Early into his term, Carter worked with Congress to create an education department. In a February 28, 1978 address at the White House, Carter argued, "Education is far too important a matter to be scattered piecemeal among various Government departments and agencies, which are often busy with sometimes dominant concerns". On February 8, 1979, the Carter administration released an outline of its plan to create an education department. On October 17, 1979, Carter formally signed a law that created the United States Department of Education.