Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Monday, December 6, 1999 Volume 35—Number 48 Pages 2453–2515 Contents

Addresses and Remarks Bill Signings See also Bill Signings Consolidated appropriations legislation for FY California 2000 Democratic Congressional Campaign Remarks—2454 Committee luncheon in San Francisco— Statement—2458 2469 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year Southwest Voter Registration and 2000, statement—2512 Education Project reception in Beverly Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Hills—2481 Adjustment Act of 1999, statement—2474 ‘‘Stop the Violence’’ benefit in Beverly Veterans Millennium Health Care and Hills—2474 Benefits Act, statement—2473 Economic growth—2508 Northern Ireland peace process—2500 Parental leave—2466 Communications to Federal Agencies Pennsylvania, dinner for Mayor Rendell in Philadelphia—2506 Facilitating the Growth of Electronic Radio address—2453 Commerce, memorandum—2457 Washington International Family Planning Waiver, International Labor Organization memorandum—2465 convention on the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child Executive Orders labor in Seattle, signing—2500 Washington State trade community in Amending Executive Order 10173, as Seattle—2489 Amended, Prescribing Regulations Relating World Trade Organization luncheon in to the Safeguarding of Vessels, Harbors, Seattle—2494 Ports, and Waterfront Facilities of the World AIDS Day, radio remarks—2499 United States—2500

(Continued on the inside of the back cover.)

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

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

Interviews With the News Media Statements by the President Exchanges with reporters See also Bill Signings Oval Office—2466 Brady Handgun and Violence Prevention Seattle, WA—2493 Act—2472 Interviews Northern Ireland peace process, Ulster Mark Little of RTE and Steve Grimason of Unionist Council action—2454 BBC from Seattle—2503 Vieques Island, U.S. military training—2511 Michael Paulson of the Seattle Post- Intelligencer from San Francisco, CA— Supplementary Materials 2485 Acts approved by the President—2514 Letters and Messages Checklist of White House press releases— Hanukkah, message—2474 2514 Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, letter Digest of other White House on review of space launch failures—2483 announcements—2513 Proclamations Nominations submitted to the Senate—2514 National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month—2484 World AIDS Day—2456 Week Ending Friday, December 3, 1999

The President’s Radio Address useful check list. You can find the complete checklist at www.consumer.gov. November 27, 1999 But today I’d like to emphasize at least Good morning. On this holiday weekend, some of the essentials. First, in the on-line when we count our many blessings, Ameri- world, you must pay close attention to details. cans are also busy buying gifts for the next Carefully check for shipping and delivery holidays, right around the corner. Today I’d dates, for extra fees, warranties, return poli- like to speak with you about the remarkable cies, and phone numbers to call if you run rise of the Internet as a destination for holi- into a problem. Second, always buy with a day shopping and about how we can ensure credit card. With credit cards you are pro- that on-line commerce will live up to its enor- tected by Federal law against unauthorized mous promise. charges. Third, guard your privacy at all On Thanksgiving, beyond our family’s per- times. Look for the unbroken key or padlock sonal blessings, my family and I gave thanks symbols on the order page to ensure that for the enormous prosperity America is car- your credit card information will be trans- rying forward into the 21st century. One of mitted securely. Don’t share passwords with the key reasons our economy continues to anyone and be sure to read the merchant’s thrive, with the longest peacetime expansion privacy policy to see what information is in history, is that we’re making the most of being collected about you and how it will be new technologies. Especially, the Internet used. and other information technologies are revo- I’m pleased to announce that, thanks to lutionizing our economy, powering one-third the leadership of Vice President Gore, many of our economic growth. leading companies and organizations, includ- As the Vice President will make clear in ing the Better Business Bureau’s OnLine, a report he’ll soon release, few applications American Express, MasterCard, Dell, Get of information technology have more poten- Netwise, eBay, America OnLine, and Ama- tial than electronic commerce. During the zon.com—all are joining with us to protect holiday season alone, on-line shopping could and educate consumers this holiday season. exceed $9 billion, doubling or even tripling Many are distributing guides to help people the on-line totals for the same period last shop on-line safely and wisely. Some are of- year. fering financial guarantees that go above and About 4 million American families will buy beyond Federal law. If we want Internet some of their gifts on-line for the first time commerce to continue to grow, we all must this holiday season. I intend to join them, work together to make sure that shopping because on-line shopping has significant ben- on-line is just as safe as shopping in a mall. efits—not just for consumers and large estab- I’d like to close today by asking all of you lished retailers. On-line commerce also to think not only about using the Internet opens a world of opportunity for local arti- to buy gifts for friends and family but also sans and small entrepreneurs. to give more lasting gifts to our community As with shopping in stores, when con- and our future. As I discovered during the sumers shop on the Internet, they must take philanthropy conference we held at the basic precautions to ensure that what they White House last month, charitable websites, see is what they get. To help familiarize on- like Helping.org, have made signing up to line consumers with these precautions, the contribute time or money in your community Federal Trade Commission has prepared a as easy as checking on the weather. So this 2453 2454 Nov. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 holiday season, let’s use every avenue pos- know that many Members of the Senate and sible, including the Internet, to give some- the House who are here brought their staff thing back to our communities. members who worked on the budget—I want Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving week- to thank them for their work, as well. end, and thanks for listening. Last January, in my State of the Union Ad- dress, I asked our Congress to use this truly NOTE: The address was recorded at 6:17 p.m. on historic time of peace and prosperity to meet November 26 at Camp David, MD, for broadcast our generation’s responsibilities to the new at 10:06 a.m. on November 27. The transcript was century—to extend our economic prosperity, made available by the Office of the Press Sec- retary on November 26 but was embargoed for improve our education system, make our release until the broadcast. streets safer, protect our environment, move more Americans from welfare to work, pre- pare for the aging of our Nation, and Statement on Ulster Unionist Council strengthen our leadership in the world. The Action in the Northern Ireland Peace first budget of the 21st century was a long Process time in coming, but it goes a very long way November 27, 1999 toward fulfilling those historic responsibil- ities. I welcome this historic step toward lasting Though it leaves some challenges unmet, peace in Northern Ireland and congratulate it represents real progress. It is a budget for David Trimble on his leadership in bringing a Government that lives within its means and about a successful vote in the Ulster Unionist lives up to the values of the American people. Council. The Ulster Unionist decision today, We value prosperity, and this budget will which follows critical decisions by all the pro- help to extend it. It maintains the fiscal dis- Agreement parties over the past several cipline that has turned deficits into surpluses weeks, is an important move forward to full and gives us what will be in February the implementation of the Good Friday accord longest economic expansion in the history of in all its aspects. Beginning next week, gov- the United States. ernment in Northern Ireland is being put It avoids risky tax cuts that would have back directly in the hands of all the people. spent hundreds of billions of dollars from the I welcome this progress and urge all parties Social Security surplus and drained our abil- to continue working together on building the ity to advance education and other important foundations for lasting peace. I pledge the public purposes. support of the United States to all those who The budget keeps us on track toward pay- are helping to make possible a brighter fu- ing down the debt so that in 15 years, our ture for Northern Ireland. Nation will be debt-free for the first time since 1835. This will mean lower interest rates and greater growth for a whole genera- Remarks on Signing Consolidated tion of Americans. Appropriations Legislation for Fiscal We value education, and this budget truly Year 2000 puts education first, continuing our commit- November 29, 1999 ment to hire 100,000 highly-qualified teach- ers to lower class size in the early grades— Thank you. Good afternoon. Please be which common sense and research both tells seated. I want to welcome the Members of us leads to improved learning. Congress who are here, members of the Cab- The budget also helps to fulfill another inet, the police officers and teachers who are promise I made last winter, to encourage shielding me from the cold wind—[laugh- more accountability for results in our Na- ter]—and who represent the big winners in tion’s schools. Under this budget, for the first this year’s budget. I would like to say a spe- time we will help States and school districts cial word of thanks to Jack Lew, Sylvia Mat- turn around or shut down their worst-per- hews, Larry Stein, and Martha Foley for the forming schools—schools that year after year work that they did on this budget. And I fail to give our most disadvantaged students Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 29 2455 the learning they need to escape poverty and strongly supported my efforts for the 100,000 reach their full potential. And the budget teachers, the 50,000 police, the investments provides further help for students to reach in the environment, and paying the U.N. higher standards by doubling funds for after- dues. school and summer school programs, which As we celebrate what we have accom- will enable us to reach hundreds of thou- plished, I ask us all to be humble and mindful sands of more students, and by increasing of what we still have to accomplish. To give support for mentoring programs, including all Americans in all health plans the protec- the GEAR UP program to help students go tions they need, we still need a strong, en- on to college. forceable Patients’ Bill of Rights. To curb We value the safety of our families, and gun violence and keep firearms out of the this budget will make America a safer place. hands of criminals and children, we still need It invests in our COPS program, which al- sensible gun safety legislation—to close the ready has funded 100,000 community police gun show loophole in the Brady law; to ban officers and helped to give us the lowest the importation of large ammunition clips; crime rate in 25 years. This agreement will to include the requirement for child trigger help to hire up to 50,000 more community locks in a juvenile Brady bill. To build one police officers, targeted in neighborhoods America with freedom and justice for all, we where the crime rates still are too high. should pass the ‘‘Hate Crimes Prevention We value the environment, and this budg- Act.’’ To meet the challenge of the aging of et protects the environment and preserves America, we must extend the life of the So- our precious natural heritage. It includes our cial Security Trust Fund well beyond the historic lands legacy initiative to set aside years of the baby boomers’ retirement, lift more of our magnificent natural areas and the earnings limitations, and alleviate poverty vital green spaces, and does not include de- among older women on Social Security. To structive, anti-environmental riders. ensure the health of our seniors in the years We value quality health care, and this to come, we must secure and modernize budget includes historic investments in bio- Medicare, including a voluntary prescription medical research, mental health, pediatric training, and other areas. And it ensures that drug benefit. To make sure hard-working hospitals and other medical providers will Americans have a place at the table of our have the resources they need to provide the prosperity, we must pass a new markets ini- 39 million elderly and disabled Medicare tiative to give Americans the same incentives beneficiaries with the quality health care they to invest in poor areas they have to invest need and deserve. in poor areas around the world. We must Finally, we value America’s role of leader- raise the minimum wage and increase our ship in the world, and this budget strength- support for quality child care. ens that role, with greater investments in our In the weeks and months ahead, we can Nation’s strong defense and our Nation’s di- achieve these vital goals if we keep in mind plomacy, by paying our dues and arrears to that the disagreements we have are far less the United Nations, meeting our commit- important than our shared values and our ments to the Middle East peace process, pro- shared responsibility to the future. With this viding debt relief for the poorest countries budget, we have helped to begin that future. of the world, and funding efforts to safeguard Again, let me thank the leaders and the nuclear weapons and expertise in Russia. Members in Congress in both parties that Let me thank the leaders of both parties contributed to a budget that passed with for their roles in this agreement. We had a large majorities in both Houses and both par- lot of late night, long phone calls which led ties. I am proud to sign a bill that I believe to it. I thank the leaders of the relevant com- will give us a stronger, better America in the mittees and subcommittees for their special 21st century. efforts in this regard. And, of course, I want I’d like to now invite the Members of Con- to say a special word of thanks to the leaders gress to come up and stand with me, and and members of my party in both houses who then I’d like to ask the police officers and 2456 Nov. 29 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 the teachers to come in behind the Members basic care that could increase the quality and of Congress, and we’ll sign the budget. length of their lives. Thank you very much. Nowhere is the impact of this disease more devastating than in Africa, where 13 million NOTE: The President spoke at 12:25 p.m. in the men, women, and children have already died Rose Garden at the White House. H.R. 3194, ap- of AIDS, and 11,000 more are becoming in- proved November 29, was assigned Public Law No. 106–113. fected each day. In response to this health catastrophe, this year my Administration sought and attained the largest-ever U.S. Proclamation 7256—World AIDS budget commitment to the global fight Day, 1999 against AIDS. This increase of $100 million November 29, 1999 will more than double our support for AIDS awareness and prevention, home and com- By the President of the United States munity-based care, care of children or- of America phaned by AIDS, and development of the infrastructure necessary to support these ef- A Proclamation forts. I invite other G–8 nations to join us, As this year draws to a close, the world and I urge other foreign governments, cor- looks with hope to a new century and a new porate leaders, nongovernmental organiza- millennium. But in that new century, we will tions, faith communities, foundations, AIDS still face a familiar and deadly enemy: HIV organizations, and citizens around the globe and AIDS. Already, more than 33 million to make their own contributions to the cru- people around the world have been infected sade against HIV/AIDS. with HIV; by the year 2005, that figure will To fight HIV/AIDS on the home front, this likely soar to more than 100 million. year’s budget includes a $73 million increase The theme of World AIDS Day this year in funding for HIV prevention activities; an is ‘‘AIDS—End the Silence. Listen, Learn, increase of $183 million in the Ryan White Live!’’ This simple message challenges us all CARE Act, which helps provide primary care to become better informed about this global and support for those living with HIV/AIDS; pandemic and to serve as strong and vocal an additional $80 million in funding to the advocates for HIV/AIDS education, preven- Minority AIDS Initiative, which uses existing tion, and care. When we fail to tell our chil- programs to reach African Americans, dren the truth about how HIV is transmitted, Latinos, and other racial and ethnic minori- we put them at risk for infection. When we ties disproportionately affected by HIV/ are silent about the need for compassionate AIDS; and an estimated $300 million in addi- care for the ill and dying, we allow too many tional funds for AIDS-related research at the of those infected with AIDS to spend their National Institutes of Health. I have given final days unloved and alone. high priority to the development of a vaccine Throughout my Presidency, I have strived for AIDS, and our scientists and researchers to break the silence surrounding HIV/AIDS, remain committed to developing a vaccine and my Administration has worked hard to that works for all who need it. eradicate this devastating global threat. We Until they achieve that goal, we must work can take heart that many people with HIV/ together to break the silence and increase AIDS today are living longer and more ful- dialogue; to fight the stigmatization and pro- filling lives and that new drugs are showing tect the rights of those living with HIV and promising results in halting the progression AIDS; and to help those infected find the of the disease. However, AIDS has exposed care and treatment they need. As we usher the tremendous gulf that exits between those in a new century, we must pledge to stay who share in the prosperity of our global the course in our crusade until the world is economy and those who do not. Of the mil- finally freed from the shadow of this dev- lions of people around the world coping with astating epidemic. HIV and AIDS, most are living in poverty, Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, without access to new treatments or even the President of the United States of America, Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 29 2457 by virtue of the authority vested in me by lations developed before the advent of the the Constitution and laws of the United Internet that may have the unintended effect States, do hereby proclaim December 1, of impeding business-to-business and busi- 1999, as World AIDS Day. I invite the Gov- ness-to-consumer online transactions. Im- ernors of the States and the Commonwealth pediments may include regulatory or licens- of Puerto Rico, officials of the other terri- ing requirements and technical standards tories subject to the jurisdiction of the and other policies that may hinder electronic United States, and the American people to commerce in particular goods or services. join me in reaffirming our commitment to While some of these legal restrictions are the defeating HIV and AIDS. I encourage every subject of pending legislation, other potential American to participate in appropriate com- barriers are outside the scope of those legisla- memorative programs and ceremonies in tive proposals. workplaces, houses of worship, and other Under the Government Paperwork Elimi- community centers, to reach out to protect nation Act, Federal agencies are addressing and educate our children, and to help and issues regarding electronic transactions with- comfort all people who are living with HIV in the Federal Government and between the and AIDS. Federal Government and other parties. We In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set should provide for similar consideration of my hand this twenty-ninth day of November, laws and regulations governing electronic in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred commerce in the private sectors. and ninety-nine, and of the Independence In adapting laws and regulations to the of the United States of America the two hun- electronic environment, it is critical that con- dred and twenty-fourth. sumers and the public at large be assured William J. Clinton of a level of protection in electronic com- merce equivalent to that which they now [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, enjoy in more traditional forms of commerce. 8:45 a.m., December 1, 1999] Any disparity in protection may undermine consumer confidence in electronic com- NOTE: This proclamation was published in the merce and impede the growth of this impor- Federal Register on December 2. tant new trade medium. At the same time, we must recognize that different media may Memorandum on Facilitating the require different approaches and that public Growth of Electronic Commerce interest protections designed for the physical world may not fit in the electronic commerce November 29, 1999 arena. We should attempt to develop an Memorandum for the Heads of Executive equivalent level of protection, recognizing Departments and Agencies that different means may be necessary to ac- complish that goal. Subject: Facilitating the Growth of The United States Government Working Electronic Commerce Group on Electronic Commerce (the Work- The rapid growth of the Internet and its ing Group) shall establish a subgroup, led by increasing use throughout the world for elec- the Department of Commerce, to: (1) iden- tronic commerce holds great promise for tify Federal, State, and local laws and regula- American consumers and for the Nation. tions that impose barriers to the growth of Consumers will have significantly greater electronic commerce, and (2) recommend choice and convenience and will benefit from how these laws and regulations should be re- enhanced competition for their businesses. vised to facilitate the development of elec- It is essential for consumers and the health tronic commerce, while ensuring that protec- of the economy that government facilitate tion of the public interest (including con- not only retail activity, which has increased sumer protection) is equivalent to that pro- substantially, but also the movement to the vided with respect to offline commerce. This online environment of other categories of subgroup shall carry out the responsibilities transactions. We must update laws and regu- identified below on behalf of the Working 2458 Nov. 29 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

