Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Monday, December 13, 1999 Volume 35—Number 49 Pages 2517–2577

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Addresses and Remarks Communications to Federal Agencies Arkansas, Chamber of Commerce in Little Improving health care quality and ensuring Rock—2565 patient safety, memorandum—2530 Democratic National Committee dinner— Narrowing the digital divide, memorandum— 2559 2554 Digital divide, narrowing—2552 Interviews With the News Media Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights, presentation—2521 Exchanges with reporters in the Rose Fort Gibson, OK, school shooting—2521 Garden—2527, 2552 Health care quality and patient safety—2527 News conference, December 8 (No. 185)— ‘‘Keep Hope Alive’’ reception—2534 2537 Kennedy Center Honors reception—2518 Letters and Messages Massachusetts Departure for Worcester—2552 Ramadan, message—2559 Memorial service for firefighters in Proclamations Worcester—2555 Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and National Christmas tree lighting—2551 Human Rights Week—2526 Radio address—2517 National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day— Senator Tim Johnson, reception—2532 2531 Bill Signings Statements by the President Chattahoochee River, legislation to protect See also Bill Signings segment, statement—2557 Vietnam, flooding—2556 Commerce in depiction of animal cruelty, Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. legislation to establish Federal criminal fire—2518 penalties—2557 World Trade Organization Seattle Round— Digital Theft Deterrence and Copyright 2518 Damages Improvement Act of 1999, statement—2559 Supplementary Materials Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999, Acts approved by the President—2575 statement—2524 Checklist of White House press releases— John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources 2574 System Act, statement—2558 Digest of other White House U.S. Holocaust Assets Commission Extension announcements—2574 Act of 1999, statement—2558 Nominations submitted to the Senate—2574

Editor’s Note: The President was in West Memphis, AR, on December 10, the closing date of this issue. Releases and announcements issued by the Office of the Press Secretary but not received in time for inclusion in this issue will be printed next week.

WEEKLY COMPILATION OF regulations prescribed by the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register, approved by the President (37 FR 23607; 1 CFR Part 10). PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS Distribution is made only by the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Published every Monday by the Office of the Federal Reg- The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents will be ister, National Archives and Records Administration, Washing- furnished by mail to domestic subscribers for $80.00 per year ton, DC 20408, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- ($137.00 for mailing first class) and to foreign subscribers for ments contains statements, messages, and other Presidential $93.75 per year, payable to the Superintendent of Documents, materials released by the White House during the preceding Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The week. charge for a single copy is $3.00 ($3.75 for foreign mailing). The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is pub- There are no restrictions on the republication of material lished pursuant to the authority contained in the Federal Reg- appearing in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- ister Act (49 Stat. 500, as amended; 44 U.S.C. Ch. 15), under ments.

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The President’s Radio Address States for their achievement. If every State December 4, 1999 had performed as well as Indiana in placing workers in jobs, we would have helped more Good morning. Yesterday we crossed a his- than twice as many people go to work last toric threshold with the creation of more year. I challenge every State to invest its wel- than 20 million new jobs since January 1993. fare reform resources in helping people to This is a great American achievement and succeed at work. further proof of the health of our economy, This is not just about numbers. It’s about which now has given us the longest peace- real people. People like Wendy Waxler of time expansion in our Nation’s history. Today Washington, DC. Wendy wanted a job, but I want to talk about a group of new workers needed time to care for her daughter, who who, just a few short years ago, were virtually has cerebral palsy. She couldn’t afford to lose locked out of our growing economy and their the Medicaid that paid the doctor’s bills. chance at the American dream—the more Through welfare to work, Wendy found a than one million Americans who are now flexible job and kept Medicaid and food moving from welfare to work every year. stamps, at first. Now she and her daughter Seven years ago I asked the American peo- have health insurance, and Wendy has new ple to join me in ending welfare as we know confidence and new dreams. it. In 1996, with bipartisan support, we People like Wendy Waxler are an asset our passed a landmark welfare reform bill. Today economy simply cannot afford to waste. So I am pleased to announce that we’ve cut the we must do more to support working families rolls by more than half. Fewer Americans are and people who are trying to turn their lives on welfare today than at any time since 1969, around. That’s why I’ve asked Congress to 30 years ago. We’re moving more than a mil- raise the minimum wage, so that a full-time lion people a year from the welfare rolls to job is a real ticket out of poverty; it’s why the payrolls, 1.3 million in 1998 alone. And we won new resources and will fight for most of the people who get jobs are keeping more, for our new markets initiative, to make them. They’re getting raises and paying taxes it easier for businesses and banks to invest and teaching their children to honor the dig- in America’s poorest communities; and why nity of work. I’m asking Congress to increase our commit- We’ve changed the culture of welfare from ment to quality child care. one that fostered dependence to one that All of us have a moral responsibility to do honors and rewards work. That’s why I everything we can to ensure that every eligi- fought to create high performance bonuses ble family receives health care and nutri- for States that do the most for parents enter- tional assistance, so all our children can grow ing the work force. I am pleased to announce up healthy. I fought hard to ensure that the the first of those awards today. welfare reform law guaranteed these critical Twenty-seven States will share $200 mil- supports. Now our administration is taking lion in bonuses for four categories: how many steps to hold States accountable and make people they’ve placed in jobs; how well those sure families get the benefits they need. people did at keeping their jobs and improv- Today I am also announcing new perform- ing their wages; the biggest improvement in ance bonuses like the ones I just awarded job placement; and the biggest improvement for States that do the best at enrolling eligible in on-the-job success. The States ranked families in Medicaid and food stamps. highest were Indiana, Minnesota, Wash- Finally, the old welfare system actually ington, and Florida. I congratulate these weakened families, by discouraging couples 2517

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from marrying or living with their children. Statement on the Fire at the We want to change that, so starting next year Worcester Cold Storage and there will also be bonuses for States that do Warehouse Company the most to get poor children into two-parent December 4, 1999 homes, where we know they have the best chance of breaking the cycle of poverty. Hillary and I were deeply saddened to Supporting hard-pressed working families learn of the tragedy that has struck the and helping people to make the transition Worcester community. The six firefighters from welfare to work isn’t just the right thing who are now missing and presumed dead val- to do; it’s also the smart thing. It encourages iantly put their lives on the line in the effort millions of people to take responsibility for to save others and protect their city. Their their families, their future. In so doing, it ex- courageous service reminds us all of the tre- pands opportunity and strengthens our econ- mendous commitment and sacrifice made by omy and builds a healthier future for all of the thousands of firefighters across America us. who risk their own lives every day to protect Thanks for listening. our communities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these courageous firefighters, to their families, to the Worcester Fire Depart- NOTE: The address was recorded at 7:15 p.m. on ment, and the city of Worcester. December 3 in the Oval Office at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 4. In his remarks, the President referred to the Remarks at the Kennedy Center Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Honors Reception Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law No. 104– 193. The transcript was made available by the Of- December 5, 1999 fice of the Press Secretary on December 3 but The President. Thank you very much. was embargoed for release until the broadcast. Thank you all, and welcome to the White House; to the wonderful array of artists who are in this room and members of the Cabinet Statement on the World Trade and others who have come to be part of this Organization Seattle Round happy evening. We share this evening with honorees who December 4, 1999 have touched our lives and ennobled our Na- We made progress at the Seattle WTO tion. Recently, Hillary and I went to Greece, trade meetings although significant dif- and I had the opportunity early in the morn- ferences remain. I remain optimistic that we ing to go and visit the Parthenon, a magnifi- can use the coming months to narrow our cent, almost unbelievable architectural cre- ation, given what had to be done to make differences and launch a successful new it work and the materials and instruments round of global trade talks. A successful that were available at the time. The Par- round will include bringing down barriers in thenon was the brainchild of the great states- agriculture, manufacturing, and services, man Pericles. Pericles said this to his soldiers keeping E-commerce tariff-free and ensur- in the Peloponnesian War: ‘‘We shall not be ing that trade will lift living conditions for without witness. There are mighty monu- working people everywhere while protecting ments to our power which will make us the the environment. And, as I said in Seattle, wonder of this and succeeding ages.’’ a successful WTO must be more open and As the curtain falls on this remarkable cen- accessible to all citizens around the world. tury, at the dawn of a new millennium, it I am determined to move forward on the is fitting that we Americans should ask our- path of free trade and economic growth while selves, what will be the monuments that we ensuring a human face is put on the global offer up to the gaze of succeeding ages? economy. Today, we are blessed with unprecedented

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prosperity and military might, but I believe the audience were absolutely sure he had it will be true of us, as it was Pericles’ Athens, trained it to cooperate. [Laughter] that the monuments of power that truly de- At age 90, Victor Borge continues to share fine, sustain us, and last throughout the ages his gifts with the world, not only through are those that spring from the mind and the comedy, piano, and conducting the world’s spirit. major orchestras but also through the gen- Just as we remember the great philoso- erous scholarship fund he created in grati- phers and playwrights, the historians and ar- tude to those who risked their lives to save chitects of ancient Greece, so tonight Hillary Scandinavia’s Jews. Tonight we are deeply and I are proud to welcome you here to pay grateful to one long-forgotten United States tribute to these five remarkable artists and consul and to the ‘‘Great Dane’’ who has kept creators. They come from many places; their America rolling with laughter for so very immense talents range over a wide creative many years. landscape. In giving the world new ways to Ladies and gentlemen, Victor Borge. understand the human experience and cele- Mr. Borge. Who was that gentleman? brate the human spirit, they are all leaving [Laughter] their own enduring monuments for suc- The President. You know, you ought to ceeding ages. hang onto that thought; in about 14 months And now, to present them, four Americans people will be asking that question for real. and one Scotsman—whom tonight I declare [Laughter] an honorary American citizen. [Laughter] It Steven Spielberg once said there are only seems appropriate to do on the 10th anniver- seven genuine movie stars in the entire world sary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. After all, today. Of course, his list includes Sean we couldn’t have won the cold war without Connery, one of the most charismatic and you. [Laughter] commanding actors ever to arch an eyebrow In 1940 Borge Rosenbaum of Copenhagen on the silver screen. sought safe passage to America, just ahead He rose from humble beginnings in work- of the Nazi advance. The United States con- ing class Edinburgh. Even today, under the sul, who had seen his comedy show, granted tux he wears better than any man alive, he him a visa on one condition: He had to prom- still sports with pride a ‘‘Scotland Forever’’ ise to continue his career in America. With tattoo on his arm. He left school at age 13, just $20 in his pocket, he arrived in the helped support his family as a concrete United States, changed his name, and began mixer, brick layer, sailor, steel bender, coffin to learn English by watching gangster films. polisher, and weight lifter. All jobs that pre- [Laughter] pared him for a lifetime of diverse and won- Soon, Victor Borge landed himself a reg- derful roles. ular gig on Bing Crosby’s radio show. Even- After making 007 the most famous char- tually, this led to the longest running one- acter in the world, Sean Connery went on man show in Broadway history and 40 years to broaden his reach with brilliant perform- of travel across America, Europe, and Asia, ances in movies such as ‘‘The Man Who perfecting the fine art of playing brilliant Would Be King,’’ ‘‘The Name of the Rose,’’ piano in the clumsiest possible way. [Laugh- ‘‘The Russia House,’’ and ‘‘The Untouch- ter] ables,’’ for which he was hailed as another Who would ever have thought that one Olivier. Among his numerous honors, he’s person could be both a virtuoso pianist and earned an Academy Award, a British Acad- an ingenious comic, combining the two into emy Fellowship, the French Legion of one mischievous, uproarious show? Perhaps Honor, Edinburgh’s prestigious Freedom of the common link between Victor Borge’s the City Award, and very important to me, music and his comedy is his uncanny gift for a fairly low handicap on the golf course. improvisation. Once, when a pesky fly would [Laughter] not leave him alone, he so skillfully incor- To this distinguished list, tonight we add porated the fly into his performance that all Kennedy Center Honors, and we thank him

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for four decades of unforgettable, masterful moment Robards began to read, the part sim- contributions to the world of film. ply belonged to him. As Quintero later re- Ladies and gentlemen, Sean Connery. marked, ‘‘I came to see that Jason was the On May 4, 1971, in a 16-minute solo of greatest young actor in the world.’’ indescribable beauty and emotional force, Jason Robards’ authority as an artist only Judith Jamison vaulted into the realm of leg- grew with age. After his chilling performance end. The solo was called, ‘‘Cry,’’ and Alvin in ‘‘Iceman,’’ he starred in the Broadway pre- Ailey created it just for her. Rarely, if ever, mier of O’Neill’s ‘‘Long Day’s Journey Into had the artistry of choreographer and dancer Night,’’ securing his standing as the finest in- come together in such an elemental, spiritual terpreter of our finest playwright. way. In the chronicle of her career, that night He went on to earn the highest honors on was just one in a long list of soaring triumphs the world’s great stages, including, of course, for Judith Jamison. the Kennedy Center, where he presided at After a childhood filled with patient and the groundbreaking and shined in the very exacting study of dance, her big break came first play the center produced. Of course, he in 1964. ‘‘I taught a class of ordinary stu- has also enjoyed remarkable success as a dents,’’ the famed choreographer Agnes de screen actor and won back-to-back Academy Mille reported. ‘‘But there was this one as- Awards. tonishing girl.’’ Miss de Mille brought Judith But performing under the stagelights of Jamison to New York to perform with the the theater, drawing us into the shadows and, American Ballet Theatre. A year later Alvin occasionally, even into the sunshine, has al- Ailey asked her to dance with his company. ways been his first love. He took possession For the next 15 years, she premiered new of the American theater in 1956, and he has roles, set new standards of excellence, and worked and reigned there, magnificent and earned unprecedented global acclaim. vulnerable, ever since. Her achievements as an Ailey dancer Ladies and gentlemen, Jason Robards, Jr. would be enough to earn Judith Jamison a When Stevie Wonder was a baby in inner- place here tonight. But she has always sought city Detroit, his mother dreamed of carrying new ways to stretch and extend herself and her son to the Holy City of Jerusalem in those around her. From the Ailey Company, hopes that he would gain his sight. What she she went on to star on Broadway, choreo- could not yet know was that her child had graph modern dance and opera, and found already been profoundly blessed—blessed her own dance company. with prodigious, awe-inspiring inner vision, In 1989 she returned to the Ailey Com- and musical talents that must have come pany to take over as artistic director and ful- from the Almighty Himself. fill her mentor’s dying wish. In this role, she By the age of 8, Stevie was composing for has preserved Ailey’s legacy while creating piano and mastering the harmonica and transcendent new works, cultivating a new drums. At age 13, he got the world clapping generation of stars, bringing dance ‘‘back to and stomping with his breakout single, ‘‘Fin- the people,’’ in her words, and I might add, gertips Part 2.’’ His very first record went greatly inspiring many of our daughters. gold. At the ripe old age of 18, he came out Tonight we thank her for a lifetime of with his first album of greatest hits. [Laugh- breaking down barriers and forever lifting up ter] the grace and beauty of American dance. We all know Stevie’s songs, and we all try Ladies and gentlemen, Judith Jamison. to sing them. [Laughter] Even for those of After 6 years in the Navy during World us who sing off key, they’re all in the ‘‘Key War II, a sailor named Jason Robards, Jr., of Life.’’ At times, his songs seem to be in used the GI bill to enroll in the American the very air we breathe, always part of the Academy of Dramatic Arts. He got some sunshine of our lives. parts and drove a cab to support his family. Over these past 30 years, as he has com- Then, at the age of 33, he auditioned for the posed and performed these songs, Stevie has lead in ‘‘The Iceman Cometh,’’ with the es- also helped to make Dr. King’s birthday into teemed director Jose Quintero. From the a national holiday, to tear down the walls of

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apartheid, to alleviate hunger, to stem youth our prayers are with each of the children and violence, and, in so many other ways, to com- their families, and the entire Fort Gibson pose the remaining passages of Dr. King’s community is—right now there are no fatali- unfinished symphony. Along the way, I might ties, only people who are wounded, and we add, he has also been a perfectly wonderful hope and pray it will stay that way. friend to Hillary and to me and to Vice Presi- dent and Mrs. Gore, for which we are very Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human grateful. Rights So tonight we honor the prodigy who be- It occurs to me that at some point tonight came a prophet, for using his divine gifts to someone will be doing what some of us— move the world to sing and to act. Hillary says it’s mostly a male thing—some- Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Stevie body will be channel-surfing tonight. [Laugh- Wonder. ter] And they will just come upon Belquis Well, there they are, ladies and gentlemen, speaking. And they may stop and listen, or Victor Borge, Sean Connery, Judith Jamison, they may not. They may know what the Jason Robards, and Stevie Wonder. In them Taliban is, or they may not. But I wonder we find comic invention, rugged strength, if even someone who hears her will recognize towering grace, inner fire, and music that that in nearly half the world today—in spite flows down like a mighty stream. Tonight the of the fact that for the first time in history United States salutes them all. more than half the people of the world live God bless you, and God bless America. under governments of their own choosing— Thank you very much. in nearly half the world, doing what Belquis just did, simply standing up and speaking NOTE: The President spoke at 5:50 p.m. in the freely, could get her arrested, jailed, beaten, East Room at the White House. In his remarks, even tortured. That’s why we’re here today. he referred to movie director/producer Steven I wonder if someone who just happened Spielberg. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks along her remarks tonight would understand of the First Lady. that until people like Eleanor Roosevelt came along, the rest of the world didn’t even recognize that the right to speak out is more Remarks at the Presentation of the than something enshrined in the American Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Constitution. It is truly an international Rights human right. December 6, 1999 Sometimes we forget how long it took the world to agree on a common definition, a The President. Thank you very much, universal declaration of what freedom actu- Belquis. Congressmen Gilman, Lewis, Jack- ally means. Half a century ago the Universal son Lee; Reverend and Mrs. Jackson; Deputy Declaration on Human Rights said it in very Attorney General Holder; Harold Koh; Bob simple words: ‘‘All human beings are free and Seiple; Julia Taft; Hattie Babbitt; Bette Bao equal in dignity and human rights. All have Lord, thank you for coming back. the right to life, liberty, and security. All are endowed with reason and conscience. All School Shooting in Fort Gibson, have the right to a standard of living adequate Oklahoma to health and well-being.’’ Ladies and gentlemen, before I begin, I The real genius of the Declaration of need—because this is my only opportunity Human Rights is that it affirmed that basic before the press today just to say a brief word human rights are not cultural, but universal; about this school shooting this morning in that what a country does to people within Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. The Federal Bureau its own borders is not its business alone, but of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, the business of all of us. We in the United Tobacco, and Firearms are on the scene now States know how hard it is to achieve the working with the local authorities. I expect aspirations of that declaration. We’ve been to get a detailed briefing shortly. Meanwhile, living with it since our Founders, and living

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with our flaws in failing to meet up to its to see for the first time, and we are all in standards. his debt. A hundred years ago Eleanor Roosevelt When Leon Sullivan was 8 years old, he was a 15-year-old girl growing up in a country walked into a grocery store, slapped a nickel where women could not vote. Half a century on the counter and said, ‘‘I want a Coke.’’ ago, if the standards of the Universal Dec- The place being in segregated South Caro- laration were held up to segregated schools lina, the shopkeeper threw him out. That mo- and lunch counters in the United States, we ment was the beginning of his life’s work. would have failed the test resoundingly. The pastor of two churches by the time he This century has taught us that even was at the ripe old age of 17, Reverend though human rights are endowed by the Sullivan went on to write the ‘‘Sullivan Prin- hand of our Creator, they are ensured by the ciples,’’ which called upon companies all hearts and hands of men and women among around the world to act in a socially respon- us who cannot bear to see it otherwise. Inch sible manner. By compelling dozens of busi- by inch, such people have moved the world nesses to desegregate their plants in South forward. Today we honor five brave Ameri- Africa, his work helped to pull down apart- cans whose lives have made a difference. And heid. we ask that all of us remember, in their tri- Today, as the author of the new ‘‘Global umphs, the struggles of people like Belquis, Sullivan Principle,’’ Leon Sullivan is still the continuing tensions in Africa, the con- changing the world. He’s too big for anyone tinuing tensions in the Balkans, and else- to deny him a Coke—[laughter]—but he has where in the world where human rights are helped to win that right for millions of others not yet secure. who aren’t so large. It is said that when Burke Marshall first Reverend Sullivan, thank you for keeping met Robert Kennedy, they sat across a table your eyes on the prize for nearly 80 years for 10 minutes and didn’t say a single word. now. Thank you. Those of us who had Burke Marshall in law For those of you who wonder from time school can believe that story. [Laughter] Per- to time about whether there really could be haps now he will tell us who spoke first. But a divine plan guiding our lives, consider this: from that silent moment sprang a truly ex- In Spanish, the name, Dolores Huerta, traordinary partnership. means ‘‘sorrowful orchard.’’ But if Dolores As Assistant Attorney General for the Civil has her way, her name will be the only sor- Rights Division in the Kennedy administra- rowful orchard left in America. tion, Burke Marshall was a bridge between She began her career teaching young mi- Government and those activists fighting grant children but couldn’t stand seeing them every day to end Jim Crow. Congressman come to class hungry. So in 1962 she and John Lewis, who received this award last Cesar Chavez cofounded the United Farm year, once recalled that whenever Martin Workers. While Cesar Chavez worked the Luther King or James Farmer needs to talk fields, she worked the boardrooms and the to somebody in Washington—needed to talk statehouses, negotiating contracts and fight- to someone in Washington, they would sim- ing for laws that lifted the lives of thousands ply say, ‘‘call Burke.’’ and thousands of Americans. In the process, His work was crucial to passing the Civil she found time to raise 11 children. Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. After Dolores, we thank you for all you have he had helped shape a new America, he later done and all you still do to promote the dig- worked equally hard to shape young minds nity and human rights of your family and at Yale Law School. America’s family. Thank you. I made a joke about Hillary and I being It is no accident that when America students. But I can tell you, I never will for- opened its arms to Kosovar Albanians early get the first time I saw him. And I imagined this year, one of the first calls that went out how this man of slight stature and such a was to a Dominican nun in the Fordham sec- modest demeanor could almost shake with tion of the Bronx. Scripture tells us that ‘‘if his passion for justice. It was quite something you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry

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and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then it’s the right thing to do and the surest path your life will rise in the darkness and your to a world that is safe, democratic, and free. night will become like noonday.’’ If that is In Afghanistan, we have strongly con- true, there are few people who live their lives demned the Taliban’s despicable treatment in more sunshine than Sister Jean Marshall. of women and girls. We have worked with Disturbed by the sight of refugee families the United Nations to impose sanctions picking up garbage off the street to feed their against that Taliban, while ensuring that the children, in 1983 Sister Jean founded St. Afghan people continue to receive humani- Rita’s Center for Immigrant and Refugee tarian assistance. We are Afghanistan’s Services. In the days since, it has helped strongest critic, but also its largest humani- thousands of refugees, from Vietnam to tarian donor. Cambodia to Bosnia, to find jobs, learn And today we take another step forward. English, live better lives. I am pleased to announce that we will spend, Sister Jean, we thank you for all you are next year, at least $2 million to educate and doing to make our democracy real and improve the health of Afghan women and children refugees. We are also making an ad- dreams come true for thousands who flee 1 human rights abuses and come here expect- ditional $1 ⁄2 million available in emergency ing the Statue of Liberty to live up to her aid for those displaced by the recent Taliban promise. Thank you. offensive. And we’re dramatically expanding our resettlement program for women and Lastly, there are few people who have children who are not safe where they are. done more to directly build on Eleanor But, as Belquis said, these are but tem- Roosevelt’s work on women’s rights around porary solutions. The Taliban must stop vio- the world than Charlotte Bunch. Gloria lating the rights of women and respect the Steinem once observed that for every ques- human rights of all people. And we must con- tion that comes up regarding women’s rights, tinue to work until the day when Afghanistan sooner or later someone asks, what does has a government that reflects the wisdom Charlotte think? [Laughter] of its people. As the founder of the Center for Women’s The whole world is also concerned about Global Leadership at Rutgers University, she the plight of innocent people in Chechnya. has worked to build a worldwide network of Two weeks ago, at the OSCE Summit in Tur- activists. As a result, when the World Con- key, I raised the issue directly with President ference on Human Rights was held in Vienna Yeltsin. The people of Chechnya are in a ter- in 1993, for the first time there was a network rible position, beleaguered by paramilitary in place to raise international awareness of groups and terrorists on the one hand and issues like violence against women and gay the Russian offensive on the other. I made and lesbian issues. And for the first time, the clear that Russia’s fight against terrorism is U.N. acknowledged that women’s rights are right, but the methods being used in human rights. Chechnya are wrong. And I am convinced Today I think the best way to thank they are counterproductive. Charlotte Bunch is for the Senate to finally We’ve seen rocket and artillery attacks on ratify the Convention on the Elimination of largely civilian areas, with heavy losses of life All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. and at least 200,000 people pushed from Thank you. their homes. I’m deeply disturbed by reports We honor these five Americans today with that suggest that innocent Chechens will con- the thanks of a grateful nation. But let me tinue to bear the brunt of this war, and not say again, to echo what Hillary said earlier, the militants Russia is fighting. if we truly want to honor their work, we must Russia has set a deadline for all inhab- stay committed in the places where the glory itants, now, to leave Grozny or face the con- has not come and continue to speak out for sequences. That means that there is a threat human rights around the world, from Burma to the lives of the old, the infirm, the injured to Cuba to Sudan, from Serbia to North people, and other innocent civilians who sim- Korea and Vietnam. We must do so because ply cannot leave or are too scared to leave

