February 24, 2006
Frances Fragos Townsend, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

Good morning. It's great to be here on Ask the White House. I look forward to answering your questions about the report I submitted to President Bush yesterday morning - The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned. President Bush and his Administration are committed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast and ensuring that we are better prepared for future catastrophes. With that, I am happy to take your questions.

February 21, 2006
Samuel Bodman, Secretary of Energy

It is good to be with you all today. You probably don’t know this but I was trained as a chemical engineer and started my career as an engineering professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For most of my adult life I have been involved in some aspect of the physical sciences. That’s why I am so pleased now to be leading the team at the United States Department of Energy.

February 17, 2006
Claude A. Allen, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy

Good Afternoon. It a pleasure to be with you today from the White House and the Domestic Policy Council. As we are celebrating African American History Month, I am reminded of my own heritage and am thankful for the opportunity to celebrate it as a member of the President's staff.

February 16, 2006
Michael Leavitt, Secretary of Health of Human Services

Hello, I am Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Our department is responsible for the nations health care. Medicare and Medicaid are the two payers of health care in America. HHS also has responsibility for medical disasters such as bio-terrorism events, pandemics or natural disasters.

February 14, 2006
Al Hubbard, Director of the National Economic Council

My name is Al Hubbard and I am Director of the National Economic Council. It is great to be with you all today.

February 9, 2006
Clay Johnson, Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget

Americans deserve to have the government spend their hard-earned tax dollars effectively, and better every year. The President, every member of Congress and every federal employee needs to be held accountable for getting results with the money they spend.

February 7, 2006
Joel Kaplan, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget

Good afternoon, and thanks for joining me today to discuss the FY 2007 Budget. I've already received a lot of great questions, and I look forward to answering them.

February 6, 2006
Donald Powell, Federal Coordinator of Gulf Coast Rebuilding

Good afternoon. It's a pleasure and honor to be interacting directly with so many people across the nation. Since the office officially opened in mid-November, we have been working diligently towards the President’s goal of assisting the Gulf Coast as they recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the recent hurricanes. I am confident that the Gulf Coast Region will fully recover and will see a better and brighter tomorrow.

February 3, 2006
Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education

It's been an exciting week. In the President's State of the Union Address on Tuesday, he reminded us of the successes we've shared as a nation and the challenges that remain. He also announced the American Competitiveness Initiative that will help our students have the skills to succeed in a highly competitive world through promoting more rigor and a focus on math, science and critical languages.

February 2, 2006
Carlos Gutierrez, Secretary of Commerce

... President Bush's Competitiveness Initiative calls on us to increase our research and development efforts. At the Commerce Department we will be adding 600 new scientists at the National Institute of Technology to develop new technology that will help us lead and compete in the global economy. ...

February 1, 2006
Dr. John Marburger, Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy

Thanks to everyone for tuning in to "Ask the White House" today. Last night President Bush announced an important new "American Competitiveness Initiative" that is getting a lot of attention here at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. I look forward to sharing more information about this Initiative and answering your questions about science and technology.