lo que no se ofrecerá. No será aplicable para nadie que haya entrado a este país en fecha reciente. No será aplicable para nadie que venga a Estados Unidos de manera ilegal en el futuro. No otorga ciudadanía ni el derecho de quedarse aquí de manera permanente  ni ofrece los mismos beneficios que reciben los ciudadanos – sólo congreso lo puede hacer. Lo único que estamos ofreciendo es no deportarlo.

Sé que algunas personas que critican esta medida la llaman amnistía. Sin embargo, no lo es. Amnistía es el sistema de inmigración que tenemos hoy en día: millones de personas que viven aquí sin pagar sus impuestos ni acatar las leyes, mientras que los políticos  utilizan este problema para asustar a la gente y acumular votos en tiempo de elecciones.

Eso es la verdadera amnistía: dejar este sistema que no funciona como está. Una amnistía masiva sería injusta, pero una deportación masiva sería tanto imposible como contraria a nuestro carácter. Lo que estoy describiendo en este momento es responsabilidad; una estrategia con mucho sentido que alcanza un punto medio: Si reúne las condiciones, puede salir de las sombras y hacer todo conforme a la ley. Si es un delincuente, será deportado. Si tiene pensado entrar a Estados Unidos de manera ilegal, acaban de aumentar las posibilidades de que lo capturen y envíen de regreso.

Las medidas que estoy tomando no solamente son legitimas, sino que son el tipo de medidas que cada uno de los presidentes republicanos y demócratas ha tomado en la última mitad del siglo. Tengo una sola respuesta para aquellos integrantes del Congreso que cuestionan mi autoridad para lograr que nuestro sistema migratorio funcione mejor, o cuestionan mi sensatez en actuar cuando el Congreso no lo hizo: Aprueben un proyecto de ley. Quiero colaborar con ambos partidos para que se apruebe una solución legislativa con mayor permanencia. Las medidas que tomo ahora ya no serán necesarias  el día en que firme ese proyecto de ley. Mientras tanto, no permitan que un desacuerdo en cuanto a un solo problema sea el motivo de ruptura  con respecto a todos los problemas. Así no es como funciona nuestra democracia, y no hay duda alguna de el Congreso no debería cerrar de nuevo nuestra administración simplemente porque no estamos de acuerdo en esto. Las personas que viven en Estados Unidos están cansadas de que todo se paralice. Lo que he  necesita nuestro país de nosotros en este momento es un objetivo común: un propósito superior.

La mayoría de las personas que viven en EE. UU. apoyan los tipos de reformas de las que hemos hablado esta noche. No obstante, entiendo la disconformidad que algunos de ustedes en casa. Millones de nosotros, incluido yo mismo, descendemos de familias que han estado en este país por generaciones, tenemos ancestros que trabajaron muy duro para ser ciudadanos. De manera que no nos gusta la noción de que cualquiera pueda obtener un pase gratis para ser ciudadano de Estados Unidos. Sé que a algunos les preocupa que la migración cambiará el tejido que nos caracteriza, o que habrá menos trabajos, o que perjudicará más a las familias de clase media en un momento en el que ya sienten que no les ha ido muy bien por más de una década. Tengo presentes sus inquietudes. Sin embargo, estas medidas no ocasionarán lo anterior. Nuestra historia y los hechos muestran que los inmigrantes son una ventaja neta para nuestra economía y nuestra sociedad. Así que creo que es importante  que todos de nosotros tengamos este debate sin poner en duda el carácter del otro.

Porque a pesar de todos los desacuerdos en Washington, tenemos que recordar que este debate se trata de algo más grande. Se trata de lo que somos como país, y que queremos ser para las generaciones futuras.

¿Somos una nación que tolera la hipocresía de un sistema en el que los trabajadores que recogen nuestra fruta y que tienden nuestras camas nunca tienen la oportunidad de estar bien con la ley? ¿O somos una nación que les da una oportunidad de compensar, asumir responsabilidad, y dar un mejor futuro a sus hijos?

¿Somos una nación que acepta la crueldad de alejar a los niños de los brazos de sus padres? ¿O somos una nación que valora las familias, y trabaja para mantenerlos juntos?

¿Somos una nación que educa a los mejores y más brillantes en nuestras universidades del mundo, solo para enviarlos a casa para crear empresas en los países que compiten contra nosotros? ¿O somos una nación que fomenta que se queden para crear trabajos, empresas e industrias aquí en Estados Unidos?

De eso se trata este debate. Necesitamos algo más que política cuando se trata de la inmigración; necesitamos debate congruente, reflexivo y compasivo que se enfoca en nuestras esperanzas, no nuestros miedos.

Sé que la política de este tema conlleva varias dificultades. Pero permítanme decirles por qué he llegado a sentirme tan fuertemente sobre este tema. En los últimos años, he visto la determinación de los padres inmigrantes que trabajaban dos o tres trabajos, sin recibir ni un centavo del gobierno, y en de riesgo en todo momento de perderlo todo, solo para construir una mejor vida para sus hijos. He visto la angustia y la ansiedad de los niños cuyas madres podrían ser alejadas de ellos por no tener la documentación adecuada. He visto la valentía de los estudiantes que, a excepción de las circunstancias de su nacimiento, son tan estadounidense como Malia o Sasha, valientemente salen como indocumentados con la esperanza de poder hacer una diferencia en un país que aman. Estas personas, nuestros vecinos, nuestros compañeros, nuestros amigos, no vinieron aquí de oportunistas o para obtener una vida fácil. Ellos vinieron a trabajar, estudiar, y servir en nuestras fuerzas armadas, y sobre todo, contribuyen al éxito de Estados Unidos.