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their homes. Russia will pay a heavy price Without concerted citizen action to uphold for those actions with each passing day, sink- them close to home, we shall look in vain ing more deeply into a morass that will inten- for progress in the larger world.’’ sify extremism and diminish its own standing Today we honor that message by honoring in the world. five people whose work close to home has Another country about which we must made the whole world a better place. May continue to express concern is China. China their work continue to inspire us all for gen- is progressing and opening to the world in erations yet to come. many ways that are welcome, including its Lieutenant Colonel, read the citations. entry into the WTO. Yet its progress is still [At this point, Lt. Col. Carlton D. Everhart, being held back by the Government’s re- USAF, Air Force Aide to the President, read sponse to those who test the limits of free- the citations, and the President and First dom. A troubling example, of course, is the Lady presented the awards.] detention by Chinese authorities, of adher- ents of the Falun Gong movement. The President. Thank you for coming. Its targets are not political dissidents, and Thank you for honoring these great people. their practices and beliefs are unfamiliar to Thank you for reminding us of all the impor- us. But the principle still, surely, must be tant work still to be done, Belquis. the same: freedom of conscience and free- We’re adjourned. Thank you. dom of association. And our interest, surely, must be the same: seeing China maintain sta- NOTE: The President spoke at 2:17 p.m. in Presi- bility and growth at home by meeting, not dential Hall (formerly Room 450) in the Dwight stifling, the growing demands of its people D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his for openness and accountability. remarks, he referred to Afghan refugee Belquis For all these challenges, we have to say Ahmadi, who introduced the President; Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader, and his wife, that we enter the new millennium more Jacqueline; Commissioner Harold H. Koh, Com- hopeful than we have been at any time in mission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; the past century. The second half of this cen- Ambassador at Large for International Religious tury began with delegates from 18 nations, Freedom Robert A. Seiple; and President Boris including the United States, coming together Yeltsin of Russia. to write the Universal Declaration. The cen- tury ends with 18 nations having come to- gether with the United States to reaffirm Statement on Signing the Healthcare those basic rights in Kosovo—with progress Research and Quality Act of 1999 from Indonesia and East Timor to Nigeria. December 6, 1999 Now, as I’ve said, more than half the world’s people live under governments of Today I am pleased to sign S. 580, the their own choosing. Shortly before the Con- ‘‘Healthcare Research and Quality Act of gress went home, the United States Senate 1999,’’ which authorizes appropriations for unanimously ratified the International Con- the Agency for Health Care Policy and Re- vention against Child Labor, and I became search (and renames it the ‘‘Agency for the third head of state to sign the convention. Healthcare Research and Quality’’) and au- We are moving, but we have much to do as thorizes a new grant program to support chil- we enter a new century. And again I would dren’s hospitals with graduate medical edu- say to my fellow Americans, we all know that cation programs. our efforts have to begin at home. This legislation combines two important On the 10th anniversary of the Universal health care priorities of my Administration: Declaration of Human Rights, Eleanor Roo- first, ensuring that our Nation’s children, es- sevelt dedicated a book called ‘‘In Your pecially those who suffer from complex or Hands.’’ On that day she said—and I quote— unusual diseases, continue to receive the human rights begin ‘‘In small places, close highest quality care that our health care sys- to home . . . Unless these rights have mean- tem can provide; and second, developing the ing there, they have little meaning anywhere. scientific evidence that we need to improve

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the quality and safety of our health care sys- improve health care. AHRQ will help close tem. the numerous data gaps throughout the The Act takes an important first step to health care delivery system. It will also serve ensure the delivery of high quality health as a bridge between the best science in the care for America’s children by investing Fed- world with the best health care in the world. eral funds in graduate medical education at The AHRQ will build on the foundation freestanding children’s hospitals. This long of strong scientific approaches to health serv- overdue initiative was included in my Admin- ices research established by the Agency for istration’s FY 2000 budget and was strongly Health Care Policy and Research. This legis- advocated by the First Lady. Her leadership lation was passed on an overwhelmingly bi- in this area is longstanding, and it is with partisan basis by the Congress, which is a great pride that I sign this groundbreaking tribute to the many members of both cham- legislation. bers, from both sides of the aisle. I particu- In an increasingly competitive health care larly want to single out Senators Frist and market dominated by managed care, teach- Kennedy and Congressmen Bliley, Dingell, ing hospitals struggle to cover the significant Bilirakis, and Brown, who have championed costs associated with training and research quality information for quality health care, as private reimbursements decline. Millions for their commitment to this important reau- of American children each year are treated thorization. by physicians affiliated with or trained in one The AHRQ is now designated the lead of 60 independent children’s hospitals across Federal agency in health care quality to help the country. While other teaching hospitals meet the needs of decisionmakers and work receive support for these costs through in partnership with the private sector. AHRQ Medicare, children’s hospitals receive vir- will develop a national report on quality, tually no Federal funds, even though they stimulate evidence-based medicine, sponsor train nearly 30 percent of the Nation’s pedia- primary care research, help eliminate med- tricians and nearly 50 percent of all pediatric ical errors, and apply the power of informa- specialists. This inequity exacerbates an al- tion systems and technology in a manner that ready difficult financial situation for chil- assures adequate patient privacy protections. dren’s hospitals, which often serve the poor- AHRQ will also be a principal source of re- est, sickest, and most vulnerable children. In search that will guide health plans, pur- many cases, they provide the regional safety chasers, health care systems, clinicians, and net for children, regardless of medical or eco- policymakers as they seek to improve access nomic need, and they are the major centers to health care and make it affordable for all of research on children’s health problems. Americans. This Act creates a new grant program to I am delighted to sign S. 580, which will provide much-needed support for the train- support research needed to improve health ing of these critical health providers. I am care and help train new pediatricians and pe- pleased that the Consolidated Appropriations diatric sub-specialists who will be able to put Act that I recently approved included my full this knowledge to work for America’s chil- $40 million request to get this program start- dren. ed. The Act also authorizes appropriations William J. Clinton through 2005 for the Agency for Healthcare The White House, Research and Quality (AHRQ) and rep- December 6, 1999. resents the culmination of a genuine bipar- tisan effort to make better information avail- NOTE: S. 580, approved December 6, was as- able to health care decisionmakers to use to signed Public Law No. 106–129.

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Proclamation 7258—Human Rights to freely choose their own government. The Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human international community responded vigor- Rights Week, 1999 ously to halt ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and December 6, 1999 is helping the people of East Timor not only to achieve legal recognition of their inde- By the President of the United States pendence but also to develop the institutions of America they need to thrive as an independent and secure state. But despite this heartening A Proclamation progress, there are still many regions of the President Carter once said, ‘‘America did world where human rights are daily denied not invent human rights. In a very real sense, and aspirations to freedom routinely crushed. it’s the other way around. Human rights in- Our work is still far from complete. vented America.’’ Human rights have been Rising to these challenges, we in the an integral part of America’s history since the United States have strengthened our com- birth of our Nation more than two centuries mitment to improving international human ago. Refusing to accept tyranny and oppres- rights. To enable the world community to sion, our founders secured a better way of react more quickly to genocidal conditions, life with our Constitution and Bill of Rights. we have established a genocide early warning These revolutionary documents have contin- system. We continue to fund nongovern- ued to protect our cherished freedoms of re- mental organizations that respond rapidly to ligion, speech, press, and assembly and to human rights emergencies. And we have cre- preserve the principles of equality, liberty, ated an interagency working group to help and justice that lie at the heart of our national implement the human rights treaties we have identity. already ratified and to make recommenda- As Americans, we have always strived to tions on treaties we have yet to ratify. advance these rights and values both at home We also continue to be a world leader in and abroad, and just as our founders sought the fight to eliminate exploitative and abusive a brighter future for our Nation, we envision child labor. Last week, I signed the instru- a better future for our world. One of our ment of ratification of the International most powerful tools in realizing that vision Labor Organization’s Convention on the has been the Universal Declaration of Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Human Rights, which the United Nations Labor, declaring on behalf of the American General Assembly approved in December of people that we simply will not tolerate child 1948. It is not surprising that this document, slavery, the sale or trafficking of children, which owed so much to the courage, imagi- child prostitution or pornography, forced or nation, and leadership of Eleanor Roosevelt, compulsory child labor, and hazardous work reaffirms in tone, thought, and language our that harms the health, safety, and morals of own great charters of freedom. To honor children. Through these and other initiatives, Mrs. Roosevelt’s legacy, and to acknowledge America continues to reaffirm both at home those who follow her example of commit- and across the globe our fundamental belief ment to human rights around the world, last in human dignity and our unchanging rev- year we established the Eleanor Roosevelt erence for human rights. Award for Human Rights. Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, In the 51 years since the adoption of the President of the United States of America, Universal Declaration, the United Nations by virtue of the authority vested in me by has developed numerous legal instruments the Constitution and laws of the United that specify the rights and obligations con- States, do hereby proclaim December 10, tained in the document, and the international 1999, as Human Rights Day; December 15, community has made encouraging progress 1999, as Bill of Rights Day; and the week toward improving human rights for people beginning December 10, 1999, as Human of all nations. Today, more individuals than Rights Week. I call upon the people of the ever before are living in representative de- United States to celebrate these observances mocracies where they can exercise their right with appropriate activities, ceremonies, and

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programs that demonstrate our national com- families have been the victims of medical er- mitment to the Bill of Rights, the Universal rors that are avoidable, mistakes that are pre- Declaration of Human Rights, and pro- ventable, tragedies, therefore, that are unac- motion and protection of human rights for ceptable. all people. Everyone here agrees that our health care In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set system does wonders but first must do no my hand this sixth day of December, in the harm. Now let me be clear about one thing: year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- Ensuring patient safety is not about fixing ty-nine, and of the Independence of the blame; it’s about fixing problems in an in- United States of America the two hundred creasingly complex system, about creating a and twenty-fourth. culture of safety and an environment where William J. Clinton medical errors are not tolerated. In short, it’s about working together to zero in on patient [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, safety and zero out preventable errors. This 8:45 a.m., December 8, 1999] morning’s meeting builds on our administra- tion’s longstanding record to improve health NOTE: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on December 9. care quality. Almost 3 years ago, I established the Com- mission on Consumer Protection and Quality Remarks on Improving Health Care Care, chaired by Secretary Shalala and Sec- Quality and Ensuring Patient Safety retary Herman. That commission produced and an Exchange With Reporters a landmark report and led to my own execu- December 7, 1999 tive action to provide patient protections to one out of every three Americans enrolled The President. Good morning, everyone. in Federal health care plans. It also set the I’d like to thank Secretary Herman, Janice stage for the Congress to pass a strong, en- Lachance, and the other representatives of forceable Patients’ Bill of Rights. the Federal Government who are here. I’d But the Commission has made clear that like to thank the leaders representing con- the challenge goes beyond patient protec- sumers, health care providers, business, tions for all Americans in all plans. We must labor, and quality experts who are here. This also improve the quality of care. That’s why is a very impressive group of Americans who I created an interagency task force to coordi- have come together to discuss the question nate administration efforts in this area; why of reducing medical errors. I asked the Vice President to launch the Last week the Institute of Medicine re- Quality Forum—and I thank Dr. Ken Kizer leased a disturbing report about patient safe- for being here today—a private advisory ty and medical errors in our Nation’s health panel to develop uniform quality standards care system. According to the study, as many so that health plans compete on quality and as 98,000 Americans lose their lives each year not just cost, and consumers and businesses as a result of preventable medical errors. Up have better tools to judge what plans are best to 7,000 die because of errors in prescribing for them. medicine. And the cost of all these errors In a few moments, I’ll announce new steps add as much as $29 billion to our medical our administration is taking to promote qual- bills. ity and to reduce medical errors. But first, But this is about far more than dollars or I want to turn it over to one of our partners statistics. It’s about the toll that such errors in that effort. If there is one thing we have take on people’s lives and on their faith in learned, it’s that effectively managing the our health care system. We just had a terrific prescribing and dispensing of drugs is one meeting this morning to talk about what we of the best ways we can improve quality and can do to save lives, to prevent errors, to pro- hold down cost. The president of the Amer- mote patient safety. We have the finest ican Hospital Association, Dick Davidson, is health care system in the world, the best pro- here this morning, to announce a major new fessionals to deliver that care. But too many medical safety campaign they’re launching

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with the Institution for Safe Medication million for research to improve health care Practices. It’s truly a prescription for better quality and prevent medical errors. Through health for all Americans. So I’d like to ask the work of the agency, we’re also engaging Dick to tell you about it. our partners at the State level. In March we’ll convene the first national [At this point, Richard J. Davidson, presi- conference with State health officials to pro- dent, American Hospital Association, made mote best practices in preventing medical er- brief remarks.] rors. And I want to thank Dr. John Eisenberg The President. Thank you very much, for his leadership of that agency. Dick. Finally, I’m directing my budget and I also want to just take a moment out here health care teams to develop quality and pa- to thank Dr. Bill Richardson of the Kellogg tient safety initiatives for next year’s budget Foundation for the Institute of Medicine re- so that we can ensure we’re doing all we can port, and all those others who worked with to combat this problem. I want next year’s him on it. It was a terrific document. budget to provide the largest investment to Now, let’s talk about what we can do at eliminate medical errors, improve quality, the Federal level. First, I’m signing an execu- and enhance patient safety we’ve ever of- tive memorandum this morning directing our fered. health care quality task force to analyze the The Institute of Medicine’s report makes Institute of Medicine study and to report clear that a systematic approach to reducing back to me, through the Vice President, with- medical errors gives us the best chance of in 60 days about the ways we can implement success. Years ago, we took that approach in their recommendations. aviation, and we’ve dramatically reduced er- I’m also calling on the task force to evalu- rors and saved lives. By working together, we ate the extent to which medical errors are can achieve the same goals in the health care caused by misuse of medications and medical industry. The American people deserve this, devices and to develop additional strategies and we intend to provide it. to reduce these errors. I am committed to working with all these Second, I want the Federal Government people in partnership to do our part to save to lead by example. So I’m instructing the lives in needless medical errors, to make the Government agencies that administer health best health care system in the world even plans for 85 million Americans to take an in- better in the new century. ventory of the good ideas out there now to Thank you very much. reduce medical errors. They should apply Q. Mr. President, many Americans, I those techniques to the health programs they would venture to say, were shocked, prob- administer and do so in a way that protects ably, to hear about this report, to learn that patient privacy. tens of thousands of people die each year, As a first step, I’m announcing today that and tens of thousands more are injured be- each of the more than 300 private health cause of medical errors. Does it call into plans participating in the Federal Employee question whether or not we have the best Health Benefits Program now will be re- health care system in the world? quired to institute quality improvement and The President. No, I don’t think it does. patient safety initiatives. And I want to thank I think what it calls into question is whether Janice Lachance, the head of our Office of we’ve done everything we can to invest the Personnel Management, who had responsi- kind of money in avoiding errors that other bility for figuring out how we were going to big complex systems have. do this in record time. [Laughter] I mentioned aviation, but I might also Third, ongoing research to enhance pa- point out workplace safety. We have a rep- tient safety, to reduce patient errors, is abso- resentative from General Motors here who lutely critical. So we’re increasing our invest- talked about how dramatically they have re- ment in this area. Yesterday I signed legisla- duced injury in the workplace. Or if I could tion reauthorizing the Agency for Health use an analogy that I think is, in some ways, Care Quality and Research in providing $25 even more appropriate, in the 1980’s, when

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the American manufacturing sector was positive event in the progress of American under withering competition from overseas health care. and burdened by our big debt and high inter- Q. Mr. President—— est rates, they underwent the most dis- ciplined imaginable review of every single Elian Gonzalez process in every complex manufacturing op- Q. Mr. President—[inaudible]—to Presi- eration to go to a zero error rate. dent Castro’s threats of retaliation against the If you look at the medical profession, if U.S. unless that Cuban boy is returned? you look at the way hospitals work, if you The President. I will do a press con- think—Dick said tens of millions of people— ference tomorrow, and I’ll answer all those I’m sure there are hundreds of millions of other questions. I’m looking forward to it. hospital visits every year—just to take hos- pitals. There are many people who are older Health Care Quality who are taking multiple medications, who go Q. Speaking of lack of defensiveness, to multiple doctors, so that what happens is, should the White House have spotted this you’ve got a very complex set of processes problem of medical errors sooner and taken that, as we have gotten to live longer, have action sooner? And also, isn’t this a problem, become more complex and even more inter- now, for hospitals and other medical pro- actions. And what we need to do is to take— viders, because if they take action to remedy step back and take a critical look at each and past mistakes, they admit past mistakes, and every step along the way. couldn’t they be open to lawsuits? There have been big changes in the roles The President. Well, first of all, I think that various people in the health care system there has been a lot of work on this over play. Have they all been properly trained to the last 3 years. But I don’t think there’s any play that role? Do they all check with each question that the Institute of Medicine re- other? Are there the right kind of teams in port, with its actual calculation of the num- place in every health care setting that work bers of lives lost, has focused everybody’s at- for safety? These are the kinds of questions tention more on this, including me. And I that we have invested more money and time think the only productive thing to do is to and research in, in the workplace and when look forward now. we fly on airplanes, than we have in the Secondly, when this report came out, I health care arena. And we just have to do learned that 22 States—if you look at what that now. the report recommends, it recommends The good news about this is, this is some- mandatory reporting of serious mistakes and thing we can do something about. But if you errors. And 22 States have that in place and ask me, does it mean we don’t have the best presumably don’t have any more significant health care system in the world, I would say, lawsuit or medical malpractice problems than no, it doesn’t mean that. Keep in mind, the the rest of the country as a whole. life expectancy now is, what, over 76 years; And regardless—you know, once you know anybody who lives to be 65 in America has about a problem, you’re under a moral obli- a life expectancy in excess of 82 years. And gation to deal with it. So you can’t—whatever when we finish the mapping of the human the consequences are, we have to go forward. genome, I think sometime early in the next Finally, I do not believe that the kind of century, we’ll look at babies being born that systematic improvement in safety training have a life expectancy of nearly 100 years. and processes, hospital after hospital after So I think that this is just a problem that— hospital, clinic after clinic after clinic, and I applaud the lack of defensiveness that all in outpatient settings, will increase liability. the players in the health care system have No one can begrudge the improvement of displayed here. I applaud the report. And we processes. That still won’t establish or fail to know what the dimensions of this problem establish liability in a particular case. So I are, and now we’ve got the people in place don’t see that as a problem. with the determination to solve it. And I But whatever the problems are, they’re not think that we ought to look at this as a very nearly as important as saving thousands and

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thousands of lives that obviously are there in place, however, is improving the quality to be saved now. And that’s what all these of the services available to these patients. people behind us are saying. And I think they The United States has some of the finest reflect the overwhelming views of doctors, medical institutions and best trained health hospitals, nurses, and everybody else in the care professionals in the world. However, as health care system. the Quality Commission reported last year, So this is a good day for America, not only millions of Americans are harmed or even because of this report but because of the re- killed each year as a result of inappropriate sponse to this report. or erroneous medical treatment. These Thank you very much, and I’ll see you to- health care quality problems include the un- morrow. derutilization of needed services, the over- utilization of unnecessary services, and med- NOTE: The President spoke at 11:45 a.m. in the ical errors in the delivery of care. In addition, Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, there is a continuing pattern of wide variation he referred to Dr. Kenneth W. Kizer, M.D., presi- in health care practice. dent and chief executive officer, National Quality As a recent Institute of Medicine study Forum; and William Richardson, president and confirms, preventable medical errors present chief executive officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, an example of the critical importance of im- and chair, Institute of Medicine Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. The transcript proving the quality of health care in our Na- released by the Office of the Press Secretary also tion. Over half of the adverse medical events included the remarks of Mr. Davidson. that occur each year are preventable, causing the deaths of as many as 98,000 Americans annually and adding as much as $29 billion Memorandum on Improving Health to our Nation’s health care spending. These Care Quality and Ensuring Patient errors also deeply affect the lives of many Safety individuals and families and the trust of the American people in the quality of the care December 7, 1999 they receive. Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense, To build on the initial efforts of the Quality the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commission and the leadership of the De- Health and Human Services, the Secretary partments of Health and Human Services, of Veterans Affairs, the Director of the Office Labor, Veterans Affairs, and Defense, the of Personnel Management Office of Personnel Management, and other agencies in implementing a range of quality Subject: Improving Health Care Quality and improvement initiatives, I directed the estab- Ensuring Patient Safety: Directive to the lishment of the Quality Interagency Coordi- Quality Interagency Coordination Task nation Task Force to help coordinate Admin- Force (QuIC) istration efforts in this area. I also asked the Assuring quality through patient protec- Vice President to help launch the National tions is a long-standing priority for my Ad- Forum for Health Care Quality Measure- ministration. Over the past 2 years, with the ment and Reporting (Quality Forum). This leadership of the Vice President, Secretary broad-based, widely representative private Shalala, and Secretary Herman, my Advisory advisory body, which includes senior govern- Commission on Consumer Protection and ment participants, is developing standard Quality in the Health Care Industry (Quality quality measurement tools to help all pur- Commission) produced a landmark report on chasers, providers, and consumers of health health care quality. Through executive ac- care better evaluate and ensure the delivery tion, I extended the patient protection provi- of quality services. sions outlined in this report to the 85 million In addition to the work and significant po- Americans enrolled in Federal health plans, tential of the QuIC and Quality Forum, the setting the stage for the Congress to pass a Departments of Veterans Affairs and De- strong, enforceable Patients’ Bill of Rights. fense have been leaders in employing infor- As important as putting patient protections mation technology to enhance their ability to

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provide a higher quality of care to patients. I direct the Department of Health and Moreover, the Food and Drug Administra- Human Services and the Department of tion is working to implement new reporting Labor to serve as the coordinating agencies systems that allow for a rapid response to to assist in the development and integration medical errors causing patient injury. How- of recommendations and to report back to ever, despite all the progress that has been me within 60 days. The recommended ac- made, it is clear that more must be done. tions should lay the foundation for a national Recent advances in technology and infor- system that prevents adverse medical events mation systems can help eliminate dangerous before they occur. medical errors, lower costs by improving William J. Clinton communications between doctors, eliminate redundant tests and procedures, and build automatic safeguards against harmful drug Proclamation 7259—National Pearl interactions and other adverse side effects Harbor Remembrance Day, 1999 into the treatment process. Despite this fact, December 7, 1999 very few public and private health plans, hos- By the President of the United States pitals, and employers appropriately use these of America new techniques. Therefore, I hereby direct the Quality A Proclamation Interagency Coordination Task Force, to re- Early on Sunday morning, December 7, port to me a set of recommendations on spe- 1941, the 130 vessels of the U.S. Pacific Fleet cific actions to improve health care outcomes lay quiet and serene in Pearl Harbor. Ameri- and prevent medical errors in both the public cans sailors were preparing to raise colors, and private sectors in a manner that is con- unaware that the worst naval disaster in sistent with the strong privacy protections we American history was about to unfold. As the have proposed. This report shall: first wave of Japanese planes dropped tor- • Identify prevalent threats to patient pedo bombs on the fleet, all eight battleships safety and medical errors that can be along with three destroyers and three light prevented through the use of decision cruisers were hit. Two hours after the first support systems, such as patient moni- Japanese bomber hit its target, 21 ships of toring and reminder systems; the U.S. Pacific Fleet lay sunk or badly dam- • Evaluate the feasibility and advisability aged. U.S. aircraft losses included 188 planes of the recommendations of the Institute destroyed and another 159 damaged. Before of Medicine’s Quality of Health Care in the bombing was over, some 3,500 Ameri- America Committee on patient safety; cans had been killed or injured. The sinking • Identify additional strategies to reduce of the battleship USS ARIZONA remains the medical errors and ensure patient safety most recognized symbol of that tragic day. in Federal health care programs; Of the ARIZONA’s crew, 1,177 were killed, • Evaluate the extent to which medical nearly half of all the deaths suffered at Pearl errors are caused by misuse of medica- Harbor. tions and medical devices and consider Time has not dimmed our memory of the steps to strengthen the Food and Drug ferocity of that attack 58 years ago or the Administration’s surveillance and re- pain of the losses we suffered. The assault sponse system to reduce their inci- brought shock and grief not only to the fami- dence; and lies and loved ones of those who were injured • Identify opportunities for the Federal or lost their lives, but also to our entire coun- Government to take specific action to try. improve patient safety and health care The attack on Pearl Harbor shook our Na- quality nationwide through collabora- tion but strengthened our resolve. Two days tion with the private sector, including later, in a Fireside Chat, President Roosevelt the National Forum for Health Care affirmed that resolve in explaining America’s Quality Measurement and Reporting. sudden thrust into World War II: ‘‘We don’t

