Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Monday, January 29, 1996 Volume 32—Number 4 Pages 83–118

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Addresses to Interviews With the News Media State of the Union—90 Exchange with reporters in the Oval Office— 87 Addresses and Remarks Letters and Messages Kentucky Ramadan, message—83 Community in Louisville—102 Community policing, roundtable discussion Meetings With Foreign Leaders in Louisville—99 Israel, Foreign Minister Barak—87 Radio address—83 Texas Resignations and Retirements Barbara Jordan, funeral service in Services Administration, Houston—85 Administrator, statement—114 Space Shuttle Endeavour astronauts, arrival Statements by the President in Houston—86 U.S. Conference of Mayors—108 See also Resignations and Retirements George Burns, 100th birthday—87 Communications to Congress Northern Ireland peace process—98 Space Shuttle Challenger, 10th anniversary— Department of Transportation, message 115 transmitting report—115 Libya, message reporting on U.S. national Supplementary Materials emergency—88 Acts approved by the President—118 Checklist of White House press releases—117 Communications to Federal Agencies Digest of other White House Food assistance to developing countries, announcements—115 memorandum—89 Nominations submitted to the Senate—116

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

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Message on the Observance of reasoned thought and eloquence to even the Ramadan most emotional debates. After she left the January 19, 1996 Congress, she went home to Texas to teach at the University of Texas and to continue Greetings to everyone observing the holy her work in public service. I appointed her month of Ramadan. to chair the Commission on As the crescent moon signals the approach Immigration Reform. And Barbara Jordan of this most sacred time in the Islamic year, was very instrumental in the progress we Muslims the world over commemorate the have made in tightening our border to keep revelation of the Koran to Muhammad. For illegal immigrants out and securing our work- Muslims, this marks a time of quiet reflection place for American citizens and legal immi- and religious devotion through fasting, self- grants. examination, and intensive study of the In developing a comprehensive system to teachings of Islam. Encouraging gratitude for keep us both a nation of immigrants and a our blessings and compassion for those in nation of laws, her work was pure Barbara need, Ramadan cleanses the heart and lifts Jordan: fair, principled, and strong. Our Na- the soul. tion has lost a great American, a states- During this time of unprecedented move- woman, a representative of the people with ment toward peace in the Middle East, Mus- a powerful voice and a great spirit. And many lims and people of all faiths have the oppor- of us have lost a friend and an inspiration. tunity to join together in creating a new We, the people, will greatly miss her. world of harmony. Ramadan, with its prom- Now I’d like to talk about our efforts to ise of renewal, helps to nourish the spirit of reach common ground on a balanced budget, brotherhood in us all. In this season of hope, a balanced budget that also protects Medi- let us resolve to work together for a better, care, Medicaid, education, and the environ- brighter future—a future in which children ment, and does not raise taxes on working of every religion can live together in peace. families. The budget talks are suspended now Hillary and I offer best wishes to Muslims because the Republican congressional lead- everywhere for a memorable observance. ers walked away from the table. I wish they hadn’t done that, and I hope they’ll come back and soon, because I believe our goal NOTE: This message was released by the Office can be met. After all, we’ve both agreed on of the Press Secretary on January 20. enough savings to balance the budget in 7 years according to the Congress’ own esti- The President’s Radio Address mates, without having to hurt our economy January 20, 1996 or sacrifice the values that I’ve talked about. That’s what we ought to do: balance the Good morning. Before I speak with you budget, protect the things we’re committed this morning about our budget, I want to take to protect. And we ought not to delay in get- just a moment to remember someone very ting on with the people’s business. In less special, a national treasure our Nation lost than a week now, the Republican Congress this week, former Texas Congresswoman could once again shut down our Government Barbara Jordan, the first African-American for the third time in 2 months. I urge them woman elected to Congress from the South. not to do that. In the last shutdown alone, In her years in public service, she gave the Federal Housing Administration was un- voice to our national conscience and brought able to insure single family home loans for