Mañana, viajaré a Las Vegas y me reuniré con algunos de estos estudiantes, incluyendo una joven mujer llamada Astrid Silva. A Astrid la trajeron a Estados Unidos cuando tenía cuatro años de edad. Sus únicas posesiones eran una cruz, su muñeca y el vestidos con volantes que llevaba puesto – un vestido que su madre ha hecho. Cuando comenzó la escuela, no hablaba nada de inglés. Para ponerse al nivel de los otros niños, ella leía el periódico y miraba PBS; y así se convirtió en una buena estudiante. Su padre trabajaba como jardinero. Su madre limpiaba la casa de otras personas. Ellos no la dejaban presentar a Astrid una solicitud para ingresar a una escuela magnet de tecnología por temor a que los trámites revelaran que ella era una inmigrante indocumentada; por lo que ella presentó la solicitud a espaldas de sus padres e ingresó. Sin embargo, ella generalmente vivió en las sombras, hasta que su abuela, quien venía de visita todos los años desde México, falleció y ella no pudo viajar al funeral sin el riesgo de ser descubierta y deportada. Fue en ese momento que decidió abogar por ella misma y por otros como ella; y hoy Astrid Silva está un estudiante de colegio trabajando para obtener su tercer título.

¿Somos una nación que echa a un inmigrante esperanzado que se esfuerza como Astrid o somos una nación que encuentra una manera de darle la bienvenida?

Las Escrituras nos dicen que no debemos oprimir al inmigrante, porque conocemos el corazón de un inmigrante, ya que una vez fuimos inmigrantes.

Mis conciudadanos, nosotros somos y siempre seremos una nación de inmigrantes. Nosotros también una vez fuimos inmigrantes. Y si nuestros antepasados fueron inmigrantes que cruzaron el Atlántico, o el Pacífico o el Río Grande, simplemente estamos aquí porque este país les dio la bienvenida y les enseñó que ser estadounidense va más allá de cómo nos vemos o de nuestros apellidos o qué religión que practicamos. Lo que nos hace estadounidenses es nuestro compromiso compartido de un ideal; que todos somos creados iguales, y que todos tenemos la oportunidad de hacer de nuestra vida lo que deseamos.

Ese es el país que nuestros padres, abuelos y generaciones antes que ellos construyeron para nosotros. Esa es la tradición que debemos mantener. Esa es la herencia que debemos dejar para los que están por venir.

Gracias, que Dios los bendiga y que Dios bendiga a este país que tanto amamos.

END
8:16 P.M. EST

Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on Immigration

Cross Hall

8:01 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: My fellow Americans, tonight, I’d like to talk with you about immigration.

For more than 200 years, our tradition of welcoming immigrants from around the world has given us a tremendous advantage over other nations. It’s kept us youthful, dynamic, and entrepreneurial. It has shaped our character as a people with limitless possibilities –- people not trapped by our past, but able to remake ourselves as we choose.

But today, our immigration system is broken -- and everybody knows it.

Families who enter our country the right way and play by the rules watch others flout the rules. Business owners who offer their workers good wages and benefits see the competition exploit undocumented immigrants by paying them far less. All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America. And undocumented immigrants who desperately want to embrace those responsibilities see little option but to remain in the shadows, or risk their families being torn apart.

It’s been this way for decades. And for decades, we haven’t done much about it.

When I took office, I committed to fixing this broken immigration system. And I began by doing what I could to secure our borders. Today, we have more agents and technology deployed to secure our southern border than at any time in our history. And over the past six years, illegal border crossings have been cut by more than half. Although this summer, there was a brief spike in unaccompanied children being apprehended at our border, the number of such children is now actually lower than it’s been in nearly two years. Overall, the number of people trying to cross our border illegally is at its lowest level since the 1970s. Those are the facts.

Meanwhile, I worked with Congress on a comprehensive fix, and last year, 68 Democrats, Republicans, and independents came together to pass a bipartisan bill in the Senate. It wasn’t perfect. It was a compromise. But it reflected common sense. It would have doubled the number of border patrol agents while giving undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship if they paid a fine, started paying their taxes, and went to the back of the line. And independent experts said that it would help grow our economy and shrink our deficits.

Had the House of Representatives allowed that kind of bill a simple yes-or-no vote, it would have passed with support from both parties, and today it would be the law. But for a year and a half now, Republican leaders in the House have refused to allow that simple vote.

Now, I continue to believe that the best way to solve this problem is by working together to pass that kind of common sense law. But until that happens, there are actions I have the legal authority to take as President –- the same kinds of actions taken by Democratic and Republican presidents before me -– that will help make our immigration system more fair and more just.

Tonight, I am announcing those actions.

First, we’ll build on our progress at the border with additional resources for our law enforcement personnel so that they can stem the flow of illegal crossings, and speed the return of those who do cross over.

Second, I’ll make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates, and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy, as so many business leaders have proposed.

Third, we’ll take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live in our country.

I want to say more about this third issue, because it generates the most passion and controversy. Even as we are a nation of immigrants, we’re also a nation of laws. Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws, and I believe that they must be held accountable -– especially those who may be dangerous. That’s why, over the past six years, deportations of criminals are up 80 percent. And that’s why we’re going to keep focusing enforcement resources on actual threats to our security. Felons, not families. Criminals, not children. Gang members, not a mom who’s working hard to provide for her kids. We’ll prioritize, just like law enforcement does every day.