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like it—we didn’t want to get in it—but we ments and agencies, organizations, and indi- are in it and we’re going to fight it with every- viduals to fly the flag of the United States thing we’ve got. We are going to win the war at half-staff on this day in honor of those and we are going to win the peace that fol- Americans who died as a result of the attack lows.’’ Just as the American forces at Pearl on Pearl Harbor. Harbor responded to the attack with great In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set courage, the United States responded with my hand this seventh day of December, in determination that this assault would not the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and keep us from victory over the Axis powers. ninety-nine, and of the Independence of the Union leaders agreed not to strike for the United States of America the two hundred duration of the war as President Roosevelt and twenty-fourth. garnered the support of our working men William J. Clinton and women to increase war production and build our ‘‘Arsenal of Democracy.’’ Millions [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, of American patriots joined the Armed 8:45 a.m., December 8, 1999] Forces, willing to serve and sacrifice in the NOTE: This proclamation was published in the cause of freedom. Federal Register on December 9. Rising from the destruction at Pearl Har- bor, all but three of the ships sunk there were repaired and put back into service. Less than Remarks at a Reception for 4 years later, the Pacific Fleet sailed victori- Senator Tim Johnson ously into Tokyo Bay. Today, the Battleship December 7, 1999 Missouri Memorial is docked on Pearl Har- bor’s Battleship Row, a fitting tribute to our Thank you very much, ladies and gentle- triumph in World War II. It was Pearl Har- men, I’m honored to be here. I was trying bor that cemented the United States resolve to think of some one thing I could say that to win the war, and it was aboard the ‘‘Mighty would illustrate the esteem in which I hold Mo’’ that the Japanese signed surrender doc- Tim Johnson and Barbara, and how valuable uments in 1945, and peace in the Pacific was they are to the United States Senate. And finally realized. I think that the best example is that Pat Pearl Harbor is both a reminder of what Moynihan and I are here, and we’re not run- can happen when we are unprepared and a ning for anything. [Laughter] We’re here be- call for continuing vigilance in defense of our cause we like and admire Tim Johnson, and Nation. The world has changed greatly since we think he should be reelected, and we ap- that dark day more than half a century ago, preciate what he’s done. but our need to remain engaged is more cru- I enjoyed meeting all of you when you cial than ever. We must never forget the les- went through the line and we had a chance sons of Pearl Harbor or the courage, deter- to visit. A lot of you expressed various con- mination, and indomitable spirit of that gen- cerns, which I appreciate. I want to thank eration of Americans who recovered from a Vic Fazio and Jim Slattery for coming. They devastating defeat to win the ultimate victory served in the House with Tim; they were for freedom, democracy, and peace. there when I became President. And I want The Congress, by Public Law 103–308, has to thank all of you for being here. designated December 7, 1999, as ‘‘National I just want to say a couple of serious words Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.’’ in this holiday season. First, our country is Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, greatly blessed. We have been very fortunate. President of the United States of America, Last week I announced that we went over do hereby proclaim December 7, 1999, as 20 million jobs since January of 1993, the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. most rapid job growth we’ve ever had and I urge all Americans to observe this day with the longest peacetime economic expansion in appropriate programs, ceremonies, and ac- our history. tivities in honor of the Americans who served It is now commonly agreed that the at Pearl Harbor. I also ask all Federal depart- strength and the duration of this expansion

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was propelled by the 1993 vote that Congress You know, Samuel Johnson said that noth- took on a strict party line vote, much to my ing concentrates the mind so much as the regret, in favor of the economic package I prospect of your own destruction. The flip presented, which reduced the deficit dra- side of that is also true: It’s easy to lose your matically, put us in a position to pass the Bal- concentration when things are going very anced Budget Act of ’97, and has now given well. And I just want to say to all of you, us the first back-to-back surpluses we’ve had I think it’s very important that we look at in 42 years, low interest rates, high invest- the big challenges facing this country: that ment, and an amazing run of economic we save Social Security beyond the life of growth. the baby boom generation; that we extend Tim Johnson was in the House. He knew the life of Medicare and add a prescription he wanted to run for the Senate. It was an drug benefit to the 75 percent of our seniors immensely controversial vote. Everybody that don’t have adequate prescription drug that took it was told by our Republican coverage; that we do something to give eco- friends that it would bring the economy nomic opportunity to the people and places crashing down and be the end of civilization that have been left behind in this country, as we knew it. And they were wrong, and like the Native Americans in Senator he was right. But he couldn’t have known Johnson’s home State that he has shown such at the time, when he put his political life on remarkable concern for; that we deal with the line, that it would all come out the way the long-term challenges of the environment it has. And I wouldn’t be here, if for no other in a way that continues to grow this econ- reason than that. If it hadn’t been for his omy—a lot of you are involved in that; I vote—we passed it by one vote in the House talked to some of you about ethanol produc- and the Senate—if it hadn’t been for his vote, tion tonight; we’re about to get the science we wouldn’t be here tonight. And if we were worked out—we get the technology worked here, we wouldn’t be nearly so well off as out to reduce the number of gallons of gaso- most of you are. So thank you, Senator, for line it takes to make more gallons of eth- what you did. anol—you’re going to see an explosion there I also want to thank Tim for his devotion that will change the whole economic and en- to using this moment, which is truly remark- vironmental future of the United States— able. At least in my lifetime, our country has that we continue to press for peace and rec- never had these conditions where we’ve had onciliation and the reduction of the threats as much economic prosperity and as much of weapons of mass destruction around the social progress. In addition to the economic world. statistics, which you all know, we have a 25- Many people here tonight are Pakistani- year low in crime, a 30-year low in welfare Americans. I told somebody about 4 months rolls, a 20-year low in poverty; the lowest Af- ago that we were making progress on peace rican-American and Hispanic unemployment in Ireland, progress on peace in the Middle rates ever recorded; the lowest female unem- East, progress on peace in the Balkans. But ployment rate in America in 40 years; the the two places that I have been stymied, lowest poverty rate among—single-parent since I became President, were in relation- households poverty rate in 40 years. We are ships between Greece and Turkey and rela- moving forward. And this is the first time tionships between India and Pakistan. And we’ve ever had these conditions with the ab- just a couple of weeks ago the Greeks and sence of internal crisis and external threat. the Turks announced they were going to have And I think it imposes a great challenge talks on Cyprus, and in a few days they’re on us, because very often individuals, fami- going to meet and discuss whether they lies, businesses, and nations are most likely will accept Turkey as a candidate for the to mess up at times of great prosperity and European Union. So that leaves Kashmir. high comfort, because it’s easy to be dis- [Laughter] tracted, it’s easy to be divided, it’s easy to And let me say to all of you, and to my take your eye off the ball. good friend Senator Moynihan, who, in one

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of his many former lives, was our Ambas- Reverend, thanks for bringing your whole sador to India—I have told many people family here, except for those who had to have this—of all the hundreds—we literally have babies and read books tonight. [Laughter] in America now representatives of well over Santita thanks for the music; it was magnifi- 150 different ethnic groups, I think some- cent, as always. And Jackie, thank you for thing like 185—in education and income, being my friend and my inspiration. Pakistanis and Indians rank in the top five. And I want to thank your mother for all They often meet together, work together, do the things that Jesse said. But I want you things together in the United States. The to know, I’ve been in public life, now—well, Indian subcontinent would have a limitless I started running for—I ran for my first office potential for the 21st century if the dif- almost 26 years ago. I have talked to tens ferences between the two nations could be of thousands of people. I’ve shaken hundreds reconciled. There would be less need to of thousands, maybe over a million hands spend vast amounts of money on military ex- now. And Grandma, you’re the only person, penditures and more funds available for edu- ever, who came up and complimented me cation, for social development, for all kinds on quoting Machiavelli in a speech, in my of challenges that are out there facing peo- whole life, ever. [Laughter] She said, ‘‘Every ple. So I look forward to making a real stab smart politician reads that fellow.’’ at that next year, and I see some hopeful [Laughter] signs there. But many of you can help, and And that brings me to Jesse, because the we need your help. quote from Machiavelli that she likes so The last thing I want to say is that in this well—now a quote that’s well over 500 years coming election season, which is already well old—said, ‘‘There is nothing so difficult in underway, I think it’s very important that we all of human affairs than to change the estab- not forget that we all still have to do the peo- lished order of things. For those who will ple’s business. We all get paid; we’re ex- pected to show up for work every day. And benefit are uncertain of their gain, but those I expect to accomplish a great deal next year, who will lose are absolutely certain of their with the help of Senator Johnson and Senator loss.’’ [Laughter] Moynihan. And I am comforted by the Now, I’m honored to be here with Minyon thought that when term limits take me away, Moore, my political director; Gene Sperling, he’ll still be here, thanks to you. my National Economic Adviser, just walked Thank you very much. in; he works with Reverend Jackson—be- cause Jesse Jackson has been my friend for many years, long before either one of us NOTE: The President spoke at 7:55 p.m. at the Westin Fairfax Hotel. In his remarks, he referred could have known we’d be standing on this to Senator Johnson’s wife, Barbara, and former stage together and because he has done that Representatives Vic Fazio and Jim Slattery. most difficult thing in all of human affairs. He has changed the established order of things. And America is a better place. Remarks at a ‘‘Keep Hope Alive’’ I think about what he did to help save the Reception Community Reinvestment Act and what he’s December 7, 1999 done to help me enforce it. We now have over 95 percent of all the money ever loaned The President. Thank you so much. Mark, under that law has been loaned since I’ve thank you for this evening. Reverend Meeks, been President, thanks in no small measure Dennis, all the distinguished business and to him and to you. I think about all the won- labor leaders in the audience, and my many derful things he’s done as my Special Envoy friends—Berry, Willie, so many others. to Africa, most recently in Sierra Leone, but Thank you, Smokey, for being here and in so many other places. I think about all for singing for Stevie at the Kennedy Center those years with the civil rights movement, Honors the other night. You were magnifi- with Rainbow/PUSH, all the voter education cent. Thank you so much. drives, all the long campaigns, always sticking

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up for issues bigger than himself and for peo- with little children were working on Satur- ple in difficult situations. days and way up into the night. And there I was thinking tonight when Jesse was talk- was abject human suffering. And then the ing about a night many, many years ago when Depression came, and we had our first real he gave a speech in Little Rock, and I comprehensive wave of social legislation. brought him back home to the Governor’s And we overcame the war, as Jesse said, and Mansion, and we got Hillary to come down got out of the Depression. to the kitchen, and we sat in the kitchen, And then we had the great civil rights and we cleaned out the refrigerator. [Laugh- movement of the sixties because of Martin ter] We just kept on talking and kept on eat- Luther King and all the others, because the ing, and we kept on talking and kept on eat- Supreme Court was visionary and brave, ing, until finally Hillary reminded me that and—let’s be honest—because the Congress I had to go to work in the morning and kicked and the country were conscience-stricken him out of the house. [Laughter] after President Kennedy was murdered. I was thinking something else, too. In the Now, in my lifetime and maybe in the life- gripping story of Jesse’s past—you’ve got to time of this country, we have never had so make allowances for us, you know; I think much economic prosperity so broadly shared people from the South generally tend to be with the lowest unemployment rate in 30 more obsessed with the past than other peo- years and the lowest poverty rate in 20 years ple, in ways that are beautiful and burden- and the lowest African-American and His- some and maybe boring to other people. But panic unemployment rates ever recorded and we are. But tonight I want to ask you to just the highest rate of business and homeowner- take onboard everything Jesse said. And I ship among minorities, as well as the majority want to ask you this question: So what now? population, ever recorded; the lowest female If you think about it, almost every major, unemployment in 40 years, so broadly big thing we have ever done in this country, shared, with the absence of either an internal we have done in the throes of difficulty or threat or an external threat to our security. threat. This great country of ours was born Crime rate is the lowest in 30 years; teen out of the pangs of war, by people who were pregnancy rate is the lowest in 30 years; wel- smart enough to say all of us are created fare rolls are the lowest in 30 years. equal, and then to say, but, oh, these slaves So what I want to ask you is, what now? count as 60 percent of a person, for purposes And I want to ask you, even if you’re not of the census. And then to say we’re all cre- from the South, not to lose your memory. ated equal, but you can’t vote unless you’re [Laughter] A, white, B, male, and C, you have to own Because I came here tonight not only be- property, which means that if I’d been cause I owe Jesse and because I love him around back then, I probably couldn’t have and because Mark told me I had to—[laugh- voted either—[laughter]—because I’d have ter]—and because I want Dennis and Bill to been one of the hired hands. help Hillary. [Laughter] I also came here be- So, then, we were born in the pangs of cause—I’m not running for anything— a great war. And Mr. Lincoln comes along, [laughter]—I want to spend the rest of my and we finally got rid of slavery after the life as a good citizen. bloodiest war in all of our history. When we But I’m telling you, in my lifetime—in my were a much, much smaller country we lost lifetime—this country has never had—not more people in the Civil War than any other one time—the same level of economic pros- one, just over the proposition that we were perity, social progress, and national self-con- going to hang together and free people. It fidence, in the absence of domestic crisis or happened out of war. international threat. Never, not once. And And then in the industrial revolution we my lifetime, unfortunately, is getting longer. had some real social progress in the absence I was talking to a 6-year-old girl over Thanks- of war, but people were really suffering. I giving. She looked up at me, and she said, mean, little children, 10 years old, were ‘‘How old are you?’’ And I said, ‘‘I’m 53.’’ working in factories 70 hours a week. Women She said, ‘‘Oh, that’s a lot.’’ [Laughter]

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So what are we going to do about it? So will never get around to it. If we can’t bring what? That’s what I want you to think about, the benefits of free enterprise to the people because we’ve done real well when we were and places that don’t have it now—with the under the gun in this country, you know? lowest unemployment in 30 years and the We had Abraham Lincoln, and people fought highest growth rate—we will never get and bled and died; finally we got rid of slav- around to it. If we can’t save Social Security ery. We had Franklin Roosevelt, unemploy- and take it way out beyond the baby boom ment was 25 percent, got ourselves in a war; generation and do something about elderly we whipped the Depression and won the women who are too poor compared to the war. We had Martin Luther King and people other retirees, elderly women living alone— in the streets, and it took a few riots—and if we don’t do that now, when are we going like I said, President Kennedy got killed— to get around to it? If we don’t extend the but we had President Johnson’s great record life of Medicare and provide some prescrip- in civil rights, which many of you contributed tion drug coverage to the three-quarters of to. our seniors that can’t afford what they need, What are we going to do with this? Be- when will we ever get around to it? If we’re cause what I want to say to you is—the great not going to give all of our kids—since we English writer, Samuel Johnson, said that the now know how to turn around failing schools; prospect of a person’s own destruction won- we don’t have any excuse anymore; it’s not derfully concentrates the mind. The flip side a matter of some sort of scientific project— is true: when you think things are peachy- if we’re not going to bridge the digital divide keen and can’t get bad, it distracts the mind. and make sure all of our kids have access It makes people shortsighted. It makes peo- to the Internet world of tomorrow—if we’re ple selfish. It makes people distracted. not going to do it now, when will we get And what I want to say is, we’ve still got around to it? If we’re not going to shoulder some huge challenges out there. And we our responsibilities to our friends and neigh- have the opportunity that no generation of bors, from the Caribbean to Africa to the Americans has ever had: to take our kids out world’s most indebted countries, so that they, of poverty; to give them all health care; to too, can be our partners and be a part of bring genuine economic opportunity to the tomorrow, when are we ever going to get people and places that have been left behind; around to it? to bring genuine educational opportunities to Now, you can have your own list. But I’m all of our kids; and to build one America, telling you, one of the things I think we’ve without regard to race or region or income proved is that you can take good social policy or sexual orientation. We’ve got this chance, and good economic policy and prove they go and we’d better not blow it. hand-in-hand. The progressives—we lost a If we don’t shoulder our responsibility to lot of elections because people said, ‘‘Well, deal with this, our children and our grand- those people have a good heart but a soft children will never forgive us, because the head. And if you put them in they’ll spend country has never had this chance before, us in the ditch, and tax us until we bleed. and believe me, nothing lasts forever. That And they won’t be able to run the economy.’’ kind of keeps you going in the tough times, They can’t say that anymore. We have the but it’s well to remember in the good times. first back-to-back budget surpluses in 42 So I say to you, that’s the main reason I’m years. And we cut taxes on millions of work- here. Yes, Jesse started this Wall Street ing people with the earned-income tax credit. Project because he wanted to create more We raised the minimum wage, and we ought empowerment for individuals who were tal- to raise it again. And we passed the Family ented and just left behind. But we also know and Medical Leave Act, and we ought to that there are whole peoples and places— make it broader. We ought to do things to the Indian reservations, Appalachia, the Mis- prove that good social policy and good eco- sissippi Delta, big neighborhoods in our cit- nomic policy go hand-in-hand, good environ- ies—who haven’t felt this economic pros- mental policy and good social policy and perity. If we can’t get it to them now, we good economic policy go hand-in-hand.

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You know, if you go into city after city after toric opportunity to be worthy of the sac- city, you will see, as my good friend Con- rifices that Jesse talked about tonight. gressman John Lewis says, that environ- Thank you, and God bless you. mental justice can be a civil rights issue. How Wait, wait now. Before you all leave, we’re many people do you know in urban areas liv- going to do one more thing. Jesse and I, ing by toxic waste dumps that we could turn we’ve got a little friend here that I want to into economic goldmines if we cleaned them sing for us. We’re going to have one more up? That’s what we’re trying to do. song. But you make your own list when you go Come on, Joshua. Come up here. Come home tonight. Just write down the five things on, Josh. that you think are the biggest challenges fac- [At this point, child singer Joshua Watts sang ing America. And then you ask yourself, if a song, and musician Smokey Robinson urged we can’t do it now, when will we ever get the audience to keep the arts in the school around to doing it? system.] When I think of Rainbow/PUSH, I think The President. of two things: Rainbow means we’re all in I know we’ve all got to go. I just want to say amen to this. [Laughter] it together, and we all have a place at the We had a VH1 concert at the White House table; PUSH is what Jesse does to me when the other night because John Sykes, the head he thinks I’m not doing right. [Laughter] And of VH1, is collecting instruments—he’s col- both those things are good. And you know, lected, I think, almost one million now, 14 or 15 months from now, when I become around America—to give to schools so they a citizen again, then I can be a pusher. We’ll could have music programs. But all over the all do that. country, these music programs, these art pro- But this is a great country. You remember grams, have been cancelled out. the history of it. Remember the stories Jesse And we know that there are poor children told. Think about his mother-in-law. I got my out there who will learn better and find ways pin. [Laughter] Think about his mother-in- to express themselves better, stay out of trou- law. ble and stay in love with education if they But you think about this whole deal, and have access to these things. This is a huge I’m telling you—I defy you to cite a time deal, and I want to thank you for saying that. in your lifetime which has been like this. And It’s a big deal. I say it not to be self-serving. Look, I’m grate- Thank you. ful I got to serve. I’m grateful that I got to serve at a time when the challenges of the NOTE: The President spoke at 9:30 p.m. in the country fit my experience, and what I knew, Washington Room at the Hotel Washington. In and what I felt in my heart. his remarks, the President referred to Reverend But it’s like turning a big old oceanliner Jesse Jackson, president and founder, Mark Allen, deputy field director and assistant to Rev. Jackson, around in the middle of the Pacific. You can’t Dennis Rivera, cochair, and Rev. James Meeks, do it overnight. So we’ve turned this country board member, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; Berry around. We’re going full steam ahead in the Gordy, Jr., founder, Motown Records; musician right direction. Stevie Wonder; Willie Gray, attorney, Gary, Wil- But I am telling you, it’s no different from liams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson, a person, a family, or a business. A nation, and Sperando law firm; former Deputy Mayor Bill when things are going well, has to make a Lynch of New York; and Reverend Jackson’s wife decision. And we have a responsibility to Jacqueline, daughter Santita, and mother-in-law reach out for all those who have been left Gertrude Brown. behind, to create one America, and to build the future of our dreams for our children. The President’s News Conference If not now, we will never get around to it. December 8, 1999 So you go home tonight, and make your list, and keep supporting Rainbow/PUSH, The President. Good afternoon. Before I and demand that your leaders take this his- take your questions I have a statement to

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make. We are at a pivotal moment in the possible to achieve that goal, to put an end Middle East peace process, one that can to generations of conflict, to realize the aspi- shape the face of the region for generations rations of both the Israeli and the Palestinian to come. As I have said on numerous occa- people. And I will do everything I can to help sions, history will not forgive a failure to seize them in that historic endeavor. this opportunity to achieve a comprehensive It is my hope that with the resumption of peace. Israeli-Syrian talks, negotiations between We’ve made good progress on the Pales- Israel and Lebanon also will soon begin. tinian track, and I’m determined to help There can be no illusion here. On all Prime Minister Barak and Chairman Arafat tracks, the road ahead will be arduous; the move forward in accordance with their very task of negotiating agreements will be dif- ambitious timetable. ficult. Success is not inevitable. Israelis, Pal- We’ve also been working intensely, for estinians, Syrians, and Lebanese will have to months, for a resumption of negotiations be- confront fateful questions. They face hard tween Israel and Syria. Today I am pleased choices. They will have to stand firmly to announce that Prime Minister Barak and against all those who seek to derail the peace, President Asad have agreed that the Israel- and sadly, there are still too many of them. Syrian peace negotiations will be resumed But let there also be no misunderstanding. from the point where they left off. The talks We have a truly historic opportunity now. will be launched here in Washington next With a comprehensive peace, Israel will live week with Prime Minister Barak and Foreign in a safe, secure, and recognized border for Minister Shara. the first time in its history. The Palestinian After an initial round for 1 or 2 days, they people will be able to forge their own destiny will return to the region, and intensive nego- on their own land. Syrians and Lebanese will tiations will resume at a site to be determined fulfill their aspirations and enjoy the full soon thereafter. These negotiations will be fruits of peace. And throughout the region, high level, comprehensive, and conducted people will be able to build more peaceful with the aim of reaching an agreement as and, clearly, more prosperous lives. soon as possible. As I have said, and I say one more time, Israelis and Syrians still need to make cou- I will spare neither time nor effort in pursuit rageous decisions in order to reach a just and of that goal. Today the parties have given us lasting peace. But today’s step is a significant clear indication that they, too, are willing to breakthrough, for it will allow them to deal take that path. Peace has long been within with each other face to face, and that is the our sight. Today it is within our grasp, and only way to get there. we must seize it. I want to thank Prime Minister Barak and Thank you very much. President Asad for their willingness to take Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press]. this important step. And I want to thank Sec- retary Albright who has worked very hard on Elian Gonzalez this and, as you know, has been in the region Q. Mr. President, on another matter in- and meeting with the leaders as we have volving a foreign government, as a father, do come to this conclusion. you sympathize with the demand of Elian Before us is a task as clear as it is chal- Gonzalez for the return of his 6-year-old son lenging. As I told Prime Minister Barak and to Cuba, now that the boy’s mother and step- President Asad in phone conversations with father were drowned in a boating accident them earlier today, they now bear a heavy on the way to Florida? responsibility of bringing peace to the Israeli The President. Well, I think, of course, and Syrian people. all fathers would be sympathetic. The ques- On the Palestinian track, Prime Minister tion is, and I think the most important thing Barak and Chairman Arafat are committed is, what would be best for the child? And to a rapid timetable: a framework agreement there is a legal process for determining that. by mid-February, a permanent status agree- I personally don’t think that any of us ment by mid-September. I’m convinced it is should have any concern other than that, that

