Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Monday, May 29, 1995 Volume 31—Number 21 Pages 867–914

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Addresses and Remarks Executive Orders See also Bill Signings Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Democratic congressional dinner—893 Veterans’ Illnesses—911 Radio address—871 Interviews With the News Media Surgeon General-designate Henry Foster— Exchanges with reporters 900, 910 Oval Office—910 White House Conference on Character Rose Garden—900 Building for a Civil and Democratic News conference, May 23 (No. 96)—889 Society—872 White House Conference on Trade and Letters and Messages Investment in Ireland—901, 909 National Missing Children’s Day—897 White House Photographers Association Proclamations dinner—882 Women’s Bureau reception—867 National Maritime Day—870 To Modify Duty-Free Treatment Under the Bill Signings Generalized System of Preferences and for Other Purposes—886 Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, remarks— World Trade Week—887 884 Statements by the President Communications to Congress Les Aspin—882, 884 National Voter Registration Act of 1993, Aeronautics and space, message transmitting anniversary—882 report—897 U.N./NATO decision to launch airstrikes in Bosnia, letter reporting—898 Bosnia—905 Romania, message transmitting report on Supplementary Materials trade—889 Small business, message reporting—905 Acts approved by the President—914 Checklist of White House press releases—914 Communications to Federal Agencies Digest of other White House announcements—913 Romania, memorandum on trade—888 Nominations submitted to the Senate—913

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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Remarks at the Women’s Bureau to talk her out of it because I thought it Reception would be bad for her career. But it’s worked May 19, 1995 out all right for her, I think. [Laughter] You know, 75 years ago a reception like Thank you very much. I was sitting here this would not have taken place. In 1920, listening to my marvelous wife speak, and I women had less than one in five jobs in this was thinking, you know, I’ve been seeing her economy and, as Hillary said, were only then lately long distance, on Oprah Winfrey and gaining the right to vote. When she said, ‘‘In on the ‘‘Morning Show’’ this morning, and 25 years from now, the President and her I thought, boy, I’m glad she lives here. husband would open the time capsule,’’ I [Laughter] looked at Karen and Bob and said, ‘‘If the I want to thank Secretary Reich and the demographic trends continue, the percent- Women’s Bureau Director, Karen Nuss- ages will almost mandate a woman Presi- baum. She has done a wonderful job. I am dent.’’ [Laughter] Karen said, ‘‘Yes, if they very grateful to her and to him. I want to vote their own interests.’’ [Laughter] To say a special word of appreciation to the peo- which I replied, ‘‘We should give them every ple who sponsored this event today: from opportunity.’’ [Laughter] American Home Products, the senior vice When the Women’s Bureau was born, it president, Fred Hassan, and the corporate was designed then to improve the lot of secretary, Carol Emerling. Let’s give them women in the work force by fighting for fair a hand for what they did. [Applause] There wages and expanding opportunities for edu- are many distinguished women leaders here cation and training and protecting women today, but I do want to recognize one person physically at work. who has been a friend of mine for more than Those folks 75 years ago, I think, would 20 years now, Congresswoman Eddie Ber- be surprised at how far we’ve come. Hun- nice Johnson, from Texas. We’re glad to see dreds of women here celebrate the progress you. Thank you very much for being here. that we have made in all walks of American You know, the concerns of working women life. I’m proud that in this administration we are one of the few subjects that I didn’t have have six women Cabinet Secretaries, twice to be educated about—[laughter]—because as many as has ever served in any Cabinet I grew up with them. I lived with my grand- of the President before. Over 40 percent of parents till I was 4, and my grandmother was our appointees have been women, and a far a working woman from the 1930’s on. In the higher percentage of women have been ap- little town where I was born, an awful lot pointed to the bench and to major Federal of the women, both white and black, who positions than previous administrations. Two lived in poor families or near-poor families of these appointees are former Directors of worked as a matter of course. No one gave the Women’s Bureau: Esther Peterson, the much thought to it one way or the other. U.S. Representative to the U.N. General As- My mother was a working woman from the sembly, and the Assistant to the President 1940’s on, beginning shortly after I was old for Public Liaison, Alexis Herman, who is enough to at least crawl around on my own. here with six other Directors of the Women’s And it certainly never occurred to me from Bureau. Let’s give them all a hand here. [Ap- the first day that I met Hillary that she would plause] do anything other than pursue her career. All of you represent women across this [Laughter] As a matter of fact, I spent the country who work long hours, do your best first 2 or 3 years of our relationship trying to raise your families, and contribute to your

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communities. Extraordinary working women matically expand and make more affordable today are doing their best to hold our country loans to go to college. together, our communities together, and But there is much, much more to be done. frankly, our hard-pressed middle class to- I am proud of the fact that last year the Small gether. They deserve our admiration, our re- Business Administration cut its budget but spect, and most importantly, our support. expanded loans to women entrepreneurs by I ran for office in large measure because 85 percent in one year—I might add, without I was afraid that having won the cold war, reducing loans to qualified males. [Laughter] we might squander the peace and the victory; We expanded for everybody. that having struggled so hard to make the But I think it’s important that we recognize American dream available to other people that women in the workplace are caught in around the world, we might lose it for large a lot of cross-currents today, because all numbers of our people here at home as we American workers, or at least more than half move into the 21st century and the global of us, are working longer hours for the same economy, the technological revolution open- or lower pay that we were making 10 years ing all of us to unbelievable pressures and ago. And therefore, more and more parents changes which can be good or difficult. are working harder for the same or less and I believe that my job is, first, to provide spending less time with their children. for the security of the American people; sec- Women feel this pressure very deeply insofar ondly, to give people the tools they need to as they have either sole, primary, or even just help themselves live up to their God-given half of the responsibility for taking care of potential; and thirdly, to try to create as many their children as well as earning a living. Be- opportunities as I possibly can. cause male workers over the age of 45, on In a way, the first major piece of legislation average, have lost 14 percent of their earning I signed as President, which had been bounc- power in the last 10 years, women in the ing around here for 7 years and had suffered work force and in the home feel the anxiety through two vetoes, was emblematic of all of their husband’s sense of loss and insecurity three of those objectives. It was the family and frustration and anger. and medical leave law. What is causing all this, and what are we Not very long ago, I was home for a couple to do about it? Well, what is causing it all of days and I went back to my old church, is the impact of the global economy and the and a lady I didn’t know came up to me and dramatic revolution in technology on our so- said, ‘‘I really want to thank you. I know we’re ciety, opening up all kinds of new changes not supposed to talk about politics at church, in ways that are perfectly wonderful if you but I don’t really think this is politics. I got can access them but terrifying if you cannot. cancer, and I had to take some time off and For example—we don’t have the figures yet deal with it, and my husband had to take on ’94, but I think ’94 will confirm ’93’s some time off and work with me. And neither trend—in 1993 we had the largest number one of us lost our jobs, and we’re both back of new businesses started in America in any working now. And it wouldn’t have happened year in history and the largest number of new if it hadn’t been for the family and medical millionaires in America in any year in history. leave law.’’ And that is a good thing. That is a good thing. I am proud of the fact that we have moved And that is happening because so many of aggressively to immunize all of our children us are now able to access the world of the under the age of 2; to enroll every pregnant future. Many of you in this room are part woman and infant in the country who needs of the trend toward a brighter, bigger, broad- it in the Women, Infants and Children Pro- er tomorrow. gram for nutrition; to expand Head Start and But there is also a fault line in our society lift the standards in our schools and expand that is splitting the middle class apart, putting apprenticeship programs for young people unbearable pressures on families, making who don’t go on to universities; and some- them less secure and making them less able thing which will make a big difference in the to live up to the fullest of their abilities. You lives of young women in the future, to dra- know it, and I know it.

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That’s why the family and medical leave it was a national program or one of the State law was important. If people are going to be networks around here, but they went down working for smaller companies, not bigger South to a town that had a lot of minimum ones, and moving around, at least they ought wage workers. And they went in this plant to know they can take some time off without to interview a remarkable woman who losing a job if there’s someone sick in their worked in this plant at a minimum wage. And family or if a baby is born or some other they said to this lady, ‘‘You know, your em- emergency arises. That’s why it was impor- ployer says, if we raise the minimum wage, tant. that they’ll either have to lay people off or That’s why the efforts of the Secretary of put more money into machinery and reduce Labor and the Secretary of Education to cre- their employment long-term. What do you ate a fabric, a seamless fabric, of lifelong say to that?’’ I could not have written the learning, whenever people lose their jobs or script. [Laughter] This lady sort of threw her feel that they’re underemployed, it’s terribly shoulders back and looked into the eyes of important. the television reporter and said, ‘‘Honey, I’ll And that’s why I believe it is especially im- take my chances.’’ [Laughter] portant to women that we raise the minimum If we are going to bring our budget deficit wage this year. Women represent three out into balance, which will be good for all of of five minimum wage workers but only half us, if we are going to have to over a period the work force. of years cut back on expenditures that the I have done everything I could to create Government used to make, that makes it a climate in which people are encouraged to even more important for people who do go choose work over welfare, in which people out into the private sector and work full-time, are encouraged to be successful parents and play by the rules, and want to make their successful workers. I believe that. That’s own way without public assistance, to be re- what the earned-income tax credit was all warded for that work. This is a huge issue. about in 1993. Let me tell you what that One other thing I want to say that must meant: That meant this year that the average be done this year: The Secretary of Labor family of four with an income under $27,000 has taken the initiative in trying to consoli- got a $1,000 tax cut below what they paid date a lot of these various job-training pro- before this administration came into office. grams into a fund from which you can get And it means 3 years from now, if the Con- a check or a voucher, if you’re unemployed gress will stick with it and not repeal it, we or underemployed, to take to the local com- will be able to say that no one who works munity college or the training institution of full-time and has children at home, when your choice to get permanent reeducation they go home from work, will live below the opportunities for a lifetime. And we ought poverty line. That is the best war against wel- to do that. fare we could wage. I’d like to close by introducing someone But it isn’t enough. If we do not raise the who was a working woman, who was a par- minimum wage this year, next year it will be, ticular influence in my life at an early time. in real dollar terms, the lowest it has been The people who sponsored this event invited in 40 years. Now that is not my idea of what me to pick someone to participate, and so the 21st century American economy is all I picked this person. Lonnie Luebben was about. I want a smart-work, high-wage econ- my 11th grade honors English teacher. And omy, not a hard-work, low-wage economy. I believe that I was in the first class she And the working women of America and taught, but anyway, she looked awful young their children and their husbands deserve it at the time—[laughter]—and she still does. is well. She had a remarkable way of making lit- You know, I don’t get to watch a lot of erature come to life. And one of the most kind of extra television, but the other night, memorable trips I ever took in my life—I just by accident, I was watching a news pro- still remember—it was the first time I ever gram where a special was being done on the went to the wild mountains of the Ozarks minimum wage. And I don’t even know if in north Arkansas, along the river that was

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the first river Congress, over 20 years ago, the U.S. Merchant Marine has built on its set aside in the national wild rivers act. They legacy of patriotism. Its great tradition of thought it was the wildest of all the rivers courage and valor is an inspiration to all in the United States. [Laughter] And we ex- Americans. plored caves that still had ammunition stored This year, as we honor those who served from the Civil War. We talked to mountain and sacrificed for our Nation during World people who had never been more than 20 War II, the contributions of the U.S. Mer- miles away from home. It was one of the chant Marine are a special source of pride. most remarkable experiences I have ever We will always remember the heroism of had. She taught me a great deal about Amer- those mariners and the dangers they faced ican folklore and literature and life. And just to protect our liberty. before we walked out here, she gave me a America’s Merchant Marine and civilian contribution for the time capsule, the text- seafarers have put themselves at risk time book with which she taught our class so many and again to support our Armed Forces. years ago. They provided pivotal service during OPER- So if you will forgive me, I would like to ATION DESERT STORM, during Ameri- close this event by asking my teacher to come ca’s humanitarian mission in Somalia, and up here and accept my thanks for being a throughout OPERATION RESTORE DE- working woman over 30 years ago. Thank you MOCRACY in Haiti. very much. Today, our country remains determined to Again, let me thank American Home Prod- maintain a strong U.S. flag presence on the ucts. Let me thank all of you for coming. Let me thank Congresswoman Eddie Ber- high seas, a commitment central to advancing nice Johnson. And I’ve just been told that our Nation’s national and economic security. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey is also here I urge Americans to join efforts in support somewhere; thank you. There she is, the her- of maritime revitalization legislation and our oine of the State of the Union Address. ongoing shipbuilding production program. I thank you all. Please stay around. Have Americans’ pioneering spirit has endowed a good time. We’re delighted to see you. our Nation with the most innovative mari- Goodbye. Thank you. time technologies and the most skilled inno- vative maritime technologies and the most NOTE: The President spoke at 5:38 p.m. on the skilled maritime labor force on Earth. Work- South Lawn at the White House, at a 75th anni- ing together, we can preserve this critical ad- versary celebration of the Department of Labor’s vantage for generations to come. Women’s Bureau. This item was not received in In recognition of the importance of the time for publication in the appropriate issue. U.S. Merchant Marine, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933, has Proclamation 6803—National designated May 22 of each year as ‘‘National Maritime Day, 1995 Maritime Day’’ and has authorized and re- quested the President to issue annually a May 19, 1995 proclamation calling for its appropriate ob- By the President of the United States servance. of America Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United States of America, A Proclamation do hereby proclaim May 22, 1995, as Na- The United States owes much to our mer- tional Maritime Day. I urge the people of chant sailors. At our Nation’s beginning, the United States to observe this day with these outstanding citizens opened new ave- appropriate programs, ceremonies, and ac- nues of commerce and helped nurture a tivities and by displaying the flag of the Unit- fledgling democracy into a beacon of free- ed States at their homes and in their commu- dom for people around the world. Since nities. I also request that all ships sailing President Franklin D. Roosevelt first pro- under the American flag dress ship on that claimed National Maritime Day 62 years ago, day.

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In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set it would be irresponsible to ignore their con- my hand this nineteenth day of May, in the sidered opinion or to obstruct their decisions year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- about the safety of our public officials, espe- ty-five, and of the Independence of the Unit- cially given the strong supporting voice of the ed States of America the two hundred and expert panel. nineteenth. Clearly, this closing is necessary because William J. Clinton of the changing nature and scope of the threat of terrorist actions. It should be seen [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, as a responsible security step necessary to 11:24 a.m., May 22, 1995] preserve our freedom, not part of a long-term restriction of our freedom. NOTE: This proclamation was published in the First, let me make it clear that I will not Federal Register on May 23. This item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate in any way allow the fight against domestic issue. and foreign terrorism to build a wall between me and the American people. I will be every bit as active and in touch with ordinary The President’s Radio Address American citizens as I have been since I took May 20, 1995 office. Pennsylvania Avenue may be closed to cars and trucks, but it will remain open Good morning. Today the Secretary of the to the people of America. If you want to visit Treasury, who oversees the Secret Service, the White House, you can still do that just will announce that from now on the two as you always could, and I hope you will. If blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the you want to have your picture taken out in White House will be closed to motor vehicle front of the White House, please do so. If traffic. you want to come here and protest our coun- Pennsylvania Avenue has been routinely try’s policies, you are still welcome to do that open to traffic for the entire history of our as well. And now you will be more secure Republic. Through four Presidential assas- in all these activities because it will be less sinations and eight unsuccessful attempts on likely that you could become an innocent vic- the lives of Presidents, it’s been open. tim of those who would do violence against Through a civil war, two world wars, and the symbols of our democracy. Gulf war, it was open. But now it must be Closing Pennsylvania Avenue to motor ve- closed. This decision follows a lengthy review hicles is a practical step to protect against by the Treasury Department, the Secret the kind of attack we saw in Oklahoma City, Service, and independent experts, including but I won’t allow the people’s access to the distinguished Americans who served in past White House and their President to be cur- administrations of both Democratic and Re- tailed. The two blocks of Pennsylvania Ave- publican Presidents. nue in front of the White House will be con- This step is necessary in the view of the verted into a pedestrian mall. Free and pub- Director of the Secret Service and the panel lic tours will continue as they always have. of experts to protect the President and his For most Americans, this won’t change much family, the White House itself, all the staff beyond the traffic patterns here in Washing- and others who work here, and the visitors ton. For people who work in Washington, and distinguished foreign and domestic DC, we will work hard to reroute the traffic guests who come here every day. in cooperation with local officials in the least The Secret Service risk their lives to pro- burdensome way possible. tect the President and his family. For 130 Now let’s think for a minute about what years, they have stood watch over the people this action says about the danger terrorism and the institutions of our democracy. They poses to the openness of our society or to are the best in the world at what they do. any free society. The fact that the Secret Though I am reluctant to accept any decision Service feels compelled to close Pennsylvania that might inconvenience the people who Avenue is an important reminder that we work or visit our Nation’s Capital, I believe have to come together as a people and hold

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fast against the divisive tactics of violent ex- Day, in the wake of the terrible bombing in tremists. Oklahoma City. This is a commitment Con- We saw in the awful tragedy of Oklahoma gress must keep. City and the bombing of the World Trade On a deeper level, we must all fight terror- Center that America, as an open and free ism by fighting the fear that terrorists sow. society, is not immune from terrorists from Today the Secret Service is taking a necessary within and beyond our borders who believe precaution, but let no one mistake: We will they have a right to kill innocent civilians to not relinquish our fundamental freedoms. pursue their own political ends or to protest We will secure the personal safety of all other policies. Such people seek to instill fear Americans to live and move about as they in our citizens, in our whole people. But please, to think and to speak as they please, when we are all afraid to get on a bus or to follow their beliefs and their conscience, drive to work or open an envelope or send as our Founding Fathers intended. our children off to school, when our children Thanks for listening. are fixated on the possibility of terrorist ac- tion against them or other innocent children, NOTE: The address was recorded at 9:28 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White House for broadcast we give terrorists a victory. That kind of cor- at 10:06 a.m. rosive fear could rust our national spirit, drain our will, and wear away our freedom. These are the true stakes in our war against Remarks at the White House terrorism. We cannot allow ourselves to be Conference on Character Building frightened or intimidated into a bunker men- for a Civil and Democratic Society tality. We cannot allow our sacred freedoms May 20, 1995 to wither or diminish. We cannot allow the paranoia and conspiracy theories of extreme Thank you very much. Thank you very militants to dominate our society. much, Dr. Etzioni. Thank you for that intro- What we do today is a practical step to duction and for the inspiration that your work preserve freedom and peace of mind. It has given to me and to so many others, for should be seen as a step in a long line of your wonderful book, ‘‘The Spirit of Commu- efforts to improve security in the modern nity,’’ and for working on this as hard as you world that began with the installation of air- have. I’d like to say a special word of thanks port metal detectors. I remember when that to one of the cofounders of this network— started, and a lot of people thought that it he’s been a member of the White House staff might be seen as a restriction on our free- since I became President—Bill Galston, for dom. But most of us take it for granted now, his constant inspiration and prodding to me. and, after all, hijackings have gone way down. I’d like to thank the Secretary of Education The airport metal detectors increased the and Tom Payzant, the Assistant Secretary for freedom of the American people, and so can Elementary and Secondary Education, for this. what they have done to try to promote char- But more must be done to reduce the acter education as a part of the larger strategy threat of terrorism, to deter terrorism. First, toward a new communitarian vision for our Congress must pass my antiterrorism legisla- country. tion. We mustn’t let our country fight the You know, from the time I began thinking war against terrorism ill-armed or ill-pre- about how we would get into the 21st cen- pared. I want us to be armed with 1,000 more tury, and long before I even thought of run- FBI agents. I want the ability to monitor ning for President, it seemed to me that high-tech communications among far-flung the—there were three words which were in- terrorists. I want to be able to have our peo- extricably linked, as if you think about Amer- ple learn their plans before they strike. That’s ica moving into the future: opportunity, re- the key. Congress can give us these tools by sponsibility, and community. Those were the passing the antiterrorism bill before them. three words that basically were at the heart And they should do it now. Congressional of my campaign for President and have been leaders pledged to pass this bill by Memorial at the heart of what I have tried to do as