Group, with the exception of reporting to the (2) recommended steps for addressing President. the barriers that will facilitate the Within 60 days of the date of this memo- growth of electronic commerce and randum, the Working Group shall invite the will ensure continued protection for public to identify laws or regulations that may consumers and the public at large. obstruct or hinder electronic commerce, in- William J. Clinton cluding those laws and regulations that should be modified on a priority basis be- cause they are currently inhibiting electronic Statement on Signing Consolidated commerce that is otherwise ready to take Appropriations Legislation for Fiscal place. The Working Group also shall invite Year 2000 the public to recommend how governments November 29, 1999 should adapt public interest regulations to the electronic environment. These rec- I have signed into law H.R. 3194, the Con- ommendations should discuss ways to ensure solidated Appropriations Act for FY 2000. I that public interest protections for online am pleased that my Administration and the transactions will be equivalent to that now Congress were able to reach agreement on provided for offline transactions; maintain the first budget of the 21st Century—pro- technology neutrality; minimize legal and ducing a hard-won victory for the American regulatory barriers to electronic commerce; people. and take into account cross-border trans- This legislation makes progress on several actions that are now likely to occur electroni- important fronts. It puts education first, hon- cally. oring our commitment to hire 100,000 quali- fied teachers to lower class size in the early The Working Group shall request each grades and doubling the funds for after Federal agency, including independent regu- school and summer school programs. latory agencies, to identify any provision of It makes America a safer place. The bill law administered by such agency, or any reg- provides an acceptable funding level for my ulation issued by such agency, that may im- 21st Century Policing Initiative, which builds pose a barrier to electronic transactions or on the success of the Community Oriented otherwise impede the conduct of commerce Policing Services (COPS) program. To date, online or by electronic means, and to rec- the COPS program has funded more than ommend how such laws or regulations may 100,000 additional police officers for our be revised to allow electronic commerce to streets. This bill funds the first increment of proceed while maintaining protection of the the 21st Century Policing initiative, which public interest. will place an additional 30,000 to 50,000 po- The Working Group shall invite represent- lice officers on the street over the next 5 atives of State and local governments to iden- years, while expanding the concept of com- tify laws and regulations at the State and local munity policing to include community pros- level that may impose a barrier to electronic ecution and law enforcement technology as- transactions or otherwise to the conduct of sistance. I appreciate the Congress’ efforts commerce online or by electronic means, to to forge a bipartisan commitment to the pro- discuss how State and local governments are gram, which will build upon our successful revising such laws or regulations to facilitate efforts to reduce crime in our communities. electronic commerce while protecting the The bill strengthens our effort to preserve public interest, and to discuss the potential natural areas and protect our environment for consistent approaches to these issues. by its support of my Lands Legacy Initiative. The Working Group shall report to the I am very pleased that the bill does not in- President in a timely manner identifying: clude most of the environmental riders that (1) laws and regulations that impose bar- would have put special interests above the riers to electronic commerce or that national interest. need to be amended to facilitate elec- This budget agreement also strengthens tronic commerce, and America’s leadership role in the world by Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2459 paying our dues and arrears to the U.N.; by I am pleased that the bill funds most of meeting our commitments to the Middle my major proposals for job training, worker East peace process; by making critical invest- protection programs, and grants for working ments in debt relief for the poorest countries, with developing countries to establish core by enhancing the security of our overseas labor standards. For example, $1.6 billion is personnel; by providing for new, critical included for dislocated worker assistance, en- peacekeeping missions; and by funding ef- abling the program to provide training and forts to safeguard nuclear weapons in Russia. re-employment services to 858,500 dis- located workers. Since 1993, my Administra- Labor/Health and Human Services/ tion has succeeded in tripling funding for, Education Bill and participation in, programs that help dis- Specifically, I am pleased that the legisla- located workers return to work. tion provides $1.3 billion for the second in- As authorized in the bipartisan Workforce stallment of my plan to help reduce class size Investment Act of 1998, the Congress has in the early grades. The Republican proposal provided $140 million to expand services to did not guarantee funding for the teachers job seekers at One-Stop centers. hired last year and would have instead al- I am pleased that the bill provides the lowed Class Size dollars to be used for vir- funds I requested for major youth job train- tually any activity, including vouchers. The ing programs. Specifically, the bill includes final budget agreement supports the over the $250 million I requested for Youth Op- 29,000 teachers hired last year plus an addi- portunity Grants to finance the second year tional 2,500 teachers. of the 5-year competitive grants that provide The bill appropriately includes several education, training, and support services to other high priority education initiatives. One 58,000 youth in Empowerment Zones and million students will continue to be served Enterprise Communities. In addition, the bill by the Reading Excellence Initiative and provides the $1 billion for Youth Activities 375,000 more students than last year will Formula Grants to provide training and sum- have access to 21st Century Community mer employment opportunities to an esti- Learning Centers. By providing $145 million mated 577,700 youth. Also it includes $55 for Public Charter Schools, approximately million for the final year of Federal funding 650 more schools than last year will receive for the School-to-Work initiative. The bill startup funding. provides $1.4 billion for the Job Corps pro- I commend the Congress for providing in- gram, including financing for enhanced fol- creases to several programs in my Hispanic low-up services for graduates, completion of Education Agenda that address the dis- a four-center expansion initiated in FY 1998, proportionately low educational achievement and construction of Head Start child care fa- and high dropout rates of Latino and limited cilities on five Job Corps campuses. English proficient students. The Hispanic The bill provides $83 million, or 8 percent Education Agenda includes programs such as above the FY 1999 enacted level, for labor Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies law enforcement agencies, funding key initia- (LEAs), Adult Education, Bilingual Edu- tives to ensure workplace safety, address do- cation, the High School Equivalency and mestic child labor abuses, encourage equal College Assistance Migrant Programs (HEP/ pay, assist in complying with pension law, and CAMP), Hispanic-serving Institutions, and promote family leave. support services to promote the graduation I am especially pleased that this legislation of low-income college students (TRIO). includes critically needed changes to the I am disappointed, however, that this legis- Welfare-to-Work program’s eligibility re- lation does not provide any of the funding quirements. We have worked closely with the that I specifically requested for Troops to Congress to ensure these changes were en- Teachers. This lack of funding jeopardizes acted this year. By simplifying eligibility, this this program, which would have provided legislation will allow the Welfare-to-Work 3,000 new teachers in high-need subject program, within existing resources, to serve areas and school districts. more effectively long-term welfare recipients 2460 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 and noncustodial parents of low-income chil- icaid-eligible nor insured. In addition, the dren. The bill also establishes an alternative $25 million for the Health Care for the Unin- penalty that is tough, but fair, for States that sured Initiative will support the development have not implemented certain child support of integrated systems of care and address enforcement requirements. service gaps within these systems. This legislation fully funds my request for It provides $25 million, a full down pay- Head Start, adding up to 44,000 new slots ment on our proposed $1 billion investment for low-income children and continuing on to develop integrated systems of care for the the path to serve one million children by FY uninsured. It also dedicates an additional $15 2002. million to identify the best ways to deliver Unfortunately, the bill reduces the Social health care coverage to this population. I am Services Block Grant by $134 million below pleased that the bill includes a $73 million the FY 1999 level, undermining programs increase in funding for HIV prevention ac- serving our most vulnerable families. tivities to help stop the spread of this disease; The bill includes historic investments in an increase of $183 million in the Ryan biomedical research, mental health, pediatric White CARE Act, which helps provide pri- training, and a number of other critically im- mary care and support for those living with portant public health initiatives. It also makes HIV/AIDS; and an estimated $300 million an essential downpayment on my Safety Net in additional funds for AIDS-related research proposal, which is designed to provide finan- at the NIH. The bill also includes $80 million cial and technical support to those providing in funding to the Minority AIDS Initiative, a disproportionate amount of care to the un- which utilizes existing programs to reach Af- insured. Lastly, it provides payment restora- rican-Americans, Latinos, and other racial tions to hospitals, nursing homes, and other and ethnic minorities that are disproportion- providers serving the 39 million elderly and ately impacted by HIV/AIDS, as well as an disabled beneficiaries. additional $100 million to fight AIDS inter- It also provides a $34.5 billion investment nationally. Finally, the Administration helped in health programs, 11.7 percent above the protect local authority over HIV prevention FY 1999 enacted level, including an historic increase of $2.3 billion for the National Insti- activities, successfully removing language tutes of Health. These new initiatives will from the District of Columbia appropriations strengthen the public health infrastructure, bill that would have tied the hands of com- provide critical prevention and treatment munity health agencies in their ability to use services to individuals with mental illness, needle exchange programs as part of their and invest in pediatric training programs. overall HIV prevention strategy. Specifically, the bill provides $40 million to The bill includes $264 million to expand support graduate medical education at free- HHS’ bioterrorism initiative. It provides $52 standing children’s hospitals, which play an million for the Centers for Disease Control essential role in the education of the Nation’s and Prevention’s (CDC) national pharma- pediatricians; $67 million above the FY 1999 ceutical stock pile and $123 million for CDC funding level for the Mental Health Block to expand national, State, and local epidemio- Grant, a 23 percent increase over FY 1999 logic, laboratory, and surveillance planning and the largest increase ever; $30 million for capacity, as well as to conduct a vaccine health education, prevention, and treatment study. The bill also fully funds my request services to address health disparities among to expand the number of Metropolitan Med- minority populations; and an additional $62 ical Response Systems that can respond to million over FY 1999 funding levels to pro- the health and medical consequences of a vide critical immunizations to children na- chemical, biological, or nuclear incident, and tionwide. The $239 million for the Title X to enhance smallpox and anthrax vaccine re- Family Planning program will enable family search and development. I am particularly planning clinics to extend comprehensive re- pleased that the bill funds the creation of productive health care services to an addi- a new national electronic disease surveillance tional 500,000 clients who are neither Med- system, which will also help detect outbreaks Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2461 and strengthen the public health delivery sys- in its continued progress in reducing the tem. backlog of employment discrimination cases. I commend the Congress for providing The bill funds my requested $13 million funding for my Nursing Home Initiative, in- increase for the Department of Justice’s Civil cluding resources for more rigorous inspec- Rights Division. These funds will support law tions of nursing facilities and improved Fed- enforcement actions related to hate crimes, eral oversight of nursing home quality, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and fair for funding the 31-percent increase in housing and lending. Home-Delivered Meals that I requested. The legislation contains adequate funding Finally, the bill also includes the Balanced for the decennial census, and includes a com- Budget Refinement Act of 1999, which in- promise on language requiring the Census vests $16 billion over 5 years to address the Bureau to allocate funds among eight func- flawed policy and excessive payment reduc- tions or frameworks. With the decennial cen- tions resulting from the Balanced Budget Act sus approaching, I am confident that this lan- of 1997. It lifts caps on therapy services, in- guage will not inhibit the Census Bureau’s creases payments for very sick nursing home ability to actually conduct the census. patients, restores teaching hospital funding, The United States has recently entered and eases the transition to the new prospec- into the U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon Agree- tive payment system for hospital outpatients. ment. The Agreement ends years of conten- It also includes provisions to limit cost-shar- tion between the U.S. and Canada regarding ing requirements for Medicare beneficiaries expired fishing harvest restrictions and pro- and extends coverage of important immuno- vides for improved fisheries management. I suppressive drugs. Unfortunately, it includes am pleased that legislative riders that would provisions that are not justifiable, such as a have hindered implementation of this impor- $4 billion payment increase to managed care tant Agreement have been modified or re- plans that are already overpaid according to moved from the bill. In addition, additional most experts. This is troubling because any funds have been provided for implementa- excess payments from the Medicare trust tion of the Agreement and for other salmon fund put the program at greater risk. recovery efforts. These funds will allow us to work cooperatively with our partners— Commerce/Justice/State Bill Canada, a number of western States, and Regrettably, the bill does not contain a Treaty Tribes—to implement the Agreement needed hate crimes provision that was in- and to restore Pacific coastal salmon runs. cluded in the Senate version of the bill. I The bill does not provide additional re- urge the Congress to pass legislation in a quested funding to the Department of Jus- timely manner that would strengthen the tice for tobacco litigation, but does not pre- Federal Government’s ability to combat hate clude the expenditure of funds for this pur- crimes by relaxing jurisdictional obstacles pose. We will identify existing resources to and by giving Federal prosecutors the ability pursue this important case. Smoking-related to prosecute hate crimes that are based on health expenses cost taxpayers billions of dol- sexual orientation, gender, or disability, along lars each year through Medicare, veterans’ with those based on race, color, religion, and and military health, and other Federal health national origin. programs. The $20 million I requested is I am pleased that we were able to secure needed to represent the interests of the tax- additional funds for the Legal Services Cor- payers, who should not have to bear the re- poration. Adequate funding for legal services sponsibility for these staggering costs. is essential to ensuring that all citizens have Critical funds were added to help our Na- access to the Nation’s justice system. Simi- tion’s 24 million small businesses. The bill larly, through negotiations with the Congress, now includes $16.5 million for my New Mar- the funding level for the Equal Employment kets Initiative to invest in targeted rural and Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was in- urban areas. Also, funding levels were in- creased above the FY 1999 enacted level. creased for the Small Business Administra- The additional funds will assist the EEOC tion’s (SBA) operating expenses and disaster 2462 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 loan program. These funds will enable the possible the impact on international family SBA to provide critical services, including a planning efforts and to respect the rights of fast and effective response to Hurricane citizens to speak freely on issues of impor- Floyd. tance in their countries, such as the rights I regret that a provision is included that of women to make their own reproductive would amend the recently enacted Treasury decisions. As I have stated before, I do not and General Government Appropriations believe it is appropriate to limit foreign Act, 2000, that could limit the access of Fed- NGOs’ use of their own money, or their abil- eral government employees to contraceptive ity to participate in the democratic process coverage. in their own countries. Thus, I will oppose inclusion of this restriction in any future ap- Foreign Operations Bill and Other propriations bill. International Affairs Appropriations and Authorizations The bill takes a step in the right direction in terms of paying our dues and our debts I am pleased that we were able to reach to the United Nations and other international bipartisan agreement with the Congress on organizations. The bill includes most of the a level of funding for international affairs funds requested for U.N. arrears, as well as programs that supports our continued en- the United Nations Reform Act, which au- gagement on key global issues. Most notably, thorizes payment of these arrears contingent we were able to agree to meet our obligations upon certain U.N. reforms. My Administra- to the United Nations, which will allow us tion is committed to making sure that all of to keep our vote in the General Assembly. our debts are paid, and, while doing so, We also obtained additional funding for pressing for reforms that will make the U.N. international peacekeeping efforts seeking to more efficient and effective. redress the instability and suffering caused International peacekeeping activities in by conflicts in East Timor, Kosovo, and Afri- ca. this bill are funded at a level of $500 million, The bill includes my full request for the $300 million above the level in the bill that Wye River Agreement, which will support I vetoed. This additional funding is crucial our partners in the Middle East as they accel- and will support the United States’ response erate their historic attempt to secure a per- to emergent peacekeeping requirements in manent peace. We gained bilateral funding Kosovo, Asia, and Africa. In each of these for the new Cologne debt reduction initia- places, the United States has worked with tive, as well as agreement from the Congress allies and friends to end conflicts that have to allow the International Monetary Fund to claimed countless innocent lives and thrown use existing resources to finance its portion whole regions into turmoil. This funding will of the initiative, allowing us to begin to lessen help America do its part to make and keep the crushing debt burden that many of the the peace in troubled regions. world’s poorest nations face as they try to On a number of other critical foreign pol- implement difficult economic and demo- icy priorities, we were able to achieve bipar- cratic reforms. tisan agreements that will directly affect the Unfortunately, the bill also includes a pro- lives of Americans and others alike. We fully vision on international family planning that funded a new initiative that will significantly I have strongly opposed throughout my Ad- expand our efforts to stem the spread of HIV/ ministration. This is a one-time provision that AIDS in Africa and elsewhere in the devel- imposes additional restrictions on inter- oping world. We significantly increased fund- national family planning groups. However, I ing for programs aimed at reducing the insisted that the Congress allow for a Presi- threat of weapons of mass destruction in the dential waiver provision, which I have exer- former Soviet Union and elsewhere. We cised today. agreed to a significant package of assistance I have instructed USAID to implement the to Kosovo and Southeastern Europe that will new restrictions on family planning money help to solidify the fragile peace that we and in such a way as to minimize to the extent our NATO allies have secured. We initiated Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2463 new programs that will help to provide alter- Commander in Chief authority and the exer- natives to the child labor practices that are cise of my exclusive authority to receive am- still too prevalent in much of the world. I bassadors and to conduct diplomacy. Other am particularly pleased the bill provides my provisions raise concerns under the Appoint- full request for embassy security to protect ments and Recommendation Clauses. My the men and women who serve our country Administration’s objections to most of these abroad. and other provisions have been made clear There are still important commitments in previous statements of Administration pol- and goals that were not adequately addressed icy and other communications to the Con- in this bill. I am disappointed that we did gress. Wherever possible, I will construe not achieve all of the funding that we need these provisions to be consistent with my to fully implement the multilateral portion constitutional prerogatives and responsibil- of the Cologne debt initiative, and that we ities and where such a construction is not were not able to meet our commitments to possible, I will treat them as not interfering provide multilateral environmental assistance with those prerogatives and responsibilities. through the Global Environment Facility. However, in total, this bill demonstrates that District of Columbia Bill the bipartisan consensus that America must With respect to the District of Columbia remain engaged in global affairs, which has bill, I am pleased that the majority and mi- guided our interaction with the rest of the nority in the Congress were able to come world since the end of the Second World together to pass a version that I can sign. War, is still very much alive and well, and While I continue to object to remaining rid- I am hopeful that it will continue to guide ers that violate the principles of home rule, our foreign policy into the 21st Century. some of the highly objectionable provisions I continue to believe that various provi- that would have intruded upon local citizens’ sions prohibiting implementation of the right to make decisions about local matters Kyoto Protocol in this bill are unnecessary, have been modified from previous versions as my Administration has no intent of imple- of the bill. My Administration will continue menting the Protocol prior to ratification. to strenuously urge the Congress to keep Furthermore, I will consider activities that such riders out of the FY 2001 D.C. Appro- meet our responsibilities under the ratified priations Bill. U.N. Framework Convention on Climate I commend the Congress for providing the Change to be consistent with this provision. Federal funds I requested for the District Finally, to the extent these provisions could of Columbia. The bill includes essential fund- be read to prevent the United States from ing for District Courts and Corrections and negotiating with foreign governments about the D.C. Offender Supervision Agency and climate change, it would be inconsistent with provides requested funds for a new tuition my constitutional authority. Accordingly, I assistance program for District of Columbia will construe this provision as not detracting residents. The bill also includes funding to from my authority to engage in the many ac- promote the adoption of children in the Dis- tivities, both formal and informal, that con- trict’s foster care system, to support the Chil- stitute negotiations relating to climate dren’s National Medical Center, to assist the change. Metropolitan Police Department in elimi- This legislation includes a number of pro- nating open-air drug trafficking in the Dis- visions in the various Acts incorporated in trict, and for drug testing and treatment, it regarding the conduct of foreign affairs among other programs. that raise serious constitutional concerns. These provisions would direct or burden my Interior and Related Agencies Bill negotiations with foreign governments and With respect to the Department of the In- international organizations, as well as intrude terior and Related Agencies bill, I commend on my ability to maintain the confidentiality the Congress for agreeing on an acceptable of sensitive diplomatic negotiations. Simi- version—one that does not include most of larly, some provisions would constrain my the highly objectionable provisions that 2464 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 would harm the environment and benefit industry that are vital to the development of special interest groups by allowing the inap- a new generation of ultra-efficient cars, more propriate use of national forests and other efficient and affordable housing, and more public lands and resources. efficient, less-polluting industrial processes. In particular, we have reached a fair com- This progress will help us to address the promise on millsite claims under the 1872 threat of global warming economically and Mining Law. Hardrock mining operations practically. under existing approved plans of operations, I commend the Congress for the historic as well as applications for new mining plans $157.2 million increase for Indian health, filed by the date of the Interior Solicitor’s which is only slightly below the $172 million Opinion of November 7, 1997, would go for- increase the Administration sought for the ward without the Department of the Interior Indian Health Service. This funding increase applying the five-acre-per-mining-claim mill- represents a continuing demonstration of the site limitation. The Department of the Inte- Federal commitment to improve the health rior would impose this limitation on plans for status of Native Americans and Alaska na- new hardrock mining operations filed after tives. I also commend the Congress for the November 7, 1997; it would also impose the removal of an objectionable rider that would limitation on amended plans of operations have infringed on tribal sovereignty, and for filed after November 7, 1997, that add mill- providing specific funding to accommodate site acreage. new contracts with tribes. Our agreement also will allow final rules Although I am disappointed that the Con- to take effect in the near future that will pro- gress has failed to increase funding for the vide a fair return to the taxpayers for the de- National Endowment for the Arts for the velopment of Federal oil resources; and will eighth straight year, I am pleased with the ensure more effective environmental protec- generally positive debate and the first in- tion in hardrock mining on Federal lands. crease in 4 years in funding for the National This bill provides two-thirds of the funds Endowment for the Humanities. I requested for my Lands Legacy initiative The bill also contains language on the and represents a significant improvement American Heritage Rivers initiative. I believe over prior-year funding, allowing us to pro- that the congressional language is unneces- tect such irreplaceable national treasures as sary and unfortunate. I will direct the De- the Baca Ranch in New Mexico, the Ever- partments funded by this bill, within existing glades in Florida, wilderness lands in the laws and authorities, to continue to support California Desert, and Civil War battlefield and undertake community-oriented services sites that are threatened by urban sprawl. or environmental projects on rivers I have There is also adequate support given to the recognized as part of the initiative. Clean Water Action Plan. I am especially By increasing critical funding for land con- pleased with the additional funding for the servation efforts and removing harmful envi- Forest Service and for abandoned mine lands ronmental provisions, the legislation rep- reclamation, which would make significant resents a step forward in efforts to protect progress in addressing acid mine drainage the environment and manage Federal lands and watershed problems in the Appalachian and resources responsibly. region. I look forward to working with the Congress next year to provide full and per- Disaster Assistance manent funding for my Lands Legacy pro- I am pleased that the bill includes over posal, including full Federal and State fund- $500 million in additional funds for our Na- ing for the Land and Water Conservation tion’s farmers, ranchers, and rural commu- Fund. nities to help them recover from natural dis- My Administration has also been able to asters, particularly this year’s hurricanes. secure additional funding for energy con- These funds will help farmers clear their servation, the single largest component of my streams and fields for next year’s crop, just Climate Change Technology Initiative, which as the $2.5 billion in loans provided in the will help us to form the partnerships with bill will help them secure the financing they Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2465 need for planting. Vitally needed funds are based organization to better serve America’s included to help low-income rural families entrepreneurs and innovators. and farm laborers repair and replace housing Unfortunately, the Congress did not fund damaged by Hurricane Floyd, and low-inter- my additional request to protect the Nation’s est loans will be available to repair and re- critical computer and information based in- place farm structures and equipment lost in frastructures from a growing threat of cyber the storm. In addition, $186 million is in- attack from hostile nations, terrorists, or cluded for additional crop loss payments criminals. across the country, including areas in the In order that $68 million in interest ac- East that suffered through one of the worst crued by the Abandoned Mine Land Fund droughts in memory. The bill also provides (to be transferred to the United Mine Work- funding to implement the mandatory live- ers of America Combined Benefits Fund— stock price reporting authority included in designated by the Congress as an emergency the Agriculture Appropriations Act, which requirement) not be scored against the dis- will make the livestock market more trans- cretionary spending caps, I hereby designate parent and particularly help small producers that amount as an emergency requirement get a fair price for their livestock in the mar- pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Bal- ket. anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Con- trol Act of 1985, as amended. I will shortly Authorization Bills/Other Issues be designating other funds in this legislation The bill also includes a provision that as emergency requirements. would delay the Department of Health and Finally, there are several provisions in the Human Services’s Organ Procurement and bill that purport to require congressional ap- Transplantation Network Final Rule for a proval before Executive Branch execution of minimum of 42 days from the bill’s effective aspects of the bill. I will interpret such provi- date. This Final Rule is in response to my sions to require notification only, since any Administration’s belief that the current organ other interpretation would contradict the Su- allocation policies by the Organ Procurement preme Court ruling in INS vs. Chadha. and Transplantation Network are inequitable William J. Clinton because patients with similar severities of ill- ness are treated differently, depending on The White House where they may live or at which transplant November 29, 1999. center they may be listed. The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement NOTE: H.R. 3194, approved November 29, was Act—part of the Intellectual Property and assigned Public Law No. 106–113. This statement Communications Omnibus Reform Act of was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on November 30. 1999—will increase the ability of satellite companies to compete against cable compa- nies, and will result in more customer choice, Memorandum on an International lower prices, and increased access to local Family Planning Waiver news and information. This Act puts the TV remote control back into consumers’ hands November 29, 1999 and competition at their fingertips. In addi- Memorandum for the Secretary of State tion, the patent reform legislation that the Administration has fought for will help meet Subject: International Family Planning the needs of America’s inventors and entre- Waiver preneurs. It strengthens protection in a num- Pursuant to the authority vested in me by ber of ways: it extends the term of a patent section 599D(c) of the Foreign Operations, when there is an administrative delay in the Export Financing, and Related Programs Ap- patent process; it requires the timely domes- propriations Act, 2000, as enacted by section tic publication of patent applications that are 1000(a)(2) of Division B of H.R. 3194, the also filed abroad; and it reinvents the Patent Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal and Trademark Office as a performance- Year 2000, I hereby waive the restrictions 2466 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 contained in subsection 599D(b) to the full thority—to give these parents new tools to extent authorized by subsection 599D(c). succeed at home and on the job. This waiver shall take effect immediately and The surging technology and soaring pros- shall continue until the expiration of sub- perity we currently enjoy are the result of section 599D(b). a lot of hard work and very long hours by You are hereby authorized and directed to the American people. In fact, today many transmit this waiver to the Committee on Ap- working parents are forced to make the unac- propriations and the Committee on Foreign ceptable choice between being good workers Relations of the Senate and the Committee and good parents. Too often, in our round- on Appropriations and the Committee on the-world, round-the-clock economy, there International Relations of the House of Rep- just don’t seem to be enough hours in the resentatives. day for parents to do what they need to do. You are authorized and directed to publish That’s why we’ve worked hard to help par- this memorandum in the Federal Register. ents balance work and family. Last May I asked Secretary Herman to de- William J. Clinton velop new ways to address this problem. Today I’m announcing a proposed Labor De- NOTE: This memorandum was released by the Of- partment rule that lets States use their unem- fice of the Press Secretary on November 30. ployment insurance to offer paid leave to new parents. This initiative is totally voluntary for Remarks Prior to Departure for States. It helps them empower more working San Francisco, California, and an parents, like the ones standing with me today. With this act, the United States joins Exchange With Reporters the rest of the world’s advanced economies, November 30, 1999 all of whom already have some form of paid leave for parents. Parental Leave When little Collin was born, his mother, The President. Hello. Thank you. Good Katie, was working as a waitress; his dad was morning, ladies and gentleman. The people working as a head electrical technician for here with me at the podium are, obviously, a small company. Unfortunately, he was born Secretary Herman, but also Katie and Eric ill and had to be in intensive care for several Banks and their son, Collin, of Fairfax, Vir- weeks. Katie took unpaid leave and eventu- ginia; Jonathan and Teresa Graham, and ally quit her job to be with her son. Collin’s their two children, from Baltimore; Darsie dad, Eric, wanted to take leave but couldn’t Cahall and James Baker, and their three chil- afford to do so. Once Collin was well enough, dren, from Takoma Park, Maryland. Katie looked for and, fortunately, landed an- I’ll say a little more about them in a mo- other job. But both Katie and her husband ment. You can see this is a family event. would have and should have been able to [Laughter] We’ve orchestrated the children. take paid leave to care for their son. That’s Before I leave for the World Trade Orga- what this parental leave initiative is all about. nization meeting on the West Coast, I want I believe giving States the flexibility to ex- to talk a little about how we’re using the periment with paid employment leave is one strength of our economy to help strengthen of the best things we can do to strengthen working families. our families and help new mothers and fa- Yesterday I signed a budget that maintains thers meet their responsibilities both at home the fiscal responsibility that has given us what and at work. will be in February the longest economic ex- State flexibility and the voluntary nature pansion in our history and at the same time of this effort are key to its success. In our lives up to the values of the American people. strong economy, we hope States will take ad- We have no higher value than family, but vantage of this new option, and we believe too many of our families are having trouble those that do will balance this new benefit balancing the demands of home and work. with the imperative of maintaining a fiscally Today I’m using my Executive order—au- sound unemployment insurance program. Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2467

This effort builds on our commitment to The President. Well, I hope we’ll get a giving working families more tools to help new round launched that will slash tariffs and them adapt to the new economy, from ex- other trade barriers in agriculture and other panding the earned-income tax credit to our areas. I hope that we will agree to keep E- welfare-to-work efforts, from increasing commerce free of unusual burdens and that funding for child care to HOPE scholarships. we will lead to more transparent and open In the budget bill I signed yesterday, we rules among nations so that they believe the fought for and won a doubling of resources trading system is fair. for after-school programs to give young peo- I also strongly, strongly believe that we ple a safe place to study between the end should open the process up to all those peo- of their school day and the end of their par- ple who are now demonstrating on the out- ents’ work day. side. They ought to be a part of it. And I I’m especially proud that the first bill I think we should strengthen the role and the signed as President, in 1993, was the family interests of labor and the environment in our and medical leave law. Since then, millions trade negotiations. of Americans—we believe well over 20 mil- This is not going to be easy to do, partly lion—have used it to take up to 12 weeks because some nations, particularly a lot of of unpaid leave to care for a newborn or sick developing nations, see our concern for the relative without losing their jobs. The impor- environment and labor standards as a way tance of this benefit has been confirmed by to sort of keep them down. But that is not the testimony of experts and parents at the true. What we want to do is to make sure first-ever White House Conference on Early that when we open the trading system, that Childhood Development, in 1997, and from ordinary Americans benefit. groups like the American Academy of Pediat- In our country, about 30 percent of our rics. They all reinforce what we already know growth has come from expanded trade. We from common sense, giving parents and pri- have kept inflation down because we’ve kept mary care givers time to bond with children our markets open and other people have leads to healthy development including been able to sell good quality products at boosting critical language and literacy skills. lower prices in our markets. So we’ve had But the current law meets just a fraction this huge growth with low inflation. I just of the need. And the number one reason want to make sure that ordinary people ev- families give for not taking advantage of fam- erywhere are benefited by the trading system ily and medical leave is that they simply can’t and that the economy is not damaged by afford to take time off without a paycheck. trading rules that could put short-term eco- The actions we take today will go a long way nomic considerations over long-term envi- toward alleviating that burden if the States ronmental considerations. take up the challenge. I believe it will So I’m very sympathetic with a lot of the strengthen parents’ bonds with both their causes being raised by all the people that are children and their jobs. there demonstrating. And since this has now As I’ve said, on the eve of this new century, become a global society with global commu- we ought to set a goal that all parents can nications, as well as a global economy, I think take time they need for their families, with- it was unrealistic to assume that for the next out losing the income they need to support 50 years, trade could be like it’s been for them. The new State authority will move us the last 50, primarily the province of business in the right direction and gives another tool executives and political leaders. I think more in our national efforts to both strengthen our people are going to demand to be heard, and families and reward the dignity of work. I think that’s a good thing. Thank you very much. Deaths Due to Medical Mistakes Q. Mr. President, yesterday a report docu- Seattle Round mented the problem of medical mistakes, Q. Mr. President, what do you hope to and said that 44,000 Americans, at least, are achieve in Seattle at the WTO? killed every year because of these medical 2468 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 mistakes. What’s your reaction to that, and The President. From where? From Rus- is there anything that your administration is sia? Well, I think what we should do is inves- planning to do about it? tigate this like we do all others. But I don’t The President. Well, you may remember think we should stop our efforts to try to that we had a task force a couple of years drastically cut nuclear weapons or end cor- ago, headed by Secretary Herman and Sec- ruption in Russia or do all the other things retary Shalala, which issued, in fact, two re- we’re supporting. I think this shows the im- ports: One of them recommended the Pa- portance of our work that the Congress rati- tients’ Bill of Rights; the other set up a qual- fied to continue to reduce the nuclear weap- ity commission to deal with problems like ons in Russia and the nuclear threat associ- this. ated with the decommissioning of nuclear If you looked at it, to me, one of the most weapons. interesting things was that a lot of these hos- And I think that what we have to do is pitals, which are very overcrowded and have continue—we have to deal with espionage people coming in all the time and have doc- firmly, but we need to try to reduce the con- tors seeing all kinds of patients in rapid suc- sequences of error and mistakes and wrong- cessions, have people lose their lives because doing. of improper prescriptions of medicine, not Q. What do you hear about Yeltsin’s knowing about a patient’s allergy or not health? knowing about what other medication they’re The President. I think it’s a case of pneu- taking. That’s a—and I think that we have monia. That’s what they said. I checked on an opportunity here to work with the public- it yesterday, and they believe that he’ll be private partnership which the task force set all right. up to use modern technology, information technology, and to also do some basic old- fashioned changes in procedures that will Mass Graves in Mexico save a lot of these lives. Q. Mr. President, the Mexican Attorney I’m convinced we can do that. I talked yes- General is reportedly saying that 22 Ameri- terday, on the Patients’ Bill of Rights, to one cans are among those found in the mass of the leading managed care providers in the graves. Have you received any official word? country and suggested that they ought to be The President. No. I asked about it just helping, too, and they agreed with that. before I came out here, actually, and I We’ve all got to get together. No one has haven’t. It’s a horrible example, apparently, an interest in seeing these kinds of mistakes of the excesses of the drug dealing cartels made. And we know that otherwise com- in Mexico, and I think it reinforces the im- petent people are making a lot of these mis- perative of our not only trying to protect our takes. So we’ve got to work through how we border but to work with the Mexican authori- can use technology and how we can maybe ties to try to combat these. even slow some of the actions to make sure You know, we had a lot of success a few that mistakes like this aren’t made. years ago in taking down a number of the But I think we need—this is a very wel- Colombian drug cartels, and one of the ad- come report; we need to study it very care- verse consequences of that was a lot of the fully. And in order to get something done operations were moved north into Mexico. on it, it’s going to take a partnership of every- And there are organized criminal operations body involved in health care. there, and they are particularly vicious. You may remember that in that same area a cou- Russia ple of years ago, an honest and brave Mexi- Q. Mr. President, there’s been yet another can prosecutor was shot over a hundred case of espionage from Russia. Are you con- times in front of his wife and child. So it’s cerned that there’s some sort of epidemic of a very violent, dangerous thing, and we have spying going on? And what does this say to be on top of it. about U.S.-Russian relations? Thank you. Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2469