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the law be followed. I don’t think that politics let’s talk about the aid. A sanctions regime or threats should have anything to do with has to be imposed by the United Nations, it, and if I have my way, it won’t. We should and Russia has a veto there. But I’m not sure let the people who are responsible for this, that would be in our interest or in the interest who have a legal responsibility, try to do the of the ultimate resolution of the crisis. right thing by the child. Let me just say, with regard to the aid, These decisions are often difficult, even in because I’ve been asked about that, I think domestic situations, but I hope that is what it’s important to point out to the American would be done, and it should be done with- people that two-thirds of the aid that we out regard to politics. spend in Russia is involved in Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press denuclearization and safeguarding nuclear International]. materials. And I think it is plain that we have an interest in continuing that. Middle East Peace Process The other third goes to fund democracy, Q. Mr. President, did both sides make a the things that we Americans believe would lot of concessions to get to this breakthrough lead to better decisions. It goes to an inde- point? And also, are you aware that Amnesty pendent media; it goes to student exchanges; International says that Israel is continuing it goes to NGO’s, helping people set up small the demolition of Palestinian homes in east businesses. I don’t think our interests would Jerusalem and on the West Bank, and also, be furthered by terminating that. And as of the expansion of the settlements? Are all now, there is no pending IMF transfer be- these part of a package? cause of the general opinion by the IMF that The President. Well, Prime Minister not all the economic conditions have been Barak made a very important statement met. So that’s a bridge we’ll have to cross about settlements yesterday, which I think when we get there. was quite welcome. And it’s a good first step. Yes. As you know, we believe that nothing should be done which makes it more difficult to Middle East Peace Process make peace or which prejudges the final out- Q. Mr. President, when Israel and Syria come. But I do think that the statement yes- do sit down, they obviously are going to have terday is a step in the right direction. to confront the issue of the Golan Heights As to your question about Syria, I think almost immediately. How are they going to it’s very important at this point that we maxi- resolve that? What will the U.S. role be? Will mize the chances for success, which means you see the administration—Secretary it would not be useful for me to get into the Albright, yourself possibly—being a medi- details. But the negotiations are resuming on ator? And finally, why isn’t President Asad the basis of all previous negotiations between sitting down with Prime Minister Barak at the United States and Syria—I mean, be- this point? tween Syria and Israel, and with the United The President. I think they’re sitting States. down because they want to make peace, and I think it is clear that both parties have they have now concluded that they can do sufficient confidence that their needs can be it on terms and that will meet both their in- met through negotiations, or they would not terests. You’ve asked good questions, but any have reached this agreement today. answer I give would make it unlikely that Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters]. they would be successfully resolved. Frankly, we all took a blood oath that we wouldn’t Russia and the Situation in Chechnya talk beyond our points today, and I’m going Q. On Chechnya, you used sanctions to to keep my word. punish Yugoslavia and Indonesia for repres- Q. Sir, maybe you misunderstood. I was sion; why aren’t sanctions being considered asking why President Asad is not personally against Russia? involved in the talks at this point. The President. Well, there are two cat- The President. Oh, he is very personally egories of aid here in question—or, at least— involved. I think that—I believe that he felt

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it was better—and maybe you should ask the should not be punished for what the rebels Syrians this—but let me just say, he is very did. They don’t represent the established personally involved in this. I think he thinks government of Chechnya. They don’t rep- it better, for whatever reason, he’s made the resent a majority of the people there. And decision that Foreign Minister Shara, who, the strategy, it seems to me, is more likely thankfully, has recovered from his recent to hurt ordinary citizens than the legitimate stroke and is perfectly able to come here, targets of the wrath of the Russian Govern- to do so. And I’m quite comfortable that this ment. is as close to a person-to-person talk that they So I think that—first of all, I think the could have without doing it. policy will not work, and therefore, it will Yes, go ahead. be very costly, just like it was before when it didn’t work. Secondly, the continuation of Elian Gonzalez/Situation in Chechnya it and that amassing of hundreds of thou- Q. Mr. President, can I follow up about sands of refugees, which will have to be cared Cuba and Chechnya? With regard to Cuba, for by the international community—we’ve you said that politics ought to stay out of this already set aside, I think, at least $10 million decision regarding the boy. Are you saying, to try to make our contributions for it—will sir, that you can envision a circumstance further alienate the global community from where, in your mind, it would be appropriate Russia. And that’s a bad thing, because they to return this young boy to Communist need support not just from the IMF and the Cuba? World Bank, they need investors. They need Second question, regarding Chechnya: people to have confidence in what they’re Given the fact that two-thirds of the aid goes doing. to denuclearization, a third to democracy ef- They’re about to have elections. And so fects, do you envision no circumstances, sir, there will be a heavy price there. And I don’t under which the United States would cut off think there’s any question about that. that aid? And how does that square with your I think it’s already—yes, go ahead. statement that Russia will pay a heavy price for its war against Chechnya? Elian Gonzalez The President. Okay, the first question Q. Sir, regarding the Cuban boy, you say first. I do not know enough about the facts, you don’t know enough about the facts. A so you can draw no inferences to what I lot of people in South Africa think the facts might or might not do because it’s not a deci- are pretty simple. They say that even though sion for me to make. There is a law here. the boy’s father’s in Cuba, this boy would There are people charged with making the be better off growing up in the United States decisions. I think they ought to do their best than in Cuba under Castro. What would you within the parameters of the law; do what say to those people? seems to be best for the child. The President. Well, I think the decision- That is all I have to say, and you shouldn’t makers will take into account all the relevant read anything into it. I don’t know enough facts. But I don’t think I should make the about the case, and I don’t think that any decision. First of all, I can’t make the deci- of us should interfere with what is going to sion under the law. And I don’t think I should be a difficult enough decision as it is. tell them how to make the decision because Now on Russia, I have stated what my I don’t know enough about the facts. I be- present view is, and that is all I have done. lieve they will do their best to make the right I think Russia is already paying a heavy price. decision. I think they’ll pay a heavy price in two ways. Q. What about growing up in Cuba as op- First of all, I don’t think the strategy will posed to growing up in the United States? work. As I said, I have no sympathy for the The President. Well, of course, I’d rather Chechen rebels; I have no sympathy for the grow up in the United States. But there may invasion of Dagestan; and I have no sympathy be other considerations there, and one was for terrorist acts in Moscow; and none of us asked in the previous question about it. So should have. But the people of Chechnya we’ll just have to evaluate it.

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You know, there are times in the United cent of the gun dealers sell 50 percent of States when judges have to make decisions— the guns involved in gun crimes. Now, if that the legal standard governing domestic cases study is accurate—and he believes it is—that is the best interest of the child—there’s a is a stunning fact. And there ought to be slightly different characterization, I think, of something done about that. And if there is what will determine the international deci- a way that the court could craft a resolution sion here. This is, you know, an unusual case of that, that would be a good thing, I think. for us. But even here, sometimes it’s very The second thing we want to do is to stop hard to say. You know, will children be better irresponsible marketing practices. You all re- off with their parents in America? Almost al- member that one company advertised an as- ways, but not always. sault weapon by saying that it was hard to So you just can’t—I don’t think—I can’t get fingerprints from. You know, you don’t serve any useful purpose by commenting on have to be all broke out with brilliance to it, because I don’t know enough about the figure out what the message is there. And facts of the family life or even the governing the third thing they want is some safety de- law on this. I just know that I think we ought sign changes. to let the people make the decision, urge Now, let me hasten to say that we have them to do their best to do what’s best for a lot of gun manufacturers in this country the child, and try to take as much political who have been, I think, immensely respon- steam out of it as possible so that the little sible. You’ll remember the majority of the child can be considered. gun manufacturers signed on to our proposal Yes. for child trigger locks. I still would like legis- lation to cover them all. But this should not Federal Action Against Gun be viewed—if you look at the nature of the Manufacturers release, they’re not trying to bankrupt any Q. Sir, on another legal matter, your threat companies; they’re trying to make their living of a class-action against gun manufacturers, spaces safer. And I think it’s a legitimate is this an attempt, sir, through either coercion thing. or, ultimately, the judicial branch, to get ac- Now to your general question, I think if complished what you couldn’t get accom- you go back over the whole reach of our ten- plished through legislation? And with the dif- ure here, I have always tried to use the exec- ficulties that you’ve had recently getting utive authority in areas where I thought it some of your initiatives passed in Congress, was important. We’re doing it on medical pri- as you head into this last year of your Presi- vacy. We’re doing it on—yesterday we had dency, is this the hint of a new tactic to get the press conference on prevention of med- those initiatives passed, when you can’t get ical errors. We’re doing it with the paid fam- them through Congress? ily leave initiative we offered to the States. The President. Let’s talk about the gun We did it when we set aside the roadless suit first, and then I’ll respond to the general areas in the forests. So I think this is an ap- question. The litigation, which is being initi- propriate thing to do. ated by public housing authorities, has a good But I would also remind you at the end grounding in fact. There are 10,000 gun of this legislative session from the Congress, crimes every year in the largest public hous- we got 100,000 teachers, 50,000 police, ing authorities. Now, they spend a billion dol- 60,000 housing vouchers to help people lars on security. And I think it’s important move from welfare to work. We passed the that the American people know they’re not Kennedy-Jeffords bill to allow people with asking for money from the gun manufactur- disabilities to move into the workplace and ers; they are seeking a remedy to try to help keep their medical care from the Govern- solve the problem. ment. We passed the Financial Moderniza- They want, first of all, more care from the tion Act, which will dramatically, I think, im- manufacturers and the dealers with whom prove financial services, grow the economy. they deal. Senator Schumer released a study, And we’ve protected the Community Rein- you may remember, that said that one per- vestment Act. We doubled funds for after-

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school programs. We provided, for the very get a lot of good out of it: We get low infla- first time ever, funds to help school districts tion; we get goods from all over the world. turn around failing schools or shut them But there has to be some sense of fairness down. and balance here. So I’m continuing to work with Congress, And the developing nations, for their part, and I will do so vigorously. But I think this felt that they had not yet gotten enough ben- was an appropriate thing to do on the merits. efits from the last trade round and the entry Yes. into the WTO. They think that we and every- body else—the Europeans, the Japanese, ev- Seattle Round erybody—they think we ought to have more Q. Mr. President, some of your critics have open markets for agricultural products, suggested that the reason that you pressed which doesn’t affect America so much, and the issues of the environment and labor at for textiles, which does affect us. That’s the the WTO meeting in Seattle is to benefit the big issue being negotiated still with the Car- Presidential candidacy of Vice President ibbean Basin and the Africa trade initiative. Gore, knowing that there might be a backlash So it’s very important that you understand from the developing nations. How do you re- that there were real differences that we spond to that? thought we could bridge, unrelated to labor The President. That’s wrong. And I would and the environment, which we couldn’t and like to make two comments, one on the WTO which I think would have been clearer but ministerial meeting and, secondly, on that for the backdrop of the demonstrations in general issue. Seattle over these other issues. The Uruguay Round was launched in 1986. The trade ministers started trying to Now, to your second question. When I ran launch it in 1982. It took them 4 years to for President in 1992 and the big issue being get it off the ground. The fundamental rea- debated was NAFTA, I said that I wanted son a new round was not launched here had, to be for NAFTA, I would fight hard for it, in my judgment, very little to do with my but I felt strongly there ought to be provi- philosophy of trade, which I’ll talk about in sions on labor and the environment in the a moment. There were—the big blocks here agreement, and those provisions were in- were the Europeans and the Japanese, on the cluded. I have always had what I guess you one hand—the United States and the devel- would call a Third Way position on trade. oping nations, we all had positions that I think the position of Americans, including couldn’t be reconciled. The Europeans were some in my party, that trade is bad for Amer- not prepared at this time to change their ica and bad for the world is just dead wrong. common agricultural policy, which accounts I think that the world is more prosperous, for 85 percent of the export subsidies in the and I know America is more prosperous be- world. The Japanese had their own agricul- cause of the continuing integration of the tural and other issues to deal with. world’s economy and the mutual inter- The United States was not prepared to dependence of people and people being able change its policy on dumping, because—and to produce what they produce best in a com- I think the recent Asian financial crisis justi- petitive environment, including costs. And I fies that, I might add. Even though we did think we benefit, not just from our exports finally move under our dumping laws, and but from the imports. That’s what I believe. we had to move, to try to keep our steel in- I believe we will have both a more pros- dustry, which took down 60 percent of its perous and a more peaceful world if we have employment and modernized during the more of the right kind of globalization. eighties and the early nineties, we still bought I read—one of the many, many articles 10 times as much steel during that crisis as that’s been written in the last several days the Europeans did. The recent WTO agree- in the aftermath of Seattle pointed out that ment we made with China protects us from many of the world’s most troubled places, surges and unfair dumping. We have the the Balkans, the Caucasus, Africa, to some largest trade deficit in the world. Now, we extent the Middle East, suffer because they

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have too little economic interconnection with ment, all we ask is, is that the decisionmaking the rest of the world. process not degrade the environment when I believe, even though I’m proud of the countries have environmental policies and in- role that we’ve played and especially proud terests, and just blithely override them be- of the role George Mitchell played in the cause there’s an immediate, short-term eco- Irish peace settlement, I think it is unlikely nomic benefit. that we would have done that if, also, Ireland I think that’s right. And I believe that 10 didn’t have the fastest growing economy in years from now, somebody will be sitting Europe and Northern Ireland weren’t grow- here, and we’ll all take it for granted that ing and people didn’t imagine that they could we’ve come a long way in integrating trade have a totally different life if they just let and the environment—I mean, trade and go of what they’ve been fighting over. labor. That’s what I think, and that’s what So the people who don’t believe that trade I believe. is good, I just think they’re wrong. Now hav- ing said that, I think that as the world grows Man of the Century more interdependent, it is unrealistic to think Q. Mr. President, I’m afraid this is in the that there will be an international economic pop-quiz category of questions, but I’ll try policy with rules unrelated to an emerging to make it easy for you. Every year, this time international consensus on the environment of year, we pick a Man of the Year. Maybe and an international consensus on labor. That one day it will be Person of the Year. I’d does not mean that I would cut off our mar- like to know what your pick of the Man kets to India and Pakistan, for example, if of the Century would be—and note that they didn’t raise their wages to American lev- I’m not asking you for the millennium. els. I know that’s what the sort of stated fear [Laughter] was. I never said that, I don’t believe that. The President. Well, if it were for the mil- But I think that—let me give you an anal- lennium, it might be someone different. ogy. Several years ago, the Europeans did Well, this century produced a lot of great this, and I applaud them: They were actually men and women. But as an American, I the impetus for protecting intellectual prop- would have to choose Franklin Roosevelt, be- erty more than the United States was. And cause in this century our greatest peril was people debated that for years. Why, intellec- in the Depression and World War II and be- tual property has no place in trade bills. Who cause he led us not only through those things cares if people are pirating books and selling and laid the building blocks for a better soci- them for 60 cents apiece when they cost $20 ety with things like Social Security and un- somewhere else? And now, we just take it employment insurance, which was, interest- as a given. And it’s a good thing for the ingly enough, first recommended by his cous- United States. in Theodore Roosevelt when he was Presi- You think about all the software we’re ex- dent, but he also looked to the future, en- porting, all the CD’s we’re exporting, all the dorsing the United Nations and a lot of the things—intellectual property is a big deal to other international institutions which were us now. It was just as alien a subject a few subsequently created under President years ago to trade talks as questions of labor Truman. and the environment are today. Finally, I think Roosevelt was an example So I think I’ve got a good position here. to Americans of the importance of not giving It has nothing to do with this campaign. It’s up and of the dignity inherent in every per- a position I’ve had for years. And I believe son. And when Franklin Roosevelt was first the world will slowly come to it. We do have elected, Oliver Wendell Holmes was still in to be sensitive to the developing countries. the Supreme Court; he was 92 years old. And We cannot say that, you know, you’re out President Roosevelt was taken to see Oliver of here because you can’t have the same Wendell Holmes who was still reading Plato labor environment we do. But we also have in his nineties and all that. Holmes was a to—all we ask for was to start a dialog within pretty acerbic fellow when he said, after the WTO on trade issues. On the environ- meeting Roosevelt, that he thought he might

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not have had a first-class mind, but he cer- the problems of the drug cartels and the pos- tainly had a first-class temperament. sible interrelation of the two. It’s a terrible And he did. He understood that reality is situation. more than the facts before you; it’s also how Colombia is a very large country. They’ve you feel about them, how you react to them, been our ally for a long time. They had a what your attitude is. That was the advice long period of steady economic growth. They that—‘‘only thing we have to fear was fear have suffered terribly in the last couple of itself’’ was much more than just a slogan to years. And I think we should do more. him. He had lived it before he asked the I had a talk with Speaker Hastert about American people to live it. it, who is also, by the way, very interested So for all those reasons, if I had to pick in this, when we were together in Chicago one person, I would pick him. recently. And I hope that early next year, we Yes, sir. will have a proposal to provide further assist- ance to Colombia that will be substantial, ef- Colombia and Venezuela fective, and have broad bipartisan support. Q. Mr. President, I’d like to ask you two That is my goal. questions on two very important South Ken [Ken Walsh, U.S. News & World Re- American countries that are vital to U.S. for- port]. eign policy, Colombia and Venezuela. First of all, on Colombia, sir. President Vice President Al Gore Pastrana has been extraditing people, and they’re still waiting for the help that he is Q. Vice President Gore has made a point expecting from the United States. Will you of saying that his candidacy for President fight, will you go to the mat for this, starting now will take precedence over his duties and in the year 2000, for President Pastrana? activities as Vice President. I wonder, how That’s the first question. has his role diminished in your administra- The second question—— tion, and how much has he missed? And does The President. You’re all asking two ques- a diminished role by a Vice President in your tions. That’s pretty impressive. [Laughter] administration hamper what you’re trying to Q. We’re just following the others. do in any way? You met President-elect Chavez when he The President. Well, obviously, he’s not first came to Washington, and then you met around as much. We don’t have lunch every him as President in New York. He will be— week, and I miss that terribly. But he was Venezuela will be holding a very unique there all day today. He had the meeting with plebiscite a week from today, which has po- President Kuchma. He knows that the future larized the country. Some people that back of Ukraine is very important to our interests President Chavez thinks it’s great; others and to what we’re trying to accomplish in think it will cause damage to democracy. I’d that part of the world. And he came to our like your opinion on both subjects, sir. meeting this morning, and then, after our The President. My opinion on the second meeting was over, he ran a whole series of question is that I’m not a citizen of Ven- meetings for several hours after that. So in ezuela, and I think that they ought to make his critical functions, he’s still performing their own decisions. But I’m glad that they’re them. getting to vote on it. And I would say, first of all, I strongly sup- My opinion on the first question is, I port what he’s doing. I think he has the right should point out—remember now, Colombia to run. I’m glad he’s running, and you know is already the third biggest recipient of Amer- I think he’d be a great President. But he— ican aid. But I do think we should do more. even having said that, whenever there’s an And President Pastrana has, number one, ex- important decision in an area that he’s been tradited drug criminals to this country, which very active in, I always call him; we still talk is important; number two, is facing a terribly about it. And his role is probably still larger difficult situation where he has both a long- than that of any previous Vice President, standing civil insurgency in Colombia and all even though he’s out campaigning. But it’s

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just less than it used to be, because he’s not North Korea to end their missile program. here all the time. So I’m very proud of what happened this But I have no criticism of it. I think he’s year. doing what he ought to be doing, and I think What I’m most disappointed in is what still it’s in the best interests of the country for got left on the table. I’m terribly dis- him to do it. appointed that we still haven’t passed a Pa- Mara [Mara Liasson, National Public tients’ Bill of Rights, that we still haven’t Radio]. raised the minimum wage, that we still haven’t passed hate crimes legislation, that Accomplishments and Disappointments we still didn’t pass that commonsense gun of 1999 legislation, which was crying out for action Q. You’re ending a tumultuous year that after what happened at Columbine—and we began with impeachment and closed with had another school incident this week. I am tear gas in Seattle. Could you tell us what disappointed that we didn’t pass the school you’re proudest of this year, and what events construction bill. I’m hoping we will pass the or accomplishments of yours that you’re the new markets initiative next year. If we don’t least proud of? do something now to bring economic oppor- The President. Well, I’m very happy— tunity to the areas of this country which have what I’m proudest of is that it turned out been left behind, we will never forgive our- to be a very productive year. If you look at— selves. And I’m profoundly disappointed that I’ll just mention them again. I did before, we still haven’t done anything to take the life but we wound up—after a year in which al- of Social Security out beyond the baby boom most nothing was accomplished in the Con- generation and extend the life of Medicare gress, we wound up with a recommitment and add a prescription drug benefit. to the 100,000 teachers, to the 50,000 police. So my only disappointments are what we We passed the financial modernization bill. didn’t get done. But I’m gratified by what We passed an historic 60,000 housing vouch- was accomplished. ers to new people from welfare to work. We Q. Do you blame yourself for that, that passed the bill to give disabled people the you didn’t put forward a plan on Social Secu- right to take health care into the workplace. rity, to make it more substantive? Is there We doubled after-school funding. We passed something you’re—[inaudible]—— this fund that I’ve been pushing hard for, The President. No, I gave them—first of for a long time, to help the States turn all, I asked them—there’s no point in putting around or shut down failing schools. We had forward—look, I tried it the other way with quite a lot of accomplishments. health care. I put forward a plan. And every- On the foreign front, we had the China- body said, you put forward—I remember WTO agreement; progress with the Middle Senator Dole saying, ‘‘You put forward your East peace; the Northern Ireland peace plan, then I’ll put forward my plan. We’ll get agreement; Kosovo, which I am very, very together. We’ll agree, and we’ll pass a plan.’’ proud of. I still believe our country did the And so, you know, I’ve had experience with right thing there. And we’ve got talks starting that. That didn’t work out too well. on Cyprus now. We’ve got a Caspian pipeline So I had all these meetings on Social Secu- agreement, which I believe 30 years from rity. You remember, I worked very hard on now you’ll all look back on that as one of it, and I asked if we could get together and the most important things that happened this work out something. I still haven’t given up year. We had the Conventional Forces in Eu- on that, by the way. And I know the conven- rope agreement with Russia, which will result tional wisdom is that these things are less in the removal of their forces from Georgia likely to be done in election years, but in and Muldova. We had the debt relief for the some ways they may be more likely. poorest countries in the world, something And I did give them a plan which, if they I’m immensely proud of and deeply com- had embraced it—which would simply re- mitted to. We made a big dent in our U.N. quire them not only to save the Social Secu- arrears issue. And we have worked with rity surplus but to take the interest savings