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President. I also believe that Government Our society, as an open society, is, as we cannot do these things for America. I believe saw with Japan and the terrible incident in that we have to have, in a complicated, open, the Japanese subway, vulnerable to the forces pluralistic society like this one, a great net- of organized destruction from within and be- work of people working together in every yond our borders. And we must take reason- major important center of our society. And able precautions against them, not to restrict that’s what I want to talk to you about today. our freedom but to secure it. And as tech- I’d like to begin with a few comments nology changes the opportunity for organized about the most obvious recent event that, in destruction, we have to respond to that. terms of your Government’s action, that you I think the American people should see must have noticed when you came in today, this in the same context that they viewed which is that I have approved of the Sec- metal detectors in airports. Do you remem- retary of the Treasury’s decision to close the ber when they started? There were those two blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue just here who say ‘‘Oh, this is a big infringement on in front of the White House to vehicular traf- our freedom.’’ But most of us now are only fic. too happy to go through those metal detec- I did this reluctantly. Pennsylvania Avenue tors because we see that there are a lot fewer has been open to ordinary traffic since the hijackings. And so it is a way of preserving beginning of our Republic. I did it after an our freedom by changing to meet the chang- extensive review by the Secret Service, the ing realities that technology and time give for the expression of organized destruction. Treasury Department officials, and a distin- And we should view it in that way. guished independent panel of American ex- But we should also recognize that our job perts who have served in administrations of is to minimize the fear that can seep into both the Democratic and Republican Presi- a society. That’s one of the reasons that Hil- dents, all recommending that this be done. lary and I wanted to have the program we They believe it is necessary to protect the had with the children after Oklahoma City, President and his family, the structure of the because we were worried about children all White House, the hundreds of people who across America and especially, of course, work there, and the people who come and children in Oklahoma being literally fixated visit there, both on official business and as on these events and their vulnerability to ordinary citizens. They believe it is necessary such things. to protect the White House against the kind So, it’s important to put them in a larger of attacks that were sustained in Oklahoma context. And in that sense, it’s also important City. to prevent such things from happening Now, I want to emphasize a couple of whenever we can. This is a preventive action things about this. First of all, access to the we’re taking today. White House itself will not be limited. The I have asked Congress to pass this anti- area will be converted into a pedestrian mall, terrorism legislation to give me both people and people will be able to visit as they always and technological tools—not to me but to me have. They’ll be able to have their picture being the United States, to us—to deal with taken out front with cardboard figures as they the technological and organizational realities always have. [Laughter] They’ll able to go to of the modern terrorist threat so that we can Lafayette Park and protest against the Presi- prevent these things from happening more dent as they always have. And indeed, they and more and more. And the leaders of Con- will be able to do that more protected them- gress have pledged to pass that legislation by selves from becoming innocent victims of Memorial Day. It is a commitment I hope those who would seek to destroy the symbols they will keep because we need the legisla- of our freedom. We also will be working with tion in preventive ways. the local officials here to make every effort Now, what’s that got to do with what we’re to reroute the traffic in a way that minimizes doing here today? The strength of our society inconvenience and disruption to the lives of is far more than our ability to stop bad things those who live in or work in Washington, DC. from happening and to punish wrongdoers

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when they do such things. This country is two-edged sword of the information revolu- still around today after more than 200 years tion where more and more information as the most successful, vibrant democracy in seems to be organized to harm instead of to all of human history, not because we could enlighten, to divide instead of unite—when stop bad things from happening, although we look at all of this, we have to see it against that was important. If the Civil War had the background of the fundamental fact that turned out differently, we wouldn’t be here this is a very great country full of very good today as a country. If Hitler had been allowed people and almost all of us get up every day to prevail in Europe, it would be a very dif- and do what we’re supposed to do as best ferent world today. So stopping bad things we can; that there are new and different chal- from happening is quite important; it lenges we face today that put extreme pres- shouldn’t be minimized. sure on us in trying to do good and be good, But the fundamental strength of America, pressure in the family, pressure in the work- and the real reason we’re here after more place, pressure in the community and in the than 200 years, is not our capacity to stop larger society; that we are trying to cope with bad things from happening but our ability economic and social stresses and with the ex- to do good and, indeed, our ability to be posure to all kinds of forces in a complex good. De Tocqueville said, ‘‘America is great modern world that we often were not ex- because America is good.’’ posed to in the past and that none of—some So, the truly great things about our country of us had never been exposed to before. involve the literally billions of actions that are And I think that the real trick is how we now taken by our 250 plus million citizens can keep the basic values that have made our every day of the world. They get up, they country great and take advantage of the mod- go about their business, and most of them ern world with all the things that are dif- do the very best they can to be responsible, ferent. That has always been the genius of first of all, as individuals and then to be re- America, to preserve what is right there in sponsible for their families, to be responsible the Constitution and to take it throughout at work, to be successful members of their history. We know that we are capable of community, to be good citizens. doing it unanimously. What we’re really all Most of our fellow citizens do everything afraid of is that somehow we’ll be undone they’re supposed to do pretty much when either by some small minority of us who do they’re supposed to do it, even things they wrong and force all the rest of us into a way find most distasteful, like paying their taxes. of living that is so radically different from It has long been observed by—I know that what’s been before that we don’t preserve when I was a young law student taking tax what’s uniquely American, or we’re afraid law—and it gave me a headache. I just that all these forces will upset the internal couldn’t stand it. I hated the course, all those balance in so many of us that we will lose rules and regulations. When it was all said our way. and done—the professor said at the begin- And yet, we know that fundamentally we ning, in the middle, and at the end of the shouldn’t be pessimistic about it, and we’re course, ‘‘Now, remember, in spite of all these reminded of it every time something bad rules and regulations that no one can keep happens in America. When we had a 500- up with and hardly anyone understands, the year flood in the Middle West or that massive real thing that makes this work is that you earthquake in California or the World Trade live in a good country where most people Center bombing or the horrible, horrible just get up and, on their own, do the right tragedy of Oklahoma City, you see not only thing because they think this is part of the the loss and the evil and the darkness, you obligation of citizenship.’’ It made a deep im- also see the fundamental goodness of the pression on me. American people. These people everywhere So, I think that when we view the prob- just stop what they’re doing and show up to lems of America today, and there are plenty help. of them—the intolerance, the increasing di- I remember when they had that awful hur- visiveness of political forces, the seeming ricane in Florida and I went down there. The

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first guy I met was an independent trucker builds both individual and social responsibil- from Michigan, who literally canceled all of ity and gives people the necessary balance his runs, stopped all of his business, and filled between stability and change that allows you his one big semi truck and brought it all the to live the fullest possible, most rewarding way to Florida—stopped his whole life. And life and to have a society that is both growing he was just a single business person who was and vibrant and stable. I think we all recog- not like me, an employee of the Federal Gov- nize that as a sort of central challenge of this ernment who could maybe get time off. He time. risked everything just because—[laughter]— And I think what happens when a big dis- he risked everything just because it was the aster occurs, everybody throws off all the right thing to do. Here was this guy showing things that are bothering them and gets back up and happy as a clam, didn’t have any idea to basics. People stop looking at each other what was going to happen when he went back as people of different races or religions or to Michigan, how he was going to put it back philosophical positions or political parties together. He was happy doing something for and realize that there is a common humanity other people, consistent with his personal there after all. The trick will be to manage values and what he had learned in his family our differences on a daily basis in a way that and church and what he had imparted to his recognizes our common humanity and to find children. organized ways to stamp out the social evils Now, the question is, how can we preserve that are consuming us, without doing away the traditional values and how can we find with our personal freedoms. And I believe at least a measure of the fulfillment in doing that we can do these things. I believe that right and good things in ordinary life that sometimes we throw up our hands too much we find when disaster strikes? Is there some- in the face of all the difficulties that we have. thing endemic to the modern world or But we have to identify what the problems human nature that says that we can’t do that? are and move on them. I don’t think so. But we plainly live in a world I also believe that the central insight of that is changing so fast, where people are what Dr. Etzioni has done is important to exposed to so many forces, that the ties that emphasize here. Everyone has a role to play. bind us are stretched more than there were And we can solve this in a free and open in the world in which I grew up. I don’t think society, not by any Governmental policy but there’s any question about that. The opportu- by Government, like every other part of soci- nities for individuals to have their internal ety, playing its own role. equilibrium upset are far greater today than If we could start with some of the prob- they were a generation ago. lems that are disintegrating forces in our soci- It’s important not to romanticize the past, ety, I would like to focus on some that we however. Remember what Will Rogers said don’t often focus on, and those are the eco- about that? ‘‘Don’t tell me about the good nomic ones. We all know we have too much ole’ days; they never was.’’ It’s important not crime and violence and drugs and family to romanticize the past. While I grew up in breakdown. And I don’t mean to minimize a society which was much more stable and those things; they are profoundly important. where I didn’t have anything like the kind But we are aware and sensitive to those of forces bearing down on me that teenagers things. I want you also to think about things do today, when I was a child I also lived in that may be more pedestrian but also are re- a segregated society in which a huge number inforcing the problem that we come here to of people my age were never going to be talk about. given any opportunities that I took for grant- The average American today is working a ed. So it is important for us not to overly longer work week and spending fewer hours romanticize the past but also to recognize with his or her children than they were 25 that the present is changing so fast and peo- years ago, for the same or lower wages they ple are exposed to so many different things were making 15 years ago. Literally 60 per- that it is very, very difficult to build the kind cent of the American work force is making of coherent, character-based society that the same or less, when you adjust for infla-

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tion, than they were making 15 years ago and high crime rate in the community, they don’t working harder and spending less time with have any way to get to know them. their children than they were 25 years ago. So that all these things need to be seen Family income has gone up in many places in that context. There is a great deal of uncer- only because there are now two workers in tainty out there, which makes people yearn the family. for certainty but also makes them vulnerable There is also in our country a feeling that to the wrong kind of certainty, certainty that there is much less security because more and pits people against one another instead of more people are changing their jobs. The gives them a way to say, ‘‘Here are my prob- census tells us that there’s been about a 14 lems; what are your problems? Let’s get to- percent decline in earnings for men between gether and figure out how to solve them.’’ the ages of 55 and 65—excuse me, 45 and So I think that the sense of, literally, phys- 55. It could have something to do with the ical instability so many adults feel make it so-called angry white male phenomenon. So more difficult to hold our society together that when people reach the peak of what they and make it more difficult to impart the fun- thought was going to be their—not only their damental character strengths and traits, and earning capacity but their ability to have a the accompanying security of knowing that profound and positive impact on their fami- you’re in the right place in your life, that are lies and on their society, their communities, essential to a strong society—not an excuse many of them now are at a vulnerable period for not doing it, but it’s important to under- when they’re having to deal with changes that stand the context in which we operate here. they took for granted when they were in their Now, one of the things that we have 20’s but never expected to have to face all thought about in our administration is that over again in their 40’s or early 50’s. This in this environment, when so many of our is a profound thing. children are in families that are—at least not So that we at least thought when we start- traditional families, when their parents are ed out in life we’d have different kinds of working, working harder and maybe spend- things to feel anxieties about as we got older. ing less time with them, and when their I mean, just getting older is bad enough. neighborhoods may be less settled and in [Laughter] And now, we’re having to feel many cases less safe, it is more important anxieties about things that we thought would than it has been, perhaps, in immediately be behind us as a people into our 40’s and previous years to reemphasize the role of 50’s. This is a profound thing. No one has character education in our schools. Some- really studied the implications this has for thing which once was taken for granted as citizenship and why more and more people a part of education sort of faded away and, may be vulnerable to siren songs of resent- we believe, should be brought back. We ment that divide us instead of unite us. know it has to be a supplement for the work I’m telling you, there are millions of peo- that families and communities do, not a re- ple that go home every night and sit down placement. We know there’s no substitute for at the dinner table and look across the table the character lessons that are imparted to at their families and wonder whether they people by their parents and grandparents, or have failed them, when all they ever did was for the guidance that a father or mother can show up for work, because of the way the bring, or maybe even more importantly, for global economy has impacted on them in this the sense of security and rootedness that the society. This is a significant thing. right kind of relationships within families And when you combine that with the fact give us all. But still, I think it’s important that there is so much mobility in this society, to recognize that all of our children show up much more than ever before, it is more dif- for school sooner or later, and character edu- ficult for many of these people to get the cation can be a vital part of building the kind kind of support networks they need in their of society that recognizes responsibilities and communities because a lot of folks live in has a sense of community. communities where neighbors don’t know This is an issue I’ve been involved with their neighbors anymore. And if there’s a for years. Several years ago in the mid-

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eighties, I served on the Carnegie commis- All of you know that there is some evi- sion for middle school education. There were dence out there already that these character two Governors on that commission; I had the education programs really work to lower the privilege of being one. The other was the dis- drop out and to increase educational per- tinguished Republican Governor of New Jer- formance and to increase good citizenship. sey, Tom Kean. And one of the recommenda- It is elementary. It is simple. But I think it tions we made was that we should teach our is profoundly important that young people children in middle school with specific objec- be taught that it’s important to tell the truth, tives, to, quote, ‘‘behave ethically and assume that’s it’s important to be trustworthy and for the responsibilities of citizenship in a plural- people to be able to rely on you, that’s it’s istic society,’’ and that we had to connect our important not to abuse the freedom you have schools to our communities, which together by undermining other people’s ability to ex- share responsibility for each student’s suc- ercise their freedom. They need to be taught cess. certain basic things in the context of the When I became President, we started to school environment, which is after all, for work on this through the Department of many of them, the first diverse community Education. Secretary Riley has helped us to they will ever be a part of. So I feel very go a good ways toward the right kind of intro- strongly that this is part of what we ought duction of values into our schools. Everybody to be doing, but not all. knows that education is about more than in- I think that, as I said, the fundamental in- tellect. Everybody knows, as my mother used sight that I have gotten about how to do this to say, there’s a lot of smart fools running from Dr. Etzioni is that we have to build around in this old world. [Laughter] And networks. And this, as you know, is the sec- what we want to do is to build good citizens ond conference on character building we’ve as well as intelligent people. had where we’ve welcomed people to the We need to learn what it takes to build White House. I would very much like to see up and not tear down a society over the long this institutionalized as an annual event that run. So we’ve worked hard on that. Most of goes way beyond my administration, that en- you know that the Elementary and Second- compasses Republicans and Democrats and ary Education Act contained new authority that has nothing to do with politics. for programs that foster character education, Indeed, I think we should view this effort for us to support them. And in partnership in our country not as bipartisan but as non- with local communities, we are now making partisan. And we need to think about ways States eligible to compete for grants to help that we can continue to build networks that to support the institution of character edu- work together for a generation, because a lot cation programs in local school districts all of our problems were a generation in coming across the country. I personally long for the and they’re going to be a generation in going, day when this is once again a regular part and because there is nothing we can do that of the curriculum of every school district in will stop the world from changing as quickly the United States. I think it is very, very im- as it is, so we’re going to have to work harder portant. and harder to think of ways that keep the The safe and drug-free school program, ties that bind. Therefore, I believe this which is one of the things I’ve been fighting should become a permanent fixture of our for in this little rescission battle we’ve got national dialog. going on here in Washington today, also has I would like to also, from my point of view, specific, explicit efforts in it to create an envi- take this up a notch in the present time be- ronment in which children are able to learn cause of the dimensions of our challenges. and in which we not only make drugs— On June 21st, I’m going to invite leaders to schools safe and drug-free by negative ac- come here from all around the country to tions like security device but in which we listen to each other, to open a dialog, to try change the attitudes of children about what to find common ground on our great social is acceptable within the schools, what is ac- challenges of the day, and to talk about what ceptable conduct within the schools. it would take to build not only good character

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but good citizenship from people individually the family medical leave law passes.’’ But it and in groups, and to see whether or not cannot be, if you think about it, first and fore- we can accelerate this dialog throughout the most, it cannot be that a society where the country. I am going to ask academic and busi- economic forces require most adults to ness leaders, religious leaders, media people, work—women and men, even parents of very people from the sports community, people young children—it cannot be that a good so- from other aspects of the private sector, and ciety can be built unless people can succeed of course, Government folks, to try to build as both workers and parents. If we cannot the kind of partnership that I think is nec- succeed as workers, then our standard of liv- essary. ing will fall and everything that we think James Madison once said that all govern- about America will begin to be eroded. But ments required virtue of their citizens, but if we don’t succeed as parents, then we’ll democracies needed it more than other kinds have a lot of people with money and miser- of government. And I believe that. Some of able lives. And we have too many people in you may know that Hillary is now working this country today, not only poor people but on a book about the responsibilities we owe people who aren’t poor, who have miserable to our children. The title will come from that lives. old African proverb, it takes a whole village So, the first and most fundamental thing to raise a child. we have to say is, how are people going to Now, I ask you to think about this—and succeed as workers and as parents? The Gov- I would like to make some closing remarks ernment can do the family and medical leave about where I’m going with this June 21st law, but that’s just the first step. How can conference and invite you to give me your you justify the fact that most people are ideas about it. I think that in the world we working harder for less money when business are living in, it will take a lot of people, and profits are up and corporations are up? We not just Government programs, to keep our had record numbers of new millionaires last children off the streets and in school. It will year. I like that, by the way. I don’t think take every parent, teacher, friend, and loved wealth formation is bad. I think it’s good. But one we can find to teach children, given all the thing that holds a democratic society to- their different circumstances in America gether is that everybody gets their fair share. today, the differences between right and In the 12 years before I became Presi- wrong and to give them the kind of self-es- dent—this has nothing to do with Govern- teem they need to do well in a troubled ment policies, nearly as I can determine— world, to say no to the right things but also executive salaries went up 4 times as much to figure out what to say yes to, which in as workers’ salaries went up in major Amer- the end is the basis of the quality of life we ican corporations and 3 times as much as cor- all live. porate profits went up. And you can say, And I am absolutely convinced, as I have ‘‘Well, labor’s not worth as much as it used watched the patterns of life in our society, to be because technology means fewer peo- that as people go through different stages in ple can do more with less.’’ That may be, their lives or they’re in different places in but all those people are still people. They society, most of them are not most influenced have children to raise. They have mortgages by Government, there are other forces which to pay. They have problems to confront. are influencing them, and that we all have One of the companies that I really admire to pull together if we’re going to have any in this country today has set up a system in hope of succeeding in this enterprise. which both the workers and the executives If you look at business, for example—I get paid based on the performance of the mentioned the economic changes—I had to company. So that when the company does fight like crazy for the family and medical well, the workers have just a big a gain as leave law. It had already been passed by Con- the executives. And if the company has a bad gress twice and vetoed twice by well-meaning turn, the executives have to take an even big- people who thought that—business people ger hit percentage wise than the workers. said, ‘‘Oh, the world will come to an end if Now, that the kind—they also have as part

