Bush Trumpets Math, Science as Economic Tool in State of the Union Speech 
 
WASHINGTON  

      Leaders in science and innovation have been clamoring for a political breakthrough. They now seem to have won a spot on the agenda of President Bush and Congress.

      In his State of the Union speech, Bush said he wants to boost spending on science research, rigorous math and science teaching in high school and help for young, struggling math students.

      It was just the kind of support that a broad range of educators, researchers and business leaders in the United States have been seeking. Math and science, fields considered the backbone of a skilled workforce and an innovative economy, have become U.S. vulnerabilities recently.

      As the U.S. compares itself to peers in a variety of ways such as test scores by high school students, bachelor's degrees in science and engineering and exports of high-tech products the nation is being outperformed by China, India and others.

      "Our greatest advantage in the world has always been our educated, hardworking, ambitious people, and we are going to keep that edge," Bush said in unveiling his math and science agenda.

      Bush framed the issue this week as a matter of economic urgency, along with immigration, health care, energy and open- trade markets.

      Yet big questions remain about where Congress would find money to support Bush's plans, which would cost tens of billions of dollars, and whether other education spending would be cut.

      In the meantime, advocates for science, math and engineering celebrated the attention.

      Gerald Wheeler, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association, thanked Bush for underscoring the importance of science and math in front of a national audience.