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from paying down the debt, with the Social better when everybody’s pulling for Russia. Security surplus, and if you just put that back It’s a great country, and they have all these into Social Security, you could take Social Se- resources and talented, educated people, and curity out beyond the life of the baby boom they need to—and yet, they’ve got a declin- generation. And I offered to do more with ing life expectancy as well as all these eco- them. nomic problems. And I think it’s a bad thing But in order to pass something like that, for this to be the number one issue both in- we’ve got to have a bipartisan process. And side the country and in our relationships with I will do whatever it takes to get that done. them. So I do think it’s going to be a very But I worked as hard as I could this year costly thing. to keep working in a very open and collegial Yes. spirit with not only the Democrats, without whom I wouldn’t have passed any of those Panama Canal/China and Taiwan things I just mentioned—and all of you know Q. Mr. President, with China building a that; they hung in there at the end; we got second short-range missile base, allowing those things done—but also with the Repub- them to take Taiwan with little or no warning, licans, with whom I began to have, I think, are you concerned about America’s ability to some real progress there along toward the defend that island, especially with a Chinese end of the legislative session. And I hope we company taking over the Panama Canal’s will continue it. ports at the end of this month? Yes, go ahead. The President. Well, let’s talk about the Panama Canal, and then I’ll come back to Russia and the Situation in Chechnya Taiwan. And to be fair, I think I may have Q. Mr. President, on Chechnya, it seems misstated this earlier. It’s important for the as though the Russians don’t feel they will American people to understand that the pay a heavy price, and perhaps they don’t canal, itself, will be operated and controlled care. I’m wondering if between now and Sat- entirely by the Government of Panama, urday’s deadline you plan to try to directly through the Panama Canal Authority. That contact President Yeltsin to once again con- is the locks, ingress and egress, access, open- vey your feelings on this matter. ness—the canal is completely and totally The President. Well, I haven’t decided within the control of the Panamanians. what else I can do. I do think—first of all, Now, the Hong Kong company which got they may believe that because of their posi- the concession to operate the ports will be tion in the United Nations and because no responsible for loading and unloading ships. one wants them to fail and have more prob- They also do this in three or four ports in lems than they’ve got, that they can do this. Great Britain. It’s one of the biggest compa- But most of life’s greatest wounds for individ- nies in the world that does this. The man- uals and for countries are self-inflicted. aging director is British. Most of the employ- They’re not inflicted by other people. ees will be Panamanian. So I feel comfortable And I will say again, the greatest problems that our commercial and security interests that the Russians will have over Chechnya can be protected under this arrangement. are—one is, I don’t think the strategy will That’s the first question. work. I have never said they weren’t right Now, the second question is, China is to want to do something with the Chechen modernizing its military in a lot of ways. But rebels. But I don’t think the strategy will our policy on China is crystal clear: We be- work, and therefore, it will be expensive, lieve there is one China. We think it has to costly, and politically damaging, internally, to be resolved through cross-strait dialog, and them. we oppose and would view with grave con- Secondly, it will affect the attitude of the cern any kind of violent action. And that international community over a period of hasn’t changed. time in ways that are somewhat predictable There has been a lot of buildup of tension and in some ways unpredictable, and that is on both sides that I think is unnecessary and a very heavy price to pay, because it works counterproductive. If you look at the amount

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of Taiwanese investment in China, for exam- wounds are self-inflicted. If I can paraphrase ple—that goes back to my Irish example— a recent request by Ken Starr, sir, I wonder if you look at the Taiwanese investment in if now you can tell us how much of the pain China, it’s obvious that eventually they’re you went through last year was self-inflicted going to get this worked out because they’re and how much due to excesses by other peo- too interconnected by ties of family and, in- ple, political and Mr. Starr’s excesses himself, creasingly, by ties of the economy, and the sir? politics of neither place should lead either The President. The mistake I made was side into doing something rash. And I hope self-inflicted, and the misconduct of others that this will not happen. But our policy is was not. clear and you know what I’ve done in the Yes. past. And I think that’s all I should say about it right now. Golden Parachutes Yes. Q. Mr. President, in the case of—on the subject of corporate golden and platinum Hillary Clinton’s Senatorial Campaign parachutes, particularly in the case of merg- Q. There is some confusion in people’s ers and change of controlled packages, tens minds about the First Lady’s plans for the of millions, and more in most cases, are coming year. She has referred to the new awarded to corporate officers. Directors just house in New York as ‘‘my house’’ and indi- rubberstamp most of these sales to the det- cated she plans to make that her primary resi- riment of other stockholders. dence. I’m wondering if you could tell us how The President. What’s the question? much time you think the two of you will be Q. I’d like to know, what can and will the apart in the coming year and how you feel administration do to put a ceiling on this acri- about this arrangement? monious alimony? The President. Well, first of all, I am The President. Well, first of all, unless happy for her, for the decision that she made. it’s an abuse of the stockholders—and if it She was encouraged to run by many people, is, then we have Federal agencies which have and she decided she wanted to do it. And jurisdiction over it—there’s nothing we can if she’s going to do it, she’s got to spend a do. We have made some changes in the tax long time in New York. So she’ll be there laws—we did back in ’93—that I thought a lot. She’ll be here when she can. I’ll go were appropriate. But I don’t think beyond up there when I can, and we’ll be together that there’s anything else we can do. as much as we can. We always make it a habit April [April Ryan, American Urban Radio to talk at least once, if not more, every day. Networks], and then John [John M. Broder, It’s not the best arrangement in the world, New York Times]. Go ahead. No, April—I’ll but it’s something that we can live with for call on all of you, but April first. a year. I love the house. We picked it out, Q. Okay. and we like it, and I’m looking forward to The President. April first. [Laughter] living there when I leave here. That’s the way I feel up here sometimes. But I’ve got a job to do, and she now has [Laughter] a campaign to run, and so we’ll have to be Q. It should be that way, though. apart more than I wish we were. But it’s not [Laughter] a big problem. She’ll be here quite a lot, and I’ll go up there when I can, and we’ll manage Racial, Ethnic, and Religious Differences it, and I think it will come out just fine. I’m Mr. President, America is ending the cen- very happy for her. tury with resurfacing scars of racism. And Wendell [Wendell Goler, Fox News Chan- where does the issue of race, in terms of your nel]. agenda for 2000, stand? And are you still pre- pared to release your book on race by the Responsibility for Impeachment end of your term? And what do you think Q. Mr. President, just a couple of minutes about the comments that there’s internal ago you said that most of life’s greatest fighting over this book in the White House?

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The President. There really isn’t much. people who attacked me and said I was trying I have a draft now, and I’m working on it. to socialize medicine, which was a ridiculous And I do plan to release it. And it will stay charge, trying to have the Government take at the center of my concerns not only now over health care, which is a ridiculous charge, but after I leave the White House. they got their way in that debate, and the I think that after the cold war and with consequence is now we now have a higher the sort of end of the ideological battles, percentage of Americans whose health care you’ve seen, I think that the biggest problem is funded by the Government than we did the world faces today is the conflict people in 1993. But we also have a higher percent- have over their racial and ethnic and their age of people without insurance. related religious differences. And I plan to Now, I’m not going to get in the middle be heavily involved in it at home and around of that, but I’ll tell you what questions you the world for the rest of my life. ought to ask. First of all, anybody who makes Q. When do you think the book will come any proposal, you have to make certain out, though? choices. If you want to cover people who The President. I don’t know. I’ve got a don’t have coverage and you accept the day job, you know, and I’m not going to— premise that they all can’t afford it, you have I’ve got a library full of books on race, and to decide: Are you going to make them buy almost all of them are quite good. But I don’t insurance; are you going to make their em- want to put it out unless I think it could make ployers to pay in? If not, are you going to a difference, even if it just says what other have the Government do it, or are you going people have said, somehow it can make a dif- to have a big tax subsidy? ference. And I’m trying to make sure how All of those choices have problems with it ought to be done. I don’t want to just put them. You know what the employer mandate it out because I said I would put it out; I problem was. We couldn’t pass it, because want to make sure when I do it, it at least a lot of people said it’s too burdensome, even achieves the objectives I’m trying to achieve. though we exempted small businesses and John. tried to give them subsidies. If you give all taxpayers subsidies, the problem is you have Health Care Coverage to give subsidies to people who already have Q. Mr. President, the number of Ameri- insurance, and it may operate as an incentive cans who are not covered by health insurance for employers to drop people even faster. has increased since you took office by about So there is no perfect plan. Let’s start with 7 million. Do you agree with Vice President that. There is no plan without difficulty. If Gore that Senator Bradley’s plan for covering it were easy, somebody would have done it most of those people is irresponsible and already. unaffordable, even though we’re enjoying the Second question is, how much are you healthiest economy in decades? going—if you’re going to have the taxpayers The President. First of all, I’m not going involved, either in a tax incentive or expendi- to get in the middle of the Gore-Bradley ture program, how much does it cost, and campaign—I know you want me to, but I’m what do you give up? And I think this is the not going to do that for you—[laughter]— way this thing ought to debate. People ought because I want you to write about Syria and to actually try to figure out what the con- Israel tomorrow. sequences of these plans are and evaluate Let me say, first of all, Hillary and I said them and decide. when the health care plan went down that You talked about the prosperity of the the number of people uninsured would go country. That’s true. We are prosperous. But up. And you would all draw the same conclu- do we want to—how much do we want to sion. You would have drawn the same conclu- spend on that as compared with eliminating sion back then if you spent as many years child poverty or continuing to improve edu- and as much time studying it as we have. cation? Are we willing to get into the Social So what happened is exactly what we’ve Security surplus? If we’re not, are we willing predicted would happen. Ironically, all those to raise taxes for it? In other words, I think—

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whatever the choice is, I think it’s important in the Martian atmosphere or trashed on that we be as honest as possible about what Mars, itself. Does NASA need better quality it costs, everybody be as honest as possible control or better management? And sir, how that there is no perfect plan. And then you do you answer Americans who say that that be as honest as possible about what else money could be much better spent on more you’re giving up if you do it. It’s a very com- urgent needs here on this planet? plicated issue. The President. Well, let me try and an- I did my best on it. I am gratified that swer all those questions. First of all, I think we finally passed the Child Health Insurance Dan Goldin has done a great job at NASA. Program. And we might get those numbers He’s adopted a lot of economy measures and down again. We’ve now—I think we’re at gone for small and more discreet missions, about 2 million. I think we’ve gone from 1 including more unmanned missions, that I million to 2 million just in the last several think make a lot of sense. months in the number of people covered Secondly, we all use the slogan, ‘‘Well this under CHIP. And if we can get up to 5 mil- isn’t rocket science.’’ Well, this is rocket lion, with CHIP and extra Medicare kids— science. We’re trying to take a spaceship the and the States are really gearing up, now; size of a boulder and throw it 450 miles into they’re really trying, now—then maybe we a very uncongenial atmosphere and hit a tar- can drive that number back down some. get, and it isn’t easy. I regret that both of And what the Vice President is trying to those things didn’t succeed as much as we do is to target discrete populations, on the all—the first Mars mission we got quite a theory that you can cover more people for lot out of—because I think it’s important. I relatively less money. And that’s his position, think it’s important not only for the American and he believes he can pass that. tradition of exploration but it’s important if Let me just say one other thing. It makes we want to know what’s—we have to keep me proud to be a Democrat. I am proud that, doing this if we ever hope to know what’s number one, that my party is debating this. beyond our galaxy. We now know there are And as near as I can see, there is no debate billions of them out there, and we know there going on in the other party. And if they pass are all these big black holes in the universe. the size tax cut plan, they’re talking about, We know all these things, and I think it’s they not only won’t have any money to help important that we find out. more people get health care; they’ll either The third point I’d like to make is that have to get into the Social Security surplus, we actually do get a lot of benefits here on or they won’t have any more money for edu- Earth from space travel. We get benefits in cation or the environment or anything else. engineering advances, in material science, in That’s the first thing I want to say. environmental protection, and in medical The second thing I want to say is, I’m science. We’ve made quite a lot of interesting grateful that my country is doing so well that health-related discoveries. I remember going these kinds of issues can be debated in this down to the Space Center in Houston and way and be seriously debated, but I’m not talking to people who were from the vast going to get into handicapping the campaign. medical complexes in Houston about all the I can tell you what questions I think you interesting joint work they were doing. should ask, how you should analyze it. But So I think the American people get things there is no perfect solution here. And I’m out of it right now. I think we have gotten glad that the two candidates in the Demo- a lot out of it in the past, and I think we’ll cratic Party are debating it. get more out of it in the future. So I have Yes, go ahead. I promised these people. always been a big proponent of the space program. They need to analyze what went Space Program wrong and figure out how to fix it. Q. Mr. President, in the decade that’s just But just think of all the problems we’ve closing, the American people have seen had along the way with the space program. around $1.5 billion of their tax dollars lost This is too bad, but this is nothing compared in space—most recently, either up in smoke to the tragedy when those astronauts burned

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to death when their spaceship was still on think it would be a terrible mistake not to the ground. I’ll never forget that as long as do it. I live. But they didn’t quit, and America Now, do I agree with all their labor stand- didn’t quit, and I’m glad. And I don’t think ards? No. But we shouldn’t impose condi- we should quit now. tions on membership on China that we don’t Go ahead. impose on any other country to get into the WTO. What we should do, in any judgment, WTO-China Agreement is to go back to the American position. We Q. Mr. President, one of the things left ought to begin a dialog on these labor initia- on your plate for next year is pushing the tives within the WTO—that’s all we ask for— historic trade agreement with China on Cap- and then we ought to get everybody to ratify itol Hill. China’s labor standards are clearly the International Convention on Child Labor not what you and the world community and observe it and deal with the other most would wish for. And the question is, will it egregious forms of labor abuses in the world. be difficult for you to sell that to members That is the right way to proceed here. of your own party in Congress? And more Last question. broadly, what do you think are the prospects for Congress approving the WTO accord National Sovereignty and with China? Internationalism The President. Well, in our caucus some Q. Mr. President, in future years, what do are for it; some are against it; and some have you see taking great precedence, sir, national questions. We have a good deal of support sovereignty or international institutions? And for it and a good deal of opposition to it, how does the world prevent such slaughters and then some have questions. But I’m going as you’ve had recently in the Balkans, in Afri- to make an all-out effort to pass it. And I’ll ca, or East Timor, without violating national come back to your labor question in a sovereignty or interfering in international af- minute. fairs? I think it is plainly in America’s interest. The President. Well, first of all, at least We gave up nothing, in terms of market ac- from the International Declaration of cess, to get this. It’s very important that you Human Rights, 50 years ago, the world com- understand that. What we gave in this was munity recognized that sovereignty was not our assent to China’s joining the WTO. What the only value in human society. The Rus- we got in return is much more market access sians, even though they’ve criticized our on everything from farmers to people in the intervention in Kosovo—although now I telecommunications industry. This is a huge might say the Russian soldiers are doing a economic benefit to the people of the United very good job there, working with all the States. Plus, we have a big and growing trade other Allies—recently acknowledged in their deficit with China. We’ve got specific protec- signing off of the new charter of the Organi- tions on dumping and antisurge protections. zation for Security and Cooperation in Eu- So it is in the economic interest of the United rope, that the internal affairs of a country States. can become the legitimate concern of others, Secondly, it is in the strategic interest of whether it’s in East Timor—now, wait a the United States. One of the great questions minute. of the next several decades, as China’s econ- So what I think will happen is, national omy grows to match the size of its population, sovereignty is going to be very, very impor- is whether China and the United States will tant for a very, very long time. But countries have a constructive relationship or be at are becoming more interdependent, and they odds. I believe that, just as we worked to- will still have to make decisions about the gether in the United Nations, even though kinds of internal systems they will have for we sometimes disagree, we will work to- how their people live together and work to- gether in the WTO. I think having China in gether; they will still be able to make deci- a rule-based system for the international sions about when they will or won’t cooperate economy is profoundly important. And I worldwide in many areas. But if you want

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the benefits of interdependence, you have to tion than any previous administration by far. assume the responsibilities of it. It’s not even close. So there was never a deci- And we’ve all recognized that from the be- sion made. I now have a Hispanic woman ginning of the United Nations, nobody, no who is my Deputy Chief of Staff. country in the United Nations, has given up So I never thought about those seven jobs its sovereignty, even though some people still to the exclusion of others. I’ve tried to make allege that’s true. But the more inter- sure that the senior jobs—my Political Direc- dependent the world grows, the more likely tor is an African-American woman. Alexis we are, in my judgment, to have more broad- Herman, before she became Secretary of ly shared prosperity, fewer wars, and a better Labor, was head of Public Liaison. I was un- life for everyone. That does not require us aware that those were the seven most impor- to give up our national sovereignty, but it tant jobs in my Cabinet and in the White does require us to act in our real national House in the way that you said them. interests. Thank you very much. Q. Mr. President—— The President. Last question. NOTE: The President’s 185th news conference Minorities on the White House Staff began at 2:36 p.m. in the Dean Acheson Audito- rium at the State Department. In his remarks, he Q. Thank you. I have another question on referred to Prime Minister Ehud Barak of Israel; the issue of race, and it’s on your record of Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Author- appointing minorities to top-level jobs in ity; President Hafiz al-Asad and Foreign Minister your administration. You’ve talked through- Farouk al-Shara of Syria; Juan Gonzalez, father out your career about the importance of di- of Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez; President versity and inclusion, and, setting aside your Andres Pastrana of Colombia; President Hugo Cabinet and Federal bench appointees, the Chavez of Venezuela; former Senator George J. top seven West Wing jobs in your administra- Mitchell, who chaired the multiparty talks in Northern Ireland; President Leonid Kuchma of tion have all been held by whites. Twenty- Ukraine; former Senator Bob Dole; former Inde- six people have had the jobs—— pendent Counsel Kenneth Starr; and President The President. I disagree with that. What Boris Yeltsin of Russia. are they? Q. Well, Chief of Staff, National Security, Domestic Policy, Economic Adviser, White Remarks on Lighting the National House Counsel, Press Secretary, Senior Ad- viser, Counselor—all those jobs have been Christmas Tree held by—not a single person of color has held December 8, 1999 any of those jobs. And I wonder if you could tell us why? Thank you. Thank you very much, Peter. The President. Well, first of all, you might Ladies and gentlemen, this is a wonderful be interested to know there were a couple ceremony every year, but this year it has of people of color that I tried to get to do been very special. I want to thank Wayne those jobs but preferred other jobs in the Newton and Renee Fleming, Marty Stuart, administration. And they had jobs they liked Al Roker—he’s a good Santa Claus. [Laugh- better. And I have—you didn’t point out that ter] I want to thank the cast from ‘‘Chicago’’ a lot of those jobs have been held by women, and Ricky Payton and the Urban National who also had never held those jobs before Youth Choir and, of course, Colonel Tim I came along. And I think that—all I can Foley and the Marine Corps Band, ‘‘The tell you is I have never not tried to recruit President’s Own.’’ minorities for any job that was open in the The best perk of the Presidency is the Ma- White House. And I have never followed a rine Corps Band, and I want to give them quota system. I have had more blacks who all a hand. They’ve been wonderful. [Ap- have served in my Cabinet, more Hispanics plause] who served in my Cabinet, more people from For over 85 years now, our country has Asia have been appointed to my administra- gathered around our National Christmas

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Tree to celebrate the beginning of this won- three down to one and tell you to flip it, derful season of peace and hope. I am hon- okay? Ready? Three, two, one, go. ored once again to be part of a tradition I Good job. have come to look forward to every year. For me, Christmas always starts now with the NOTE: The President spoke at 6 p.m. on the El- Pageant of Peace and the lighting of this lipse during the annual Christmas Pageant of Peace. In his remarks, he referred to Peter beautiful Colorado spruce. And I am espe- Nostrand, chairman, Christmas Pageant of Peace; cially honored to be here to light the last entertainers Wayne Newton, Renee Fleming, and tree of the 20th century. Marty Stuart; television weatherman Al Roker; In this sacred season, it is time for all of and Ricky Payton, Sr., director, BET Urban Na- us to renew our commitment to give of our- tion Voices of Youth H.I.P. H.O.P. Choir; and Col. selves, to reach out to those who are less for- Timothy W. Foley, USMC, Director, ‘‘The Presi- tunate, to reach out to those who are dif- dent’s Own’’ United States Marine Band. ferent from us, to build the one America of our dreams. In this Pageant of Peace, we cel- Remarks on Departure for ebrate Christmas, also the season of Hanuk- Worcester, Massachusetts, and kah and Kwanzaa and others, all joined by an Exchange With Reporters a simple and universal message: that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. December 9, 1999 This holiday season, we Americans have Narrowing the Digital Divide an awful lot to be thankful for: Our Nation is at peace, and all around the world we are The President. Good morning. I just privileged to make peace, from Bosnia to thought we ought to come out here in the Northern Ireland to the Middle East, the brisk morning sunshine and wake up to- land where a homeless child grew up to be gether. [Laughter] I want to thank the rep- the Prince of Peace. resentatives here from all parts of the com- munications industry, from the foundation Just today, in this season, I was proud to world, from various civil rights and other announce that after a long, long stalemate, civic groups for being here, and coming in the Israelis and the Syrians have agreed to and giving me a chance to make this state- meet again in just a few days to make their ment, because I had intended to go to Sec- peace. retary Daley’s conference today on bridging At the dawn of a new millennium, as we the digital divide, and because I’m going to enjoy these wonderful performers and the Worcester, I couldn’t do that. So they came timeless songs of all of our childhoods, let in this morning, and we had a visit. I want us rededicate ourselves to the true spirit of to thank them for being here and for their Christmas. As we light the National Christ- commitment and for all those who aren’t mas Tree, let us spread the light of peace here but who are at the conference. and good will toward our family, our friends, This conference is about closing the digital our neighbors, and all those across the world, divide. And we have worked hard on that especially those who need it most. for the last several years in very specific con- Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and texts. Under the Vice President’s leadership, God bless you. we have worked to make sure that eventually I’d like to ask, now, the young scouts to a digital divide will not deprive business of come up and join me in lighting the Christ- the technology-savvy workers they need and mas tree. Caitlin Fong and Chris Alvarez— will not hurt our educational systems today. they’re going to come up here. And didn’t We started with the first NetDay in Cali- they do a good job? Let’s give them another fornia, back in 1994, when only 3 percent hand. [Applause] of our classrooms were wired and only 14 Unlike the sissies, like me, they did it with- percent of our schools were. And we’ve been out any coats on, either. I thought they were working ever since. Now we know that, wonderful. All right, you put your hands on through the public-private partnerships that the switch now, and I’m going to count from have been established all over America,

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through the Telecommunications Act and the to expand our growing network of commu- E-rate, which the FCC set to make sure our nity technology centers. poorest schools could afford to be connected, I just ask you all to think about this one we’re now up over 50 percent of the schools, thing. What do you believe the economic im- from 3 percent, and over 80 percent of the pact would be if Internet access and usage classrooms, from 14 percent, since 1994. And were as dense in America as telephone access I think that’s pretty good. and usage? I think it’s clear that we need I’m very pleased by that, and we’re on our to keep working until we achieve this goal. way to meeting our goal sometime next year Third, with the help of many other groups, of having all of our schools wired and, soon the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights after that, all of our classrooms wired. I want is launching an initiative to empower the en- to thank the Vice President and all the people tire civil rights community through an ex- in various industries who have supported us panding civilrights.org website, through lead- and helped us in this regard. ership forums and even modern-day freedom But as Secretary Daley’s most recent ‘‘Fall- riders who will bring high-tech training to ing Through the Net’’ report shows, there the doorsteps of nonprofit organizations. is still a lot more to do. We must connect As the Congress of National Black Church- all of our citizens to the Internet not just es has said, the digital divide is a key civil in schools and libraries but in homes, small rights issue of the 21st century. That’s why businesses, and community centers. And we our civil rights organizations must be ready, must help all Americans gain the skills they wired, and able to lead the change. need to make the most of the connection. So this morning, as they go back to their Fourth, the Benton Foundation is bringing meeting, I want to announce a series of new together companies from across the com- plans and partnerships that will expand on puting, telecommunications, software, and both these efforts to use the combined forces Internet industries, as well as the Urban of public, private, and nonprofit sectors, fi- League and several other large private foun- nally to slam shut the digital divide. dations, to create the Digital Divide Net- First, I have decided to lead a prominent work, an enormous clearinghouse of informa- delegation, including top CEO’s, on a new tion for information on public and private ef- markets tour this spring to focus specifically forts to bring technology to underserved on the digital divide out in America. As we’ve communities. For the first time, we’ll have done on our previous tours, we will visit com- one-stop shop for tracking our progress in munities that have not fully participated in every community and for learning exactly our Nation’s economic growth. And yet, in what’s worked and what hasn’t. the communities we’ll also see how partner- Now, these are the steps we’ll take imme- ships between the public and private sectors diately. I want to thank all the leaders who can unleash the power of the Internet to link are here today who are making these initia- children and adults to a lifetime of learning, tives possible and all of those who are going to provide access to distant medical care, to to announce specific things that they and empower parents, to assist job seekers, to en- their companies and organizations are doing hance safety, and foster economic develop- at the conference. I thank them for the other ment. major commitments they will make, because Second, I am signing an executive memo- there is no single big silver bullet here, but randum to ensure that closing the digital di- we know we have to have a national commit- vide will be a vital goal not just for Secretary ment to closing the digital divide. Daley and for us here in the White House I also want to send out an invitation to but throughout the Federal Government. all of your counterparts around the country For example, I’m directing Secretary Daley who are not able to be with us today but to work with the private sector to develop who should join with us in this great national a national strategy for connecting all Ameri- endeavor. Together we have the power to de- cans to the Internet and directing Secretaries termine exactly what we want the Internet Daley, Riley, Herman, Cuomo, and Shalala to become. And what we want it to do is

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to be an instrument of empowerment, edu- Memorandum on Narrowing the cation, enlightenment, and economic ad- Digital Divide vance and community building all across December 9, 1999 America, regardless of the race, the income, the geography of our citizens. And thanks to Memorandum for the Heads of Executive these people, we’re going to be closer to Departments and Agencies achieving that goal. Subject: Narrowing the ‘‘Digital Divide:’’ Thank you very much. Creating Opportunities for All Americans in the Information Age Russia and the Situation in Chechnya Information tools, such as the personal Q. Mr. President, there seems to be a di- computer and the Internet, are increasingly vide with President Yeltsin this morning. He important to economic success and full par- has given you something of a long-distance ticipation in all aspects of American society. tongue lashing, saying that you’ve forgotten People with computers and Internet access can use these tools to find a job, acquire new that Russia is a great power and has a nuclear skills, start a small business, get lower prices arsenal. And he accuses you of taking an anti- for goods and services, and become more in- Russian position. formed citizens. The President. Well, I’ll say again what Currently, not all Americans are enjoying I said yesterday. I don’t think what they’re the benefits of the Information Age tools. In doing will help them to achieve their goal. July 1999, the National Telecommunications Their goal, their legitimate goal, is to defeat and Information Administration issued a re- the Chechen rebels and to stop their ter- port, Falling Through the Net: Defining the rorism within Russia, to stop their invasion Digital Divide, which found a growing gap of neighboring provinces like Dagestan. And between those with access to these tools and I don’t think displacing hundreds of thou- those without. Black and Hispanic house- sands of civilians will achieve that goal. I holds are only two-fifths as likely to have don’t know what else to say. Internet access as white households. House- I haven’t forgotten that. You know, I didn’t holds with incomes of $75,000 and higher, think he’d forgotten that America was a great in urban areas, are more than twenty times power when he disagreed with what I did as likely to have access to the Internet as in Kosovo. I mean, we can’t get too serious households at the lowest income levels, and about all the—let’s not talk about what the more that nine times as likely to have a com- leaders are saying and all these words of criti- puter at home. As information technology cism. Let’s focus on what the country is plays an ever-increasing role in Americans’ doing. Is it right or wrong? Will it work or economic and social lives, we cannot afford not? What are the consequences? to leave anyone behind. Fortunately, competition and advances in I think—I don’t agree with what’s going technology are driving down the cost of com- on there. And I think I have an obligation puters and Internet access, which will make to say so. these new Information Age tools affordable Thank you. I’ve got to go. for more Americans. I believe that we should set a national goal of making computers and NOTE: The President spoke at 8:12 a.m. on the Internet access available for every American. Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, Furthermore, we should explore ways of he referred to President Boris Yeltsin of Russia. using technology to expand the economic op- portunities for those Americans who have not yet enjoyed the benefits of our prosperity.

