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Skriven 2006-02-03 23:32:56 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0602037) for Fri, 2006 Feb 3
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Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 3, 2006

Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Aboard Air Force One
En route Dallas, Texas



11:00 A.M. MST

MR. McCLELLAN: Good morning, everybody. A couple of things to mention.
First of all, you heard the President talk about the good economic news
that came out today, with the unemployment rate dropping to 4.7 percent.
And we have now seen the creation of nearly 4.8 million jobs since August
of 2003. So that's further good news that our economy is strong and
continuing to grow stronger. We've laid a solid foundation for future
growth and job creation, but as the President indicated today, there is
more to do to keep America the most competitive and innovative economy in
the world.

And he also talked about the dynamic economy that we're living in, too, and
why it's important to move forward on additional initiatives to keep our
economy growing and leading the world.

Secondly, the Egyptian ferry, I just wanted to mention that on behalf of
the American people, the President extends our deepest condolences to all
Egyptians and citizens of other nations who -- other nations that suffered
losses. We have offered assistance to help with the rescue attempts. And
our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those who lost loved
ones.

Let's see, do you want questions or do you want to go to the week ahead?

Q Is the President -- will he give Libby's defense team access to the
presidential daily briefs?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?

Q Libby's defense team is asking for access to --

MR. McCLELLAN: You know where we stand on the investigation. The President
directed the White House to cooperate fully and that's what we have done
and will continue to do.

Q I'm sorry, is that a "yes" or "no"? Will you give them access to the
PDBs?

MR. McCLELLAN: You need to direct any questions about the investigation to
the Office of Special Counsel. That's an ongoing matter and we do not
comment on it.

Q What happened with the accident in the motorcade?

MR. McCLELLAN: I just checked into that. Apparently, it was one officer who
went down on his motorcycle. I know that the ambulance was released from
the motorcade to go tend to him. Apparently he was conscious and breathing.
There is a hospital very nearby to where the accident occurred and all of
us are keeping the officer in our thoughts and prayers.

Q Was he a local officer or -- I mean, do you know, like, was he part of --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know if he was State police or local police; you'd
have to check that here.

Anything else, or do you want to go to the week ahead? Oh, let me mention a
couple of things about the school we're going to, since this is just pool
-- I've got some information on it.

Eighty-three percent of Townview's student body -- this is grades nine
through 12 -- is African American or Hispanic. Thirty-six percent of the
total student body took at least one AP, or advanced placement, exam.
Twenty percent of the entire student body passed at least one advanced
placement exam. So there is high participation rates in advanced placement.
And at the Science and Engineering magnet school, for three yeas running,
more African American and Hispanic students passed advanced placement
calculus than any other school in the United States, public or private.

And in 2005, 35 of the African American and Hispanic freshmen and sophomore
students passed AP calculus and that is more than any other school in the
country. So it's a pretty strong record that they have when it comes to
advanced placement. And teachers are the key to this. They have an
outstanding group of advanced placement math teachers there. I can find you
some more information on that.**

Let me go to the week ahead. On Monday, the President will participate in
the swearing-in ceremony for Chairman Bernanke to the Federal Reserve. That
will be in Washington. And then he hosts a -- the President and Mrs. Bush
host a social dinner in honor of the Dance Theater of Harlem. And on
Tuesday, the President will make remarks to the Business and Industry
Association of New Hampshire, in Manchester, New Hampshire.

And next week the President will -- as I indicated previously, he's going
to be focusing in greater detail on some of the initiatives and issues he
talked about in the State of the Union. Next week we'll be focusing on the
budget. To keep our economy growing and keep our economy competitive, we
need to make sure that we're good stewards of the taxpayers' dollars. So
the President will focus his remarks on Tuesday on the budget and the
importance of moving forward with a fiscally responsible budget, and
continue to build upon the record that we have achieved.

Wednesday, we put out the statement that the King of Jordan will be coming
to Washington on Wednesday, and the President will meet with him at the
White House. And he'll also sign the Deficit Reduction Act that just
passed. And on Thursday, he'll make remarks on the global war on terrorism,
in D.C. And then he'll meet with the President of Poland. And on Friday,
he'll make remarks to the House Republican Conference, which will be
meeting in Cambridge, Maryland.

That's the week ahead.

Q Is that open, Friday?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know --

MR. DECKARD: It's pool.

Q Is the Bernanke swearing-in in the Oval Office?

MR. McCLELLAN: It's an event, at the Federal Reserve.

Q What are the -- the terrorism speech on Thursday in Washington, is there
something new on that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I indicated that as we talk about some of the specific
domestic initiatives in the State of the Union, he's going to continue
talking about the global war on terrorism. It's a little early to preview
it, but I think it will build upon the speeches he's been giving on the
global war on terrorism.

Q We're not going to hear anything that new?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it's, like, five days off right now, so as we get
closer, Elisabeth, I'll provide you with a preview of it. The President
hasn't even seen the remarks yet -- any draft remarks yet, at this point.

Q The President of Poland on Thursday?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes. Okay. Thank you.

**The AP Incentive Program has been in operation for 10 years in Dallas,
which has a 93 percent minority enrollment: 63 percent Hispanic and 30
percent African American. Further, 81 percent of its students are
classified as economically disadvantaged. Yet every year more Dallas
students take an pass AP math, science and English exams with the following
results: 32 percent of all juniors and seniors take AP exams, compared to
15 percent nationally; passing scores on AP exams have increased over seven
times in 10 years; passing scores for females have increased over eight
times; passing scores on just AP math and science exams in all Dallas
schools increased ten-fold in 10 years, from 71 to 700; for African
American and Hispanic students, the passing scores in AP math and science
increased 33 times; minority students pass AP exams at a rate three times
higher than the national average for minority students.

END 11:06 A.M. MST
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