But even as we focus on deporting criminals, the fact is, millions of immigrants in every state, of every race and nationality still live here illegally. And let’s be honest -– tracking down, rounding up, and deporting millions of people isn’t realistic. Anyone who suggests otherwise isn’t being straight with you. It’s also not who we are as Americans. After all, most of these immigrants have been here a long time. They work hard, often in tough, low-paying jobs. They support their families. They worship at our churches. Many of their kids are American-born or spent most of their lives here, and their hopes, dreams, and patriotism are just like ours. As my predecessor, President Bush, once put it: “They are a part of American life.”

Now here’s the thing: We expect people who live in this country to play by the rules. We expect that those who cut the line will not be unfairly rewarded. So we’re going to offer the following deal: If you’ve been in America for more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens or legal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you’re willing to pay your fair share of taxes -- you’ll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily without fear of deportation. You can come out of the shadows and get right with the law. That’s what this deal is.

Now, let’s be clear about what it isn’t. This deal does not apply to anyone who has come to this country recently. It does not apply to anyone who might come to America illegally in the future. It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive -– only Congress can do that. All we’re saying is we’re not going to deport you.

I know some of the critics of this action call it amnesty. Well, it’s not. Amnesty is the immigration system we have today -– millions of people who live here without paying their taxes or playing by the rules while politicians use the issue to scare people and whip up votes at election time.

That’s the real amnesty –- leaving this broken system the way it is. Mass amnesty would be unfair. Mass deportation would be both impossible and contrary to our character. What I’m describing is accountability –- a common-sense, middle-ground approach: If you meet the criteria, you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law. If you’re a criminal, you’ll be deported. If you plan to enter the U.S. illegally, your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up.

The actions I’m taking are not only lawful, they’re the kinds of actions taken by every single Republican President and every single Democratic President for the past half century. And to those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill.

I want to work with both parties to pass a more permanent legislative solution. And the day I sign that bill into law, the actions I take will no longer be necessary. Meanwhile, don’t let a disagreement over a single issue be a dealbreaker on every issue. That’s not how our democracy works, and Congress certainly shouldn’t shut down our government again just because we disagree on this. Americans are tired of gridlock. What our country needs from us right now is a common purpose –- a higher purpose.

Most Americans support the types of reforms I’ve talked about tonight. But I understand the disagreements held by many of you at home. Millions of us, myself included, go back generations in this country, with ancestors who put in the painstaking work to become citizens. So we don’t like the notion that anyone might get a free pass to American citizenship.

I know some worry immigration will change the very fabric of who we are, or take our jobs, or stick it to middle-class families at a time when they already feel like they’ve gotten the raw deal for over a decade. I hear these concerns. But that’s not what these steps would do. Our history and the facts show that immigrants are a net plus for our economy and our society. And I believe it’s important that all of us have this debate without impugning each other’s character.

Because for all the back and forth of Washington, we have to remember that this debate is about something bigger. It’s about who we are as a country, and who we want to be for future generations.

Are we a nation that tolerates the hypocrisy of a system where workers who pick our fruit and make our beds never have a chance to get right with the law? Or are we a nation that gives them a chance to make amends, take responsibility, and give their kids a better future?

Are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents’ arms? Or are we a nation that values families, and works together to keep them together?

Are we a nation that educates the world’s best and brightest in our universities, only to send them home to create businesses in countries that compete against us? Or are we a nation that encourages them to stay and create jobs here, create businesses here, create industries right here in America?

That’s what this debate is all about. We need more than politics as usual when it comes to immigration. We need reasoned, thoughtful, compassionate debate that focuses on our hopes, not our fears. I know the politics of this issue are tough. But let me tell you why I have come to feel so strongly about it.

Over the past few years, I have seen the determination of immigrant fathers who worked two or three jobs without taking a dime from the government, and at risk any moment of losing it all, just to build a better life for their kids. I’ve seen the heartbreak and anxiety of children whose mothers might be taken away from them just because they didn’t have the right papers. I’ve seen the courage of students who, except for the circumstances of their birth, are as American as Malia or Sasha; students who bravely come out as undocumented in hopes they could make a difference in the country they love.

These people –- our neighbors, our classmates, our friends –- they did not come here in search of a free ride or an easy life. They came to work, and study, and serve in our military, and above all, contribute to America’s success.

Tomorrow, I’ll travel to Las Vegas and meet with some of these students, including a young woman named Astrid Silva. Astrid was brought to America when she was four years old. Her only possessions were a cross, her doll, and the frilly dress she had on. When she started school, she didn’t speak any English. She caught up to other kids by reading newspapers and watching PBS, and she became a good student. Her father worked in landscaping. Her mom cleaned other people’s homes. They wouldn’t let Astrid apply to a technology magnet school, not because they didn’t love her, but because they were afraid the paperwork would out her as an undocumented immigrant –- so she applied behind their back and got in. Still, she mostly lived in the shadows –- until her grandmother, who visited every year from Mexico, passed away, and she couldn’t travel to the funeral without risk of being found out and deported. It was around that time she decided to begin advocating for herself and others like her, and today, Astrid Silva is a college student working on her third degree.