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Accordingly, I am directing executive de- 6. Items 1–5 of this memorandum and partments and agencies (‘‘agencies’’) to take my July 1, 1997, and November 30, the following specific actions to help Ameri- 1998, memoranda shall be conducted cans benefit from advances in information subject to the availability of appro- technology: priations and consistent with agen- 1. The Secretary of Commerce shall cies’ priorities and my budget, and to work with the private sector and oth- the extent permitted by law. ers to develop a national strategy for 7. The Vice President shall continue his making computers and the Internet leadership in coordinating the United accessible to all Americans, with the States Government’s electronic com- goal of significantly narrowing the merce strategy. Further, I direct that ‘‘digital divide.’’ the heads of executive departments 2. The Secretary of Commerce shall and agencies report to the Vice Presi- continue to measure the level of dent and to me on their progress in connectivity of Americans to tele- meeting the terms of this memo- communications and information randum, through the Electronic tools, and report periodically on the Commerce Working Group (ECWG) relationship of income, education, in its annual report. To the extent that race, gender, geography, and age to substantial new policy issues emerge, Americans’ access to these tools. the analysis and action on those poli- cies will be coordinated in a manner 3. The Secretaries of Education, Hous- consistent with the responsibilities of ing and Urban Development, Health the ECWG, the National Economic and Human Services, Labor, and Council, and the Domestic Policy Commerce shall: Council, as appropriate. (a) expand our growing network of Com- munity Technology Centers to pro- William J. Clinton vide access to technology for low-in- come Americans; and (b) encourage the development of infor- Remarks at a Memorial Service mation technology applications that for Firefighters in Worcester would help enable low-income Amer- icans to start and manage their own December 9, 1999 small businesses. Thank you. First, to the wonderful families 4. The Secretaries of Education, Labor, of our six fallen heroes, who the Vice Presi- and Commerce shall work with the dent and I had a chance to visit with before private sector to upgrade the informa- the beginning of this service. To their col- tion technology skills of America’s leagues in the fire department, their friends workforce, particularly workers living in this wonderful community. To the thou- in disadvantaged urban and rural sands of men and women in uniform who communities. have come here to join the Mayor, the Gov- 5. The Secretary of Commerce, the Sec- ernor, the Senators, the Members of Con- retary of Education, and the Secretary gress, the Bishop and members of the clergy; of Housing and Urban Development President Whitehead and members of the shall highlight and disseminate the firefighters; especially to Chief Budd and lessons learned from their grant pro- Frank Raffa and all the grieving members grams and educational technology ini- of this fire department, too. tiatives, with an emphasis on under- I hope you can all sense how clearly we served citizens, to increase the num- know, in spite of our talks, that words have ber of communities across the Nation a poor power to alleviate the pain you feel that could reap the benefits of infor- now. But as you look around this vast hall mation technologies for their resi- and know that there are thousands and thou- dents. sands more standing outside and other

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places, we hope that by our collective pres- day to put their lives on the line when the ence we will speak louder than words in say- alarm bell rings. ing that your tragedy is ours, your men are In the Book of Kings, we find the wonder- ours, our whole country honors them and ful story of the prophet Elijah, who climbs you. We grieve with you, and we will stay a mountain to seek the voice of God. A wind with you. shatters rocks in pieces, but the Bible says, More than two and a half centuries ago, the Lord is not in the wind. Then, there’s Benjamin Franklin wrote an essay entitled, an earthquake and then a fire, but God is ‘‘Brave Men at Fires.’’ He might have written not in the earthquake or in the fire. But then, it last week. This is what he said: ‘‘Neither the Scripture says, ‘‘after the fire, a still, small cold nor darkness will deter good people voice.’’ It is that still, small voice that spoke from hastening to the dreadful place to to those six good men, that moved their souls quench the flame. They do it not for the sake to service and sacrifice. The still, small voice of reward or fame, but they have a reward that endures through the ages, that inspires in themselves, and they love one another.’’ the songs and words we have all shared today, Today we honor six brave men who found that must now carry this group of grieving a reward in firefighting, who loved one an- families through their grief to going on. other, six men who, in turn, richly rewarded Today we thank God for the lives our fall- this community. So they hastened to the en firefighters lived. We hope their families dreadful place to save others. For them, can remember the good and happy times and there was no other way. bring some smiles through their tears. We In the book of Isaiah, God asks, ‘‘Whom commend their souls to God’s eternal loving shall I send, and who will go for us?’’ And care, and we pray that His still, small voice Isaiah says, ‘‘Here am I. Send me.’’ will bring strength and healing to these fami- When the question again rang from the lies and to this wonderful community who smoking skies last week, Paul Brotherton, loved them so much. Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey, Jay Lyons, Joseph McGuirk, and Thomas Spencer also NOTE: The President spoke at 12:50 p.m. at answered with a single voice: Here am I. Worcester’s Centrum Centre. In his remarks, he Send me. referred to Mayor Raymond V. Mariano of They were firefighters to the core, heroes Worcester; Gov. Argeo Paul Cellucci of Massa- already, as we have heard, to their friends chusetts; Bishop of Worcester Daniel P. Reilly; and loved ones, not to mention the people Dennis L. Budd, chief, Worcester Fire Depart- they saved through the years. For all six, ment; Frank Raffa, president, Worcester Fire being a firefighter was more than a job; it Fighters Local 1009; and Alfred K. Whitehead, was in their blood. So when they went into general president, International Association of that building that night, they were following Fire Fighters. their dream to serve, to save lives, and to stick together. Like their fellow firefighters everywhere, Statement on Renewed Flooding they embodied the best of our Nation of in Vietnam commitment and community, of teamwork December 9, 1999 and trust, values at the core of our character; values reflected in the daily service not only I was saddened to learn of renewed flood- of those we lost but in this awesome parade ing in the central provinces of Vietnam, of men and women who have come from all which were already inundated by heavy rains over our country and from some countries last month. On behalf of the American peo- beyond our borders to honor their comrades ple, I extend my deepest sympathies to all and console their families. those who have suffered losses and are strug- Too often, we take them for granted, our gling to rebuild, including the families of firefighters. In the days ahead, I hope every many Americans of Vietnamese descent. American will find an occasion to thank those The United States is providing emergency in their communities who stand ready every assistance to support flood relief efforts, just

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as we provided almost $600,000 in Novem- This Act will enable the National Park Serv- ber to deliver supplies and build flood-resist- ice to spend funds that were appropriated ant homes. We stand ready to provide further in the 105th Congress, as well as funds that help to meet the urgent needs of those af- have been or will be contributed by State fected by the flooding and to help the Viet- and local governments and private interests, namese people better withstand future to acquire the remaining open space in the flooding. Chattahoochee River corridor before those properties are developed for residential and commercial purposes. Statement on Signing Legislation The Act is strongly supported on a bipar- To Protect a Segment of the tisan basis by Georgia’s congressional rep- Chattahoochee River resentatives, Georgia State and local govern- December 9, 1999 ment officials, the National Park Service, and private organizations, including the Trust for Today I have signed into law H.R. 2140, Public Land, which has played a key role in a bill that will enhance the protection of a bringing together the various interests in- 48-mile segment of the Chattahoochee River, volved and developing a vision for the future a vital natural resource for the Atlanta metro- of this critical area. It is with great respect politan area and an important unit of the Na- and gratitude for those who made this legisla- tional Park System. This legislation ensures tion possible that I sign H.R. 2140 today. that the natural, scenic, recreational, and his- William J. Clinton toric values of one of our Nation’s great urban rivers will be preserved for the benefit The White House, of future generations. December 9, 1999. This Act provides the foundation for a co- NOTE: H.R. 2140, approved December 9, was as- operative effort by the Federal Government, signed Public Law No. 106–154. the State of Georgia, local governments, and private entities to link the separate units of the Chattahoochee River National Recre- Statement on Signing Legislation To ation Area through purchases of remaining Establish Federal Criminal Penalties open space along the Chattahoochee River for Commerce in Depiction of corridor north of Atlanta. It gives the Na- Animal Cruelty tional Park Service the authority to expand December 9, 1999 the land base of the recreation area from ap- proximately 6,800 acres to 10,000 acres Today I have signed into law H.R. 1887, through a revision of the boundary, by adding a bill that would establish Federal criminal undeveloped land within the 2,000-foot river penalties for the ‘‘creation, sale, or posses- bank corridors. The National Park Service sion’’ of ‘‘a depiction of animal cruelty’’ with also will be authorized to exclude some prop- the intent to distribute such a depiction in erties currently within the boundary that are interstate or foreign commerce, except when no longer suitable for the park because they the depiction has ‘‘serious religious, political, have been developed. scientific, educational, journalistic, historical, From the time the Chattahoochee River or artistic value.’’ National Recreation Area was established in I strongly support the objectives of this 1978, the pace of residential and commercial legislation. Its enactment should assist in re- development in the Chattahoochee River ducing or eliminating some of the deplorable corridor has accelerated rapidly. A U.S. Cen- and indefensible practices that were identi- sus Bureau report issued earlier this year fied during the Congress’s deliberations on names Forsyth County, Georgia, where the the bill and described in the House Judiciary recreation area boundary begins, the fastest- Committee report on the bill. growing county in the Nation. The three Concerns were raised, however, during other counties in which the recreation area congressional consideration of H.R. 1887 lies are also experiencing a surge in growth. that its application in certain contexts may

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violate the First Amendment of the Constitu- mates that it will have to examine more than tion. It is important to avoid constitutional 45 million pages of documents. To our Na- challenge to this legislation and to ensure tion’s credit, the amount of information to that the Act does not chill protected speech. be reviewed increases every week as remain- Accordingly, I will broadly construe the Act’s ing Nazi-era documents are declassified. The exception and will interpret it to require a U.S. Holocaust Assets Commission Exten- determination of the value of the depiction sion Act of 1999 provides the Presidential as part of a work or communication, taken Advisory Commission with additional time as a whole. So construed, the Act would pro- and authorizes additional resources needed hibit the types of depictions, described in the to complete the review of the historical statute’s legislative history, of wanton cruelty record of American activity during one of the to animals designed to appeal to a prurient darkest periods of this century. interest in sex. I will direct the Department The Commission’s research demonstrates of Justice to enforce the Act accordingly. irrefutably that we in the United States are William J. Clinton willing to hold ourselves to the same high standard of truth about Holocaust assets to The White House, which we have held other nations. The exten- December 9, 1999. sion of the Presidential Advisory Commission NOTE: H.R. 1887, approved December 9, was as- sends a strong message, both at home and signed Public Law No. 106–152. abroad, that we are committed to examining difficult aspects of our history and deter- mining how to build a better world for our Statement on Signing the U.S. children in the next millennium. Holocaust Assets Commission William J. Clinton Extension Act of 1999 The White House, December 9, 1999 December 9, 1999.

Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. NOTE: H.R. 2401, approved December 9, was as- 2401, the ‘‘U.S. Holocaust Assets Commis- signed Public Law No. 106–155. sion Extension Act of 1999.’’ This legislation, which extends the mandate of the Presi- dential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Statement on Signing the John H. Assets in the United States for 1 year, is a Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources clear demonstration of America’s determina- System Act tion to pursue justice for Holocaust victims December 9, 1999 and their families. The United States has led the renewed I am pleased to sign into law S. 1866, the struggle for justice and compensation on be- ‘‘John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources half of the victims of the Holocaust. One year System Act.’’ Renaming the Coastal Barrier ago, delegations from 44 countries and 13 Resources System in Senator Chafee’s honor nongovernmental organizations met at the is an appropriate tribute to a man who Washington Conference on Holocaust-Era worked so hard—and so successfully—to find Assets convened by the Department of State common ground in the struggle to protect and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. and preserve the environment for future gen- During the Washington Conference, I an- erations. nounced the public and governmental mem- Senator Chafee authored the Coastal Bar- bers of the Presidential Advisory Commis- rier Resources Act, a law which protects pris- sion, which was created to investigate and tine and fragile coastal barriers from develop- advise on the fate of Holocaust victims’ assets ment by restricting Federal expenditures that that came into the possession or control of would otherwise encourage such develop- the United States Government. ment. This Act has successfully minimized Since then, the Presidential Advisory the loss of human life by discouraging devel- Commission has been hard at work and esti- opment in high-risk areas. It also has reduced

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the wasteful expenditures of Federal re- mission to address this matter on an expe- sources and protected the natural resources dited basis. associated with coastal barriers. Today, ap- William J. Clinton proximately 3 million acres of fragile coastal barrier lands are part of the Coastal Barrier The White House, Resources System created by the Act. December 9, 1999. Senator Chafee’s legacy of achievements in environmental protection is extraordinary NOTE: H.R. 3456, approved December 9, was as- signed Public Law No. 106–160. and far ranging. He worked tirelessly to en- sure the protection of our land, air, and water and he took special pride in the success of Message on the Observance the Coastal Barrier Resources Act. For this of Ramadan, 1999 reason, it is especially fitting that we honor December 9, 1999 Senator Chafee by renaming the Coastal Bar- rier Resources System as the John H. Chafee Warm greetings to Muslims across Amer- Coastal Barrier Resources System. ica and around the world as you celebrate the start of Ramadan, a holy month of prayer, William J. Clinton fasting, reflection, and good works. Islam is one of the world’s most prominent The White House, religions and a source of profound strength December 9, 1999. and guidance for millions of Americans. Members of the Muslim American commu- nity have made enormous contributions to NOTE: H.R. 1866, approved December 9, was as- signed Public Law No. 106–167. our national life. I am especially pleased that my alma mater, Georgetown University, has named its first Muslim chaplain, reflecting the increasing recognition in our country of Statement on Signing the Digital the Islamic faith and our firm commitment Theft Deterrence and Copyright to religious tolerance. Sadly, in too many Damages Improvement Act of 1999 communities around the world, Muslims and December 9, 1999 other believers are unable to worship accord- ing to their religious traditions. We look for- Today I have signed into law H.R. 3456, ward to the day when people of all faiths the ‘‘Digital Theft Deterrence and Copyright can freely express their beliefs without fear Damages Improvement Act of 1999.’’ This of persecution or discrimination. legislation will increase for the first time Each year, Ramadan brings a promise of since January 1988 the statutory damages renewal and hope for the world. I pray that, as the new moon rises, we will witness the that a copyright holder may recover for cer- beginning of a new era of tolerance around tain copyright infringements. This increase the globe. As the followers of Islam celebrate in penalties would be an effective deterrent the revelation of God’s word to Muhammad, to would-be pirates of copyrighted works. we join you in honoring his call for harmony This Act also directs the United States Sen- and peace. tencing Commission to issue sentencing guidelines to ensure that sentences for crimi- Bill Clinton nal offenses against intellectual property are sufficiently severe to deter such offenses. I Remarks at a Democratic National fully support efforts to make sentences in criminal cases involving intellectual property Committee Dinner offenses true deterrents against the commis- December 9, 1999 sion of those offenses and am pleased that Thank you very much, ladies and gentle- H.R. 3456 will require the Sentencing Com- men. It’s been a long, but a wonderful, night.

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I am delighted to see you all. The most im- house, Willie Mays is there. [Laughter] And portant thing I can say is, thank you. I thank I might add, number 8 on ESPN’s list of the Joe Andrew for his increasingly energetic 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century. Al- leadership. [Laughter] most high enough. I thank Ed Rendell. For those of you who So this guy has never lost his sense of per- don’t know him, you will get to know him. sonal things, which I think matter most to Philadelphia had lost jobs for 30 years before us all when it’s all said and done. And I thank Ed Rendell became mayor, and now they’re you for honoring him. I hope that all of you gaining jobs rapidly. They had lost popu- feel honored, to some extent, through him. lation; they had had a crime rate going up— Sometimes I think we take and take and take, everything. Do you remember how the Vice and we don’t take enough time to give and President used to say in the ’92 campaign, to say thank you. And I’m honored that we everything that should be up is down, every- could do this for Walter and, through him, thing that should be down is up? That was for all of you who stick with us through thick Philadelphia times five. Now everything that and thin. should be up is up, thanks to Ed Rendell, I also want to say a word about the Vice and he’s going to keep our party up, as well. President and Mrs. Gore. I have spent a lot I want to thank Lorretta Bowen and John of time studying the history of our country Cooke and John Merrigan and Carol Pensky and the institutions that have made it work. for this dinner tonight. It was wonderful. When I became a candidate for President, And I want to thank my friend Walter Hillary and I talked about a lot of things. Shorenstein. You have already honored him, I said, ‘‘I’ll tell you one thing I’m going to and you heard the Vice President talk about do. If I win this nomination, I’m going to the big achievements in his life. I think it appoint somebody to be my running mate is remarkable: He reflects, first, a char- that I would feel good if I dropped dead, acteristic I’ve seen in so many of you. You’ve been so phenomenally generous. Many of if something, God forbid, happened to me, you in this room tonight could be making that I am convinced would be a great Presi- more money in a short run under the other dent. And in the meanwhile, I’m going to party’s policies. You know it as well as I do. make it a real job.’’ And you came here because you believe that You know that when Harry Truman be- we all ought to go forward together and that came President, he did not even know about we ought to keep our eye on the long run, the atomic bomb? A lot of people don’t know social justice and the long-term strength of that. Franklin Roosevelt had a lot of great America. And Walter has stood for that all qualities, but we had lost a lot of Presidents of his life. up to then, and they were still just picking He is also an uncommonly decent person. Vice Presidents for the most sort of shallow I’ll just tell you two things. First of all, not political reasons. Thank God, Harry Truman very long ago I was out in Northern Cali- turned out to be a great man and a great fornia, and I had a day to kill, and I hadn’t President. seen my little girl in a long time. And it’s And then it got a little better. When John inconvenient for the President to go any Kennedy picked Lyndon Johnson, he was place quietly. Walter had a place south of ready for the job. When Dwight Eisenhower San Francisco; he let me go there and spend picked Richard Nixon, he had broader re- the day with my daughter. That meant more sponsibilities. And then when Jimmy Carter to me than anything he could do for me. I’ll picked Walter Mondale, he qualitatively in- never forget it as long as I live. creased the role of the Vice President. And And I’ll tell you something else. You heard to his credit, President Reagan followed his the Vice President say he helped to save the lead in giving more responsibility to then Giants. I was talking to Walter one night and Vice President Bush. But I want every person I said, ‘‘You know, Walter, I think the great- in this room to know that Al Gore has had, est baseball player that ever lived was Willie 2, 3, 4, 5, times as much responsibilities as Mays.’’ Next time I go to dinner at Walter’s any person who has ever held this office and

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he has done a superb job discharging every America have an Internet connection. And single one of them. I could go through what he’s done in helping You know, we’ve had a lot of fun together us to reduce the nuclear threat and dealing over the years, and we kid each other merci- with a whole wide range of foreign challenges lessly. When Arkansas plays Tennessee, he and the environment. We set aside 40 million usually wins; sometimes I do. And he always roadless acres in our national forests not very says, ‘‘You know, the difference between you long ago. This administration has now pro- and me,’’ he said to me, ‘‘is you don’t have tected more land than any administration in a vote in Congress, and I do.’’—[laughter]— the history of the United States, except those ‘‘At least, every now and then I do. And of Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt, thanks whenever I vote, we win.’’ [Laughter] to his leadership on the environment. Well, we’re all celebrating this economy, So what I want you to know is, he has been but he cast the tie-breaking vote in the Sen- a good and faithful servant of the people of ate to make it a reality. And when we were this country. And he knows more than any fighting to pass commonsense gun legislation person who has ever held that job. And he’s in the Senate after Colombine, and all we had more experience than anybody who’s run wanted to do was to apply the Brady back- in my lifetime that is relevant to this work. ground checks to the gun shows and the The other thing I would like to say is, his urban flea markets, require child trigger wife has given us, Hillary and me, personally, locks on the guns, he cast the tie-breaking but our administration and this country, vote in the Senate to pass it. many gifts. I want to thank them for the fam- One day we were sitting around in one ily conference that they run every year in of our weekly lunches—which I miss now, Tennessee, that many of you have been a as I confessed in my press conference—he part of. What they taught us about family said, ‘‘You know, we’ve got to do something leave and child care, health care for children, about getting more computers into the many other issues. And I want to thank her schools, and not just a computer for their for forcing me to recognize the woefully in- educational programs. We’ve got to hook adequate response that the people of the them up to the Internet, and it will revolu- United States have to the needs of mental tionize educational opportunities. But if we health in this country, and taking a lead and don’t do anything about it, only wealthier making us do better. Thank you. schools will get it.’’ I say this because this is a political dinner, So he came up with this idea that the FCC, but most of us are here—and we’re Demo- now that we’re revolutionizing telecommuni- crats instead of Republicans because we’re cations—something else he was the lead on motivated by these kinds of issues and be- our administration when we rewrote the tele- cause we think America should go up or communications law for the first time in 60 down together. And one way or the other, years, or he created 300,000 new high-wage if we’re going up, we’ve got to go up together. jobs in America—he said, ‘‘We’ve got to give And I honor them, and I thank them for that. a discount to the poor schools, to the hos- I will be very brief in what I want to say pitals, to the libraries, so they can afford to to you. There’s no point in my reciting what hook on the Internet. And we need to try you already know about the progress of the to get the business community in. We’ve got last 7 years. Except I will say that there is this whole private sector group to come help something special about the fact that it was us get the connections done.’’ done by our party, because we believe you Now, when we started this in 1994—it was can advance the economy and social justice his idea—3 percent of the classrooms and at the same time. 14 percent of the schools were connected; So it’s not just 20 million jobs and the long- most schools just had one connection in the est peacetime expansion in history; in Feb- library or something—1994, 3 percent of the ruary it will be the longest one in history. classrooms, 14 percent of the schools. Today, Look underneath that: the lowest female un- thanks to him, over 50 percent of the class- employment in 40 years; the lowest single- rooms in over 80 percent of the schools in parent household poverty in 42 years; the

