Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Monday, October 12, 1998 Volume 34—Number 41 Pages 1965–2025

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Addresses and Remarks Bill Signings See also Bill Signings Energy and Water Development Congressional leaders, meeting—2017 Appropriations Act, 1999, statement—1996 Democratic National Committee dinner— Higher Education Amendments of 1998 2002 Remarks—1992 Economic team meeting—2010 Statement—1995 Education legislative agenda—2017 Finance ministers and central bank Bill Vetoes governors—1978 ‘‘Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Health maintenance organizations’ decision to Drug Administration, and Related Agencies opt out of some Medicare markets—2007 Appropriations Act, 1999,’’ message—2006 Impeachment inquiry vote—2010 International Monetary Fund/World Bank, Communications to Congress annual meeting—1983 See also Bill Vetoes Kosovo—2008 Older Americans Act reauthorization, letters— League of Conservation Voters dinner—1998 2012 Legislative agenda—1976, 2017 Telecommunications services payments to National Association of Police Organizations’ Cuba, message—2013 ‘‘ Top Cops’’—2014 Pennsylvania Interviews With the News Media Democratic National Committee dinner in Exchanges with reporters Philadelphia—1969 Cabinet Room—2010 Democratic National Committee reception Colonnade—2016 in Philadelphia—1965 Oval Office—1988 Radio address—1974 Unity ’98 Meetings With Foreign Leaders Luncheon—1975 Hungary, Prime Minister Orban—1988 Reception—1981 Germany, Chancellor-Elect Schroeder—2016

(Continued on the inside of the back cover.)

Editor’s Note: The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is also available on the Inter- net on the GPO Access service at http://www.gpo.gov/nara/nara003.html.

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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Proclamations Statements by the President—Continued Child Health Day—1979 Death of Gene Autry—1965 Columbus Day—2018 Senate action on the ‘‘Internet Tax Freedom General Pulaski Memorial Day—2019 Act’’—2011 German-American Day—1980 Leif Erikson Day—2011 Supplementary Materials National Children’s Day—2020 Acts approved by the President—2025 National Day of Concern About Young People and Gun Violence—1997 Checklist of White House press releases— 2024 Statements by the President Digest of other White House See also Bill Signings announcements—2021 Agriculture legislation—1988 Nominations submitted to the Senate—2022

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Statement on the Death of to me, that I embraced, and that we have Gene Autry worked so hard to pass: the High Hopes October 2, 1998 scholarship program. And we thank him. America is in your debt, Congressman. Hillary and I are saddened to learn of the Thank you. death of Gene Autry. An entire generation And I believe we have one of our can- of Americans has lost a beloved old friend didates for Congress here, too, tonight—Roy from childhood. Gene Autry’s music and Afflerbach. Let’s give him a hand. He’s some- movies captured all that was good and inspir- where. Where are you, Roy? There you go. ing about America’s Old West. His characters [Applause] Thank you. Thank you for run- taught children across America important ning. lessons about courage and freedom, justice I want to thank Steve Grossman for doing and fairplay. And in leaving behind a treasure a superb job as the chairman of the Demo- trove of recordings—from ‘‘Back in the Sad- cratic Party. And we will not tell his mayor dle Again’’ to ‘‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rein- that he bragged on Rendell shamelessly to- deer,’’ America’s First Singing Cowboy will night. [Laughter] I also want to thank Len sing forever. Our thoughts and prayers go out Barrack of Philadelphia for being our finance to the Autry family. chair. He’s doing a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful job. NOTE: This item was not received in time for pub- lication in the appropriate issue. And finally, let me say that the mayor was uncommonly generous tonight, but his ad- ministration is basically the embodiment of Remarks at a Democratic National my philosophy of government. When we Committee Reception in came before the American people, Al Gore Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and I, in 1992, we said we had a different October 2, 1998 idea, that we wanted everyone in America who was a responsible citizen to have oppor- Thank you. Thank you very much for the tunity. We wanted to come together as one warm welcome. [Laughter] I’ve had a won- community across all of our differences of derful time in Philadelphia today, and I am race, religion, politics, income. We wanted deeply indebted to you for being here to- to prove that you could be pro-business and night, for supporting our party, our can- pro-labor. We wanted to prove that you could didates, and what we stand for. be in favor of economic growth and still im- I, too, want to thank Congressman Chaka prove the environment. We wanted to end Fattah for the High Hopes program. He and all these sort of false choices that had been the mayor met me today at the airport with imposed on us by the hot rhetoric of Wash- a number of young children from Philadel- ington for too many years. And we had a dif- phia who are in your school system, in your ferent theory of government, that we thought middle school system. And then later, we sat that the main role of government was to cre- down and drank a soft drink together, and ate the conditions and to give people the I visited with them. And Chaka asked how tools to make the most of their own lives. many of them wanted to go to college, and And all the initiatives that the mayor men- they all wanted to go. And now they and lit- tioned, that he so generously gave me credit erally tens of thousands of children like them for, most all of them were available to a lot all across our country are going to be able of other places, too. But Philadelphia made to go because of the initiative that he brought the most of its opportunities because in no

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small measure of the gifts, the dedication, Americans since statistics have been kept, the and the downright aggression of its mayor. highest homeownership in history. All that And I cannot tell you how much I admire is very good. I’m grateful for that. him for that. But the real question is, what will we do You know, I’m sure all of you have had with this moment? Our friends in the other an experience like this in your life in some party know that in spite of your presence and context or another—by the time somebody generosity here tonight, they always have calls you 15 times and asks you for some- tons more money than we do. I’ll tell you thing, you say, yes, just to stop them, you a little more about that in a minute. [Laugh- know. [Laughter] When Ed Rendell gets all ter] But they also know that oftentimes at over you like a wet blanket about some- these midterm elections, the people who al- thing—[laughter]—you know you might as ways vote in presidential elections, a lot of well just cry ‘‘uncle’’ and go on to something them don’t vote in midterm elections. And else. I say that because the achievements of they tend to be our voters. Why? Well, this city have been truly phenomenal. they’re young parents on modest incomes; And I have always loved coming here. You they have to worry about how to juggle child know, the people of Philadelphia have been care and work, and voting on a work day is quite wonderful to me and Hillary and to another hassle. A lot of them live in cities Al and Tipper, voting for us in record num- and don’t own cars and have transportation bers and by record margins in both elections problems. And how are they going to get to and I’m very, very grateful. work and to the polling place? And that extra Let me just take a few minutes to be a effort is hard to make. little serious with you tonight. I was so moved I tell you, my friends, our enemy is com- today by all the things that were said to me placency. It is not adversity. Adversity is forc- on the street—didn’t even mind the ing us to focus on what is important and what protestors. That’s the American way. But you we believe in and what we’re prepared to like it even more when they’re not in the fight for. And while I think it’s a wonderful majority—[laughter]—and that seemed to be thing that all these good things are happening the case today. But I want you to know that, in our country, you know there are still some on behalf of the First Lady and on my part, people in Philadelphia who have not felt the I’m very grateful for those personal expres- benefits of the things that have been done, sions. and you know there’s more to do. But I do not believe that adversity is the I want you to know that a long way away enemy of the Democratic Party in this elec- from here, in the high plains of America, peo- tion. Indeed, adversity can be our friend, be- ple that work hard to feed you on the farm cause it’s not only good for personal reforma- don’t know there’s been a recovery because tion; it’s good for people to sort of dig down they have to export a lot of their products, deep inside and ask yourself what’s really im- and they’ve been flooded out or burned out portant and what’s really fair. What do you or had diseases. They’ve had all kinds of really care about? What will you act for? problems. And now the Asian markets, where What will you move for? they sell their food, are closed to them be- The real enemy the Democrats have in this cause the folks don’t have any money over election is complacency—because we are there. We could lose 10,000 family farmers doing pretty well as a country. We’ve got the in America this year, at a time of greatest lowest unemployment rate in 28 years and prosperity for the country as a whole in a the lowest percentage of people on welfare generation. in 29 years and the first balanced budget and So we have challenges at home. And I’ve surplus in 29 years, and it’s the biggest in always believed that when times are good, history. We’ve got the best wage growth in the worst thing you can do is kick back and way over 20 years. We’ve got, as Steve Gross- relax. You have to see that as an obligation man said, the biggest drop in Hispanic pov- to look at the real challenges facing the coun- erty in 30 years and the lowest unemploy- try and take them on. That’s what we’ve tried ment rates and poverty rates among African- to do.

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So we, the Democrats, have gone before never thought I’d come to Philadelphia or the American people and we said, ‘‘Look, we go anyplace in America in a political election have a program for this election, and we and say, ‘‘The big issue is, are we going to think it’s worth your voting for. We know fund the IMF?’’ Most Americans don’t know that the other side has tried to offer you— what the IMF is. Sounds like those people for most of you—a modest tax cut. Right that make bowling equipment. [Laughter] here, before the election, they want to spend The International Monetary Fund is a fund the surplus. And we’ve given you a harder to which we and others contribute that helps message.’’ We’ve said, ‘‘Look, we’ve waited countries that are poorer and developing, for this for 29 years. We worked for it for who have good policies, to try to grow their 6 years. Shouldn’t we let the red ink turn economy. Or when they get in trouble, it tries to black and let’s let it dry for a day or two to help them work out of trouble without just before we squander it?’’ being absolutely destroyed. At a time when there’s so much financial For 8 months I’ve been trying to get Amer- turmoil throughout the world, shouldn’t we ica to make its fair share of contribution. set a good example to stabilize the global economy? And even more important, know- Why? Because we can’t lead the world—and ing as we all do—every person in this room you know the troubles that Asia has; you knows that while Social Security is absolutely know the troubles in Russia; you see the im- stable for the people who are now on it and pact, how it echoes in Latin America, our the people who are about to go on it, when fastest growing market for American prod- all the baby boomers get in it is not sustain- ucts. You see people say when the stock mar- able under the present circumstances, be- ket changes here that that has something to cause there will only be two people working do with this financial trouble overseas. for every one person drawing Social Security. We have an obligation not only to others Everybody in this room between the ages throughout the world but to our own econ- of 52 and 34 is a baby boomer. And every- omy. Thirty percent of this growth we’ve en- body I know at least my age—and I’m the joyed has come from selling things to people oldest of the baby boomers—we’re all pro- overseas who had enough money to buy foundly worried that if we don’t do some- them. And when they get in trouble, eventu- thing about this now, when with modest ally we will suffer from that. And already, changes now we can have huge impacts down I’ve told you, our farmers are. the road, that the time will come when we’ll And so I say to you, if you want to keep retire and our country will be confronted the American economic recovery going, if with two terrible choices. Either we’ll have you like the way it’s gone the last 6 years, to put a whopping tax increase on our kids and you’d like to have a few more years of to maintain the system as it is, undermining it, then America has to lead the world away their ability to raise our grandchildren, which from the brink of the worst financial crisis none of us want to do; or, we’ll have to take in decades. And that means we have to pay a whopping cut in Social Security benefits, our fair share to the fund that will do it. And which today keeps one-half of the senior citi- I think that’s something worth voting for. zens in America out of poverty. So I say, tempting though it is before an The third issue worth voting for is edu- election to shovel up a little tax cut, let’s show cation. For 8 months I have had before the a little restraint and a little knowledge of the Congress an education program. We have last 29 years and say, ‘‘No, no, we’re going succeeded in getting bipartisan agreement in to save Social Security first before we spend the balanced budget for tax credits for all it.’’ I believe that’s an issue worth voting on. students to go to college, for the deductibility And, believe me, the elections will send a of interest on student loans, for more Pell message to the Congress about which path grants. Our Democrats put that before the you wish to take. Republicans, and we were able to get biparti- There is a second issue I think is impor- san agreement—and now for Congressman tant. I talked about it all day today, and I Fattah’s High Hopes program. That’s great.

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But you all know that we don’t yet have The fourth thing it does is provide funds a world-class elementary and secondary edu- to hook every classroom in the country up cation system that will guarantee to every to the Internet by the year 2000. Now, I think child, without regard to race or neighbor- those are things that are worth voting for— hood or income, a chance to be able to take I think they’re worth voting for. advantage of those college opportunities. And finally, there’s the Patients’ Bill of And until we do, America will never be ev- Rights, the health care HMO bill of rights. erything it ought to be. Here’s what it says: If you walk out of this And so I came before the Congress and room tonight and, God forbid, you get hit I said, ‘‘Okay, we’ve listened to the educators. by a car, and you’re covered by an HMO I, personally, and Hillary and I have been plan, a managed care plan, you ought to be going into the schools for 20 years now listing able to go to the nearest emergency room, and watching and learning, and here’s our not one clear across town because that’s the program. It’s pretty straightforward.’’ Num- one that happens to be covered by your plan. ber one, in the balanced budget, paid for, It says if your doctors tells you that he or put up enough money for school districts she can’t help you and you need to see a across America to hire 100,000 teachers to specialist, you ought to be able to see one. take average class size down to 18 in the early It says if your employer changes HMO pro- grades. It will make a difference. viders while you’re going through a certain Number two, provide—provide a tax in- medical treatment, you ought to be able to centive that will help to build or repair 5,000 finish with it. school buildings. I went to Jupiter, Florida, Now, let me just tell you what that means. and saw a dozen house trailers outside a How would you feel if you were 7 months school because the population is growing so pregnant and somebody came to you and fast. The mayor took me to a school building said, ‘‘I’m sorry, your employer changed pro- in Philadelphia that was over 65 years old. viders; you’ve got to give up your obstetri- It was one of the most beautiful buildings cian, and here’s Dr. Jones’’? How would you I’ve ever seen, but it wasn’t in good shape feel if someone in your family was under- because there’s not enough money to repair going chemotherapy—I’ve been through all those buildings. And all over America in this, a lot of you have, and you know it’s a the cities, I see people say, ‘‘Oh, our children pretty traumatic thing for families. I remem- are the most important things in the world ber when my mother went through it—we to us.’’ What does it say to them if they walk sat around and tried to make jokes about up the steps every day to a school where the whether she’d lose her hair and what kind windows are broken or a whole floor is closed of wig she’d buy. You get real nervous about down? Very often, people can’t even look out whether your loved one is going to get so the window in some of these places, because sick they can’t eat. Now, this is serious; this they can’t afford to heat and cool them, so happens. How would you feel if you were they just board them up. Five thousand two-thirds of the way through a chemo- school buildings—that’s the second thing it therapy protocol and somebody said, ‘‘I’m does. sorry, you’ve got to change your doctor’’? The third thing it does is to give funds This is big stuff. And I think it’s worth voting to cities for after-school and summer school for—I think it’s worth voting for. programs to help kids who are in trouble. The Congress—the House passed a bill I don’t believe kids should be promoted end- that didn’t guarantee any of those things and lessly if they don’t learn what they’re sup- what little it did guarantee left out 100 mil- posed to learn. But I don’t think the children lion Americans. Then it went to the Senate, should be branded failures because the sys- and our crowd had a right to bring our bill tem fails them. So give them those after- up in the Senate, and they couldn’t keep it school programs and the summer school pro- away. So you know what the leader of the grams and the mentors they need to learn Senate did? He shut the Senate down for what they need to learn. That’s a part of our 4 hours. I mean, turned out the lights. Every- program as well. body got under the desks. Why? Because

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they didn’t want to be recorded as voting was not received in time for publication in the against this, but they didn’t want to make appropriate issue. angry the insurance companies who oppose it. This is the symbol of the difference be- tween the two parties today, make no mistake Remarks at a Democratic National about it. And I think it’s a big deal. Committee Dinner in Philadelphia Now, what have they done with their year October 2, 1998 in the majority? Except for this higher edu- cation bill, I can’t think of much. They killed Thank you very much. I kind of hate to the minimum wage. They killed campaign fi- follow Rendell tonight. [Laughter] It’s a true nance reform. They killed tobacco legislation story, that story you heard about me asking reform that would have protected our chil- if he modeled for these sculptures. [Laugh- dren from the dangers of tobacco. They ter] You know, he did so well tonight, I think killed the Patients’ Bill of Rights. They have he sort of halfway talked himself into believ- continued their assault on the environment. ing it. It was great. [Laughter] They have gone backwards on paying for the I tell you, I would just like to say one seri- International Monetary Fund; they’ve taken ous thing about the mayor. I remember when no action on it. And they’ve taken no action we walked the street here in 1992, when he on the education bill, and they went back- took me into a neighborhood where the wards on saving Social Security first when gangs and the drugs had been cleared out. the House passed their tax plan. It’s over in I remember when we shot baskets together. the Senate now. There is this huge dif- He won. [Laughter] I think I’ve dem- ference. onstrated to the whole world that I’m not And what I want you to do—I thank you always very smart, but I was smart enough for coming here tonight. I thank you for these to know I shouldn’t win that basketball game contributions. We need the money, and we’ll in ’92. [Laughter] I knew the only score I spend it well. But you have to go out and was trying to win was in November and that tell people, there is this cynical idea that you it would help if I took a well-considered dive. won’t vote and that good times makes you [Laughter] No, he beat me fair and square, less likely to vote. And I know it’s more trou- actually. ble for a lot of people you know to vote. But But I want you to know that to me it’s if you believe that America ought to be about just literally thrilling to come here to this city not what goes on in Washington, DC, but to see what has been done, to see the whole what goes on in the neighborhoods of Phila- sort of spirit of the place, to see the neighbor- delphia, in Boston, and in rural North Dakota hoods that have come back, to see the people and in rural Nebraska—if that’s what you be- that are working, to see the projects that are lieve—if you believe in saving Social Security on line. first, if you believe in the Patients’ Bill of And when I became President, I believed Rights, if you believe in education as our top that we needed in Washington to find a way investment priority, if you believe in keeping to reduce the deficit until we balanced the our economic recovery going, then you budget, to reduce the size of Government, should support our party—not just tonight to reduce the burden of regulation, to reduce but on election day. the plethora of programs in a lot of these And I want every one of you to go out areas, but to be more active in creating the every day between now and then and stir it conditions and giving people the tools to up among your friends, and make sure that solve their problems at the grassroots level. we surprise the cynics on election day. And every tool that we put out there, Ed Thank you, and God bless you. Rendell used as well or better as anyone in America. And it is an awesome thing to see. NOTE: The President spoke at 7:25 p.m. in Room 201 at Philadelphia City Hall. In his remarks, he And I just want to thank him for proving referred to Mayor Edward Rendell of Philadel- through this city that this great country can phia; and Roy C. Afflerbach, candidate for Penn- solve its problems, meet its challenges, and sylvania’s 15th Congressional District. This item work in a stunning fashion. I am very grateful

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to him, not only for this friendship and sup- And we said, among other things, if you port but for what he’s done for you and for vote for us we’ll give you a Government that’s our country as mayor. smaller but more active. We’ll reduce the I would like to thank Congressman Bob deficit and balance the budget, but we’ll in- Borski and Congressman Bob Brady and vest more money in education and medical Congressman Chaka Fattah for being with research and the environment. We said we me tonight and for being with me in Wash- would try to deal with some of the challenges ington, where it really counts and where they in the health care system and extend cov- have counted for you. I would like to thank erage to more people. We said that we our State party chair, Tina Tartaglione, a thought we could improve the environment member of the legislature, I know; and Sen- and grow the economy. We thought that we ator Fumo, thank you for coming, and all the could be pro-business and pro-labor. We other public officials who are here. I’d like thought we could have a welfare system that to thank my good friend Marjorie Margolies- required people who were able-bodied to Mezvinsky for running for Lieutenant Gov- work, without hurting them in their more im- ernor and being my friend. portant job, which is raising their children Tonight Hillary is finishing a trip to Uru- by doing what many in the other party want- guay, where they had one of a series of con- ed to do, which was to cut off their guarantee ferences that she’s done around the world. of nutrition and health care benefits to their The last one was in Northern Ireland. children. They’re called Vital Voices conferences, So we had a lot of ideas, and they were where she goes to places and gets together going to be tested. And after 6 years, most women who are working for peace and rec- of those ideas have now been enacted into onciliation and development, and dealing law and have been for some time part of the with health and family related problems. And public policy of our country. I am very grate- Marjorie has helped her a lot on that, and ful for where America is tonight and grateful I’m very, very grateful to her, and for so that you gave me the chance to do what I much else. Finally, let me say I want to thank Len have done to contribute to that and grateful Barrack for doing a fabulous job as the fi- for your contributions. I’m grateful that we nance director of the DNC. The job has been have the lowest unemployment rate in 28 good for him. He’s even wearing three-but- years and the lowest crime in 25 years and ton suits now. [Laughter] Taken years off his the smallest percentage of people on welfare life. Looks so much younger. in 29 years and now the first balanced budget Let me say very briefly, Ed talked about and surplus in 29 years. And we have record some of these issues tonight, but I would like numbers of new businesses in each of the to try to put this in some historical perspec- last 6 years, the fastest rising wages in over tive. In 1992, when the citizens of this city 20 years, the lowest poverty rate among Afri- gave Al Gore and me a great vote of endorse- can-Americans ever recorded, the biggest ment and helped us to win the State of Penn- drop among Hispanics in 30 years. I’m grate- sylvania, which was pivotal in our victory, we ful for all that. ran on a platform of change that said we The real question I want you to think didn’t like very much what was going on in about tonight when you leave here is why Washington and just the constant, endless, you came here—besides the fact that Ed partisan bickering and rhetoric and setting made you—[laughter]—why you came here up the American people against each other— and what you’re going to do when you leave. business against labor, the economy against Because for all the kind and generous and the environment, dividing the races, dividing wonderful things that the people of Philadel- present citizens against immigrants—all phia said to me today and the messages they these things were going on as if there were gave, through me, to Hillary today, I have no way out of these boxes that would build to tell you that I think that the biggest chal- America, that would bring us together and lenge we face in this election season is not move us forward. adversity, but complacency.

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Painful though it is, I think adversity is our human face on the global economy, so that friend, not only for reasons of personal devel- all these people in other countries that we opment and change but because when adver- depend upon to buy our products and serv- sity affects any group of people, it forces you ices really believe that this system will work to dig down deep and ask yourself what you for them. If you want freedom and free en- believe in, what you’re doing, whatever terprise to work around the world, it has to you’re doing it for, and what you intend to work for real people, just like it does in this do tomorrow. country. Otherwise, it’s not sustainable. And usually when times are good like this, We have to prove all over the world that people relax. And with these elections com- we can improve the environment and grow ing up, our friends in the Republican Party, the economy, that there is not a connection they believe they’re going to be successful between environmental destruction and eco- for two reasons: One, in spite of your pres- nomic growth anymore; and there isn’t, by ence here today, they always have tons more the way, on the evidence. money than we do, which they spend very Now, we have to prove that we can get cleverly at the end. And secondly, they know more and more and more diverse racially, that at midterm elections typically people religiously, culturally, politically, and still find who always vote in Presidential elections a way to come together as one America. don’t go vote. They don’t go vote. Those are just some of the really big chal- And a lot of our folks—Ed talked about lenges out there facing us. the child care issue—for a lot of the people What does that mean when you come that normally vote with our people, it’s a lot more trouble for them to go vote. They have down to the present day? Ed talked about to balance children and work and worry a couple things. I think the biggest decisions about child care, and election day is a work facing us right now are: one, a decision to day, and it’s a hassle. do the right thing for our children and our And so I ask you, we have to decide, what parents and not spend this surplus until we is it that we should as a people do with this have overhauled the Social Security system moment of prosperity, with this moment of in the 21st century; two, I think that we confidence? And I would argue to you that should make a clear commitment that we are we ought to think about the big challenges going to continue to lead the world economi- facing this country over the long run and the cally, that we recognize our own economy specific things we ought to be doing right and our prosperity cannot be maintained if now. everybody else in the world gets in trouble, If you look at the big challenges over the and there are too many people in trouble long run facing America, what are they? now in the world. And we have to lead the Well, at home, when the baby boomers re- world. That means that Congress ought to tire, we have got to modify Social Security give me the money—not for me, to our coun- and Medicare so it’s there for the people that try—to contribute to the International Mon- need it at a cost that doesn’t bankrupt our etary Fund so we can keep this economy children. It’s a big challenge. going. That’s very important; three, Ed We’ve got to make sure that to go along talked about education. Let me just—8 with the finest higher education system in months ago in the State of the Union, I gave the world we can offer world-class elemen- the Congress an education plan designed to tary and secondary education to every child make concrete my belief that we had to make without regard to race or income or neigh- sure every 8-year-old could read, every 12- borhood. We can’t say that today, and we’ve year-old could log on to the Internet, every got to be able to say that. 18-year-old could go to college, and every We’ve got to modify the international fi- adult could keep learning for a lifetime—to nancial systems and trading systems so that try to make real my belief that we’ve got to we don’t have the kind of instability you see be able to say that all the kids in this country today in Asia and Russia, and so that they have access to a world-class elementary and work for ordinary people; so that we put a secondary education.