Are we a nation that kicks out a striving, hopeful immigrant like Astrid, or are we a nation that finds a way to welcome her in? Scripture tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger –- we were strangers once, too.

My fellow Americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once, too. And whether our forebears were strangers who crossed the Atlantic, or the Pacific, or the Rio Grande, we are here only because this country welcomed them in, and taught them that to be an American is about something more than what we look like, or what our last names are, or how we worship. What makes us Americans is our shared commitment to an ideal -– that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will.

That’s the country our parents and grandparents and generations before them built for us. That’s the tradition we must uphold. That’s the legacy we must leave for those who are yet to come.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless this country we love.

END
8:16 P.M. EST

Remarks by the President at National Medals of Science and National Medals of Technology and Innovation Award Ceremony

East Room

11:30 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Please, please, have a seat.  Well, hello, everybody.  Welcome to the White House. 

If you’ve ever been in a situation where you’re a little self-conscious because you feel like maybe everybody in the room is a little smarter than you -- (laughter) -- today you are right.  (Laughter.)  That's how I'm feeling -- because today it’s my pleasure to welcome a truly extraordinary group of men and women -- some of the world’s greatest scientists and researchers -- and I've got the extraordinary honor of presenting them with our nation’s highest honor for scientific and technological achievement, the National Medals of Science and the National Medals of Technology and Innovation.

Now, to join us in celebrating these innovators, I want to welcome the members of Congress who are here with us.  We also have Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.  We've got my Science Advisor, John Holdren; National Science Foundation Director France Cordova; Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Michelle Lee, whose work helps to oversee the granting of these awards; and our National Science and Technology Medals Foundation Chair, James Rathmann.

Now, as many of you know, every year I host the White House Science Fair.  These boys and girls are as young as 6 years old. Sometimes their projects are a little messy.  (Laughter.)  There was the cannon that fired the marshmallow into the White House wall -- (laughter) -- and left a little mark, which is still there.

Earlier this year, I also hosted the first White House Maker Faire.  The participants there were a little older.  And I met a giant 17-foot-tall, 2,000-pound robotic talking giraffe.  (Laughter.)  We had a little chat and that was unique.  (Laughter.)

But the boys and girls, and all the makers and thinkers across the country who I welcome here are an inspiration.  It's one of the favorite things that I have the pleasure of doing as President.  They’re often at the beginning of a lifetime of asking questions, and pushing boundaries, and discovery things that hadn’t been discovered before, and innovating in ways that transform our world.  And ultimately, that’s what America is about.  That’s one of the things that makes America exceptional
-- this sense that we push against limits and that we're not afraid to ask questions.  And when that spirit, that sense of possibility, is truly unleashed, then you get the remarkable men and women that you see here today.

Their achievements span disciplines, span industries -- there is a common thread, though, that runs through their stories.  At a young age, an encouraging parent or captivating teacher was able to whet their appetite for the scientific process. 

Unmatched opportunities and generous funding at American universities drew some of them here from distant shores.  Because the American scientific community empowers young researchers, some of today’s honorees -- at a very young age -- conducted their own experiments, ran their own labs, published their own findings.  Our country’s diversity, its infrastructure, its universities, and our willingness to take risks on new ideas made America the place to start new business and new ventures.

And the results of the work of the people we honor today have transformed our world.  Because of these men and women, we can use a thumb drive to store a universe of information on a postage-sized gadget, unconnected to a power source, and have the data intact a century later. 

In fact, I got a little gift here.  (Laughter.)  Apparently this was for my library.  I was told I could store all my documents on this thing.  (Laughter.)  So I'm keeping it in my pocket. 

We can manufacture better blood-clotting agents and water filtration systems, like those used in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident.  Using breakthrough algorithms, we can model our planet’s future climate and the tiny valves in our own hearts.  And we can treat cancer, strokes, macular degeneration.  In short, because of these innovators, our lives are healthier, our economy is stronger, our futures brighter.

Today’s honorees are also a reminder of the power of perseverance.  They achieved their most meaningful gains when they were optimistic in the face of skepticism and doubt, when they crept out onto that farthest limb, and equipped with scientific reason to believe in their own theories -- and because they weren't afraid to fail once in a while, they figured that eventually they’d crack open some mystery that hadn’t been solved and the world would catch up.

So one month after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, Eli Harari came to America from Israel to study the effects of radiation on electronics in space.  The physics he learned as a PhD student at Princeton led him to co-found SanDisk, and,  eventually, to the creation and commercialization of flash storage technology.  And today, his technology is in millions of portable electronic devices, which our lives would be completely different without.  Certainly Malia and Sasha’s lives would be completely different without them.  (Laughter.)

At the time he invented it, though, his technology was too early for consumer goods, and SanDisk almost went out of business.  But with patience, he drove costs down, opened large-scale markets.  Describing his experience in America, he said, “We could not have done it anywhere else in the world.” 

Mary Shaw stumbled into computer science in high school, and as a college student she walked into a busy engineering building in search of the computer lab.  And she says, “When I first showed up, they handed me a user manual and told me to go read it, and, silly me, I thought it was an invitation, so I did read it, and I came back.”  (Laughter.)   

She applied to Carnegie Mellon the same year they formed a graduate degree program in computer science, and she’s been there ever since, pioneering new ways to educate students in computer science, and converting the emerging field into a curriculum, and also textbooks used all across the nation.