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lowest African-American unemployment and most people can remember a time in your poverty ever recorded; the lowest Hispanic personal life, your family life, your business unemployment ever recorded, the lowest life, when things were going so well, you just Hispanic poverty in a generation; the last 3 lost your concentration or became indulgent years, finally people in the bottom of the in- or got distracted. This country faces a great come groups, with their income rising as fast choice here. or faster than those in the top. This is a The Vice President talked about the tax democratic recovery, and we’re going for- cut that Congress passed that I vetoed. I was ward together. so proud of the American people because I want to say this about the next 14 months times are good and people have been of my term and the decision the American through tough times. And a lot of people still people will make about the leadership of this have difficulties in their own lives, and they country, the Presidency and in the Congress could have said, ‘‘Hey, give us a break here. for the next 4 years. Over Thanksgiving I had Don’t tell me about paying off the debt for my whole extended family with me, and then the first time since 1835 or this other we had a few friends come up to Camp David and a lot of kids around, and I just love that. rigamarole. Just show me the money.’’ And this beautiful little 6 year old girl But they didn’t do it. They said just what looked at me, and she said, ‘‘Now, how old he said, that we like what we have and we are you, really’’—6 year old girl. [Laughter] want to go on. We want to leave a stronger And I said, ‘‘I’m 53.’’ And she said, ‘‘That’s America for our children. We want to get a lot.’’ [Laughter] And lamentably, she’s right out of debt. We want to deal with the aging about that. And I want to say this, and I want of America. We want to be able to invest every one of you to think about it. In my in our children’s education. What I want to lifetime, in my 53 years, our country has tell you—I think that’s what is at stake here: never had the blessings and the opportunities whether we will assume the responsibility of and, therefore, the responsibilities it has at our success or indulge ourselves and squan- this moment. We have never had at the same der it. time a strong economy, an improving social Yes, you know, you can say whatever you climate, strong self-confidence among the want to about how I say whatever I say about American people, with the absence of crisis the Vice President. Everything I said was at home or threat abroad. true, and I believe it. But I’m a lot more We had an economy that was very strong interested than the whole country in our chil- in the early sixties that came a cropper be- dren and grandchildren even than I am him. cause of the competing demands of civil I’m sitting here talking to you about whether rights and poverty at home and the war in we’re going to make the most of this pros- Vietnam abroad. You can go back all through perity. And I’ve been here for 53 years. And the 20th century, and you will not find a time like the kid said, that’s a lot. And we’ve never when we’ve had prosperity, social progress, had this kind of chance before. national self-confidence, the absence of in- Are we going to deal with the aging of ternal crisis or external threat. And what I want to say to you is, that im- America or not? We’re going to double the poses on our party not bragging rights for number of people over 65 in 30 years. I hope the last 7 years but an enormous responsi- to be one of them. We could take Social Se- bility to keep the American people focused curity out beyond the life of the baby on the future. Anybody can take a deep boomers by doing one simple thing: Just take breath and summon themselves to great ef- the interest we’re saving on the debt from forts in tough times. The great British essay- not spending the Social Security surplus and ist Samuel Johnson said, ‘‘Nothing so con- put it into Social Security. And we ought to centrates the mind as the prospect of one’s do that. We can lengthen the life of Medi- own destruction.’’ care; we can provide prescription drug bene- Every one of us can remember when times fits to the 75 percent of our seniors who can’t were tough and we got right at it. But also, afford the medicine that they need.

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We can radically improve our schools. We you can clap for him. But make no mistake can deal with the challenge of global warm- about it, the fact that some American banks ing and all the other environmental chal- were sending their data processing to be lenges and do it with new technology and done in Northern Ireland by poor people smart investments that will grow this econ- who didn’t have any other jobs, the fact that omy faster, not weaken it. We can extend the Irish Republic had the fastest growing economic opportunity to the people and economy in Europe, and all those young peo- places that have been left behind. In spite ple saw what was going on in the rest of Eu- of all the happy talk, unemployment tonight rope, and they said, ‘‘This is nuts. Let’s let is 73 percent on the Pine Ridge Reservation it go.’’ That had a lot to do with that. in South Dakota. I’m going home to the Ar- So we have to find a way to put that human kansas Delta tomorrow, right across the river face on the global economy. And we’ve got from Memphis, where the Vice President to decide who we trust to do it and how to spent countless days. And he can tell you get there. that, except for the Native American reserva- Finally, there are lots of other things we tions, the poorest parts of America are still could talk about. We’ve got to be willing to in the Delta between Memphis and New Or- take on some difficult questions in the future. leans. Or in Appalachia or in any number You know, all that nice talk Al said to me of our inner cities. Or upstate New York, about all these tough decisions that I had to which would be 49th in job growth if that make. When we first got together after the were a separate State. Or the rural areas of election he said, ‘‘You know, I’ve spent a lot New England and any number of other more time in Washington, and I’m going to places. So I think we ought to give people tell you, you can’t imagine how hard these big incentives to invest there, the same in- decisions are going to be. And it’s just like centives we give them to invest in poor areas developing muscles; it’s going to be agonizing in Latin America and Asia and Africa, to try for you at the beginning, and you’ve just got to grow the American economy now in the to grit your teeth and make them, and it will places that have been left behind. get easier and easier and easier.’’ No, it’s not fashionable to talk about, be- And like so many things he told me, it cause when I talk about trade, I make every- turned out to be right. But it was a lot easier body mad. And he’s doing a pretty good job because he was there with me, helping me. of it, too. [Laughter] But let me just say, I He was right when we took on guns. He was think I’m right about saying that labor stand- right when we took on big tobacco. He was ards and the environment ought to be a part right when we took on the health care indus- of the global economy. And you know I’m try on the Patients’ Bill of Rights and on so pro-trade. I don’t think you can make a seri- many other issues. So we have a lot of things ous case that the world is not better off. And to do. globalization is not a bad thing if you do it Now, I just want to make one last point. right. I’m going to keep working for the next 14 You look at the places he mentioned. Do months, and I think the best thing I can do you really believe that we would have had for all of our candidates, from top to bottom, to go to war in Kosovo and use our military is to try to be the best President I can be. power in Bosnia to stop slaughter there if And I’ll do my best to do that. And I am the Balkans were the richest place in Europe, profoundly committed to renting back the instead of the poorest? Do you believe we House and Senate because a lot of those peo- would have had 800,000 people slaughtered ple lost their seats—a lot of those people lost in 90 days in Rawanda in a tribal war if their their seats because they voted for the eco- incomes were 10 times higher than they are? nomic plan and they voted for the Brady bill And I have to say—you mentioned Ire- and they voted for the assault weapons ban land—I’m very proud of the role we played and they took the tough decisions. And un- in the Irish peace process. And I’m very fortunately, they had to stand for reelection proud of Senator George Mitchell. [Ap- in 1994, before the American people knew plause] But I want to tell you something— we were right. And we owe it to them. And

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besides that, I’ve got a minor interest in what And you know, I’m not running for any- happens in New York. [Laughter] thing; I’m just telling you I felt as a human But let me say to all of you, if I had this being. I looked at that and my heart ached proverbial encounter tonight, and somebody for that young man whose life was extin- said, ‘‘Well, you can’t stay 14 months. You’ve guished. Then my heart ached for the young got to go.’’ And the genie showed up and man whose life was ruined, because some- said I could have not three wishes but one. where along the way people taught him— It wouldn’t be anything I’ve said on this list. you’re not born feeling this way—people I would wish for an America that is truly one taught him that it was okay to dehumanize America, that can bridge the lines of race that other young person, who wore the uni- and gender and religion and sexual orienta- form of his country. Both of them have com- tion, all these things that divide us. mitted to die for this country if I send them If you look around the world today—that’s some place, God forbid, which might cost why we’re going to try to pass the hate crimes them their lives. And yet, that happened. bill. That’s why we’re going to try to pass So I say to you, not to bring you down the employment and nondiscrimination act. but to lift you up, the reason I am working Because if you look at the world we’re living as hard as I can to be a good President, the in at the end of the cold war, when people reason I’m here with you, besides to thank are not artificially bound into blocks where you, the reason I feel as strongly as I do about they feel threatened by their very existence, the Vice President and all of our campaigns it was inevitable that we’d have an upsurge for the Senate and the House is that we may of nationalism and some of the things that never have this chance again. And we have have happened. to make the most of it. And we owe it to But it is unconscionable that on the verge the American people to get out there and of a new millennium, when there are 20,000 get our message out, stand up, fight, show people making a living on eBay trading, when up for them every day. Never forget that the we’re about to decode the whole mystery of people we’re really fighting for are the peo- the human genome, when some people think ple that served our food here tonight and we’ll find out what’s in the black holes in their children. And countless other people space in a few years, it is unconscionable that the biggest problem society faces is the oldest who will never have a chance to come to an problem of society, which is that we’re afraid event like this. of, prone to hate, prone to dehumanize, and And I’m telling you, if you do what you prone to brutalize people who are different know to do next year and you tell people what from us. [Applause] Thank you. the record is and what we stand for, then There is so much hope around the world. we’ll have a great 14 months, and we’ll have I announced yesterday the resumption of a great celebration in November of 2000. talks next week between the Israelis and the Thank you, and God bless you. Syrians. I know they’re working hard to make peace between the Israelis and the Palestin- NOTE: The President spoke at 8:30 p.m. in the ians. We even have the Greeks and the Turks Grand Ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel. talking about Cyprus. We’ve got all kinds of In his remarks, he referred to Joseph J. Andrew, things going. national chair, and Mayor Edward G. Rendell of And for all of the hate crimes and terrible Philadelphia, general chair, Democratic National things that have happened in America, we’re Committee; dinner cochairs Loretta Bowen, di- not bedeviled like that, but it’s still there rector of political affairs, Communications Work- under the surface. One of our major news- ers of America, John F. Cooke, president, the Dis- ney Channel, Carol Pensky, former treasurer, papers today had two breathtaking pictures, Democratic National Committee, and John side-by-side, on the front page of the young Merrigan, cochair, Democratic Business Council; soldier that was beaten to death and the Walter Shorenstein, president, Shorenstein Com- other young soldier that was convicted of kill- pany LP; and former Senator George J. Mitchell, ing him. He was beaten to death because who chaired the multiparty talks in Northern Ire- he was gay. land.

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Remarks to the Chamber of killed; 21 were injured. They were trying to Commerce in Little Rock, Arkansas land in terrible, terrible weather. And I thank December 10, 1999 them for their service, and I extend my deep- est condolences to the families of those who Thank you. Thank you very much, ladies were lost. and gentlemen. Thank you, Shelby; and We also lost a helicopter off the coast of thank you, Joe, for your leadership. They’ve San Diego yesterday with 18 people aboard; both been friends of mine a long time, and 11 were recovered safely. We have not recov- it’s good to see this chamber so well led. And ered the other 7, and our thoughts and pray- thank you, Joe, for your pledge of support. ers are with them. I say this just to make Congratulations to Bob and to Beverly on a simple point, that you might mention the the well-deserved award. I’m delighted to be next time you see someone in uniform. We up here with Dr. Reed and Jesse and Janet, do not have to be at war for that to be dan- and to be here with all of you. I thank Sen- gerous work. Most people have no earthly ator Pryor and Congressman Snyder for join- idea how dangerous it is to fly those fast ing me, and Mayor Dailey. I think our speak- planes and to fire those powerful weapons er, Bob Johnson, is here, and I was accom- and to undergo the rigorous training that panied this morning by Secretary Riley, the they have to undergo. Secretary of Education, from Washington, We are richly repaid for it. We didn’t lose and Rodney Slater, the Secretary of Trans- a single pilot in combat in the action in portation. I thank them for coming with me. Kosovo, but it is inherently dangerous work. I want to thank you for this award. So when you see some people from the air Herschel Friday was a friend of mine. I was base, thank them for putting their lives on sitting here, racing through my mind, over the line for the rest of us every day. all the things he asked me to do over the Shelby mentioned a couple of times that 12 years I was Governor, all the time there I have worked very closely with this chamber was one more emergency at Oak Lawn Park, for a long time. I don’t know how many times which he and I had a vested interest in. I I went to your old building trying to hustle don’t know if Beth Friday is here, but I want some business for the greater Little Rock to thank them both for their friendship, and area or deal with some issue that was before thank you for this award. And Beth, if you’re us in common. I think you picked the right here, I love you, and I’m glad to see you. changes; there are big—I mean, the right Thank you. theme. There are big changes coming. And I also want to thank the Philander Smith the pace of change will only accelerate in the choir. You know, whenever I have to take years ahead. I love the logo. I asked Shelby a trip, I stay up late the night before, and who designed the logo, and he told me, and I try to get all the work done that I might congratulations to you. have done in the office if I had stayed there. I think that what I would like to do today I talked to Hillary last night for the last time is to talk a little about the library and, first, about 1 o’clock in the morning. She said to a little about the last 7 years and the next tell you hello, and she’s doing well, and 14 months that I have left to serve as your Chelsea’s doing fine. President. I want to begin by thanking the But anyway, when I got up this morning, people of Arkansas who gave me the chance I was a little tired. I walked in here, and I to serve for a dozen years as Governor, with- heard the Philander choir singing, and I’m out which I could never have become Presi- ready to speak now. [Laughter] dent, who gave me the chance to learn over Let me say something I’m sure a lot of those dozen years what makes things really you know, but this is my first opportunity work, which is very often not what dominates to speak to the press today. I want to express the headline, the time, and the energy and my profound sadness for the crash of the the emotions of people in Washington. C–130 that flew out of the Little Rock Air I want to thank those who serve in this Force Base, crashed in Kuwait last night administration. We have been so blessed. I with—96 people were on board; 3 were want to begin by mentioning Mack McLarty,

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who came down with me today. He was my Kris and Nancy, at least Arkansas still runs first Chief of Staff; he oversaw the passage, most of my life. by a single vote in both Houses, of the ’93 There are literally scores of others I might economic plan, which was the single most mention from our State who have come to important thing that gave us this economic Washington, who are never noted in the boom, that got rid of that deficit, that drove press but who serve with real distinction, and the interest rates down, and got investment I am grateful for them. And you should be up in this country. He also oversaw the pas- proud of them. sage of NAFTA, the Brady bill, the family Now let me just take a minute to sort of and medical leave law, and set in motion a walk back through memory lane. In October teamwork that, according to one Harvard of 1991, when I declared for President on scholar, he said I had the most loyal Cabinet the steps of the old State House, I did it since Thomas Jefferson’s second administra- because I became convinced that there was tion. That is in no small measure because a limit to what Arkansas could do unless of the leadership that Mack McLarty gave America changed direction and because I to the White House in those early days. And really felt that our country had an enormous I thank him for it, and equally, for his later potential to make the most of these big work as our Special Envoy to Latin America, changes we’ve been talking about. where we have reestablished ties that had But it was a time of economic distress, so- been too long neglected with so many coun- cial decline, deep political division, and the tries. whole enterprise of Government had been profoundly discredited. It’s almost impos- I want to thank Secretary Slater, who is sible to remember what it was like just a few here with me today; James Lee Witt, the short years ago. most popular FEMA Director in the history I felt, based on what I had learned working of the country; Bob Nash; Bruce Lindsey; with you, that the country ought to work Nancy Hernreich, who came down with me more like we tried to work. Yes, we’d have today; Mel French, our Protocol Ambas- our political differences; yes, we’d fight at sador; Janis Kearney; Carl Whillock, who election time; sometimes, we’d fight in-be- came with me today, the farmers’ advocate tween; but that we ought to have a unifying in the Department of Agriculture; Mike theory of the public’s business. And so I Gaines now runs the Federal Parole Com- asked the American people to give me a mission; my scheduler, Stephanie Streett; chance, along with Vice President Gore, to Carol Rasco, my former Domestic Policy Ad- implement a vision of opportunity for every viser, now runs the national America Reads responsible American, to challenge every cit- program, has over a thousand colleges in izen to be responsible, and to build a commu- America with young people volunteering to nity that involved all of our people in a world go into the grade schools and make sure where America was still the leading force for every child can read independently by the peace and freedom and prosperity. age of 8; Brady Anderson from Helena—a And we battled through the politics; we lot of you know him—is now the Director battled through a whole flurry of special in- of the Agency for International Develop- terests; we battled through our fair share of ment, the most important agency in the Fed- mistakes; but we never forgot who we were eral Government in dealing with the poor working for or what the mission was. And countries of the world. Craig Smith was my I hope that all of you, without whom I would political director and had a number of other never have become President, can take some important jobs in the White House—prob- pride in the results. ably the least political person to work with We have the longest peacetime expansion us from any State; Hershel Gober, the Dep- in our history. In February, it will become uty Secretary of Veterans Affairs; young Kris the longest economic expansion ever, includ- Engskov from Berryville is here with me ing that which embraced World War II. We today. I first met him when he was 4 years have the lowest unemployment rate in 30 old. Now he’s my personal aide. So between years, the lowest welfare rolls in 30 years,

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the lowest poverty rates in 20 years, the high- really help the Arkansas Children’s Hospital est homeownership in history. We have the here, and we’re very proud of that. lowest African-American and Hispanic un- While the economy got better, the air got employment rates ever recorded, the lowest cleaner; the water got cleaner. We set aside female unemployment rate in 40 years, the more land in protected areas than any admin- lowest poverty rate among single-parent istration in the entire history of the country households in 46 years, the first back-to-back except those of Franklin and Theodore Roo- balanced budgets and surpluses in 42 years, sevelt. And here’s something you might like and the Federal Government is now the to know that you deserve more credit for, smallest it’s been in 37 years. It worked, and the people do, than our particular adminis- I thank you. tration, although we have accelerated it quite Along the way, the society got stronger. a bit: The United States, in the production We have the lowest crime rate in 25 years, of the volume of waste of all kinds, whether and I might add the Brady bill background it’s what you throw away in the garbage at checks stopped 470,000 felons, fugitives, and home or in industrial prospects, is at a 20- stalkers who shouldn’t have gotten handguns year low, even though we have 50 million from buying them, and not single Arkansan more people than we had 20 years ago. We missed a day in the deer woods because of are the number one recycling nation in the it. entire world now, and you can be proud of About 20 million people have taken advan- that. tage of the family and medical leave law. I We’ve also had 150,000 young people meant to ask Secretary Riley and forgot to, serve our communities in AmeriCorps, like how many millions, but as many millions of those I met just down the block from the young people are now getting the HOPE Governor’s mansion when the terrible tor- scholarship, the $1,500 tax credit, which ef- nado whipped through Little Rock not very fectively makes community college available for 100 percent of the people in America long ago. today. America has been able to be a force for Ninety percent of our kids are immunized peace and prosperity in the world. We’ve had against serious childhood diseases. In 1994, over 270 trade agreements. We just saw an- when the Vice President and I said we want- other successful move in our long efforts to ed to connect all our classrooms and schools bring peace to Northern Ireland. I an- to the Internet, 3 percent of our classrooms nounced a couple of days ago that the Israelis and 14 percent of our schools had some and the Syrians would come back to the Internet connection. Today, over 50 percent United States next week after 4 long years of our classrooms and over 80 percent of our of not talking, to try to finish the work of schools are connected, and we’ll be over 90 making a lasting peace in the Middle East. percent in the new millennium. That’s a pretty good Christmas legacy to give, This is changing the nature of opportunity and I’m thrilled about that. in America. I also know that something that’s We have worked to make our children been very interesting here that the Governor safer from the kind of problems that will and others have been interested in this State dominate the 21st century: the ethnic and is providing health insurance to children. racial cleansing and religious cleansing you There are 2 million more children with saw in Bosnia and Kosovo; the presence of health insurance under the Child Health In- terrorism and the threat of weapons of mass surance Partnership we formed with the destruction. And I can say to you today, after States in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, 7 years, I am grateful that I’ve had the chance something that’s very important to Hillary. to serve. I am more convinced than I was In the last budget, we provided funds to help when I went there that we had the right mis- the hospitals who are unduly burdened by sion with the right ideas. And I am absolutely the Medicare cuts and provide special funds convinced that I never would have been able to train young doctors at children’s hospitals to do what I have done to play my part in throughout America, something that will this remarkable renaissance if I hadn’t had

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the dozen years I had working with all of saw the final figures—in job growth in the you as Governor. And I thank you for that. entire country. Now I’d also like to say that I get a little But the unemployment rate was 6.7 per- nervous when I get awards. Normally, I don’t cent when I took office, and it’s 4.3 percent think Presidents should get awards, at least today here. And in many other ways I think when they’re alive. [Laughter] I mean, the you’ve done well. I could mention some spe- job is honor enough. Although, I must say, cific things, but I’d like to talk about the gen- I like this one. I’m going to put it up in the eral things. White House. But I think it’s important to The average Arkansas family now has remember that a significant chunk of the $25,000 less Federal debt than you would time that I have been given to serve is still have had if we hadn’t passed the economic out there. plan in ’93 and the Balanced Budget Act in They said we wouldn’t get anything done ’97. The average family in this State and this year, and then at the end of the budget throughout the country, paying a home mort- session we had 100,000 more teachers to gage, has interest costs that are about $2,000 bring smaller classes to the early grades; we a year lower. The average car payment or had 50,000 more police to keep the crime college loan payment is about $200 a year rate coming down; we had 60,000 housing lower. This had made a difference in real vouchers to help people move from welfare people’s lives. to work and find a place to live, to keep the And as I look at the next 14 months, and welfare rolls coming down; we doubled the as you as citizens look at the coming election amount of funds for after-school programs, season, I just want to ask you, without regard something that’s really important to increase to your party, to think about this: What are learning and keep our kids off the street we going to do with our prosperity? when they may not have any adult super- Over Thanksgiving, Hillary and I gathered vision. up everybody in our flung families we could; For the first time I got the Congress to we brought them all in, and then after give me some money to give States to identify Thanksgiving, we had some more friends schools that are failing and turn them around come in to Camp David and had a bunch or shut them down, something I think is very of little kids there. I just love having them important. all around, my two nephews and a bunch of There are a lot of things I tried to do I other little kids. And this 6-year-old girl didn’t pass, the Patients’ Bill of Rights, the looked at me—on Saturday after Thanks- minimum wage, the hate crimes legislation, aid for school construction. I’ll try to get giving—she looked at me and she said, them next year. ‘‘Now, Mr. President, how old are you, real- I think Arkansas has done well in these ly?’’ [Laughter] And I said, ‘‘I’m 53.’’ And last 7 years. You know, the whole time I was she said, ‘‘That’s a lot.’’ [Laughter] And re- Governor, we went through that terrible time grettably, I had to agree with her. in the eighties when we had a bicoastal econ- Here’s what I want to say about that. In omy and the country looked like it was doing my lifetime, in those 53 years, there has well, but the middle of the country wasn’t. never been another time, not one, when our And then we had the recession that every- country had this level of economic pros- body suffered through. Not a single month— perity, this level of social progress, this level I had one month the whole time I was Gov- of national self-confidence, with the absence ernor, until 1992 when I ran for President— of a crisis at home or a threat from abroad. only one month when our unemployment Never. rate was below the national average. Then Now, a lot of us who are old enough to it got down below the national average in remember the 1960’s, remember how good 1992 because I think of the accumulated ef- the economy was in the early sixties in the forts that a lot of us made over many years. country, and how it was torn apart because In 1992 we ranked first or second—I never of our inability to fully integrate the civil

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rights challenge at home and deal with Viet- plus anymore, if we just took the interest sav- nam abroad. This has never happened be- ings and put it back in the Trust Fund, we fore. could put that Trust Fund out to 2050, which So the question before us is, what are we would take us out beyond the life expectancy going to do with it? And as a citizen, I care of almost 100 percent of the baby boomers, about that as well as a President. I think there after which the demographics start to get bet- is a heavy responsibility on us, not just the ter again. President and the Congress and not just peo- Now, we’ve got the money to do that now. ple in Government but the whole country. We don’t have to raise your taxes. We don’t We have never had this happen, and you have to stop spending money on anything know as well as I do that nothing lasts for- else. We don’t have to do anything. It’ll never ever. It keeps you going through the tough be this easy again. And believe me, it hasn’t times, but it’s important to remember in the been this easy for our predecessors, and we good times. ought to do this. Here we are, on the edge of a new millen- On Medicare, we ought to make some nium with the first opportunity in our life- structural reforms that will put some more time as a country to really shape the future life into the Medicare Trust Fund, take it of our dreams for our children. And I hope out over 20 years. We ought to let people and pray that I can devote every waking over 55 and under 65 buy into it. It doesn’t minute of the last 14 months of my Presi- cost the Treasury any money, and you know, dency and that the American people will de- there’s tons of people in this country who vote their energies and concentration in their retire at 55 now, and then something hap- own lives and their vote as citizens to making pens to them; they’re not covered by a health a decision based on shouldering the responsi- insurance policy at work anymore; and they bility to shape that future for our children. can’t get any health insurance. It’s a huge And that means big changes. What are they? problem. I’ll just mention three of four, and end with And we ought to provide a voluntary pre- what I’m going to do when I leave you today. scription drug benefit, because 75 percent Number one, we’ve got to deal with the of the seniors in this country cannot afford aging of America. The number of people over the drug regimen their doctors say they need. 65 is going to double in the next 30 years. So I think we ought to do that. I hope to be one of them. It’s going to double Now, number two, we ought to recognize in the next 30 years. That will be two people that more and more parents are working and working for every one person drawing Social do more to help balance work and family. Security. Social Security Trust Fund is pro- I gave the States the option to use their work- jected to run out of money in 2034. ers’ compensation and their unemployment The Medicare Trust Fund, when I took compensation funds if they wanted to, to ex- office, was scheduled to run out of money periment with paid family leave. There are this year. We’ve pushed it back to 2015 now. lots of other things that can be done, but We’ve got to do something about this. Now, you know, only 10 percent of the people in let me say there is a big difference of opinion the country eligible for Federal assistance for about whether—between the two parties child care are getting it, and I’ve increased about whether Medicare—I mean Social Se- child care funding by 70 percent. And a lot curity should have individual accounts, and of people go to work every day, really wor- if so, how should they be designed, and rying about whether their kids are in quality should we partially or completely privatize child care facilities. And it’s a big problem. the system. And most Republicans think we The family and medical leave law has been should do some of that, and most Democrats a Godsend, but I think we ought to broaden think we shouldn’t. it some. And of course, we have to be sen- But let me just tell you one little simple sitive not to hurt the economy. But if you thing: If we took the interest savings we have want people to succeed at work, they can’t from paying down the national debt because be eaten up inside worrying about their kids, we’re not spending the Social Security sur- whether they’re all right.