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And the program I put before the Con- We wanted to give 35,000 bright young gress was not a partisan program. It was people college scholarships and pay all their based on the best ideas I could find around expenses and say, now you can go out and the country and the 20 years of experience pay all your college debt off by going into that Hillary and I have had going into class- educationally underserved areas in the inner rooms, going into schools, and looking at the cities and rural areas and teaching for a few research. So we did. We said, ‘‘Look, we’ll years and paying your expenses off. We want- put 100,000 teachers out there. They will all ed to provide the funds to hook up every be well trained. And we’ll put them in the classroom in the country to the Internet by early grades so we can lower average class the year 2000. And all that is paid for in the size to 18, because all the research shows balanced budget. that small classes in the early grades guaran- And the fourth thing we wanted to do was tee more individual attention, higher levels to try to have some uniform rules for HMO’s. of learning, and permanent learning bene- And 43—43 HMO’s have supported the Pa- fits.’’ tients’ Bill of Rights because they want to Then we will do what Ed talked about with do this, and they don’t think they can eco- the school facilities, because there are so nomically unless it’s the same rules for every- many places where the school population is body. And the rules are pretty simple. If growing now, where there are these tem- you’re in an accident and you have to get porary classrooms. I was in one little town in an ambulance, you ought to be taken to in Florida that had 12 of these behind one the nearest emergency room, not one clear building, one school building. And then there across town because it’s the one that’s cov- are a lot of cities that have magnificent build- ered. If your doctor says you need to see a ings, like Philadelphia, that simply can’t be specialist, you can see one. If you’re in the maintained and repaired given the present middle of treatment and your employer budget. changes providers, they can’t make you So we put a program forward that will change doctors in the middle of a pregnancy allow us to build or repair 5,000 school build- or a chemotherapy treatment. And you get ings, be a good start on America’s school to have your records remain private. challenge. We say our kids are the most im- Now, those are four specific examples of portant things in the world, but what kind the big problems, of the things we can do of a message does it give a child to walk up right now to address these big problems. the steps to a school building where the win- Now, what’s happened on the other side? dows are broken out, or a whole floor is Our friends in the other party with their ma- closed down, or all the windows have to be jority this year, here’s what they’ve done on boarded up because nobody can afford the those four things. Number one, on Social Se- utility bills because they haven’t been insu- curity first, the House passed a tax cut be- lated properly? I see this kind of stuff all over cause it’s appealing 4 or 5 weeks before an America. election. And the Senate has it now, and I The third thing we wanted to do was to think they may have figured out that the peo- give districts the encouragement to impose ple may be a little more broadminded and high standards on kids and to stop just pro- farsighted than they think, because I’m not moting them whether they were learning sure they’ll send it to me and let me veto anything or not, but not to brand the children it. [Laughter] failures because the system is a failure. So Number two, on the International Mone- we wanted to give districts the opportunity tary Fund, most of the people who imme- to have mentoring programs, after-school diately know about this are Republicans, programs, summer school programs, so that international business people. The Senate kids could be held to higher standards, but passed it overwhelmingly. We’re still waiting would not be branded failures and, instead, for the House to vote for it, and every single would be helped if they were prepared in day that goes by we run the risk of increased school district after school district after instability in the world and increased risk to school district to have those standards. America. Now, I’ve been waiting for this for

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8 months, and I’m telling you, this is a big among yourselves. What do you think the American issue. Still no action. really big challenges facing this country are On education, no action. On the health going to be in the next 25 or 30 years? What care bill of rights, the House passed a bill do you think the things are that we could that guarantees none of these rights—none do right now that would address them most? that I mentioned—and cuts 100 million And if you believe we ought to save Social Americans out what little it did guarantee. Security before we squander the first surplus And so it went to the Senate. Now, in the we’ve had in a generation, if you believe we Senate the rules are different, and our guys should pass this health care bill of rights, if can bring up our bill. So when we tried to you believe that we should put education first bring up our bill, the majority leader of the among our investment priorities, if you Senate—I never thought I’d live to see this— think—we ought to do what is necessary to they shut the Senate down the other night. keep America strong economically and in the They closed the house for four hours to keep leadership of the world economy and fighting the Patients’ Bill of Rights from being consid- for peace and freedom. ered. They just turned the lights out. People Our strength, economically, enables us to got under their desk, or did whatever they be a force for peace in Northern Ireland; en- did. [Laughter] It was death by the stealth ables us to continue to hold out hope of to the Patients’ Bill of Rights. Why? Because peace and work for it in the Middle East; they did not want to be recorded being enables us to do what we’re trying to do now against what they fully intended to kill. to avert a horrible incidence of the death of Now, a few other things have happened innocents in Kosovo this winter; enables us this year. They killed the minimum wage in- to try to work with other countries to bring crease. They killed campaign finance reform, down the threat of terrorism and nuclear which would have relieved you of some of weapons and chemical and biological weap- the pain of being here tonight. [Laughter] ons. It all rests on America’s sense of strength They killed the tobacco reform legislation, and purpose. which would have protected our children Now, if you believe that we ought to be from what is still the number one public for those things, and if you believe this elec- health problem in America today. tion ought to be about you and your children Now, that is what is happening. This stuff and your grandchildren and the other people matters. And, oh, by the way, in the way of that live in Philadelphia, then I would chal- tax cuts, we had a targeted tax cut program, lenge you not to leave your citizenship re- and it covered child care, as Ed Rendell said. sponsibilities with the signing of the check It helped small businesses take out pension that you wrote to get here tonight, because plans for their employees. And it was all paid the direction of these issues will be deter- for. mined not only by how people vote but And on health care, we did have a provi- whether they vote. sion so that 55- to 65-year-old people could And so I say in closing, adversity is not buy into health care plans, because a huge our enemy—complacency is. This is the number of them are forced into early retire- greatest country in history. For 220 years, ment or their spouses go on Medicare, but against all the odds, no matter what happens, they can’t, so they lose their employer-based we always somehow figure out how to do the coverage, don’t have any health insurance. right thing to get a little closer to our ideals And it doesn’t cost much money. No action. of a more perfect Union, of freedom and op- So I say to you, what is really at stake here portunity for everybody. And we can do it is about whether this election is about Wash- this time. But we need your voice. We need ington or about you; whether it’s about power your efforts. We need you to talk like I’m and politics or people; whether it’s about par- talking to you to everybody you see between tisanship or progress. now and November. And when you leave here tonight, I want So when you go home tonight and you ask you to really think—go home and just talk. yourself, why did I go there? I hope your If you’ve got couples here tonight, talk answer will be, because I wanted to know

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exactly what I should do as a citizen in the ple around the world and help our farmers next 5 weeks to do right by my country in here at home. And I’ve directed Secretary the 21st century. of Agriculture Dan Glickman to do every- Thank you, and God bless you. thing within his authority to help farmers who have suffered significant losses and to NOTE: The President spoke at 9:15 p.m. in Room give them the resources they need now to 202 at Philadelphia City Hall. In his remarks, he plan next spring’s crops. But with crop and referred to Mayor Edward Rendell of Philadel- phia; and State Senator Vincent Fumo. This item livestock prices still dropping, with foreign was not received in time for publication in the markets still in danger of collapse, with fam- appropriate issue. ily farms still in jeopardy, we know we must do more. As we near the end of the legislative ses- The President’s Radio Address sion and finish our work on the budget, we October 3, 1998 have a real opportunity to protect our farm- ers. The strict budget rules permit special Good morning. This week I announced measures for one-time emergencies. And that we’ve closed the book on nearly three make no mistake, for America’s farm families decades of deficits. Today I want to talk this is a real emergency, as harmful as a hur- about another challenge we must face to ricane, a flood, or a riot. keep our economy and our Nation growing So this summer, I sent a proposal to Con- strong: protecting America’s farmers and gress for emergency aid for our farmers, and ranchers. I backed a proposal by Senators Harkin and For nearly 6 years now, strengthening our Daschle to lift the cap on marketing loan economy has been my top priority as Presi- rates for one year. Since then, we’ve dent. Today, because of the hard work of the American people, these are good times for strengthened our proposal to help hundreds our country, with nearly 17 million new jobs, of thousands of farmers while honoring the wages rising, the lowest unemployment in budget rules. nearly 30 years, the lowest inflation in more Congress is now considering a package than 30 years. which, though it adopts many of the protec- But for the farmers and ranchers whose tions we’ve proposed, still does not do hard work has helped to build our new pros- enough for farmers who are suffering from perity, times are not as good. In fact, Ameri- the lowest prices in decades. I call on Con- ca’s farms are facing the worst crisis in more gress not to leave town before they’ve sent than a decade. This year flood and drought me a comprehensive plan that protects farm- and crop disease have wiped out entire har- ers by strengthening the safety net at this vests. Plummeting prices here at home and very difficult time. collapsing markets in Asia have threatened With Congress in town for just a few more the livelihood of entire communities. days, we must take another critical step to Many farmers will see their net income help our farmers and ranchers who rely on this year drop by as much as 40 percent exports to make a living and support their below a 5-year average. Farm failures have families. Farm products from one of every become so common that in some parts of three acres planted in America are sold our country trained farm auctioneers have abroad. And when those markets stumble, been brought out of retirement. Families our farmers take a fall, too. who have farmed the same land for genera- Just this week the New York Times ran tions are giving up and moving to town. a story that described the tons of wheat, ap- We’ve already taken steps to help farmers ples, and other farm goods piling up on our and ranchers weather the crisis. In August docks because Asian customers can no longer I signed new legislation to speed up farm afford them. That is why we must give the program payments. Next week we’ll purchase International Monetary Fund the resources another allotment of the $250 million of it needs to help our customers in Asia so that wheat we pledged to buy to feed hungry peo- they can continue to buy our farm products.

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Congress has had months and months to in the House and the Senate. I think that’s create a stronger IMF, better able to deal very important. with the most serious financial challenge the We are seeing the potential of a replay of world has faced in 50 years. Now, each day that now, as we get closer and closer to the Congress delays on IMF, our farmers, our election and the feelings of the American ranchers, our economy, our future suffer. people become apparent. In a few days I’ll It’s way past time for Congress to act on get a chance to sign a higher education bill the IMF and do the right thing for our farm- which has a big drop in the interest rates ers. Our farming families are the lifeblood on student loans and a program to provide of our land or, as President Franklin Roo- mentors for inner-city kids in their junior sevelt once called them, ‘‘the source from high school years or middle school years that which the reservoirs of our Nation’s strength will include a guarantee of access to funds are constantly renewed.’’ to go to college, if they stay out of trouble, We cannot afford to let them fail. And with stay in school, and learn. these steps, we will strengthen and support These things would absolutely be impos- our farms and our farm families, just as they sible in the present array of Congress with have sustained us throughout our history. the Republicans in the majority, if we weren’t Thanks for listening. working together. So there is a substantive benefit to that. NOTE: The address was recorded at 9:51 p.m. on Now, let me say where we are now is a October 2 at the Wyndham Hotel in Philadelphia, position that I think is virtually unprece- Pennsylvania, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on Octo- dented in 150 years. In 150 years of Amer- ber 3. This transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on October 2 but ican political history, the President’s party in was embargoed for release until the broadcast. the midterm elections nearly always lose, and in the second term of the President, I don’t think there’s an exception. But we are on the Remarks at a Unity ’98 Luncheon verge of having an exception, and I would October 5, 1998 like to tell you why and why I think your investment is well made. Thank you very much. Let me begin by Normally, these midterm elections have a saying that we decided, Tom and Dick and big fall-off in voter turnout. And that is the I, after we found ourselves in the minority assumption and, indeed, what our opponents in 1995 and we were facing the Republican are literally working for and hoping for and contract on America, that if we stayed to- praying for, because a lot of the people that gether, that our policy positions could prevail vote for us would never be able to come into and that what we wanted to do for the coun- a home like this except to maybe serve lunch. try would be much more difficult to do but And it’s a big hassle for a lot of them to vote; that we could still get a lot of it done. you know, they have to worry about child And we had that terrible experience of the care and the job and getting to vote and all Government shutdown in late ’95 and ’96. that. But after that, when the American people When I was in Philadelphia with Peter and made their voices heard, we had a good elec- others a couple of days ago, a friend of mine tion in ’96. We had a balanced budget agree- from New Jersey came over and brought me ment, which closed the remaining 8 percent a survey that had just been done in New Jer- of the gap in balancing the budget, but im- sey asking people if in the current climate portantly, should give us a balanced budget they were more or less likely to vote in the for years and years to come, with a lot of midterm elections. Fifty percent said they our priorities in it, including health care for were more likely. Ten percent said they were 5 million kids and the widest opening of the less likely. Fifty percent of the Republicans doors of college since the GI bill. None of said they were more likely—49 percent of that would have happened if we hadn’t the Democrats—I mean, 49 percent of the worked together. And I could not have done independents, 57 percent of the Democrats any of it if it hadn’t been for the Democrats said they were more likely to go and vote.

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So what is important for us is we don’t they did; we had more people retiring than have to run a negative campaign. All we have they did. to do is say, you know, what their agenda But in ’96, when we picked up a few is. Our agenda is, first of all, to see America House seats, lost two Senate seats, we were lead in heading off this crisis in the global outspent in the close races the last 10 days, financial system, beginning with funding the near as I can tell, four to one, or more. That International Monetary Fund contribution so will give you an idea of the level of disadvan- we can keep the economy going at home. tage here, and it also might explain why they Secondly, don’t spend the surplus now on a killed campaign finance reform this year. But tax cut just before the election or right after we can do this. And we can do it simply by the election; save the Social Security system doing what is right for America. It’s not a first. Thirdly, continue education as our first complicated strategy. There’s no twist and investment priority. Fourthly, pass this HMO turn to it. It’s very straightforward and, I bill of rights, which, interestingly enough, has think, self-evident. more than three-quarters support of the So I feel good about where we are, good American people without regard to party— about where we’re going, and very grateful it’s a uniform issue across the board—which to all of you, because the American people they killed. And then, obviously, the other need stability and strength and a clear mes- things that we believe in, including protect- sage on this economic issue, on the education ing the environment as we continue to grow issue, on the Social Security issue. And I the economy. think if we give it to them, we’re going to But if we run on the strength of the econ- be just fine, and it’s going to be quite surpris- omy and our responsibility in the world econ- ing to a lot of the pundits. But none of it omy to keep America’s economy strong, on would be possible if you weren’t willing to the education issue, on the saving Social Se- come here today and do your part and then curity first, these issues are very, very power- some, and we’re very grateful. ful, and they stand in stark contrast to the Thank you very much. evident priorities of the majority in Congress. So we actually have a chance to do some- NOTE: The President spoke at 1:20 p.m. at a pri- thing never before done here, but it will not vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to Sen- happen unless, first of all, we stay together ator Thomas A. Daschle and Representative Rich- ard A. Gephardt. A tape was not available for ver- and, secondly, we have enough funds to get ification of the contentof these remarks. our message out. We don’t have to have as much money as they do. We’ll never have as much money as they do. But we have a Remarks on the Legislative Agenda chance to do something literally without October 5, 1998 precedent in 20th century American political history, just by doing the right thing. It’s not Good afternoon. From the beginning of even complicated. We just have to stand up our efforts to create the economic renais- there and fight for what is evidently in the sance America now enjoys, Congressman interest of the American people. Gephardt and Senator Daschle have been And that is what your investment will be tireless in working for that change. Especially used to do. And they’ll do it right. I’ve never in these last few weeks as the congressional seen the Democrats more well focused on session has entered its crucial final stage and how to do this business and how to be there the political season has intensified, these two in the last 10 days of the election when very leaders have stood above the crowd in their often—and to give you an example, in 1996, constant efforts to elevate progress over par- when we picked up several House seats and tisanship. lost two Senate seats in what was a very bad I realize that the calendar says the election rotation for us—the next three rotations, by is just a month away. The calendar also says the way, are good for us in the Senate elec- it is now 8 months since I sent the Congress tions. We’ve had three that were terrible, in a budget, 5 months since the legal deadline terms of we always had more seats up than for Congress to pass a budget resolution. And

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as all of you know, the fiscal year ended last classes in the early grades, with after-school week. Yet so far, Congress has sent me only and summer school programs to help stu- 2 of 13 appropriations bills necessary to keep dents raise higher—achieve higher academic our Government running. On Friday the standards, with thousands of modernized temporary spending measure I signed will schools for the 21st century. run out. I want to work with Congress to And fourth, in these last few days, Con- get this important work done. There is still gress must act to protect, not gut, the envi- time for real achievement, still time for ronment. Republicans in Congress have progress over partisanship. sought to slip unacceptable provisions into That is why today I stand with Representa- unrelated bills that would cripple wildlife tive Gephardt and Senator Daschle to call protection, force overcutting of our national on the congressional majority. Time is run- ning short. Congress has important work left forests, deny taxpayers a fair return on oil to do: Pass the necessary spending bills to leasing, thwart commonsense efforts to ad- keep the Government running; save Social dress global warming. If they insist on send- Security for future generations; ensure a ing these antienvironmental riders to my quality education for all our children; protect desk, again I will veto them. America from the global economic turmoil. Fifth, Congress must act to address a range These are the priorities of the American peo- of pressing emergencies that simply cannot ple, and they must be the priorities of Con- wait for a new congressional session, emer- gress in these last days before the election. gencies including supporting our troops in First, we must save Social Security first. Bosnia, maintaining our military readiness Last week I was privileged to announce the worldwide, providing assistance to our farm- first budget surplus in a generation. Congress ers who are in real crisis out there, protecting must not lose this spirit of fiscal discipline. American citizens from terrorism, and pro- I have proposed tax cuts, but they’re fully viding resources to address the year 2000 paid for. If the Congress sends me a tax plan computer problem. that drains billions from the surplus before For two administrations the budget rules saving Social Security, I will veto it. We’ve under which both parties have operated have worked too hard for too long to abandon fis- accommodated such emergencies. Troops in cal discipline and our economic strength and the field and citizens in crisis should never to weaken our commitment to Social Security be subject to partisan wrangling. This is what just because it’s election time. Second, we must act to protect our pros- we ought to do. We ought to save Social Se- perity in this turbulent international econ- curity first, pass the education program, pro- omy by meeting our obligations to the Inter- tect our own economy, and do what we national Monetary Fund. The world is wait- should do to lead the world away from world ing—literally, the world is waiting—for Con- financial crisis, pass the Patients’ Bill of gress to step up to America’s responsibility, Rights, avoid these environmentally destruc- provide funds to the IMF, and give us the tive riders. There is still time for us to put tools we need to pull teetering economies the people of our country ahead of politics, back from the brink and to keep America’s and I hope we’ll do it. economic prosperity going. It would be unac- Now I’d like to ask Senator Daschle and ceptable for Congress to leave Washington Congressman Gephardt to say a word. before acting. Third, we must continue to invest in edu- cation. As the leaders here with me and NOTE: The President spoke at 3:17 p.m. on the about 50 other Members of Congress asked South Lawn at the White House. The transcript made available by the Office of the Press Sec- last week, we seek just one day for Congress retary also included the remarks of Senator to consider the education measures I have Thomas A. Daschle and Representative Richard proposed, to pass a plan to provide our A. Gephardt. schools with the tools they need, with 100,000 teachers so we can have smaller

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Remarks to Finance Ministers and pleased to hear that both the G–7 and the Central Bank Governors IMF interim committee have agreed to look October 5, 1998 at ways of strengthening our capacity for sta- bility by establishing a new precautionary fi- The President. First of all, let me wel- nancial facility to help countries ward off fi- come all of you here to the United States. nancial contagion. Every leading industrial It is a great honor for us to host this terribly economy has a role to play, including the important meeting. United States, by securing full support for Three weeks ago, at the Council on For- IMF funding, Japan, by moving quickly to eign Relations in New York, I asked Sec- address its economic and financial chal- retary Rubin and Chairman Greenspan to lenges. call together their counterparts from key Tonight’s meeting is an opportunity for us emerging and industrial economies to discuss to look at not only the immediate crisis but ways of building a new financial architecture to look further into the future. We must en- for the 21st century and to also evaluate the sure that the international financial architec- specific measures that we should take to- ture is prepared for the new challenges of gether to deal with the current crisis. And our time, especially the challenge of building I offered some ideas of my own on that day. a system that will lessen and manage the risks We began these discussions on reforming in the global market to allow countries to the international financial architecture at the reap the benefits of free-flowing capital in G–7 meeting in Naples back in 1994. It a way that is safe and sustainable. I think seems like a century ago, when you think of this is imperative if we are to maintain global how quickly the world has changed since support among ordinary citizens for free then. In Halifax, in 1995, the G–7 followed markets and ultimately for free governments. up with the establishment of the special data dissemination standard, the IMF supple- We must find ways that do not penalize mental reserve facility, the new arrange- those nations who follow strong economic ments to borrow. policies in times of crisis that will minimize But clearly this is not just a task for the the frequency, severity, and human cost of G–7 alone. This is an issue which, as we see, the financial crisis, that will put in place so- affects every nation in the world. That is why cial structures to protect the most defense- last year, when the APEC leaders met in less, and that will promote broad democratic Vancouver, we called for a process that per- support, which is necessary for economic mitted the world’s leading economies and the change. world’s emerging economies to work to- You are doing important work, perhaps the gether. And this effort began in April of this most important work the world can be doing year. at this moment in history. The institutional The expansion of international markets reforms that flow from all this work will and the growth of the global economy over shape the global financial system for the next the past 50 years has helped to lift millions half-century. The way we move forward and millions of people out of poverty; it has using our work here tonight will help to de- raised living standards for millions more. But termine the course of our children’s future. as we see, the fast-paced, high-volume global We must do whatever it takes to build them capital markets also can react swiftly and a future of stable and sustained progress and harshly when countries stray from sound limitless opportunity. policies. And the markets also can overreact, I am convinced that, as formidable as the subjecting even countries following good challenges may seem, it is well within our policies to severe pressures. grasp if we determine to do what it takes. When the tides of global finance turn Thank you very much. against a country, the human costs can be great. This weekend you’ve held important [At this point, Treasury Secretary Robert talks on the immediate steps we can take to Rubin made brief remarks on how the meet- limit the present financial crisis. And I was ing should proceed.]

