WASHINGTON, July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Executives of the American Film Institute (AFI), accompanied today on their visit to Capitol Hill, the White House and the US Department of Education by AMERICAN IDOL's Clay Aiken, urge the expansion of AFI's Screen Education Center into schools across America...."We are so pleased that Clay Aiken has joined with AFI today to help emphasize education's crucial role in American life," Firstenberg said. Clay Aiken, who was completing his studies to become a special education teacher before the AMERICAN IDOL competition and his astonishing rise to super-stardom, supports AFI's efforts to expand the K-12 AFI Screen Education Center program nationwide. "Since I've had to put my own work with special needs kids on hold for now, I am excited to do what I can to support worthwhile educational efforts, particularly those which reach kids who might otherwise fall through the cracks. The AFI Screen Education Center programs certainly work with highly motivated students, but also engage those who for one reason or another-language barriers, learning disabilities, different ways of processing information-haven't enjoyed success with their studies before. I'm here to thank members of Congress and the Department of Education for supporting this great program," said Aiken. Congressional leaders, including Majority Leader William Frist (R-TN), Senators Dole (R-NC), Edwards (D-NC), Feinstein (D-CA), Boxer (D-CA), Specter (R-PA), Harkin (D-IO), Mikulski (D-MD) and Lott (R-MS), plan to meet with the AFI delegation. The day includes a 9:00 a.m. White House meeting for Clay Aiken...