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of their bonus program a $2,000 a year grant pared to many other countries and compared to every child of every employee in the com- to what we need for America to be the pany that goes to college. They have one per- strongest and greatest economy in the world son that sent 11 kids to college working for in the 21st century. that company. The only reason I’m not telling So, we’ve got a big, tough decision here. you who the company is, is I don’t want every How are we going to solve one without un- person with six or more children in America dermining the other? Can we do both at the to go apply for work there. [Laughter] same time? If so, how? Now, this can imme- But don’t you see? Here is a company that diately dissolve into a huge political scream- says, ‘‘Okay, we want to make money. We ing match in which one party sticks up for want to do well. We think we can do right one, the other sticks up for the other, every- and do well. We want a—we believe we’ll body gets reelected at election time, and no- make more money if the people working for body gets anything done. That would not be us know they can make more money if the good. What we need to do is to figure out company does well.’’ This is part of citizen- how we can reach across the divides to a ship. I’m not suggesting the Government common consensus that will permit us to should mandate this. I’m talking about part- pursue both these objectives at the same nerships, networking, community, open and time. honest discussion. But first and foremost, The American people are ready for some most of the work of building character in tough decisions and difficult medicine, but America is going to be done in the family, they want to know that it’s fair and sensible and you must make it possible for people to and what’s down there at the end of the road. succeed as parents and workers. So, that And to do it, we need to get information in should be a part of this debate. a way that is not designed to divide us but Now, the media has a responsibility here. We have tough choices to make as a country. is designed to shed more light than heat. And People need to know the facts that will shape it is a very difficult thing, but very important. their future—important for adults, important Religious and community institutions have for children. Let me give you an example: an important role to play. You know, if every Weekly Reader is launching a new project church in America—every church in Amer- to teach the value of citizenship to young ica—had not only a vigorous program for its children through stories. That’s a good thing. own members and the people it’s recruiting That’s the sort of thing the media can do. but also an outreach to a fixed number of I’m not suggesting the Government should families and children to fight the problems mandate it, but we should talk about it. No- of out-of-wedlock birth, teen pregnancy, body should feel threatened or feel like we’re drug addiction, school dropout—if every sin- trying to encroach on the first amendment gle church had just a fixed and reasonable by discussing the power on social behavior number of kids it was targeting, it might have that the media has. We should be able to more impact than all the Government pro- discuss it without anybody being defensive grams we could ever devise. about it. This is the most religious country in the Here in Washington, we are facing dif- world. We have the largest number of ficult but important issues of public policy. churches, the most diverse group of people We have two huge deficits from a public pol- worshiping in different kinds of religions. icy point of view. We’ve got a Government And again, it’s not for the Government to budget deficit, which is much lower than it require this, but it’s worth talking about. Be- was when I became President, but it’s too cause there is a great debate today in the big. And we do need, in a global economy, religious community about whether the best a balanced budget because we don’t want to thing you can do for society to make it better be more dependent than we have to be on is go out and try to actually work with people outside forces and we want to be able to in- who are in trouble and make them better vest in our future. But we also have a big individually, or to simply make political pre- education deficit and training deficit com- scriptions that everyone else should follow

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and if they do, fine, and if they don’t, we’ll The Children’s Educational Television wait for the next election. Act—Television Education Act was passed So, I think this is a debate we ought to back in 1990. I think there is more to do have. Because—I have no objection, by the here. We need—the broadcasters need to way, to the political debate, and I have en- read that act again and adhere to its spirit couraged the people of faith who come to as well as to its letters. We should be thinking different political conclusions than I have to twice before movies and rap music that cele- be a part of the debate. I don’t think that’s brate violence against women or law enforce- bad. But I think we are not purely either ment officers are put out there in huge vol- political animals, people who go to work, or ume, in piling one on top of one another. churchgoers. We also have community re- There is a connection, in this sense, between sponsibilities and opportunities. And the or- words and deeds. We do get dulled of that ganized churches of this country can have to which we are overexposed in a banalizing a big impact on changing the lives of people way. and improving the character of people and Let me finally say that I think politicians the prospects of people today in the country. have a responsibility here. And instead of And many do, many do. If all did, it would criticizing others, let me start with myself. make a big difference in our ability to move If you want to be an elected official in a de- forward on common ground. mocracy you must, first of all, get people to If you think about—let me mention the identify with you more than your opponent. entertainment industry. There’s been a lot And you must say, ‘‘Here are the differences said about that, and I got a big standing ova- between us, and here’s what I stand for. Here tion at the State of the Union from both Re- are the choices we face, and here are the publican and Democratic Members of Con- decisions I would make. And here is why I gress when I talked about the damage that would make those decisions.’’ So in that comes to our society from incessant, repet- sense, conflict and difference and dividing up itive, mindless violence coming through en- the electorate are the essence of politics. tertainment. There are lots of studies show- But there is a big difference between divi- ing that young people tend to get numbed sion and difference of opinion and destruc- to violence and to the consequences of it tion and demonization. And there is a big from constant overexposure to it. And I say difference between difference and dehuman- this not to point the finger at anybody. I have ization. Let me just begin—let me just—I’ll enjoyed more than my fair share of what I start with me, because this is something I’ve would call cheap thrills movies in my time. been through in the last few weeks. So I am not being sanctimonious about this. I know that I—I don’t know of a politician I’m just saying it is an established fact that that hasn’t done this that’s been around very if children from very early ages are exposed long, but I don’t know how many times that to huge volumes of a certain kind of enter- I have made references to Government bu- tainment, it desensitizes them to the same reaucrats, right? Because when a politician sort of conduct in the real world. There’s lots stands up and says something about Govern- of evidence about that. ment bureaucrats, 99 times out of 100, the And that’s why, frankly, I welcome the net- word is used in a pejorative sense, right? And works’ recent efforts to reduce prime-time it’s used to remind you of the fact that the violence and why I would applaud the deci- person you’ve elected is not really a part of sion that Time-Warner announced this week the Government, he’s a part of you, that he’s to set standards for controversial music and more like a tax payer than a tax consumer. to balance creative expression with corporate And we know you resent paying your taxes, responsibility. And I applaud the efforts of and we know you think a lot of it is wasted. Bill Bennett, who was here yesterday, to get And so, if we who are elected talk about Gov- that done. The country owes him a debt of ernment bureaucrats, you’ll know we’re still gratitude, and we should applaud Time-War- on your side, even though we’re living over ner, as well. here on the other side.

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You know what I’m talking about. Now, The children who died in that child care cen- almost—first of all, there is some individual ter in Oklahoma City were the children of truth to all this. That is, there is hardly an Government bureaucrats. The people who American living who hasn’t had some en- were carried out of that building from the counter with the Government that was dis- Agriculture Department, from the Veterans tasteful, right? [Laughter] Because as long Affairs Administration, from the Housing and as people are running the Government, they Urban Development Department, and from will be like people running churches, people all of our law enforcement agencies, the Se- running businesses, people running whatever cret Service, the ATF, all of them, they were it is you do: People are imperfect, and they’ll all Government bureaucrats. And I will mess up, and when they do, they drive other never, knowingly, use that term again. people up the wall. So we’ve all got to start with each other But the Government has a special relation- here. I don’t know that that’s a very good ship to people because it has the power of character example. I don’t know that that law behind it. So, almost everybody can re- does much to build good character, when you member someone who was at least rude or identify a group as a group and pretend that perhaps a law enforcement official that as a group there’s something wrong with abused authority on occasion or a tax person them. who was really unfair or a regulator who was So I would say to you, to all of you, I am overbearing. Almost everybody has had some basically very optimistic about the future of experience because we live in a society of this country. I know we’re more violent than human beings where people mess up. So we need to be, but we always have been. there is some truth to that. We always have been, and we need—we’ve It is also true that at this time, the Govern- got to get a hold of it. And I know we have ment tends to lag the private sector in too many out-of-wedlock births, but it’s a changes. Sometimes that’s good; sometimes trend that is gripping an awful lot of Western that’s bad. But it does because the environ- countries. And people have forgotten, in my ment in which the Government operates is judgment, the profound emotional con- not as competitive. But that is, we normally sequences to the children who grow up in have—we have more of a monopoly on in- unstable and inadequately supported envi- come and customers, so it lags. On the other ronments. So we’re not alone in that. We hand, that’s not all bad because it helps to have way too much drug addiction, and we be a force of stability too, sometimes, in are really almost alone in that. Hardly any times of great change. But the Government, other advanced country has anything ap- in the end, must follow the great trends of proaching the levels of violence and drug ad- the day. diction we do. So we do have profound prob- So, must the Government become less bu- lems. reaucratic, more flexible, more open? Will Our political debate is too polarized. And it be smaller? Will fewer people do more we have a lot of people who talk a lot about with less? Absolutely. All that will happen. what’s wrong with everybody else and don’t We had to take the size of the Government do very much to change it. There are all kinds down. It’s already over 100,000 smaller than of problems. But look, this is not the Great it was when I became President. We had to Depression; this is not World War II; this get rid of hundreds of programs that just is not the Civil War; we are not starting from didn’t make any sense any more. We have scratch like the Founders did. to do these things. And we have to take it We know what to do. We know the dif- down more. We have to continue to reduce ference between right and wrong. We know unnecessary spending. And we’ll have to have how to do this. And we can do what we have more people take these early retirement to do. We can do this. This is not a cause packages and all that. That’s all true. for wringing of hands. It is difficult. It is a But that’s different from saying ‘‘Govern- new challenge to figure out how we all work ment bureaucrats’’ in a demeaning way. Let together and still leave room for our dif- me tell you something—you think about this. ferences, how we identify the specific roles

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of the various influence centers in our society Statement on the Second to reinstill character and give a good life to Anniversary of the National Voter our people. But the fundamental fact is that Registration Act of 1993 this is a very great country, and nearly every- May 20, 1995 body is still getting up every day and doing the very best they can to do what is right. Two years ago today, I signed into law the Nearly everybody desperately wants to have National Voter Registration Act, better children who have good character and who known as ‘‘motor-voter.’’ This common sense do good and who are good, nearly everybody. law is making it easier for all Americans to So I think what you are here about is pro- register to vote. Motor-voter promised to foundly important. But what I want to say open up the democratic process, and I am to you is, do not be discouraged. In the light pleased to report that it is delivering on that of the whole history of our Republic, this is promise. our job at this time. It is not an undoable Across America, nearly 2 million citizens have registered to vote in the 5 months since job. It is profoundly important. It will be dif- the law went into effect. In Georgia, 180,000 ficult because of all the forces working on people registered in the first 3 months of this people’s state of mind that undermine what year, compared to only 85,000 all last year. we have to do. Because it’s so much easier In North Carolina, 30,000 citizens are reg- in the world today to identify what we’re istering per month, up from 6,000 a month against instead of what we’re for. It’s so much in 1991. And in Alabama, 43,000 people reg- easier in the world today not to look at the istered in the first 3 months of this year, com- problems within our own hearts and minds pared to only 23,000 in the same period last because we can always find somebody we year. think is worse. So it is so much easier to put Motor-voter is working because it makes this off and delay it. And there are no institu- sense. The Act simply requires States to tions really for bringing us all together, across make registration easier by making more all the lines that divide us, in our common forms available, at motor vehicle offices, so- cause of building what is good about America cial agencies, and through the mail. It is that and building up what is good within the char- simple. acter of our people. But we can do it. And Motor-voter is the latest step in our Na- I believe we will. tion’s efforts to enfranchise all our citizens, Thank you very much. giving them the power to affect their own destiny and our common destiny by partici- pating fully in our democracy. I am proud NOTE: The President spoke at 10:30 a.m. in Room to see it working so well. 450 of the Old Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to Amitai Etzioni, founder and chair, Communitarian Network. Remarks at the White House Photographers Association Dinner May 20, 1995 Statement on the Hospitalization of Former Defense Secretary Les Aspin I want to gets lots of records of you clap- ping for me. [Laughter] Well, ladies and gen- May 20, 1995 tlemen, tonight, I feel your pain. [Laughter] Is there a courier around here anywhere? I was saddened to hear that former De- [Laughter] I hate these name tags. [Laugh- fense Secretary Les Aspin was hospitalized ter] earlier today. Hillary and I wish him a speedy I just wanted you to see what it feels like recovery. Our prayers are with him and his to have your picture taken when you’re eat- family at this time. ing. [Laughter]

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I am here tonight to address a very rel- To Mike from Ralph: ‘‘I gave Ira Wyman evant issue: The President is funny. The CPR after he jogged with the President.’’ power of the Presidency makes me funny. [Laughter] [Laughter] If you don’t believe me, don’t To Mike from Sharon: ‘‘I helped Ken laugh at these jokes, have a nice audit. Lambert prepare for his interview with Jesse [Laughter] Helms regarding his pending NEA grant.’’ You know, I used to complain about how [Laughter] all of you were trying to get my attention, Now, not everybody could meet Mike’s you know, for photos—‘‘Over here!’’ ‘‘Over challenge, so the pizza fund only had about here!’’ ‘‘Over here!’’ ‘‘Over here!’’ ‘‘Just one 20 bucks in it. So I decided the First Lady more!’’ ‘‘Just one more!’’—and I didn’t like should manage the fund. [Laughter] And she the way you tried to get my attention until has invested it so wisely—[laughter]—that I heard about how the Russian police tried beginning Monday morning, daily, the Four to get Jeremy Gaines’ attention last week. Seasons will be catering filet mignon in the [Laughter] Now you can ‘‘just one more’’ me Press Office. [Laughter] from now to Kingdom come, and I won’t I had a wonderful time tonight being on bite. [Laughter] the other end of the camera. You know, I thought Mike McCurry was I want to congratulate the award winners a model Press Secretary, even before I saw and to say to all of you, the photographers, this month’s Esquire. Did you see him, with editors, engineers, producers, and camera- his model picture from the 1970’s? This man men and women with whom I’ve shared used to be a model. This goes to show you these extraordinary past couple of years, I that not all plastic surgery works. [Laughter] watch your work with great appreciation. You If you like the outfit he’s wearing tonight, have transmitted images that no one who was however, you can order it from the White there could every forget. I know I’ll never House spring catalog. [Laughter] forget, from the DMZ in Korea to the swol- You know, I’m sorry I’ve never been here len banks of the Mississippi River to the before. I really do like all of you very much. beaches of Normandy, the NCAA champion- But it wasn’t until a few days ago that I found ship—the one I liked—[laughter]—this re- out that this is the only place I could be with markable picture on the cover of your pro- you and you wouldn’t have all those question- gram, which hangs in my private office in askers around with you. [Laughter] the White House because I liked it so much. One of the things I want to do is to com- And like the priest who gave us the won- pliment Mike McCurry’s policy of having the derful invocation, I want to say a special word Press Office staff in the White House send of thanks for the work all of you did to make him a note each day to show what good deeds Oklahoma City real to us, both the agony and they’ve done for the press corps or kick a America at its best. dollar into the pizza fund. This, of course, The great photojournalists, the men and was an expansion, an improvement on my women who are carrying on the great tradi- original idea in which everybody at the White tion of Mathew Brady, from the Civil War House kicks in a dollar anyway and we just to Robert Capa’s D-Day photography to Joe order pizza. [Laughter] Rosenthal’s remarkable memory of Iwo Jima, Tonight I want to share with you some of I salute you all. the notes Mike has received from the staff: I thank you for what you have done. And To Mike from McNeely: ‘‘Yesterday, I per- I hope that as we continue our journey to- formed my annual ritual of getting out of the gether, me in the limo and you guys 20 cars shot.’’ Think about that. [Laughter] behind—[laughter]—you will every now and To Mike from Josh: ‘‘I held Paul Hosefros, then cut me a little slack for being nearly of the New York Times by the feet and sus- 50 and a bit on the heavy side. [Laughter] pended him from the ceiling so the New Now before I leave tonight, I want to make York Times could run one more bizarre angle one very important policy announcement. I of the President’s picture.’’ [Laughter] will not jog in the morning. In fact, I will

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do nothing until 10:45 a.m., so the pool call Remarks on Signing the Paperwork time is 10:30 a.m., not 6:45 a.m. [Applause] Reduction Act of 1995 Now I’m going to go so you can enjoy the May 22, 1995 rest of the evening. Now, I’ll start late so you can have a good night’s sleep. The pool Thank you very much. Mr. Bersoff, thank has to go with me and the rest of you can you for your comments and for the outstand- stay. [Laughter] Ralph, you can stay, too. ing example of the family business you have [Laughter] built to such a remarkable extent. Thank you, Good night, and God bless you all. Thank Sally Katzen. you. Before I begin, as a matter of personal privilege, I would just like to say a brief word about the death of my good friend Les Aspin. NOTE: The President spoke at 8:10 p.m. at the Washington Hilton. In his remarks, he referred Hillary and I grieve his loss, and along with to official White House photographer Ralph all other Americans, we thank him for the Alswang. remarkable service he rendered to our coun- try as a distinguished Congressman from Wisconsin, as the Chairman of the Armed Statement on the Death of Les Aspin Services Committee of the House, as Sec- retary of Defense, and as head of the Presi- May 21, 1995 dent’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. He did a lot of work to keep us safe through I speak for millions of Americans when a turbulent time, and we are all very, very mourning the death today of Les Aspin and much in his debt. join many others in saying that he was my Let me thank the Members of Congress friend. who are here. You know, I’ve got to say, I As a Member of the House of Representa- was sitting here listening to Mr. Bersoff talk, tives for 22 years, Chairman of the House and I thought it’ll be a miracle if we get this Armed Services Committee for 8, Secretary on the news tonight, because this is some- of Defense, and Chairman of the President’s thing we did without anybody fighting. Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, Les [Laughter] And the real reason this lan- rendered our Nation extraordinary, selfless guished around for 5 years was because no- service. body was fighting anybody else about it. And Les Aspin accomplished greatly because after I got here, I discovered some of the he cared greatly. He brought the same com- best ideas in Washington were not being im- mitment to his most recent assignment that plemented simply because there was no he brought to Washington as a young Con- anger attached to them. It’s a sad thing to gressional aide, staff assistant at the Council say, but it’s absolutely right. of Economic Advisors, and Defense Depart- And so, sometimes energy is not behind ment official in the 1960’s. things that hang around here for years, be- No one knew better than he how Washing- cause there’s no real brutal conflict. And in ton works, but he never thought of it as a that context, I want to thank the Members game for its own sake. He was here to make of Congress who are here for overcoming all a difference. And he did. He probed and the inertia against consensus—[laughter]— helped shape a generation of American de- and actually passing a bill that everybody was fense policies and budgets, culminating in for. And I thank you. I thank Senators Nunn, the decisive bottom-up review of our military Roth, and Glenn; Representatives Meyers, strategy, which he conducted as Secretary of Sisisky, Peterson, and Davis, all of whom are Defense. here, and of course, former Congressman Les Aspin was unique. He brought the Horton and former Senator, now Governor light of his joy in living and the heat of his Lawton Chiles for the work that they have intellect to every occasion. He never met a done. person who didn’t like him. And we all will This is a remarkable bill, and I want to miss him. talk about what it does. But first, let me say