Panama Canal want to demonstrate to a distant part of the Q. Mr. President, why aren’t you going to world that they can be a responsible partner, Panama? I mean, it’s a major event in history. and I would be very surprised if any adverse The President. Well, first of all, I have consequences flowed from the Chinese run- taken, and may have to take—I’ve already ning the canal. taken, I think, a dozen foreign trips this year. President’s Possible Visit to Ireland It is a major event. I think my interest in Latin America is well-known, but I may have Q. When are you going to Ireland? to take yet another trip before the end of The President. I don’t know. You know, the year, and about that time, which is why I’d like to go once a month. I asked President Carter and Secretary NOTE: The President spoke at 9:20 a.m. in the Albright to head our delegation. Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks, I think that President Carter deserves he referred to President Boris Yeltsin of Russia. enormous credit for his leadership in getting the Panama Canal Treaty through. It was, at the time, as you remember, very con- Remarks at a Democratic troversial, immensely unpopular. A lot of Congressional Campaign Committee Members in the Senate were—had their Luncheon in San Francisco seats put in peril over it. And I think it—— November 30, 1999 Q. So you’re not against the turnover? The President. Oh, no. I supported it at Thank you very much. Thank you, Bill; the time, and I still support it. I think it’s thank you, Sally; thank you, Leader Gep- the right thing to do. I think that the new hardt; and thank you, Nancy Pelosi, for al- Government of Panama is committed to ways being so wonderful to take all of your maintaining the canal in an appropriate way various charges from the D-triple-C to the and keeping it open and working with us to DNC to your President into San Francisco do so, and having good relations. and find your friends and help us. So no one in Panama or anywhere in Latin It’s good to be back here. I was here, as America should draw any adverse conclusion. Bill said, a couple years ago. And we had We have a lot of things going on in the world a beautiful dinner here, and I love this place. now. I’ve been out of the country a lot. I But it’s even more beautiful in the daylight. need to get ready for the new Congress and And I want to thank all the Members for the new budget, and I may have to take an- coming. Chairman Torres, thank you for other foreign trip at about the same time, being here. And I want to thank the mayor which is why I have not committed to make for coming. the trip. But I think—— I am so indebted to California, and par- Q. What, which one? ticularly to San Francisco, for being so good The President. I can’t talk about it. to me and Hillary and the Vice President and [Laughter] But I think—I do think that Mrs. Gore. And I’ve also learned so much. Jimmy Carter deserves to lead our delegation Every time I come to northern California I down there. He did a historic and great thing learn something new, so I’m less techno- in advocating the Panama Canal Treaty. But logically challenged. [Laughter] the people of Panama should know that this And I’ve learned a lot from Willie Brown. President and our Government strongly sup- I’ve learned how to dress better. [Laughter] port both the treaty and the event, which will I never thought I would live long enough to occur in a few days. see him in a race where somebody was run- Q. You’re not worried about the Chinese ning to the left of him; this is a great, great controlling the canal? day. [Laughter] I don’t know how there is The President. I think the Chinese will, any oxygen left over there. [Laughter] I’m in fact, be bending over backwards to make still learning from you, and I thank you, Mr. sure that they run it in a competent and able Mayor. and fair manner. This is like them, is like Let me say also, this is the first opportunity China coming into the WTO. I think they’ll I’ve had in public to thank Dick Gephardt 2470 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 and all the others who are here in our caucus, But what I want you to understand is it and Senator Boxer, for their stalwart strength happened only because they were willing to in fighting for our budget priorities. I just stick with me. Otherwise, there would have signed yesterday the first budget of the 21st been no 100,000 teachers, no 50,000 police, century. And I think it’s worth mentioning no disability employment bill. It would not that because, and only because, they stayed have happened. We wouldn’t have gotten the with me, we got our continuing commitment lands legacy money. All the environmental to 100,000 teachers; we doubled, more than riders would have been attached to the legis- doubled, the funds allocated to after-school lation that we beat back. All of that would and summer school programs for children, have happened. They stayed. something that Senator Boxer has fought for Now I want to put that in the larger per- a long time; we’ve, for the first time ever, spective of where we’ve been, very briefly, got funds to States that will agree to target for the last 7 years and where we’re going, failing schools and give them money to either because, you know, people sometimes look shut them down or turn them around. at me and say, ‘‘What are you doing here? This was a remarkable thing. We got 50,000 more police for our neighborhoods You’re not running for anything.’’ And I am, with the highest crime rates. We passed the too—I’m running for what Mr. Gephardt remarkable bill called the Kennedy-Jeffords said; I want to be a good citizen. And I’m bill, which will enable disabled people to go here because I believe in Dick Gephardt’s into the workplace and keep their Medicaid leadership, Nancy Pelosi’s leadership, and health insurance so that they can work and the potential of our party. become taxpaying citizens. They would be to- One of you when you went through the tally uninsurable otherwise. We even got line said to me, ‘‘Do you have any regrets?’’ some money to pay for people who are not And I said, ‘‘Just a few;’’ and I’m here trying disabled yet but who are uninsurable—peo- to rectify one of them. I regret that we lost ple with HIV, people with Parkinson’s who the congressional majority in 1994. And it can’t be legally declared disabled—because happened because, frankly, because I pushed they stuck with me. And we got for the first the country and the Congress to deal with time a big chunk of money for the so-called some major challenges simultaneously: to lands legacy initiative that the Vice President deal with this awful budget deficit, without fought so hard for, to set-aside funds. And giving up on our commitment to invest more a lot of other things. in the health care, in the education, in the We also left a lot of things undone. We environment of our country; to take on the didn’t pass the Patients’ Bill of Rights yet; issue of guns, which no administration, no we didn’t pass the minimum wage increase Congress had taken on since Robert yet; we didn’t pass the hate crimes legislation Kennedy and Martin Luther King were as- yet or the ‘‘Employment and Non-Discrimi- sassinated; and to deal with the health care nation Act’’ yet; and we haven’t yet taken the crisis. strong action I would like to see to extend One of Dick’s colleagues said to me the Social Security beyond the life of the baby other day—he slapped me on the back and boom generation and to reform and mod- ernize Medicare and add a prescription drug said, ‘‘You know, they told me if I voted for benefit. your health care program, health care would We beat a huge and irresponsible tax cut, become more bureaucratic and fewer people which enables us to continue to pay down would be insured at work. And I voted for the deficit, and we are now on the track to it and, sure enough, that’s what happened’’— make America debt-free for the first time [laughter]—‘‘health care has become more since 1835, which means that all these entre- bureaucratic and fewer people are insured preneurs in northern California will be able at work, because it didn’t pass.’’ [Laughter] to get money at lower interest rates for an- So I say to you, look at the record that other generation and to get us a whole gen- these people have helped us to establish. In eration of prosperity. 1992—just remember what California was Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2471 like and the country was like: economic dis- real issue is—and Dick talked about this— tress, social division, political drift, Govern- you know I want them to be in the majority ment discredited. Don’t let anybody forget because of the issue of education, because that as we come into this session. Just ask there is still a lot more to be done. I want them to remember what it was like in ’91 them to be in the majority because I do be- and ’92: economic distress, social division, lieve they will help to conduct their business political drift, Government discredited. in a way that will promote the one America And you gave Al Gore and I a chance to that I believe is so important. work with them. And we said we want a I am very proud of the fact that the United country where there is opportunity for all, States has played a major role in trying to responsibility from all, and a community of reconcile warring and hating factions from all Americans, where everybody can be a Northern Ireland to the Middle East to the part. And we had all these ideas. But you Balkans to Africa. But I want us to do that just bought an argument. Well, 7 years later, at home, too, which is why I want this hate there is not an argument. There is evidence. crimes legislation to pass. You only have to And I think that it’s worth repeating, be- look at what happened at the Jewish school cause—I know I’m preaching to the choir in Los Angeles or to the Filipino postman here, but you need to go out and share this— who was murdered there or what happened in February we’ll have the longest, not peace- in the rampage in the Middle West, where time, the longest expansion of any kind in everybody from the former African-Amer- our history; we have 19.8 million new jobs, ican basketball coach at Northwestern to a the lowest unemployment rate in 30 years, Korean Christian walking out of his church— the lowest welfare rolls in 30 years, the lowest these people were killed—James Byrd poverty rates in 20 years, the highest home- dragged to death, Matthew Shepard ownership in history. stretched out on a rack. There is still a lot In addition to that, the society is healing. of that in us. We have the lowest crime rates in 25 years, And what I would like to just ask you to the lowest teen pregnancy rates in 30 years. think about and what I think about all the We have the lowest female unemployment time is, okay, we’ve had all these good things rates in 40 years and the lowest poverty rate happen to us, and our country now, thanks among single-parent households in 40 years. to a lot of you and technology—I should have And we’ve set aside more land than any ad- mentioned when I became—when we start- ministration except those of Franklin and ed NetDay here in 1994, 15 percent of our Theodore Roosevelt, including 40 million schools were connected to the Internet; 89 roadless acres in the national forests. The percent are now, thanks to a lot of you and land is safer; the water is cleaner; the air is the E-rate. I could just go on and on. You cleaner. We’ve cleaned up three times as need to remember these things and talk to many toxic waste dumps as the previous two people about them. administrations. We have 90 percent of our But the big question is, what are we going kids immunized for the first time in history; to do now? What will we do with a moment 20 million people have taken advantage of of prosperity that is, in my lifetime unprece- the family and medical leave law, which was dented. Never in my life have we had this vetoed by the previous administration. Four much economic strength, this much social hundred thousand people who shouldn’t get progress, this kind of opportunity free of ex- guns have not been able to buy handguns ternal threat or internal crisis to shape the because of the Brady bill, which was vetoed future for our children. What are we going by the previous administration. to do about it? So I say to you this is not an argument And there will be all kinds of siren songs anymore. There is evidence, and I want you in the election season to kind of distract peo- to remember those numbers. And when you ple from that or to get us to lower our sights talk to the skeptics and you talk to the doubt- or be more selfish or be more shortsighted. ers, you need to go out and tell people what And the truth is, I bet you every one of you the evidence is. And if you look ahead, the can cite some point in your personal life, your 2472 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 family life, or your business life when you opportunity that we have not had in my life- got in trouble because things were going well time to bring free enterprise and investment and you broke your concentration. You re- into the most distressed areas of the country. laxed; you got diverted; you got divided; you And I have been going around the country got indulgent. trying to highlight these things. Well, the country is no different. We have I consider this a big opportunity. And as to realize this is a truly precious moment. all of you who live on the Internet know, In my lifetime, it has never happened. And technology gives us a chance to bring eco- the reason I want Dick Gephardt to be the nomic opportunity to people and places that Speaker is I think that we ought to—yes, we were hitherto too isolated to take advantage made a lot of advances in education, but we of it. don’t have a world-class education for all our Now these are just some of the big chal- children, and we shouldn’t stop until we do. lenges that are out there. And I promise you, Yes, we continue to pay down the debt at I fought through this last budget. I’ve been record rates, and we’ve got the first back- through this thing now from can ’til can’t for to-back balanced budgets in 42 years. But 6 years. I’m here because I do not believe we haven’t extended Social Security beyond my country will realize its full potential un- the life of the baby boom generation; we less they are in the majority and unless he haven’t extended Medicare and added that is the Speaker. And I think if he is, they will. prescription drug benefit when 75 percent So I ask you, tell people what was in the of the seniors in this country can’t afford the budget and why. Tell people what’s hap- medicine they’re supposed to take. So we pened in the last 7 years and why. And most haven’t dealt with the challenge of the aging important, tell people what we can do in the of America as much as we should. future if we have the right people rep- We haven’t done everything we should do resenting you, and help them win. It is pro- to make this the safest big country in the foundly important. world. We ought to close the gun show loop- Thank you very much. hole in the Brady bill. We ought to pass the child trigger lock legislation. It’s not just NOTE: The President spoke at 1:45 p.m. at a pri- crimes that are the problem. We have the vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to din- ner hosts Bill and Sally Hembrecht; Art Torres, biggest accidental death rate by guns in the chair, State Democratic Party; and Mayor Willie world. And to give you an idea of how bad L. Brown, Jr., of San Francisco. it is, the American death rate, accidental death rate from guns, is 9 times the rate of the next 25 biggest industrial economies Statement on the Anniversary of the combined. So I think it’s worth a little extra Brady Handgun and Violence to have those child trigger locks. Prevention Act We’ve still got serious challenges in health November 30, 1999 care. We ought to pass the Patients’ Bill of Rights. We ought to let people over 55 who Today, on the sixth anniversary of the his- don’t have health insurance anymore buy toric Brady law, I am pleased to announce into Medicare. We ought to continue our new figures that demonstrate the profound work to help children, enroll children in our impact this legislation has had on public safe- health insurance program and cover other ty. Data released today by the Department people who don’t have it. of Justice show that the Brady law, since its We’ve got a chance to do something seri- passage in 1993, has helped block over ous about poverty for the first time in a gen- 470,000 sales by licensed gun dealers to fel- eration. One of the things that I’m most en- ons, fugitives, stalkers, and others prohibited couraged about on our side in the Presi- from purchasing firearms. In the last year dential debate is there is an almost complete alone, the National Instant Criminal Back- consensus that part of our bounty ought to ground Check System created under the be used to drastically cut child poverty in this Brady law has blocked sales to over 160,000 country. And that’s good. We also have an of these restricted buyers. These numbers, Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2473 of course, are not just numbers. They rep- extended-care services, including geriatric resent lives saved, injuries avoided, tragedies evaluations and adult day health care. averted. They are a measure of what we can The bill also expands opportunities for do to reduce gun violence—and a measure military retirees to utilize VA health care of what still needs to be done. services, at Department of Defense (DoD) In addition to our success with the Brady expense and in accordance with an agree- law, this administration has taken important ment to be developed by DoD and VA. The actions to crack down on the illegal market DoD and VA will ensure this agreement al- that supplies juveniles and criminals with lows for the provision of high-quality man- firearms. Today Treasury Secretary aged care and increased choice, in the most Lawrence Summers will launch the newest cost-effective manner for the Federal Gov- tool to fight illegal gun dealing—‘‘Online ernment. LEAD,’’ a new technology to help law en- This bill includes many other important forcement across the country use crime-gun health care provisions. For example, H.R. tracing data to catch more illegal gun traf- 2116: fickers more quickly. As a result of these ef- • Expands veterans’ eligibility for reim- forts and those of communities across the bursement of emergency care costs country, violent gun crime is down by over when VA or other Federal health care 35 percent since 1992, and the murder rate facilities are not accessible. is at its lowest level in over three decades. • Extends and expands VA’s authority to But while we are more effective than ever provide health care services to victims before at keeping guns out the wrong hands, of sexual trauma. our work is by no means finished. Over • Makes more active duty personnel eligi- 32,000 Americans still lose their lives in gun- ble for VA substance dependency treat- fire every year, including 12 children every ment. day. That is why I pledge to make passage • Authorizes VA to update the schedule of commonsense gun legislation my top pub- of copayments charged for certain lic safety priority next year. And I challenge health care benefits to generate addi- Congress to make a New Year’s resolution tional program funds. to do the same. I am also pleased that the bill will make it easier for surviving spouses of disabled Statement on Signing the Veterans former prisoners of war to qualify for survivor benefits; expand certain education benefit Millennium Health Care and entitlements; extend VA’s authority to guar- Benefits Act antee home loans for members of the Se- November 30, 1999 lected Reserve; and both extend and enhance programs for homeless veterans. Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. These are but the high points of a 2116, the ‘‘Veterans Millennium Health Care comprehensive bill that will enhance many and Benefits Act.’’ This comprehensive bill benefits and services our veterans and their will improve a broad array of benefits and families justly deserve. I thank all who were services for those to whom we owe our free- involved in its passage. doms—our Nation’s veterans. This bill is especially significant for its ap- William J. Clinton proach in the provision of enhanced ex- tended-care services to veterans. It firmly es- The White House, tablishes that the Department of Veterans November 30, 1999. Affairs (VA) should accord the highest pri- ority for nursing home care to the most se- verely disabled veterans and those needing care for service-connected disabilities. It will also ensure that veterans enrolled in the VA NOTE: H.R. 2116, approved November 30, was health care system receive noninstitutional, assigned Public Law No. 106–117. 2474 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