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The President. Let me say, from my per- in hospitals with their newborns until they spective, two things would be especially help- and their doctors decide they are ready to ful to hear from all of you: First of all, briefly, leave. Although we can be heartened by what you think the causes of the present pre- these important achievements, we must do dicament are; and secondly, what you believe more if we are to overcome the many health we should do, not only in the immediate challenges our children still face. present but over the long run with the archi- Recent studies show that children without tecture of the financial system. And insofar health insurance are more likely to be sick as there are new ideas to be advanced, I think as newborns, less likely to be immunized, and we owe it to ourselves to say not only what less likely to receive treatment for recurring the potential positive impacts are but what- illnesses. One of the great accomplishments ever potential negative consequences might of my Administration has been the creation flow from the changes that we advocate. of the Children’s Health Insurance Program And I would like to just suggest—if they’re (CHIP), which I called for in my 1997 State willing, I’d like to ask the head of the Mexi- of the Union and signed into law just a year can central bank, Mr. Ortiz, to begin; and ago. CHIP provides $24 billion to help States perhaps Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of offer affordable health insurance to children the Exchequer, would follow; and then, per- in eligible working families—the single larg- haps Minister of Finance Tharin from Thai- est investment in children’s health since the land. And after those three talk, then we’ll passage of Medicaid in 1965. CHIP will pro- just open the floor and have a free-ranging vide health care coverage, including prescrip- discussion. tion drugs, and vision, hearing, and mental health services, to as many as 5 million unin- NOTE: The President spoke at 5:31 p.m. in the ballroom at the Sheraton Luxury Collection Hotel. sured children; and in its first year, nearly In his remarks, he referred to Guillermo Ortiz, four out of five States already are participat- Governor, Bank of Mexico; Chancellor of the Ex- ing in CHIP. We are also working hard to chequer Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom; identify and enroll in Medicaid the more and Minister of Finance Tharin Nimmanhemin than 4 million children who are currently eli- of Thailand. The transcript made available by the gible to receive health care through that pro- Office of the Press Secretary also included the gram but are not enrolled. The challenge be- remarks of Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin. fore us now is to realize the promise of CHIP and Medicaid by reaching out to families to Proclamation 7132—Child Health inform them of their options for health care Day, 1998 coverage. Due to recent breakthroughs in medical October 5, 1998 knowledge, we know that the decisions we By the President of the United States make even before our children are born can of America have a significant impact on their future health. That is why we are committed to A Proclamation fighting, among other afflictions, the tragic As caring parents and citizens, we must consequences of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. In do all we can to ensure that our children, this country, thousands of infants are born our Nation’s greatest resource, lead safe and each year suffering from the physical and healthy lives. Today, thanks to scientific mental effects of this disorder. Because its breakthroughs and increased public aware- effects are devastating, causing permanent ness, we have the ability to prevent many damage, the simplest and best measure that of the childhood illnesses and disorders of expectant mothers can take for the safety of the past. We have raised immunization rates their babies is to abstain from drinking alco- to an all-time high, ensured that prescription hol throughout their pregnancies. drugs will be adequately tested for children, As part of my Administration’s ongoing ef- conducted research to help protect children forts to protect our children from the effects from environmental health risks, and estab- of alcohol and other substance abuse, Sec- lished protections so that mothers can stay retary of Health and Human Services Donna

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Shalala recently announced a new campaign, nial period, more Germans arrived on these ‘‘Your Time—Their Future,’’ to recruit shores and made their homes throughout the adults to help children and adolescents de- Thirteen Colonies. Today, almost a quarter velop healthy and useful skills and interests. of the American people can trace their roots Research shows that the guidance and exam- back to Germany. ple of caring adults can play an important German Americans have had an important part in helping young people resist the attrac- and lasting impact not only on the growth tion of alcohol and other harmful or illegal of our Nation, but also on the formation of substances. many of our deepest values. As skilled and To acknowledge the importance of our industrious farmers, German Americans have children’s health, the Congress, by joint reso- shared their love for the land and a strong lution approved May 18, 1928, as amended sense of family and community. With a deep (36 U.S.C. 143), has called for the designa- respect for education and the arts, they have tion of the first Monday in October as ‘‘Child broadened the cultural life of the commu- Health Day’’ and has requested the President nities in which they live. And, from their ear- to issue a proclamation in observance of this liest days in this country, Germans and Ger- day. man Americans have revered freedom, as Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, epitomized by the service of General President of the United States of America, Friedrich von Steuben during America’s do hereby proclaim Monday, October 5, struggle for independence and by the dedica- 1998, as Child Health Day. I call upon fami- tion of the entirely German American Pro- lies, schools, communities, and governments vost Corps which, under the command of to dedicate themselves to protecting the Major Bartholomew von Heer, served as health and well-being of all our children. General Washington’s personal guard unit In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set during the Revolutionary War. my hand this fifth day of October, in the year All of us can take pride in the accomplish- of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety- ments of German Americans—as soldiers eight, and of the Independence of the United and statesmen, scientists and musicians, arti- States of America the two hundred and twen- sans and educators. It is fitting that we set ty-third. aside this special day to remember and cele- William J. Clinton brate how much German Americans have done to preserve our ideals, enrich our cul- [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, ture, and strengthen our democracy. 8:45 a.m., October 7, 1998] Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United States of America, NOTE: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on October 8. by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, October Proclamation 7133—German- 6, 1998, as German-American Day. I encour- American Day, 1998 age all Americans to recognize and celebrate October 5, 1998 the many gifts that millions of people of Ger- man descent have brought to this Nation and By the President of the United States that have enriched the lives of our citizens. of America In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of October, in the year A Proclamation of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety- From the time our republic was born, Ger- eight, and of the Independence of the United man Americans have enriched our national States of America the two hundred and twen- life and culture. Many, seeking religious free- ty-third. dom, first settled in and around Philadelphia William J. Clinton more than 300 years ago; and to this day, one of the largest neighborhoods in that city [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, is called Germantown. Throughout the colo- 8:45 a.m., October 7, 1998]

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NOTE: This proclamation was published in the cause they’re going to outspend us phenome- Federal Register on October 8. nally, an election in which they believe they have an enormous advantage because a lot Remarks at a Unity ’98 Reception of Democratic voters normally don’t vote when there’s no Presidential election. They October 5, 1998 say, ‘‘Oh, well, our voters have to worry about Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we child care and jobs and voting on the same have all been sitting up here on this stage day. That’s a lot of trouble,’’ or ‘‘Our voters listening to each other with a lot of echoes, are young. They just don’t get into it in mid- wondering if you could hear us out here. Can term election.’’ And all the things you’ve you hear us all speaking? [Applause] We de- heard. cided either you could hear us better than I want to tell you why you’re here tonight. we could hear each other, or you were the You’re here to reverse 100 years of history, most polite audience in human history. and you’re here to make the next 100 years [Laughter] of America’s history. You’re here to make a Let me begin by thanking you personally decision. Most of you in this audience tonight for being here tonight, for your support for are young, and I am not. So I can tell you our party and our campaign in the Congress one thing: It doesn’t take long to live a life. this year. I want to thank Steve Grossman It doesn’t take long to move from your age for a magnificent job as head of our party tonight until you’re the age of those of us and for the work he has done with Senator on this platform. And the decisions you make Torricelli and Representative Pelosi, who in one point of your life for your country can have been wonderful working together in shape everything that happens when you unity to try to pool our resources and maxi- have your children and you raise them to be mize our impact. I want to thank Dick Gep- the age that you are now. hardt and Tom Daschle for truly extraor- We have fought and fought and fought for dinary leadership. 6 years to change the direction of America, You know, since the Republicans won the to give you an economy that works for all House of Representatives and the Senate in the people not just a few, to bring the crime 1994, we have defeated their contract on rate down and to help more kids stay out America; we passed a balanced budget that of trouble in the first place, to move people had the biggest increase in health care for from welfare to work in a way that was hu- children and the biggest increase in college mane so they could still succeed in their most access since the GI bill. And every other pro- important jobs, raising children, to grow the gressive thing that has been done since I’ve economy and still preserve the environment, been President, none of it would have been to be a force for world peace and humanity, possible without the Democrats in Congress, and to be a force for bringing us together and I am very grateful to them, but especially here at home across all the lines that divide these last 4 long years when time after time us. Those are the issues at stake in this elec- after time, if they hadn’t been with me, there tion. would have been no one to say no to moving If you look at the differences between the this country into an extreme position, no to two parties, one that will affect you more moving this country away from the progres- than me is whether we are going to save this sive path on which we put it, and yes to the surplus until we save Social Security for the initiatives we’ve taken. So we owe them a 21st century instead of putting a big tax in- great debt of gratitude, and for that I am crease on you to take care of your parents. very grateful. You know where they stand. They voted for Let’s talk about why you’re here tonight, a popular election-year tax cut to give peo- besides to hear Brian, who was fabulous. Was ple—a modest cut—to say, ‘‘Here’s your little he great, or what? [Applause] gift before the election.’’ In a month we’re going to have an election, And we stood up and said that may be ap- a midterm election, an election in which our pealing. Look at our tax cuts for child care, opponents believe they will do quite well be- for education, for the environment. They’re

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paid for in our balanced budget bill, and is practically essential if we want to keep we’re not going beyond them until we save America’s economic prosperity going. Social Security because we don’t want to bur- And over and over and over again people den our children and our grandchildren. It said, ‘‘We appreciate the lead you’re taking, is the right thing to do. Mr. President, but the Congress of the We have asked for 8 long months—the United States won’t even fund America’s par- other day the people here on this platform, ticipation in the International Monetary and I asked just for one day—just one day— Fund.’’ If you want to send a message, if you to vote on matters that are critical to the edu- want America’s economy to keep growing, cation of our children. We are for 100,000 you liked the last 6 years, you know then that more teachers and smaller classes and 5,000 we have to help the world to avoid this crisis new or repaired schools and hooking up and do our part. It’s a big issue. It’s a huge every classroom to the Internet and after- issue. school and summer school programs for our The young people in this audience should kids. And they won’t give us a vote on it. care about the environment—more than It’s a clear choice, but it will affect the Amer- their parents and grandparents. You should ica you live in. care whether you’re going to be able to raise We have pleaded for 8 months for a vote your children with clean air, clean water, safe on the Patients’ Bill of Rights because almost food, no toxic waste, and no global warming all of you are going to be in managed care problem. You should care about that. And you should have an opinion about whether plans and so are your parents and your chil- it is possible to grow the economy and im- dren. And I think they can do a lot of good prove the environment. With all my heart, to hold down costs. But I think if, God forbid, I believe it is. you get hit by a car going out of this party In this budget, it is littered up like a tonight, you ought to go to the nearest emer- Christmas tree with what the Washington gency room, not one clear across town be- language dubs, ‘‘riders, riders, riders.’’ What cause it happens to be covered by your man- they’re doing is riding the environment aged care plan. And if you have a serious down, and they try to put them all over all medical condition and your doctor says you these bills in the hope that the President need to see a specialist, I think you ought won’t be able to even find them all, much to be able to see one. And if your employer less veto some of the bills. changes health care providers while you’re You’re going to be given a chance to say, pregnant or getting chemotherapy or getting ‘‘Our generation believes in protecting the other serious treatment, I think you ought environment and growing the economy, and to be able to finish your treatment and not we do not approve of the majority’s approach be told to get another doctor. That’s a big to chipping away at our protections one by issue. one.’’ If you care about the environment and But you won’t get that Patients’ Bill of the economy, you have to vote for the Demo- Rights unless we get the Congress, and you crats in this race for Congress. have it within your power to give the Amer- So I say to you, we have to prove to the ican people that gift for the 21st century. I people of the Washington establishment just left, before I came to be with you to- here, who say that midterm elections are al- night, a meeting of 25 nations, finance min- ways low-vote elections, that people like you isters, and central bankers, the counterparts know it’s a big deal. You know your future of Chairman Greenspan and Secretary in riding on it. You believe in what we’ve Rubin, sitting around a big room with the done in the last 6 years. You want everybody heads of all the international financial institu- to have a chance to participate in our pros- tions, talking about what we can do to stem perity. You want this education program. You this global financial crisis, because it’s mor- want us to lead in the global economy. You ally the right thing to do for people around want the environment protected. You want the world who are struggling to lift them- the Patients’ Bill of Rights, and you want to selves and their children up, and because it save Social Security before we squander a

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surplus that we worked 6 long years for. Some 250,000 people have been forced to That’s what you want. flee their homes. Of that number, approxi- And you understand what the choice is on mately 50,000 are actually homeless. As win- the other side. And you want this election ter sets in, they risk freezing or starving to to be about you and your future. And you death. don’t believe, contrary to all the conventional President Milosevic is primarily respon- wisdom, that all the minorities are going to sible for this crisis. The United Nations has stay home, all the young women are going made clear the steps we must take to end to stay home, all the young people are going it: declare an immediate cease-fire, withdraw to stay home, all the people that have the Serb security forces, give humanitarian relief hassle of child care and work and still finding groups full and immediate access to Kosovo, a way to go vote are going to stay home, be- begin real negotiations with the Kosovar Al- cause you’re going to tell them what the banians to find a peaceful and permanent so- stakes are. That’s what we’re going to use lution to their rightful demand for autonomy. your money to do. I want you to leave here As we meet here, my Special Envoy, Dick committed to using your voice to do the same Holbrooke, is meeting with President thing, and you will give America and your Milosevic to reiterate what he must do and children a gift for the new millennium on to make clear that NATO is prepared to act election day. if President Milosevic fails to honor the Thank you, and God bless you. Thank you. United Nations resolutions. The stakes are high. The time is now to end the violence NOTE: The President spoke at 8:54 p.m. in the in Kosovo. I hope all of you will do whatever Great Hall at the National Building Museum. In you can to that end. his remarks, he referred to Steve Grossman, na- Now to the matter at hand. A half century tional chair, Democratic National Committee; and ago, a visionary generation of leaders gath- musician Brian McKnight. ered at Bretton Woods to build a new econ- omy to serve the citizens of every nation. In one of his last messages to Congress, Presi- Remarks at the International dent Franklin Roosevelt said that the cre- Monetary Fund/World Bank Annual ation of the International Monetary Fund Meeting and the World Bank, and I quote, ‘‘spelled October 6, 1998 the difference between a world caught again in the maelstrom of panic and economic war- Thank you very much. Secretary Rubin; fare, or a world in which nations strive for my friend President Menem; Minister a better life through mutual trust, coopera- Fernandez; Managing Director Camdessus; tion, and assistance.’’ President Wolfensohn; Dr. Ruttenstorfer; la- The Bretton Woods generation built a dies and gentlemen: Before I begin my re- platform for prosperity that has lasted down marks, I hope you will permit me to say a to the present day. Economic freedom and few words about another issue of real con- political liberty has spread across the globe. cern to the international community, about Since 1945, global trade has grown 15-fold. which I have been working already this Since 1970 alone, infant mortality in the morning, the subject of Kosovo. poorest countries is down by 40 percent. Ac- I have been on the phone with many of cess to safe drinking water has tripled. Life my counterparts, and I just was speaking with expectancy has increased dramatically. Even Prime Minister Blair, who is in China. We now, despite the difficulties of recent days, all agree that Kosovo is a powder keg in the per capita incomes in Korea and Thailand Balkans. If the violence continues, it could are 60 percent higher than they were a dec- spill over and threaten the peace and stability ade ago. A truly global market economy has of Bosnia, of Albania, of Macedonia, and lifted the lives of billions of people. other countries in the region. What is already But as we are all acutely aware, today the a humanitarian crisis could turn into a catas- world faces perhaps its most serious financial trophe. crisis in half a century. The gains of global

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economic exchange have been real and dra- Two weeks ago, at the Council on Foreign matic. But when tides of capital first flood Relations in New York, I outlined what we emerging markets, then suddenly withdraw, have done and what we must do. I am grati- when bank failures and bankruptcies grip en- fied that today the leading economies speak tire economies, when millions in Asia who with one voice in saying the balance of risks have worked their way into the middle class have now shifted from inflation to slow down. suddenly are plunged into poverty, when na- The principal goal of policymakers must be tions half a world apart face the same crisis to promote growth. Every nation must take at the same time, it is time for decisive action. responsibility for growth. The United States What has caused the current crisis? First, must do its part. The most important thing too many nations lack the financial, legal, and we can do is to keep our economy growing regulatory systems necessary to maintain in- and open to others’ products and services, vestor confidence in adversity. Second, new by maintaining the fiscal responsibility that technologies and greater global integration has led us to the first balanced budget and have led to vastly increased, often highly le- surplus in 29 years. veraged flows of capital, without accompany- Winning this discipline was not easy and ing mechanisms to limit the boom/bust cycle, was not always popular, but it was the right mechanisms like those which are integral to thing to do. That is why I have made it clear the success of advanced economies. to our Congress that I will veto any tax plan I am confident that if we act together we that threatens that discipline. can end the present crisis. We must take ur- Also, the United States must—must— gent steps to help those who have been hurt meet our obligations to the IMF. I have told by it, to limit the reach of it, and to restore Congress we can debate how to reform the growth and confidence to the world econ- operations of the fire department, but there omy. But even when the current crisis sub- is no excuse for refusing to supply the fire sides, that will not be enough. The global department with water while the fire is burn- economy simply cannot live with the kinds ing. of vast and systemic disruptions that have oc- Europe must continue to press forward curred over the past year. with growth-oriented economic policies and The IMF and the World Bank have been keep its markets open. And Japan, the vital to the prosperity of the world for the world’s second largest economy and by far past half century. We must keep them vital the largest in Asia, must do its part, as well. to the prosperity of the world for the next The United States values our strong partner- half century. Therefore, we must modernize ship with Japan, our political, our security, and reform the international financial system our economic partnership. But now the to make it ready for the 21st century. health of Asia and, indeed, the world de- The central economic challenge we face pends upon Japan. Just as the United States is to harness the positive power of an open had to eliminate its deficits and high interest international economy while avoiding the rates which were taking money away from cycle of boom and bust that diminishes hope the rest of the world over the last 6 years, and destroys wealth. And the central political now Japan must take strong steps to restart challenge we face is to build a system that its economic growth by addressing problems strengthens social protections and demo- in the banking system so that lending and cratic institutions so that people everywhere investment can begin with renewed energy can actually reap the rewards of growth. and by stimulating, deregulating, and open- We must put a human face on the global ing its economy. economy. An international market that fails For all of us, there can be no substitute to work for ordinary citizens will neither for action. And all of us must also act now earn, nor deserve their confidence and sup- to restart growth in the rest of Asia by help- port. We need both an aggressive response ing to restructure firms paralyzed by crushing to the immediate crisis and a thoughtful road debt and replace debt with equity across en- map for the future. We must begin by meet- tire economies. Through OPIC and the Ex- ing our most immediate challenges. port-Import Bank, we are providing short-

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term credit and investment insurance to keep The most important step, of course, and capital flowing into emerging economies. the first step, is for governments to hold fast I welcome Japan’s announcement that it to policies that are sound and attuned to the will contribute to the reconstruction effort. realities of the international marketplace. No And I am gratified that the World Bank has nation can avoid the necessity of an open, agreed to double its investment in the social transparent, properly regulated financial sys- safety net in Asia to help those who have tem, an honest, effective tax system, and laws been harmed by the economic crisis. that protect investment. And no nation can In all these ways, we can minimize the for long purchase prosperity on the cheap, consequences of the current financial con- with policies that buy a few months of relief tagion. But the flash of this crisis throws new at the price of disaster over the long run. light on the need to do more, to renew the That is why I support the fundamental ap- institutions of international finance so they proach of the IMF. The international com- reflect modern economic reality. The institu- munity cannot save any nation unwilling to tions built at Bretton Woods must be up- reform its own economy. To do so would be dated for 24-hour global markets if they are to pour good money after bad. But when na- to continue to achieve the goals established tions are willing to act responsibly and take by the Bretton Woods generation. strong steps, the international community must help them to do so. First, we must recognize that the free and Too often, what has appeared to be a thriv- open exchange of ideas and capital and goods ing market system, however, has masked an across the globe is the surest route to pros- epidemic of corruption or cronyism. Inves- perity for the largest number of people. But tors and entrepreneurs, foreign and domes- we must find a way to temper the volatile tic, will not keep their money in economies swings of the international marketplace, just where prosperity is a facade. Bank balance as we have learned to do in our own domestic sheets should mean the same thing in one economies. country as another. Contracts should be What is troubling today is how quickly dis- awarded on merit. Corruption cannot be tol- couraging news in one country can set off erated. alarms in markets around the world. And all To this end, I applaud the working group too often, investors move as a herd, with reports that call for the IMF to examine and sweeping consequences for emerging econo- publicize countries’ adherence to strong mies with weak and strong policies alike. international standards, as well as higher ac- We’ve all read of families that worked hard counting and loan standards for private insti- for decades to become middle class, families tutions. The United States will continue to that owned homes and cars suddenly forced press for new ways the private sector can im- to sell off their possessions just to buy food. plement sound practices, for example, We’ve read of doctors and nurses forced to through an accreditation system for national live in the lobby of a closed hospital. With bank examiners. fuel and food shortages in some countries, But while strong policies and sound busi- the onset of winter threatens mass misery. ness practices within each nation are essen- And in Asia, where the ethic of education tial, at times they simply will not be enough. is deeply ingrained and has led to the rise For even the best functioning markets can of tens of millions of people, and strong succumb to volatility, soaring in unrealistic schools are the pride of nations, we now see expectations one minute, followed by a sud- too many children dropping out of school to den crash when reality intervenes. Such mis- help support their families. calculations of risk are an inevitable fact of Just as free nations found a way after the market psychology. Great Depression to tame the cycles of boom In our own domestic economies, we have and bust in domestic economies, we must learned to limit these swings in the business now find ways to tame the cycles of boom cycle. In the United States, for example, a and bust that today shake the world econ- strong Federal Reserve has ensured a stable omy. money supply. The Securities and Exchange

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Commission promotes openness and makes zens. So I say again, today we see a profound the market work. Rigorous bank regulation political challenge to the global economic and deposit insurance have helped to keep order. downturns in the business cycle from spin- The financial crisis poses a stern test of ning out of control. Other nations have their whether democracies are capable of produc- own institutions performing these same func- ing the broad public support necessary for tions. difficult policies that entail sacrifice today for Now, though we understand that the reali- tomorrow’s growth. I believe strong democ- ties and the possibilities in the international racy, fair and honest regulation, sound social marketplace are different, some of the same policy are not enemies of the market. I be- functions clearly need to be performed. We lieve they are essential conditions for long- must address not only a run on a bank or term success. Nations with freely elected a firm but also a run on nations. If global governments, where the broad mass of peo- markets are to bring the benefits we believe ple believe the government represents them they can, we simply must find a way to tame and acts in their interests, have been willing the pattern of boom/bust on an international and able to act to ward off crisis. Korea and scale. This task is one of the most complex Thailand, with elected leaders who have we face. We must summon our most creative been willing to take very difficult steps, have minds and carefully consider all options. In succeeded in weathering the worst of the the end, we must fashion arrangements that economic storm when so many others have serve the global economy as our domestic not. Countries in central Europe have done economies are served, enabling capital to remarkably well. flow freely without the crushing burdens the But even among the strongest nations, as boom/bust cycle brings. we have found here in our own, broad While we must not embrace false cures that will backfire and lead in the end to less change is often difficult. Unless the citizens liquidity and diminished confidence when we of each nation feel they have a stake in their need more of both, we must—we must— own economy, they will resist reforms nec- keep working until we find the right answers. essary for recovery. Unless they feel empow- And we don’t have a moment to waste. ered with the tools to master economic Meanwhile, we must find creative ways to change, they will feel the strong temptation protect those countries that right now have to turn inward, to close off their economies strong economic policies, yet still face finan- to the world. cial pressures not of their own making. This Now, more than ever, that would be a past weekend Secretary Rubin and Chairman grave mistake. At a moment of financial cri- Greenspan have worked with their sis, a natural inclination is to close borders G–7 counterparts to find new ways to and retreat behind walls of protectionism. strengthen our cooperation based on the But it is precisely at moments like this we IMF to make precautionary lines of credit need to increase trade to spur greater available to nations committed to strong eco- growth. nomic policies, so that action can be quick Again, we must never lose sight of what and decisive if needed. This is a critical way the fundamental problem is; we need more to prevent the present crisis from reaching liquidity, more growth in this world today. Latin America and other regions, which are Only by tearing down barriers and increasing doing well. And I ask your support. trade will we be able to bring the nations Strong government policies, sound busi- of Asia, Latin America, and other parts of ness practices, new ways to limit the swings the world back on to the path of growth. in the global market, all these steps are need- The world economy today needs more ed to ensure growth into the future. But let trade and more activity of all kinds, not less. us also acknowledge that we face a political That is why when the leaders of APEC meet challenge. For the best designed inter- next month, we must press forward to tear national economic system will fail if it does down barriers and liberalize trade among our not give a stake and a voice to ordinary citi- countries; why next January when the United