Douglas Lowy and John Schiller have collaborated for nearly 30 years.  And together they developed the technology that led to the vaccine to prevent the cancer-causing HPV virus.  When they presented their research to drug companies, many told them that while their data looked good, a vaccine against this sexually transmitted disease just wasn’t going to work.  But with the help of NIH research funding, they helped create one of the most successful preventive treatments in decades, potentially saving the lives of millions of young women and girls.

So the story -- I'm just giving you a sample -- the story of these trailblazers reflect our larger American experience -- our story of constant transformation, pushing against limits.  These folks represent the spirit that has always defined us, one of restless inquiry, searching for the right solution to any problem; an inclination to dream big and to tinker and to pull things apart and put them back together again; an insistence on making our dreams come true. 

As Thomas Kailath, one of our honorees today, says, “Scientists are intrinsically hopeful and believe in grand answers, and that if we work hard enough we can find some of them in our lifetime.”  And that's a good phrase -- “intrinsically hopeful.”  I'm intrinsically hopeful.  (Laughter.)  I am.  (Applause.)  That's who I am.  That’s who we are as a people, as Americans, as a nation.  We’ve had to fight to make stories like the ones here in this room not only possible, but sometimes likely.

Now, that can’t happen when half of our nation’s high schools don’t offer calculus, and more than a third of our high schools don’t offer physics.  So that’s why we're going to need more science classes on the course schedule.  That's why we need teachers with math and science backgrounds -- educators who can show their students how chemistry and computer science can open the door to a whole new world. 

That’s why, five years ago, I launched my campaign to get more kids in STEM classes, and later set a goal of training 100,000 new STEM teachers over the course of the next decade -- not just to teach, but to teach math and science.  And we've partnered with 200 organizations like the Carnegie foundation in New York and AT&T to pursue that goal.  Today we’re announcing that our many partners will invest an additional $28 million toward increasing the number of STEM teachers in the classroom across the country.  And that's worthy of applause.  (Applause.) 
Four years ago, we called on business leaders from America’s leading companies to join us in this effort.  And since then, this coalition has raised tens of millions of dollars to help strengthen many of our country’s most effective STEM education programs and get them broadened out across the country.  And today, we can announce that over the next two years this coalition will help bring these programs to an additional one million students across America.  So this is extraordinary work.

Finally, part of preserving America’s scientific edge is making sure we continue to welcome the best and brightest minds from around the world.  So, Thomas Kailath came to this country from India at the age of 22, with a research assistantship that took him to MIT, and then Stanford, where he made critical contributions in information theory and statistics, and mentored more than 100 scholars along the way. 

After he came here as a foreign student from Israel, Eli Harari co-founded SanDisk with two colleagues, one from India, another from China.  Alexandre Chorin, whose accomplishments led to a sea change in the way a generations of mathematicians use computers, sums up his experience this way:  “I came here as a foreigner on an American fellowship, received the opportunity to study at great schools and work at great universities, and have been treated as if I belonged.” 

Treated as if I belonged.  You do belong -- because this is America and we welcome people from all around the world who have that same striving spirit.  We're not defined by tribe or bloodlines.  We're defined by a creed, idea.  And we want that tradition to continue.  But too often, we're losing talent because -- after the enormous investment we make in students and young researchers --we tell them to go home after they graduate. We tell them, take your talents and potential someplace else.

So part of staying competitive in a global economy is making sure that we have an immigration system that doesn’t send away talent, but attracts it.  (Applause.)  We want them to initiate new discoveries and start businesses right here in the United States.  (Applause.)  So that's what I'll be talking about a little bit tonight.  (Laughter.)  Part of keeping America prosperous and keeping America strong.  (Applause.)

So I want to congratulate these extraordinary men and women for their accomplishments.  I want to thank each of you for the contributions that you’ve made to our country and the world -- your passion, your persistence, your “intrinsic hopefulness.”

And it is now my privilege to present the National Medals of Science and the National Medals of Technology and Innovation.

So we're going to read some citations here. 

MILITARY AIDE:  Bruce Alberts.  National Medal of Science to Bruce Alberts, University of California, San Francisco, for intellectual leadership and experimental innovation in the field of DNA replication, and for unparalleled dedication to improving science education and promoting science-based public policy. NATO (Applause.) 

Robert Axelrod.  National Medal of Science to Robert Axelrod, University of Michigan, for interdisciplinary work on the evolution of cooperation, complexity theory, and international security, and for the exploration of how social science models can be used to explain biological phenomena.  (Applause.)  

May Berenbaum.  National Medal of Science to May Berenbaum,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for pioneering studies on chemical coevolution and the genetic basis of insect-plant interactions, and for enthusiastic commitment to public engagement that inspires others about the wonders of science.  (Applause.)  

Alexandre J. Chorin.  National Medal of Science to Alexandre J. Chorin, University of California, Berkeley, for the development of revolutionary methods for realistic fluid-flow simulation, now ubiquitous in the modeling and design of engines, aircraft wings, and heart valves, and in the analysis of natural flows.  (Applause.)   

Thomas Kailath.  National Medal of Science to Thomas Kailath, Stanford University, for transformative contributions to the fields of information and system science, for distinctive and sustained mentoring of young scholars, and for translation of scientific ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that have had a significant impact on industry.  (Applause.) 

Judith P. Klinman.  National Medal of Science to Judith P. Klinman, University of California, Berkeley, for her discoveries of fundamental chemical and physical principles underlying enzyme catalysis and her leadership in the community of scientists.  (Applause.) 