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that for a bill in which there was not a lot a debate: Should we give the American peo- of opposition, there was an awful lot of sup- ple more funds for education, more funds port and input about exactly how to do this. for Medicare, or more money back in a tax People all over our country, big and small cut? But nothing is more precious, I see as businesses, organizations from the National I get older, than your own time. And for a Governors’ Association to the National Asso- Government to give the American people ciation of Towns and Townships to librarians back, at no cost to the public interest, 20 actually testified in favor of this bill—what million hours, is an extraordinary gift and we ought to do and how it ought to be done. worth a great deal of money and additions The legislation recognizes that the private to the quality of life. sector is the engine of our prosperity, that The FDA is going to dramatically speed when we act to protect the environment or approvals of many different kinds of medical the health of our people, we ought to do it devices. The SBA has reduced the inch-thick without unnecessary paperwork, maddening loan form applications to one page. redtape, or irrational rules. Here are some other places we will cut. We have to reform our regulatory system The Department of Agriculture so far has in ways that protects the larger public inter- eliminated the need for more than 3 million est without strangling business. These pages of Government forms from a quarter changes reflect the right way to reform Gov- million farmers. The Department of Energy ernment. It is very consistent with the things took these three big binders here, filled with that I believe need to be done. In the last reporting requirements, and sliced them to 2 years we have already reduced the size of 11 pages—11 pages from those three big the Federal bureaucracy by more than binders. That saved $48 million a year, but 100,000 employees, going down under exist- it also gave the gift of time back to the people ing budgets to a reduction of more than who were subject to it. 272,000, and if the last few weeks are any The Department of Education required indication, we’re about to reduce the Gov- both parents to sign a student loan and other ernment some more. financial aid forms. This is impossible in This Paperwork Reduction Act helps us to some cases when the non-custodial parent is conquer a mountain of paperwork that is not available. In lots of homes today, it’s hard crushing our people and wasting a lot of time for both parents to be in the same place at and resources and which actually accumu- the same time anyway. Now, one parent sig- lated not because anybody wanted to harm nature is all that’s required. the private sector but because we tend to So far, we have eliminated the forms rep- think of good ideas in serial form without resented in this large stack of papers here thinking of how the overall impact of them on the table. When you count all the people impacts a system that is very dynamic and and all the businesses that have to fill out very sensitive to emerging technologies but the forms already eliminated, in one year, which Government does not always respond we’ve eliminated paper that would stretch to in the same way. end to end from Washington, DC, to San I want to say again how much I appreciate Francisco, California. the work that Sally Katzen and her shop have To further reduce these burdens, I have done. And I want to thank the Congress for directed our agencies to continue to review enabling them to continue on the job. their regulations, to eliminate the outdated In recent months, some others have made and streamline the bloated. I have also di- similar announcements. Carol Browner, at rected them, whenever possible, to cut in the EPA, announced that she would cut the half the frequency of reports they require paperwork requirements of the EPA on the from citizens. For example, if they ask for private sector by 25 percent. To give you an quarterly reports, why don’t we just have idea of what that means, that is 20 million them twice a year instead? hours of labor a year. As we reform, we need not compromise We often debate here what we can give the quality of life or the needed oversight the American people. We’re about to have from the Government. But the truth is, we

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can actually improve the system by making chief executive officer, BTG, Inc. S. 244, approved it less hidebound and by innovating as Ameri- May 22, was assigned Public Law No. 104–13. cans are innovating. Today I want to add another dimension Proclamation 6804—To Modify to this effort: From this point forward, I want Duty-Free Treatment Under the all of our agencies to provide for the elec- tronic submission of every new Government Generalized System of Preferences form or demonstrate to OMB why it cannot and for Other Purposes be done that way. The old way will still be May 22, 1995 available, but I think once people see how By the President of the United States fast and efficient electronic filing can be, of America we’ll see less paperwork and more of these. So, we’re trying to do our part to act in good A Proclamation faith the way these Members of Congress in- 1. Pursuant to section 504(c) of the Trade tended the executive branch to act. Act of 1974, as amended (‘‘Trade Act’’) (19 As you know, these little things store in- U.S.C. 2464(c)), beneficiary developing credible volumes of information—incredible. countries, except those designated as least- My daughter knows more about it than I do, developed beneficiary developing countries but I’m learning myself just in the things that pursuant to section 504(c)(6) of the Trade we do incredibly how much more we can do Act, are subject to limitations on the pref- and at a tiny fraction of the space involved, erential treatment afforded under the Gener- not to mention the speed. So the more we alized System of Preferences (GSP). I have use electronic transmissions, the more we’ll determined, pursuant to sections 504(a)(1), all be working quicker and smarter, giving (c)(1), and (c)(2) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. better service to the American public, a more 2464(a)(1), (c)(1), and (c)(2)), that certain efficient Government, and far, far less paper- beneficiary developing countries should no work. longer receive preferential tariff treatment I want to say again, the remarkable thing under the GSP with respect to certain eligi- about this effort was that at the time we actu- ble articles. ally got it through the Congress, there was 2. To reflect clearly the names of certain not a single dissenting vote. But very often beneficiary developing countries under the the things we do not do in life are the things GSP, I have decided that it is necessary and we all know we should do. That is a principle appropriate to modify general note 4 of the that extends beyond this bill. Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United And we owe a great debt of gratitude to States (HTS). the Members of Congress, especially those 3. In Proclamation No. 6767 of February here present, who exercised the leadership 3, 1995, conforming changes with respect to to get this done as well as to Governor Chiles certain articles under the GSP were omitted. and former Congressman Horton for the I have decided that it is necessary and appro- work they did to pave the way. So I would priate to modify the HTS to make such con- like to ask the Members to come up while forming changes. we sign the bill, and Congressman Horton 4. Proclamation No. 6763 of December 23, and Governor Chiles to come up as well. 1994, implemented the Uruguay Round Please come up, and we’ll do it. Agreements, including Schedule XX, with re- Thank you very much. spect to the United States and incorporated in the HTS tariff modifications necessary and [At this point, the President signed the bill.] appropriate to carry out the Uruguay Round Thank you very much. We’re adjourned. Agreements. Certain technical errors, includ- Thank you. ing inadvertent omissions, were made in that proclamation. I have determined that it is NOTE: The President spoke at 2:18 p.m. in Room necessary to reflect accurately the intended 450 of the Old Executive Office Building. In his tariff treatment provided for in the Uruguay remarks, he referred to Ed Bersoff, president and Round Agreements to modify certain provi-

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sions of the HTS as set forth in Annex III (b) The modifications made by Annex III to this proclamation. to this proclamation shall be effective with 5. Section 604 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. respect to articles entered, or withdrawn 2483) authorizes the President to embody in from warehouse for consumption, on or after the HTS the substance of the relevant provi- the dates specified in such annex. sions of that Act, and of other Acts affecting In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set import treatment, and actions thereunder, my hand this twenty-second day of May, in including the removal, modification, continu- the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ance, or imposition of any rate of duty or ninety-five, and of the Independence of the other import restriction. United States of America the two hundred Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, and nineteenth. President of the United States of America, William J. Clinton acting under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, States, including but not limited to sections 3 p.m., May 23, 1995] 504 and 604 of the Trade Act, do proclaim NOTE: This proclamation was published in the that: Federal Register on May 25. (1)(a) To make certain conforming changes, the Rates of Duty 1–Special subcol- umn for each of the HTS subheadings enu- Proclamation 6805—World Trade merated in Annex I(A) to this proclamation Week, 1995 is modified: (i) by deleting the symbol ‘‘A*’’ May 22, 1995 in parentheses, and (ii) by inserting the sym- bol ‘‘A’’ in lieu thereof. By the President of the United States (b) To provide that one or more countries of America should no longer be treated as a beneficiary developing country with respect to an eligible A Proclamation article for purposes of the GSP, the Rates American exports bolster the quality of life of Duty 1–Special subcolumn for each of the for countless people, supporting 10.5 million HTS provisions enumerated in Annex I(B) jobs here at home and supplying popular to this proclamation is modified: (i) by delet- American products to millions worldwide. ing the symbol ‘‘A’’ in parentheses, and (ii) They fuel our Nation’s economy, create high- by inserting the symbol ‘‘A*’’ in lieu thereof. wage jobs for our citizens, and link us to (2) To reflect clearly the names of certain countries everywhere. That is why my Ad- beneficiaries and to provide that one or more ministration supported NAFTA and brought countries are no longer to be treated as bene- the Uruguay Round GATT negotiations to ficiary developing countries with respect to a successful conclusion. As we celebrate an eligible article for purposes of the GSP, World Trade Week this year, we pause to general note 4 to the HTS is modified as recognize the many ways in which ‘‘Export- provided in Annex II to this proclamation. ing is Everybody’s Business.’’ (3) The HTS is modified as provided in In the two years since my Administration Annex III to this proclamation. launched this country’s first National Export (4) Any provisions of previous proclama- Strategy, America has led the way in trade tions and Executive orders inconsistent with promotion and advocacy efforts, strengthen- the provisions of this proclamation are here- ing existing programs and developing new by superseded to the extent of such inconsist- initiatives to serve U.S. exporters. The Trade ency. Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) (5)(a) The modifications made by Annexes has worked to create a more streamlined, re- I and II to this proclamation shall be effective sponsive, and effective system that enhances with respect to articles both: (i) imported on our Nation’s economy and helps our firms or after January 1, 1976, and (ii) entered, or to compete successfully around the globe. withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, During the past year, we have worked to on or after July 1, 1995. develop a new, innovative trade finance strat-

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egy. The Export-Import Bank of the United economy, better goods and services, and a States, the Overseas Private Investment Cor- brighter future for all of us. poration, the Trade and Development Agen- Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, cy, the Small Business Administration, and President of the United States of America, the Departments of the Treasury and Com- by virtue of the authority vested in me by merce have provided new forms of trade fi- the Constitution and laws of the United nance that help our firms to compete in the States, do hereby proclaim May 21 through global marketplace. We are addressing the May 27, 1995, as ‘‘World Trade Week.’’ I in- removal of unnecessary and ineffective ex- vite the people of the United States to join port controls and streamlining the licensing in appropriate observances to celebrate the process, liberalizing controls on a range of potential of international trade to create high-technology products and increasing the prosperity for all. effectiveness of multilateral control regimes. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set With the restructuring of the U.S. and my hand this twenty-second day of May in Foreign Commercial Service, now the Com- the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and mercial Service of the United States, the De- ninety-five, and of the Independence of the partment of Commerce is working in part- United States of America the two hundred nership with the businesses it serves, promot- and nineteenth. ing U.S. exports, advocating U.S. business in- William J. Clinton terests abroad, assisting U.S. firms to realize their export potential, and supporting the ex- [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, port promotion efforts of other public and 3:15 p.m., May 23, 1995] private organizations. By the end of this year, 15 U.S. Export Assistance Centers will be NOTE: This proclamation was published in the open across the country, offering virtually Federal Register on May 25. every American business person a coordi- nated, multi-faceted, international trade team close at hand. Memorandum on Trade With Already, U.S. exports to our neighbors in Romania the Southern Hemisphere exceed $92 billion, May 19, 1995 generating good jobs for our workers and demonstrating our competitiveness through- Presidential Determination No. 95–22 out the international marketplace. At the Summit of the Americas this past December, Memorandum for the Secretary of State our Nation reaffirmed its commitment to the Subject: Presidential Determination Under extension of free trade throughout the Hemi- Subsections 402(a) and 409(a) of the Trade sphere by the year 2005—an opportunity that Act of 1974, as Amended—Emigration promises to bolster our economy even fur- Policies of the Republic of Romania ther. These efforts, combined with our progress with the countries of the Organiza- Pursuant to the authority vested in me by tion for Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation subsections 402(a) and 409(a) of the Trade (APEC), mean trade gains of historic propor- Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2432(a) and 2439(a)) tions. And that means more jobs for hard- (‘‘the Act’’), I determine that the Republic working Americans. of Romania is not in violation of paragraph Still, much remains to be done. U.S. ex- (1), (2) or (3) of subsection 402(a) of the Act porters must be given every opportunity to or paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of subsection sell our products freely and fairly. Our com- 409(a) of the Act. panies must meet the challenge of venturing You are authorized and directed to publish into new markets. They must keep quality this determination in the Federal Register. high and production efficient, while market- William J. Clinton ing American goods and services to new cus- tomers around the world. The work is dif- NOTE: This memorandum was released by the Of- ficult, but the rewards are great: a strong fice of the Press Secretary on May 23.

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Message to the Congress to give the Presidency the means to assert Transmitting a Report on that strength. Trade With Romania The price of conducting our foreign policy is, after all, not very high. Today, it’s slightly May 19, 1995 more than 1 percent of the budget. Let me To the Congress of the United States: say that again: slightly more than 1 percent I hereby transmit a report concerning emi- of the budget. That’s about one-fifteenth of gration laws and policies of the Republic of what Americans think it is, according to the Romania as required by subsections 402(b) most recent surveys. And it’s only one-fifth and 409(b) of Title IV of the Trade Act of of what Americans believe would be about 1974, as amended (‘‘the Act’’). I have deter- the right amount to spend. mined that Romania is in full compliance In other words, we don’t spend 15 percent with the criteria in subsections 402(a) and of the budget on foreign policy, or even 5 409(a) of the Act. As required by Title IV, percent, but just a little over 1 percent. And I will provide the Congress with periodic re- that 1 percent, which includes our contribu- ports regarding Romania’s compliance with tions to the multilateral development banks, these emigration standards. helps to dismantle nuclear weapons, saves lives by preventing famines, immunizing chil- William J. Clinton dren, and combating terrorists and drug-traf- The White House, fickers. Bills in both the House and the Sen- May 19, 1995. ate place new restrictions on our ability to meet these dangers as well as to take advan- NOTE: This message was released by the Office tage of all the opportunities that are out there of the Press Secretary on May 23. for the United States. For example, one bill, ‘‘The American Overseas Interests Act’’, which is being de- The President’s News Conference bated on the House floor just this week, May 23, 1995 would compromise our efforts to stop North Korea’s nuclear program, impose conditions The President. Good afternoon, I want that could derail our support for democratic to speak with you today about legislation that reform in Russia, and restrict the President’s Congress is considering which would place ability to prevent illegal immigration. The bill new restrictions on how America conducts would also mandate an ill-conceived restruc- its foreign policy and slash our budget in for- turing of agencies responsible for our foreign eign affairs. I believe these bills threaten our affairs. ability to preserve America’s global leader- Taken together, these constraints rep- ship and to safeguard the security and pros- resent nothing less than a frontal assault on perity of the American people in the post- the authority of the President to conduct the cold-war world. The world is still full of dan- foreign policy of the United States and on gers but more full of opportunities, and the our Nation’s ability to respond rapidly and United States must be able to act aggressively effectively to threats to our security. to combat foreign threats and to make com- Repeatedly, I have said there are right mitments and then to keep those commit- ways and wrong ways to cut the deficit. This ments. legislation is the wrong way. We did not win These bills would deprive us of both those the cold war to walk away and blow the op- capabilities. Supporters of the bills call them portunities of the peace on shortsighted, necessary cost-cutting measures. But in re- scattershotted budget cuts and attempts to ality, they are the most isolationist proposals micromanage the United States foreign pol- to come before the United States Congress icy. in the last 50 years. They are the product That’s why Secretaries Christopher, Perry, of those who argue passionately that America and Rubin and Ambassador Albright have must be strong and then turn around and recommended that I veto this bill being con- refuse to pay the price of that strength or sidered by the House this week. But it is not

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too late to reconsider. These are dangerous What did we get out of it? We got declin- proposals. Our administration is ready to ing interest rates and a growing income for work with Congress, and I remain hopeful the economy, 6.3 million new jobs. What is that the long tradition of bipartisanship in the problem now with the American econ- foreign affairs, which I have appreciated and omy? The incomes of the American people been a part of, will continue throughout this are not going up in the global economy. If session of Congress. you reduce the deficit to zero, if you balance I urge Congress to send me a bill that pro- the budget in 7 years, with the evidence we tects the fundamental interests of the Amer- now have, that would either require massive ican people, a bill that I can sign. tax increases or massive budget cuts, which would be unfair to our long-term objective Budget Proposals to stabilize the incomes and the way of living Q. Leon Panetta said that trying to balance of the American people. If you ignore it, the the budget in 7 years would be nuts. Laura same thing would happen. So that’s the point Tyson said it would be bad for the American that we made. I don’t think the two things economy. And over the weekend, you said are inconsistent at all. it could be done and that after the Repub- Q. What are you going to do? What are licans propose and dispose of the budget you going to do, sir? they’re dealing with now, you would offer The President. I’m going—well, for one your own plan to do so. Can you tell us why thing, the Republicans have to resolve the the disagreement within your administration, differences between themselves. They have and what exactly you do intend to propose? to produce a budget resolution. The Presi- The President. Well, it can be done, but dent has no role in the budget resolution and it is not good policy to do it. Those things cannot veto it; it’s a guidance. Then the are not inconsistent. It is mathematically pos- budget process will begin. That’s the rec- sible to do it, but having analyzed the alter- onciliation process, and that process the natives for doing it, we believe that it cannot President has a role in, because I have a veto. be done consistent with the interests of the I have shown—if you look at the debate in American economy. the rescissions bill, you see that I have shown Now—in other words, I believe that all good faith. I will not do what they did 2 years Americans should be committed to bringing ago. I will not walk away from this process. our budget into balance within a reasonable Look at the rescission bill. At the appro- amount of time that we can determine. And priate time, I sat down with the Republicans I believe we should be committed to working in the Senate, who made it clear that they together toward that end. But I do not be- wanted us to do that; we worked out an lieve it is good policy, based on my under- agreement for big spending cuts. Then, when standing of this budget, which is pretty good it was changed behind closed doors, I offered now, to do it in 7 years. an alternative budget in the rescission con- Keep in mind—let’s back up a minute. text—what I have done today. It was a re- What is the fundamental problem with the sponsible thing to do. I still want deficit re- American economy? Is it the deficit? I have duction in the rescission bill. I still want to worked hard to reduce the deficit. But what work with the Congress, and I will do so. happened when we reduced the deficit—the And if you look at how I handle the rescis- Republicans now use 7-year terms, so let’s sion business, we put people first, we put talk about 7 years. investment first, but we reached agreement In 1993, the deficit reduction plan we on how much we should cut, spending and adopted reduced the deficit by $1 trillion rescissions. We can do the same thing here. over 7 years. And even though not a single Q. [Inaudible]—your own counterbudget one of them voted for it and never engaged and to get the budget into balance in less us in any kind of cooperative effort, they ob- than 10 years. Could you share with us some viously like building on it, and it makes it ideas about how you would do that? possible for them to argue that now the The President. Well, we’ve already made budget can be brought into balance. clear—I’ve already made clear what my