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States Congress returns, we will seek a com- tions as a part of your daily business. Only prehensive effort to tear down barriers at by advancing these protections will these or- home and around the world, including new ganizations earn the confidence and support negotiating authority and legislation to ex- of the people they were created to serve. pand trade with Africa. Finally, though we are seized with the cri- But unless we give working people a strong sis of the moment, we must not neglect those stake in the outcome, they will naturally and whom the capital flows have passed by in the understandably erect obstacles to change. first place. That is why it is critical to con- The answer to these difficulties is not to re- tinue our efforts to lighten debt burdens, to treat. It is to advance and to make certain expand educational opportunities, to focus on every nation has a strong safety net providing basic human needs, as we work to bring the the security people need to embrace change. poorest countries in Africa and elsewhere At the very least, people who are suddenly into the international community of a thriv- without work must have access to food and ing economy. shelter and medical care. And over time, all Creating a global financial architecture for nations must develop effective unemploy- the 21st century, promoting national eco- ment and retirement systems. We must find nomic reform, making certain that social pro- ways to keep schools open and strong during tections are in place, encouraging democracy times of economic downturn. We must make and democratic participation in international certain economic development does not institutions, these are ambitious goals. But come at the cost of new environmental deg- as the links among our nations grow ever radation. tighter we must act together to address prob- I am pleased that the World Bank will be lems that will otherwise set back all our aspi- redoubling its efforts to build this strong safe- rations. If we’re going to have a truly global ty net, especially in Asia. And I urge all inter- marketplace, with global flows of capital, we national financial institutions to do more to have no choice but to find ways to build a incorporate environmental issues into your truly international financial architecture to operations and to significantly increase direct support it, a system that is open, stable, and lending for environmental and natural re- prosperous. source projects. Every time we seek to pro- To meet these challenges I have asked the tect the environment, shortsighted critics finance ministers and central bankers of the warn that it will hurt the economy. But over worlds’ leading economies and the world’s the last quarter century, we have seen time most important emerging economies to rec- and again, in nation after nation, that protect- ommend the next steps. There is no task ing the environment actually strengthens, not more urgent for the future of our people. weakens, our economies. For at stake is more than the spread of free International institutions themselves must markets, more than the integration of the reinforce the values we honor in our own global economy. The forces behind the global economies. In Geneva last May I asked the economy are also those that deepen liberty, World Trade Organization to bring its oper- the free flow of ideas and information, open ations into the sunlight of public scrutiny, to borders and easy travel, the rule of law, fair give all sectors of society a voice in building and evenhanded enforcement, protection for trade policies that will work for all people consumers, a skilled and educated work in the new century. We must do the same force. Each of these things matters not only for other multilateral institutions. to the wealth of nations but to the health When the IMF agrees with a member of nations. If citizens tire of waiting for de- country on policy measures to restore stabil- mocracy and free markets to deliver a better ity, the people of that country and investors life for themselves and their children, there around the world should be told exactly what is a risk that democracy and free markets, conditions have been set. Therefore, I urge instead of continuing to thrive together, will the WTO, the World Bank, and the IMF, shrivel together. working with the ILO, to give greater consid- This century has taught us many lessons. eration to labor and environmental protec- It has taught us that when we act together

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we can lift people around the world and bind culture bill provides some help for farmers, nations together in peace and reconciliation. it simply does not do enough. It has also taught us the dangers of compla- This year flood, drought, and crop disease cency, of protection, of withdrawal. This cri- have wiped out entire harvests. Plummeting sis poses a challenge not to any one nation prices at home and collapsing markets in Asia but to every nation. None of us—none of have threatened the livelihoods of entire us—will be unaffected if we fail to act. communities. Many farmers will see their net On the day he died in 1945, as these insti- income this year drop by as much as 40 per- tutions were taking shape, President Roo- cent below a 5-year average. sevelt wrote in the last line of his last speech: It is time for us to take action that will ‘‘The only limit to our realization of tomor- make significant progress in alleviating the row will be our doubts of today. Let us move hardship in America’s heartland. I continue forward with a strong and active faith.’’ At to support Senator Daschle and Harkin’s pro- a time of testing, the generation that built posal to provide approximately $5 billion dol- the IMF and the World Bank move forward lars in aid while establishing a system of pay- with a strong and active faith. ments that allows flexibility if commodity Now we who have been blessed with so prices drop even further. I call on Congress many advantages must ourselves act in the to send me a comprehensive plan that pro- same manner. If we do, we will surmount tects farmers by strengthening the safety net the difficulty of this moment. We will build at this difficult time. In addition, I urge Con- a stronger world for our children. We will gress to support my own emergency aid pro- honor our forebears by what we do to con- posal for $2.3 billion that originated with struct the first 50 years of the 21st century. Senators Conrad and Dorgan to provide Thank you very much. farmers with additional insurance and in- demnity payments for crop loss. NOTE: The President spoke at 10:52 a.m. in the This total package of aid would make a ballroom at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. significant contribution to helping this Na- In his remarks, he referred to President Carlos tion’s farmers cope with the current agricul- Menem and Minister of Economy, Public Works, tural crisis. I urge Congress to be fully re- and Services Roque Fernandez of Argentina; Mi- sponsive to their needs. If Congress insists chael Camdessus, Chairman, Executive Board, and Managing Director, International Monetary on sending me an agricultural bill that fails Fund (IMF); James D. Wolfensohn, President, to respond fully to the needs of America’s World Bank Group; State Secretary in the Aus- farmers, then I will have no choice but to trian Finance Ministry, Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer, veto the bill. Chairman of the Board of Governors, IMF; Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; President Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal Re- Remarks Prior to Discussions With public of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro); Prime Minister Viktor Orban of and Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke, the Presi- Hungary and an Exchange With dent’s nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The President also referred to Reporters the International Labor Organization (ILO) and October 7, 1998 the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). President Clinton. Let me say, first of all, I am delighted to welcome Prime Minister Orban and his representatives of his govern- Statement on Agriculture Legislation ment to Washington. We are very, very ex- October 6, 1998 cited about what is going on in Hungary, ex- cited about his youthful and vigorous and I am disappointed that today’s Senate vote progressive leadership. on the agriculture bill failed to provide ade- Today we are going to talk about the date quate emergency aid for farmers in this that’s coming up that Hungary is joining country who are suffering from the worst ag- NATO—it will be an historic date—and what ricultural crisis in a decade. While this agri- we have to do between now and then. I want

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to talk about the importance of the stability just met him a week ago in Budapest. And of the region, about maintaining our commit- he asked me to give this letter to you, his ments in Bosnia, where, I might say, we best wishes probably you can find inside it. would not have been able to be successful We will discuss definitely about Kosovo, had it not been for the Hungarians making the Hungarian and foreign policies in the available the base at Taszar for us to operate Middle East, that they should look for a out of. peaceful solution. But if a decision would be And thirdly, of course, we want to talk taken by NATO, we are ready to contribute about Kosovo. And let me say again that I as an ally to do. Host nation support could believe it is absolutely imperative that there be provided. Up until now, Hungary and for- be a cease-fire, a withdrawal of troops, that eign policy was not invited into this action, the humanitarian groups get access to these but we are ready to take part. And we will hundreds of thousands of people who have discuss many other points as well. It will be been displaced, and that negotiations re- too long to explain just now here. sume. Those are the United Nations’ condi- Thank you very much. tions. I believe NATO must be prepared to Q. Good morning, Mr. President. take action if they are not met. But it will not be necessary if Mr. Milosevic does meet President Clinton. Good morning. them. So those are among the things we’ll discuss Impeachment Inquiry Vote today. I think it’s very important. And Prime Q. When you talk to Members of Congress Minister, I am glad to have you here. If you’d about impeachment what do you tell them? like to make a brief statement, you can, and President Clinton. Well, first of all, I then I’ll let them ask a question or two. have received a large number of calls from Prime Minister Orban. I’m very much House Members, and I have tried to return delighted to be here. I’m very happy that I those calls. I haven’t been able to return was invited to have this discussion with your them all because we have other things to do, President. I’m very happy to be here as prob- and I’ll try to call the rest of them today. ably the first time in the history of Hungary But I think the vote should be a vote of prin- as Prime Minister of an ally to the United ciple. It’s up to others to decide what hap- States, a future member of NATO. And I pens to me, and ultimately it’s going to be would express all of the Hungarian citizens’ up to the American people to make a clear gratitude to the President that he was tough statement there. enough to convince all the Members of the Senate that enlargement of NATO and to in- What I am more concerned about today volve Hungary into the process of enlarge- by far is that they cast some votes necessary ment is a step which is not just good for Hun- to advance the cause of our people. The most gary, but it is in the interest of NATO as important votes they have to cast are the well. And he was a tough fighter to convince votes on funding the International Monetary everybody around the Western Hemisphere Fund so we can continue our economic pros- that NATO enlargement is in the interest of perity; on a budget which doesn’t raid Social those countries living in central Europe who Security—raid the surplus until we fix Social just got through the occupation of another Security. They still have a chance to do some- empire. thing for education. So we consider your President as a person This Congress has killed campaign finance who brought his name into the history of reform, the minimum wage, tobacco reform Hungary, the Hungarian history, as a person legislation, even killed the Patients’ Bill of who provided security and national inde- Rights. But they can still do something on pendence to Hungary. education; they can still help to save Social Just for a second, I have a letter to your Security; they can still keep our economy President, anyway, which was sent by Mr. going; they can still stop the war on the envi- Pachinski, who was your tutor in Oxford and ronment that is hidden in so many of these who was my tutor in Oxford as well, and I bills. It’s not too late.

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And that’s got to be my focus in these clos- didn’t keep his word to the Russians and the ing days. What happens to me I think ulti- world community one more time. mately will be for the American people to So the way to avoid NATO military action decide. I owe them my best efforts to work is for Mr. Milosevic to honor the U.N. resolu- for them, and that’s what I’m going to do. tions. That’s what should be done. Q. Some Democrats, sir, have complained that they’re being pressured by the White Middle East Peace Process House on the subject of impeachment. Is Q. that appropriate? How long do you expect next week’s President Clinton. I think everybody Middle East summit to last when they come should cast a vote on principle and con- to Washington? President Clinton. science. But I doubt that—I doubt—keep in I’d be happy if it were mind, the proposal advanced was developed over in an hour, but I’m prepared to invest entirely by Congressman Boucher from Vir- as much time as it takes. Q. ginia, a man who comes from a conservative Do you foresee multiple days? President Clinton. rural district and who developed it on his It might take more own, fought for it in the Judiciary Commit- than a day, yes. I asked them to block out tee, argued it, and said that the elemental a couple of days to come back because I think principle of fairness was that we ought to de- it’s very important that we try to get over fine a standard of what conduct is being these last humps and get into the last stage judged by. of negotiations. We need to get to final status So as far as I know, no one in the White talks, because, keep in mind, the whole thing House had anything to do with the develop- is supposed to be wrapped up by May of next ment of the proposal. There have been con- year. And the closer we get to that date with- versations with Members—as I said yester- out having been at least in the final status day, a large number called me. I’m attempt- talks, where the parties have a relaxed oppor- ing to call them all back, and I will try to tunity, without being up against a timetable, do that. But I want them—more important to discuss these big issues of the future of than anything else to me is that they do the the Middle East—the closer we get to that people’s work and then let—the people will date without that happening, it’s going to be decide where we go from here. more difficult. So it is imperative that we move on and get this next big step done. Kosovo I’m encouraged that Secretary Albright is Q. On Kosovo, how do you placate Russian in the region today. She’s going to have an concerns about NATO military strikes? announcement about it later today. I’m en- President Clinton. Well, I think the most couraged by the attitude and the sense of important thing we can do is to try to work openness I felt from Prime Minister with the Russians to try to actually avoid mili- Netanyahu and Mr. Arafat the last time they tary strikes by securing compliance with the were here. And if they can come back with U.N. resolutions by Milosevic. Now, we have that spirit, we’re close enough now that we done that. President Yeltsin sent a team of can get this done. And I just hope and pray senior people to see Mr. Milosevic, and once that that will happen when they come back. Q. again, as he did last June, he promised him Will you get personally involved that he would comply. He also said he would throughout—— President Clinton. like some representatives from OSCE to Well, I’ll be involved come in and see if he was complying. quite a bit. I don’t know what ‘‘throughout’’ Now, if he does that, if he completely com- will mean. I hope they’ll be talking 12 hours plies, he doesn’t have to worry about military a day or something. I don’t know. We’ll just force. But I do not believe the United States have to see what happens. But I will be in- can be in a position, and I do not believe volved constantly throughout the process, NATO can be in the position of letting tens yes. of thousands of people starve or freeze to [At this point, one group of reporters left the death this winter because Mr. Milosevic room, and another group entered.]

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Visit of Prime Minister Orban also for the NATO and the United States of President Clinton. Let me make a brief America. statement. First of all, I would like to wel- As far as Kosovo is concerned, Hungary come the Prime Minister and his team here has not yet received any official request to to Washington. We are excited about having participate in that, and we hope that there is still a possibility for peaceful settlement. him here. We are excited about what we have But if there is a request, of course, just be- heard about his leadership and the policies cause of our role as an ally in the NATO, of his government. we will do our best to help resolve the prob- I want to have a chance to discuss NATO’s lem. membership for Hungary, and it’s coming up We will also discuss various issues con- here very soon, next year. I want to have a cerning the world economic crisis, and I chance to discuss the situation in Bosnia— would like to—that there is no reason why and again I want to thank the Government the world should put Hungary in the same and the people of Hungary for giving us the box with Russia and the crisis in the Russian base at Taszar which made it possible for us Federation. And Hungary is not an emerging to do our part in the Bosnian peace process. market. What I would like to call it is a con- And I want to discuss Kosovo, where I be- verging market. lieve it is imperative that the international community enforce the United Nations reso- International Economic Situation lutions requiring a cease-fire, a withdrawal Q. Mr. President, what will be the impact of troops, access for the humanitarian agen- of the global economic financial crisis on cies to the hundreds of thousands of people Hungary and the Eastern European region? who have been displaced, and the beginning And what should the Hungarian Government of negotiations. And I think the pressure of do to avoid or minimize the impact? NATO is critical to achieving that goal. President Clinton. Well, first, I think So these are some of the things that I hope that—let me answer the second question to discuss with the Prime Minister. Now, per- first. I think the Hungarian Government is haps he would like to make a few opening doing what it should do to minimize the im- remarks, and then we’ll answer a couple of pact by having a sound economic policy. And questions. I’m very happy that so far the global eco- nomic crisis has not had much impact in cen- Prime Minister Orban. If you don’t tral Europe. mind, I would like to do it in Hungarian. Now, eventually, unless we can limit it and President Clinton. Sure. then beat it back, it will affect all of us be- Prime Minister Orban. It is a pleasure cause all of us depend upon each other for to be here as almost an ally of the United markets, for investments. So even if a country States of America, as Hungary’s impending has a perfect economic policy, if its investors membership of the NATO is very soon, in- and the people who buy its products have deed. We are planning to discuss various their economies weakened, it will affect that issues with the President of the United States country. of America, including NATO enlargement, So what I would hope that Hungary would the problems and matters in Kosovo, as well do, because it has a very aggressive and, I as the central European issues. believe, progressive economic policy, is to I would like to assure the President that support the efforts of the international com- Hungary is a factor and guarantor of stability munity to—first of all, to beat the crisis back in the central European region. And the and to limit its reach and then to develop Hungarian Government is making every ef- institutional responses for the future that will fort to continue that role as a guarantor of prevent such things for the future. stability and security in the central European But I’m very impressed that central Eu- region. rope has done so well; Hungary has done so We would like to also assure the President well; Poland had done so well; other coun- that Hungary’s membership in the NATO tries have done so well. You should be very will be a benefit not only for Hungary but happy about that. I think it’s a great tribute

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to the confidence that the investment com- is to deal with them together. And I am com- munity around the world has in your people mitted to working with you to try to help and your system, as well as to the policies to reduce the problem in Hungary. that have been followed. Thank you.

Kosovo NOTE: The President spoke at 10:05 a.m. in the Q. When will the final decision be made Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks, the President referred to President Slobodan on Kosovo, and what will the Hungarian role Milosevic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia be? (Serbia and Montenegro); President Boris Yeltsin President Clinton. Well, of course, what of Russia; Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu the Hungarian role could be is something of Israel; and Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Pal- that will have to be decided by Hungary, be- estinian Authority. The President also referred to cause until Hungary becomes a full-fledged the Organization for Security and Cooperation in NATO member, any other—if NATO has to Europe (OSCE). Prime Minister Orban spoke in act, any other participation would be vol- Hungarian to the second group of reporters, and untary. But at this point, I wouldn’t think those remarks were translated by an interpreter. that Hungary would be involved in that, be- A tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks. cause what is contemplated is the prospect of airstrikes if President Milosevic refuses to comply with the U.N. resolutions. I still hope Remarks on Signing the Higher and pray that he will comply, so it will not Education Amendments of 1998 be necessary. October 7, 1998 Now, if he does comply, it may be nec- essary to have some verification group go in. Thank you very much. Just so Harold Will that group be under the United Nations, doesn’t mistake all that applause for me, let’s under OSCE, or some other place? That’s give him another hand. I thought he was— not resolved. Will Hungary be asked to par- [applause]. That’s what this is all about today. ticipate or have an opportunity to? Not re- I want to thank all the previous speakers— solved. Then if there are negotiations which Secretary Riley for being the most dedicated, result in a settlement, there might be some complete, and productive Secretary of Edu- request for an international presence to help cation in the history of this country. I’m very the parties to honor a peace agreement on grateful to him. [Applause] We always salt a third stage there. That’s not resolved. So the crowd with employees of the Education I guess the short answer to your question is, Department. [Laughter] We are very, very no one can know the answer to that yet. grateful to you, sir. I want to thank Senator Jeffords and Sen- Crime in Central Europe ator Kennedy, Chairman Goodling and Con- Q. Mr. President, what do you think about gressman Clay, and as was mentioned pre- the crime situation in central Europe and the viously, Congressman McKeon and Con- cooperation? gressman Kildee, all the members of the edu- President Clinton. Well, first, I think that cation committees of the House and the Sen- your Government is very aware of it and very ate and the staff. much determined to do something about it, I’d like to also point out that there are because we have been engaged in talks to Members who care deeply about education establish a joint strike force, to have an FBI who aren’t on those committees, and some presence, to work together. Frankly, I be- of them are here. We have over 30 Members lieve that international organized crime is of the Congress from both parties here. I’d going to be one of the great challenges all like to ask the Members of the Congress who of us face, and it, I suppose, is an inevitable are here who aren’t on the education com- result of the new technologies available in mittees and, therefore, have not yet stood up, the world, that these multinational syndicates to please stand up. All of you who are here. now are much bigger than ever before. And I notice Senator Kennedy already acknowl- I think that the only way to deal with them edged Senator Specter, understanding how

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the Appropriations Committee works. I asked the Congress to slash the interest [Laughter] But his presence here means he rates on the student loans. As Chairman considers it to be an education committee, Goodling said, it was the lowest rate now in and we thank you for that. 17 years. Let me tell you what it means to I’d like to make one big point first. You’ve a college student. It’s a $700 tax cut to the all heard about the details of this legislation. average student borrowing for a college de- What I want us to all be very clear on is gree on the front end. And anybody who can that the bill I will sign in a few moments remember what it was like back then knows will enhance the economic strength of Amer- that $700 to a college student is still real ica. It will strengthen the communities of money. America. It will improve the lives of the fami- I asked Congress to use technology to help lies of America. And it certainly will widen all Americans, including those in the work the circle of opportunity. force, to upgrade their skills any time, any- When I ran for President in 1992, one of where, and this bill does that. I asked them the things I most wanted to do was to open to help us recruit more and better-trained the doors of college to all Americans who teachers, to improve teacher training, direct were willing to work for it. In the 1980’s, our best teachers to schools with the greatest the cost of a college education was the only needs. This bill does that. really important thing to families that in- Finally, I asked Congress to create a na- creased at a higher rate than the cost of tionwide mentoring program; you heard Har- old talk about it, the one that affected his health care. life. All of us have at some level come in And yet, in the world in which we live and contact with the pioneer program, Eugene certainly in the one in which Harold and his Lang’s ‘‘I Have a Dream’’ program in New contemporaries will live, college is no longer York City. Many of us have been involved a luxury for the well-to-do or even an oppor- at the State level, as I was, in creating schol- tunity for hard-working, middle class kids arships for all our young people who whose parents save. It is an economic neces- achieved a certain level of academic excel- sity for every American and for our country lence. as a whole. What this bill does is something more, and That is why we worked so hard in the bi- I think profoundly important. And again, like partisan, balanced budget agreement to cre- others, I want to thank Senator Jim Jeffords, ate the $1,500 HOPE scholarships, the tax I want to thank Gene Sperling of my staff credits for the first 2 years of college, tax who worked on this, and I especially want breaks for junior and senior year, for grad- to thank Congressman Chaka Fattah of uate school, for adults going back to school. Philadelphia who pushed this so hard. And That is why with bipartisan support we dra- we thank you, sir. matically expanded the Pell grant program, This bill seeks to make national what Har- created 300,000 more work-study positions, old talked about affecting his life. It essen- the education IRA’s—the education grants tially seeks, first of all, to provide mentors for those serving in AmeriCorps now are to kids in their middle school years who need nearly numbering 100,000 young Ameri- it, and then to give the mentors weapons. cans—student loans payable, or repayable, as At a minimum, the mentors will be able to a percentage of future incomes, so no one say, ‘‘Look, here’s who you are. Here’s where needed to fear borrowing the money and you come from. Here’s how much money you then being broke if they took a job that didn’t have. And if this is what your income looks pay a lot of money; the tax deductibility of like when you got out of high school and you the interest on student loans. And today, with stay in school and you learn your lessons, we this lowering of the interest rates, as has al- can tell you right now, this is how much ready been said, to the lowest rate in nearly money you can get to go to college.’’ Now, two decades, we can really say that every high it’s already there, but they don’t know it. So school graduate in America, regardless of in- we’re not only trying to open the doors of come, can afford to go to college. college to all Americans but to make sure