Jerrold Meinwald.  National Medal of Science to Jerrold Meinwald, Cornell University, for applying chemical principles and techniques to studies of plant and insect defense and communication, and for his seminal role in establishing chemical ecology as a core discipline important to agriculture, forestry, medicine, and environmental science.  (Applause.)  

Burton Richter.  National Medal of Science to Burton Richter, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University, for pioneering contributions to the development of electron accelerators, including circular and linear colliders, synchrotron light sources, and for discoveries in elementary particle physics and contributions to energy policy.  (Applause.)

Sean C. Solomon.  National Medal of Science to Sean C. Solomon, Columbia University, for creative approaches and outstanding contributions to understanding the internal structure and evolution of the Earth, the Moon, and other terrestrial planets, and for his leadership and inspiration of new generations of scientists.  (Applause.)

Family members will accept on behalf of their father, David Blackwell.  National Medal of Science to David Blackwell, University of California, Berkeley, for fundamental contributions to probability theory, mathematical statistics, information theory, mathematical logic, and Blackwell games, which have had a lasting impact on critical endeavors such as drug testing, computer communications, and manufacturing.  (Applause.)

Charles W. Bachman.  National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Charles W. Bachman, for fundamental inventions in database management, transaction processing, and software engineering.  (Applause.) 

Edith M. Flanigen.  National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Edith M. Flanigen, UOP, LLC., a Honeywell Company, for innovations in the fields of silicate chemistry, the chemistry of zeolites, and molecular sieve materials.  (Applause.)

Thomas J. Fogarty.  National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Thomas J. Fogarty, Fogarty Institute for Innovation, for innovations in minimally invasive medical devices.  (Applause.)  

Eli Harari.  National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Eli Harari, SanDisk Corporation, for invention and commercialization of Flash storage technology to enable ubiquitous data in consumer electronics, mobile computing, and enterprise storage.  (Applause.)  

Arthur Levinson.  National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Arthur Levinson, Calico, for pioneering contributions to the fields of biotechnology and personalized medicine, leading to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.  (Applause.)   

Cherry A. Murray.  National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Cherry A. Murray, Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, for contributions to the advancement of devices telecommunications and the use of light for studying matter, and for leadership in the development of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math -- STEM -- workforce in the United States.  (Applause.)

Mary Shaw.  National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Mary Shaw, Carnegie Mellon University, for pioneering leadership in the development of innovative curricula in Computer Science.  (Applause.)  

Douglas Lowy and John Schiller.  National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Douglas Lowy and John Schiller, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, for developing the virus-like particles and related technologies that led to the generation of effective vaccines that specifically targeted HPV and related cancers.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Let’s give a big round of applause to all our awardees.  (Applause.)  We couldn't be prouder of all of you.

And I hope, for those who are watching or those who read stories or reports about this, that we're all reminded once again of the role of science and discovery and invention and reason in our lives.  Sometimes -- we spend a lot of time lifting up sports heroes, and nobody is a bigger sports fan than I am.  We extol the virtues of our singers and our movie stars, and I like entertainment, too.  But we have to remind ourselves constantly that so much of what has set us apart economically, culturally, is our commitment to science.  And we have to continue to broaden opportunities for young scientists, especially girls and minority students, to enter into the field, and we have to remind them of how exciting it is to be able to shape the world, unlock its secrets, make new stuff.  That's who we are.

So, hopefully, in addition to being able to highlight the extraordinary work of some extraordinary individuals, that we're going to go out there and remind ourselves once again about why science and discovery and invention is so important.  All right? 

I hope all of you have a wonderful reception.  I hear the food here is pretty good.  (Laughter and applause.)

END 
12:01 P.M. EST

Remarks by the President at ConnectED Superintendents Summit

East Room

11:24 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Everybody, have a seat.  Well, thank you, Alberto, for that introduction and, more importantly, for your outstanding leadership of the Miami-Dade public schools.  I thank all of you for joining us.  We are here to take another step toward making sure that all of our kids get the education that they need in the 21st century.

And it’s great to welcome so many committed educators to the White House.  If you need, by the way, a note to excuse your absence -- (laughter) -- let me know.  (Laughter.)  You're all kind playing hooky today.  (Laughter.)

We’ve got superintendents here from more than 100 school districts -- as close as just across the river in Arlington, to across the continent in Alaska.  And we are joining a lot of folks over the Internet, as well.  In a few minutes, all of you are going to sign a pledge to make sure that your districts are doing what it takes to be ready for the future.  And we’ve also got some people here who share your commitment to education, including members of Congress and our Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.  Where is Arne Duncan?  Where is he?  He’s gone!  (Laughter.)  He’s playing hooky, too!  (Laughter.)  No, I'm sure he’s got some very important thing -- (laughter.)  Poor Arne, he’s being called out right now.  (Laughter.) 

Look, as President, every decision I make is aimed at one goal, and that is to restore opportunity for everybody who’s willing to work hard in our society.  Six years after the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes, our businesses have added over 10.6 million new jobs during the course of 56 months.  For the first time in more than six years, the unemployment rate is below 6 percent.  And we’ve made gains in education, thanks to the hard work of school leaders like you.  Dropout rates are down.  The graduation rate is the highest on record.  More young people are earning college degrees than ever before. 