Statement on Signing the Veterans’ earliest recorded battles for religious free- Compensation Cost-of-Living dom. More than two thousand years have Adjustment Act of 1999 passed since Judah the Maccabee and his November 30, 1999 courageous followers refused to reject their faith in God, their customs, and their reli- Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. gious traditions; but today people across the 2280, the ‘‘Veterans Compensation Cost-of- globe still struggle for the freedom to wor- Living Adjustment Act of 1999,’’ which pro- ship according to their own conscience. vides a 2.4 percent cost-of-living adjustment As Jews throughout America and around in benefits for service-disabled veterans and the world gather with family and friends to their surviving spouses and children. It pro- light the menorah and remember the miracle vides for increased rates in payments of of God’s presence in our lives and history, service-connected disability compensation to let us all give thanks for the blessed light veterans who suffer from service-related dis- of religious freedom in our nation. And let abilities and in payments of dependency and us be mindful, in our thoughts, prayers, and indemnity compensation for the surviving actions, of those who still must live in the spouses and children of service members and shadow of oppression. veterans whose deaths are service-related. Hillary joins me in extending best wishes The increased benefit rates will take effect to all for a memorable Hanukkah observance on December 1, 1999. This legislation, de- and for peace and joy in the coming year. rived from an Administration proposal, en- Bill Clinton sures that the value of these well-deserved benefits will keep pace with increases in con- sumer prices. Remarks at a ‘‘Stop the Violence’’ As a country, we must remember those Benefit in Beverly Hills, California veterans who gave of themselves to assure November 30, 1999 the continued protection of this great Nation. The freedoms and liberty that we enjoy as Thank you very much. We can pass laws, citizens depend on the men and women in but we can’t fix this podium here. [Laughter] our Armed Forces. In a tangible way, this Maybe I’ll stand up on it, how’s that? [Laugh- legislation expresses the gratitude of the Na- ter] tion for the sacrifices our veterans have un- I love Whoopi Goldberg. The greatest selfishly endured. thing about being President is that nearly anybody will come talk to you. [Laughter] William J. Clinton Some will talk for you; some will talk against The White House, you; some will talk at you, but nearly anybody November 30, 1999. will come talk to you. And so I’ve had the honor of meeting all kinds of people from NOTE: H.R. 2280, approved November 30, was assigned Public Law No. 106–118. all walks of life. But when I met Whoopi Goldberg—and I was already sort of a big fan, you know— Message on the Observance of but I looked at her, and I thought, now, there Hanukkah, 1999 is a woman who will be my friend. [Laughter] November 30, 1999 You know, there have been times when I’m sure my friendship has been somewhat em- Warm greetings to everyone celebrating barrassing to her. [Laughter] And times Hanukkah. when her jokes have caused me some dis- This joyous Festival of Lights commemo- comfort in public. [Laughter] But I’m not rates the rededication of the Jews’ Holy Tem- a hypocrite about that. I’m with her through ple by the Maccabees after their victory over thick and thin. [Laughter] And she has cer- oppression and the rekindling of the Tem- tainly been with me though thick and thin. ple’s sacred oil lamp. That victory, recounted Of all the people that I know, I continue in ancient Jewish writings, is one of history’s to be amazed by how generous truly busy Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2475 and successful people are. But Whoopi, you man with a gun. It’s when the odds are have been so generous to me and to my fam- against you, but you begin anyway, and you ily and our administration, and in so doing, see it through no matter what.’’ Steve you’ve been generous to America. And I Sposato, you have done that. Sarah, you and thank you for that. Jim have done that. And we thank you. I thank Beau Bridges for being here and I am honored to be here tonight. I have for his leadership and for telling his story; come to California many times pursuing the for portraying everyone from Jim Brady to work of this administration. Often I have P.T. Barnum. [Laughter] Sarah, when you come to this town that has been so wonderful get home, you tell Jim I said that I thought to Hillary and me and asked for funds to con- he was just playing the same role twice. tinue our campaigns or our work. Tonight [Laughter] the main reason I’m here is to say a simple I thank Steve Sposato for being here and thank you. Thank you for what you’re doing being so faithful to this call. I have on the to support the Center to Prevent Handgun wall of my private office, which is just off Violence; for supporting its groundbreaking the Oval Office, a picture of Steve and Megan Sposato, which he gave me shortly research, its public education, its coalition after I signed the assault weapons ban. I see building, its leading light to protect families it every day still, and every day it is an inspira- from gun violence. tion to me to continue to work on the issues Thank you for all you’ve done year after we come here tonight to support. year to support our administration’s initia- And I thank Sarah Brady for being my tives to build safer streets and stronger com- friend and my guiding light. I thank Rep- munities. Thank you for championing the resentatives Sherman and Berman and Brady bill; as Sarah said, I signed it into law Becerra, who are here; and Senator Dianne 6 years ago today. Thank you for supporting Feinstein, who isn’t, and Senator Barbara the assault weapons ban. Thank you for sup- Boxer, who flew out to California with me porting the 100,000 community police offi- today—they have both been terrific on all cers on our streets and programs to help keep these issues. our children out of trouble. It is working. I talked to Governor Davis a couple of Today—[applause]—yes, you can clap for hours before I got here, and he said to tell that. you all hello, and he is justifiably proud of Today in America the crime rate is at a the record he established in this recent ses- 25-year low; the murder rate at a 31-year low; sion of the legislature. violent crime down 35 percent since 1992, And let me, lastly, by way of introduction, with the longest continuous decline in the congratulate this year’s ‘‘Pete’’ Shields crime rate in our Nation’s history. On this Award-winner, Gregory Peck, for sharing his 6th anniversary of the Brady bill, I want you many gifts with the world. And Veronique, to know that the latest figures are in and the thank you. Brady bill has now helped to block more than You know, we meet in this wonderful old, 470,000 gun sales by licensed gun dealers to historic Hollywood home tonight, and it gives felons, fugitives, and stalkers—470,000. And me the opportunity to say once again that I have been, since I was a small child, an in the last year alone, the National Instant ardent movie fan. I don’t know how many Criminal Background Check system has Gregory Peck movies I have seen and en- blocked gun sales to more than 160,000 peo- joyed. But I think that his remarkable per- ple. formance as Atticus Finch, of all the roles Now these are more than numbers. Re- that he played, probably was closer to the member Steve’s story. These are 470,000 acts person Gregory Peck really is. of community conscience and common There is a wonderful moment in Harper mercy. They have saved lives, avoided inju- Lee’s classic when Atticus sits down to talk ries, averted tragedies. Yesterday I signed the with his children about courage. He says, ‘‘I new budget bill. And I want to thank the want you to know that real courage isn’t a Member of Congress here who stood with 2476 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 me to make sure this budget will begin put- 25 next biggest industrial nations combined. ting up 50,000 more community police offi- Now, what do we have to keep fighting for? cers on top of the 100,000 we’ve already For what works. funded, targeted to the most dangerous Seven years ago a lot of people did not streets left in our country; provide new believe we could get the crime rate down. crime-fighting technology to police; and And when the Brady bill come up again in more than double after-school programs to Congress they said—I remember what they keep more kids out of trouble and in safe said—they said, ‘‘Oh, this Brady bill will not environments. make a difference because criminals and I want to also thank you for being a source kooks don’t buy guns at gun stores.’’ Do you of strength and courage to all of us in our remember that? That’s what they said. And larger administration family, to Hillary, who we said, ‘‘Well, we think it will. And besides urged me every step of the way to push for that, it’s not that big an inconvenience to the Brady bill, to push for the assault weap- have everybody go through the background ons ban, to continue to push and take on check.’’ Well, 470,000 rejections later we this issue; who reminded me that because know it did make a difference. The same I grew up in the South, and first shot a .22 people, I might add, said that if we put when I was 12, and understood the mind set 100,000 community police out there, it of the people, the good people, who wouldn’t make a difference; if we passed the uncritically followed the NRA into the voting assault weapons ban, it wouldn’t make a dif- booth year-in and year-out, that I had a spe- ference. Well, they were wrong. They were cial responsibility to deal with this issue. just wrong. And she asked me to tell you, hello. I just Now, I come here to suggest that the time talked to her about 30 minutes ago, and I has come to set a different goal. Let me just thank you for that. sort of parenthesis a minute. I want you all I want to thank you on behalf of Vice Presi- to think about this as citizens in the context dent Gore, who cast the tie-breaking vote in of gun violence and every other thing Amer- the bill to close the gun show loophole that ica needs to do. passed the Senate. And I want to thank you In my lifetime—a 6-year-old boy asked me on behalf of Tipper Gore, who has done so this weekend, who was visiting my family on much to see that Americans with mental ill- Thanksgiving, he said, ‘‘How old are you?’’ ness get treatment and not more handguns. And I said, ‘‘I’m 53.’’ And he said, ‘‘That’s But I didn’t just come to say thanks, be- a lot.’’ [Laughter] Well, I guess so. [Laugh- cause we have a lot more to do. When the ter] Brady bill finally passed Congress and was But in my lifetime—and that’s a lot— signed, rather than vetoed, by me—[laugh- [laughter]—there has never been a time ter]—someone asked Sarah, ‘‘Well, what are ever, not even once, when our country had you going to do now?’’ And without missing this remarkable combination of economic a beat she said, ‘‘I’m going to keep fighting.’’ prosperity, social progress, self-confidence, So I come here to tell you, you have to and the absence of external threat and inter- keep fighting. Because even though America nal crisis, so that we are freer than we have is safer from Columbine High School to the ever been in my lifetime as a people to shape Jewish community center in Grenada Hills the future of our dreams for our children. to the Wedgewood Baptist Church in Fort And the great question before the Amer- Worth, and every community in between and ican people is not whether we’ll change it, beyond, no one believes America is as safe as how we will change and whether we will as it should be or can be. do that. And I’ll bet you everybody here can Still, 12 children die every day from gun remember an instance in your personal life, violence. And America is not acceptably safe in your family life, and in your work life when when the rate of children under 15 killed you squandered a terrific opportunity be- accidentally by guns—listen to this—the rate cause things were going so well, you thought of children under 15 killed accidentally by you could relax; and you got diverted; you guns is 9 times higher than the rate of the got divided; you got distracted. You just blew Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2477 it. And countries are no different than peo- So we did the Brady bill, 470,000 rejec- ple, families, and enterprises. That’s what tions later they now say, ‘‘Oh, it won’t do countries are. any good to close the gun show loophole.’’ So the great question before us as a people I wanted to go back and read them what they is, what are we going to make of this magic said in ’93. That’s sort of the just-say-no moment to deal with the challenge of edu- crowd. [Laughter] But I’m telling you—I’m cating all our children, to deal with the chal- telling you—we still have too many people lenge of the aging of America, to deal with getting guns at these gun shows and at urban the challenge of getting poor people an op- flea markets, and there ought to be back- portunity to be part of our prosperity, to deal ground checks. And it will make a difference. with the challenge of environmental preser- That’s the first thing we have to do. vation? And I could go on and on. The second thing we have to do is build Now, I have a modest proposal here that, on the success of the assault weapons ban if I had said it 7 years ago when I was running by closing the gaping loophole there which for President, people would have said, ‘‘Well, still allows the legal importation of large- he seems like a nice young man, but we capacity ammunition clips. They ought to be ought to send him home because he’s banned from import. We don’t need them. touched.’’ [Laughter] But 7 years ago, people The third thing we ought to do—remem- didn’t believe we could get the crime rate ber the statistic I gave you on accidental child down. Okay. We’ve got the lowest crime rate deaths—we ought to require child safety trig- in 25 years and the lowest murder rate in ger locks on the sale of all new handguns 31 years, and there’s not a single soul here in this country. who believes this country is as safe as it ought Congress ought to follow the lead of Cali- to be. So I say, let’s set a goal now that is fornia and pass my proposals to ban handgun really worth fighting for. Let’s say we’re not sales to one a month, to limit them to one going to stop until the freest big country on a month and once again to require the Brady Earth is the safest big country on Earth. [Ap- waiting period to allow a cooling off period. plause] Just because we’ve got the instant back- Now, to achieve that, we just have to keep ground checks doesn’t mean we still don’t doing what we’ve been doing. We have to need the waiting period. The waiting period keep moving the ball forward and resisting causes people who may not have a criminal the same old arguments in new guises. We background, and who may be in some frenzy, have to pass the commonsense gun safety to wait a few days, calm down, and it will legislation Congress failed to pass last year save lives. We need to reinstitute it on a na- in the aftermath of Columbine. We have to, one, build on the success of the Brady bill tional basis. by closing the gun show loophole. I also ask for your support for two non- Now, let me remind you—I don’t know gun-related initiatives, our national grass- how many of you have ever been to a gun roots campaign against youth violence, head- show, but I have been. That was sort of a ed by a California activist, Jeff Weiss, and mandatory stop when I was the Governor of our hate crimes legislation. my, what my distinguished opponent in 1992 I want to make just two general points in said was a small Southern State. [Laughter] closing. One of the previous speakers men- I’ve been to these things, you know, down tioned that I had stood up to the NRA. It a country road, alley, pickups and cars on made me rather unpopular with one member both sides, trunks up, guns in the trunk. The of this community out here. [Laughter] But same crowd that said—in 1993 when we I’ll tell you a story. were trying to pass the Brady bill, they said, I vetoed a bill—I think I was the only ‘‘All these criminals, they don’t buy guns at Southern Governor that ever vetoed a bill gun stores; they buy all their guns at flea mar- passed by the NRA in the State legislature, kets and gun shows and all that. So this Brady and it was in the late 1980’s. They were going bill won’t do any good.’’ around—this conservative group—you know 2478 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 conservative groups believe in limited na- a sudden everybody got real quiet. There tional or State authority, maximum local au- must have been 50 of my legislators standing thority. They had a bill they were trying to there. And I said, ‘‘Young man, you just don’t pass in every legislature in the country to pro- understand, do you? I think your bill stinks.’’ hibit local governments from having gun laws And I said, ‘‘Not only that, you know this more stringent than State government. There is a conservative State. You know we’re not was a reason for that. State governments tend going to pass any sweeping gun control legis- to be dominate by rural legislators, whereas lation here. You know that we’ve got this big local urban governments tend to be more in- influx of gang warfare in a couple of our terested in keeping cop-killer bullets out of areas. And it won’t hurt anybody if the local guns that can kill police officers wearing bul- government here in Little Rock decides to let-proof vests, for example. ban cop-killer bullets. The reason you’re try- So they thought this was a big threat to ing to pass this bill is back in Washington, the Constitution and our individual liberty, in your national headquarters, there’s a big so they wanted to stop all these local govern- chart on the wall, and this bill is at the top ments from doing this. And they passed such of the chart, and all the States are listed down a bill in my legislature, and I vetoed it. And the side, and you want to be able to put a my legislature was really good. They knew little check by Arkansas.’’ I said, ‘‘This that they didn’t want to be in a position of doesn’t have anything to do with the safety overriding my veto, but they didn’t want to of our children or the freedom of people to be in the position of having the NRA go after hunt.’’ And I said, ‘‘If that’s the way you feel, them in the election. And so they waited until you just get your gun, and I’ll get mine, and late in the session to pass it, and they were I’ll meet you in Texas.’’ [Laughter] So, any- gone when I vetoed it, so they didn’t have way, we lost Texas in the general election to face the fact whether they would override by a few points—[laughter]—but got 67 per- it or not. It was a great deal. cent there in the Democratic primary in So then 1990 comes along—this is a true 1992. So it didn’t work very well. story, I want you all to remember this. I So anyway, so then we go in 1993, and never will forget this. This not a joke, and I’m glad we’re laughing because otherwise we got the Brady bill. In 1994 we got the we would be crying about this. assault weapons ban. And it was very difficult So 1990 comes along and the NRA comes for a lot of our people. That’s what I want up with this bill again. And they send a lob- to tell you. We’re all here, preaching to the byist from Washington to Little Rock to saved, patting each other on the back. Let lobby for the bill. I’ll never forget this guy. me tell you something. When these votes are He was a real big, fine looking young man, cast in the State legislature and the Congress, a couple inches taller than me, very well there are people who put their seats on the dressed. One day he came up to me in the line to do this because not everybody has the rotunda of our State capitol, which is sort same views that you do and not everybody of a miniversion of the National Rotunda, you has had the chance to talk about this. know, and everything echoes. And one of the reasons there is a Repub- And this young man came up to me, and lican majority in the House of Representa- it was like the E.F. Hutton ad, you know, tives today is that I got them to vote on both everybody got really silent. [Laughter] And the Brady bill and the assault weapons ban this guy says, ‘‘Now, Governor, Governor,’’ in my first 2 years as President. And there he says, ‘‘I want you to just let this bill be- were a lot of people, I want you to know, come law without your signature. You don’t there were a lot of people who laid their seats have to do anything.’’ I said, ‘‘I can’t do that. in Congress down so that there would be I think your bill stinks.’’ He said, ‘‘All right, fewer people like Jim and Sarah Brady and Governor, it’s this way. I think you’re going Steve and Megan Sposato. They lost their to run for President, and when you do, if seats in Congress to do that. you veto this bill, we’re going to beat your I never will forget, in 1996 I went back brains out in the Texas primary.’’ And all of to New Hampshire. We had one Democratic Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2479

Congressman and one Republican Congress- does believe in white supremacy. And I could man when I became President, and they beat go on and on and on. You know all these the Democrat, largely because he voted for stories. these bills. And I went back to Manchester, Now their answer is well, that we need and I went there, and as I remember, it was a concealed weapons law and every law- on a weekend morning. I went to it, and I abiding person needs to carry a weapon. And said, ‘‘I want to get with a bunch of guys if you take it to an extreme—I saw—I get that I know go deer hunting and that I know my hometown paper still at the White are big sportsmen and that I know are mad House—I saw—we have a State legislator at about all this.’’ And I had carried—Al Gore home that says the answer to all these school and I carried New Hampshire in ’92, which shootings may be to have all the teachers go is very rare because it is basically a Repub- to the law enforcement academy and get lican State in the Presidential election. trained to start carrying guns to school. And so I got all these guys together, and [Laughter] I said, ‘‘Let me tell you something. I know Now you laugh about that, but that is the you beat your Congressman in 1994 in part ultimate extension of the argument that, you because he voted for the assault weapons ban know, we’re all these sort of isolated individ- and the Brady bill. And I want you to know uals, and the last thing we can do is to have he did it because I asked him to. So if there some common set of rules that we all follow. is a living soul here who has been inconven- Now, we don’t do that in other ways. We ienced one iota in your hunting season be- all give up a little of our liberty in theory cause of what we did, then I want you to when we walk through those airport metal vote against me, too. But if you haven’t been, detectors. Why? Well, we know we can’t all they lied to you and you need to get even.’’ pilot our own airplanes. And it’s a matter of [Laughter] inconvenience to go take off your brass belt We got, in a three-way race in 1996, a ma- buckle or take your metal money clip out of jority of the vote in the State of New Hamp- your pocket and go through there again for shire. I say that not to be self-congratulatory the security of knowing that there is no ter- but to say the answer here is not to shrivel rorist on the plane. So you never hear any- up, turn aside, or ignore the obligation to body gripe about that anymore, do you? communicate with people who are not in this This is the same principle. You cannot be tent tonight. We have to continue to broaden in a society where you are really free, unless the base. your freedom is designed to enhance the Look, this is about—it’s bought on these freedom of all people in the community. And two competing views of what liberty is. The if you’re not safe, you’re not free. And we view espoused by the NRA and others is that need to leave here tonight with a clear com- guns don’t kill people, people do. That may mitment to continue to take this debate to be true, but people without guns don’t kill people and places—who are good people, as many people as people with guns. who still don’t accept this argument, because So the issue is—go back to what Whoopi we have a lot more to do. said about us all being connected. We’ve got You clapped when I said we ought to make to go out to people who may live in very this the safest big country in the world. We rural areas and say, ‘‘Look if you carry this can do it and still have a vibrant hunting and argument to its ultimate conclusion, we’ll be sporting culture. But we cannot do it if we in total anarchy.’’ We’ve got a lot of people labor under the illusion that we have no re- being killed by—you know these poor people sponsibilities to one another that require us in the Middle West—the former basketball to show mutual restraint when it comes to coach at Northwestern, an African-Amer- this gun issue. And therefore, we have to con- ican—killed by the same guy—then he turns tinue to work on this. This is a huge, huge around and kills a young Korean Christian issue that will go a long way to defining what walking out of his church, and kills two or kind of country we are. three other people, and he says he belongs And it goes to this whole hate crimes issue, to a church that doesn’t believe in God but and I will just close with this. I think it is 2480 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 really ironic that on the edge of a new millen- I wish that we had done more in gun safety nium when we are—we’ve got now 90 per- than we have. I know we can do more, as cent of our schools connected to the Inter- I said, and still leave all those people that net, when we’re unlocking the mysteries of I grew up with and that I represented and the human genome—in a few years, we’ll that I love, the right to their hunting and know what is in the black holes in space— sporting past times. It’s a big part of our cul- when we’ll be able to have little computer ture. But we should not tolerate a society chips, before you know it, that we can insert where people can still readily get these hor- into broken parts of people’s bodies, includ- rible weapons of destruction for no other ing nerve centers in the spine and elsewhere purpose than to kill other people. It should and restore normal movement. When we are be much, much harder for profoundly dis- thinking about all of these marvelous things turbed children, like those kids at Col- that are going to happen, it is amazing that umbine, to get the kind of weapons they got. the biggest problem we face as a society is We can do better. perhaps the oldest demon of human society, Yes, I’m very grateful that I’ve been privi- the fear and hatred of people who are dif- ferent from us: They are a different race; leged to work with Sarah and Steve and Sen- they’re a different religion; they’re gay; ator Feinstein and Senator Boxer and the they’re whatever. And this whole issue of gun Representatives still here to do what we’ve violence and how we handle it as a commu- done. But if you really want to make the most nity and how we approach people who are of this moment, you’ve got to keep going different from us are related. until we make America the world’s safest big I’ve been working for years on this Irish country. And if you want to do that, you have peace process. It looks like we’re going to to reach out beyond those of us in this tent make it. One of the provisions of the Irish to the heart and soul of America and say, peace agreement is its paramilitary groups ‘‘Listen, we are blessed, but we have a lot should lay down their weapons of war. In to do and we have responsibilities to one an- the Middle East, one of the provisions of the other we have not fulfilled. And as we do Wye peace agreement and the modified that we will become more free, not less free.’’ version that Prime Minister Barak and Mr. Thank you, and God bless you. Arafat agreed to is that there should be some laying down of the weapons of war. In Bos- NOTE: The President spoke at 8:07 p.m. at a pri- nia, where I just was, looking at children who vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to co- got to go home and were uprooted and driv- median Whoopi Goldberg; actor Beau Bridges; en out and seeing them back in their schools former White House Press Secretary James S. and trying to get people to lay down their Brady, who was wounded in the 1981 assassination hatreds and say, ‘‘Look, I know you can’t lay attempt on President Ronald Reagan; Mr. Brady’s down your hatreds tomorrow, although you wife, Sarah, chair, Handgun Control, Inc.; Steven ought to try, but, meanwhile, you’ve got to Sposato, whose wife, Megan, was killed by a gun- lay down your weapons of war.’’ man in a San Francisco law office; Gov. Gray And so it’s all about how you really define Davis of California; actor Gregory Peck and his community, as just a label, or do we have wife, Veronique; Prime Minister Ehud Barak of some mutual responsibilities here? And I say Israel; and Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Pales- to you if I could have sort of one wish for tinian Authority. The President also referred to America—if somebody said to me, ‘‘You the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act, subtitle A of title XI (Public Law don’t have another year. You’ve got to go to- No. 103–322); the Brady Act (Public Law No. morrow, but you’re like a genie, you get to 103–159); and H.R. 3194, consolidated appropria- give America one wish.’’ I’d make this coun- tions legislation for fiscal year 2000, approved No- try one America. I would have our people vember 29, assigned Public Law No. 106–113. understanding that our diversity is our The benefit was sponsored by the Center to Pre- strength because our common humanity is vent Handgun Violence. A portion of these re- more important, and that imposes on us com- marks could not be verified because the tape was mon responsibilities. incomplete. Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 30 2481

Remarks at a Southwest Voter of the shape of American politics, on our im- Registration and Education Project migration policies, on our education policies, Reception in Beverly Hills on our economic policies, on the nature of November 30, 1999 our trade policies, and I could go on and on and on. Thank you very much, Antonio. I am de- I have seen, just in the last two election lighted to be here. I know that all of you cycles the profound difference it makes in have come in support of the Southwest Voter terms of who shows up to vote. In 1998 the Education Project. But I want to thank espe- overall percentage of Americans voting was cially my good friend Gloria Molina; and not that different from 1994, but the com- Henry Cisneros; Assembly Speaker position of those who voted was very dif- Villarraigosa—I see him over there; we’ve ferent. And very often 4 or 5 percent of the been making the rounds tonight; Congress- people, whether they stay or go, will reflect man Becerra. And I think Lydia Camarillo, the sort of accumulated feelings of maybe our DNC CEO, is here. I know this is a non- 60 or 70 percent of the American electorate. partisan event, but I wanted to acknowledge And whether they do or not, I can promise her presence there. Thank you, Lydia. you, will affect the whole sweep of policy. I have known about the Southwest Voter I’m very conscious of this now. And I just Education Project a long time, from the be- want to mention one or two issues. ginning. And one of the great honors I had It has been, for me, an enormous privilege as President was to award the Medal of Free- to serve as President these last 7 years. I have dom to Willie Velasquez posthumously in had a great deal of help from the most di- 1995. The Southwest Voter Education verse group of Americans ever to serve an Project has now registered, I believe, over administration, including former HUD Sec- 2 million Latino voters and well over 2,000 retary Cisneros. And I am very grateful that voter education drives. we have now the results that we have. We’ve And what I would—I just want to say a got—in February we’ll have the longest couple of things briefly tonight. Yesterday I signed the budget that we passed in the Con- peacetime expansion in our history. We have gress right before they went home, the first already nearly 20 million new jobs. We have budget of the 21st century. It contained the the lowest unemployment in 30 years, the second year’s funding for our Hispanic edu- lowest welfare rolls in 30 years, the lowest cation project, which is designed to reduce poverty rates in 30 years. We have the lowest the gap in high school graduation rates be- crime rate in 25 years, the lowest Hispanic tween Hispanics and other children and to and African-American unemployment rates increase the college going rate. And I just ever recorded, the lowest African-American give you that as one little example, although poverty rate ever recorded, the lowest His- it is a very big thing—I think this is going panic poverty rate in a generation, the lowest to have a huge impact over the years if we poverty rate among single-parent households keep doing it—of why it is so important for in 40 years, the lowest unemployment among people to be registered and to vote. women in 40 years. What I want to ask you I was thinking tonight about the meetings is, what do you mean to do with this? What I’ve had with the Hispanic caucus. And Con- do you mean to do with this? gressman Torres, we miss you. I’m glad to I had—I see my sister-in-law, Molly, over see you. Thank you for everything. there. We just had my big, extended family But what I was thinking about is, two and Hillary’s family were all together for things are certain. One is that the number Thanksgiving. And we gathered up at Camp of Hispanic Members of Congress will grow. David, and then we had some of our friends The second, maybe more important, is the come in from the area. And I had a bunch number of Latino voters in other districts will of little kids there. And this 6-year-old boy grow. And I honestly believe that the willing- looked at me a couple days ago, and he said, ness of people to register and to vote will ‘‘How old are you?’’ [Laughter] And I said, have a profoundly significant impact on sort ‘‘I’m 53.’’ He said, ‘‘That’s a lot.’’ [Laughter] 2482 Nov. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