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all Americans know the doors are open. And should work. This is the way Congress should those are two very different things. work. Members of Congress, I assure you, Secondly, this bill provides funds to enable brought their different convictions and their partnerships to be established between uni- partisan views to the debate, and we had the versities and other groups and our middle debate. But in the end, we acted together. schools so that they can have more programs, We put the progress of the country and the hopefully one for every school and every stu- people of the country ahead of our partisan dent in America, eventually like the one that differences and reached a principled resolu- benefited Harold. So I can’t tell you how im- tion of the matters in dispute. That’s the way portant I think this is. So now we can say, America is supposed to work, and that’s the ‘‘We’ve opened the doors to college to all way the American people want us to work. Americans, and we have a system by which, And so I want to thank every one of you for if we really implement it, we can make sure making sure on this terribly important issue, all the Americans know the doors are open.’’ that is exactly the way you worked. Thank The other day I was in Philadelphia, and you very much. Chaka got a bunch of young kids, middle Finally let me just say, in the closing days school kids together, and we took them down of this congressional session I hope that there town and drank a Coke with them. Every will be similar bipartisan action on the agen- one of them wanted to go to college. And da for public school excellence that I offered we talked about this program, and every one 8 months ago, an agenda that demands high of them was, I think, impressed by the fact responsibility and high standards; offers that the Congress of the United States actu- choice and opportunity; calls for voluntary ally cared about them, and I might add, prob- national standards and voluntary exams to ably a little surprised. Glad to know that measure their performance, supervised by a somehow, somebody was trying to set up a completely bipartisan committee; and the system to really reach down into their lives, end to social promotion but help for the at one of the most challenging and difficult school districts that end social promotion so points in those lives, often under the most that we don’t brand children a failure when difficult circumstances under which they’re the system fails them, but instead give them living, and open the door to a different fu- access to the mentors, the after-school pro- ture. grams the summer school programs that they I don’t think anyone would question that need; an effort to make our schools safer, when Harold talked about his friend who’s more disciplined, more drug-free; a plan that now working as a scientist in Utah, that that would provide for 100,000 teachers, for young person is not only better off, the rest smaller classes in the early grade; funds to of us are better off as well. America is a bet- modernize or build 5,000 schools at the time ter place as well. when we have the largest student population I also want to say very briefly, I am person- in history; a plan to connect all of our class- ally grateful for the Congress in a bipartisan rooms to the Internet by the year 2000. fashion responding to the problem of alcohol Today we celebrate putting partisanship and drug abuse and the health threat it pre- aside for a historic higher education law. We sents on our campuses—we all remember can do no less for our public schools. We the tragic loss of five students last fall in Vir- have to pass the agenda, and we must pass, ginia—by changing the law to allow cam- literally, the annual education investment bill puses to notify parents when children young- which funds a lot of the programs, Head er than 21 have alcohol and drug violations. Start, technology, the summer school and We have no way of knowing, but we believe after-school programs. this will save lives. And I thank the Congress So once again we have to put progress for giving us the chance to do that. ahead of partisanship. In this room, many Let me also say something that I think it’s Presidents have signed many pieces of legis- important for me to say as President: I am lation into law. Some of them were very mo- proud not only of what is in this bill but of mentous. But if, when you leave here today, how this bill passed. This is the way America you remember this life story of the young

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man who spoke before me and you imagine of the low student loan interest rate on new how many other people there are like him loans that went into effect on July 1st of this in America, and how many more stories there year. In addition, the bill allows borrowers will be because of this bill, you can all feel to refinance outstanding loans at a lower rate very, very proud. by extending for 4 months the current inter- Thank you very much. est rate on Direct Consolidation Loans. The Can I ask the Members to come up, and bill, however, is not perfect. It is unfortunate we’ll do this. that the legislation permits continuation of the practice of providing excessive payments NOTE: The President spoke at 11:48 a.m. in the to lenders and guaranty agencies instead of East Room at the White House. H.R. 6, approved October 7, was assigned Public Law No. 105–224. reducing taxpayer costs by using competitive In his remarks, he referred to Harold Shields, a market forces. In addition, it is regrettable participant in the ‘‘Say Yes to Education’’ mentor- that the legislation does not allow more than ing program. 4 months for the millions of Americans who are paying high interest rates on their current student loans to get the new low consolida- Statement on Signing the Higher tion rate, or make that rate available to all Education Amendments of 1998 borrowers. I urge the Congress to revisit October 7, 1998 these issues in the future. This bill builds upon the proposals I sent Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. to the Congress to improve teacher quality, 6, the ‘‘Higher Education Amendments of training, and recruitment as our Nation faces 1998.’’ This legislation is the culmination of the need to hire more than two million teach- bipartisan efforts by the Congress and my ers over the next 10 years. New partnerships Administration to increase access to college, between teacher education institutions and make higher education more affordable, im- school districts, partnerships to improve prove teacher quality, and modernize the de- teacher recruitment, Teacher Quality En- livery of student aid. I particularly want to thank Senators Jeffords, Coats, Kennedy, and hancement State grants, and increased ac- Dodd, and Representatives Goodling, countability will help improve teacher quality McKeon, Clay, Kildee, Andrews, and Petri, for all our children. I am also pleased that as well as other Members of the Conference the Congress did not prohibit Federal fund- Committee, for their help in guiding this leg- ing for the National Board for Professional islation through the Congress. Teaching Standards. I also owe a particular debt of gratitude This legislation will promote high-quality of Representative Fattah, whose consistent distance-learning opportunities to provide and tireless work resulted in a new effort that students, including non-traditional students, will turn the dream of college into a reality with increased educational opportunities. for many of the poorest families in America. The Learning Anytime, Anywhere Partner- The ‘‘GEAR UP’’ program, based in part on ship (LAAP) program, as I proposed, will my High Hopes for College proposal, pro- award competitive grants to partnerships to vides competitive grants to States and local create new distance-learning models, explore partnerships to encourage colleges to work the efficiencies and cost reductions that can with middle schools in high-poverty areas to be realized through institutional partner- ensure that students receive and benefit from ships, and develop innovative measures of financial aid information, rigorous courses, student achievement through distance learn- tutoring, mentoring, and scholarships for col- ing. lege. I am also pleased that H.R. 6 reauthorizes I am pleased to see a number of my other and improves upon many programs in the initiatives included in this bipartisan legisla- current Higher Education Act designed to tion. College students across the country will promote equal educational opportunity. In save hundreds or even thousands of dollars particular, I would like to commend Rep- on their loan repayments with the extension resentative Hinojosa for his work to increase

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funding levels and improve programs for stu- with the Congress to ensure this funding is dents attending Hispanic-serving institutions. made available. I am also pleased that H.R. 6 reauthorizes the Education of the Deaf Act, which sup- William J. Clinton ports Gallaudet University and the National The White House, Technical Institute for the Deaf, and October 7, 1998. strengthens programs to support tribal and historically black colleges and universities. NOTE: H.R. 6, approved October 7, was assigned The bill also revolutionizes the delivery of Public Law No. 105–244. student aid by creating within the Govern- ment the first-ever Performance-Based Or- ganization (PBO)—a concept promoted by Statement on Signing the Energy and Vice President Gore’s National Partnership Water Development Appropriations for Reinventing Government—to improve Act, 1999 services to students and enhance administra- tive efficiency and accountability. I am de- October 7, 1998 lighted with this bipartisan effort to modern- Today I have signed into law H.R. 4060, ize student aid delivery in the Department the ‘‘Energy and Water Development Appro- of Education. priations Act, 1999,’’ which provides $20.8 I do note some constitutional concerns re- billion in discretionary budget authority for garding provisions in this bill relating to the the programs of the Department of Energy appointment and reappointment of the Chief (DOE), the Department of the Interior’s Bu- Operating Officer of the PBO, and the reau of Reclamation, the Army Corps of En- issuance of regulations regarding student gineers, and several smaller agencies. loan repayment incentives that would have The Act provides necessary funding to to be certified by the Congressional Budget maintain my Administration’s commitment Office. While I do not regard these provi- to ensuring the safety and reliability of our sions as binding, the Secretary of Education Nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile without as a matter of policy will implement these nuclear testing. It also supports DOE’s basic provisions so far as possible in a manner con- science programs, including funding for the sistent with the principles embodied in the Spallation Neutron Source Program. The Act legislation. also provides funding to develop and protect There are costs associated with H.R. 6 the Nation’s water resources. after fiscal year 1999 that are not fully offset I am pleased that the Act includes author- under Administration budget scoring. Under ity to transfer funds to support the operation of the D.C. Courts. the Budget Enforcement Act, a sequester of However, I am disappointed that the Con- mandatory programs will be required in fu- gress did not include my funding request for ture years if savings to offset the costs of this valuable research and development invest- Act are not enacted. My Administration will ments in renewable energy sources, and I work with the Congress to offset these costs will work with the Congress to explore op- to avoid a potential sequester. tions for funding these important invest- This bill represents a positive, bipartisan ments. I am also disappointed that the Con- advancement for students, teachers, and the gress provided no funding for the Next Gen- future of higher education. Now the Con- eration Internet and for discretionary pro- gress must take the critical next step, provid- grams of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and ing full funding for the new initiatives this inadequate funding for the Clean Water Ini- legislation creates—GEAR UP, teacher tiative, including the Initiative’s Everglades preparation and recruitment, and LAAP— restoration activities and Columbia River for fiscal year 1999. I look forward to working salmon recovery efforts. I look forward to

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working with the Congress on options for fi- forms, and tough truancy policies, and pro- nancing and increasing support for these ini- posed funding for after-school programs that tiatives in the future. provide children and young people with Only 4 of the 13 FY 1999 appropriations wholesome activities that keep them inter- bills have been sent to the White House. ested, engaged, and off the streets. We insti- These 13 bills must be passed to fund the tuted a policy of zero tolerance for guns in operation of the Government for the fiscal schools that is now the law in all 50 States. year that began on October 1. Time is grow- We have issued a guidebook to help teachers, ing short, and I urge the Congress not to principals, and parents recognize the early delay, but to complete its work on the re- warning signs of troubled students and inter- maining bills by the end of this week, and vene before despair or anger gives way to to send them to me in an acceptable form. violence. Later this month, I will host the William J. Clinton first-ever White House Conference on School Safety to focus on the causes and pre- The White House, vention of youth violence and to share effec- October 7, 1998. tive strategies that we can put into practice nationwide. Through these and many other NOTE: H.R. 4060, approved October 7, was as- signed Public Law No. 105–245. measures, we have strived to protect Ameri- ca’s youth from being either the perpetrators or the victims of gun violence. Proclamation 7134—National Day of While government can and must be an ac- Concern About Young People and tive partner in the effort to prevent youth Gun Violence, 1998 violence, the real key to ending the killing October 7, 1998 is in the hands of young Americans them- selves. Every young person must assume per- By the President of the United States sonal responsibility for avoiding violent con- of America frontation, have the strength of character to walk away from a dispute before it turns A Proclamation deadly, and have the courage and common During the past 18 months, Americans sense to refuse to participate in gang activi- have been stunned by gun violence among ties, to use drugs, or to carry or use a gun. our youth, including the tragic incidents of As part of our nationwide observance of students shooting their classmates and teach- National Day of Concern About Young Peo- ers in Jonesboro, Arkansas; Pearl, Mis- ple and Gun Violence, I urge students across sissippi; Paducah, Kentucky; Edinboro, America to voluntarily sign a ‘‘Student Pledge Pennsylvania; and Springfield, Oregon. In Against Gun Violence’’ as an acknowledg- communities across the country, some young ment of these responsibilities. This pledge people are trying to resolve their conflicts is a solemn promise by young people never and problems by taking a gun into their to bring a gun to school, never to use a gun schools or onto the streets—guns that, al- to settle a dispute, and to discourage their though they are generally illegal for children friends from using guns. By keeping this to possess, are still too easy to get. promise and giving one another the chance While recent data indicate that the over- to grow to healthy, productive adulthood, whelming majority of American schools are young Americans will be taking an enormous safe and that the rate of youth violence is step toward a stronger, safer future for them- beginning to decline, we must not relax our selves and our Nation. efforts to protect our children from such vio- Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, lence. Since the beginning of my Administra- President of the United States of America, tion, we have worked hard to make our by virtue of the authority vested in me by schools and communities safe places for chil- the Constitution and laws of the United dren to learn and grow. We have put more States, do hereby proclaim October 8, 1998, community police in our neighborhoods, en- as a National Day of Concern About Young couraged the use of curfews, school uni- People and Gun Violence. On this day, I call

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upon all Americans to commit themselves ple. Now, Carol Browner, for example, con- anew to helping our young people avoid vio- structively nagged me—[laughter]—to make lence, to setting a good example, and to re- sure we stood up for clean air. storing our schools and neighborhoods as Congressman Boehlert, is that you back safe havens for learning and recreation. there? I didn’t see you. Thank you, sir. [Ap- In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set plause] I’m glad to see you. Thank you very my hand this seventh day of October, in the much. year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- But anyway, everybody said the sky was ty-eight, and of the Independence of the falling, and Carol said the kids need to United States of America the two hundred breathe. And so we wound up doing it her and twenty-third. way. [Laughter] And we’re still rocking along William J. Clinton pretty well. And tonight I hope you’ll permit me to [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, say a very special word of appreciation to one 11:39 a.m., October 8, 1998] of your honorees who is about to leave our administration, the Chair of the CEQ, Katie NOTE: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on October 9. McGinty. Let’s give her a hand. [Applause] Thank you. I just was informed I missed another Remarks at the League of Member of Congress and another friend of Conservation Voters Dinner the environment, Congresswoman Connie October 7, 1998 Morella. Where are you, Connie? There you are. Thank very much. [Applause] Thank Thank you very much for that wonderful you. welcome. Let me say, first of all, I want to We’ve had a lot of exceedingly complex, thank Deb Callahan for her opening remarks as well as difficult—politically difficult but and her leadership. I thank your chairman, also intellectually complex decisions we’ve Mike Hayden. I’d like to thank my EPA Ad- had to make, working out our position on ministrator, Carol Browner, for being here climate change, on how to deal with the and for the good job she does. I’d like to northwest forest challenge, on whether we say a special word of appreciation to the could figure out a way to save Yellowstone, three Members of Congress who are here on figuring out the genuine equities that lay tonight, without whom I could have accom- underneath the big decision on Grand Stair- plished very little over these last 6 years. case Escalante. And in all of those cases, Thank you, George Miller, Norm Dicks, Katie McGinty has been there, working with Maurice Hinchey. Thank you for what you all the various people affected and con- have done for our country. cerned, trying to make sure we did the right And I’d also like to just express my appre- thing by the environment and to make sure ciation to three people here—who aren’t we did it increasingly, I believe, in the right here, who have been a real inspiration to me way. And I am very, very much indebted to and a constant source of support in a lot of her. I’ll miss her, and we wish her well. these fights we have taken on: first and fore- Thank you. [Applause] She’s actually going most, the Vice President; second, the First to India for awhile, and I told her I expect Lady; and third, Secretary Babbitt. They by the time I get there, there will be no have all, in ways none of you will ever know, longer any nuclear issues between the United as well as all those you’re aware of, had States and India. [Laughter] If she can solve countless, countless conversations with me all these other problems, deal with all this about a lot of the issues that I will mention other contention, this ought to be just an- tonight, and some I will forget. other drop in the bucket. But in an administration, the President Let me begin tonight where Deb Callahan often gets the credit when the inspiration, left off. I agree that our job is not simply the ideas, the energy, and sometimes the to convince people of the importance of envi- constructive nagging comes from other peo- ronmental stewardship; the harder part is to

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convince people of the power they have not We are doing our best to lead the way on only to stand up for what they believe in but the global environment. We made sure the to change what they disagree with. We have Kyoto agreement was strong and realistic, seen that over and over and over again. For and we’re determined that America must do too many years, the champions of the envi- its part to reverse global warming. We’re pro- ronment have been in the clear majority in tecting the health of our families and com- America but have been insufficiently orga- munities. We’ve accelerated Superfund nized across economic and regional and party clean-ups, issued the toughest air quality lines to bring their force to bear with their standards ever, dramatically reduced toxic friends in the Congress. pollution, not through the heavy hand of reg- Now, we still have that task in the next ulation but by giving communities access to 30 days, because the next 30 days will be the information they deserve. critical to the future of the environment. In- These efforts reflect not only our, yours deed, we have that task in the next few days, and mine, our common commitment to pro- the last days of this congressional session be- tecting the environment, but to doing it in fore the election. And I’ll have more to say the right way, innovative, commonsense solu- about that in a moment. tions that achieve the greatest protection at One of the best illustrations of citizen the least cost. That means rejecting the false power to change what is wrong is actually choice that pits the economy against the envi- here under our noses. Just before America ronment. I want to say a little more about that in celebrated its first Earth Day, a wide-eyed, a moment. But I have to tell you that the but fairly low-level congressional staffer, re- largest obstacle we face in our Congress, in cently out of college, had a great democratic our country, and in the world in getting a idea, to create an environmental scorecard united, serious approach to climate change for Members of Congress and empower vot- is the deeply embedded, almost psychic de- ers to make a more informed choice. With pendence that so many decisionmakers in that idea, that young woman launched the our country and all over the world have to League of Conservation Voters and had enor- the elemental notion that economic growth mous influence ever since. Marion Edey, is still not possible without industrial era en- thank you very much. Where are you? Stand ergy use patterns. People simply don’t be- up. Where are you? [Applause] Thank you. lieve it, so that when I talk to people in devel- Over the past generation when we have oping countries and when I talk to people faced clear common threats, our citizens in the still developing Congress—[laugh- often have joined together in common re- ter]—we have these—I say that in a—that’s solve. America came together to heed Rachel a compliment, as I will say more about it Carson’s warnings by banning DDT and in a moment. [Laughter] other poisons. America cleaned up rivers so We still have the people that are literally filthy they were catching on fire. America obsessed with the notion that seriously ad- phased out lead in gasoline and the chemicals dressing climate change is somehow a plot that deplete our protective ozone layer. to wreck America’s economic future and po- America achieved all these things in no small litical sovereignty. I asked somebody today measure because of the broad bipartisan citi- how much time we had spent complying— zen power mobilized by groups like the LCV. and most of you don’t think I did enough Over the past 6 years, we have worked to- on climate change, right? Is that right? Let’s gether to build on these accomplishments, put it out here on the table. [Laughter] Most to preserve our national treasures like Flor- of you don’t think I did enough on climate ida’s Everglades, California’s ancient red- change. I proposed a series of very, I think, woods, the spectacular red-rock canyons of effective tax incentives to get people to do Utah. Just last month, Katie McGinty was out the right things and make them economically in Yellowstone commemorating our success efficient and a major increase in research and in protecting the park from the New World development. And there is a committee in Mine. the House of Representatives that acts like

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I’m right up there with the black helicopter simple, small examples, before you can really crowd. [Laughter] It’s true. move our vast country in one direction with- I asked today; we believe that we have out interruption. spent 10,000 hours complying with subpoe- So I would like to make here a point I nas from a committee who believes we are have tried to make to our fellow citizens in subverting the future of America with these every forum I could, since it became obvious modest proposals on climate change. Hun- that we were going to have a balanced budget dreds of thousands of dollars in compliance and a surplus. The temptation is to be di- costs over and above the salaries of the peo- verted or just relaxed in a good economic ple involved. Why is that? Are these bad peo- time. That would be an error. These times ple who don’t love their country? Do they are, first of all, highly dynamic. We have really want to destroy our environment? Do enormous challenges of which you are well they believe their grandchildren don’t need aware, the global financial challenge, the to deal with this? Absolutely not. They hon- global environmental challenge. It would be estly still believe that economic growth is not a terrible mistake for us to squander this mo- possible without industrial age energy use ment of opportunity, when so much good is patterns. ‘‘Don’t show me those solar reflec- happening for America and we have a level tors that go on roofs now that look just like of confidence about our ability to meet chal- ordinary shingles. Don’t bother me with lenges that we have not had in decades, by those windows that let in twice as much light being either diverted or relaxed. We need and keep out twice as much heat and cold. to face the challenges we have and think I don’t want to hear about the economics of about how we can best use this prosperity insulation or the lights that will save them- to build the kind of future we want. selves a ton of greenhouse emissions during Tonight I’ll give you an example of one the life of the lamp.’’ thing we’re trying to do to use this time of So I say to you, we have still a huge intel- prosperity, adding vital new protections for lectual battle to fight, a way of looking at our Nation’s wetlands. Earlier this year, as the world and the future that helps to bring part of our Clean Water Action Plan, I set us together, instead of drive us apart. And a goal of restoring 100,000 acres of wetlands one of the central ideas is the honest belief a year by 2005. Today the Army Corps of that you cannot only grow the economy and Engineers is proposing changes to ensure preserve the environment, you can actually that we think twice before building in our grow the economy and improve the environ- most sensitive wetlands. Twenty years ago, ment. if you’d told me I’d see this day and this ini- This country has the lowest unemployment tiative from that august body, I never would rate in 28 years, the fastest wage growth in have believed it. And I congratulate them on 20 years, the smallest percentage of the peo- it and honor them for it. ple on welfare in 29 years, the first surplus From now on, we will require a full envi- in 29 years, the highest homeownership ever. ronmental review, with full public participa- But compared to 6 years ago, the air is clean- tion, of all projects in critical wetlands areas, er; the water is cleaner; the food is safer; particularly floodplains. In a typical year, 140 there are fewer toxic waste dumps; and we Americans die in floods, and $4 billion in have done quite a lot of other things to pro- property is destroyed. Just in this past week, tect the environment. It is simply not true nine people have died in floods in Missouri that you can’t grow the economy and im- and Kansas. That’s why FEMA Director prove the environment. And vast, vast tech- James Lee Witt felt so strongly about nological and conservation and alternative strengthening protections for the floodplains. energy source opportunities have been com- By thinking twice, we can prevent tragedy pletely untapped compared to their economi- and save taxpayer dollars while protecting the cally available potential in our country today. environment. So we have a lot more work to do, but And as we all know, if we are going to I will say again, sometimes you have to win do this, make the most of this moment, we the battle of the big ideas, even if it’s with have to do it together. For years and years,

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protecting the environment was a matter of partisan support necessary to preserve some bipartisan concern. And frankly, for a lot of immediate national need, is bad for the people it still is. You have three good Demo- democratic process, as well as bad for the crats and two fine Republicans here tonight, environment. So tonight let me say, again, unless I missed someone else that I wasn’t to you and to the Congress, I will veto any given. [Laughter] But in the last Congress bill that will do unacceptable harm to our it seemed not to be the case. There was a environment including its survival. [Ap- direct frontal assault on the environment, a plause] Thank you. rollback of—or an attempted rollback of 30 Let me say to all of you, there is hope years on hard-won gains. As the LCV ably that we can do better. This afternoon—or documented, more than a third of the Mem- this morning, I guess—time flies when you’re bers of the 104th Congress scored a zero on having fun—[laughter]—anyway, sometime the environment. The group tried to force today we had a marvelous ceremony at the me to sign a budget with unconscionable cuts White House, with over 30 Members of Con- in environmental protections. Twice the gress, signing a higher education bill that had Government was shut down in no small enormous Republican and Democratic sup- measure because of environmental con- port, that among other things gave us the troversies. But because together we decided lowest interest rates on student loans in near- not to give in and fought back, it came out ly 20 years, will save $11 billion to students all right. with existing loans, about $700 a student, for Now a lot of the same folks are back with college students. a different tactic, here in the waning days Perhaps even more important over the of the congressional session, a sneak attack. long run, this bill, with an idea inspired by Not only are they refusing to fully fund envi- Congressman Chaka Fattah from Philadel- ronmental priorities: the Clean Water Action phia, provides support to set up mentoring Plan to help clean up waterways too polluted programs for middle-school children in for fishing and swimming, an extraordinary tough, inner-city and other poor school dis- percentage of the waterways in America; the tricts, and enables the mentors to tell the kids Land and Water Conservation Fund to pro- when they’re 12 or 13, ‘‘If you stay in school tect precious lands in danger of develop- and you keep learning, here is how much ment; the climate change technology initia- college aid you are going to be able to get, tive to take commonsense steps to reverse and I can tell you that right now.’’ And it global warming—not only would they keep provides for partnerships so that universities us from moving forward in these areas, but and private donors can give more to the kids they’re pushing once again in the opposite in those years and guarantee them. It was direction, as all of you know all too well, by an extraordinary day. loading appropriations bills up with a slew And then this afternoon the House of Rep- of antienvironmental riders. resentatives rejected a parks bill that would Really that rider word is really well chosen have done a lot more harm than good—listen because it’s sort of an unrelated passenger to this—by the bipartisan, overwhelming riding along on a piece of legislation that oth- margin of 301 to 123. Thank you. Thank you. erwise looks pretty good. These special inter- That is the kind of bipartisan spirit the mod- est riders, among other things, would carve ern environmental movement started with in roads through the Alaskan wilderness, force 1970. overcutting in our national forests, cripple You know, I’ve never met anybody walking wildlife protections, and sell the taxpayers on a trail in a national park—never—that I short. knew when I saw them coming toward me Now, the sponsors of these riders know what their party affiliation was, except on the that the proposals could not stand on their rare occasions when I actually knew them. own. They know that, therefore, they have [Laughter] When you go into one of our wil- to resort to a stealth tactic to get this done. derness areas, nobody asks you to declare I personally believe this unrelated rider strat- your affiliation. We all assume that we drink egy, unless it’s something that has broad bi- the same water; we swim in the same lakes;