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problems are and where we need to start. So I do not want to jumpstart what has First of all, I told everybody, including the been—an unusual partisan split over foreign White House Conference on Aging, that we affairs. But while I hope it doesn’t happen were going to have to make some changes. any time soon, someday there’ll be a Repub- But let’s deal with what I think the problems lican President here again. And this is about are. the Presidency. The Presidency cannot be Both of the Republican budget proposals hamstrung. We must allow the President to propose big cuts in Medicare outside the conduct the foreign policy of the United context of health care reform. When I pre- States in ways that make us safer, more se- sented my initial budget to the Congress, I cure, and more prosperous. This bill will un- said we can cut the deficit much more, but dermine that objectives. we have to do it in the context of health care And again, I’d say, the one good thing that reform. Otherwise, you’re going to have a lot could come out of this great debate is, every of hardship on elderly people and others. single survey shows that the American people Secondly, the tax cut is way, way too big, think we’re spending 15 to 20 percent of and it is essentially paying for tax cuts to peo- their tax money on foreign aid. When you ple who are not needy and who are doing ask them what the right amount would be, well in this economy by cutting Medicare. they say, ‘‘Oh, about 5 percent.’’ What would Thirdly, the education cuts are too deep. And be too little? ‘‘Under 3 percent.’’ But we’re fourthly, the Senate proposal cuts—raise just spending a little more than one percent. taxes on working Americans with children We’re spending about what the American with incomes under $28,000 and lowers taxes people think—maybe they think we should on people with incomes over $200,000. spend more. We should not destroy the for- That’s the reverse of what we ought to be eign aid budget. about. And finally, the 7-year period is an But, furthermore, we should not handcuff arbitrary period not dominated by an analysis the President. That is not the way to conduct of economic policy and what’s good to raise the foreign affairs of this country. You cannot incomes, but basically just a figure picked out micromanage foreign policy. of the air. So that’s where I think we ought Q. So is the answer, you will veto it? to begin. The President. If this bill passes in its Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press present form, I will veto it, yes. International]. Peace Process in Northern Ireland Funding and Conduct of Foreign Affairs Q. Mr. President, the Irish Economic Q. Mr. President, are you going to veto Conference is taking place here this week. the foreign affairs bill on the recommenda- I wonder if you could tell us if the tragedy, tion of your Cabinet if the changes you asked the terrible tragedy in Oklahoma City, has for are not made? in any way altered your attitude toward the The President. I can’t conceive of permit- Sinn Fein party in Northern Ireland or to- ting it to become law, because it is an assault wards Mr. Gerry Adams who has defended on the ability of the President to protect the terrorist actions in Britain? interests of the American people and to pur- The President. As long as he continues sue the foreign policy of the country. to renounce terrorism and as long as they And let me say that, again, I have worked continue on the progress that they—the path with Congressman Gilman, with Chairman that they have set, including the willingness Gilman, for 2 years on many issues. I have to talk about weapons decommissioning, then worked with Republicans in both the House I think we’re doing the right thing. We are and the Senate. I have appreciated the sup- supporting an end to terrorism and the be- port, even on controversial issues, given to ginning of peace and, I hope, more prosper- me by the leadership of the House and the ity in Northern Ireland. That is consistent Senate when we were dealing with the very with our position here. And I think that’s the difficult issue of Mexico, for example. right thing to do.

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We’re supporting an end to the kind of the only person in the world who can stop agonies that the people in Northern Ireland this. Are you prepared to do more? and Great Britain generally have suffered in The President. Well, I do not—let me just the last 25 years and that the American peo- say this: From the beginning of my campaign ple suffered most significantly in Oklahoma for President, I said that the one thing I did City but also at the World Trade Center. not think we should do is to send American Q. If the Republicans don’t make a move troops into combat into Bosnia, nor did I be- on the budget in the areas you’ve asked them lieve we could be part of a United Nations to on Medicare in the context of health care mission in Bosnia with the kind of conditions reform and so on, will you still lay out a coun- on involvement that have been imposed on terproposal that gets to balance? the UNPROFOR forces. I do not apologize The President. Well, when we get into for that. I think I was right then. I think that the—when we get into the reconciliation has still been the right case, right decision. process—I don’t believe in idle exercises. Every effort to be more aggressive in pro- When we got into the—look what we did in moting peace and fighting aggression in the rescission bill. I was very specific in deal- Bosnia that has been made in the last 2 years ing with the rescission bill. First of all, I sat has been made at the initiative of the United down and tried to have a good-faith negotia- States. I thought for sure after the events tion at the first opportunity. The first oppor- of a few days ago, once again NATO airpower tunity I had to negotiate in good faith with would be called into action. And I strongly the Republican majority in Congress was in supported it, and I was very surprised after the United States Senate, and we did it in the commanders on the ground asked for it good faith and in great detail. And we did that the United Nations stopped it. it in the context of agreeing to meet a target But I believe that we are doing, at the mo- of significant deficit reduction. ment, all we can do. We do not want to col- lapse the U.N. mission. And I believe the Then, when the House and Senate went United Nations made a mistake in not calling behind closed doors and put all that pork in NATO airpower in when the commanders the bill and took the education out of it and asked for it. We are still doing the airlift took the investments in environmental pro- there, now the biggest one in the history of tection out of it, I said we had to make some the United States, the biggest one in world changes, and I offered a specific alternative history. And we are prepared to do more. in the context of a decisionmaking process But I do not believe the United States has where I could have an impact. That is the any business sending ground troops there. procedure I will follow in dealing with the Yes? larger budget. Q. Mr. President, there were talks over If you look at the rescission bill, you will the weekend between American industry and see the way I am prepared to go forward. Saudi officials to try to expedite the trans- I will bargain and negotiate and deal in good action you brokered for Saudi Arabia to buy faith, because I believe in deficit reduction. Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas commercial I believe in a balanced budget. But I also transports. Do you know what the outcome know we’ve got to invest in the people of of those talks were? And do you know if this country if we’re going to raise their in- there’s going to be further delay in con- comes. summating the transaction, or is there a fixed date to close on it? Bosnia The President. I’m sorry, I do not know. I have done what I could to make sure that Q. You spoke earlier about keeping foreign the contract stayed on track, but I do not commitments and why you thought that was know. important. Two years ago in this room, Sec- Thank you very much. retary of State Warren Christopher said, the clock is ticking on Serb aggression. The NOTE: The President’s 96th news conference blockade of Sarajevo has been tightened, the began at 2:24 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the snipers are back at work. Apparently you’re White House.

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Remarks at the Democratic budget plan that the Democrats adopted, Congressional Dinner without any help or even so much as serious May 23, 1995 discussion, cut the deficit a trillion dollars. They predicted the world would come to an Thank you, Senator Daschle, for your lead- end. Instead, the recession came to an end, ership and your stirring introduction and and we had lower unemployment, low infla- your wise predictions. [Laughter] Thank you, tion, a booming stock market; first time in Congressman Gephardt, for your leadership 20 years we’ve had unemployment among Af- and your steadfastness. Congressman Matsui, rican-Americans below 10 percent; highest Senator Dorgan, Senator Kerrey, and Con- number of high-wage jobs in 6 years; a real gressman Frost, thank you for taking on the sense of change in the economy, according burden of our campaign committees and the to all the numbers. hard work of recruiting our candidates and But that hasn’t filtered down to a lot of raising our funds and rebuilding our majori- Americans yet. And that’s what I want to talk ties. And thank you, ladies and gentlemen, to you about tonight. What are we doing for being here. here? Why are we Democrats? What do we I thank all the Democratic Senators and hope to achieve? How do we communicate Members of the House who are here, and with the American people? And what does many Members of Congress who are former it all mean? Members of Congress who are here. If you Well, the first thing I want to say is that will forgive me, I’d like to ask for a moment we should just be grateful that we’ve had the of applause for the memory of a former chance in the last 2 years to do the right Member of Congress who is not here, Les things. And we should understand if we Aspin, one of the finest people I ever knew. failed, either through our own limitations or [Applause] because of the circumstances of the time, to This has certainly been an interesting time, communicate what we had done to the peo- hasn’t it? [Laughter] What’s that old adage that we should—somebody should spare us ple of this country, the fact is that in the from living in interesting times. It is a great light of history, the last 2 years will be viewed honor and a great obligation for us to have as a time when we got the deficit down, re- the chance to serve in an interesting and pro- gained control of our economic destiny, actu- foundly important time, a time of great ally invested more in our people and in their change, great opportunity, great dislocation, education and in their future, and made a great difficulty, and great challenge for the serious effort to have the American people people of this country and, therefore, those move into the 21st century with the Amer- of us who wish to serve them. ican dream alive and well and with our secu- At a time when many are so preoccupied rity better protected at home and abroad. with their own difficulties, it is difficult to In the last 2 years, we had the most pro- sort through the blizzard of information and ductive time in terms of a partnership be- disinformation they get, even to understand tween the President and Congress in the last what it is we are trying to do, much less to 30 years. And what was done in the crime grasp how it will affect them. But I think, bill, in the trade legislation, in the family and more and more, as time goes on now, the medical leave law, in act after act after act, choices before the American people are be- was good for the American people. And we coming clearer, and I trust the direction we should be proud of that, and we should talk must take is as well. about it. And we should move forward. We now hear the folks in the other party We should also say to our friends in the claiming great high ground for wanting to re- other party, we do not intend to do you the duce the deficit and asking us to help. You way you did us, even though you were richly remember how much help we got from them rewarded for doing it—[laughter]—because, in the last 2 years? And I would remind you, unlike you in the last 2 years, we care so those of you who voted for that, to remember much about this country, we’ll work with you. that by their new 7-year calculations the 1993 But you have to remember what we stand

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for, and you have to be willing to deal with empowered to make the most of their own what we stand for. lives. They are learning a little lesson now with We believe in ‘‘cut and invest,’’ not ‘‘slash their budget proposals and the real meaning and burn.’’ We believe not in trickle-down, of their contract on America, of what all peo- but in growing the middle class and shrinking ple in public life learn, and that is that there the under class. We believe not in cutting are limits to calls for sacrifice. [Laughter] people loose in a market-only world that is My senior Senator, Dale Bumpers, he a cold and hard world but in having a part- loves to tell a story about Huey Long being nership between the people and their Gov- out on a country cross—is he here? I heard ernment and the private sector that grows somebody clapping; I thought he was clap- the economy, creates jobs, and also makes ping. [Laughter] He loves to tell a story about sure everybody has a chance to stake out Huey Long being out on a country crossroads their piece of the American dream. We be- speaking to a group of people about—in the lieve that the power of the Government Depression—about how we needed to share ought to be used to elevate people. We be- the wealth. And he spotted a farmer he knew, lieve that we should have a partnership with and he said, ‘‘Now, brother Jones, as hard business that challenges them to train their as times are, if you have three Cadillacs, workers and treat them right but challenges wouldn’t you give one of them up so we could us here in Government to create policies that go around and take up all the little kids in will enable us to succeed at home and the country and take them to school during abroad. And we have done that. And we will the week and to church on Sunday?’’ And continue to do that. he said, ‘‘Sure, I’d do that.’’ And he said, ‘‘If Now, what are some examples of that? you had $3 million, wouldn’t you give up a Well, the Commerce Department is one. million dollars so we could feed all the people Sometimes I think the reason our friends on in this county and put a roof over their the other side of the aisle are so anxious to head?’’ He said, ‘‘Of course, I would.’’ He eliminate the Department of Commerce is said, ‘‘And if you had three hogs—’’ He said, they are absolutely livid that a Democratic ‘‘Now, wait a minute, I’ve got three hogs.’’ Secretary of Commerce has gotten more jobs [Laughter] for Americans abroad than all the Repub- You think about that. We might have had licans in the last several decades. some difficult cases to make in the last 2 We believe you can cut Government and years, but we never had to try to argue with make it work better for people. What are a straight face why we ought to cut Medicare some examples of that? The Small Business and Medicaid for elderly people in nursing Administration has lowered its budget and homes to pay for a tax cut for people who dramatically increased its loan volumes to have done very, very well in the 1980’s and women, to minorities, and to white males all 1990’s, and will do well in the 21st century. at the same time. And nobody unqualified At least we didn’t have to make that case. got a loan, and America is stronger as a result On the other hand, it is important for us of that kind of effort. to participate and to be a part of changing We believe America has more than one this country for the better. The Democrats kind of deficit. Yes, there is a budget deficit. are a positive party. We win by promoting We know all about it. It’s a lot lower than hope over fear, by promoting unity over divi- it was before we went to work on it. And sion, by promoting progress over the status yes, we want to bring it down again. If, in quo. And fundamentally, the difference be- fact, by bringing it down we could lower in- tween our party and the other party is still terest rates, put money into the pockets of that we believe in the potential of every ordinary Americans in the business sector, human being, and we believe that every per- and invest and grow and get more jobs in son has a right to be protected from oppres- this economy, that’s what we ought to do. sive forces that would weigh him or her But let’s not pretend that nothing we do here down, and every person has the right to be is worthwhile. We also have an education

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deficit in this country, and we have to address I am proud of the fact that in the last 2 that as well. years we’ve had more new businesses and And it isn’t popular to say anymore be- more new millionaires created in the United cause there is this sense that all of the money States than at any comparable time in the we spent on poor people is wasted, but that’s history of our Republic. I am proud of that. just not true. And whether we like it or not, But, let’s not kid ourselves. One of the rea- an increasing percentage of the babies that sons that we had difficulty in 1994, having are born in this old world, in this country, both the White House and the Congress, is are poor. And they need food to eat, and that millions and millions of Americans are they need medical care and medicine for out there working harder today than they their bodies, and they need an opportunity were 10 years ago for less money. Millions to get off to a good start in life. And if we of Americans go home every night from work don’t give it to them, we may balance the and sit across the table from their children budget for the next 5 years, but in 15 years and their spouses and wonder if somehow we’ll have the ‘‘awfulest’’ deficit you ever saw, they have failed. They hear all this stuff about and we’ll be spending it all on prisons and the glories of the global economy and all drug rehab programs instead of education these things about the glories of the market. and training and job creation. And they read all these things that I say about Something else that isn’t popular to say— how we’ve gotten the deficit down and got today it’s all the rage, if you ask any American the jobs up. And all they know is, they’re in it tight, and they’re scared, and they’re what should you do to balance the budget, concerned about the future. And they won- they’ll say, ‘‘Cut foreign aid.’’ But a recent der if anybody’s still on their side. They won- poll has done us a great service. It’s told us der if anybody really cares about them. what the American people really mean. They Did you see the story of the young woman were asked, ‘‘Well, how much money is in who brought her sister and her mother to foreign aid?’’ The American people say, ‘‘Fif- see me, whose husband was—her father, the teen percent of the budget.’’ ‘‘How much is young girl’s father, was on the picket line at too much?’’ They say, ‘‘Ten percent is way the Bridgestone strike? And because her fa- too much.’’ ‘‘What’s about right?’’ ‘‘Five per- ther was on strike and because they’d been cent.’’ ‘‘What’s too little?’’ ‘‘Under 3 per- replaced, this family had to pick up their own cent.’’ ‘‘How much do we really spend?’’ health insurance, as the law now provides. ‘‘Just a little over one percent.’’ [Laughter] And so she missed out on her trip to Wash- So this matters, folks. It matters to our ington until Jesse Jackson ran into this young ability to grow in the 21st century whether girl and paid to bring her family up here, these countries that have embraced democ- because this girl and her sister were dia- racy and free markets are going to be given betics. And they were paying $600 a month a little bit of help now, most of which imme- for health insurance while they were unem- diately benefits us, by the way, to have their ployed. That’s true all over America today. people get a good education and a good job There are people out there who just want and encourage American investment and be- to know that we are on their side, that we come people who can buy our products and are still fighting for them, that we still believe our services in the 21st century. in them, and that we’re going to make Amer- The Democrats believe, in short, that we ica work for them. And they’re entitled to have a budget deficit and an education defi- know that. cit, that we need a thriving free market that I’m very proud of the fact that the crime is vigorous and competitive, but that the rate has come down in this country now in Government has a role to play in partnership both years I’ve been President. I am proud with that market to help us abroad and to of that. And we’ve worked on that. But be- strengthen us at home, and that if we can fore we get carried away, let me remind you grow the middle class and shrink the under that the rate of violent, arbitrary crime by class and keep a healthy economic environ- teenagers against teenagers is still going up, ment, the rest of us will do very well indeed. because we’ve got all these kids out there

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who are disconnected and they need to know ington is most of our headlines and most of somebody cares about them. And they need our conversation is consumed by process and to know that they don’t have to resort to vio- conflict within the Beltway. And when we lence, they don’t have to resort to a gang, talk about people beyond the Beltway, we’re they don’t have to leave school and do some- normally talking about them in terms of the thing terrible to feel like they’re a part of latest poll numbers: Who are they for this something that will get them through to to- week? What are they saying this week? The morrow. fundamental reality of those people’s lives This is not all that complicated. Oh, I know has not changed all that much yet. And we we’re living in a new and different and excit- have to give them a strong economy, a decent ing time, and I’m the biggest policy wonk sense to empower themselves through edu- in town. [Laughter] But when you strip it cation, a real commitment to a Government all away, we, the Democrats, have got to be that serves everybody and not just the special there to say you can have economic growth interests, and does not forget the poor, be- and social justice. In fact, you cannot have cause the children are the poor in this coun- economic growth over the long run without try, the children are the new poor in Amer- justice. ica, and they will be not children before you Do we want to make folks on welfare go know it. to work when they can? You bet we do. Do And we have got to find a way to solve we want to be able to reexamine our pro- all these problems together. The biggest grams? Of course, we do. Do we want to problem we face today I sometimes think is be able to shed unnecessary bureaucracy? that there aren’t any simple answers to com- Yes, we do. Our administration has shrunk plex challenges. But there are answers. There the Federal Government more than the folks are answers. And I have the privilege to go that were here before us, and we will do all over the world in your behalf. And I can more. We will do that. But let’s not forget: tell you that nearly anybody would gladly Why are we doing all of this? Why are we trade places with where we are now at this here? Because we believe we can make a dif- point in our history. And that’s because—so ference to the future of this country. And I say again, be of good cheer, but don’t forget there is no other reason. why you’re here. So I say to you, you should be of good Yes, we want to win elections, but we want cheer. We have a lot of things to do. We’ve to win elections for a purpose—because we taken a lickin’, and we’re—as Mark Twain believe you can attack the budget deficit and said, ‘‘The reports of our demise are entirely the investment deficit, the education deficit, premature.’’ [Laughter] But the most impor- because we believe we can make more mil- tant thing is, we have a chance tomorrow to lionaires and grow the middle class and stop go out and do something good for America. this awful two decades of stagnant and de- And we’re going to do it. We’re going to do clining incomes and increasing inequality, it. because we believe most poor people will go We’re going to prove that you can reduce to work and do the right thing, given the op- the deficit, that we can bring this budget into portunity and the responsibility to do so, be- balance over a period of time without ignor- cause we believe we have a responsibility to ing the investment deficit in our people, the national security of this country in terms without gutting the environment, without de- of making our streets safer at home and stroying our future, without forgetting our America safer abroad. And we are making obligation to grow the middle class, to shrink progress on all those fronts. the under class, and to give our people some So I say to our friends across the aisle: hope and decency and dignity in life. We’re We will be your partner. We will not walk going to prove that you can do that. We are. away from you in spite of our experience in They are. The Members here are. We’re the last 2 years. But we will come on our going to do that for America, and we can. own terms with our own values, putting the So you go home tonight, you just remem- American people first. ber, one of the biggest problems with Wash- Thank you, God bless you, and good night.