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tens of thousands of deserving applicants. I am committed—let me say again, I am Many, many thousands of citizens couldn’t committed to finishing the job of balancing get passports. Some veterans couldn’t get the budget. I have gone the extra mile in benefits. Many Medicare claims couldn’t be our talks. The Republicans asked for a 7-year processed. Small businesses—lots of them— plan to balance the budget; I gave them a couldn’t get loans to create new jobs. Envi- plan. They asked that we use the figures from ronmental cleanup actions were halted. the Congressional Budget Office. Even The shutdown also put hundreds of thou- though I disagreed with them, I did that, too. sands of Federal workers with families to I tried every way I can to accommodate Re- support under a horrible strain. Like most publican demands and bargain in good faith. American workers, most of them live pay- But there are areas of disagreement, and they check to paycheck. They simply cannot af- involve far more than money. They involve ford a third shutdown, and they don’t deserve our values and different visions about what it. kind of people we’re going to be and how Let’s remember, since I’ve been President we’re going to get to the next century. we have reduced the size of the United States The Republicans insist on cuts in Medi- Government by 205,000 employees. Your care, Medicaid, education, and the environ- Government has closed thousands and thou- ment that I believe are unwarranted. I know sands of offices, eliminated hundreds of pro- they’re not necessary to balance the budget. grams. It’s now the smallest Federal Govern- They admit they’re not necessary to balance ment since 1965. As a percentage of our work the budget. And I believe they violate our force, it’s the smallest Federal Government commitment to our children, our parents, since 1933. You probably didn’t know that. and our future. Among other things, their And one big reason is that the Federal em- proposals would raise Medicare premiums; ployees who have been left behind are work- repeal Medicaid’s guarantee of adequate ing harder, working smarter, and doing a bet- medical coverage for pregnant women, peo- ter job for you. They deserve to be able to ple with disabilities, children and older do their work and not to be thrown out of Americans; cut our efforts to keep drugs and work. violence out of public schools and to help Two Government shutdowns so far have schools reach high national standards of ex- cost taxpayers about a billion-and-a-half dol- cellence in learning; and dramatically cut the lars—a billion-and-a-half dollars. That’s not enforcement of environmental laws to keep Monopoly money. Shutting down the Gov- our air and water clean. My budget shows ernment again would be unbelievably irre- we don’t need these drastic steps, and we sponsible. So again I say to the Republican can still give a modest tax cut to people who Congress, don’t do that. We can’t afford to need it. bleed money and productivity at a time when We can end this budget stalemate. Both we should be putting all our efforts into sav- the Republican leaders and I have already ing money, serving the American people, agreed to more than $700 billion in savings. strengthening our economy, and moving for- That is more than enough to balance the ward. budget in 7 years. We can give the American I also urge the Congress to deal respon- people their balanced budget and a modest sibly with the Federal debt ceiling. Congress tax cut. They deserve it, and we ought to should never threaten to default on Ameri- do that immediately. ca’s debts. I’m encouraged that Republican So let me say again to the Republicans: leaders have acknowledged that Congress We don’t agree on everything, but we agree should not put the creditworthiness of the on a lot. And we agree on more than enough United States at risk in our budget negotia- to balance the budget, so let’s do it. Come tions. And we look forward to working with on back to the table. Don’t shut the Govern- the congressional leadership to draft a clean ment down. Don’t make America default on debt limit increase, to allow the United States its debt. Let’s do the right thing. My door to meet our obligations and maintain our in- is open. Let’s talk. Let’s get the job done tegrity. for the American people.