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we breathe the same air; we eat the same cause of your general orientation of these food; we love the same natural surroundings; issues than virtually any other group in Amer- we have the same common stake in preserv- ica to get the American people to rethink ing the same environment for our children these big ideas; to think about how we can and our grandchildren. be reconciled to ourselves, to our environ- And I hope this vote today indicates that ment, and committed to our future; to think we have several more days, coming in time about how we can appreciate not only our between now and when the Congress goes independence but our interdependence with home at the end of the week, for this sort one another and with our fellow human of spirit of coming together. beings throughout the world. And then, in the next 30 days, during this On the edge of a new millennium, I really election season, I hope that ordinary citizens believe the development of that kind of ap- who care deeply about these issues will bring proach, and whether we can do it and rec- their voices to bear in the election. Just think oncile it, as I believe we can, in a very rich what would happen if people of both parties and wonderful way, with our own tradition and independents simply said, ‘‘We’re going of individual rights and individuality and au- to do better. We’re going to change, at last tonomy—if we can do that, I believe that will and forever, the idea that we have to have do more to ensure that we make the right old-fashioned, destructive energy use pat- decisions as a people across party and re- terns to grow the economy. We will not give gional and income and other lines on the in to those who want to put the sacred up most profound decisions of our future than for sale. The decisions we make today on cli- anything else. mate change, water, wetlands, and air will You—you are uniquely positioned to have implications for decades, if not cen- change our people’s way of thinking about turies to come. And we want a unifying vision this. And you could hardly give a greater gift that embraces people who may differ on to your country at the end of one century many other things, to embrace our common and the dawn of another. home and our common future.’’ I think the Thank you very much, and God bless you. American people, for all kinds of reasons, are open to that sort of message in the next 30 NOTE: The President spoke at 7:47 p.m. in the days. Grand Ballroom at the Mayflower Hotel. In his We are reminded by every event which remarks, he referred to Deb Callahan, president, occurs that we are living in a world in which and John Michael Hayden, chairman of the board, League of Conservation Voters. The President we are ever more interdependent not only also referred to the Kyoto Protocol on Climate with each other as Americans, but with those Change and the Council on Environmental Qual- who live beyond our borders and with the ity (CEQ). Earth we all share. We see it when there’s a reverberation in our stock market because of what happens in Russia or Latin America Remarks at a Democratic National or Asia. We see it when we understand some Committee Dinner big chunk of Antarctica has broken off and October 7, 1998 is floating and indicates that the water level may be rising more rapidly because the cli- Thank you very much. Ron, thank you for mate is warming. We see it when we under- those words and I thank Beth for them. Hil- stand our common responsibility to try to lary and I were over here to dinner not very stop people of different ethnic groups from long ago. It was a smaller crowd. There were killing each other in the Baltics and the Bal- just four of us. And I think if we come back kans and to try to get people of different ra- again, I should be assessed part of the con- cial and ethnic and religious groups to em- tractor’s fee. [Laughter] I’m afraid I’m over- brace what we have in common, even as we staying my welcome, but I love this beautiful, celebrate our differences at home. beautiful home. The environmental movement and its I want to thank all of you for being here. leaders are probably better positioned be- I thank Steve Grossman for his tireless efforts

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and for bothering all of you so much. And Today we had two great victories in Con- let me say to all of you, this is a very interest- gress. I found this pattern is beginning to ing time. You know that, of course. But I reassert itself; the Republican Congress starts spent most of the last 2 weeks concerned voting like a Democratic one in the last week about the developments in the international of every legislative session. [Laughter] It’s economy, what’s going on in Asia, what’s quite flattering, although there’s a definite going on in Russia, will the financial con- political design behind it. But today the Con- tagion spread to Latin America. Today I gress voted 301–123 to kill Speaker Ging- talked to the President of Brazil twice about rich’s parks bill because it has so many anti- this and other matters. environmental parts on it. So in the last week And yesterday I had a chance to go before before the election or before breaking for the the 4,000 delegates to the World Bank and election, we got a great bipartisan vote there. International Monetary Fund annual meet- Today we celebrated the higher education ing and say at least a general outline what act, a bill we’ve been trying to pass for a year. I thought ought to be done to deal with the It passed with overwhelming bipartisan sup- present crisis, limit its spread to—stop it port, giving us the lowest interest rates on from spreading to Latin America and other student loans in almost 20 years. It’ll save places and deal with the problem over the $11 billion for students who are borrowing long run. their way through college—$11 billion—and We’ve been working on Kosovo. A lot of set up a mentoring program for kids in mid- people don’t know where Kosovo is. Once dle school and troubled inner city and other nobody knew where Bosnia was, either, and districts, so that they not only will have men- by the time we found out, a lot of people tors, but those children will be able to be had died and the whole stability of that part told when they’re 12 and 13 years old, ‘‘Look, of Europe was at stake. And Kosovo is next if you stay in school and you make your door, and 50,000 people are facing freezing grades, this is the economic benefit you will or starvation this winter because the same get in terms of aid to go to college.’’ A very person who caused the problems in Bosnia, Mr. Milosevic, refuses to abide by United moving thing. Nations resolutions. So I’m trying to get the So I say all this to say that there are a support not only of the leaders of both parties lot of good things going on. And maybe the in our Congress but also of our allies in press of time and the imminence of the elec- NATO, to take aggressive action to protect tion and focusing people’s minds, and maybe those people’s lives and restore peace there we’ll have another good 3 or 4 days here in and stability, so that we won’t have to do Washington before Congress goes home for more there down the road and so that inno- the election. What has really bothered me cent lives can be saved. about the last year is not the adversity I have I just went upstairs and took a call from been through but the almost casual way in Secretary Albright, who is in the Middle East which people in positions of responsibility working with Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Arafat have dealt with our new found prosperity and to get ready for their coming here next week. success. Steve said I wanted to talk about They’re coming on the 15th and will be here that, and I do want to talk about that. for 3 or 4 days, and we’re going to try to I mean, we worked for 6 years and waited wrap up this phase of the Middle East peace for 29 years to get a balanced budget and talks. But with all the trouble and all the a surplus. We have the smallest percentage fighting in the world and all the squabbling of our people on welfare in 29 years, the fast- in Washington, I thought you might like to est rising wages in over 20 years, the lowest know that today Binyamin Netanyahu be- unemployment rate in 28 years, the highest came the first Israeli Prime Minister ever to homeownership in history, the lowest Afri- go into Gaza, where he had lunch at Arafat’s can-American poverty rate ever recorded, headquarters. And I dare say it must have the biggest drop in Hispanic poverty in 30 made quite a statement to the people of the years, and things are beginning to work Middle East. here—the lowest crime rate in 25 years. We

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proved that we can, if we get our act to- ployer changes providers, that these things gether, make America work. are important to us as people, these values We’ve been a force for peace and freedom that bind us together. throughout the world, from the Middle East We’re even going to get, after 8 months to Northern Ireland to Bosnia to Haiti. And of waiting, the International Monetary Fund for the last year we’ve just seen, I think, a contribution out of Congress that is critical lot of indulgence with that good fortune. The to our leadership in the world, but we should United States needs to lead the world away have had it months ago. And so now we’re from the brink of financial crisis. We need leaving Washington at the end of the week to restore growth in Asia and Russia and keep and going back to the country, and the Amer- this thing from spreading to Latin America. ican people will have to decide how to vote. We need to devise a new system for the inter- And our friends in the Republican Party be- national economy to keep things like this lieve they’re going to win seats in the mid- from happening in the future. term, and they believe it for reasons of his- We can do all this but only if we have our tory, money, and strategy. And you need to heads on straight and if we’re thinking about think about it, because that’s why you’re the American people and their interests and here. our responsibilities to the rest of the world. We’ve just squandered this whole year, or The United States needs to make a decision they have. Basically with this Congress they that we have no business spending this sur- killed an increase in the minimum wage; they plus until we make the changes necessary to killed campaign finance reform, which would secure Social Security when the baby have relieved you of the burden of coming boomers retire. Because if we don’t and to some of these dinners every year—[laugh- there are only two people working for every ter]—they killed tobacco legislation to re- one person drawing Social Security, then we’ll have two very unpleasant decisions if form our laws there and protect our children we don’t make changes now. from the dangers of tobacco; and they killed We can, those of us who are baby boomers, the Patients’ Bill of Rights and took no action be selfish and tax the living daylights out of on my plan for the Patients’ Bill of Rights, our kids and lower the standard of living of except to kill it. Then they didn’t act on the our grandchildren so we can sustain the IMF funding for months and months and present system. Or we can take a huge cut months. They haven’t acted on the education in the present system and people like me program I gave them 8 months ago. with a good pension will be fine, but keep Now what are they doing? They think in mind, half the American senior citizens they’re going to win for reasons of history, today are lifted out of poverty because of So- money, and strategy. What’s the history? The cial Security. So we have this surplus, and history is that since the Civil War when a we ought to have the discipline to make little President is in his second term, unfailingly changes today that make a big difference in his party has lost seats at midterm. Why? America tomorrow. President Reagan in 1986 lost seats in the We need to keep working until our ele- Congress midterm, even though he was quite mentary and secondary schools are the best popular. Why? Well, people thought: Well, in the world. We need to keep working until he’d done most of what he was hired to do, we find a way to grow the economy while and the string was running out. That history we improve the environment on a systematic doesn’t hold this time. Why? Because our basis. We need to deal with the fact that 160 agenda is driving the national debate; be- million Americans are in managed care plans, cause the ideas, the energy of the national but they’re not all the same, and they don’t debate on all the issues I just mentioned, all have the same policies. And people de- whether it’s the international economy, So- serve certain uniform protections, like the cial Security, education, health care, is what right to go to the nearest emergency room, is coming out of the administration and the the right to see a specialist, the right to keep Democratic Party. So I don’t think history a doctor during a treatment, even if the em- is a very good argument.

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Second, money. That’s a problem. In spite in the early grades, to building 5,000 more of your presence here and in spite of the schools, to hooking our classrooms up to the fact that some of you are getting sick of hav- Internet, to doing what is necessary to make ing dinner with me—[laughter]—they’ll excellence a way of life in American edu- probably outspend us between the Repub- cation, to passing that Patients’ Bill of Rights, lican Party, the candidates’ treasure chest, to protecting the environment as we grow and their so-called third party, or whatever the economy. That’s what we’re for. You you call it, independent expenditure commit- know what they’re for. You choose. I believe tees, probably three to one in all the close we have enough spirit and strength and devo- seats in the last 3 weeks of the election. In tion and patriotism and energy in this country 1996, in the 20 closest House seats, they out- to overcome what I think is a rather cynical spent us four to one or more—in the 20 clos- theory of history, money, and strategy. est House seats in the last 10 days. Now that Your presence here gives us a chance to will help them. let America take a different course. And what But my experience has been in politics if I want you to think about is how all this busi- the other person has more money than you, ness that we’re debating now fits into the it’s devastating, unless you have enough. If larger challenges facing America. I have now you have enough for your message to be been President 6 years. I spent a lot of time heard, for your voters to be contacted, to an- working on problems like the awful killings swer attacks, then if the other people have in Bosnia, dealing with the leaders of central more money, you can still survive. And if Africa, where somewhere between 700,000 you’ve got a better message and a better cam- and a million people were hacked to death paign and a better candidate, you can win. in the Rwandan civil war, because they were So your presence here is essential. of different tribes, working trying to end the The third thing is strategy. What is their old wars that date back 30 years in the mod- strategy? Normally, midterm elections are ern era, and hundreds of years in history, in low turnout elections. Their electorate tends Ireland, the land of my forbearers, working to be older, wealthier, more conservative, in the Middle East. much more ideological and, therefore, much And the thing that strikes me about all more likely to vote than ours. That’s essen- these conflicts is how much they have in tially what happened in 1994, when in the common with racial and religious and politi- published surveys they had about a 2 percent cal hatreds that we see in America. You lead and they voted a 5 percent lead or a know, if you look at a lot of this politics, it’s 6 percent lead—won big in the Congress just downright hatred. And you almost want races. to say, hey, we should get a life, things are Now, I think they’re wrong about that. You going pretty good for us, we should be grate- have to see everything that’s happening now ful that we’re Americans. And all these other in terms of their strategy. Their strategy is people that share this country with us, they to disappoint the Democratic base and in- must not be so bad because we must be flame the Republican one. And I’m not talk- doing something right. And, besides, our ing out of school. This is what they say on whole creed says that if we all show up and the record. You know what I think our strat- work hard and pay our taxes and do the right egy should be? The do-right rule, almost a things, we should be able to share this land nonpolitical strategy. Our strategy should be: together. If you want to play politics with what goes What’s the point I’m trying to make? If on in Washington, vote for them; if you want you look at every major conflict we face, it somebody who cares about what goes on in is essentially being driven by people who feel America, vote for us. compelled to define themselves by what they Because we are the party committed to are against, rather than by what they’re for, saving the surplus until we save Social Secu- and who seek conquest over reconciliation, rity, to maintaining America’s leadership in and who see the future as a zero sum gain, the global economy so we can keep the where in order for me to win, somebody else American economy going, to smaller classes has got to lose, in order for me to grow my

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economy, I’ve got to destroy the environ- survive and do well is if we never, ever, ever ment. There’s no way that we can harmonize forget that we have to find a way for all of a common future. And I have to tell you, our partners on this little planet to win to- based on 6 years of hard, sometimes brutal, gether. daily experience, I think that’s wrong. That’s what I tried to do with America. And that I stand here tonight more ideal- With all the successes I’ve had—I could istic about the prospect and, indeed, the ne- stand up here and list all these statistics— cessity of bringing out the best in people than the truth is, I have not yet succeeded in con- I was on the day I took the oath of office vincing the American people to vote—to in January of 1993. And that in the end what vote—for reconciliation, for a common fu- really differentiates the two philosophies and ture, for a common home, for an end to certainly the strategies of the parties today Washington-centered destructive politics. is that. I’m not trying to fight a win/lose game And maybe it is the irony of this terribly pain- with the Republicans in Washington for who ful moment, which I regret very much put- stands where on the totem pole in this town. ting you all through, that we are being given It is a very greasy totem pole. yet one more chance to affirm our better What I’m trying to do is to find a way in selves. But I’m telling you, based on my expe- which we can work together with integrity, rience, the right thing to do is the right thing air our differences with integrity, and come to do. to some resolution that will reconcile us, one Thank you, and God bless you. to the other, so we can build a common home and a common future. In other words, if we NOTE: The President spoke at 10:17 p.m. at a pri- want to be a good influence in the rest of vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to din- ner hosts Ronald I. Dozoretz and Beth Dozoretz; the world, we have to do good here at home. Steve Grossman, national chair, Democratic Na- And if we really want to live in a global econ- tional Committee; President Slobodan Milosevic omy in which we are all increasingly inter- of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and dependent and we expect America to do well Montenegro); President Fernando Cordoso of in that kind of economy, we have to do right Brazil; and Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Pal- here at home. I believe that. You may think estinian Authority. it sounds naive and Pollyanna; I can tell you it is based on hour after hour after hour of hard, cold experience in the cauldron that Message to the House of I have lived in for 6 years. Representatives Returning Without So I’m asking you not just to give your Approval the ‘‘Agriculture, Rural money. I’m asking you to be part of doing Development, Food and Drug something that I think is pretty important. Administration, and Related Our crowd is about to defy history. Our Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999’’ crowd is about to show that they don’t want October 7, 1998 to be manipulated. Our crowd is about to say, ‘‘We’ve seen the last 6 years, and we To the House of Representatives: like it, and we want an America that’s coming I am returning herewith without my ap- together, not coming apart. We want an proval, H.R. 4101, the ‘‘Agriculture, Rural America that’s committed to forward Development, Food and Drug Administra- progress, not partisan fights, where politics tion, and Related Agencies Appropriations is an instrument to advance people’s lives, Act, 1999.’’ I am vetoing this bill because it not to keep some people down to lift some fails to address adequately the crisis now up.’’ gripping our Nation’s farm community. And I swear to you, what is right to do I firmly believe and have stated often that is what will work out best for America. We the Federal Government must play an im- are moving into a world that is smaller and portant role in strengthening the farm safety smaller and faster and faster. No one is smart net. This appropriations bill provides an op- enough to figure out how to solve every prob- portunity each year for the Government to lem overnight. The only way we’re going to take steps to help hardworking farmers

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achieve a decent living, despite the misfor- last June. It also blocks the $60 million from tune of bad weather, crop disease, collapsing the Fund for Rural America provided markets, or other forces that affect their live- through that same bill, preventing needed lihoods. It is especially necessary for the Gov- additional rural development funds that ernment to act this year, with prices dropping would help our Nation’s rural communities precipitously, crops destroyed by flood, to diversify their economies and improve drought, and disease, and where many farm- their quality of life. The bill also cuts spend- ers will see their net income drop by as much ing for our food safety initiative in half, deny- as 40 percent below a 5-year average. ing funds for research, public education, and Two years ago, when I signed the ‘‘Free- other food safety improvements. dom to Farm Bill,’’ I made clear that it did Many of our most vulnerable farmers have not provide an adequate safety net for our also had to face an obstacle that no one in Nation’s farmers. There is no better proof America ever should have to confront: racial of that bill’s shortcomings than the hardship discrimination. Over 1,000 minority farmers in America’s farm country this year. Our farm have filed claims of discrimination by families are facing their worst crisis in a dec- USDA’s farm loan programs in the 1980s and ade. early 1990s that the statute of limitations bars My Administration has already taken steps from being addressed. While I am pleased to address this crisis. In July, we announced that this legislation contains a provision the purchase of $250 million of wheat to ex- waiving the statute of limitations, I am dis- port to hungry people around the world. In appointed that it does not contain the lan- August, I signed legislation to speed up farm guage included in the Senate’s version of this program payments. But in the face of a grow- bill, which accelerates the resolution of the ing emergency for our Nation’s farmers, we cases, provides claimants with a fair and full must do more to ensure that American farm- court review if they so choose, and covers ers can continue to provide, for years to claims stemming from USDA’s housing loan come, the safest and least expensive food in programs. the world. Last month, I sent to the Congress Therefore, as I return this bill, I again call a request for $2.3 billion in emergency aid on the Congress to send me a comprehensive for our farmers, and I supported Senator plan, before this session ends, that ade- Daschle’s and Harkin’s proposal to boost quately responds to the very real needs of farm income by lifting the cap on marketing our farmers at this difficult time. loan rates. William J. Clinton I am extremely disappointed that the Con- gress has reacted to this agriculture emer- The White House, gency situation by sending me a bill that fails October 7, 1998. to provide an adequate safety net for our NOTE: This message was released by the Office farmers. I have repeatedly stated that I would of the Press Secretary on October 8. veto any emergency farm assistance bill if it did not adequately address our farmers’ im- mediate needs, and this bill does not do Remarks on the Decision of Certain enough. Health Maintenance Organizations The lack of sufficient emergency aid for To Opt Out of Some Medicare farmers in this bill is particularly problematic Markets in light of the bill’s other provisions that af- October 8, 1998 fect farmers and their rural communities. Cutting edge agricultural research is abso- Thank you. I would like to begin by thank- lutely essential to improve our farmers’ pro- ing Senator Rockefeller and Congressman ductivity and to maintain their advantage Dingell for their steadfast support of Medi- over our competitors around the world. But care and their participation in our Medicare this bill eliminates the $120 million in com- Commission. Let me say just in advance, I petitive research grants for this year that I would think that the very issue we discuss strongly supported and signed into law just today offers further evidence that it is time

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to take a look at the challenges and the re- ner. But NATO must be prepared to act mili- sponsibilities of the Medicare program, long- tarily to protect our interests, to prevent an- term, and I’m glad we have Jay Rockefeller other humanitarian catastrophe in the Bal- and John Dingell on that commission. kans. I’d like to thank Senator Kennedy and Senator Lieberman and Congressman Stark HMO’s and Medicare and Congressman Cardin also for being here today. I’d like to thank Secretary Shalala for Now, let me echo, first of all, the senti- her marvelous service, and Nancy-Ann Min ments which have already been expressed DeParle who is here with her. I’d like to here. Since John Dingell was in the chair thank all the members of the seniors groups when Medicare was passed, it has been more who are representing their constituents, than a program; it has been a symbol of our standing to my right here. I thank them for intergenerational unity as a country, fulfilling joining us today. our responsibilities to our grandparents and parents, protecting our families. Strengthen- Kosovo ing Medicare has been one of this adminis- Since this is the only time I’ll have to talk tration’s top priorities. Last year we took his- to the press for the next several hours, I hope toric bipartisan action to improve benefits you will indulge me for a moment while I and extend the life of the Trust Fund for make a few comments about the present situ- a decade. We expanded the number and ation in Kosovo. types of health plans available to Medicare As a result of the unconscionable actions beneficiaries so that older Americans, like of President Milosevic, we face the danger other Americans, would have more choices of violence spreading to neighboring coun- in their Medicare. tries, threatening a wider war in Europe. We I think it ought to be said in defense of face a humanitarian crisis that could be a ca- this decision and the enrollment of many sen- tastrophe in the making, as tens of thousands iors in managed care plans that one of the of homeless refugees risk freezing or starving principal reasons that so many seniors want- to death as winter comes on. ed it is that there were managed care plans Our goal is simple: It is full compliance who thought, for the reimbursement then with United Nations Security Council resolu- available, they could provide not only the re- tions by President Milosevic. My Special quired services under Medicare but also a Envoy, Richard Holbrooke, has just com- prescription drug benefit, something that pleted 3 days of talks with Mr. Milosevic, these Members and I tried to get done for making absolutely clear that he must meet all the seniors of the country at an earlier the demands of this Security Council resolu- point in time. tion, end the violence, withdraw his forces, Well, today there are 61⁄2 million Medicare let the refugees return to their homes, give beneficiaries in HMO’s. As we all know, in the humanitarian relief workers full and free recent weeks the HMO industry announced access to the people who need them, and that unless all Medicare HMO’s could raise begin negotiations with the Kosovar Alba- premiums and reduce benefits—all—some nians on autonomy for their region, which health plans would drop their Medicare pa- is provided for under the law of their nation. tients by the end of the year. Yesterday I decided that the United States We told them, no deal. That’s what we would vote to give NATO the authority to should have done. We were not going to carry out military strikes against Serbia if allow Medicare to be held hostage to unrea- President Milosevic continues to defy the sonable demands. So several HMO’s decided international community. In the days ahead, to drop their patients. These decisions have my counterparts in Europe will be making brought uncertainty, fear, and disruption into similar decisions. We would prefer—we the lives of tens of thousands of older Ameri- would far prefer—to secure President cans across the country. While the over- Milosevic’s compliance with the will of the whelming majority of seniors affected will be international community in a peaceful man- able to join another HMO covering Medicare

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in their area, 50,000 of them will be left with- Let me just say one other thing. In the out a single managed care alternative. last few days before it adjourns, let me ask Now, these HMO’s say they are looking Congress again to put aside partisanship and after the bottom line. All of you who under- embrace our common responsibilities by re- stand the Medicare program know that the authorizing the Older Americans Act. For reimbursement rates are different across re- years, this law has improved the lives of mil- gions and in different areas. We have tried lions of our senior citizens, providing every- very hard to alleviate that—the problems thing from meals on wheels, to counseling, with that system. And we recognize that to legal services. Every day that goes by with- there were problems. We have worked to al- out passing the bipartisan legislation to reau- leviate them. But that wasn’t what we were thorize the act sends a troubling message to asked to do. We were asked just to give all seniors that their needs are not a priority. HMO’s permission to raise rates whether More than 30 years ago, Congress was able they needed to or not, without regard to how to put progress before partisanship when it much money they were making or not. And created Medicare in the first place. As a re- I think that was wrong. sult, millions of older Americans have been We have to do everything we can to pro- able to live healthier, happier, more stable tect Americans who have been dropped by lives. It is one of the signal achievements of their HMO’s and to protect the health care this century. options of all seniors in the future. So today So let me say again, we have to do that we’re taking three steps. again—to work to strengthen Medicare, to First, we’ll do everything we can to en- reauthorize the Older Americans Act, to treat courage HMO’s to enter the markets aban- each other in the work of America as we want doned by managed care. Beginning imme- people out in America to treat each other diately, the Health Care Financing Adminis- and to work. The Members who are here tration will give first priority in its review and have certainly done that. And for that, I am approval process—first priority—to all new grateful. HMO’s applying to serve seniors in deserted Secretary Shalala and I hope very much areas. that these steps we are taking today and the Second, I am asking Secretary Shalala to work we will do with these senior advocates work with Congress, aging advocates, and will provide some peace of mind, some sup- health plans to develop new strategies to pre- port, and some help to the seniors who have vent another disruption in coverage like the been so shaken by the events of the last few one we are seeing now. I’m asking the Sec- days here. retary to consider all possible legislative op- tions that can be included in the next budget Thank you very much. Thank you. I send to Congress. I want to say one other thing. Senator Finally, I am launching a comprehensive, Dodd came in late, but has actually offered public information campaign to make sure legislation in this area, so I want to give him all affected seniors understand the health credit for that. Connecticut is the only State coverage plans that are already available to here with 100 percent representation. them. We’ll bring together a broad public [Laughter] Thank you very much. and private coalition from the AARP to the Older Women’s League to the Social Secu- NOTE: The President spoke at 11:49 a.m. in the rity Administration to local offices on aging, Roosevelt Room at the White House. In his re- to educate seniors about all their rights and marks, he referred to Health Care Financing Ad- options. We must say to them, losing HMO ministrator Nancy-Ann Min DeParle; President coverage does not mean losing Medicare cov- Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal Republic of erage. You are still protected by Medicare. Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro); and Special You are still eligible for the traditional fee- Envoy Richard Holbrooke, the President’s nomi- for-service program and for Medigap poli- nee to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. cies.