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NOTE: The President spoke at 9:25 p.m. at the nautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended Washington Hilton. (42 U.S.C. 2476). Aeronautics and space ac- tivities involve 15 contributing departments Message on the Observance of and agencies of the Federal Government, as National Missing Children’s Day, this report reflects, and the results of their ongoing research and development affect the 1995 Nation as a whole in a variety of ways. May 24, 1995 Fiscal year 1994 featured many important developments and changes in U.S. aero- Greetings to everyone observing National nautics and space efforts. It included 7 Space Missing Children’s Day, 1995. I am pleased Shuttle missions successfully completed, 15 that so many Americans are joining together Government launches of Expendable to improve safety and reduce crime in com- Launch Vehicles (ELVs), and 4 commercial munities across the country. launches from Government facilities. Among In the wake of the tragedy in Oklahoma notable developments in the ELV area were City, we have drawn strength from reaffirm- the launch of the Deep Space probe, Clem- ing our commitment to protecting our chil- entine, initial use of the Titan IV Centaur dren—making their well-being and security upper stage, and the first launch of the Tau- our highest national priority. Until we have rus launch vehicle. Highlights of the Shuttle done everything in our power to help young missions included the highly successful serv- people lead happy, productive lives, we can- icing mission for the Hubble Space Tele- not say that our country is prepared for the scope (HST), which replaced several faulty great challenges that lie ahead. parts and installed a sophisticated package The devastating effects of child abduction of corrective optics to compensate for the threaten our hopes for a brighter future. It spherical aberration in HST’s primary mirror. is a tragedy that occurs daily and causes un- Also, the flight of the Space Radar Labora- told anguish to the families and children in- tory began to provide information on envi- volved. I commend the many caring organi- ronmental change, and a mission with a Rus- zations who have dedicated their resources sian astronaut, Sergei Krikalev, as a member to raising public awareness of child abduction of the crew signalled the beginning of a and to protecting young people from victim- three-phased cooperative program in space ization. Your efforts are serving to return between Russia and the United States. many children, safe and sound, to their fami- In a year of tremendous accomplishments lies and homes. for the international Space Station, National Hillary and I join you in offering our pray- Aeronautics and Space Administration ers for all missing children and their families, (NASA) developed an initial set of specifica- and we wish you the best for a memorable tions that included Russian elements as part day. of the design. Russia’s agreeing to join the Bill Clinton 12 original participating nations as a partner resulted in the expansion of the existing NOTE: National Missing Children’s Day was ob- served on May 25. Shuttle/Mir program into Phase I of the international Space Station program, which officially began with Sergei Krikalev’s flight Message to the Congress on the Shuttle. All of the partners held a suc- Transmitting the Report on cessful systems design review in Texas in Aeronautics and Space March, and in June Russia and the United May 24, 1995 States signed an interim agreement on the Space Station and a $400 million contract for To the Congress of the United States: Russian space hardware, services, and data. I am pleased to transmit this report on the In August, the program completed a vehicle Nation’s achievements in aeronautics and architecture review and in September, the space during fiscal year 1994, as required Space Station Control Board ratified the rec- under section 206 of the National Aero- ommendations it included. The redesigned

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Space Station costs $5 billion less than Space spacecraft management and design; it also Station Freedom and still offers increased re- contributed significantly to lunar studies by search capability and user flexibility. photographing 1.8 million images of the sur- In aeronautics, activities included develop- face of the Moon. ment of technologies to improve perform- Additionally, on May 5, 1994, the White ance, increase safety, reduce engine noise House announced that the National Oceanic and other environmental degradation, im- and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), prove air traffic management, lower costs, the Department of Defense, and NASA were and help American industry to be more com- establishing a joint program to effect the con- petitive in the world market. For example, vergence of civil and military polar-orbiting high-speed research continued during fiscal operational environmental satellite systems year 1994 to focus on resolving critical envi- into a single operational program. Other ronmental issues and laying the technological White House announcements during the foundation for an economical, next genera- year included a policy for licensing U.S. firms tion, High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). In by the Secretary of Commerce to operate this connection, the United States reached private remote sensing systems and sell their agreement with Russia to use the Tu-144 su- images to domestic and foreign entities and personic transport as a testbed for HSCT de- a national space transportation policy that velopment. In addition, efforts in advanced will sustain and revitalize U.S. space trans- subsonics focused on reducing aircraft and portation capabilities by providing a coherent engine noise levels, on development of wind strategy for supporting and strengthening shear sensing devices, and on creating tech- U.S. space launch capabilities to meet the nologies that will improve general aviation growing needs of the civilian and national se- aircraft. curity sectors. In space science, astronomers using HST’s Thus, Fiscal Year 1994 was a highly suc- revitalized optics discovered disks of cessful one for the U.S. aeronautics and protoplanetary dust orbiting stars in the space programs. Efforts in both areas have Orion Nebula, suggesting that the formation contributed significantly to furthering the of planets in the Milky Way and elsewhere Nation’s scientific and technical knowledge, may be relatively common. Also, HST’s rev- international cooperation, a healthier envi- elation of helium in distant constellations ronment, and a more competitive economy. provides valuable information about the con- William J. Clinton ditions in the universe during its initial evo- lution. The Spacelab Life Sciences–2, U.S. The White House, May 24, 1995. Microgravity Payload–2, and International Microgravity Laboratory–2 greatly increased our understanding of the role of gravity on Letter to Congressional Leaders on biological, physical, and chemical processes. Bosnia In biology, we learned that gravity affects the May 24, 1995 function of the neural connections between brain cells; this can have profound implica- Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) tions for rebuilding damaged brain cells due In my report to the Congress of November to strokes and disease. In Earth science, the 22, 1994, I provided further information on Space Radar Laboratories–1 and –2, plus the the deployment of U.S. combat-equipped Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment pay- aircraft to support efforts of the United Na- load, used powerful radar and laser tech- tions and the North Atlantic Treaty Organi- nology to penetrate cloud cover and map crit- zation (NATO) to achieve peace and stability ical factors on a global scale. Also, the highly in Bosnia-Herzegovina. On December 22, successful launch of the Clementine Deep 1994, I also provided my fourth report on Space Probe tested 23 advanced technologies the continuing deployment of a U.S. Army for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. peacekeeping contingent as part of the U.N. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly-built peacekeeping mission in the Former Yugo- spacecraft constituted a major revolution in slav Republic of Macedonia. I am now pro-

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viding this follow-up report, consistent with UNPREDEP continued to be effective in the War Powers Resolution, to ensure that preventing the Balkan conflict from spread- the Congress is kept informed about impor- ing and thereby contributes to the stability tant U.S. contributions in support of multilat- of the region. The approximately 500 U.S. eral efforts in the former Yugoslavia. soldiers contributing to this mission are as- U.S. combat-equipped fighter aircraft and signed to the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry, other support aircraft continue to contribute 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Ger- to NATO’s enforcement of the no-fly zone many. in the airspace over Bosnia-Herzegovina. In In addition to these operations, U.S. forces accordance with U.N. Security Council Reso- have conducted more than 4,300 missions in lutions 781, 786 and 816, this operation has support of the U.N. High Commissioner for since April 1993, enforced a ban on flights Refugees airlift to Sarajevo. U.S. medical and not authorized by the United Nations Protec- other support personnel continue to provide tion Force (UNPROFOR). Enforcement of critical services in support of UNPROFOR the no-fly zone, has resulted in the almost and UNCRO. U.S. naval forces are also con- complete elimination of fixed-wing air to tinuing to assist in enforcing U.N. sanctions, ground bombing and other air combat activ- subject to the restrictions of the Nunn- ity within the zone thereby greatly limiting Mitchell Amendment, as part of NATO’s par- the scope of the conflict in the region. Mili- ticipation in Operation SHARP GUARD. tary personnel from 11 other NATO member The United States strongly favors a contin- nations have joined us in this effort, which ued U.N. peacekeeping presence in the has involved almost 60,000 sorties since the former Yugoslavia and a continuation of ne- operation began. U.S. forces currently as- gotiations through the Contact Group. How- signed to this operation consist of approxi- ever, given the increase in fighting in Bosnia- mately 100 tactical aircraft as well as support- Herzegovina and Croatia, it may become ing tanker and other support aircraft. necessary for NATO to assist in the with- The U.N. Security Council has established drawal of peacekeepers from these areas. Be- safe areas in Bosnia-Herzegovina and has au- cause of the significant period of time need- thorized Member States and regional organi- ed to prepare and deploy the necessary zations, in close coordination with the United forces to support such a withdrawal, our sen- Nations, to take all necessary measures, ior military commanders recommended that through the use of air power, to support we take certain steps now to preposition the UNPROFOR in its mandate related to the necessary communications network in order safe areas. The Council has also authorized to be prepared to meet this contingency. Ac- Member States and regional organizations, in cordingly, on April 6, 1995, the North Atlan- close coordination with the United Nations, tic Council authorized the Supreme Allied to take all necessary measures to extend close Commander for Europe to assemble, train air support to protect U.N. forces in Croatia. and deploy into Croatia 80 communications More than 70 U.S. aircraft, including those personnel. Twenty U.S. soldiers are partici- identified above, are available for participa- pating in this operation. tion in authorized NATO missions for these These continuing efforts are being taken purposes. in conjunction with our allies to implement On March 31, 1995, the Security Council the decisions of the U.N. Security Council separated UNPROFOR into three oper- and the North Atlantic Council and to assist ations: The United Nations Confidence Res- the parties to reach a negotiated settlement toration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO); to the conflict. I have directed the participa- The United Nations Preventive Deployment tion of U.S. Armed Forces in these oper- Force (UNPREDEP) in the former Yugoslav ations pursuant to my constitutional authority Republic of Macedonia; and UNPROFOR in to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Bosnia-Herzegovina. A U.S. Army contin- Commander in Chief, and in accordance gent remains deployed as part of with various statutory authorities. UNPREDEP. Through observation and I am providing this report as part of my monitoring along the Serbian border, efforts to keep the Congress fully informed,

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consistent with the War Powers Resolution. Q. Do you think they will—the committee I am grateful for the continuing support that and the Senate? the Congress has provided, and I look for- The President. I believe they will. ward to continued cooperation with you in Q. What do you base your optimism on? this endeavor. I shall communicate with you The President. Well, I base my optimism further regarding our efforts to foster peace on the fact that, usually in this country, right and stability in the former Yugoslavia. prevails over political pressure over the long Sincerely, run. They have—we have dragged this thing out. You known, Dr. Foster was never a polit- William J. Clinton ical football before—President Bush thought enough of him to make him one of the Points NOTE: Identical letters were sent to Newt Ging- of Light—and because we had a hearing, and rich, Speaker of the House of Representatives, he demonstrated in the hearing why he and Strom Thurmond, President pro tempore of the Senate. should be a Surgeon General and he an- swered all the questions. Q. Do you think you can overcome the Remarks Following a Meeting With filibuster, sir? Surgeon General-Designate Henry The President. Let’s get out of committee Foster and an Exchange With first. I think you’ve got to get out of the com- mittee, and then I think he certainly should Reporters be. We’ll have lots of arguments to make May 25, 1995 about that in the appropriate time. I think, if the majority of the United States Senate Surgeon General Nomination is for him, he should certainly be confirmed. The President. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Doctor Foster and I have just Budget Proposals had coffee. We discussed some of the issues Q. Mr. President, it looks like the rescis- we always discuss in terms of the health chal- sion bill is going to pass today. Do you still lenges our country faces. And of course, we intend to veto it? And what happens next? discussed the upcoming vote in the Senate The President. Well, the answer to your committee on the question of his confirma- question is yes, if it passes in this form. tion. I want to say again, he has my strong I want to emphasize, first of all, I am for support. I believe that he should be voted a rescission bill that cuts this much spending. out of the committee and he certainly should I have sent a bill to the Congress that cuts be confirmed by the United States Senate. even more from the deficit. I have been very In the hearings, he clearly demonstrated specific about it. his qualifications to be America’s doctor. And My objection is that having—after I nego- as I have said repeatedly, I hope the Amer- tiated with the Senate on spending reduc- ican people will never forget the group of tions, we got politics as usual. Congress went young people who came up from his home behind closed doors and cut a lot of edu- State and his home town to talk about the cation and training out and put some pork work he had personally done to urge them in the bill for specific Congressmen and spe- to live upright and healthy and productive cific congressional districts and States. That’s lives and the work that he had done to rescue the old politics. What we’re doing here now them from difficult circumstances. If he is is new and different, and we can’t continue not qualified to be America’s doctor, it’s hard to do it. to imagine who would be. So if the bill comes to me in the same There have been a lot of politics and a form, without the restoration of the edu- lot of talk back and forth on this nomination, cation and training, yes, I will veto it. Well, but now the time has come to do the right what happens next? Then—well, they have thing. And I trust that the committee and, a bill right now which they could vote on ultimately, the Senate will do the right thing today and send to me before they go on re- and confirm Dr. Foster as Surgeon General. cess, which would cut the spending, restore

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the education by not protecting the pork. and the Secret Service did a terrific job. And Now, that’s my position. And that’s what I the two agents in question immediately put think should be done. themselves in harm’s way to do their job. And If instead I get the bill and there’s a veto the system worked exactly as it is supposed and they go home for their break, then when to work. And the whole rest of the system they come back, we ought to get together worked. It was amazing. It worked. It worked and restore the education and the training quickly. And it’s something that every citizen funds, reduce the deficit by as much or even of this country can be very proud of. more than is in this present bill, and then I—to answer your other question, I don’t, let them send it to me, and I will sign it. no. I just think that in a couple of cases, we’ve I am for making a down payment on the defi- had people who for their own personal rea- cit reduction in this rescission bill. sons have seen this as a symbol of something I certainly want to get the money out to that they could attach themselves to in some Oklahoma City, to finish our obligations in way or another. the California earthquake, to deal with the I do—I will say again that in our country floods in the South, and of course we’ve got today, we all need to try to reach out to each some other problems in other parts of the other and to talk and to reach across our di- country, to fulfill the commitment of the vides when a lot of people out there may United States on the Jordan issue as part of be like this gentleman, in trouble, and maybe our Middle East peace process. I want to do can be brought back just by people reaching all of that—to cut the spending and to get out to them and by trying to avoid letting that money out there. But if we’re going to things get to that point. And certainly I think be cutting around here, we cannot afford that about the political rhetoric and dialog. pork protection, politics as usual. We have So I hope that we’ll take another oppor- to do what we’re going to do in the open, tunity to reexamine, all of us, how we might not go behind closed doors and change all make this country work better and have more the priorities. We need to do this in a dis- thoughtful words and try to keep people from ciplined, good way. getting to extreme positions in their lives. But So that is my position. It is very clear, and in this case, I don’t feel badly at all. The Se- it has nothing to do with deficit reduction. cret Service did a terrific job, and I’m very I am for as much—I will support more proud of them. spending reduction, but not in this form. Thank you. Q. So you have no fears? Bosnia The President. No. Q. Do you support, sir—do you support NOTE: The President spoke at 8:54 a.m. in the NATO air strikes around Sarajevo today? Rose Garden at the White House. The President. Well, my position is that NATO should be prepared to react when our commanders on the ground need them. And Remarks to the White House you know, I’ve been—of all of our NATO Conference on Trade and allies, the United States has been the most Investment in Ireland vigorous proponent of the use of NATO air- May 25, 1995 strikes in all appropriate circumstances. And we’ve laid those out repeatedly. Thank you very much. Secretary Chris- Thank you. topher, Secretary Brown, Senator Mitchell, Deputy Prime Minister Spring, Sir Patrick White House Security Mayhew, Mr. Ambassador, ladies and gentle- Q. Mr. President, after still one more at- men, to all of you of Irish, British, and Amer- tack on the White House, are you starting ican heritage from the business communities to think, ‘‘Why me?’’ of these great nations, I thank you for being The President. No. [Laughter] I do here. I have looked forward to this day for think—first of all, the American people a long time, to having people like you here should know that the system here worked who see the opportunities for trade and in-

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vestment that come from peace and the op- keep people apart based on religious or racial portunities for trade and investment to sup- or ethnic differences. I tell my fellow Ameri- port peace. I’m especially delighted that so cans all the time that the great genius of our many are here from Ireland and the United country in the next century may be our ability Kingdom. And to all of our friends from to exalt the greatest amount of diversity of Northern Ireland, your attendance here any large country in the world. But it is still shows your dedication to a future of coopera- a challenge for us here. You see it all the tion and prosperity, and we’re particularly time. And we can think of no greater mission glad to have you. in our quest to reconcile diversity than trying Let me say a special word of thanks to to help peace and prosperity succeed in George Mitchell for the tremendous work he Northern Ireland and in Ireland in general. has done in organizing this conference. His This is, as I’m sure you know, an extraor- devotion to the cause of nurturing peace and dinary gathering of which you are a part. growth in Northern Ireland and the Repub- Never before have representatives of all the lic’s border counties has played a central part political parties in Northern Ireland, officials in the progress that we celebrate here today. from the United Kingdom and Ireland, and I’m delighted that he will lead another mis- so many business leaders joined to help us sion to Ireland this summer and even more to build a better tomorrow. The conference pleased that he’s agreed to continue his work shows anew the historic progress that has in overseeing our economic initiatives been made toward a just and lasting settle- through the end of this year. ment and toward a peace that respects the Ireland is lucky to have George Mitchell rights and traditions of both communities. on its side, even if it has to put up with the In the last few months, thanks to the cease- envy of the United States Senate, the Su- fire and the momentum of the negotiations, preme Court, and Major League Baseball. [Laughter] You know, George is Irish and a powerful transformation has begun. Peace Lebanese. Maybe when we succeed in Ire- is closer than it’s been in a generation. For land, if the Secretary of State is not finished, the first time in decades, children can walk he’ll volunteer for other duty. [Laughter] to school without worrying. Families that As all of you know, the United States has have endured so much violence with so much a keen interest in a stable and democratic dignity can now enjoy the blessings of days and prosperous Europe, but that interest is without violence and nights without fear. The particularly strong when it comes to Ireland. roads between North and South are more Our strong bonds of kinship, culture, and his- open than they have been in 25 years. And tory shared with the peoples of the United citizens of the Republic are visiting the North Kingdom in Ireland are well-known. in even greater numbers. In Belfast, the army This is a moment of historic opportunity patrols have ended, the body armor and hel- for you and historic interest for the United mets are gone, hundreds of troops are now States. For my own part, people ask me from going home. time to time why this is a matter of such These landmark achievements would not deep personal interest to me. It goes beyond have been possible without the leadership my Irish roots. I wish I could just say that’s and courage of Prime Minister Major, Prime all there was to it. But an important part of Minister Bruton, and before him, Prime our mission at this moment in time as Ameri- Minister Reynolds. With the Joint Frame- cans is to help reconcile the divisions which work Document, they are paving the way for keep people apart and lead them sometimes a new and hopeful era of reconciliation. All to violence both within our own country and true friends of Ireland are grateful to them around the world. and to the parties that have risen to their If you look into the next century, you could challenge. I salute them, and I salute others thank the good Lord that we may—we who work for peace, individuals such as For- may—succeed in removing the nuclear eign Minister Spring, Sir Patrick Mayhew, threat from the children of the 21st century. and that tireless advocate of peace, our friend But we still see these ancient impulses that John Hume.