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Thanks for listening. September in 1787, I was not included in that ‘we the people’.’’ NOTE: The address was recorded at 4:49 p.m. on We listened in 1976 when President January 19 in the Roosevelt Room at the White Carter asked her to be the first black woman House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on January 20. to deliver a keynote address at the Demo- cratic Convention. When she asked and an- Remarks at the Funeral Service for swered one of those great questions with Barbara Jordan in Houston, Texas which we still struggle, she said, ‘‘Are we to January 20, 1996 be one people bound together by common spirit, sharing in a common endeavor, or will Thank you. Pastor Cofield; Bennie and we become a divided nation?’’ ‘‘A spirit of Rosemary and John; and Aunt and Uncle, harmony will survive in America,’’ she said, Mamie and Wilmer Lee; Mr. Mayor, my ‘‘only if each of us remember that we share good friend Governor Richards; all the distin- a common destiny.’’ guished Texans who are here; and friends of We listened in 1992 when she honored me Barbara Jordan around the country; Mem- by again giving a keynote address at the con- bers of Congress; members of the Texas vention. ‘‘The American dream is slipping State government; the former Members of away from too many people,’’ she said. She Congress who served with Barbara who came said it would only be changed if we devel- down with me today; to members of the Cab- oped an environment characterized by a de- inet; my fellow Americans. votion to the public interest, to public serv- The last time I saw Barbara Jordan was ants, to tolerance, and to love. late last fall when Liz Carpenter talked me After I became President, I asked her to into going to the University of Texas to give chair the United States Commission on Im- a speech on race relations on the day of the migration Reform. And she made us listen Million Man March. I was nervous enough again when she reminded all sides on that as it was. [Laughter] And I walked out into delicate and difficult issue that we must re- that vast arena, and there were 17,000 people main both a nation of immigrants and a na- there. But I could only see one, Barbara Jor- tion of laws. dan, smiling at me. And there I was about Barbara Jordan’s life was a monument to to give a speech to her about race and the the three great threads that run constantly Constitution. [Laughter] I think it was the throughout the fabric of American history: nearest experience on this Earth to the pas- our love of liberty, our belief in progress, our tor’s giving a sermon with God in the audi- search for common ground. Wherever she ence. [Laughter] could and whenever she stood to speak, she Through the sheer force of the truth she jolted the Nation’s attention with her artful spoke, the poetry of her words, and the and articulate defense of the Constitution, power of her voice, Barbara always stirred the American dream, and the common herit- our national conscience. She did it as a legis- age and destiny we share, whether we like lator, a Member of Congress, a teacher, a it or not. citizen. Barbara Jordan loved her family, her loved Perhaps more than anything else in the last ones, her friends, her allies, her teachers. She few years, for those of us who had the privi- loved Texas and how she loved our beloved lege of being around her, she did it in the country. She reveled in its never-ending incredible grace and good humor and dignity struggle to live up to our highest ideals. with which she bore her physical misfor- She once said this: ‘‘All we are trying to tunes. No matter what, there was always the do is to make this Government of the United dignity. When Barbara Jordan talked, we lis- States honest. We only ask that when we tened. stand up and talk about one Nation under We listened in 1974 when she said of the God with liberty and justice for all, we want preamble to our Constitution, ‘‘We the peo- to be able to look up at the flag, put our ple. It is a very eloquent beginning, but when right hands over our hearts, repeat those the document was completed on the 17th of words, and know that they are true.’’ Well,