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If you have to make a choice, we lose be- as much light. You can buy lamps that just fore we start, because the most important job in the life of the lamp, will save one ton of of any society is raising children. It is still greenhouse gas emissions. the most important job of any society, includ- With the changes in the White House we ing ours, and we forget that at our peril. So have made in the last 6 years, just in the we’ve got to find a way, since all parents ei- White House, we’ve taken the equivalent of ther want to work or have to work, just about, 700 cars off the highways. This is a big deal, at least the majority, we’ve got to find the and it is not a question of, in the popular way to balance these things better. vernacular, hugging trees or growing the The third thing we have to do, I think, economy; it’s a question of how to do the is to work even harder to give every child self-interested thing, which is to improve the a world-class education. We have the largest environment and the economy at the same and most diverse student body in history— time, and I predict to you it will be a major, the first time in the last 2 years we’ve got major focus for the next 20 years. a student body bigger than the baby boom The last thing I’d like to mention very generation. And they are going to do great briefly is this—because it really applies to Ar- if we give them the tools to do it. I don’t kansas. We have to find a way to keep the want to keep you here all morning, and you economy going and then to bring the benefits know how I like to pontificate about edu- of the economy to the people in places who cation, so I won’t do that. But you need to haven’t been a part of this prosperity. And make that a factor in your decisions, just as I just want to mention three things. Number I make it a factor in mine. one, first things first; we’ve got to keep pay- The next thing we need to do is to find ing down this debt. If we stay on the track better ways to balance the preservation of we’re on now, just on the budget path that the economy and the preservation of the en- came out of this last budget session, this vironment. A big thing has happened in the country will be out of debt in 15 years for last 5 to 10 years that most people don’t be- the first time since 1835. lieve has happened. It is now possible to grow Now, what does that mean? What does the economy and reduce the emissions of that mean? Well, let’s take ALLTEL—doing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. That’s reasonably well. We passed the tele- a fancy way of saying you don’t necessarily communications act. It’s led already to hun- have to burn more coal and oil and put it dreds of thousands of high-wage jobs at out in the atmosphere to get rich. Most peo- great, high-tech companies. If the country’s ple don’t believe it, but it’s true. out of debt and we’re not borrowing money, The Agriculture Department had a sem- that means there’s more money for every- inar the other day on biomass fuels, ethanol body else to borrow. That means lower inter- being the most prominent one now. Right est rates for business loans, faster expansion, now, it’s a problem. It takes seven gallons more jobs, higher incomes. It means the av- of gasoline to make eight gallons of ethanol, erage family pays less for home mortgages so the conversion ratio is not too good. and car payments and college loans. This is They’re very, very close to coming up with a big deal. It’s a progressive thing to do. the technology to make eight gallons of eth- The second thing we ought to do is work anol with one gallon of gasoline. When that through and keep working at it until we reach happens, it will change the future of Amer- a national consensus on this trade issue. If ica. you watched the so-called battle in Seattle, In the next year or so, you’re going to be you know that I said I understood why some able to buy cars that get 70 to 80 miles a of the people in the streets wanted to make gallon with fuel injection engines, some that sure the concerns of working people and the are blended. They start off on electricity, environment were taken account of in trade. then go to gasoline, then go back to elec- But I think they’re dead wrong to believe tricity, and it’s just the beginning. You can that you can walk away from trade. get windows in houses now that keep out 5 Let me tell you, this country is better off times as much heat or cold and let in 5 times today because for 50 years we have worked

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harder and harder and harder to integrate that’s the future we want. We’ve got to let the global economy. And yes, if we buy stuff this other stuff go.’’ that’s made somewhere else, it’s very sen- So we have got to—you’ve got to help me sitive in Arkansas, because we were—50 on this. As Americans, we have got to form years ago our per capita income was only 56 a new consensus between business and labor percent of the national average. So we had and the environmental community and ev- a lot of low-wage workers. And sure, if we erybody else that allows us to continue to buy stuff made somewhere else, where peo- expand trade. And we ought to put China ple don’t have the incomes we do, it puts in the World Trade Organization. It’s good more pressure on our low-wage workers. But for our farmers, good for our manufacturers, it also creates a lot more high-wage jobs. good for our investors, and it will make a And the answer is to give everybody life- safer world for our children and our grand- time training and to have the kind of environ- children. It’s a big deal. And I hope you will ment where you can get the kind of invest- help me do that as well. ments to give good jobs to everybody. But Finally, we ought to give people the same we are better off both economically and in incentives to invest in poor areas in America, terms of our security because, for 50 years, like the Arkansas Delta, we give them to in- we have continued to expand trade. vest in poor areas in Latin America or Asia And if you don’t believe it, just look at all or Africa. And I’m very proud of the fact that the places in the world that are in trouble. this Congress supported my position to re- You know that problem we’ve had in Bosnia lieve the debt of world’s poorest nations. I and Kosovo I had to send the military to want Americans to invest in poor countries. solve. Do you seriously believe we would I believe if you lift people out of poverty, have had to go to war in the Balkans if their you minimize their profound and primitive per capita income were not the lowest in Eu- racial and ethnic and religious hatreds, and rope? If it were the highest in Europe, would you give them something to live for and look they be fooling around with each other; forward to when they get up in the morning. would they care whether they were Muslims But our people deserve the same thing. or Orthodox Christians or Roman Catholics Let me ask you this, again: If we don’t do if they were all well-educated and they were this now, if we can’t bring more entre- used to working together and they had more preneurs and more investment and more jobs in common than driving them apart? to the poorest counties in this State and in Or in the Middle East, one of the prob- our neighboring States and in Appalachia and lems is the abject poverty of the Palestinians. in upstate New York and rural New England, And one of the problems for the Israelis is which is pretty depressed, or on the Indian the limits on their growth because they’ve reservations—the Pine Ridge Indian Res- got to spend so much on defense. If we were ervation in South Dakota, the unemployment in better shape there economically and ev- today is 73 percent—and if we can’t figure erybody were more integrated, don’t you out something to do about this now, when think we’d be closer to peace? Do you think in the world will we ever get around to it? people would still be fighting there? And when I leave you, I’m going over to And I’m very proud of the role that I West Memphis and to Earle and announce played in the Irish peace process and the role that I’m going to propose in my new budget America played and the role George Mitchell more than $110 million to create a Delta re- played. But let me tell you something. One gional authority. This will be new investment big reason they made peace in Ireland is that to fund a bill sponsored by Representative the Republic of Ireland had the fastest grow- Blanche Lambert Lincoln and—Senator Lin- ing economy in Europe. A lot of American coln and Representative Marion Berry, sup- companies were shipping data processing— ported by Congressman Snyder and the en- raw files to be processed over to Northern tire Arkansas delegation. I think we’ll have Ireland every day and flying them back, and big bipartisan support for this. We’ve got to all these kids were growing up saying, ‘‘Hey, do something about this.

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I headed that Delta Commission more for the experiences you gave me and the les- than a decade ago. Maybe the time wasn’t sons I learned, I wouldn’t have been pre- right; maybe the economy was too tough. pared to serve at this moment in our history. We’re in good shape now. If we can’t bring So I want to make some dreams come true opportunity to these people in our State and here in Little Rock. This library can be an Nation—I’m telling you I’ve been there. Peo- energizing force in the life of the city and ple are dying to go to work. And intelligence the broader community. It will attract people is evenly distributed; education is not, but from all across the Nation and all across the intelligence is. We can get this done now. world. Lots of visitors and lots of people from And I ask for your support for that. business and labor and the nonprofit groups Now because I believe this is a time of in government and journalism. big changes, to use your theme, and because It can play an important role in the growth I believe these big questions can’t possibly and development of Greater Little Rock and be resolved, when I come home to build the all of central Arkansas. I am determined that library and my policy center, I want to deal it will be, first, a beautiful place. The site with a lot of these big questions: How do is wonderful, and so will the building be. It you close the digital divide and use these will be architecturally important, and it will high-tech advances to benefit every Amer- be state of the art, environmentally and tech- ican? How do you create good jobs and a nologically. clean environment? How do you leave be- I’ve talked to Dr. Sugg and the university hind the ethnic and religious hatreds, the about starting a graduate program in public other kind of hatred that is manifested in policy—that’s what they want to do—to pre- hate crimes in America and the tribal slaugh- pare more of our young people for careers ters in Africa and all the wars in between? in public service. And I also want to develop How do you create genuine economic oppor- partnerships with corporations all across tunity and empowerment for people who America to bring their young executives here, have been poor a very long time? to get them to agree to let their young people These are the questions, the kinds of ques- take a little time off to be in public service tions that I intend to work on down to the without being prejudiced in their rise up the last hour of the last day of my Presidency, corporate hierarchy. and the kind of questions that will be central Let me tell you, there is a program called to me when I come home to build the library the White House Fellowships—you may and the policy center. know about it—and we just give a few every I’d like to begin by just thanking all of you year, enough for all the Cabinet Secretaries who have supported this. I thank the mayor, and one for me, one for a couple of other the city board of directors and staff, and I’m people in the White House. Hundreds of sorry for the heat you’ve taken, but it will people apply for them—hundreds. And hun- be a good investment. I thank Paul Harvel dreds get turned down who would be about and the Greater Little Rock Chamber. I as good as the handful, the less than 20 we thank Shelby and Joe and the Downtown select every year. And so I got this idea. Partnership. I thank Dr. Alan Sugg and the Now, I realized how dependent we were university system. I thank Skip Rutherford on the White House Fellows, what fabulous for being my point person down here; all of work they did, what great ideas they gave. you who have worked on this. And think of it, if every company of any size From the day I was elected President, I would establish a policy that every year, one was determined that when it was over, I or two or three people, depending on the would try to use this library and policy center size of the company, could take a year off not only to continue my own interests and to serve in State Government, to serve in passions but to give something back to this local government, to serve in the Federal State and this community that have given so Government, in Washington or at the re- much to me. Like I said over and over again, gional level, to have the experience of gov- if it hadn’t been for you, I never would have ernment and then come back to the company had the chance to serve. And if it hadn’t been and continue that career, we could change

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the nature of government, the quality of the still scared of people that are different from ideas, the quality of the work, and the quality us, and we’ve got to find a way to let it go. of the partnership. I want to do more on education. I want And we could end a lot of the kind of bat- to do more on all these issues I mentioned. tles that we’ve seen here over too many dec- I also want this library to be a great place ades. So this is one of the things that I hope of history, and I want to make it interactive, we can do, thanks to Dr. Sugg and his leader- especially for our children, with the latest ship on the education issue. technologies. I want to help our children and I want to try to find some ways to, as I our grandchildren understand the times and said over and over, to help to bridge the ra- the forces that took me to the White House cial and other divides in our society and and that I tried to shape and move forward, throughout the world. I want to bring here and then I want them to understand how that people from Northern Ireland and the Mid- relates to tomorrow. dle East and Bosnia and Kosovo. I want peo- I want this to be a museum but not a mau- ple to see members of these different African soleum. I want it to be a place with a lot of touch and involvement and learning. I tribes. I’ll never forget being in Rwanda after want to give our young people a window on they killed over three-quarters of a million the new millennium. And I want them to be- people in a 100 days with machetes in a tribal lieve when they walk out of there, based on war, and Rwanda had been a coherent coun- the story of my life and the people we tried try for about 500 years. to help, that every one of them also has a I talked to a woman, a beautiful woman— chance to make their own history. Hillary and I were sitting there talking to These are the things I want to do with the her—all dressed up in her fine native dress. library here in Little Rock, not only to And I listened to this wonderful woman, who glimpse the future but to shape it and share was still a young woman, talk to me about it with our neighbors and our families. how her neighbors had turned her in as a So I say to all of you, again, thanks for member of the other ethnic group, along helping me get here; thanks for giving us a with her husband and her six children, and great 7 years, and thanks for your support how they had come after them with these of the future. But remember, the most im- machetes, and how she was convinced she portant thing of all is your theme is right: was going to die. And she woke up covered Big changes are coming. It’s the only time in blood, and saw her husband and her six in our lifetimes we’ve ever had a chance to children dead around her, all because they make the most of them, and we’d better do were from another tribe. And that would be it. enough to break most of us, but this woman Thank you very much. was devoting her life to trying to help other people let it go and get beyond it. We could, in this State, in this place, be- come a beacon of hope for those kind of peo- NOTE: The President spoke at 10:15 a.m. in Gov- ernors Halls 2 and 3 at the Statehouse Convention ple. We could train people in societies where Center. In his remarks, he referred to Shelby these problems exist to get rid of them. Woods, outgoing chairman of the board, Joe Ford, I think it is truly amazing, at a time when incoming chairman of the board, Paul Harvel, we’re talking about uncovering the mysteries president, Jesse Mason, education chairman, and of the human genome, when a lot of my Janet Jones, former chairman of the board, Great- friends in the profession believe that some- er Little Rock Chamber of Commerce; Bob Rus- time early in the next century newborn ba- sell, winner of the chamber’s Pinnacle Award, and bies will come home from the hospital with his wife, Beverly; Mayor Jim Dailey of Little Rock; Speaker Bob Johnson, Arkansas House of Rep- a life expectancy of 100 years, when we’ll resentatives; Trudy Reed, president, Philander probably find out what’s in the black holes Smith College; former Senator David H. Pryor; in the universe, and we’re talking about all Carl Whillock, Special Assistant to the President, this stuff, you know, that the biggest problem Department of Agriculture; Carol Rasco, Direc- of human society is the oldest one: We’re tor, America Reads Challenge, Department of

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Education; Beth Friday, widow of Herschel Fri- The President announced his intention to day, former chairman of the board, Greater Little appoint Victoria McCammon Murphy to the Rock Chamber of Commerce; former Senator J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship George J. Mitchell, who chaired the multiparty Board. talks in Northern Ireland; Alan Sugg, president, University of Arkansas; and Skip Rutherford, exec- The President announced his intention to utive vice president and director of public policy, recess appoint Stuart E. Weisberg as a mem- Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. Prior to his ber of the Occupational Safety and Health remarks, the President received the Herschel H. Review Commission. Friday Award. The President announced his intention to recess appoint Janie L. Jeffers and Marie F. Ragghianti as Commissioners of the U.S. Pa- role Commission. Digest of Other December 10 White House Announcements In the morning, the President traveled to Little Rock, AR. Later, he traveled to West The following list includes the President’s public Memphis, AR, where in the afternoon he schedule and other items of general interest an- spoke to the community. Later, the President nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and participated in a dedication ceremony for not included elsewhere in this issue. Earle High School in Earle, AR. In the evening, the President traveled to December 6 Orlando, FL. In the evening, the President and Hillary Clinton attended the Congressional Ball in the Map Room at the White House. The President declared an emergency in Massachusetts and ordered Federal aid to Nominations supplement State and local recovery efforts Submitted to the Senate in the area struck by fire on December 3 and continuing. NOTE: No nominations were submitted to the December 7 Senate during the period covered by this issue. The President announced his intention to appoint Deborah E. Lipstadt and Sidney R. Yates to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Coun- cil. Checklist December 8 of White House Press Releases In the morning, the President met with President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine in the Oval Office. The following list contains releases of the Office of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as The President had separate telephone con- items nor covered by entries in the Digest of versations with Prime Minister Ehud Barak Other White House Announcements. of Israel and Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority on the Middle East peace process. Released December 6 December 9 Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- In the morning, the President met in the retary Joe Lockhart Oval Office with representatives of various Statement by the Press Secretary announcing civil rights organizations, communications in- the ‘‘Ask the White House’’ Internet service dustries, and foundations to discuss efforts to narrow the digital divide. Fact sheet: Human Rights Day 1999 and El- Later, the President traveled to Worcester, eanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award MA, and in the afternoon, he returned to Fact sheet: Taliban Persecution of Women Washington, DC. and Girls in Afghanistan

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Announcement: Attendees at Congressional S. 574 / Public Law 106–128 Black Caucus Meeting To direct the Secretary of the Interior to make corrections to a map relating to the Released December 7 Coastal Barrier Resources System Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- S. 580 / Public Law 106–129 retary Joe Lockhart Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999 S. 1418 / Public Law 106–130 To provide for the holding of court at Natch- Acts Approved ez, Mississippi, in the same manner as court is held at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and for by the President other purposes Approved December 7 Approved December 6 H.R. 449 / Public Law 106–131 H.R. 459 / Public Law 106–121 Gateway Visitor Center Authorization Act of To extend the deadline under the Federal 1999 Power Act for FERC Project No. 9401, the Mt. Hope Waterpower Project H.R. 592 / Public Law 106–132 To designate a portion of Gateway National H.R. 1094 / Public Law 106–122 Recreation Area as ‘‘World War Veterans To amend the Federal Reserve Act to broad- Park at Miller Field’’ en the range of discount window loans which may be used as collateral for Federal reserve H.R. 747 / Public Law 106–133 notes Arizona Statehood and Enabling Act Amend- ments of 1999 H.R. 1191 / Public Law 106–123 To designate certain facilities of the United H.R. 748 / Public Law 106–134 States Postal Service in Chicago, Illinois To amend the Act that established the Keweenaw National Historical Park to re- H.R. 1251 / Public Law 106–124 quire the Secretary of the Interior to con- To designate the United States Postal Service sider nominees of various local interests in building located at 8850 South 700 East, appointing members of the Keweenaw Na- Sandy, Utah, as the ‘‘Noal Cushing Bateman tional Historical Park Advisory Commission Post Office Building’’ H.R. 791 / Public Law 106–135 H.R. 1327 / Public Law 106–125 Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail To designate the United States Postal Service Study Act of 1999 building located at 34480 Highway 101 South H.R. 970 / Public Law 106–136 in Cloverdale, Oregon, as the ‘‘Maurine B. Perkins County Rural Water System Act of Neuberger United States Post Office’’ 1999 H.R. 3373 / Public Law 106–126 H.R. 1794 / Public Law 106–137 To require the Secretary of the Treasury to Concerning the participation of Taiwan in mint coins in conjunction with the minting the World Health Organization (WHO) of coins by the Republic of Iceland in com- memoration of the millennium of the dis- H.R. 2979 / Public Law 106–138 covery of the New World by Leif Ericson Terry Peak Land Transfer Act of 1999 H.J. Res. 85 / Public Law 106–127 H.R. 2886 / Public Law 106–139 Appointing the day for the convening of the To amend the Immigration and Nationality second session of the One Hundred Sixth Act to provide that an adopted alien who is Congress less than 18 years of age may be considered

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a child under such Act if adopted with or Battlefield in Virginia, as previously author- after a sibling who is a child under such Act ized by law, by purchase or exchange as well as by donation H.R. 2889 / Public Law 106–140 To amend the Central Utah Project Comple- H.R. 1693 / Public Law 106–151 tion Act to provide for acquisition of water To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of and water rights for Central Utah Project 1938 to clarify the overtime exemption for purposes, completion of Central Utah project employees engaged in fire protection activi- facilities, and implementation of water con- ties servation measures H.R. 3257 / Public Law 106–141 H.R. 1887 / Public Law 106–152 State Flexibility Clarification Act To amend title 18, United States Code, to punish the depiction of animal cruelty H.J. Res. 65 / Public Law 106–142 Commending the World War II veterans H.R. 1932 / Public Law 106–153 who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and Father Theodore M. Hesburgh Congres- for other purposes sional Gold Medal Act

S. 28 / Public Law 106–143 H.R. 2140 / Public Law 106–154 Four Corners Interpretive Center Act To improve protection and management of S. 416 / Public Law 106–144 the Chattahoochee River National Recre- To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to con- ation Area in the State of Georgia vey to the city of Sisters, Oregon, a certain parcel of land for use in connection with a H.R. 2401 / Public Law 106–155 sewage treatment facility U.S. Holocaust Assets Commission Exten- sion Act of 1999 Approved December 9 H.R. 2632 / Public Law 106–156 H.R. 15 / Public Law 106–145 Dugger Mountain Wilderness Act of 1999 Otay Mountain Wilderness Act of 1999 H.R. 658 / Public Law 106–146 H.R. 2737 / Public Law 106–157 Thomas Cole National Historic Site Act To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the State of Illinois certain Federal H.R. 1104 / Public Law 106–147 land associated with the Lewis and Clark Na- To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to tional Historic Trail to be used as an historic transfer administrative jurisdiction over land and interpretive site along the trail within the boundaries of the Home of Frank- lin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site to the H.R. 3381 / Public Law 106–158 Archivist of the United States for the con- Export Enhancement Act of 1999 struction of a visitor center H.R. 3419 / Public Law 106–159 H.R. 1528 / Public Law 106–148 Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization 1999 Act of 1999 H.R. 1619 / Public Law 106–149 H.R. 3456 / Public Law 106–160 Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley Na- To amend statutory damages provisions of tional Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act title 17, United States Code of 1999 H.J. Res. 46 / Public Law 106–161 H.R. 1665 / Public Law 106–150 Conferring status as an honorary vetaran of To allow the National Park Service to acquire the United States Armed Forces on Zachary certain land for addition to the Wilderness Fisher

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S. 67 / Public Law 106–162 S. 791 / Public Law 106–165 To designate the headquarters building of Women’s Business Centers Sustainability Act the Department of Housing and Urban De- of 1999 velopment in Washington, District of Colum- bia, as the ‘‘Robert C. Weaver Federal Build- ing’’ S. 1595 / Public Law 106–166 To designate the United States courthouse S. 438 / Public Law 106–163 Chippewa Cree Tribe of The Rocky Boy’s at 401 West Washington Street in Phoenix, Reservation Indian Reserved Water Rights Arizona, as the ‘‘Sandra Day O’Connor Settlement and Water Supply Enhancement United States Courthouse’’ Act of 1999 S. 548 / Public Law 106–164 S. 1866 / Public Law 106–167 Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources National Historic Site Act of 1999 System Act

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