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We pay tribute as well to the brave people strengthened, so that there is no slipping of Northern Ireland, whose courage has back into the violence that frustration breeds. brought them to this point. The United That is why this conference is so impor- States is proud to have helped them and all tant. It underscores that all sides have an in- peacemakers, and today I renew my pledge terest in investing in the future of Northern to do everything in my power to support their Ireland and that all sides will benefit from efforts. I know—[applause]—thank you. I the peace. Our own experience here in know I speak for all Americans when I say America shows what a difference that kind that people who take risks for peace, here of progress and benefit can bring. More than and anywhere else in the world, will always a century ago, our great sage Ralph Waldo be welcome in the White House, in Washing- Emerson said that trade was the principle ton, and throughout our country. of liberty, that it made peace and keeps This momentum must be maintained. The peace. That is what we wish for Ireland, and ministerial-level talks represent a step of tre- now it is time to realize that wish. The end mendous promise. I hope the parties can of organized violence makes that possible. soon sit down together to discuss the future So I urge American businesses and all oth- and their differences. That is the best guaran- ers to consider investing in Northern Ireland tee of a permanent peace. and the border counties. The opportunities But there must be progress as well outside are excellent. The work force is well-edu- the conference rooms. Violence is dimin- cated and well-motivated. The productivity ished, but it has not disappeared. I call on levels are high. The unit labor costs are low. all those who continue to employ violence The labor relations are good. The infrastruc- to end the punishment beatings and the in- ture, the communications, the access to the timidation. And to all who are observing the European market are fine. With the prospect cease-fire, I appeal to you to take the next of an enduring settlement on the horizon, step and begin to discuss serious decommis- business confidence is rising fast. Experts sioning of weapons. Paramilitaries on both predict investment booms on both sides of sides must get rid of their bombs and guns the border and an increase in tourism in the for good. And the specter of violence that North that could exceed 100 percent. has haunted Ireland must be banished, once Already, the United States is the number and for all. one investor in both Northern Ireland and It is also time to begin healing the wounds the Republic. American companies employ of a generation. Many innocents disappeared nearly 10 percent of all the workers in North- during ‘‘the troubles.’’ Others were banished ern Ireland’s manufacturing sector. And Ire- from their homes. Today there are families land imports almost $3 billion worth of that have still not had the chance to grieve American goods. The firms that we have in in peace, to visit the graves of their loved these markets are increasing their invest- ones, to reunite after years of separation. It ments, strengthening their positions in Eu- is time to allow families to be whole again. rope, building businesses that create jobs on As everyone knows, peace is more than both sides of the Atlantic. By doing well, cease-fires and formal agreements. It de- these companies are also doing good. mands real hope and progress in the hearts More investment in Northern Ireland of people. It demands common striving for promises to lift the region out of the cycle the common good. It is time for those who of despair that leads to violence. It will re- have been most affected by the fighting to duce the chronic unemployment than runs feel this kind of hope and this sense of around 50 percent in some urban areas and progress. As Yeats wrote, ‘‘Too long a sac- has deadened the dreams of so many. If rifice can make a stone of the heart.’’ There growth is accompanied by an end to discrimi- must be a peace dividend in Northern Ire- nation, by fair and nonsectarian employment land and the border counties so that every- practices, and encouraging investment in one is convinced that the future belongs to areas in greatest need, then both Catholics those who build, not those who destroy, so and Protestants will feel that they have a that the majority that supports peace is stake in their society and its peaceful future.

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When both communities feel the benefits of again that our investments in peace, whether peace and see that they are distributed fairly, in the Middle East, southern Africa, Haiti, despair will lose its hold, and all will have or Ireland, have always yielded great benefits the chance they deserve to fulfill their God- for the American people in growing markets, given potential. great stability, increased security. ‘‘Peace,’’ Yeats said, ‘‘comes dropping I hope all those who want to see peace slow.’’ The past will not be overcome in a in Northern Ireland will keep that in mind. day, but the perception of change provides Peace has a price, but it is a small one com- the kindling for hope, and the opportunities pared to the alternative, and it is a price very for positive, powerful, profitable change much worth paying. clearly are now present in Northern Ireland. I’m also glad we’ve been able to help the As long as I am President, the United cause of peace through this conference and States will continue to encourage that other economic initiatives, because Ireland change. I am proud of all that Secretary has given us so much. The two communities Brown has done in achieving—on his mission that today are coming together in coopera- to Ireland last December. I’m proud of the tion have each given America a rich legacy. many efforts of the Department of Com- In our Nation, Catholic and Protestants have merce, USAID, USIA, and other Govern- been intertwined, and together they have ment agencies to support reconciliation in contributed immensely to the greatness of Ireland. I am proud of the work of the State our people and the success of America. Department, and I want to say a special word There is evidence all around us. In places of thanks to our Ambassadors in the area, like New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, Ambassador Crowe and Ambassador Jean counties, cities, and towns with names like Kennedy Smith, for the outstanding work Londonderry, Ulster, and Antrim dot the that they have both done. Thank you. map. Often these places mark the frontier Ours is the first administration ever to in- in the 18th century when Ulster Protestants, clude appropriations for the International some of them my ancestors, pushed west to Fund for Ireland. The IFI have lived up to build new lives and a new nation. These set- our hopes for it. The fund supports over tlers were the forebears of nearly a dozen 3,000 economic development projects and American Presidents, including Andrew has created some 23,000 jobs in areas that Jackson, William McKinley, and Woodrow were recruiting grounds for the Wilson. paramilitaries. It is promoting cooperation Irish Catholics contributed just as much across the border and between communities. to our country’s rise, whether in building rail- The record challenges us to go even fur- roads or institutions. A visiting journalist in ther. So we have increased our funding re- the last century took the measure of that ef- quest for the IFI to almost $60 million over fort when he said that in America you could the next 2 years. And we are working to build see water power, steam power, horse power, more bridges across the ocean through ex- and Irish power. [Laughter] And, he con- change programs for managers, students, ag- cluded, ‘‘the last works hardest of all.’’ ricultural experts, artists, and scholars, pro- [Laughter] grams that establish bonds of friendship, In this half of our century, the names John while transporting ideas and information, F. Kennedy, Justice William Brennan, benefiting people on both sides of the ocean. Speaker Tip O’Neill only began to tell the There are some in Washington who would story of Irish Catholics’ contribution to all like to cut our funding for these and other the branches of American democracy. These programs that support peace in Ireland and true traditions, harnessed together in the throughout the world. That would be a grave New World for common goals, has been error. The United States has an abiding inter- America’s great fortune. Time and again, we est in creating peace and the opportunities have seen peoples of different backgrounds it brings. We must have the resources to fos- and ancestries put freedom over faction, the ter peace and stand by those who take the goals of the community over the interests of hard risks for peace. We have seen time and its separate parts.

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Of the gifts we can give to Ireland, this Bruton, and former Prime Minister Albert Reyn- example of people joining together for the olds of Ireland; Prime Minister John Major and common good clearly is the greatest. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Sir Patrick challenges of the coming century demand Mayhew of the United Kingdom; Ambassadors to that we keep in mind the example of those the U.S. Sir Robin William of Great Britain and Dermot Gallagher of Ireland; John Hume, leader, who went before us, who built bridges across Northern Ireland Social Democratic and Labor their differences and found the strength to Party; U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy pull together. Smith; and U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain Wil- We now face a whole new set of challenges liam J. Crowe. in this new era. The global economy, the ex- plosion of information, the advance of tech- nology, the growing mobility of people, all Statement on the United Nations/ these forces are bringing us into a more inte- NATO Decision To Launch grated world, more full of possibilities than Airstrikes in Bosnia ever before. The next century can be the May 25, 1995 most exciting time in all human history be- cause of the opportunities for human possi- I welcome the decision of the U.N. and bilities. NATO to launch airstrikes today against a But we have to recognize that all these Bosnian-Serb ammunition site following the forces of integration have a darker side, as violence of the past several days in and well. If we do not rise to the challenges they around Sarajevo. This action was taken in re- present, we become vulnerable to the orga- sponse to Bosnian-Serb defiance of yester- nized forces of destruction and evil, for the day’s UNPROFOR demand for the return modern world requires us to be open in order of heavy weapons to designated weapons col- to take advantage of all the forces of integra- lection points in accord with existing agree- tion. And as we become more open, we be- ments. come more vulnerable to those who would This action should help NATO and the hate and those who would destroy. U.N. sustain their ability to ease suffering in As the people of Northern Ireland are the region. I hope that today’s airstrikes will showing, we can seize the moment. We can convince the Bosnian-Serb leadership to end turn away from terror. We can turn away their violations of the exclusion zone and from destruction. We can turn toward peace comply with their other agreements with the and unity and possibility. But to keep this U.N. process going, to lock in the accomplish- I appreciate the courage and dedication of ments, we must make hope real. To grasp the U.N. forces on the ground in the former the opportunity, we must build stronger busi- Yugoslavia, and trust that this evidence of nesses and communities and families. We U.N. and NATO determination will serve to must have more and better jobs. We must enhance the ability of these forces to remain strengthen the prospects of a better tomor- and perform their missions. row. That is the way to preempt fanaticism. Message to the Congress on Small That is the way to close the book on old and Business bloody conflicts. That is the way to give our children the future they all deserve. The May 25, 1995 chance is there. It is here. It is now. We have To the Congress of the United States: it in our power to make all the difference. I am pleased to forward my second annual Let us do it. report on the state of small business, and to Thank you, and bless you all. report that small businesses are doing excep- tionally well. Business starts and NOTE: The President spoke at 10:48 a.m. at the Sheraton Washington Hotel. In his remarks, he incorporations were up in 1993, the year cov- referred to George Mitchell, Special Adviser for ered in this report. Failures and bankruptcies Economic Initiatives in Ireland; Deputy Prime were down. Six times as many jobs were cre- Minister Richard Spring, Prime Minister John ated as in the previous year, primarily in in-

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dustries historically dominated by small busi- Bank regulatory policies are being revised nesses. to encourage lending to small firms. Included Small businesses are a critical part of our in the Credit Availability Program that we economy. They employ almost 60 percent of introduced in 1993 are revised banking regu- the work force, contribute 54 percent of latory policies concerning some small busi- sales, account for roughly 40 percent of gross ness loans and permission for financial insti- domestic product, and are responsible for 50 tutions to create ‘‘character loans.’’ percent of private sector output. More than New legislation supported by my Adminis- 600,000 new firms have been created annu- tration and enacted in September 1994, the ally over the past decade, and over much of Reigle Community Development and Regu- this period, small firms generated many of latory Improvement Act of 1994, establishes the Nation’s new jobs. As this report docu- a Community Development Financial Insti- ments, entrepreneurial small businesses are tutions Fund for community development also strong innovators, producing twice as banks, amends banking and securities laws many significant innovations as their larger to encourage the creation of a secondary counterparts. market for small business loans, and reduces In short, a great deal of our Nation’s eco- the regulatory burden for financial institu- nomic activity comes from the record num- tions by changing or eliminating 50 banking ber of entrepreneurs living the American regulations. Dream. Our job in Government is to make Under the Small Business Administration sure that conditions are right for that dy- Reauthorization and Amendments Act of namic activity to continue and to grow. 1994, the Small Business Administration And we are taking important steps. Main- (SBA) is authorized to increase the number taining a strong economy while continuing of guaranteed small business loans for the to lower the Federal budget deficit may be next 3 years. The budget proposed for the the most important step we in Government SBA will encourage private funds to be di- can take. A lower deficit means that more rected to the small businesses that most need savings can go into new plant and equipment access to capital. While continuing cost-cut- and that interest rates will be lower. It means ting efforts, the plan proposes to fund new that more small businesses can get the fi- loan and venture capital authority for SBA’s nancing they need to get started. credit and investment programs. Changes in We are finally bringing the Federal deficit the SBA’s 7(a) guaranteed loan program will under control. In 1992 the deficit was $290 increase the amount of private sector lending billion. By 1994, the deficit was $203 billion; leveraged for every dollar of taxpayer funds we project that it will fall to $193 billion in invested in the program. 1995. Through the Small Business Investment Deficit reduction matters. We have been Company (SBIC) program, a group of new enjoying the lowest combined rate of unem- venture capital firms are expected to make ployment and inflation in 25 years. Gross do- available several billion dollars in equity fi- mestic product has increased, as having hous- nancing for startups and growing firms. The ing starts. New business incorporations con- SBIC program will continue to grow as regu- tinue to climb. We want to continue bringing lations promulgated in the past year facilitate the deficit down in a way that protects our financing with a newly created participating economic recovery, pays attention to the equity security instrument. needs of people, and empowers small busi- And the Securities and Exchange Commis- ness men and women. sion’s simplified filing and registration re- quirements for small firm securities have Capital Formation helped encourage new entries by small firms One area on which we have focused atten- into capital markets. tion is increasing the availability of capital to We are recommending other changes that new and small enterprises, especially the dy- will help make more capital available to small namic firms that keep us competitive and firms. In reauthorizing Superfund, my Ad- contribute so much to economic growth. ministration seeks to limit lender liability for

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Superfund remediation costs, which have cates who said that the agency’s toxic release had an adverse effect on lending to small inventory rule was especially costly and bur- businesses. Interagency teams have been ex- densome. In November 1994, the EPA an- amining additional cost-effective ways to ex- nounced a final rule that will make it easier pand the availability of small business financ- for small businesses to report small amounts ing, such as new options for expanding equity of toxic releases. investments in small firms and improvements And SBA has slashed the small business to existing microlending efforts. loan form for loans under $100,000 from an We’ve also recognized that we can help inch-thick stack to a single page. The SBA small business people increase their available is also piloting a new electronic loan applica- capital through tax reductions and incentives. tion that will involve no paperwork, but will We increased by 75 percent, from $10,000 allow business owners to concentrate on the to $17,500, the amount a small business can business at hand—building a successful oper- deduct as expenses for equipment purchases. ation. Tax incentives in the 1993 Budget Reconcili- When businesses are unable to succeed, ation Act are having their effect, encouraging no one is served by a process that entangles long-term investment in small firms. And the small business owners in an endless jumble empowerment zone program offers signifi- of paperwork. Sweeping changes made to cant tax incentives—a 20 percent wage cred- bankruptcy laws in the past year will help it, $20,000 in expensing, and tax-exempt fa- small businesses reorganize. Small firms with cility bonds—for firms within the zones. less than $2.5 million in debt may utilize a streamlined reorganization process that is Regulation and Paperwork less expensive and more timely. But increasing the availability of capital to My Executive order on Regulatory Review small firms is only part of the battle. We also provides a process for more rational regula- have to make sure that Government doesn’t tion, and we’ve been listening to the concerns get in the way. And we’re making progress of small firms through a Regulatory Reform in our efforts to create a smaller, smarter, Forum for Small Business. Five sector-spe- less costly and more effective Government cific groups have made specific proposals for that is closer to home—closer to the small regulatory relief. These groups have said that businesses and citizens it serves. a comprehensive, multiagency strategy, with In the first round of our reinventing Gov- better public involvement, is probably the ernment initiative—the National Perform- most cost-effective way to improve both the ance Review—we asked Government profes- quality of regulations and compliance with sionals for their best ideas on how to create them. The key is to make sure that Govern- a better Government with less red tape. One ment serves small business and the American recommendation was that Federal agency people, not the other way around. compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act—that requires agencies to examine pro- Electronic Commerce and Government posed and existing regulations for their ef- Procurement fects on small entities—be subject to judicial The reinventing Government initiative review. In other words, they said we need also called for expanded use of electronic to put teeth in the legislation requiring Fed- marketing and commerce, and we have made eral agencies to pay attention to small busi- great strides in providing information about ness concerns when they write regulations. Government programs electronically. These That proposal has been under debate in the methods will increase small business access Congress. to markets. Federal agencies are already considering Another area that has been sorely in need and implementing specific ways to streamline of reform is the Government procurement regulations and make paperwork easier for process. In October 1994, I signed into law small businesses to manage. For example, the the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) re- which will change the way the Government sponded to small business owners and advo- does business. The law modifies more than