And I regretted to say I had to agree with where you come in—isn’t it interesting that him; it was a lot. as you think about the future—somebody In my lifetime—and that’s a lot—our sent me an article today on the future of the country has never had this level of economic Internet and how it wouldn’t be long before prosperity, social progress, and national con- everybody would be connected to the Inter- fidence, and at the same time been free of net without needing a personal computer. external threats and internal crises, so that We’ll have these little pads that a lot of you we are essentially free to face our big chal- already have, and you’ll get it on your tele- lenges and build the future of our dreams phone; you’ll get it in your television; every- for our children. body will know everything and all the time. So the real question is not whether we are It will be unbelievable. going to change, because the world is chang- We are unraveling the mysteries of the ing at such a rapid rate that that’s not an human genome. We’re about to discover option. The real question is, how will we what is in those black holes in outer space. change, and what will we do with this chance I mean, it’s unbelievable all this stuff we’re of a lifetime? going to know. And yet, we are most bedev- I hope we will use it to meet the big chal- iled in the world by the oldest problem of lenges of the future. But I’ll bet you every human society. We still are kind of afraid of adult in this room can remember at least one, people who are different from us. They’re and maybe more, times in your personal life, different races, different religions; they’re your family life, or your work life when you gay, they’re this, they’re that, the other. made a big mistake because things were And in America you can see it when a Jew- going well. When you should have been ish community center gets shot up, Filipino thinking about the long term, you got di- postman gets murdered, African-American verted, distracted, divided, and the moment basketball coach gets killed, and then a young was lost. Korean Christian gets killed walking out of Now in my lifetime, we have never had his church by a guy that just murdered the a moment like this. We need to use it to African-American basketball coach. James give all of our children a world-class edu- Byrd gets dragged to death in Texas; Mat- cation. We need to use it to dramatically re- thew Shepard gets stretched over a rack in duce poverty among our children and to Wyoming. These things happen. Why? Be- bring economic opportunity to people and cause if you are afraid of people who are dif- places that have been left out of this remark- ferent from you, it’s a short step to hating able recovery. We need to use it to deal with them. Then it’s a short step to dehumanizing the challenge of the aging of America and them. Then it’s a short step to justifying vio- take Social Security out beyond the life of lence. And all around the world what has be- the baby boom generation and extend the deviled the world? Ireland, the Middle East, life of Medicare and give prescription drug the Balkans, Bosnia and Kosovo, the African coverage to 75 percent of our seniors who tribal wars. It’s just fascinating to me that can’t afford the medicine they need today. we’re on the verge of a new millennium with We need to use it to prove we can grow all this modern stuff out there, but our big- the economy and improve the environment. gest problem is the oldest problem of human We need to use it to pass the Patients’ Bill society. of Rights and extend health care coverage So the reason it’s important that you un- to people who don’t have it—these big chal- derstand that your vote is your voice, is that lenges that we can meet. you help to guarantee every time you em- But if I had one wish—if somebody said power people that their voices will be heard to me, ‘‘Well, you don’t have another year. and that we will somehow understand that I’m sorry, you have to go tomorrow, but we’ll we’re not just supposed to tolerate each let you be the genie, and you can have one other; we’re supposed to celebrate our dif- wish.’’ I would wish to make America truly ferences. Not tolerate—that’s not good one America. Because if you look at what enough—celebrate our differences, not be- is bedeviling the world today—and this is cause they are the most important thing Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 1 2483 about us, but because they make life more And there is no group of Americans that interesting without letting us forget our com- has a bigger stake in our getting this right mon humanity. than Hispanic-Americans, the fastest growing And that is the only thing that makes de- minority, people who have known all the mocracy the best of all systems of govern- prejudice and all the promise of America, ment. If everybody participates, you have a both, people who now are setting all kinds high chance that we come to the right con- of records in new business growth and clusion. And it is profoundly important. I just achievements in every area of our national was thinking, I’m so grateful that we have life, but because we still have such a large made these huge steps forward in the Irish group of first-generation immigrants, also peace process. I’m very grateful for the have the highest high school dropout rates, progress we are making in the Middle East. the highest education problems. I was just in Kosovo with all those school- Listen, we can get all this right—we can children that got to go home because the get all this right—if everybody has a voice United States and our NATO Allies stuck up that is heard. That is why what you are doing for them and said they couldn’t be wiped out is so profoundly important. just because of their religion or their ethnic Thank you very much. background. But I know that if we want to continue to do good around the world, we NOTE: The President spoke at 10 p.m. at the have to be good at home. This Irish agree- Grand Havana Room. In his remarks, he referred ment, it’s wonderful. How many people died to State Assembly Speaker Antonio R. to get there? And the Middle East, we’ve Villarraigosa; Los Angeles County Supervisor got a lot of hard decisions to make, but Gloria Molina; and Lydia Camarillo, executive di- they’re not hard when compared with the al- rector, Southwest Voter Registration and Edu- ternative. cation Project. And so I say to all of you, we have a chance to escape that and to meet these huge chal- lenges when we’ve got more resources and Letter to Secretary of Defense more confidence and more evidence that we William S. Cohen on the Review can make progress than any time in my life- of Space Launch Failures time. But we can only do it if we do it to- November 29, 1999 gether. You know, I just came from this gun vio- Dear Mr. Secretary: lence group meeting. And I told them that Thank you for conducting and reporting the big fight we had over the Brady bill, the on your thorough and in-depth review of the assault weapons ban, all these things, they U.S. space launch failures that occurred in really were sort of whole different views of 1998 and 1999. I am pleased to know that the world about what is the nature of free- you have identified the root causes behind dom, what is the nature of society, what is each of the recent launch failures and that the nature of our responsibilities to one an- you have worked with NASA, the Intel- other. You know, to me, I came from a hunt- ligence Community, and industry to take cor- ing culture, but it was a no-brainer to me rective actions to prevent recurrences. I also that we ought to be for the Brady bill and appreciate your efforts, and the efforts of in- the assault weapons ban, because I thought dustry, in uncovering and addressing the that a modest amount of inconvenience on broader systemic concerns that may have the part of 95 or 99 percent of the people contributed to this series of failures. to find the 1 percent of the people who had I have asked Dr. Neal Lane, my Assistant no business with assault weapons, had no for Science and Technology, and Mr. Sandy business with handguns, who were criminals, Berger, my Assistant for National Security had other problems in their background. To Affairs, to review your report. Now and in me, that made me more free, not less free, the next century, our national security, civil, because I think mutuality is important, the and commercial space sectors will continue media. And you believed that. to depend on reliable access to space to 2484 Dec. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 achieve our broader national goals. Your re- reached a record low, and the number of port correctly points out the importance of young people killed in such accidents fell to successfully flying the remaining current the lowest rate ever recorded. But as anyone fleet of expendable launch vehicles already who has lost a loved one to an alcohol-related on contract, with missions valued at more crash will attest, one impaired driver on the than $20 billion, while assuring mission suc- road is one too many. cess during the transition from these current That is why safety continues to be my Ad- systems to the modernized Evolved Expend- ministration’s top transportation priority, and able Launch Vehicles. that is why we remain committed to elimi- Thank you again for the hard work and nating drunk and drugged driving. Because dedication of the government-industry team research shows that the risk of a fatal car in uncovering the technical and management crash significantly increases when a driver’s problems associated with these launch fail- blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeds .08, I ures. Please implement appropriate actions continue to challenge the Congress to enact to correct the causes of the failures and en- a tough national standard of impaired driving sure our nation’s ability to reliably access at .08 BAC. In support of this goal, last July space in the future. Vice President Gore announced incentive William J. Clinton grants totaling $57 million to 17 States and the District of Columbia for lowering the NOTE: This item was released by the Office of legal threshold for drunk driving to .08 BAC. the Press Secretary on December 1. An original These grants make up part of the more than was not available for verification of the content $500 million in Federal grants authorized of this letter. under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which I signed into law June Proclamation 7257—National Drunk 9, 1998, to offer States incentives to enact and Drugged Driving Prevention and enforce laws that make driving with .08 Month, 1999 BAC or greater a drunk driving offense. I am pleased that today, thanks to legisla- November 30, 1999 tion I signed in 1995, every State in our Na- By the President of the United States tion and the District of Columbia has en- of America acted zero tolerance laws for underage drink- ing and driving. I urge leaders and policy- A Proclamation makers at the State and local level to con- Drivers who operate motor vehicles while tinue to focus resources and public attention under the influence of alcohol or drugs are on drunk- and drugged-driving prevention one of our Nation’s greatest public safety and enforcement programs. Using these risks; those drivers take advantage of the three powerful tools—increased public privilege of driving without assuming the cor- awareness, stronger laws, and tougher en- responding responsibility of driving safely. In forcement—we can make our neighborhoods 1996 alone, more than 46 million Americans and highways safer and continue to reduce drove their cars within 2 hours of using deaths and injuries. drugs, alcohol, or both, causing death or in- In memory of the thousands of people who jury to themselves and thousands of others have lost their lives to alcohol- and drug-im- each year. paired driving, I ask that all motorists partici- Thanks to the grassroots activism of orga- pate once again this year in a ‘‘National nizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Lights on for Life Day.’’ By driving with car Driving, greater public awareness of the dan- headlights illuminated on Friday, December gers of impaired driving, and stronger laws 17, 1999, we will underscore the profound and stricter enforcement, we have made responsibility each of us has to drive free progress in our efforts to keep drunk and from the influence of alcohol or drugs. drugged drivers off the road and reduce alco- Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, hol-related fatalities. Last year, the number President of the United States of America, of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by virtue of the authority vested in me by Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 1 2485 the Constitution and laws of the United some place sunny, like Honolulu and San States, do hereby proclaim December 1999 Diego? as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Pre- The President. Well, I don’t think the— vention Month. I urge all Americans to rec- I think certainly if we had had it any place ognize the dangers of impaired driving, to in the continental United States, we would take responsibility for themselves and others have had the same thing. And even if we around them, to prevent anyone under the had gone to Honolulu, there might have been influence of alcohol or drugs from getting thousands of people there. behind the wheel, and to help teach our What I regret is not that there are pro- young people about the importance of safe testers there. I have supported the right of driving. people whose interests represent labor In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set union, who represent environmental groups, my hand this thirtieth day of November, in people who represent the poorer countries the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and of the world coming and expressing their ninety-nine, and of the Independence of the opinions. And I’ve repeatedly said I thought United States of America the two hundred the WTO process was too closed. It ought and twenty-fourth. to be opened up, and labor and environ- William J. Clinton mental interests ought to be represented, and it ought to be fair for poor countries as well [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, as wealthy countries. What I regret is that 8:59 a.m., December 3, 1999] a small number of people have done non- peaceful things and have tried to block access NOTE: This proclamation was released by the Of- fice of the Press Secretary on December 1, and and to prevent meetings. That’s wrong. It’s it was published in the Federal Register on De- not only illegal; it’s just wrong. cember 6. On the other hand, I think the larger num- ber of people that are there, for peaceful pur- poses, are healthy. I think what they rep- Telephone Interview With Michael resent is that in the last 5 years you’ve seen Paulson of the Seattle Post- a dramatic change. Trade is now no longer Intelligencer From San Francisco, the province of CEO’s, organized interest California groups that deal with the economy, and polit- November 30, 1999 ical leaders. It’s now—we not only live in a global economy. You’ve got a global informa- The President. How are you? tion society, and this whole process is being Mr. Paulson. I’m good. How are you democratized. And we’re going to have to doing? build a new consensus that goes down deeper The President. I’m great. I’m going to the into every society about what kind of trade San Francisco Airport, on my way to L.A. policy we want. And I think that is, on bal- and then to Seattle. ance, a healthy thing. Anyway, that’s kind of where I am on it. Disruption of the Seattle Round I regret very much that a few people have Mr. Paulson. Excellent. So as far as you given the protesters a bad name, because I know, are there still talks taking place? We think the fact that the protesters are there— just heard on CNN, claiming that the talks were it not for those stopping meetings, stop- are actually canceled, which—we don’t even ping movements, not being peaceful—would know if that’s true. be a positive. The President. Well, that’s certainly news to me. I heard that the talks were still going Protesters and the World Trade on. Organization Mr. Paulson. Tell me—I’m sure you’ve Mr. Paulson. Right. What is your theory heard it’s been kind of a chaotic day here. about why people are so upset here? Do you regret choosing Seattle as the loca- The President. Well, for one thing, I think tion for this? Do you wish you were heading that a lot of people feel threatened by all 2486 Dec. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 these changes that are going on in the global phones, and maybe a lot of them drove cars economy and the process by which the deci- that were made—— sions are made—changing the rules of Mr. Paulson. Right. trade—are made by people who generally The President. ——or foreign manufac- have not been very accountable. I mean, the tured. We live in a global economy that on whole WTO—I went to Geneva last year to balance has been quite good for the United tell them they ought to open their records. Stats, but also good for developing countries. Mr. Paulson. Right. But we’ve got to make a better case down The President. I mean, they have secret deeper into society. It’s not just trying to con- proceedings and things of that kind. vince a few elites in every society that the For another thing, a lot of times when de- system of integrated trade on fair and open cisions have been made, they aren’t honored. terms is good for them. The United States won 22 out of 24 cases Labor Issues, Trade Sanctions, and the we filed, and in several cases the people say, WTO ‘‘Well, so what?’’ And then I think, finally, there are people Mr. Paulson. Let me ask you about labor, who question whether these trading rules are which, you know, is a big issue here. What benefiting lower income countries, poor is your position on allowing trade sanctions countries, and who question whether they’re against countries that violate core labor a damage to the environment from certain standards? trading arrangements that wouldn’t other- The President. I think what we ought to wise be there, and who question whether this do, first of all, is to adopt the United States is a race to the bottom or the top—so that position on having a working group on labor labor unions in wealthier countries want to within the WTO. And then that working have certain basic, core labor standards ob- group should develop these core labor stand- served in poorer countries because they think ards, and then they ought to be a part of it will be better for average people, so that every trade agreement. And ultimately, I the trading system actually benefits them. So would favor a system in which sanctions I think that is bringing all those people out. would come for violating any provision of a trade agreement. But we’ve got to do this in steps. Goals of the Seattle Round I do think it is worth noting that the Mr. Paulson. What in your mind will strongest opposition to this position, how- make this week a success or a failure? ever, come from the leaders of developing The President. Well, I think if we can countries, including a lot of developing coun- continue to negotiate and can reach some ac- tries that have leftwing governments, not cord on the terms under which to start a new rightwing governments, who believe that this trade round and if I can persuade more of is a strategy by the American labor move- my colleagues that if you don’t want people ment to keep them down and keep them like the protesters outside of every trade poor and keep them from selling products meeting from now until the end of time, that they would otherwise be highly competi- they’re going to have to open the process so tive in, in the American market. that the voices of labor, the environment, and Mr. Paulson. Right. Are they right? the developing countries can be heard and The President. Well, I don’t think so. so that the decisions are transparent, the That is, it certainly could be used that way. records are open, and the consequences are But what the American labor movement has clear, we’re going to continue to have prob- a right, it seems to me, to is to know that lems. their brothers and sisters throughout the And I think, on balance, the world is much world are actually going to be benefiting better off because we’ve expanded trade over from expanded trade. the last 50 years. And I bet you a lot of the When I ran for President, there were some protesters came to the protest wearing shoes countries, small countries in the Caribbean that were made in other countries, using cell where we had dramatically expanded trade Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 1 2487 in the years before I became President, The President. And you can’t say that any where average hourly wages had fallen dur- organization made up of human beings will ing the time trade had expanded and the in- be error-free. But I know there was a lot of comes of the countries had gone up. That’s concern about the way the turtle case was not right. handled. There is also—earlier the Ven- So I wouldn’t support labor’s objectives if ezuelan oil—— I thought they were just purely protectionist Mr. Paulson. Right. and they didn’t want Americans to compete The President. ——where we had a lot with people from other places, because we of concerns. But I think the answer to that can compete quite well. And for every job is to make sure that these environmental we’ve lost in America, we’ve gained two or standards are properly integrated into the three more. That’s why we’ve got 19.8 million WTO deliberation and that we agree that jobs in the last 7 years. We never had job countries ought to have more leeway on high- growth like this before. And the trade-related er environmental standards than in other jobs pay higher wages. So if I thought the areas. labor agenda was purely protectionist, I And again, some people in the developing wouldn’t be for that. countries may say, well, that’s a protectionist On the other hand, I think it is legitimate strategy. But from my point of view, it is not to say that if people are out there working at all. I think that with climate change being and selling their projects in the international the number one environmental problem in arena and Americans are going to buy them the world, it is a mistake not to take into and Europeans are going to buy them—all account the environmental consequences, to of us who come from wealthy countries not only a particular nation but to the climate where most people have the basic necessities as a whole, to anything that leads to acceler- of life—we ought not to buy from countries ated deforestation or the increase in green- that violate the child labor norms; we ought house gas emission. not to buy from countries that basically op- But see, I’ve got a whole different take press their workers with labor conditions and lack of a living income. And there is a way on this than most people do. I believe that to strike the right balance here so that we one of the biggest economic as well as envi- put a more human face on the global econ- ronmental problems the world has today is omy. that most decisionmakers, not only in the United States but in all the developing coun- I feel the same way about environmental tries, still believe the only way to get rich standards. is the way the U.S. and Europe got rich in the industrial era, by burning more coal, Sovereignty, Environmental Issues, and burning more oil, putting more greenhouse the WTO gases into the atmosphere. And then coun- Mr. Paulson. That’s the subject I want to tries say, ‘‘When we get as rich as they are, ask you about next. As you know, critics are then we’ll turn around and clean it up.’’ But pointing at cases like the shrimp-turtle dis- as you know, with climate change, it doesn’t pute and saying that corporate lawyers, meet- work that way. If you warm the climate— ing in secret, can invalidate U.S. laws. Are you put all this stuff into the air—it takes we yielding some of our sovereignty in being between 50 and 100 years to turn a lot of part of the WTO? this around. The President. Well, we yield the right But we know now that it is technologically to be unilateral and not bound by a system possible to grow the economy and reduce of rules every time we join any kind of organi- greenhouse gas emission, if you’re a rich zation. I mean, if you join any kind of organi- country, and stabilize them, if you’re a poor zation in which there are going to be dis- country, by taking a totally different energy putes, you can’t say that ‘‘I’ll only follow the course into the future. The technologies are rules when we win.’’ available right now. And that’s what I think Mr. Paulson. Right. we have to sell people on. And then we’ve 2488 Dec. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 got to really work hard to get these tech- foreign cars they will buy, that we don’t nologies widely disseminated into the devel- have—is ludicrous. oping economies, so that India, China, these So we can’t give up our dumping laws as other places can use them to create jobs and long as we have the most open markets in raise income while they protect their envi- the world, and we keep them open to help ronment. That’s a sale we’ve got to make. these countries keep going, and other coun- And it ought to be part of the decisionmaking tries don’t do the same. They shouldn’t be process of the WTO to promote that policy. able to take advantage of temporary eco- nomic developments to do something that U.S. Goals in the Seattle Round otherwise the free market economy wouldn’t Mr. Paulson. Let me ask you one last support. question. What is the U.S. willing to give up If you look at what our steel industry did, at these talks? I mean, these are negotiations, they shed over half of their employment; they and other countries would like to talk about spent billions of dollars modernizing tech- our antidumping laws. What can we put on nology. They were, under normal cir- the table? cumstances, internationally competitive. The President. Well, first of all, I think They should not have been put out of busi- we ought to support the general rules that ness by people dumping from Japan, from reduce tariffs and other trade barriers. And Russia, from any other country during the we ought to be for accelerating access to our period of crisis that we just went through. market, for countries that follow responsible policies. That’s at the heart of my Caribbean Disruption of the Seattle Round Basin Initiative and my Africa trade bill, and I have reached out to those countries to try Mr. Paulson. Okay. So as far as you know, to do that. And we ought to do that. the talks are still on, right? You haven’t But I would not be for giving up our learned anything—— dumping laws, and I’ll tell you why: because The President. Yes. While we’ve been we already have the most open markets in talking, as far as I know, they’re still on. And the world. We have—when the Asian econ- I think they ought to stay on. And I think, omy collapsed in ’97, we could have closed again, if we can just get by the few people our markets, and we didn’t. And so it ex- that are being—that aren’t being peaceful ploded our trade deficit. Our trade deficit and the people that are trying to stop people is about 4 percent of our income now. from meeting, I think the presence of others I’m for open borders because we get more with legitimate questions about the WTO products at lower cost, and it’s a great pres- process, the environment and labor and how sure against inflation coming back into our poor countries are treated, I think this can economy. And we still have created almost be a net positive because we’re going to have 20 million jobs. But I don’t think it’s right to build a much deeper consensus for global to allow a temporary economic emergency trade to carry it forward. to lead to a surge of steel dumping, for exam- Mr. Paulson. Okay. We’ll see you tomor- ple, like we went through, and then to throw row. a lot of Americans out of business in capital- The President. Thank you. intensive industries who might not be able to get back into business, just because of an economic crisis somewhere else and because NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 4:50 nobody else will take the products. I mean, p.m from the Presidential motorcade en route to for the Europeans to tell us we should stop San Francisco International Airport. The tran- dumping, when during the Asian crisis we script of this interview was released by the Office bought literally 10 times as much foreign of the Press Secretary on December 1. A tape was not available for verification of the content steel as they did, is a little ludicrous—when of this interview. they have absolute quotas on the number of Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 1 2489

Remarks to the Washington State business, farming. We came to talk about Trade Community in Seattle, trade and to talk about trade in the context Washington of an increasingly globalized society. December 1, 1999 Now, I want to say just a few words about all the rather interesting hoopla that’s been Thank you very much. Good afternoon. going on here. We need to start and ask our- John, thank you for your introduction, and selves some basic questions: Do you believe thank you for your example. I want to say that on balance, over the last 50 years, the a little more in a minute about the points United States has benefited from world that you made, but I thank you for being trade? I do. here. There wouldn’t be nearly as many family Thank you very much, Patricia Davis. And farmers left in America as there are today, I’d also like to thank the other people from with all the mechanization and the mod- the port here and the American Presidents ernization, if we hadn’t been able to sell our Line who gave me a tour earlier of the port products around the world, because we can and how it works, with the rail and the truck- produce more at higher quality and lower ing systems of this area. I thank you, Sec- retary Glickman and Secretary Slater, who’s cost than any other country in the world in also here, for your support of trade; and Sen- so many products. Today we have about 4 ator Murray, who had to go give another percent of the world’s people. We enjoy speech; Congressman McDermott, Con- about 22 percent of the world’s income. It gressman Inslee, from here in Washington. is pretty much elemental math that we can’t We have a very large delegation from Con- continue to do that unless we sell something gress. I’d like to ask all the Members of Con- to the other 96 percent of the people that gress who are here to please stand, so you’ll inhabit this increasingly interconnected plan- see what the level of interest is. We have et of ours. Representatives from the House and the Now, if you look at where the farmers in Senate, from the Republican and the Demo- our country are today—whether they’re row cratic Parties here. And we’re very glad to crop farmers like most of them in my home be in Washington State, Governor Locke, State of Arkansas, growing soybeans and rice and in Seattle, Mayor Schell. We thank you and cotton and wheat or people who grow for hosting us. fruit in Washington State or vegetables here I thank all the other farmers who are here. and on the east coast—one of the biggest And I’d like to say a special word of welcome problems we’ve got is low prices because of to the children who are here, who are part the Asian financial crisis. And it’s been a ter- of the WTO Trade Winds program. rible burden. In addition to low prices, many Last year, Seattle sold $34 billion in ex- of our farmers have been victimized by ter- ports to foreign markets, making it the largest rible, terrible weather problems. And finally, exporter among all American cities, every- they deal with market after market after mar- thing from airplanes to apples. The control ket where they could sell even more than tower I just climbed, therefore, offers an in- they do if the markets were more open. teresting vantage point, not only of what was once a condemned toxic waste site and is now I personally believe, for the farmers that a wonderful, flourishing economic asset but, are in our national farm programs, we’re in a larger sense, a vantage point of the 21st going to have to adjust our national laws if century world that I think we ought to be we are going to stop having an annual appro- building for our children. priation of the surplus that’s as big as what It’s a perfect place to talk about what we we’ve been doing the last couple of years. came here to the WTO meeting in Seattle But over and above that, for the farmers, like to do, to open markets and expand opportu- the people that run our apple orchards that nities, not only for our people but for people aren’t in the farm programs, we’ve got to all around the world, from the world’s newest keep fighting to open these markets. business, E-commerce, to the world’s oldest 2490 Dec. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