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Remarks Prior to a Meeting With the International Financial Situation Economic Team and an Exchange Q. Mr. President, what’s your reaction to With Reporters the Republican demands on the IMF fund- October 8, 1998 ing bill, and how closely are you watching the decline of the dollar against the yen? The President. Well, we’re watching that Impeachment Inquiry Vote very closely. Of course, the strengthening of The President. We are about to start a the yen could be a good thing. The yen got meeting with the economic and budget team too weak, and it led, for example, to breath- about the unfinished work in the budget that taking increases in imports of Japanese steel, has to be done in the next few days. But be- which hurt a lot of our people, our industry, fore we start I’d like to make just a very brief and our workers who were clearly competi- comment on today’s vote. tive internationally. First of all, I hope that we can now move And if the Japanese yen were to come back forward with this process in a way that is fair, because people believed Japan was serious that is constitutional, and that is timely. The about economic reform, then it would be a American people have been through a lot on good thing. It would be a balancing of forces this, and I think that everyone deserves that. in the world economy. It would strengthen Beyond that, I have nothing to say. It is not the American economy by strengthening our in my hands; it is in the hands of Congress own domestic manufacturing sector and and the people of this country—ultimately, making our exports more competitive. It in the hands of God, there is nothing I can would make it possible for Japan to buy other do. country’s exports in Asia. But there are things I can do something If it’s a temporary phenomenon that evi- about. And the most important thing I can dences some sort of instability, then that’s do now is to work in the next few days to something we just have to try to sort out. work to cross party lines to do the work that But I don’t think we can know for sure yet. we have to do here. We have got to pass The clear answer over the long run is for a budget that protects the surplus and still America to fund our responsibilities to the to save Social Security, that keeps the Amer- IMF, for Japan to get serious about its eco- ican economy going amidst all this economic nomic reform, for the Europeans to keep turmoil in the world, that protects, instead their markets open and continue growth so of damages, the environment, and that gives that all of us can get more money back into the kind of priority to our elementary and the global economic system right now and secondary education that it so clearly needs. then deal with the long-term problem. That’s Those are my priorities. I think those are what I hope. I think it’s very important not the priorities of the American people. It will to be diverted by day-to-day developments require us to put progress ahead of partisan- here and think about what the larger problem ship, but it clearly will strengthen our coun- is. try. And that’s what we’re going to work on, and I hope we can do it. International Consultations/ Q. Sir, you could speed the pace of this Impeachment Inquiry Vote up if you were to volunteer to testify, decide Q. Mr. President, have you talked to other whether or not now you would challenge world leaders today? And how are you feeling Monica Lewinsky’s account of your relation- personally about the vote? ship. Have you made any decisions on that The President. Today I spoke with Presi- front? dent Chirac of France. And I am meeting The President. Let me say again, on that tomorrow with the man who will be the next I will do what I can to help to ensure this German Chancellor, Mr. Schroeder. And we is constitutional, fair, and timely. Ultimately, talked about Kosovo. And I have been work- it is in the hands of the Congress. I don’t ing, as you know, all week long with people think it’s appropriate to comment further from all over the world on the international than that. financial crisis.

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Personally, I am fine. I have surrendered memorating Leif Erikson Day each year, we this. This is beyond my control. I have to honor the pioneering spirit of this son of Ice- work on what I can do. What I can do is land and grandson of Norway. We recall the to do my job for the American people. I trust daring of the Viking seafarers, who saw the the American people. They almost always get ocean not as a boundary but as a gateway it right and have for 220 years. And I’m work- to another world, and we pay tribute to the ing in a way that I hope will restore their courage of their descendants who, centuries trust in me by working for the things that later would brave their own ocean journeys our country needs. These things we’re going to find a new life in America. to discuss at this budget meeting, that’s what This thirst for adventure has remained a I can have some impact on, and that’s what fundamental trait of the American character I intend to do. since our earliest days as a Nation. But men and women of the Nordic countries brought NOTE: The President spoke at 5 p.m. in the Cabi- other important strengths to their adopted net Room at the White House. In his remarks, land as well: resourcefulness, self-reliance, he referred to President Jacques Chirac of France determination, a willingness to work hard, a and Chancellor-Elect Gerhard Schroeder of Ger- love of freedom, and a belief in human dig- many. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks. nity. Leif Erikson’s arrival in North America brought not only the explorer’s passion to our country, but also laid the foundations of the Statement on Senate Action on the friendship the United States enjoys today ‘‘Internet Tax Freedom Act’’ with the Nordic countries. Building on the October 8, 1998 values we share, our nations have made a powerful commitment to protect and expand I am pleased that the Senate has joined political, religious, and economic freedom to the House in passing the ‘‘Internet Tax Free- peoples around the world. Staunch allies in dom Act.’’ This bill will create a short-term times of peace and war, the United States moratorium on new and discriminatory taxes and the countries of Scandinavia look for- that would slow down the growth of the ward to the year 2000 when we will com- Internet and launch a search for long-term memorate together the 1000th anniversary of solutions to the tax issues raised by electronic Leif Erikson’s historic voyage to our con- commerce. As I said earlier this year in my tinent and celebrate the important and last- speech on Internet policy, we cannot allow ing contributions the sons and daughters of 30,000 State and local tax jurisdictions to sti- Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and fle the Internet, nor can we allow the erosion Finland have made to the history and herit- of the revenue that State and local govern- age of our Nation. ments need to fight crime and invest in edu- In honor of Leif Erikson, the Congress, cation. I look forward to signing this legisla- by joint resolution approved on September tion into law so that America can continue 2, 1964 (Public Law 88–566), has authorized to lead the world in the information age. and requested the President to proclaim Oc- tober 9 of each year as ‘‘Leif Erikson Day.’’ Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, Proclamation 7135—Leif Erikson President of the United States of America, Day, 1998 do hereby proclaim October 9, 1998, as Leif October 8, 1998 Erikson Day. I encourage the people of the United States to observe this occasion with By the President of the United States appropriate ceremonies and activities com- of America memorating our rich Nordic-American herit- age. A Proclamation In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set Almost a thousand years ago, the great my hand this eighth day of October, in the Norse explorer Leif Erikson first set foot on year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- the North American continent. In com- ty-eight, and of the Independence of the

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United States of America the two hundred to long-term care facilities to get the help and twenty-third. they need. This harms those who would like William J. Clinton to remain in their communities, significantly draining our nation’s limited resources. [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, No political party gains—and all Ameri- 8:52 a.m., October 13, 1998] cans lose—when we fail to work together to pass a bipartisan reauthorization of the OAA. NOTE: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on October 14. I am committed to working with you to reau- thorize this critically important legislation. Sincerely, Letter to Senate Majority Leader William J. Clinton Trent Lott Urging Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act NOTE: An original was not available for verifica- October 8, 1998 tion of the content of this letter. Dear Senator Lott: I am writing to urge you to pass legislation Letter to House Speaker Newt to reauthorize the Older Americans Act Gingrich Urging Reauthorization of (OAA) before the Congress adjourns this the Older Americans Act year. Failure to do so will call into question October 8, 1998 our nation’s commitment to the Act and the vital services it provides to millions of older Dear Mr. Speaker: Americans. Legislation to reauthorize the I am writing to urge you to pass legislation OAA has gained an impressive degree of bi- to reauthorize the Older Americans Act partisan support. In fact, the legislation pro- (OAA) before the Congress adjourns this posed by Senator McCain and Senator Mi- year. Failure to do so will call into question kulski is cosponsored by more than 60 Sen- our nation’s commitment to the Act and the ators. vital services it provides to millions of older The OAA is receiving broad support be- Americans. cause it has played such an important role Legislation to reauthorize the OAA has in responding to the diverse needs of our na- gained an impressive degree of bipartisan tion’s seniors. It provides more than 100 mil- support. In fact, the legislation introduced by lion meals to nearly one million vulnerable Representative LoBiondo and Representa- seniors each year through its meals-on- tive DeFazio has been cosponsored by more wheels program; it finances and supports an than 170 House Members. ombudsman program that helps resolve tens The OAA is receiving broad support be- of thousands of problems, including abuse cause it has played such an important role and neglect, affecting nursing home residents in responding to the diverse needs of our na- and other vulnerable populations; it provides tion’s seniors. It provides more than 100 mil- job training for seniors who need or want lion meals to nearly one million vulnerable to work; and, in many communities, it pro- seniors each year through its meals-on- vides the type of adult day care that gives wheels program; it finances and supports an families a much needed respite from ombudsman program that helps resolve tens caregiving responsibilities. of thousands of problems, including abuse These programs are essential to ensuring and neglect, affecting nursing home residents that our nation’s seniors can maintain their and other vulnerable populations; it provides independence. Sometimes a few basic serv- job training for seniors who need or want ices or programs, such as adult day care or to work; and, in many communities, it pro- adequate nutrition, are all that is necessary vides the type of adult day care that gives to allow seniors with limited resources to families a much needed respite from continue living in their homes and commu- caregiving responsibilities. nities. Without the OAA, too many older These programs are essential to ensuring Americans would have no choice but to turn that our nation’s seniors can maintain their

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independence. Sometimes a few basic serv- 1992, a number of U.S. telecommunications ices or programs, such as adult day care or companies successfully negotiated agree- adequate nutrition, are all that is necessary ments to provide telecommunications serv- to allow seniors with limited resources to ices between the United States and Cuba continue living in their homes and commu- consistent with policy guidelines developed nities. Without the OAA, too many older by the Department of State and the Federal Americans would have no choice but to turn Communications Commission. to long-term care facilities to get the help they need. This harms those who would like Subsequent to enactment of the CDA, the to remain in their communities, significantly Department of the Treasury’s Office of For- draining our nation’s limited resources. eign Assets Control (OFAC) amended the No political party gains—and all Ameri- Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. cans lose—when we fail to work together to Part 515 (the ‘‘CACR’’), to provide for spe- pass a bipartisan reauthorization of the OAA. cific licensing on a case-by-case basis for cer- I am committed to working with you to reau- tain transactions incident to the receipt or thorize this critically important legislation. transmission of telecommunications between Sincerely, the United States and Cuba, 31 C.F.R. William J. Clinton 515.542(c), including settlement of charges under traffic agreements. NOTE: An original was not available for verifica- tion of the content of this letter. The OFAC has issued eight licenses au- thorizing transactions incident to the receipt Message to the Congress Reporting or transmission of telecommunications be- on Telecommunications Services tween the United States and Cuba since the Payments to Cuba enactment of the CDA. None of these li- censes permits payments to the Government October 8, 1998 of Cuba from a blocked account. For the pe- To the Congress of the United States: riod January 1 through June 30, 1998, This report is submitted pursuant to OFAC-licensed U.S. carriers reported pay- 1705(e)(6) of the Cuban Democracy Act of ments to the Government of Cuba in settle- 1992, 22 U.S.C. 6004(e)(6) (the ‘‘CDA’’), as ment of charges under telecommunications amended by section 102(g) of the Cuban Lib- traffic agreements as follows: erty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, Public Law 104– AT&T Corporation (formerly, 114 (March 12, 1996), 110 Stat. 785, 22 American Telephone and Tele- U.S.C. 6021–91 (the ‘‘LIBERTAD Act’’), graph Company) ...... $12,795,658 which requires that I report to the Congress AT&T de Puerto Rico ...... 292,229 on a semi-annual basis detailing payments Global One (formerly, Sprint In- made to Cuba by any United States person corporated) ...... 3,075,733 as a result of the provision of telecommuni- IDB WorldCom Services, Inc. cations services authorized by this sub- (formerly, IDB Communica- section. tions, Inc.) ...... 4,402,634 The CDA, which provides that tele- MCI International, Inc. (formerly, communications services are permitted be- MCI Communications Corpora- tion) ...... 8,468,743 tween the United States and Cuba, specifi- Telefonica Larga Distancia de cally authorizes the President to provide for Puerto Rico, Inc ...... 129,752 payments to Cuba by license. The CDA WilTel, Inc. (formerly, WilTel states that licenses may be issued for full or Underseas Cable, Inc.) ...... 4,983,368 partial settlement of telecommunications WorldCom, Inc. (formerly, LDDS services with Cuba, but may not require any Communications, Inc.) ...... 5,371,531 withdrawal from a blocked account. Follow- ing enactment of the CDA on October 23, Total ...... 39,519,648

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I shall continue to report semiannually on fellow officers to confronting criminals telecommunications payments to the Gov- armed with assault weapons and body armor, ernment of Cuba from United States per- to nursing a seriously injured neighbor back sons. to health, to breaking in on a person with William J. Clinton a bomb that was partially activated and, thank God, did not go up and blow them all away. The White House, And one of these officers, shot 4 times him- October 8, 1998. self, including twice, one in the neck and once in the head, maintained his conscious- NOTE: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on October 9. ness enough to save the life of a cab driver when the person who shot him had a gun at his head. Remarks Honoring the National These stories of all these people are lit- Association of Police Organizations’ erally breathtaking. I hope that the members ‘‘Top Cops’’ of the media who are here today who are October 9, 1998 covering this will find the time to read the specific cases of those whom we honor today Tom, I accept the deal. [Laughter] Thank and tell their stories across America. The you for your work, on behalf of the law en- story of the brave officer from New Hamp- forcement officers of our country. I want to shire who dealt with that terrible tragedy and thank Bob Scully as well, the executive direc- the story of the officers from north Holly- tor of NAPO. Thank you, Madam Attorney wood, because of the volume of fire that was General, for all the support you have given involved in their incident, have been told be- to local law enforcement for 6 years now. yond the borders of their States. But all these I want to thank the Top Cops, their families, stories deserve to be told, and I hope they and their friends who are here. And I’d like will be, because we honor here today, as I to thank the Members of Congress who are say again, both the heroism and the humanity here, supporters of law enforcement all: Sen- that reflect the best of good, professional law ator Robb, Congresswoman Harman, Con- enforcement. gresswoman McCarthy, Congressman We owe a great debt of gratitude to our Rogan, and Congressman Torres, who’s here Nation’s police officers, and for 6 years we with some of his family. We’re delighted to have worked, as Tom said and as the Attor- see all of you. ney General noted, to give our law enforce- I’d like to say a special word of apprecia- ment officers the tools they need to succeed tion to those of you who brought your fami- at their jobs. We have worked to take back lies and the children here as a clear reminder our streets from crime and violence with a to us of what we’ve really come to honor comprehensive plan based on what law en- today. forcement said we should be doing: new pen- This July, just a mile from here in the Cap- alties on our books that were tough when itol Rotunda, I had the sad responsibility as they should be tough; efforts to help keep President to honor the courage and the sac- young people out of trouble in the first place; rifice of the two officers, J.J. Chestnut and efforts to keep guns out of the hands of crimi- Detective John Gibson, who were killed be- nals; and most of all, efforts to put 100,000 cause they literally threw themselves be- more police on our streets. tween an assassin’s bullets and innocent by- Six years ago there were many Americans standers. They gave their lives to defend our who believed that a rising crime rate was a freedom’s house. The men and women we problem that would be with us always. Today, honor here today put on their badges every because of efforts like those whom we honor, day, prepared to make the same kind of sac- we have the lowest level of crime in 25 years. rifice in their own communities. They are Respect for the law is on the rise. Our Na- true American heroes. They have done aston- tion’s law enforcement officers are at the very ishing acts of humanity and heroism, from center of this effort. They are cracking down crossing the line of fire to rescue wounded on gun traffickers. They are working to keep

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guns out of the hands of criminals. They are our child care and our elder care systems working with local school authorities to keep safe. our schools safe and drug-free. They are I am pleased that Congress has taken this walking the beat and working with residents step to give law enforcement more tools to to prevent crime and to keep kids out of trou- make a greater difference. At the same time, ble in the first place. I have to tell you there is one thing going But as all of them know, and as all of you on in Congress that I am very, very con- know, this is not a problem we can afford cerned about, an effort to undermine the to just congratulate ourselves on. Our coun- very Brady law protections that have helped try is still too violent. We still lose too many to make our streets and our police safer. The children. We still lose too many police offi- legislation would deny the FBI the full funds cers. it needs to do the most effective background We have to take some more steps. And checks possible and would also impose undue today I’d like to just mention a couple. First, administrative burdens on the FBI, threaten- as Tom said so eloquently, all the cynics and ing to bring this vitally important system to the critics were wrong. These police are mak- a halt. When we stood with America’s police ing a difference in our communities. We are officers to pass the Brady law, it was a dra- well on our way; we’re under a budget and matic step forward. We cannot take an unac- ahead of schedule in our efforts to put ceptable step backward. 100,000 police on the street. Today we are This law is working. And all the fears that were raised about it by people who said good awarding $30 million in new grant money to sportsmen would lose their guns and people help communities hire more police. This will would be subject to unconscionable hassles, bring the total of police officers funded by it all turned out to be a bunch of bull. All the crime bill in 1994 and subsequent appro- it has done is save lives. Why are we trying priations to more than 88,000. We are lit- to mess with something that works, that saves erally almost 90 percent of the way toward lives, that makes law enforcement safer, that meeting our goal. makes people safer? It is a terrible mistake. Second, we know what a difference the And I ask you all to help me stop it. Brady background checks have made to keep Now, this amendment was first proposed illegal guns off our streets. I am pleased to last summer, and I said then I would oppose say that we will give States $40 million to it. So I will say again: I intend to oppose help them computerize the criminal history any effort to weaken the Brady law and to records they use to do those background put guns back into the hands of felons and checks, a simple procedure that has already fugitives. We’ve going in the right direction. stopped a quarter of a million fugitives and Let’s don’t make that mistake again. felons from purchasing guns and saves who Think of the stories here today. Every one knows how many lives. These steps will help of you out here represents or came with us to give law enforcement the tools they somebody who is up here today. Now, you need. just think about how many stories there Last night Congress passed a bill by a large would be like the ones we’re celebrating bipartisan margin that will build on our today, and we’re sitting here thanking the progress, a bill I’ll sign into law later today. good Lord that at least these people are alive. It will provide States with more than a billion You think how many more stories there dollars over the next 5 years to modernize would be, not only to honor but to mourn, not only their criminal records systems but if we were to turn our back on what we’ve also to upgrade their communications and been doing for the last 6 years. criminal identification systems. It will include So I say again, the Congress has made a legislation I proposed last year at the White lot of progress. It has increasingly been bi- House Conference on Child Care the First partisan on this law enforcement issue. Let’s Lady and I sponsored, to help us build a new not take a step backward. electronic information sharing partnership Now, before I close, let me once again with State and local law enforcement to keep thank the Top Cops for their remarkable

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achievements. And again let me say, I want Kosovo to thank all of you who are members of their [At this point, a question was asked and an- families. In so many ways, you make these swered in German, and translation was not achievements possible. You share the sac- provided.] rifice, and you share the fear, and sometimes you have to share the loss. We know that. President Clinton. Will somebody trans- Therefore, you have to provide your own spe- late for the American press? I understood cial brand of courage, and for that we are it, but I don’t—[laughter]. also profoundly grateful. Q. Well, then, you translate, sir. We honor all of you, your strength and Q. [Inaudible]—work on Kosovo? your spirit, and from the bottom of our President Clinton. Excuse me? hearts, we thank you for what you have done Q. Did you also agree with Mr. Fischer to make America a better place. about Kosovo? Thank you very much, and God bless you. President Clinton. I don’t know, I just—— NOTE: The President spoke at 10:57 a.m. in the Chancellor-Elect Schroeder. It’s enough Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, to agree with me. he referred to Tom Scotto, president, and Bob President Clinton. That’s right. [Laugh- Scully, executive director, National Association of ter] I think—let me say—we had obviously Police Organizations. spoken about Kosovo and that—we had agreed about the next steps to be taken, and Exchange With Reporters Prior to you started to have them Monday in Ger- many. Is that right? Discussions With Chancellor-Elect Chancellor-Elect Schroeder. Yes. Gerhard Schroeder of Germany President Clinton. In other words, we be- October 9, 1998 lieve the next step is that the NATO allies must approve the action order, and what Kosovo Herr Schroeder said was he expected that Q. Mr. President, the Serbs are threaten- to happen on Monday. And he has talked ing to retaliate against aid workers if NATO with Chancellor Kohl; they talk back and uses force. Any second thoughts, sir? forth together about this. President Clinton. I think they would re- gret that very much if they did it. I think Germany-U.S. Relations they know better than to do that. Q. What would you say about the pros- Q. What do you expect from the German pects of German-American relations with the side? new government? President Clinton. Perhaps the Chan- President Clinton. Oh, I feel very good cellor-Elect would like to make a statement about it. The United States and Germany about that. have had a unique and profoundly important relationship for decades, and I believe it will Impeachment Inquiry continue to be very strong. I am very—per- Q. Mr. President, is there anything you sonally, very excited about a lot of the ideas can do to speed up the impeachment inquiry that Mr. Schroeder advanced in the cam- on the Hill by agreeing not to challenge ev- paign, things that he wanted to try in Ger- erything in the Starr report? many. They bear some similarity to some of President Clinton. I don’t have anything the things that I have tried to do here, that to add to what I said yesterday. Prime Minister Blair has tried to do in Great Q. Mr. President, have you had time—— Britain. Q. Are you in agreement on Kosovo? I think we are all trying to adapt our coun- Q. ——promises continuity. What do you tries to this global economy, a global society, expect—— to reap the benefits of it, but to keep a President Clinton. He has something to human face on it, to make sure that this say. world we’re living in really works for ordinary