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225 provisions of procurement law to reduce establish an individual retirement account paperwork burdens, improve efficiency, save and withdraw from it tax-free for the cost the taxpayers money, establish a Federal ac- of education, health care, first-time house quisition computer network, increase oppor- buying, or the care of a parent; and offer tunities for women-owned and small dis- to those laid off or working for a very low advantaged businesses, and generally make wage, a voucher worth $2,000 a year to get Government acquisition of commercial prod- the skills they need to improve their lives. ucts easier. This report documents how small businesses are doing under the old system; International Trade my hope is that opportunities for small busi- We also want to empower small businesses ness success will be even greater once these to succeed in a global economy. One of the reforms are in effect. greatest challenges in the next century will be our international competition. Ninety-six Human Resources percent of all exporting firms are small firms Beyond encouraging an economic environ- with fewer than 500 employees, but only 10 ment that supports small business success, percent of small firms export; therefore the opening doors to capital resources, buying potential for increasing small firm exports is more of our goods and services from small significant. I believe the North American firms, and getting out of small business’ way, Free Trade Agreement and the General I believe we in Government have a respon- Agreement on Tariffs and Trade will benefit sibility to ask whether we are doing enough small firms interested in expanding into to ensure a healthy and adequately prepared international markets in this hemisphere and work force. beyond. I remain committed to seeking a way to Lending to small exporters is being eased provide health insurance coverage for all through reforms in the Export-Import Bank’s Americans. As this report clearly shows, the Working Capital Guarantee Program. New number of uninsured Americans is too one-stop export shops are moving in the right high—and it’s growing. Millions of those citi- direction to assist small firms by providing zens are in working families. And the sad fact access to export programs of the Department is that many of those workers are in small of Commerce, Export-Import Bank, and businesses, which have seen their premiums Small Business Administration all under one and deductibles soar. We must make sure roof. that self-employed people and small busi- nesses can buy insurance at more affordable Hearing from Small Business rates—whether through voluntary purchas- Small businesses are too important to our ing pools or some other mechanism. economy for their concerns not to be heard. We also ought to be able to ensure that That is why I have given the SBA a seat on our citizens are adequately provided for the National Economic Council and invited when they reach the end of their working the SBA Administrator in to Cabinet meet- years. Here too, small firms have been at a ings. disadvantage. Our proposed pension legisla- Over the past 2 years, my Administration tion exempted most small plans from compli- has been asking questions of small business ance and reporting increases. owners and listening to the answers—seeking And while our industries restructure and advice and guidance from a diverse audience move from an age of heavy industry to an of business leaders to determine the most information age that demands new skills and critical problems and devise solutions that new flexibility, we need to make sure that work. our work force has the skills and tools to com- This year presents a special opportunity for pete. That is why I proposed the Middle small business persons to make their con- Class Bill of Rights, which would provide a cerns known at the White House Conference tax deduction for all education and training on Small Business, set to convene in Wash- after high school; foster more saving and per- ington in June 1995. In State conferences sonal responsibility by permitting people to leading up to the national conference, small

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business owners have been frank about their nomic matters dies hard, and since he had concerns. I look forward to hearing their a foot in Ireland and a foot in England, I small business action agenda. thought I would remind you of what he said. I firmly believe that we need to keep look- He said, ‘‘If you lined up end to end all the ing to our citizens and small businesses for economists in the world, you still would not innovative solutions. They have shown they reach a conclusion.’’ [Laughter] I think have the ingenuity and creative power to today, even Mr. Shaw would share our opti- make our economy grow; we just need to let mism. them do it. I hope that this conference stirred your William J. Clinton thoughts and your imagination for the future, that you have had an opportunity to exchange The White House, ideas and plans, that you will act on the May 25, 1995. things that you have thought about and dreamed about here. The people who are Remarks at the White House gathered here have the opportunity to make Conference on Trade and all your ideals real. We in government can Investment in Ireland Reception make a difference in political negotiations as May 25, 1995 the first bridge between groups that history has separated. We can be a catalyst for Thank you very much. Let me welcome change. But sustained progress will require all of you again, and say a special word of more. It demands the engagements of all the welcome to Deputy Prime Minister Spring, major groups within society, the companies Sir Patrick Mayhew, Ambassador Gallagher, that provide the economic lifeblood, the Ambassador Renwick, Ambassador Crowe, churches, the political parties, the civic asso- Ambassador Smith, to Senator Mitchell, to ciations. the people who are here from the Inter- Already there has been tremendous national Fund for Ireland. Let me say a spe- progress. We can see that in the desire for cial word of thanks to the Chairman, Willie peace that runs throughout Northern Ire- McCarter, and to my good friend and ap- land, and let me emphasize this, in the work pointee, Jim Lyons. And let me remind all of the 200 community and civic leaders who of you that, appropriately enough, the band traveled here at their own great expense to that just entertained us is known as Celtic advance the cause of reconciliation. We Thunder. We arranged the Irish weather thank them especially for being here. These here tonight—[laughter]—to remind you men and women are on the frontlines bring- that we are all here under a very large tent ing down the barricades, bringing together in more ways than one. the people of the Shankill and the people of the Falls. [At this point, there was a loud clap of thun- I want to thank, as well, the Irish-Amer- der, followed by audience laughter and ap- ican community, the business community, plause.] and the nongovernmental organizations. You If yesterday and today all of us have done have risen to the task. Now let me say that, what we set out to do, then we will all be as I thank you—is the sound off? That’s good, sharing the same hopes and joining the same because I’m almost through. [Laughter] work for the future of Northern Ireland and I asked you here tonight mostly to cele- the border counties of Ireland. We are espe- brate and not to hear another speech. I ask cially committed to the economic revival of you to remember that the United States is the people who live there, all of the people always with you. who live there. Just behind me here, through the—you We know that many people will be skep- can almost see them even through the plastic tical about the possibilities of peace, and oth- cover—are the two oldest trees at the White ers will be skeptical about the possibilities House, two grand magnolias planted over of economic progress. George Bernard Shaw 165 years ago by Andrew Jackson, the son once recognized that skepticism about eco- of an immigrant farmer from the

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Carrickfergus in County Antrim. Every day, for supporting me so stoutly during these I look at those two old trees and think about times. our Nation’s past and our Nation’s future. Today, I will look at them with fresh eyes Bosnia to think about Ireland’s past and Ireland’s Q. Mr. President, what are you going to future, the future of the people of Northern do if the U.N. peacekeepers are harmed in Ireland and the people of Ireland. Bosnia by the Serbs? They have threatened Thank you all, good luck, God bless you. to retaliate on the bombing. The President. We’ll have to examine NOTE: The President spoke at 6:19 p.m. on the their actions as they take them. The United South Grounds at the White House. States is in a—I want to make clear the posi- tion we’re in here—we, as a part of and a leader of NATO, responded to the request Remarks During a Meeting With of the United Nations, which I thought was Surgeon General-Designate Henry very appropriate, to deal with the shelling of Foster and an Exchange With Sarajevo and the shelling of civilians by the Reporters Bosnian Serbs, in clear violation of the un- derstandings that have been in place for May 26, 1995 quite some time now. And we did that in an appropriate way against military targets, Surgeon General Nomination so that the taking of hostages, as well as the The President. I want to thank the Senate killing of civilians by them is totally wrong Labor and Human Resources Committee for and inappropriate, and it should stop. endorsing the nomination of Dr. Foster to The United Nations, the forces on the be Surgeon General, and for doing it in a ground and the United Nations Command bipartisan fashion. I’d also like to say a special obviously will have to analyze these cir- word of appreciation to the people of Ten- cumstances on a daily basis. We will work nessee who stood with him, and especially with them, and we’ll do whatever is appro- to the young children in the ‘‘I Have A Fu- priate. And I still believe that the action we ture’’ program, who came up here and talked took was appropriate. It was in response to about how he helped to turn their lives the request from the U.N., and it certainly around, helped to convince them to stay in was provoked by the inappropriate shelling school, to keep working, to turn away from of civilians by the Bosnian Serbs. drugs, from teen pregnancy, from the other Q. Do you have a backup plan if some- problems that bother so many of our chil- thing happens? You’re sending an aircraft dren. carrier to the Adriatic? Does that have a—— This is a good day for the United States, The President. I can’t comment any fur- and I look forward to going on to the next ther on what’s going on now. I think it’s im- stage, and to working right through until we portant for the United Nations, who have the get Dr. Foster confirmed. forces on the ground, to be able to deal with Q. Mr. President, what are you going to this situation, and as the events unfold, I’ll do if the—— be happy to comment. The President. I would like for Dr. Foster to say something, too. China Dr. Foster. I, too, would like to thank the Q. Mr. President, why are you giving Senate Labor and Human Resources Com- China MFN again, sir? mittee for a fair hearing and for moving this The President. Well, I haven’t made a de- forward to the full Senate. I also particularly cision on that yet. But as you know, I said want to thank the person on that committee last year—and I believe—that we should who knew me best, Senator William Frist, continue to press China on the human rights for supporting my nomination. And lastly, I issues, but I don’t believe that singling China want to thank the President, his administra- out on the MFN is necessarily the best way tion, congressional Members, and my family to do it. There are other countries with whom

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we have human rights differences as well, a majority of the Senate wants that to hap- and we have certainly pressed our dif- pen. ferences with China, not only person-to-per- Q. What are you doing for the rest of the son, face-to-face with the Chinese but also day? in the appropriate international forum, and The President. Working. [Laughter] we will continue to do that. And we also have other differences with NOTE: The President spoke at 12:33 p.m. in the them. I agreed to let President Li from Tai- Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister John Major of the wan come here. I thought that was the appro- United Kingdom; Chancellor Helmut Kohl of priate thing to do. We won’t always agree Germany; and President Boris Yeltsin of Russia. with the Chinese, but I think it’s important A tape was not available for verification of the that when we disagree, we do it in the right content of these remarks. way, aggressively and forthrightly, but in the proper forum. Q. President Yeltsin has called Mr. Major Executive Order 12961— and Mr. Kohl complaining about the—[in- Presidential Advisory Committee on audible]—has he tried to reach you, and what Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses would you tell him? May 26, 1995 The President. Not yet, no. If he did, I would tell him just what I told you, that the By the authority vested in me as President United Nations asked for this; they certainly by the Constitution and the laws of the Unit- weren’t put up to it, that the Bosnian Serbs ed States of America, it is hereby ordered went way beyond the bounds of acceptable as follows: conduct. There have been clear restrictions Section 1. Establishment. (a) There is on bombing civilians and the shelling those hereby established the Presidential Advisory areas for a long time now. I would ask him Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses to call the Serbs and tell them to quit it and (the ‘‘Committee’’). The Committee shall be tell them to behave themselves and that this composed of not more than 12 members to would not happen. be appointed by the President. The members of the Committee shall have expertise rel- evant to the functions of the Committee and Surgeon General Nomination shall not be full-time officials or employees Q. Are the Democrats ready to overcome of the executive branch of the Federal Gov- a filibuster on the Foster nomination if it ernment. The Committee shall be subject to happens? the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as The President. The Democrats are not amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. numerous enough to overcome a filibuster. (b) The President shall designate a Chair- But Senator Frist and Senator Jeffords put person from among the members of the their country above their party today and did Committee. what they thought was right, and I think Sec. 2. Functions. (a) The Committee there will be others. There may even be some shall report to the President through the Sec- who may not think they should vote for him, retary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Dr. Foster, who believe that it’s wrong to Affairs, and the Secretary of Health and filibuster a nomination of this kind. Human Services. In the past, when the Democrats were in (b) The Committee shall provide advice the majority in the Senate, they often did and recommendations based on its review of that as well. They often gave Republican the following matters: Presidents votes on their nominees, even if (1) Research: epidemiological, clinical, and they didn’t agree with them. This—it would other research concerning Gulf War veter- be unusual and unwarranted if this fine man ans’ illnesses. were denied his day in court in the Senate, (2) Coordinating Efforts: the activities of and I don’t believe the American people the Persian Gulf Veterans Coordinating want that to happen, and I don’t believe that Board, including the Research Coordinating

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Council, the Clinical Working Group, and (f) The Committee shall submit an interim the Disability and Compensation Working report within 6 months of the first meeting Group. of the Committee and a final report by De- (3) Medical Treatment: medical examina- cember 31, 1996, unless otherwise provided tions and treatment in connection with Gulf by the President. War veterans’ illnesses, including the Com- Sec. 3. Administration. (a) The heads of prehensive Clinical Evaluation Program and executive departments and agencies shall, to the Persian Gulf Registry Medical Examina- the extent permitted by law, provide the tion Program. Committee with such information as it may (4) Outreach: government-sponsored out- require for purposes of carrying out its func- reach efforts such as hotlines and newsletters tions. related to Gulf War veterans’ illnesses. (b) Members of the Committee shall be (5) External Reviews: the steps taken to compensated in accordance with Federal implement recommendations in external re- law. Committee members may be allowed views by the Institute of Medicine’s Commit- travel expenses, including per diem in lieu tee to Review the Health Consequences of of subsistence, to the extent permitted by law Service During the Persian Gulf War, the for persons serving intermittently in the Gov- Defense Science Board Task Force on Per- ernment service (5 U.S.C. 5701–5707). sian Gulf War Health Effects, the National (c) To the extent permitted by law, and Institutes of Health Technology Assessment subject to the availability of appropriations, Workshop on the Persian Gulf Experience the Department of Defense shall provide the and Health, the Persian Gulf Expert Sci- Committee with such funds as may be nec- entific Committee, and other bodies. essary for the performance of its functions. Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Notwith- (6) Risk Factors: the possible risks associ- standing the provisions of any other Execu- ated with service in the Persian Gulf Conflict tive order, the functions of the President in general and, specifically, with prophylactic under the Federal Advisory Committee Act drugs and vaccines, infectious diseases, envi- that are applicable to the Committee, except ronmental chemicals, radiation and toxic sub- that of reporting annually to the Congress, stances, smoke from oil well fires, depleted shall be performed by the Secretary of De- uranium, physical and psychological stress, fense, in accordance with the guidelines and and other factors applicable to the Persian procedures established by the Administrator Gulf Conflict. of General Services. (7) Chemical and Biological Weapons: in- (b) The Committee shall terminate 30 days formation related to reports of the possible after submitting its final report. detection of chemical or biological weapons (c) This order is intended only to improve during the Persian Gulf Conflict. the internal management of the executive (c) It shall not be a function of the Com- branch and it is not intended to create any mittee to conduct scientific research. The right, benefit or trust responsibility, sub- Committee shall review information and pro- stantive or procedural, enforceable at law or vide advice and recommendations on the ac- equity by a party against the United States, tivities undertaken related to the matters de- its agencies, its officers, or any person. scribed in (b) above. (d) It shall not be a function of the Com- William J. Clinton mittee to provide advice or recommendations on any legal liability of the Federal Govern- The White House, ment for any claims or potential claims May 26, 1995. against the Federal Government. (e) As used herein, ‘‘Gulf War Veterans’ [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, Illnesses’’ means the symptoms and illnesses 10:36 a.m., May 30, 1995] reported by United States uniformed services personnel who served in the Persian Gulf NOTE: This Executive order will be published in Conflict. the Federal Register on May 31.

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Digest of Other May 26 White House Announcements The President declared a major disaster in South Dakota and ordered Federal funds to supplement State and local recovery efforts in communities struck by severe storms, The following list includes the President’s public flooding, and ground saturation due to high schedule and other items of general interest an- nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and water tables, beginning March 1. not included elsewhere in this issue. The President announced his intention to appoint Phyllis Middleton Jackson to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy May 22 Center for the Performing Arts. The President announced the nomination The President announced the appoint- of Dwight P. Robinson as Deputy Secretary ment of Joyce Lashof to be Chair and the of the Department of Housing and Urban following individuals to be members of the Development. Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf The President announced his intention to War Veterans’ Illnesses: John reappoint Jean Kennedy Smith to the Board Baldeschwieler; Arthur Caplan; Donald of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center Custis; Frederick M. Franks, Jr.; David A. for the Performing Arts. Hamburg; James A. Johnson; Marguerite The White House announced that the Knox; Philip Landrigan; Elaine L. Larson; President will meet with President Jacques Rolando Rios; and Andrea Kidd Taylor. Chirac of the European Council, and Presi- The President announced he has selected dent Jacques Santer of the European Com- the following individuals to serve as delegates mission, at a summit on June 14 in Washing- to the White House Conference on Small ton, DC. Business to be held in Washington, DC, on June 11–15: Sarah Barela; John Burgess; Robert Calcaterra; Lorrie J. Carey; Mary Ann May 24 Carlson; Barbara L. Cash; Audrey L. Davis; In the afternoon, the President and Hillary Deborah D. Dolman; Charles J. Dorame; Clinton hosted a tea for King Juan Carlos Sue Ling Gin; Omar M. Kader; Kathy Kemp; and Queen Sophia of Spain in the Yellow Nadine Mathis; Urban Miyares; Ann L. Oval Room. Mulholland; Kathy Neal; Harry Posey; Bar- The President announced his intention to bara Skelton; Edward I. Weisiger, Jr.; and appoint Rose Dobrof to the Federal Council Buck W. Wong. on the Aging. The President nominated Linda L. Rob- ertson of Washington, DC, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Af- fairs. Nominations The President announced his intention to Submitted to the Senate nominate Peggy A. Nagae to be a member of the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board of Directors. The following list does not include promotions of members of the Uniformed Services, nominations to the Service Academies, or nominations of For- May 25 eign Service officers. The President announced the appoint- ment of Richard Nuccio as Special Adviser to the President and Secretary of State for Submitted May 24 Cuba. The President named Melvin E. Clark, Jr., Linda Lee Robertson, and Charles A. Docter to the Pennsylvania of Oklahoma, to be a Deputy Under Sec- Avenue Development Corporation Board of retary of the Treasury, vice Michael B. Levy, Directors. resigned.

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Joseph H. McKinley, Jr., Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry of Kentucky, to be U.S. District Judge for announcing the U.S.-EU summit in Wash- the Western District of Kentucky, vice Ron- ington, DC, on June 14 ald E. Meredith, deceased. Released May 23 Robert H. Whaley, Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- of Washington, to be U.S. District Judge for retary Mike McCurry the Western District of Washington, vice Jus- tin L. Quackenbush, retired. Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry on the White House visit of a delegation from B. Lynn Winmill, the Ulster Unionist Party on May 22 of Idaho, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Idaho, vice Harold L. Ryan, re- Statement by Chief of Staff Leon Panetta on tired. the budget bill Fact sheet on the ‘‘American Overseas Inter- Submitted May 25 ests Act of 1995’’ (H.R. 1561) Kenneth H. Bacon, Released May 24 of the District of Columbia, to be an Assist- ant Secretary of Defense (new position). Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- retary Mike McCurry Sheryl R. Marshall, of Massachusetts, to be a member of the Announcement of nomination for three U.S. Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board District Court judges for a term expiring October 11, 1998, vice Released May 25 Stephen Norris, term expired. Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- Peggy A. Nagae, retary Mike McCurry of Oregon, to be a member of the Board of Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry Directors of the Civil Liberties Public Edu- on the appointment of Richard Nuccio as cation Fund for a term of 3 years (new posi- Special Adviser to the President and Sec- tion). retary of State for Cuba Released May 26 Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- Checklist retary Mike McCurry of White House Press Releases

The following list contains releases of the Office of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as Acts Approved items nor covered by entries in the Digest of by the President Other White House Announcements.

Released May 22 Approved May 22 Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- S. 244 / Public Law 104–13 retary Mike McCurry Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

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