Now, we do that against a background of encourage them to follow good rules of law people who are raising more and more ques- and adopt good economic policies and to be tions about the global trading system and good neighbors and not hostile neighbors. about the process of globalization in general. There are a lot of opinions being expressed When I see all these people in the streets here among a lot of the folks that are out here, I’d like to point out that among—a lot in the streets, and representatives of groups of people who are peacefully protesting here that I will meet with later today, that I do in the best American tradition, are protesting not agree with. But I am glad that there is in part because the interests they represent such intense interest in this meeting, because have never been allowed inside the delibera- it shows that people really do care about this tions of the world trading system. And I went now, and therefore, trade decisions, like all the way to Geneva last year to talk to the other decisions we make in the Congress and WTO to tell them we had to change that; in Washington and in the statehouses around we needed to open this system up. the country, have to become part of the For most of the last 50 years, trading democratic process. issues, when they were finally decided, were You know, every elected official here will the private province of CEO’s, trade min- tell you that there are some decisions that isters, and the politicians who supported you really have to consult heavily with the them. Now we know we have to continue people you represent before you make, and to open markets, we’re reaching out to places other decisions you know they’ve just sort of like China. We’re trying to do more with de- given you a contract on. They say, ‘‘Oh, veloping nations. We’re trying to build more well’’—the people in North Dakota—‘‘I partnerships with governments and industry know Congressman Pomeroy or Senator and labor and management. But we can’t do Conrad, and I don’t understand that issue any of it unless there is a broader consensus very much, but whatever decision they make on trade that reaches deep into our country is okay with me because I trust them.’’ and to other countries. And it’s not that way any more here with So I say that for those who came here to trade. We have to bring people into this tent, peacefully make their point, I welcome them and we have to do it in an effective way. But here because I want them to be integrated I think, at least for people like me—and I into the longer term debate. To those who haven’t even succeeded in bringing harmony, came here to break windows and hurt small I know, within my own party about this— businesses or stop people from going to but I do not see how we can have the country meetings or having their say, I condemn and the future we want unless America con- them, and I’m sorry that the mayor and the tinues to be a leading force for expanding Governor and the police officers and others trade, expanding markets for goods and serv- have had to go through this. But we need ices, expanding the reach of international to make a clear distinction between that commerce, doing it on fair and decent terms, which we condemn and that which we wel- being sensitive to the burdens that the poor- come. est countries have, and understanding that, I’m convinced we do have to open the while a concern for labor or the environment WTO and the world trading system to greater could be twisted to be an excuse for protec- public scrutiny and to greater public partici- tionism, it is not wrong for the United States pation. Because unless real people, like this to say we don’t believe in child labor or apple farmer from Washington, can say, forced labor or the oppression of our broth- ‘‘This is how I fit in the global economy. This ers and sisters who work for a living around is why my family and I are better off than the world. And we don’t believe that growing we otherwise would be,’’ over the long run the economy requires us to undermine the we’re not going to be able to continue to environment. bring the world together, which I think is You know, you just look at this port here. important to America economically, and I What they’re doing with multimodal trans- think it is very important politically that we portation here is saving huge amounts of en- continue to work closely with countries and ergy, dramatically reducing greenhouse gas Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 1 2491 emissions, as it promotes economic growth. we expand access and we do it on fair terms You’re going to see the growth, in my opin- and we’re sensitive to the legitimate difficul- ion, in the next several years of alternative ties these poor countries face, we can also fuels, much of it coming out of America’s advance the cause of the environment and farming areas, which will dramatically reduce labor conditions without it becoming a shield greenhouse gas emissions, reduce global for protectionism and trying to take unfair warming, and accelerate economic growth. advantage of countries that are poorer than So I strongly believe, if we want to get every- we are. I believe that. body together and move forward, we are But again, let’s keep our eyes on the big going to have to listen to people who have issue: We cannot grow the American econ- legitimate economic concerns, legitimate en- omy in the 21st century unless we continue vironmental concerns, legitimate labor con- to sell more to a world that is prospering and cerns. that is more connected, increasingly, in infor- So one of the things that I think we’ve got mation technology and travel, not only with to be clear on—everybody has to decide— us but with everyone else in the world. do you think we are better off or worse off The typical American—let’s just take ap- with an increasingly integrated global econ- ples, for example—the typical American eats omy where productive Americans have a 20 pounds of fresh apples each year. And chance to sell their goods and services and this is a pander to Washington State, I am skills around the world. I think we’re better not the typical American; I eat more. [Laugh- off. That’s the number one core decision we ter] This is a pander, I admit. But the typical ought to make up our mind as a country we European consumes about 46 pounds of ap- agree about. ples a year. So America exported $353 mil- Now, I want this new trade round at the lion worth of apples last year. More than a WTO to be about jobs, development, and quarter of the total, 46,000 metric tons, were broadly shared prosperity and about improv- shipped here, from Seattle—Red Delicious ing the quality of life and work for ordinary from the Lake Chelan region; Granny Smiths people all around the world. It isn’t right for from the Columbia basin; Winesaps, Fujis, me to ask for the good things I want for Galas grown in Washington State, boxed and America’s working families without wanting bound for Mexico, Malaysia, and more than to provide those opportunities for others who 40 other countries around the world. are willing to work for them. I have worked very hard to open these The impact of this round could be quite markets. We opened the Japanese market for profound. Since the first trade round 50 years the first time to Washington State’s apples ago, we’ve cut major nations’ tariffs on manu- in our administration. Then we fought to get factured goods by 90 percent. During the the barriers down in Washington, in Mexico same period, global trade has grown fifteen- and elsewhere. And we’re making some fold, and we’ve seen the most rapid, sus- progress. tained economic growth, not just in the But it is very important to recognize—go United States but throughout the world, in back to John, or go back to—those of us who any period of human history because we’re come from farming States. Farmers are the working together. lifeblood of our country. They are better at Are there difficulties? Are there problems? what they do, thank goodness, than any Are there disagreements? Of course, and group of people on Earth. But we cannot there always will be. That’s why you have to preserve family farms unless we sell more have some system to resolve them. Whatever of what we grow to more people around the system you adopt, will there always be a mis- world, because the structure of agriculture take made by somebody, somewhere, some- we have, to make a living, has to produce time? Of course. We’re all human. a lot more food than all of us can consume. But we need to keep our eyes on the objec- And that is a good thing. That can be a tive and increasing economic cooperation is gift to the rest of the world. It can free other in the interest of the ordinary citizens of the countries to work on what they need to do United States and the rest of the world. If to develop the capacities of their people, to 2492 Dec. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 focus on diversifying their own economies. more apple sales from Washington. It will And we have to find a way to reach agree- help more family farmers. ments to do that. We will also work to reduce domestic sup- Five years ago we joined with our trading ports that don’t support trade, so much as partners to put agriculture on the WTO distort it by paying farmers to overproduce agenda. We made some progress then; we and drive prices down, and we see that in pledged to come back and do more. Today, a lot of places in the world. That should not our agenda here is to fight and win for the be the case. We know that our farms can family farmers of the United States. We want produce a vast and varied supply of food at to level the playing field. We don’t want any affordable prices in a way that helps to re- special preferences. We just want agriculture duce hunger and malnutrition around the to be treated as fairly as any other sector in world. We also should see that the promise the global economy. of biotechnology is realized by consumers as I know that’s long overdue, and I believe well as producers in the environment, ensur- it is the due of every farm family in America, ing that the safety of our food is guaranteed whether an apple farmer in the Cascades, a by science-based and absolutely open domes- banana farmer in the Cameroon, any farmer tic regulations. And we should maintain mar- deserves a chance to compete. It is not just ket access based on sound science. American farmers that would be benefited I want to say to the people of Europe and all around the world, I would never know- from this. Some of the poorest countries in ingly permit a single pound of any American the world would get the biggest benefits out food product to leave this country if I had of this trade round if we continue to tear a shred of evidence that it was unsafe and down barriers to agricultural exports. They neither would any farmer in the United shouldn’t have to compete against state- States of America. I say to people around owned enterprises, restrictive regulations, the world, we eat this food, too, and we eat the size of other countries’ Government more of it than you do. Now, if there’s some- grants. thing wrong with anything we do, we want In the European Union, for example, to know about it first. But we need to handle which accounts for 85 percent of the world’s this in an open, honest way. agricultural export subsidies, half of the over- It shouldn’t be just about politics and emo- all budget is spent on agriculture. Now, I ap- tionalism and short-term advantage. We preciate their support for their rural commu- need an open system. There is a reason we nities. We’ve always wanted to support our have confidence in the Federal bodies that rural communities. But we have to work out analyze the safety of our food. They may not a system going forward where everybody can be perfect, but nobody believes they are in do what they do best. And then people have anybody’s hip pocket. They are the world’s to be given time and support and investment best experts. We have an orderly, disciplined to make the transitions into the new econ- system here for evaluating the safety of not omy. That’s all I’m asking for, and that’s all only our food but our medicine. And we ask I would ever ask for, for people here in the all of our trading partners to do the same United States. and to deal with us in a straightforward man- We have to lower tariff barriers; they’re ner about this. too high. On average, official rates abroad But everybody must understand we have are 5 times as high as they are here in Amer- nothing to hide, and we are eating this food, ica. Taking apples as an example, it was just too. Nobody is trying to do anything under mentioned tariff rates are 45 percent in the table, in secret, in an inappropriate way. Korea and 30 percent in China. One of the But neither should our farmers be subject reasons that our people in our economic to unrealistic delays and unfair discrimina- team, Charlene Barshefsky and her group tion based on suspicion unsupported by the and Gene Sperling when they went to China, latest scientific examination. Let’s handle this they negotiated a steep cut in the tariff in in an open, fair, scientific way. That’s the China to 10 percent by the year 2004. That’s right way to do this. Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 1 2493

Now after I leave you, I am going to go it. Americans are better off today after 50 meet with the trade ministers that are here years of open trade than they would have from more than 100 countries. It’s a great been if we hadn’t had it. honor for Seattle, for the State of Wash- And what has helped us will help the poor- ington, and for the United States to have est countries in the world, the wealthy coun- these people come here and to try to come tries, and the countries in-between if we find to terms with a lot of these very difficult a way to continue to draw together and to issues. I want to talk about how we can make deal with the legitimate concerns of the le- sure that ordinary working people all across gitimate protesters in the streets of Seattle. the world feel that they have a stake in an And you know, to me it is a very exciting improving global economic system. I want to time. This is a high-class problem, and we assure them that we have to do what is nec- ought to treat it as a 21st century challenge, essary to make sure that economic competi- worth our best efforts. If we do, I think we’ll tion lifts people up everywhere. get a good result. Now there are people, again I say, who Thank you very much. honestly believe that open trade stacks the deck against ordinary people. Thirty percent NOTE: The President spoke at 12:37 p.m. in the of the growth we’ve gotten in this country, Weyerhauser Facility at Terminal 5 at the Port 30 percent, between 1993 and the time of of Seattle. In his remarks, he referred to John the Asian financial crisis, came because of Butler, apple grower, who introduced the Presi- expanding trade. We had pretty good farm dent; Patricia Davis, president, Seattle Port Com- years in there too, folks. It’s hard to remem- mission, and president, Washington Council on ber it’s been so bad the last year or so, but International Trade; Gov. Gary Locke of Wash- we had some pretty good years. ington; and Mayor Paul Schell of Seattle. And we have got to figure out a way not only to sell the idea but to make it real, that we can continue to pursue these objectives Exchange With Reporters in Seattle in a way that lifts people’s quality of life up December 1, 1999 and lifts the ordinary living standards up for people throughout the world. We can do that. Disruption of the Seattle Round Now let me finally say that I know these Q. Mr. President, what message do the vi- questions won’t be easy. One of the things olence and protests send to the WTO officials I’ve learned in all trade cases is that it once and delegates here? again reaffirms the wisdom of the Italian The President. Let me say this, I think Renaissance political philosopher Machia- that the WTO officials are quite well aware velli, who said—I’m paraphrasing here, but that the violence is not representative of how this is almost exactly right—he said there is the American people feel, that nearly 100 nothing so difficult in all of human affairs percent of our people abhor what was done as to change the established order of things, and condemn it. We don’t believe in vio- because the people that are going to win will lence. We don’t believe in people who keep always be somewhat uncertain of their gain; other people from meeting. We don’t like whereas, the people who will lose are abso- that. lutely sure of what they are going to lose. I think that what the WTO people are here So this will require some amount of imagi- is to pay attention to the nonviolent protests nation and trust and humility and flexibility. and should open the process and find a way But if we’re going to have a world, rule-based to legitimately consider the grievances of the trading system, then we have got to make poorest nations, as well as those of us who it work for ordinary folks. But we in America, believe that we have to give greater concern we have to take the lead in continuing to to the environment and to labor standards make the main point. The world is a better and our trade measures. And I think—that’s place today after 50 years of more open trade what I think they should listen to. They than it would have been if we hadn’t had should give no consideration to the violent 2494 Dec. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 people because nobody supports them, no- ity of work around the world, an expanded body believes in it, and what they did was system of rule-based trade that keeps pace wrong. It was just vandalism. with the changing global economy and the Q. Can a peaceful message go through? changing global society. The President. I hope so. That’s more up Let me begin by saying that 7 years ago to you, than me. [Laughter] when I had the honor to become President Thank you. of the United States, I sat down alone and sort of made a list of the things that I hoped NOTE: The exchange began at 1:07 p.m. while the President greeted the crowd at the ropeline could be done to create the kind of world following his remarks at the Port of Seattle. A tape that I wanted our children to live in, in the was not available for verification of the content new century, a world where the interests of of this exchange. the United States I thought were quite clear: in peace and stability; in democracy and pros- perity. Remarks at a World Trade To achieve that kind of world, I thought Organization Luncheon in Seattle it was very important that the United States December 1, 1999 support the increasing unity of Europe and the expansion of the European Union; that Thank you very much. Ambassador we support the expansion of NATO and its Barshefsky, thank you for your remarks and partnership with what are now more than two your work. Ladies and gentlemen, we have dozen countries, including Russia and a very large delegation from our administra- Ukraine; that we support the integration of tion here today, and I hope it’s evidence to China, Russia, and the Indian subcontinent, you of our seriousness of purpose. I thank in particular, into the large political and eco- the Commerce Secretary, Bill Daley; the Ag- nomic flows of our time; that we stand riculture Secretary, Dan Glickman; our SBA Administrator, Aida Alvarez, my National against the ethnic and religious conflicts that Economic Councilor, Gene Sperling; Ambas- were still consuming the Middle East and sador Esserman; and my Chief of Staff, John Northern Ireland, then Bosnia and later Podesta, all of whom are here, and I thank Kosovo; that we do what we could to help them. people all over the world to deal with such I want to say that I agree that Mike Moore things, including the tribal wars in Africa. is the ideal person to head the WTO, because And I thought it was important that we he has a sense of humor, and boy, do we give people mechanisms by which they could need it right now. [Laughter] Did you see work toward a shared prosperity, which is the gentleman holding up the big white nap- why we wanted to finish the last WTO round; kin here before we started? He was doing why we are working hard with our friends that to get the light for the television cam- in Europe on a Stability Pact for the Balkans; eras. But he was standing here holding the why we know economics must be a big part napkin and Mike whispered to me, he said, of the Middle East peace process; why we ‘‘Well, after yesterday, that could be the flag have an Asian-Pacific Economic Forum, of the WTO.’’ [Laughter] We’ll have rolling where the leaders meet; why we’ve had two laughter as the translation gets through here. Summits of the Americas with our friends Let me begin by saying welcome to the in Latin America; why we’re trying to pass United States and to one of our most won- the Africa and Caribbean Basin trade initia- derful cities. We are honored to have you tives; and why I believe it is imperative that here on a very important mission. Today I we here succeed in launching a new trade want to talk a little bit about the work that round that can command broad support we’re all here to do: launching a new WTO among ordinary citizens in all our countries round for a new century, a new type of round and take us where we want to go. that I hope will be about jobs, development, There are negative forces I have tried to and broadly shared prosperity and about im- combat, in addition to the forces of hatred proving the quality of life, as well as the qual- based on ethnic or religious difference: the Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 1 2495 terrorists, the problems of disease and pov- even though there were always conflicts— erty, which I hope that the large debt relief you know, the United States and Japan, initiative that we are pushing will help to al- they’re our great friends and allies; we’re al- leviate. ways arguing about something. But to be fair, But in the end, all of these changes in my it was a conflict that operated within a fairly view will only give us the world we want— narrow band. For 50 years, trade decisions where the poorest countries have children were largely the province of trade ministers, that can at least live through childhood, and heads of government, and business interests. where the boys as well as the girls can go But now, what all those people in the street to school and then have a chance to make tell us is that they would also like to be heard. a decent living; where countries with govern- And they’re not so sure that this deal is work- ance problems can work through them; ing for them. where wealthy countries can continue to Some of them say, well—and by the way, prosper but do so in a way that is more re- they’re kind of like we are; a lot of them are sponsible to helping those who still have a in conflict with each other, right? Because long way to go economically; and where, to- a lot of them say, ‘‘Well, this is not a good gether, we can meet our common respon- thing for the developing countries. They sibilities to human needs, to the environ- haven’t benefited as much as they should ment, to the cause of world peace—we will have, while the wealthy countries have grown not get that done unless we can prove, for wealthier in this information society.’’ Others all of our domestic political difficulties and say, ‘‘Well, even if you’re growing the econ- all of our honest differences, we still believe omy, you’re hurting the environment.’’ And that we can have an interdependent global still others say, ‘‘Well, companies may be get- economy that runs alongside our inter- ting rich in some of these poorer countries, dependent international information society. but actual working, laboring people are not And we are called upon here to meet doing so well.’’ And others have other various against a background of a lot of people com- and sundry criticisms of what we have done. ing here to protest. Some of them, I think, I would like to say, first of all, I think we have a short memory, or maybe no memory, need to do a better job of making the basic of what life was like in most of your countries case. No one in this room can seriously argue not so very long ago. So let me say again, that the world would have been a better I condemn the small number who were vio- place today if our forebears over the last 50 lent and who tried to prevent you from meet- years had not done their work to bring us ing. closer together. Whatever the problems that But I’m glad the others showed up, be- exist in whatever countries represented here, cause they represent millions of people who whatever the legitimacy of any of the criti- are now asking questions about whether this cism against us, this is a stronger, more pros- enterprise in fact will take us all where we perous world because we have worked to ex- want to go. And we ought to welcome their pand the frontiers of cooperation and reduce questions and be prepared to give an answer, the barriers to trade among people. And we because if we cannot create an inter- need to reiterate our conviction that that is connected global economy that is increasing true. If we were all out here going on our prosperity and genuine opportunity for peo- own, we would not be as well off in the world ple everywhere, then all of our political initia- as we are. tives are going to be less successful. So I ask Secondly, at the end of the cold war, I you to think about that. am sure everyone in this room has been When I hear the voices outside the meet- struck by the cruel irony that in this most ing rooms, I disagree with a lot of what they modern of ages, when the Internet tells us say, but I’m still glad they’re here. Why? Be- everything, as Mr. Moore said, when we are cause their voices now count in this debate. solving all the problems of the human gene For 50 years—one of the reasons I said we and we will soon know what’s in the black needed a leader like Mr. Moore, with a sense holes in the universe, it is truly ironic that of humor, because for 50 years global trade, the biggest problems of human society are 2496 Dec. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 the oldest ones, those rooted in our fear of global markets and the technical assistance those who are different from us—different to make the most of it. races, different ethnic groups, different Director-General Moore has dedicated tribes, different religions. All over the world, himself and this organization to extending people consumed by differences. the benefits of trade to the least developed When people are working together for countries and I thank you for that, sir. Here common prosperity in a rule-based system, in Seattle, 32 developing nations are moving they have big incentives to lay the differences toward admission to the WTO. EU President down and join hands to work together. So Prodi and I have discussed this whole issue, if we just make those two points to our critics, and I have assured him, and I assure you, I think it’s very important: Number one, the that the United States is committed to a com- world is a better place than it would have prehensive program to help the poorest na- been, had we not had the last 50 years of tions become full partners in the world trad- increasing economic cooperation for trade ing system. This initiative, which we are and investment; and number two, the world working on with the EU, Japan, and Canada, of the future will be a safer place if we con- would enhance market access for products tinue to work together in a rule-based system from the least developed countries consistent that offers enormous incentives for people with our GSP preference access program and to find ways to cooperate and to give up their our Africa and Caribbean Basin initiatives, old hatreds and their impulses to violence which, I am glad to report, are making good and war. progress through the United States Congress. Building on our recent collaboration with Now having said that, we now have to say: Senegal, Lesotho, Zambia, Bangladesh, and What next? I think we have to acknowledge Nigeria, we would also intensify our efforts a responsibility, particularly those of us in the to help developing countries build the do- wealthier countries, to make sure that we are mestic institutions they need to make the working harder to see that the benefits of most of trade opportunities and to imple- the global economy are more widely shared ment WTO obligations. This afternoon I will among and within countries, that it truly meet with heads of international organiza- works for ordinary people who are doing the tions that provide trade-related technical as- work for the rest of us. I think we also have sistance and ask them to help in this effort. to make sure that the rules make sense and And I will say this. I do believe, after the that we’re continuing to make progress, not- Uruguay Round, when we set up this system, withstanding the domestic political difficul- that we did not pay enough attention to the ties that every country will face. We all ben- internal capacity-building in the developing efit when the rules are clear and fair. I think nations that is necessary to really play a part that means we have to cut tariffs further on in the global economy. And I am prepared manufactured goods and set equally ambi- to do my part to rectify that omission. tious goals for services. I think we should ex- We also must help these countries avert tend our moratorium on E-commerce. I the health and pollution costs of the indus- think we should treat agriculture as we treat trial age. We have to help them use clean other sectors of the economy. technologies that improve the economy, the But we all have domestic political con- environment, and health care at the same straints. Everybody knows that. I think we time. And I will just give one example. have to leave this luncheon saying, in spite Today is World AIDS Day. And today the of that, we’re going to find some way to keep USTR, our Trade Representative, and the moving forward because the world will be Department of Health and Human Services a better place, and the world will be a safer are announcing that they are committed to place. working together to make sure that our intel- Now, let me offer a few observations of lectual property policy is flexible enough to what I hope will be done. First, I think we respond to legitimate public health crises. have to do more to ensure that the least de- Intellectual property protections are very veloped countries have greater access to important to a modern economy, but when Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 1 2497

HIV and AIDS epidemics are involved and The sooner the WTO opens up the process like serious health care crises, the United and lets people representing those who are States will henceforward implement its outside in, the sooner we will see fewer dem- health care and trade policies in a manner onstrations, more constructive debate, and a that ensures that people in the poorest coun- broader level of support in every country for tries won’t have to go without medicine they the direction that every single person in this so desperately need. I hope this will help room knows that we ought to be taking into South Africa and many other countries that the 21st century. So we can do it a little bit we are committed to support in this regard. now and a little bit later. We can drag our More generally, this new round should feet, or we can run through an open door. promote sustainable development in places But my preference is to open the meetings, where hunger and poverty still stoke despair. open the records, and let people file their We know countries that have opened their opinions. economies to the world have also opened the No one—no sensible person—expects to doors to opportunity and hope for their own win every argument, and no one ever does. people. Where barriers have fallen, by and But in a free society, people want to be large, living standards have risen, and demo- heard, and human dignity and political reality cratic institutions have become stronger. We demand it today. have to spread that more broadly. Third, as I have said repeatedly, I believe the WTO must make sure that open trade So secondly, I want to say what I said at does indeed lift living standards, respects the WTO in Geneva last year. I think it is core labor standards that are essential not imperative that the WTO become more open only to worker rights but to human rights. and accessible. While other international or- That’s why this year the United States has ganizations have sought and not shied from proposed that the WTO create a working public participation—when that has hap- group on trade and labor. To deny the impor- pened, public support has grown. If the tance of these issues in a global economy is WTO expects to have public support grow to deny the dignity of work, the belief that for our endeavors, the public must see and honest labor fairly compensated gives mean- hear and in a very real sense actually join ing and structure to our lives. I hope we can in the deliberations. That’s the only way they affirm these values at this meeting. can know the process is fair and know their I am pleased that tomorrow I will sign the concerns were at least considered. ILO convention to eliminate the worst forms We’ve made progress since I issued this of child labor. And I thank the United States challenge in Geneva last year, but I believe Senate on a bipartisan basis for supporting there’s more work to be done from opening us in this. I believe the WTO should collabo- the hearing room doors to inviting in a more rate more closely with the ILO, which has formal fashion public comment on trade dis- worked hard to protect human rights, to ban putes. child labor. I hope you will do this. Now look, let me just say, I know there’s Let me say in all candor, I am well aware a lot of controversy about this. And as all that a lot of the nations that we most hope of you know, I’m about to enter the last year to support, the developing nations of the of my Presidency. I will not be around to world, have reservations when the United deal with the aftermath. But I’m telling you, States says we support bringing labor con- I’ve been in this business a long time. And cerns into our trade debate. And I freely ac- in the end, we all serve and function at the knowledge that, if we had a certain kind of sufferance of the people, either with their rule, then protectionists in wealthy countries active support or their silent acquiescence. could use things like wage differentials to What they are telling us in the streets here keep poorer countries down, to say, ‘‘Okay, is, this was an issue we used to be silent on. you opened your markets to us. Now we’ll We’re not going to be silent on it anymore. sell to you. But you’re selling to us, and we We haven’t necessarily given up on trade, but want to keep you down, so we’ll say you’re we want to be heard. not paying your people enough.’’ 2498 Dec. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

The answer to that is not to avoid this labor other way that somehow we can keep the issue, not when there’s still child labor all developing countries down. That is not true. over the world, not when there are still op- There are basically two great clusters of envi- pressive labor practices all over the world, ronmental issues facing the world today. not when there is still evidence in countries First, there are the local issues faced pri- that ordinary people are not benefiting from marily by the developing nations: healthy this. The answer is not to just throw away water systems and sewer systems, systems to the issue. The answer is to write the rules restrict soil erosion and to otherwise promote in such a way that people in our position, the public health. the wealthier countries, can’t do that, can’t It is in everyone’s interest to help those use this as an instrument of protectionism. things to be installed as quickly and effi- We can find a way to do this. ciently as possible. But the real issue that But there is a sense of solidarity all over affects us all, that prompts my insistence that the world, among ordinary people who get we put this issue on the agenda, is global up every day, will never be able to come to warming and the related issue of the loss of a luncheon like this, do their work, raise their species in the world as a consequence of children, pay their taxes, form the backbone global warming. of every nation represented here. They de- And the difference in this issue and pre- serve basic, fundamental decency, and the vious environmental issues is this: Once the progress of global trade should reflect, also, greenhouse gases get in the atmosphere, they in their own lives. I do not want the United take a long time, 100 years or more, to dispel. States, or any other country, now or later, Therefore, one nation’s policy, including to be able to use this as a shield for protec- ours—and we are now the largest emitter of tionism. But to pretend that it is not a legiti- greenhouse gases, in the United States. We mate issue in many countries is another form won’t be long, but we are now. But we have of denial, which I believe will keep the global to do something about this. And I want to trading system from building the public sup- say to you what I said to the people at our port it deserves. table. There is now clear and compelling sci- Finally, we must work to protect and to entific, technological evidence that it is no improve the environment as we expand longer necessary for a poor country growing trade. Two weeks ago, I signed an Executive rich to do so by emitting more greenhouse order requiring careful environmental review gas emissions. Or in plainer language, a na- of our major trading agreements early tion can develop a middle class and develop enough to make a difference, including the wealth without burning more oil and coal in input of the public and outside experts and traditional manners. This is a sea change in considering genuinely held concerns. We the reality that existed just a few years ago. stand ready to cooperate as you develop simi- And let’s be candid, most people don’t be- lar systems, and to integrate the environment lieve it. A lot of people in our country don’t more fully into trade policy. believe it. But in everything from transpor- We are committed to finding solutions tation to manufacturing to the generation of which are win-win, that benefit both the electricity, to the construction of buildings, economy and the environment, open trade it is now possible to grow an economy, with and cutting-edge clean technologies, which much less injury to the atmosphere, with I believe will be the next industrial revolu- available technologies. And within 5 years tion. We will continue to support WTO rules breathtaking changes in the way automobile that recognize a nation’s right to take science- engines work and in the way fuel is made, based health, safety, and environmental especially from biomass, will make these measures, even when they’re higher than trends even more clear. international standards. I do not believe the United States has the Now I want to say something about this. right to ask India or Pakistan or China or Again I know, there are some people who any other country to give up economic believe my concern and the concern of the growth. But I do believe that all of us can United States about the environment is an- responsibly say, if you can grow at the same Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 1 2499 rate without doing what we did—that is, foul- If we do this, then 50 years from now the ing the environment and then cleaning it people who will be sitting in all these chairs up—Mr. Kono remembers—I remember the will be able to have the same feelings about first time I went to Tokyo over 20 years ago, you that Mr. Moore articulated our feelings people wore masks riding their bicycles for the World War II generation. around. And now the air there is cleaner than Thank you very much, and welcome again. it is in my hometown in Arkansas. What is the difference now? It is not just NOTE: the President spoke at 3:05 p.m. in the a national issue. If you foul the atmosphere Spanish Room at the Four Seasons Hotel. In his and then you later clean it up, the green- remarks, he referred to Ambassador Susan G. house gases are still up there, and they’ll be Esserman, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; there for 100 years, warming the climate. Mike Moore, Director-General, World Trade Or- Now, we do not have a right to ask any- ganization; Romano Prodi, President, European body to give up economic growth. But we Commission; and Minister of Foreign Affairs do have a right to say, if we’re prepared to Yohei Kono of Japan. The President also referred help you finance a different path to growth, to GSP, the Generalized System of Preferences; and we can prove to you—and you accept, and Executive Order 13141 of November 16, 1999 on the evidence—that your growth will be (64 FR 63169). A portion of these remarks could faster, not smaller, that you’ll have more not be verified because the tape was incomplete. good jobs, more new technology, a broader base for your economy, then I do believe we ought to have those kind of environmental Radio Remarks on World AIDS Day standards. And we ought to do it in a vol- untary way with available technologies. But December 1, 1999 we ought to put environment at the core of Since the beginning of the AIDS pan- our trade concerns. demic, more than 50 million men, women, Now I don’t know if I’ve persuaded any and children worldwide have been infected of you about any of this. But I know one with the HIV virus. Each day, 16,000 more thing: this is a better world than it would become infected, half of whom are young have been if our forebears hadn’t done this people under the age of 25. for the last 50 years. If we’re going to go And while we’ve made great strides in into the next 50 years, we have to recognize treating AIDS here at home, there is much that we’re in a very different environment. more that needs to be done, particularly in We’re in a total information society, where the developing world, where AIDS poses our information has already been globalized, and greatest challenge. citizens all over the world have been empow- ered. And they are knocking on the door Today, on World AIDS Day, and every here, saying, ‘‘Let us in and listen to us. This day, we must join together as a global com- is not an elite process anymore. This is a munity to stem the tide of new infection, to process we want to be heard in.’’ care for those who are sick, and to continue So I implore you, let’s continue to make our quest for a vaccine and a cure. progress on all the issues where clearly we can. Let’s open the process, and listen to peo- NOTE: The President’s remarks were recorded at ple even when we don’t agree with them. approximately 10 a.m. on November 29 in the We might learn something, and they’ll feel Roosevelt Room at the White House for later that they’ve been part of a legitimate process. broadcast. The transcript was made available by And let’s continue to find ways to prove that the Office of the Press Secretary on November the quality of life of ordinary citizens in every 30 but was embargoed for release until 12 noon country can be lifted, including basic labor on December 1. These remarks were also made standards and an advance on the environ- available on the White House Press Office Radio mental front. Actuality Line. 2500 Dec. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

