For Immediate Release
March 2, 2005
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN A CONVERSATION ON JOB TRAINING Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, Maryland 10:00 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. (Applause.) I appreciate the warm welcome. (Applause.) Thanks for coming. Please be seated. Thank you all. Go ahead and be seated. We've got some work to do. We're here to talk about an important issue, and that is how to make sure people get the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. That's what we're here to talk about. No better place to talk about that than at a community college which is working. And we're here at a good community college. (Applause.) I want to thank Marty Smith. She is one of our panelists. As you can see, we've got a distinguished panel. You're about to hear some interesting stories that I think will pertain to -- will make why I believe the community college system is vital to the future of our country real evident to you. The Governor is here. How about that? Governor Ehrlich, appreciate you coming. (Applause.) And we've got Kendel, First Lady. (Applause.) And we've got Drew. Mom and Dad here? Mom and Dad -- still listening to Mom, aren't you? GOVERNOR EHRLICH: Absolutely. THE PRESIDENT: Yes, so am I. (Laughter.) Laura sends her best. She's back at the White House. She wants to say hello to her friends in Maryland. She's doing great. (Applause.) She and I are going to go Pittsburgh next week to talk about her initiative, which I embrace whole-heartedly, and that is how to help young men realize the great promise of this country, how to fight off the temptation to join gangs and instead join society as a productive citizen. Part of that is to make sure the education system works well. So we're here on an education mission, really, to make sure education is relevant. I want to thank Jim Fielder, who's the Secretary of Labor for the state of Maryland. I appreciate you being here, Jim. (Applause.) A couple of things I want to say. First of all, freedom is on the march. |