But in a 21st century economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is knowledge -- and the capacity to learn new knowledge -- we’ve got to do more to offer our children a world-class education.  We’ve got to make high-quality pre-K available to every child, so that they get the benefit of early enrichment and they come to school prepared.  We have to encourage more young people -- especially young women and minority students -- to study in the fields of the future, like math, technology, engineering, science.  We need to keep working to redesign our high schools to offer more hands-on learning opportunities that can lead directly to jobs and careers -- and can engage students in different ways based on their interests and their learning styles. 

We need teachers who know how to make learning come alive, with personalized instruction and project-based learning. And we've got to do more to make sure that our teachers are supported and receive the kind of professional training and best practices -- and I personally think higher pay -- that's going to encourage the best and the brightest continue to be in the field.  We've got to make sure that no striving young person is priced out of a college education.

These are all critical ingredients to our effort at continuous improvement in education.  And one of the things that we also need to do is to yank our schools into the 21st century when it comes to technology, and providing the tools and training that teachers need to use that technology to prepare all of our students for the competition that they’re going to face globally.

Other countries are doing this.  They are trying to out-educate us today so that they can out-compete us tomorrow.  South Korea is replacing all of its textbooks with digital content, and training all of its teachers to use technology in the classroom. Singapore is equipping every school with broadband that’s over 40 times faster than the connection in the average American home.  So we're going to have to step up our game if we’re going to make sure that every child in America can go as far as their dreams and talents will take them. 

And that’s why, last year, I launched an initiative called ConnectED -- it’s a five-year plan to close the technology gap in our schools and connect 99 percent of America’s students to high-speed Internet.

And this is why it’s important.  Right now, fewer than 40 percent of public schools have high-speed Internet in their classrooms -- less than half.  That's not good, since we invented the Internet.  (Laughter.)  That's not good.  It means that in most American schools, teachers cannot use the cutting-edge software and programs that are available today.  They literally don’t have the bandwidth.  And even in schools where there is high-speed Internet, so often there aren’t enough computers to go around, so only a small percentage of our classrooms have the one-to-one ratio of students to computers or tablets.  And that means that, in too many schools, if a teacher wants to use the Internet for a lesson, then kids have to crowd around one desk to follow along, or they have to break up into groups and sequentially come in. 

I’ve said before, in a country where we expect free Wi-Fi with our coffee -- (laughter) -- the least we can do is expect that our schools are properly wired.  And when many of us can’t go even an hour -- my staff, it's like every two minutes -- (laughter) -- without reaching for a tablet or a smartphone, we’ve got to make sure these devices are within reach of our students.  Because outside of school they’re certainly understanding how to use technology.  That's where they’re living.  And if we aren't incorporating that into how they are learning in the classroom, then we're not doing our job.  We've got to bring the world to every child’s fingertips, because they’re already more technologically savvy than we are, but if they think that the school is 20, 30 years behind, then they’re going to lose interest in school.

So, earlier this year, I announced new steps toward making the vision of ConnectED a reality.  The FCC decided to double its investment in broadband for schools, investing an additional $2 billion over two years -- that’s a step that will connect more than 15,000 schools and 20 million students to high-speed Internet.  And that investment will help some of the school districts represented in this room.  Then, just this week, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler unveiled his plan to help us finish the job and reach our ultimate goal of connecting 99 percent of students within five years.

But as I’ve said from the day that we launched this initiative, this is not just a role for government, or the federal government.  We also asked some of America’s foremost tech companies to help bring our schools into the 21st century.  And their response have been inspiring.  So far, 10 companies have made commitments totaling more than $2 billion.  So Apple, for example, has pledged $100 million, which is going to 114 schools across 29 states.  Students will get iPads.  Teachers will get McBooks -- or MacBooks, depending on how you say it.  (Laughter.)  Classrooms will get Apple TV.

And that’s just one of many commitments.  Students are using software from Adobe to design new animal species, software from Autodesk to create fuel-efficient cars.  Teachers are using presentation software from Prezi to help kids understand how solar systems work.  Other companies are providing hundreds of millions of dollars in software, eBooks, teacher training.  And 100,000 high-need students will receive free wireless service.  For students who spend hours on the bus every day, that means that they’re going to be able to keep working while they’re commuting -- in between texting their friends, of course.  (Laughter.) 

Schools in all 50 states are already taking advantage of these commitments.  And you can find out how your school district could benefit at WhiteHouse.gov/ConnectED.

So, today, I’m proud to announce that two companies that provide online courses are getting on board.  EdX has already offered its Advanced Placement-level courses for free.  Now it’s making the certification for those courses free as well.  So if you’re a student who’s mastered the material, but can’t afford the certification that proves it, EdX will provide it.  They’re offering more than a dozen training courses to teachers nationwide for free. 

And for the next year, the company Coursera will offer free credentials for district-approved professional development courses to any teacher, anywhere in the country.  Because all the wireless devices and fancy software in the world won’t make a difference unless we have great teachers in the classroom.

And early on, when I was still in Chicago, as a senator, and I got interested in this issue -- sometimes you’d walk in the classroom, there would be brand new computers, but the students who were sitting at the computers, all they were doing were doing -- the same problem sets that they were getting on mimeograph or Xerox before now they were doing on the computer screen.  There was no sense of how to use the tool in a powerful way.  And that's why we very much appreciate the offerings by these companies, understanding that we want to make this as accessible as possible.  

So closing the technology gap is going to take more than fiber-optic cable, it's going to take more than portable hotspots and wireless projectors.  It will take more than policymakers in Washington or even Silicon Valley CEOs.  It’s going to take teachers, principals, superintendents who get it -- who understand the power of these tools when used creatively and who are willing to make changes and push reforms and test new ideas. And we want to help you do that. 