Executive Order 13143—Amending statement about Ireland, but before I do, just Executive Order 10173, as Amended, to illustrate the depth of support here, I’d Prescribing Regulations Relating to like to ask all the Members of Congress who the Safeguarding of Vessels, are here to stand and be recognized, and Harbors, Ports, and Waterfront thank them for their help. Thank you. Facilities of the United States Northern Ireland Peace Process December 1, 1999 Before I make my statement about this im- portant convention, I’d like to say a few By the authority vested in me as President words about the truly remarkable and his- by the Constitution and the laws of the toric events taking place today in Northern United States of America, including 50 Ireland. Eighteen months ago today the U.S.C. 191, I hereby prescribe the following Good Friday agreement was signed with the amendment to the regulations prescribed by promise of a future of peace and hope. Today Executive Order 10173 of October 18, 1950, the promise is being realized. The people of as amended, which regulations constitute Northern Ireland now have the power to Part 6, Subchapter A, Chapter I, Title 33 of shape their own destiny and choose their own the Code of Federal Regulations: future. Democratic government by and for Section 6.01–4 is amended to read as fol- all the people of Northern Ireland is now lows: replacing suspicion, fear, and violence. It is § 6.01–4 Waterfront facility. ‘‘Waterfront now possible to believe that the day of the facility,’’ as used in this part, means all piers, gun and the bomb are, in fact, over. wharves, docks, or similar structures to which There are many leaders who deserve spe- vessels may be secured and naval yards, sta- cial tribute for their contributions, but I tions, and installations, including ranges; would like to mention especially David areas of land, water, or land and water under Trimble and John Taylor, John Hume and and in immediate proximity to them; build- Seamus Mallon, Gerry Adams and Martin ings on them or contiguous to them and McGuinness, John Alderdice, Monica equipment and materials on or in them. McWilliams, David Ervine and Gary William J. Clinton McMichael and so many others. The White House, I would also like to thank Prime Minister December 1, 1999. Blair, Prime Minister Ahern, their prede- cessors, John Major, John Bruton, Albert [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, Reynolds. I thank Sir John de Chastelain for 10:42 a.m., December 3, 1999] his work. I thank the special envoys to North- NOTE: This Executive order was released by the ern Ireland, Ms. Mowlam and Mr. Office of the Press Secretary on December 2, and Mandelson, for the work they have done. it was published in the Federal Register on De- And especially I thank our great American cember 6. leader there, George Mitchell, whose pa- tience, commitment, and conviction were es- sential to making this day happen. Remarks on Signing the The Good Friday agreement must con- International Labor Organization tinue to be implemented in full, in word and Convention on the Prohibition and in spirit. The United States must continue Elimination of the Worst Forms of and will continue to stand with all those who Child Labor in Seattle are unequivocally committed to the pursuit December 2, 1999 of peace and justice and democracy in North- ern Ireland. This is our common responsi- Thank you, Secretary Herman; Mr. bility to the children there, whose future is Samovia, thank you for your leadership; John the best reason for all that has been done. Sweeney, Ambassador Tom Niles; all the Let me say that the United States is the Members of Congress here; Governor Locke; home of the largest Irish diaspora in the I would like to begin—I have to make a brief world. Many of us claim Irish heritage. For Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 2 2501 all the years and all the bloodshed, to have The step we take today affirms funda- the promise of being over today, this is an mental human rights. Ultimately, that’s what especially meaningful day for Irish-Ameri- core labor standards are all about, not an in- cans, and I thank you very much. strument of protectionism or a vehicle to im- pose one nation’s values on another but ILO Child Labor Convention about our shared values, about the dignity of work, the decency of life, the fragility and I’d like to begin this day by thanking all importance of childhood. the Members of the Senate. Thank you, Sen- In my State of the Union Address almost ator Murray, for being here. And I want to 2 years ago, I asked Congress to help make thank the Republicans, as well as the Demo- the United States a world leader in this cause crats, who voted on this together. But I and to start by working to end abusive child would be remiss if I did not say that the first labor. We are making good on that effort. person who ever discussed this issue with me Together—again, across party lines—we se- in 1992 when we were both running for the cured the largest investment in American his- office I am privileged to hold was Senator tory to end abusive child labor around the Tom Harkin of Iowa. And for more than 7 globe. years now, at every occasion, he has talked We’re establishing the first-ever United to me about this issue. It has been truly one States Government purchasing ban on goods of the driving passions of his life, and without made by forced or indentured child labor, him we would not be here doing this today. and we’ve beefed up enforcement to stop the And I would like to ask him to stand. importation of goods made by such labor. Thank you, Senator Harkin. Thank you. Just last week, the Customs Service banned I also want to thank Secretary Herman and the importation of certain hand-rolled ciga- Gene Sperling and Karen Tramontano for rettes, known as bidis, because of evidence what they did in our administration to spear- that one firm was making them with bonded head the effort. Perhaps there is no better child labor. way to conclude my visit here, because what Today we build on our achievements and we celebrate this morning symbolizes in our common commitment. This convention many ways what we’re seeking in the launch is truly a victory for labor, for business, and of a new round of trade talks, not just to for Government—for all those who worked lower barriers but to raise living standards, long and hard for 2 year to reach a consensus; to help ensure that people everywhere feel a victory for the nations of the world who they have a positive stake in global trade that joined together in the ILO this summer to gives them and their children a chance for adopt this convention on a unanimous vote. a better life. Today we say with one clear voice: Abusive We are here in Seattle to continue our ef- child labor is wrong and must end. forts to help establish a new consensus on Above all, of course, this is a victory for international trade that leads to jobs that are the children of the world, and especially for secure, development that is sustainable, pros- the tens of millions of them who are still perity that is broadly shared. We seek to forced to work in conditions that shock the widen the circle of opportunity, deepen our conscience and haunt the soul; children bru- commitments to human rights and human talized by the nightmare of prostitution; chil- freedom, and put a human face on the global dren indentured to manufacturers working economy. against debt for wages so low they will never Some day that it is not possible, that the be repaid; children who must handle dan- interests of nations, businesses, and labor, gerous chemicals or who are forced to sell within and across national borders, are too illegal drugs; children who crawl deep into divergent. This child labor convention proves unsafe mines; children who are forcibly re- that, at least on this profoundly important cruited into armed conflicts and then spend issue, it is possible. It is a living example of the rest of their entire lives bearing the scars how we can together come to level up global of committing murder when they were 8 or standards and lift up core labor values. 9 or 10 years old. 2502 Dec. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

For the first time, this convention calls on with the agenda of the ILO. That is key to the international community to take imme- making sure that the issues of child labor and diate and effective steps to stop the worst core labor standards, more generally, are on forms of child labor. This convention enables the international economic agenda, and they the world to say, no more. We recognize, of don’t become either/or conflicts. That’s why course, that no treaty or convention is ensuring the rights, the basic rights of labor, enough and that to end abusive child labor is central to our mission here in Seattle. once and for all we must untangle the pathol- This is a good day for the children of the ogy of grinding poverty and hopelessness world, but we can make tomorrow even a than lies at its root. If we want to slam the better day. We can do it by seeing that other door shut on abusive child labor, we must nations also ratify this treaty and join in our open the door wide to education and oppor- cause, and we can do it by building on the tunity. After all, nations can only reach their solid foundation of this convention and the potential when their children can fulfill common ground forged by leaders here in theirs. the work of the WTO, the IMF, the World John Sweeney put it best when he said Bank, and other international institutions. economic development is based in education, We have to harness the spirit of progress and and school is the best place for children. the sense of possibility that this noble docu- That’s why this convention places a priority ment embodies. We can light the way out on basic education, and we are trying to of the darkness of abusive child labor into honor that priority. the dawn of a new century of promise for Around the world, we are investing in cre- all the children of the world. ative solutions to get children out of abusive Thank you very much. workrooms and into classrooms. We are giv- They’ve elected me to say this. I would ing them a way out of the soccer ball industry like to ask Mr. Sweeney and Ambassador in Pakistan, the shoe industry in Brazil, the Niles and all of the Members of the Con- fireworks industry in Guatemala. We are giv- gress, the Governor and Secretary Daley, ing them back the most precious gift of all, Secretary Slater, to come up and join us as their childhood. we do this signing, please. And as we work to provide both boys and NOTE: The President spoke at 9:10 a.m. at the girls access to schools, we are also working Bell Harbor International Conference Center. In to provide their parents with viable economic his remarks, he referred to Juan Samovia, director alternatives and access to jobs. In Pakistan, general, International Labor Organization; John for example, when 7,000 children moved out J. Sweeney, president, AFL–CIO; former U.S. of the soccer ball manufacturing plant into Ambassador to Greece Thomas M.T. Niles, presi- the schools, 7,000 parents moved into jobs dent, U.S. Council for Business; Gov. Gary Locke they didn’t have before, at better incomes. of Washington; David Trimble, leader, and John Microcredit loans help people in devel- Taylor, member, Ulster Unionist Party; Social Democratic and Labor Party members John oping countries, and women in particular, to Hume and Seamus Mallon; Gerry Adams, leader, start businesses, raise their standard of living, and Martin McGuinness, member, Sinn Fein; Al- build a better life for their children. I am liance Party leader Lord John Alderdice; Monica proud that through the Agency for Inter- McWilliams of the Northern Ireland Women’s national Development, the United States fi- Coalition; Progressive Unionist Party spokesman nanced 2 million such loans last year. So we David Ervine; Ulster Democratic Party leader have here not only the Secretary of Labor Gary McMichael; Prime Minister Tony Blair and but the Secretary of Commerce. We see this former Prime Minister John Major of the United not only as a labor issue but a business and Kingdom; Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and an economic issue. We believe that everyone former Prime Ministers John Bruton and Albert Reynolds of Ireland; Gen. John de Chastelain, Ca- will be better off when children are given nadian Defense Forces, chair, Independent Inter- back their childhoods. national Commission on Decommissioning; We are working to integrate the agenda, former United Kingdom Secretary of State for also, as all of you know, of the World Trade Northern Ireland Marjorie Mowlam and her suc- Organization, the IMF, and the World Bank cessor, Peter Mandelson; and former Senator Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 2 2503

George J. Mitchell, who chaired the multiparty accord, and it has to be achieved in the over- talks in Northern Ireland. The convention was en- all implementation of the agreement. All par- titled the International Labor Organization Con- ties have a collective responsibility here, and vention No. 182, Convention Concerning the Pro- hibition and Immediate Action for Elimination of I think what we should do is to give the the Worst Forms of Child Labor. agreed-upon process the chance to work. I have great confidence in General de Chastelain. I believe the parties have great Telephone Interview With Mark confidence in him. And I don’t think you can Little of RTE and Steve Grimason of underestimate the terrific importance of the the BBC From Seattle IRA naming its representative to General de December 2, 1999 Chastelain’s commission, and I hope they do that today. And the Loyalists should do the President’s Possible Visit to Belfast same. Mr. Grimason. First of all, Mr. President, And all of us on the outside, rather than thank you very much for joining us. There speculating on this day about what might has been some speculation that with things happen bad, I think we’ve got a roadmap for again moving in the peace process, you may the future. We’ve got a process, and we’ve actually be considering making a return trip got a commission with a leader that the par- to Belfast—and we could say that it’s safer ties respect, and I think we ought to give than Seattle. it a chance to work. The President. [Laughter] Yes, Seattle, the new home of the Troubles. Well, let me say this. First of all, I am elated about today’s events. They are truly historic. Now the people in Northern Ireland Ulster Unionists Deadline have the authority and the power to work together and to shape their own future, and Mr. Grimason. The problem that we have it’s wonderful. And you know how much I had with last weekend’s events, although to- love to come there, and I would come at the day’s events are genuinely historic, is that the drop of a hat if there is some contribution Ulster Unionists under David Trimble do— I can make to the ongoing peace process and have set effectively a deadline. And if by Feb- the work still to be done. I’ve told George ruary there is no decommissioning, they will Mitchell that. I’ve told Bertie Ahern that, and return and all the signs are that they could I’ve told Tony Blair that. And obviously, the bring all of this work down. parties know that. All the others know that The President. Well, let me say first of I would do that. But I have not made a deci- all, you know, I’ve always tried to help. I’ve sion to come right now. done everything I could to help, and I’ve Decommissioning of Arms worked with David Trimble and his people and with Gerry Adams and the Sinn Fein Mr. Little. If I could ask you, it seems and with John Hume and Seamus Mallon. unfortunately, with every victory in the peace process, there are sometimes the seeds of the And I think on this day the most important next crisis, and we have the Ulster Unionist thing I should say is to ask people to focus Council coming back in February to consider on what they have all agreed on. And what progress on decommissioning. Are you con- they have all agreed on is to give the de cerned that the historic development we see Chastelain commission a chance to work and today could be collapsed in February? And to participate in that. As long as that is out do you agree with the Republicans who say, there, I think it would be a mistake for me, this is Unionists setting a new deadline which as a friend of the peace process and the peo- is not in the Good Friday agreement? ple of Ireland and as the President, to do The President. Well, I agree with George anything that could in any way complicate Mitchell’s assessment that decommissioning that. Let’s give it a chance to work and find is an essential element of the Good Friday a way forward. 2504 Dec. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

Impact of Cooperation impact that will begin, I think, today, and Mr. Little. Mr. President, you know that go forward. there are a significant proportion of Union- President’s Analogy ists who do not want to see Sinn Fein in gov- ernment without some form of decommis- Mr. Grimason. Mr. President, you re- sioning by the IRA. Do you think the IRA cently and rather famously described the two have done enough to persuade that group sides here as like drunks in a bar who always of Unionists? Is it time they set a deadline have to have one more round. A lot of peo- for themselves for decommissioning, and is ple—you got some criticism, but a lot of peo- it time they said the war is actually over, the ple here said you were actually right to draw day of the bomb and the bullet is gone? that analogy. Are these people, in your view, ready to go on the Government wagon? The President. Well, I believe if in fact The President. Yes, I think they are. I did the IRA names its representatives to the de get a lot of criticism, and I probably deserved Chastelain commission, I think that will be some of it, because I didn’t mean to be mak- a pretty good signal that we’re all moving in ing an ethnic slur. Though what I pointed the right direction and that all parties recog- out is, when people have deeply ingrained nize the truly historic nature of this day. And habits, you know, even if they’re bad habits, I think that a lot of people had to make a they’re hard to let go of, because you’re sort lot of compromises to get us to this day and of leaping out into the unknown, and it’s a to make the political changes necessary to little frightening. And so maybe I should have reflect the plain will of the voters in both used a different analogy, but I think that communities in Northern Ireland. point, the general point, is quite valid. And let me say, I think you’ll see more And they’re in the Government now, and movement in the right direction—if none of they’re in there together, which means— us and none of them do anything that makes they’re all saying, ‘‘Okay we let go a little.’’ it any harder than it is already. So I’m quite They let go of something to come together. hopeful, actually. And I think that is, to me, an enormously And let me say this—I can only tell you positive sign. this from my experience in other parts of the And so I think that, if the analogy was good world as well—I think that there will be an at one time, it’s less good today than it was, intrinsic benefit to all the parties being in just because they’ve stood up a government the Government and working together and together. seeing each other and finding out how many things they actually agree on. I mean, there’s Legacy of Peace Initiatives really not a Republican or a Unionist way Mr. Little. Mr. President, you’ve been to figure out whether the economy is growing leader of the free world, some would say, or there’s adequate infrastructure. And they in very turbulent times. And you have con- both have a common stake in having an excel- fronted issues of vital importance to Amer- lent education for their children. ica’s national interest. When they write the And I wouldn’t minimize what I think will history books, where does Northern Ireland be the surprising amount of commonality figure in your legacy? they will find with one another as they as- The President. Well, first of all, I think sume the jobs they have. I mean, if you just the credit goes primarily to the people and look at the names of the portfolios the min- the leaders of Northern Ireland and to the isters have, and ask yourself, in how many leaders of Great Britain and the Republic of of these areas could there legitimately be real Ireland and, obviously, to George Mitchell differences? And won’t the commonalities for the role he played. dwarf the differences? So I think the very But I do think that the interest that the process of being in this Government to- United States has had in this and the plain gether, in the executive as well as the par- commitment we’ve had to it during my Presi- liamentary branch, is very, very important. dency has made some difference. I hope it And I think it will have a terrifically positive has. And all I can tell you is that to me, I Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 2 2505 think it’s very important. And I think it has gious differences sweeping the world, the enormous significance beyond the borders of fact that you have set a model here for rec- the six counties and the Republic. I think onciliation in what has often been a violent the significance around the world is huge. and always been a deeply historically embed- For example, I just met with the leaders ded struggle, is a profound significance, be- of all the parties in Kosovo. I was in Kosovo, cause this element of people fearing and dis- you know, and it’s a place that the United trusting and then hating and dehumanizing States and Great Britain, frankly, took the those who are different from them is at the lead in getting our NATO Allies together to heart of the problem in the Middle East, the stop a horrible example of ethnic and reli- problems in the Balkans, the tribal wars in gious hatred and cleansing. And we had all Africa. You just see it all over the world. these parties back together, and their wounds And so I think the people of Northern Ire- are much fresher and of a great magnitude. land and their friends in the Irish Republic, And I could talk to them about the Irish who voted for the necessary changes to im- peace process. And I could look them in the plement the Good Friday accord, and in eye and say, ‘‘You know, you can do this, too. Great Britain—they should know that what And sooner or later, you’re going to have to they have done is given enormous support do it. So you ought to do it.’’ and heart to people who are still struggling We’re entering a very critical phase of the in very difficult circumstances everywhere in Middle East peace process, where extremely the world. It’s just—I can’t tell you how im- difficult decisions have to be made, that are portant I think it is. not the same as the kind of decisions that You should have seen the look on the peo- have to be made here. But it gives courage ple’s faces in Kosovo, the party leaders, who to the proponents of peace in a place like are still so fresh from their struggles, when the Middle East to know that the Troubles I just was, in effect, hammering them with could be laid down, and people could be rec- the decisions that the people and the leaders onciled and work together. in Northern Ireland had made and the kind So you know, to me it’s a big part of the of accommodation that they had made to one legacy of all the peacemakers of the world another and how sooner or later people who in this decade who were involved in it, and shared the same piece of land had to work I am very proud and honored that I had a through—not necessarily identical decisions chance to be a part of it. but the same sorts of decisions in the same sort of way. So it is a matter of truly historic Impact of Irish Peace Process proportions—not because nobody won, but Mr. Grimason. Mr. President, could I ask because everybody won. you, the importance of the Northern Ireland peace process, could it be said that it will End of Ireland’s Claim on Ulster be the first really truly—if it works, the first Mr. Little. Sir, today the Irish Republic really truly genuine conflict resolution in the did give up a very tangible expression of its sense that neither side will have won? Fre- identity, as it says, its right to have control quently, we have things ending with people over those six counties in Northern Ireland. winning or with a transference of power. Will Some Republicans will say they’ve given up it have that effect in a world sense? a birthright today. What do you say to them? The President. Yes, except I would use The President. I would say to them, they a different word. I think you can say that gave up something quite significant, but they in many ways it is the first true conflict reso- gave it up to the principle of democracy, of lution. But instead of saying neither side majority rule—the principle of consent, in won, I would say both sides won. And I think the words that you have used there—and that that if they didn’t think they were winning, in return they got not only peace but the they would not have done this. chance for guaranteed representation, a And I think when you look at the fact that guaranteed voice in their own affairs imme- the biggest problem in the world today are diately, and a guaranteed role in shaping these conflicts over racial, ethnic, and reli- their children’s future. 2506 Dec. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