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citizens more affectively. And no one has all And I think we—in fairness to him, he’s the magic answers, but I’m confident that we putting together his government. He’s work- need bold experimentation. We need to be ing out the understandings of the coalition. trying new things. And I hope we can work He’s preparing to assume office. He has to together on those things. I’m quite excited make a wide range of decisions about new about the prospect of doing so. domestic policies. I’ve been exactly where he Q. No worries about the Greens? is, and I don’t think we ought to add to his President Clinton. I have enough to do burdens today. to worry about getting America to do what Thank you. we need to do here. That’s Germany’s issue. Chancellor-Elect Schroeder. That’s my NOTE: The exchange began at 12:30 p.m. in the Colonnade at the White House. In his remarks, problem. [Laughter] he referred to President Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and President Kosovo Boris Yeltsin of Russia. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this exchange. Q. Mr. President, what happens if the Germans do not pledge troops for Kosovo? President Clinton. Excuse me? Remarks Following a Meeting With Q. What would happen if the Germans Congressional Leaders would not pledge troops—ground troops or October 9, 1998 air troops from our contingent for NATO ac- tion on Kosovo? Legislative Agenda for Education President Clinton. Well, let me say, first Let me begin my thanking Senator of all—and it’s important that all of you— Daschle and Congressman Gephardt and all there are two separate issues here, as I un- their colleagues who are here for their lead- derstand it, and if I make a mistake, Herr ership and their commitment on the issue Schroeder can correct me. The first issue is of education. Let me also ask you to listen whether Germany will support NATO to what they said. We are less than 4 weeks issuing the action order to make sure that away from an election. All public officials the plans are in place and authorized if mili- would like to go home, but they said that tary action should be needed. That is what they and their colleagues would put the he has said yes to today. American people before their political inter- We all hope this will not happen. The ests and would put progress before partisan- President of Russia sent three high-ranking ship and would stay here until we finally ad- officials of his government to Mr. Milosevic dress the issue of our children’s education. and he made a lot of specific commitments We had over 50 Members of Congress to honor the U.N. resolution. Those commit- here just a few days ago to ask the Repub- ments are not being kept today. He can still lican leadership to give us just one day, one keep the commitments that he made to day to pass a budget that honors our values President Yeltsin and keep the commitments and cares for our children’s future in the area inherent in the U.N. resolution, and none of of education. this will happen. But I am convinced that We have the first balanced budget in 29 it’s important that we authorize NATO to act. years. Our economy is prosperous amid glob- So that’s where the agreement is. al turmoil. We have the confidence that we Now, as I understand it, the German Con- can solve our problems, and the space—the stitution requires the Bundestag to approve emotional and the intellectual space—to any out-of-Germany military action, and that think about our future. Now, this budget is is something that will have to await the Chan- purely and simply a test of whether after 9 cellor assuming office later this month, and months of doing nothing, we are going to then we will see. I don’t think it’s appropriate do the right thing about our children’s future. for me to comment on that. It’s enough for Members of Congress should not go home me right now that we are in agreement on until they pass a budget that will strengthen the action order. That’s all that matters today. our public schools for the 21st century. I am

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determined that this budget will make a et team to return to Capitol Hill to make strong down payment on our drive to hire the strongest possible case for the edu- 100,000 new highly qualified teachers, to re- cational priorities that all of us standing here duce class size in the early grades. Today before you today share. there are a record number of children in our Now, what has happened in this Congress? schools, and studies confirm what everyone What is the record to date of the majority? knows: smaller classes and better-trained They have killed the bill to reform the way teachers make all the difference. We have we treat tobacco and to protect our children a duty to provide them. from the dangers of tobacco. They killed Smaller classes and more teachers—well, campaign finance reform. They killed the you’ve got to have some place for the class minimum wage. to meet. All across America, children are Today, as Senator Daschle said, the Senate being forced to learn in school buildings that joined the House in putting an end to the are either too crowded or even crumbling Patients’ Bill of Rights. That means no guar- or are not wired for the 21st century. I have antees that people will go to the nearest asked the Republican majority repeatedly to emergency room when they’re hurt, that they act on an innovative plan to help commu- can see a specialist when they need to, that nities modernize or build 5,000 schools. We they won’t lose their coverage in the middle can do this without a big new spending pro- of treatment, that their records will be kept gram. I thought they would like that. We can private. do it with targeted tax cuts, tax cuts that are They have tried to erode my commitment paid for in the balanced budget that do not to saving Social Security first in the House spend any of the surplus. I can’t think of a of Representatives. But still it is not too late better tax cut for our country’s future than for us to go forward together on our chil- one that gives our children a modern, safe, dren’s future. Politics should stop at the adequately equipped place to learn. classroom door. It is not too late. This balanced budget should also meet our We are here not simply to state our strong other educational priorities. It should fully conviction and our willingness—the willing- fund the after-school programs to bring dis- ness of these people who have to run—to cipline and learning into the lives of our defer their campaigns to take care of our chil- young people and to give them a change to dren’s future but to invite our Republican keep on learning and not be branded failures colleagues to join us and finally try to salvage because they may be in a system that is failing some shred of positive accomplishment for them. It should bring cutting-edge tech- the American people. I hope they’ll do it. nology to the classroom. We ought to hook There is still time. up all the classes of this country to the Inter- Thank you very much. net by the year 2000. It should expand Head Start. It should provide funding for the child- NOTE: The President spoke at 3:41 p.m. at the hood literacy programs so that every child South Portico at the White House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of can learn to read well and independently by these remarks. the third grade. It should support our new monitoring drive to encourage young people to go to college. And finally, I believe it Proclamation 7136—Columbus Day, should move forward with voluntary national 1998 standards and voluntary national tests in the October 9, 1998 basics, administered by a bipartisan group. We should not retreat from our commit- By the President of the United States ments to our children’s future. Unfortu- of America nately, that commitment was not reflected when the education bill was finally—finally— A Proclamation brought to the House floor yesterday, 8 days Today our Nation stands on the threshold into the new budget year. It met none of of a new millennium, an uncharted time of these challenges. I have instructed my budg- great challenge and opportunity. To fulfill

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the promise of this new era, we must be ad- ty-eight, and of the Independence of the venturous, willing to leave known shores, and United States of America the two hundred eager to embrace change. To find inspiration and twenty-third. for this momentous journey, we need only William J. Clinton look to the example of Christopher Colum- bus, who helped usher in a similar Age of [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, Discovery more than 500 years ago. 8:52 a.m., October 13, 1998] A skilled and experienced seaman, Colum- bus pushed back the boundaries of the NOTE: This proclamation will be published in the known world and charted a safe course across Federal Register on October 14. the ocean to a new continent. He was a mas- ter at reading and using the winds and dis- covered the best westward and eastward pas- Proclamation 7138—General Pulaski sages between Europe and North America. Memorial Day, 1998 As Daniel Boorstin wrote in The Discoverers, October 9, 1998 ‘‘. . . a sailing vessel today, after all that has been learned in the last five centuries, could By the President of the United States not do better than follow Columbus’ route.’’ of America Explorers, adventurers, and traders from many nations would follow his lead across the A Proclamation Atlantic, as would millions of immigrants in Two hundred nineteen years ago, General the centuries following his voyages. Although Casimir Pulaski selflessly gave his life on an both a dreamer and a visionary, Columbus— American battlefield, far from his native soil, a son of Italy whose enterprise was funded in a struggle dedicated to the principles of by the Spanish crown—could never have freedom and self-governance. Each year on foreseen the multicultural, multiracial Nation October 11, America solemnly marks the an- 1that would ultimately emerge in the New niversary of the death of this hero, a man World he helped to discover. whose devotion to liberty recognized no na- As we enter a new era, let us embrace Co- tional boundary. lumbus’ spirit of discovery and embrace as Born in Poland in 1747, Pulaski first joined well the great diversity of cultures, religions, the fight against tyranny and oppression at and ethnic traditions that we enjoy because his father’s side, defending their beloved so many have followed his course to this great homeland against Prussian and Imperial Rus- land. sian aggression. At the age of 21, Pulaski took In tribute to Columbus’ many achieve- command of a detachment of rebel forces ments, the Congress, by joint resolution of and proved his valor and strategic skill as he April 30, 1934 (48 Stat. 657), and an Act of led freedom fighters into numerous battles. June 28, 1968 (82 Stat. 250), has requested Struggling against insurmountable odds, he the President to proclaim the second Mon- and his fellow rebels were ultimately de- day in October of each year as ‘‘Columbus feated, and Pulaski was forced into exile. Day.’’ Carrying the cause of freedom to foreign Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, shores, Pulaski came to America to offer his President of the United States of America, services to George Washington in our coun- do hereby proclaim October 12, 1998, as Co- try’s struggle for independence. He wrote to lumbus Day. I call upon the people of the General Washington, ‘‘I came here, where United States to observe this day with appro- freedom is being defended, to serve it, and priate ceremonies and activities. I also direct to live or die for it.’’ He proved true to his that the flag of the United States be displayed word. Washington was so impressed with Pu- on all public buildings on the appointed day laski’s abilities during the battle of Brandy- in honor of Christopher Columbus. wine Creek that he recommended that the In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set Continental Congress appoint Pulaski as gen- my hand this ninth day of October, in the eral of the American cavalry. Pulaski and the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- special infantry and cavalry unit he formed

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fought bravely at the front lines of the Revo- Proclamation 7139—National lutionary War. And during the siege of Sa- Children’s Day, 1998 vannah, Casimir Pulaski gave his life so that October 9, 1998 our Nation might live in freedom. Every year on this date, Americans across By the President of the United States our country commemorate General Pulaski of America and draw inspiration from his life and the principles for which he fought. As we reflect A Proclamation on how far liberty and democracy have ad- One of the most important measures of vanced across the globe, we know that Gen- our success as a Nation is the well-being of eral Pulaski’s gallant and determined spirit our children. As a society, we have no more continues to live. It is this very spirit that important responsibility than to help our kept alive the dream of freedom in the hearts families raise healthy, happy, loving children and minds of the Polish people during the in an environment that allows kids to reach darkest days of Nazi and Communist oppres- their full potential. My Administration is sion. Today, thanks to the enduring resolve committed to this goal, and we have made and sacrifices of modern heroes following significant progress over the past five and a Pulaski’s example, Europe is free, and the half years through initiatives and legislation United States and Poland, as staunch friends designed to strengthen families, protect our and future NATO allies, look forward to a children’s health, and invest in their edu- new millennium bright with the prospects of cation. peace and prosperity. By providing a tax credit of $500 per child Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, to 26 million families, increasing the mini- President of the United States of America, mum wage, and cutting taxes through ex- tending the Earned Income Tax Credit, we by virtue of the authority vested in me by have helped millions of working families. We the Constitution and laws of the United have dramatically increased Federal funding States, do hereby proclaim Sunday, October for child care and proposed additional sub- 11, 1998, as General Pulaski Memorial Day. sidies and tax credits to help families pay for I encourage all Americans to commemorate such care. this occasion with appropriate programs and Through the Family and Medical Leave activities. Act, we have made it easier for working par- In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set ents to take as much as 12 weeks of unpaid my hand this ninth day of October, in the leave to care for a new baby or a sick child year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- without jeopardizing their jobs. And the land- ty-eight, and of the Independence of the mark Adoption and Safe Families Act I United States of America the two hundred signed into law last year helps the thousands and twenty-third. of children in foster care by working to re- unite them with their families, where pos- William J. Clinton sible, or move them more quickly into se- cure, permanent adoptive families when that [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, is the best option. 11:43 a.m., October 13, 1998] To meet our commitment to the health of all our children, we have extended health care coverage to millions of previously unin- NOTE: This proclamation will be published in the sured children through the Children’s Health Federal Register on October 14. Insurance Program (CHIP), the largest na- tional investment in children’s health care in

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more than 30 years. Children with health in- ty-eight, and of the Independence of the surance get a healthier start in life because United States of America the two hundred they receive regular checkups and routine and twenty-third. immunizations. We are working with the States to ensure that every child eligible for William J. Clinton CHIP is enrolled, and we are focusing on enrolling the more than 4 million uninsured [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:43 a.m., October 13, 1998] children who are currently eligible for health coverage under the Medicaid program. NOTE: This proclamation will be published in the To empower America’s children with the Federal Register on October 14. skills and knowledge they need to make the most of their lives, our Nation has also made the largest investment in education in more than a generation. Today, more than 800,000 children are enrolled in Head Start, receiving Digest of Other the attention and training they need to start White House Announcements school ready to learn. We are also working with the Congress to pass legislation that will provide public schools with more teachers, The following list includes the President’s public smaller class sizes, new or renovated build- schedule and other items of general interest an- nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and ings, and the latest in information tech- not included elsewhere in this issue. nology. Children are our greatest blessing, and raising them well is the most challenging and October 5 rewarding task any of us will ever undertake. In the morning, the President had a tele- On National Children’s Day, let us recommit phone conversation with President Boris ourselves—as loving parents and caring citi- Yeltsin of Russia concerning the situation in zens—to ensure that all of America’s children Kosovo. grow up in truly nurturing environments In the afternoon, the President met with where their needs are met and where they Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle have every opportunity to make the most of and House Minority Leader Richard A. Gep- their lives. hardt in the Oval Office. Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, The President announced his intention to President of the United States of America, nominate John Austin Moran to be a Com- by virtue of the authority vested in me by missioner of the Federal Maritime Commis- the Constitution and laws of the United sion. States, do hereby proclaim October 11, 1998, The President announced his intention to as National Children’s Day. I urge the Amer- nominate Stephen Hadley and Zalmay ican people to express their love and appre- Khalilzad to be members of the Board of Di- ciation for children on this day and on every rectors of the U.S. Institute of Peace. day throughout the year. I invite Federal offi- The President announced his intention to cials, local governments, communities, and nominate John F. Walsh to be a member of particularly all American families to join to- the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors. gether in observing this day with appropriate The President announced his intention to ceremonies and activities that honor our Na- nominate David M. Walker to be Comptrol- tion’s children. I also urge all Americans to ler of the United States at the General Ac- reflect upon the importance of children to counting Office. our families, the importance of strong fami- The President announced his intention to lies to our children, and the importance of nominate Andrea Kidd Taylor to be a mem- each to America. ber of the Chemical Safety and Hazard In- In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set vestigation Board. my hand this ninth day of October, in the The President announced his intention to year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- appoint Lee R. Seeman to be a member of

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the Commission for the Preservation of October 8 America’s Heritage Abroad. The President announced his intention to The President declared a major disaster in nominate Gary L. Visscher to be a member Washington and ordered Federal aid to sup- of the Occupational Safety and Health Re- plement State and local recovery efforts in view Commission. the area struck by severe storms and flooding The President announced his intention to on May 26–29. nominate Gary Gensler to be Under Sec- retary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance. October 6 The President announced his intention to In the morning, the President had a tele- nominate Kenneth M. Bresnahan to be Chief phone conversation with Prime Minister Financial Officer at the Labor Department. Tony Blair of the United Kingdom concern- The President announced his intention to ing the situation in Kosovo and the inter- nominate Kathleen M. Gillespie to be a national economic situation. Commissioner on the Equal Employment Later in the morning, the President met Opportunity Commission. with President Carlos Menem of Argentina at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. October 9 The President announced his intention to In the afternoon, the President had a nominate Kay Kelley Arnold to be a member working luncheon with Chancellor-elect of the Board of Directors of the Inter-Amer- Gerhard Schroeder of Germany in the Old ican Foundation. Family Dining Room. The President announced his intention to Later, the President met with Presidents nominate Timothy F. Geithner to be Under Alberto Fujimori of Peru and Jamil Mahuad Secretary of the Treasury for International Witt of Ecuador in the Oval Office. Affairs. The President announced the nomination The President announced his intention to of Timothy Fields, Jr., to be Assistant Admin- nominate Edwin M. Truman to be Assistant istrator for Solid Waste at the Environmental Secretary of the Treasury for International Protection Agency. Affairs. The President announced his intention to The President announced his intention to nominate James M. Simon, Jr., to be Assist- nominate Donnie R. Marshall to be Deputy ant Director for Administration at the Cen- Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Ad- tral Intelligence Agency. ministration. The President announced his intention to The President announced his intention to nominate Arthur Naparstek to be a member appoint Ralph B. Everett to the rank of Am- of the Board of Directors of the Corporation bassador during his tenure of service as the for National and Community Service. Chair of the U.S. delegation to the 1998 The White House announced that the International Telecommunication Union President will travel to Guam, Malaysia, Plenipotentiary Conference. Japan, and Korea November 13–22 to attend the annual Asia Pacific Economic Con- October 7 ference and consult with two of the United In the afternoon, the President had a tele- States’ closest allies in the region on the glob- phone conversation with President Fernando al economic situation, regional security, and Cardoso of Brazil to congratulate Mr. other bilateral issues. Cardoso on his reelection and brief him on the October 6 economic meetings in Wash- ington. Later, the President met with Rep- resentative Vic Fazio, chairman of the House Nominations Democratic caucus, in the Oval Office. Submitted to the Senate The President announced his intention to nominate Harold J. Creel, Jr., to be a Com- missioner on the Federal Maritime Commis- The following list does not include promotions of sion. members of the Uniformed Services, nominations

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to the Service Academies, or nominations of For- Gus A. Owen, eign Service officers. of California, to be a member of the Surface Transportation Board for a term expiring De- Submitted October 5 cember 31, 2002 (reappointment), which was sent to the Senate on February 2, 1998. David M. Walker, of Georgia, to be Comptroller General of the Submitted October 6 United States for a term of 15 years, vice Charles A. Bowsher, term expired. Kay Kelley Arnold, of Arkansas, to be a member of the Board Stephen Hadley, of Directors of the Inter-American Founda- of the District of Columbia, to be a member tion for a term expiring October 6, 2004, vice of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Insti- Neil H. Offen, term expired. tute of Peace for a term expiring January 19, 1999, vice Mary Louise Smith, term expired. Donnie R. Marshall, of Texas, to be Deputy Administrator of Stephen Hadley, Drug Enforcement, vice Stephen H. Greene. of the District of Columbia, to be a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Insti- Jose Antonio Perez, tute of Peace for a term expiring January 19, of California, to be U.S. Marshal for the 2003 (reappointment). Southern District of California for the term of 4 years, vice Steven Simpson Gregg. Zalmay Khalilzad, of Maryland, to be a member of the Board Submitted October 7 of Directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace Harold J. Creel, Jr., for a term expiring January 19, 2001, vice of South Carolina, to be a Federal Maritime Christopher H. Phillips, resigned. Commissioner for the term expiring June 30, John A. Moran, 2004 (reappointment). of Virginia, to be a Federal Maritime Com- missioner for the term expiring June 30, Robert W. Perciasepe, 2001, vice Ming Hsu, term expired. of Maryland, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (re- Norman A. Mordue, appointment). of New York, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of New York, vice Submitted October 8 Rosemary S. Pooler, elevated. John A. Moran, Andrea Kidd Taylor, of Virginia, to be a Federal Maritime Com- of Michigan, to be a member of the Chemical missioner for the term expiring June 30, Safety and Hazard Investigation Board for a 2000, vice Joe Scroggins, Jr., term expired. term of 5 years (new position). Timothy Fields, Jr., John F. Walsh, of Virginia, to be Assistant Administrator, Of- of Connecticut, to be a Governor of the U.S. fice of Solid Waste, Environmental Protec- Postal Service for a term expiring December tion Agency, vice Elliott Pearson Laws, re- 8, 2006, vice Bert H. Mackie, term expired. signed. Withdrawn October 5 Kenneth M. Bresnahan, of Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, Mari Carmen Aponte, Department of Labor, vice Edmundo A. of Puerto Rico, to be Ambassador Extraor- Gonzales, resigned. dinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Dominican Repub- Timothy F. Geithner, lic, which was submitted to the Senate on of New York, to be an Under Secretary of April 28, 1998. the Treasury, vice David A. Lipton.

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Gary Gensler, Transcript of a press briefing by National of Maryland, to be an Under Secretary of Economic Council Director Gene Sperling the Treasury, vice John D. Hawke, Jr. and Deputy Treasury Secretary Larry Sum- mers on initiatives on the international econ- Edwin M. Truman, omy of Maryland, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury, vice Timothy F. Geithner. Announcement of nomination for U.S. Dis- trict Judge for the Northern District of New Withdrawn October 8 York John A. Moran, Released October 6 of Virginia, to be a Federal Maritime Com- missioner for the term expiring June 30, Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- 2001, vice Ming Hsu, term expired, which retary Joe Lockhart was sent to the Senate on October 5, 1998. Statement by the Press Secretary on the ap- Submitted October 9 pointment of Robert Malley as Special Assist- ant to the President and Senior Director for Frank J. Guarini, Arab-Israeli Affairs at the National Security of New Jersey, to be a Representative of the Council United States of America to the 52d Session of the General Assembly of the United Na- Released October 7 tions. Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- Arthur J. Naparstek, retary Joe Lockhart of Ohio, to be a member of the Board of Announcement of nomination for U.S. Attor- Directors of the Corporation for National ney for the District of Minnesota and Community Service for a term expiring October 6, 2003 (reappointment). Announcement of nomination for U.S. Attor- ney for the District of Rhode Island James M. Simon, Jr., of Alabama, to be Assistant Director of Cen- Released October 8 tral Intelligence for Administration (new po- sition). Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- retary Joe Lockhart Jack J. Spitzer, Statement by the Press Secretary on the ap- of Washington, to be Alternate Representa- pointment of D. Holly Hammonds as Special tive of the United States of America to the Assistant to the President for Economic Pol- 52d Session of the General Assembly of the icy for both the National Economic Council United Nations. and the National Security Council

Released October 9 Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- Checklist retary Joe Lockhart of White House Press Releases Transcript of a press briefing by National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling The following list contains releases of the Office and Assistant to the President for Domestic of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as Policy Planning Bruce Reed on education items nor covered by entries in the Digest of funding in the budget Other White House Announcements. Transcript of a press briefing by NSC Senior Director for Inter-American Affairs Jim Released October 5 Dobbins on the President’s meeting with Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- President Fujimori of Peru and President retary Joe Lockhart Mahuad of Ecuador

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Statement by the Press Secretary: President H.R. 4060 / Public Law 105–245 Clinton’s Meeting With Presidents Fujimori Energy and Water Development Appropria- and Mahuad tions Act, 1999 Fact sheet: Ecuador-Peru Border Dispute Approved October 8 Statement by the Press Secretary: President Clinton Will Attend APEC Summit S. 1379 / Public Law 105–246 Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act Statement by the Press Secretary announcing that the President will sign H.R. 4558, ‘‘Non- Approved October 9 citizens Benefit Clarification and Other Technical Amendments Act of 1998’’ H.R. 3096 / Public Law 105–247 To correct a provision relating to termination Statement by the Press Secretary: The Wash- of benefits for convicted persons ington Summit at Wye River H.R. 4382 / Public Law 105–248 Mammography Quality Standards Reauthor- ization Act of 1998 Acts Approved H.J. Res. 133 / Public Law 105–249 by the President Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1999, and for other purposes Approved October 5 S. 1355 / Public Law 105–250 H.R. 1856 / Public Law 105–242 To designate the United States courthouse National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer located at 141 Church Street in New Haven, and Community Partnership Enhancement Connecticut, as the ‘‘Richard C. Lee United Act of 1998 States Courthouse’’

Approved October 6 S. 2022 / Public Law 105–251 S. 1695 / Public Law 105–243 To provide for the improvement of interstate Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site criminal justice identification, information, Study Act of 1998 communications, and forensics Approved October 7 S. 2071 / Public Law 105–252 To extend a quarterly financial report pro- H.R. 6 / Public Law 105–244 gram administered by the Secretary of Com- Higher Education Amendments of 1998 merce

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