So today, we’re making two new tools available.  First, because we know a lot of school districts aren’t sure what digital infrastructure to invest in, or how to pay for it, or what they’ll get out of it, we’ve put together an infrastructure guide to help you make the best decisions based on your resources and needs. 

Second, we’ve created a “learning tool-kit” with goals and checklists for teachers and principals, so they can turn these tools into better outcomes for students.  And this is all based on best practices that have been collated from around the country.  And over the next year, my administration will convene 12 regional summits for superintendents and principals nationwide to help more districts get ready for the future. 

So you’ve got the resources.  We've got some of the money coming out of ConnectED.  We've got the companies participating.  Now we're going to work with you on a regional basis, state by state, so that we can start stitching all this together to actually deliver to kids in the classroom.  

Now, a lot of you are already doing this.  Karen Tarasevich -- where is Karen?  There she is.  I'm glad she wasn’t with Arne somewhere playing hooky.  (Laughter.)  Karen is the superintendent in the West Warwick Public Schools in Rhode Island.  It’s a city with higher than average unemployment, and a lot of students’ families don’t have computers at home.  So they came up with a “One-to-One” initiative to help solve both problems.  Every student gets a laptop to use at home and at school.  And parents are encouraged to use the laptops, too, to take online job training courses.  So there’s a booth set up at every parents’ night where moms and dads can sign up.

And then you’ve got Mary Wegner, superintendent of the Sitka, Alaska School District.  Where is Mary?  She came a long way.  There she is.  (Applause.)  Yes, give her a hand for coming from Alaska.  I was wondering why it was so cold today.  (Laughter.)  Now, this is a remote place.  You can only get to Sitka by plane or by boat.

So how many transfers did you have to make to finally get here?

MS. WEGNER:  Three.

THE PRESIDENT:  Three -- that's not bad.  (Laughter.) 

So six years ago, the technology in the schools was so outdated, only a few people could even print documents, and logging on to the Internet could take 20 minutes.  Today, with the help of the Recovery Act, the whole district has WiFi.  The ratio of computers to students is four-to-one and falling.  Kids are Skyping in class with experts from all over the world on a whole range of subjects.  And Sitka is now in the top tier of districts in the state.  It's been transformative.    

Darryl Adams is the superintendent of the Coachella Valley Unified School District in California.  Where is he?  There you go.  Good to see you.  One of the poorest districts in the country.  And a few years ago, Coachella started providing every student from pre-K to high school with a tablet of their own.  Is that one of them that you -- yeah?  (Laughter.)  You didn’t take that from a student, did you?  (Laughter.)     

They paid for it through a bond measure, which voters overwhelmingly approved.  So the whole community is committed to their children’s education.  Many students still don’t have Internet access at home, but the district found a solution for that, too.  They’re putting WiFi routers on school buses and parking them across the district every night.  This is really smart, right?  So you’ve got under-utilized resources; buses in the evening -- you put the routers on, disperse them, and suddenly everybody is connected.  Now it’s not just students who can get online -- it's their families, as well.

So I know a lot of superintendents have stories like these. You’ve found innovative ways to reach your students and improve your schools.  And today, the best news of all is you’re taking the next step -- along with 1,200 other superintendents nationwide -- by signing the “Future Ready District Pledge.”  Don't sign yet.  (Laughter.)  Because we're all going to do it together and it will be fun.  (Laughter.)  

It’s a vision for digital learning in classrooms across America -- helping schools and families make the leap to high-speed Internet; supporting teachers and principals who use technology in innovative ways; and helping every student gain access to digital devices and high-quality digital content.  And it’s a promise to help other school districts do the same -- that’s key.  This can’t stop with you.  Every kid need every superintendent in America to sign this pledge -- and then follow through on the pledge.  Our kids need every school district to make these commitments.  Every child -- whether they live in a big city, quiet suburb, the furthest reaches of rural America, poor districts, rich districts -- every child deserves a shot at a world-class education. 

That’s the promise we make as a nation great.  That's what makes our nation great -- this fundamental belief that no matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like, you can make it in this country if you work hard.  You have access to the tools to achieve.  If we keep working at this, that's a promise we can make real for this generation and generations to come.

All right.  So, with that, I think all the superintendents are ready to sign this pledge for our kids.  Everybody get your tablets out.  You ready?  All right, go at it.  (Laughter.)  You're being tested.  (Laughter.)  You’ve got 10 more seconds.  I see some people lagging behind.  (Laughter.)  All right, time.  (Laughter.)  Everybody get it?

AUDIENCE:  Yes.

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  If you didn’t, if you're still figuring it out -- (laughter) -- I won't tell. 

But let me just close by saying this.  We're so inundated, I think, with news of mayhem and mishap and war and disease.  I think sometimes we forget how much good work is just being done day in and day out by a lot of good people who just care about their kids, care about their communities.  In your districts, I know there are just extraordinary teachers and principals who are putting everything they’ve got into making sure our kids are getting a great education.  And you’ve got parents who are stepping up and volunteering and helping to make those schools work.  So as you disperse, one message I want you to deliver to all of them from the White House, from the President of the United States, is even if you're not getting a lot of attention, even if you're not making a lot of headlines, what you're doing every single day is making the biggest possible difference in the life of this country.  And I couldn't be prouder of you.

Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.) 

END
11:43 A.M. EST