So I think the Irish Republic did a noble I thought that there could be no better prep- thing here. And they ennobled the people aration than to come be the warm-up act for who agree with them and who still support Ed Rendell tonight. [Laughter] the concept of a united Ireland, because they Let me say, in all seriousness, I am pro- gave them the only chance they could ever foundly honored to be here. I’ll never forget have to achieve their dreams, and even more the first time I met Mayor Rendell here in importantly, they gave them the only chance Philadelphia in 1992 when I was running for they could have to have a full life along the President. And we were walking down the way. streets of a neighborhood where he had an The principle of consent and shared deci- anti-crime program going. And we shot a few sionmaking and guaranteed representation baskets. We made very few, but we shot and now a renewed focus on the real chal- more. [Laughter] lenges that real people face every day—I And I thought that this—I have met a kin- think it was a fine bargain, and a noble one. dred spirit, because not only did we agree Mr. Little. Thank you, Mr. President. on so many of the same philosophies on Mr. Grimason. Mr. President, thank you crime, on welfare, on the economy, but we very much. We hope you are here soon. agreed on how public life should be con- The President. Thank you. ducted. I have thought about it so many Mr. Little. Maybe for the turning on of times since, but I got into the political race the Christmas lights, we’ll be there. [Laugh- for President in 1991 at a time when not just ter] Philadelphia but the whole country was fac- The President. You know, if it were up ing economic distress and social division, po- to me, I’d come once every two weeks. litical drift, and then kind of the whole dis- [Laughter] crediting of the enterprise of government. Thank you. And I was really frustrated, as the Gov- ernor of what my distinguished predecessor NOTE: The interview began at 10:55 a.m. from used to refer to as a—of a small Southern the supervisor’s office at the King’s County Inter- national Airport at Boeing Field. In his remarks, State, when I would see all these people in the President referred to former Senator George Washington just sort of throwing brickbats J. Mitchell, who chaired the Multiparty talks in at each other and, you know, struggling to Northern Ireland; Prime Minister John Bruton of get their 15 seconds on the evening news, Ireland; Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United which they know they could always get if they Kingdom; Gen. John de Chastelain, Canadian De- repeated the same thing over and over again fense Forces, chair, Independent International and made sure there was a real wedge divid- Commission on Decommissioning; Ulster Union- ing the American people in all kinds of ways. ist Party leader David Trimble; Sinn Fein leader And it struck me that if we ran our busi- Gerry Adams; John Hume and Seamus Mallon, ness life or our family lives or our personal members, Social Democratic and Labor Party. A tape was not available for verification of the con- lives the way we were running our national tent of this interview. political lives, the country would just run off the tracks entirely. And I was determined to try to go to the American people with a uni- Remarks at a Dinner Honoring fying theory of how we ought to do our com- Mayor Edward Rendell in mon work, to create opportunity for every- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania body responsible enough to work for it, to December 2, 1999 build a community of all Americans amidst all the differences among us, and mostly, to Thank you so much. Thank you, David, get to work on our common challenges. And Bill, Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen. It’s I went to Philadelphia. a great honor for me to be here tonight. You I had no idea how I’d do here or whether know, I’m preparing for what it will be like I would be embraced here, but I liked it, a year from now when I am just a member and I liked Ed Rendell, and I knew that he of the Senate spouses club—[laughter]— was committed to turning this city around when I have to know my place more. And and to moving it forward. And we’re walking Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 2 2507 down the street having a discussion, not so to get things done. And I just hope that we much about politics but about what it would can continue to do that sort of thing in Wash- really take to get the crime rate down, what ington. People ask me all the time—they say, it would really take to give people on welfare ‘‘Well, you know, it’s amazing how well the the dignity of work without forcing them to country is doing, and you must be a great sacrifice their responsibilities as parents, politician.’’ I said, ‘‘Well, a lot of it was we what it would take to bring genuine eco- just showed up for work every day.’’ nomic growth back into urban America. There’s a lot to be said for just showing Ed always says, well, you know, he couldn’t up for work every day and keeping your eye have done it without you and then he says on the prize and remembering who the cus- he couldn’t have done it without me, and he tomers are and believing in the potential of talks about the Vice President and I putting this country. Philadelphia is at the heart of the empowerment zone here and the 1,000 everything that’s important about America, police and all that. That’s all true. But the our history, our founding documents, our success that we have enjoyed here in this spirit. And it is altogether appropriate that country would not have happened had it not been for leaders like Ed Rendell. And there in this remarkable time for our country, no is nobody in America—nobody—who does it city was better led, made more progress, or better. proved to be a better partner than the city Along the way, we’ve become very good of Philadelphia. personal friends. He’s always been there to So I have a lot to be grateful to Ed Rendell try to help raise financial support for me and for. Most important of all, from your point the Vice President, for our party. At a time of view, is he proved that the ideas we shared when he might have been taking at least a would work with hard work and good will. breath, he agreed to our request to become And the results are here for all to see, em- chairman of the national Democratic Party. bodied in this beautiful film. He helped to He has always been there. And I’ve thought sustain our common political efforts, but about it. Near as I can figure, all I’ve done most important to me, in the good times and in return is make his wife a Federal judge, the dark times, he was always there as a real so she can’t even campaign for him anymore. friend. And when all is said and done, that [Laughter] So I have disabled him as he has counts most of all. empowered me. It doesn’t really seem fair. Thank you, and God bless you. I would just like to say one other thing. Don’t sit down. This is going to be brief. You know, in this wonderful life that you But you see, you can tell which one of us have made it possible for me to enjoy—and is not really term limited. He tried to charge no city in America has been any better to up here to the microphone and was going me than Philadelphia, and the State of Penn- to deprive me of my one little role here of sylvania has been very good to me and the introducing him. But I still have a little ca- Vice President and to Hillary and to Tipper. pacity to pull rank. [Laughter] So this is my I have had the enormous privilege to get up job. and to work every day and try to make some- thing good happen in America. But I have Ladies and gentlemen, the person we all never been under any illusion that I could came here to honor tonight, Mayor Ed do anything other than create the conditions Rendell. and provide the tools for the American peo- ple who really make this country go every NOTE: The President spoke at 8:42 p.m. at the day. Pennsylvania Convention Center. In his remarks, Today in this country, the most innovative, he referred to David Cohen, former chief of staff the most effective public servants are the to Mayor Rendell, and H. William DeWeese, mi- best mayors, because they understand our nority leader, Pennsylvania State House. common humanity and our limitless possi- bility and because people like you hire them 2508 Dec. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

Remarks on Economic Growth creased investment by eliminating hundreds December 3, 1999 of inessential programs and putting us on a path that now has given us the smallest Fed- Thank you very much. Thank you, Sec- eral Government in 37 years. In 1997, with retary Herman and Council of Economic Ad- the Balanced Budget Act, we continued the visers Chairman Martin Baily, and especially, strategy, again increasing investment, cutting thank you, Marvin Dawkins, for your remarks inessential programs, first balancing the and for the power of your example. budget and then providing the first back-to- This is a very different time than we were back budget surpluses in 42 years. experiencing 7 years ago this month. When Now that led to lower interest rates, which I ran for President in 1992, it was a time helped ordinary Americans in all kinds of of economic distress and uncertainty for our ways. It cut the price of the average home country. While some people were moving mortgage by $2,000, the price of the average from the industrial to the information econ- car payments by $200 a year, the average col- omy with optimism and purpose, many oth- lege loan payment by $200 a year. But criti- ers felt fear and uncertainty because of the problems in our economy, high unemploy- cally, it also cut the borrowing costs and the ment, big deficits, high interest rates, low investment costs, therefore, for new busi- productivity gains, falling real wages for aver- nesses, especially for investment in new pro- age Americans. ductivity-enhancing technologies. Too many Americans couldn’t tell the story At the same time, we negotiated over 270 that Marvin just told. They lacked the skills trade agreements, including dozens of them they needed to succeed in the new economy; involving high technology issues, all of which they felt threatened by the changes; and they helped Americans to increase exports of high had no access to the tools that would lift them technology products—services. We pro- up. moted more competition in telecommuni- But when I traveled around the country cations, providing American consumers with in 1992 with the Vice President, we saw a the lowest Internet access rates in the world lot of signs of hope. We saw a lot of people and fueling the growth of E-commerce. And who were winning. And we became even we’ve taken actions that have led to the cre- more convinced that our country, as a whole, ation of a whole new generation of digital could do very well in this new global informa- wireless phones, you know, the kind you hear tion economy, if we could create the condi- go off in restaurants, movie theaters, and tions and provide all Americans the tools nec- Presidential press conferences. [Laughter] essary to succeed. While eliminating hundreds of programs, It seemed to me that there were three ab- we have almost doubled our investment in solutely pivotal elements. First, fiscal dis- education and training, everything from pre- cipline: We had to get rid of the deficit and school to dramatically increasing college ac- get interest rates back down and get invest- cess, to establishing lifetime access to train- ment back up. Second, expanded trade: We ing and retraining programs for people like had 4 percent of the world’s people and 22 Marvin. percent of the world’s income; even someone technologically challenged like me could fig- Now, as a result of these actions and, most ure out we had to sell something to the other importantly, the innovation and the hard 96 percent of the people on the globe. And work of the American people, we are now third, greater investments in new tech- experiencing an amazing virtuous cycle of nologies and in our people in their capacity progress and prosperity that few could have not only to know what they needed to know imagined. We are in the midst of the longest but to learn for a lifetime. And people like peacetime economic expansion in American Marvin Dawkins are Exhibit A of the pivotal history. If as seems highly likely it goes on importance of that. through February, it will become the longest Now in 1993, we put in place a new eco- economic expansion in our history. nomic strategy. It cut the deficit and in- Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 3 2509

It has given us low inflation, the lowest of the American people, the economic poli- unemployment rate in 30 years, also the low- cies we have pursued. est welfare rolls in 30 years, the lowest pov- To give you some idea of what this means, erty rates in 20 years, the highest home- 20 million jobs is a number greater than the ownership ever recorded, the lowest African- population of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Den- American and Hispanic unemployment rates ver, Washington, San Francisco, Dallas, ever recorded, the lowest African-American Miami, Buffalo, Cleveland, and Little Rock poverty rate ever recorded, the lowest His- combined. [Laughter] Twenty million people panic poverty rate recorded in a generation, would fill the Rose Bowl to capacity 200 the lowest poverty rate among households times over. Twenty million jobs are a lot of headed by single adults in over 40 years, and jobs. the lowest unemployment rate among And by and large, those jobs are good, women in 40 years. well-paying jobs, jobs on which you can sup- In other words, a good economy has also port a family, buy a home, afford a vacation, turned out to be very good social policy. save for college, put away a nest egg for re- More and more Americans are mastering the tirement. This was made clear in a new re- skills and reaping the benefits of this new port being released today by my Council of economy, and America itself continues to Economic Advisers and the Department of lead in new technologies, from E-commerce Labor. to biotech, that are shaping the future of the The report finally should put to rest the entire world. old myths about the new economy. The 20 Now today, I want to talk about one more million new jobs we have created mostly are piece of stunningly good economic news that high-wage not low-wage jobs. Over 80 per- is the direct result of the actions that have cent of them are in job categories that pay been taken and the work that has been done above the median wage. They are mostly full- by our people to propel our economy into time, not part-time. In fact, the proportion the new century, and now, we have a high- of Americans in part-time work has actually tech animation behind me—[laughter]—to fallen a bit in the last few years. illustrate this good economic news. I hate to Finally, those 20 million new jobs have compete with the movies, and I’ll probably benefited not just one race or class of Ameri- lose—[laughter]—but the idea is that I’m cans but all Americans. Unlike the end of supposed to be the narrator of this show. the last economic expansion in the 1980’s, [Laughter] when average wages went down, wages dur- What you see behind me is a graphic rep- ing the last 4 years of this expansion have resentation of the growth of new jobs in gone up across the board in all income cat- America, beginning in 1993, as well as the egories, with some of the biggest gains com- geographic location of these jobs. You can ing to some of our hardest pressed working see they have been spread across the country, families. As I said—I want to say this again, wherever people live. Virtually no area of our because I think it is worth reiterating; this Nation has been left out. At the bottom, you economy is not just 20 million new jobs and can also see a running tally of how many new a stock market that went above 11000 again jobs have been created. [Laughter] And I’m today—I never talk about it because it goes ahead of the running tally. [Laughter] But down as well as up, but it’s done pretty well. the latest figures are being released today. But let me say again, the lowest African- Come along. [Laughter] What did you say? American unemployment and poverty rates Filler, filler. [Laughter] I’ve never been at ever recorded—and we’ve been separating a loss for words. [Laughter] Why can’t I do the figures for nearly 30 years now—the low- this? est Hispanic unemployment rate on record With today’s new numbers, we have truly and the lowest Hispanic poverty rate in over crossed a remarkable threshold: 20 million 25 years, the highest minority homeowner- jobs. In fact, the specific number behind me ship on record, the lowest female unemploy- is 20,043,000 jobs, thanks to the hard work ment rate since 1953. And I don’t need to 2510 Dec. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 remind the large group of women in this au- Just think what these investments could dience that in 1953, there were a lot smaller mean. Today, scientists and engineers all percentage of women in the work force, so over the country have ideas for new tech- this is actually a much more important figure nologies they need Federal help to explore, than even that number indicates. technologies that could transform our econ- Now, technology has been a very impor- omy and our lives in the future just as dra- tant part of this economic performance. It matically as the Internet is doing today. has given us big productivity gains. The infor- There is really a continuing revolution, as we mation technology sector alone has been re- all know, in all kinds of computer technology, sponsible for about a third of our economic in biomedical research, and also in materials growth. And jobs in that sector pay nearly development, which I’ll say a little more 80 percent more than the private sector aver- about. age. If we want our current prosperity to con- We’ll have new materials as strong as steel tinue into the 21st century, we must there- but 10 times lighter. At the Detroit auto show fore clearly continue to encourage the cre- this year, they were already showing cars 500 ation and the spread of new technologies in to 1,000 pounds lighter that have exactly the our own economy. same safety tests as the old cars with steel. Therefore, I would like to highlight a cou- Obviously, that dramatically increases mile- ple of things that I think are of real impor- age, that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. tance in the budget agreement achieved with We could have new drugs that might cure Congress, that I signed just a few days ago. spinal cord injuries or new computer chips First, the budget I signed contains substantial that might simulate nerve movements that increases in direct Federal investment and allow people to function without the nerves long-term research and development. This is actually being reconnected. still very important, as all the private sector Just before I walked out here—this is iron- experts tell us. It is the kind of investment ic—just before we walked out here, we had that allowed the Defense Department to cre- CNN on in the little anteroom, and they ate the predecessor of today’s Internet 30 pointed out that Stevie Wonder was about years ago, that led Marc Andresen, working to have experimental surgery to have a com- at a federally funded supercomputer center, puter chip inserted in his retina to see if it to develop the first graphical web browser. can simulate and recreate the functioning We worked hard to get increases not only that was lost when he was an infant. We obvi- for biomedical research that had strong sup- ously all hope it will work. But I can tell you port in our Congress but for other science this: Someday, such things will work, and it and engineering disciplines as well. And I won’t be very long in the future. would like to make this point very strongly, We already have fuel cells and blended because it’s one that I hope to make more fuel engines for automobiles which will take progress on next year and hope to see our mileage up to 70 and 80 miles a gallon. We country embrace as a policy across the board, will soon have, I believe, ultra-clean fuel cells without regard to party: It is very important for cars, whose only byproduct will be water that we have a balanced research portfolio. clean enough to drink; computers that can And I don’t believe that the National Insti- translate English into foreign languages and tutes of Health has had a stronger supporter vice-versa as fast as people can speak. All than me. I believe that. But we have to have these things are right around the corner, but a balanced research portfolio, because the re- we have to continue our commitment to re- search enterprise is increasingly inter- search. dependent. Advances in health care, for ex- Second, later this month, I will sign a tax ample, are often dependent on break- measure that extends for 5 years the life of throughs in other disciplines, such as the the vitally important research and experi- physics needed for medical imaging tech- mentation tax credit. This is important be- nology or the computer science needed to cause this tax credit gives private firms the develop more drugs more rapidly or to con- incentives they need to invest in innovative tinue the mapping of the human genome. technologies that often don’t show up quickly Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 3 2511 on the bottom line but that, over the long Statement on United States Military run, will be highly profitable and that imme- Training on Vieques Island diately provide tremendous benefits to soci- ety as a whole. December 3, 1999 Third, last week I signed legislation to help For several weeks, we have been working accelerate competition in the telecommuni- on how best to reconcile the imperative of cation industry, to give consumers more providing satisfactory training for our Armed choices and lower prices. I also signed a bill Forces, with the strong feelings of many resi- to strengthen and streamline our patent and dents of Vieques and Puerto Rico about the intellectual property system, to strengthen impact of training operations there. I have the incentives for the next Alexander Graham discussed this with the Governor of Puerto Bell or Steve Jobs, to create the inventions Rico, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary and innovations that will drive the 21st cen- tury economy. of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and No one today can say for sure what our others. economy will look like in 25 or 50 years or what as yet unimagined technologies will Today the Secretary of Defense has rec- transform our lives. But we do know that it ommended a plan of action which I believe will be truly amazing, and it will happen with offers the best avenue to addressing both breathtaking speed and scope. And we know needs. I have accepted that recommendation that our Nation has always prospered when and am directing the Secretary of Defense Government has invested in giving people to work with the people of Vieques and Puer- the opportunity to make the most of their to Rico so that we can move forward in a vision and their dreams, from financing the cooperative manner. Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark I understand the longstanding concerns of Expedition to the Interstate Highway System residents of the island. These concerns cover and the space program. a wide range of issues, from health and safety The American people have always been a to the economy and the environment. They bold and innovative bunch. We are always reflect a distrust that, unfortunately, has been drawn to uncharted lands over the next hori- building for decades. Those concerns must zon. Who will pack our bags and head out be addressed, and I believe our plan will do to the latest gold rush or tinker in our base- so in a constructive manner. ments for years to invent a product no one At the same time, as Commander in Chief, else has ever imagined? That’s what we do. I cannot send our service men and women Today, thanks to wise investments made into harm’s way if they have not been ade- by Government and the private sector over quately trained. The training that our Atlan- many years, the American people have be- tic Fleet has undertaken on Vieques since fore them the unexplored continent of cyber- 1941 is important. While the Navy and the space and the prospect of discovering what Marine Corps will develop a satisfactory al- is in the black holes in outer space. By con- ternative for the upcoming exercise, it will tinuing these commitments, we can celebrate take several years to develop a comparable more days like today. long-term replacement. Thank you very much. Thank you. The plan I am adopting today provides for the end of training on Vieques within 5 years, unless the people of Vieques choose to con- NOTE: The President spoke at 1:25 p.m. in Presi- tinue the relationship; restricts training ac- dential Hall (formerly Room 450) in the Dwight tivities during the transition period to those D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his required by the Services; sets forth an ambi- remarks, he referred to Marvin Dawkins, former AT&T employee who took advantage of retraining tious economic development plan for opportunities to begin a new career, who intro- Vieques that would be implemented during duced the President; Marc Andresen, cofounder this transition; and gives the people of Puerto Netscape Communications Corp.; and musician Rico and the Navy an opportunity to discuss Stevie Wonder. this plan in order for it to be understood fully 2512 Dec. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 before training resumes this spring for this Statement on Signing the transitional period. Intelligence Authorization Act In particular, the following steps will be for Fiscal Year 2000 undertaken: December 3, 1999 First, the Navy and the Marine Corps will make alternative arrangements which they Today I have signed into law H.R. 1555, deem satisfactory for training of the Eisen- the ‘‘Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal hower Battle Group and the WASP Amphib- Year 2000.’’ The Act authorizes appropria- ious Ready Group, scheduled for December. tions for U.S. intelligence and intelligence- While such arrangements can be undertaken related activities during fiscal year 2000. This for the Eisenhower and WASP groups, they legislation contains numerous provisions that do not constitute a long-term alternative to will help to ensure that the U.S. Intelligence Vieques. Rather, this period will provide an Community retains the capability to counter opportunity for the people of Vieques to dis- threats to our Nation’s security. This Act contains a provision, known as the cuss this plan with the Navy and the Marine ‘‘Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Corps and understand it fully. Act,’’ that establishes a global program tar- Second, we will resume training next geting the activities of significant foreign nar- spring for a transition period, no longer than cotics traffickers and their organizations. The 5 years. This will enable the Navy to develop new Act provides a statutory framework for a suitable, long-term alternative. Training on the President to institute sanctions against Vieques will cease after this transition period foreign drug kingpins when such sanctions unless the people of Vieques decide it should are appropriate, with the objective of denying be continued. The Navy and the Marine their businesses and agents access to the U.S. Corps will develop a timetable to phase out financial system and to the benefits of trade operations in Vieques as soon as possible dur- and transactions involving U.S. businesses ing the transition period, including transfer- and individuals. Working with other nations, ring title of land to Puerto Rico beginning I intend to use the tools in this provision to with the western quarter of the island. combat the national security threat posed to Third, when training resumes for this tran- the United States by international drug traf- sition period, it will be limited to inert ord- ficking. nance only—no live fire—unless and until No nation alone can effectively counter the people of Vieques decide differently. these supra-national criminal organizations. Training will be authorized for 90 days a year, The United States must continue to cooper- what we need to meet our essential training ate with, assist, and encourage other nations needs. to join in coordinated efforts against these Finally, when training resumes, we will im- organizations. Consequently, as kingpin des- ignations are made under this law, we look plement an ambitious program that address- forward to working with appropriate host es the concerns that the community has had government authorities to pursue additional for so long—and that has been spelled out measures against those designated. by the Secretary of Defense. I am concerned about several parts of the I am convinced that this plan meets my legislation as well as segments of the accom- essential responsibility as Commander in panying joint explanatory statement. Al- Chief to assure that our military forces are though not law, classified language in the satisfactorily trained and ready, while at the statement accompanying the bill, entitled same time addressing the legitimate concerns ‘‘State Department Restrictions on Intel- of the people of Vieques. It provides some ligence Collection Activities,’’ could, if re- breathing space so that the people on the quired to be implemented, interfere with my island and the Navy and Marine Corps can responsibilities under the Constitution to proceed in an orderly and mutually respect- conduct foreign policy and as Commander ful fashion. in Chief. My Administration is committed to Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 2513 protecting and increasing its foreign intel- NOTE: H.R. 1555, approved December 3, was as- ligence collection capabilities while simulta- signed Public Law No. 106–120. neously promoting our foreign policy goals. To that end, in July of this year the Depart- ment of State issued new, uniform guidance that clarified the contact procedures and Digest of Other guidelines for executive branch personnel ´ (including military attaches) with respect to White House Announcements official representatives of nations of concern. I believe that these guidelines strike an ap- The following list includes the President’s public propriate balance among the competing in- schedule and other items of general interest an- terests at stake. Accordingly, consistent with nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and my constitutional responsibilities with re- not included elsewhere in this issue. spect to the conduct of foreign policy and as Commander in Chief, I will continue to November 28 expect that foreign policy guidance provided ´ The President and Hillary Clinton re- to U.S. defense attaches will be treated as turned to the White House from Camp a foreign policy matter, and direct that the David, MD. July guidance remain in effect until such time as I decide otherwise. November 29 The Act also creates a commission to re- In an early evening ceremony in the Oval view the roles, mission, and operations of the Office, the President received diplomatic National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and credentials from Ambassadors Lebohang K. I am pleased to note that the Director of Moleko of Lesotho, Mario Artaza of Chile, Central Intelligence will have a representa- Roland Eng of Cambodia, Simbi Veke tive on the commission. While I support the Mubako of Zimbabwe, Roberto Bernardo establishment of this commission, I believe Saladin Selin of the Dominican Republic, that because the NRO is an element within Guillermo Alfredo Ford Boyd of Panama, the Department of Defense, the Department Mohamed Nabil Fahmy of Egypt, Shunji should be represented on the commission. Yanai of Japan, and Jibril Muhammed Aminu I also recommend that the commission co- of Nigeria. ordinate its review and findings of mutual The President announced the recess ap- interest with the Commission to Assess U.S. pointment of Leonard R. Page as General National Security Space Management and Counsel of the National Labor Relations Organization established by the National De- Board. fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 November 30 (Public Law 106–65). Further, H.R. 1555 In the morning, the President traveled to provides that ‘‘[n]o department or agency of San Francisco, CA. the Government may withhold information In the evening, the President traveled to from the [National Commission for the Re- Beverly Hills, CA, and later, he traveled to view of the National Reconnaissance Office] Seattle, WA, arriving after midnight. on the grounds that providing the informa- The President announced his intention to tion to the Commission would constitute the appoint John T. Pawlikowski and Jerome J. unauthorized disclosure of classified infor- Shestack to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial mation or information relating to intelligence Council. sources or methods.’’ I do not read this provi- sion to detract from my constitutional author- December 1 ity, including my authority over national se- In the morning, the President toured the curity information. Control Tower and Terminal Five Transit Shed at the Port of Seattle. William J. Clinton In the afternoon, the President briefly The White House, spoke to representatives of the agricultural December 3, 1999. community. 2514 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

Later, the President met separately with Released December 2 International Leaders, NGO Environmental Transcript of a press briefing by Labor Sec- Leaders, and NGO Labor Leaders in the retary Alexis Herman and National Eco- Governor’s Suite at the Westin Hotel. nomic Council Director Gene Sperling on December 2 the International Labor Organization con- In the afternoon, the President traveled to vention Philadelphia, PA, where he attended a recep- Statement by U.S. Trade Representative tion at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Charlene Barshefsky and Council on Envi- In the evening, the President returned to ronmental Quality Chairman George Washington, DC. Frampton: On Trade Liberalization and For- December 3 est Protection In the afternoon, the President partici- Released December 3 pated in a menorah lighting ceremony in the Oval Office. Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- retary Joe Lockhart Transcript of a press briefing by Labor Sec- retary Alexis Herman and Council of Eco- Nominations nomic Advisers Chairman Martin Baily on Submitted to the Senate economic growth

NOTE: No nominations were submitted to the Senate during the period covered by this issue. Acts Approved by the President

Checklist Approved November 29 of White House Press Releases H.R. 100 / Public Law 106–111 To establish designations for United States The following list contains releases of the Office Postal Service buildings in Philadelphia, of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as Pennsylvania items nor covered by entries in the Digest of Other White House Announcements. H.R. 197 / Public Law 106–112 To designate the facility of the United States Released November 29 Postal Service at 410 North 6th Street in Gar- den City, Kansas, as the ‘‘Clifford R. Hope Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- Post Office’’ retary Joe Lockhart Statement by the Press Secretary: Meeting H.R. 3194 / Public Law 106–113 With His Excellency Ernesto Zedillo, Presi- Making consolidated appropriations for the dent of Mexico fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and for other purposes Announcement: Attendees at the Signing of H.R. 3194, ‘‘Omnibus Consolidated Appro- S. 278 / Public Law 106–114 priations Act, 2000’’ To direct the Secretary of the Interior to con- Released December 1 vey certain lands to the county of Rio Arriba, New Mexico Transcript of a press briefing by U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky and Na- S. 382 / Public Law 106–115 tional Economic Council Director Gene Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Sperling on the Seattle Round Establishment Act of 1999 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 2515

S. 1398 / Public Law 106–116 Approved December 3 To clarify certain boundaries on maps relat- ing to the Coastal Barrier Resources System H.R. 20 / Public Law 106–119 Approved November 30 Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Mongaup Visitor Center Act of 1999 H.R. 2116 / Public Law 106–117 Veterans Millennium Health Care and Bene- fits Act H.R. 1555 / Public Law 106–120 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year H.R. 2280 / Public Law 106–118 2000 Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Ad- justment Act of 1999