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if Barbara wasn’t in the Constitution when penter, distinguished alumna of the University of it was first written, she made sure that once Texas. she got in, she stayed in it all the way. She also did all she could as a lawmaker and as a teacher to give future generations Remarks on the Arrival of the Space of Americans for all time to come equal Shuttle Endeavour Astronauts at standing under that Constitution. That’s what Ellington Field in Houston she was doing when God called her home, working with the students at the University January 20, 1996 of Texas Lyndon Johnson School of Public Affairs. Ladies and gentlemen, I am so glad that In 1994, in one of the most enjoyable mo- I happened to be in Houston and at the air- ments of my Presidency, I was proud to give port at the right time. I just want to take to Barbara Jordan the Nation’s highest award a minute—I know you came to see this fine to a civilian, the Presidential Medal of Free- crew and their families and to celebrate with dom. I noticed her wearing it today. And it them—but I just want to say on behalf of touched me so to know that she is now going the people of the United States, we are very to a place where her rewards will be greater. proud of this mission, proud of this crew. We As Ann Richards said, if we’re all going were thrilled by its success, and we’re glad to tell the truth today, Barbara Jordan made to have them home. every one of us stand a little straighter, speak And let me just make one plug to—I know a little clearer, and be a little stronger. She that I’m preaching to the saved here—but took to heart what her Grandpa Patten told I want to make one plug for the space pro- her when she was a little girl. ‘‘You just trot gram. You see all of our friends and allies your own horse, and don’t get into the same from Japan here celebrating their participa- rut as everyone else.’’ [Laughter] Well, she tion in the person—where is he—of Mr. sure trotted her own horse, and she made Wakata. We thank him. her own path wide and deep. Our space program is an important part Let me close with these lines from a poem of our partnership for world peace. It is an I love by Stephen Spender. I understand important part of how we relate to and work Barbara loved it, too, and liked to read it with the Japanese, the Russians, and others aloud. I can’t read it as well as she would in building a more cooperative, safer world have, but you’ll see it could have been writ- for the 21st century. Our space program is ten about her. ‘‘I think continually of those also an important part of research we do in who are truly great, who from the womb re- trying to solve medical mysteries and envi- membered the soul’s history, who wore at ronmental mysteries. NASA has been a their hearts the fire’s center. Borne of the major, major force in helping us to figure sun, they traveled a short while toward the out ways to save our planet Earth as we ac- sun, and left the vivid air signed in their commodate more population growth and honor.’’ more economic growth. So I ask all of you, Barbara’s magnificent voice is silenced. remain steadfast in your support for Ameri- But she left the vivid air signed in her honor. ca’s investment in space and in our future Barbara, we the people will miss you. We together with our friends and allies through- thank you, and Godspeed. out the world. Thank you. God bless you. NOTE: The President spoke at 10:36 a.m. in the Welcome home, gentlemen. Job well Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church. In his re- done. marks, he referred to Rev. D.Z. Cofield, pastor, Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church; Barbara Jordan’s sisters Bennie Crisswell and Rosemary NOTE: The President spoke at 1:20 p.m. In his McGowan, and her brother-in-law, John remarks, he referred to Japanese astronaut Koichi McGowan; Mayor Bob Lanier of Houston, TX; Wakata. A tape was not available for verification former Gov. Ann Richards of Texas; and Liz Car- of the content of these remarks.

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Statement on the 100th Birthday of be a terrible mistake. It’s an unacceptable George Burns thing for a great nation to do, and we’ve January 20, 1996 never done it. State of the Union Address Hillary and I extend our warmest wishes for a wonderful birthday to one of the most Q. Is this going to be longer than last year? talented entertainers of our time. George The President. Tune in. I suppose it de- Burns’ knowing smile and dry wit have pends on the applause, doesn’t it? [Laughter] touched the hearts and funny bones of three [At this point, one group of reporters left the generations. His impeccable timing breathed room, and another group entered.] life into the mundane, and his clever humor crystallized many ageless skits. His youthful Middle East Peace Process attitude, now a century old, continues to in- Q. Mr. President, I’m a correspondent of spire us today. We send him all our best on the Israeli television. Do you hope to reach this happy occasion. an agreement between Israel and Syria by the end of ’96? Exchange With Reporters Prior to The President. Well, of course, that’s up to Israel and Syria. All the United States has Discussions With Foreign Minister tried to do throughout this process is to try Ehud Barak of Israel to do whatever we could to encourage the January 22, 1996 process of peace. And I think the timetable has to be driven by the progress that is made. State of the Union Address That is entirely up to the parties. Q. Is your State of the Union all ready, Q. What are you doing in order to speed Mr. President? up such an agreement? The President. Just about ready. The President. We will do whatever we Q. Some people are expecting a campaign- can, whatever we’re asked to do, within limits style speech. to—within the limits of our ability, to try to The President. I don’t think so. What I’m make it possible for the parties to succeed. going to say tomorrow night is that the state But the timetable is entirely up to the of the Union is strong, but it can be stronger, progress of the substance of the negotiations, that I am absolutely confident and optimistic and that is entirely up to the parties. The about our ability to meet the challenges that United States—I think we’ve had some suc- our country faces, and I’m going to say what cess in the last 3 years because we have not I think they are and what I believe we should tried to dictate terms or anything of that kind. all do about them. We have only tried to be helpful and to try Q. Are you going to reach out to the Re- to support the parties as they search for publicans to try and get things done? peace. And if you look at the results of the The President. Absolutely. I did last year, last 3 years, that is the appropriate posture and I will again. I think, you know, we have for the United States. differences, but we should attempt to resolve Q. Do you hope to initiate a meeting be- those differences. And we should attempt, tween President Asad and Prime Minister where we can’t resolve them, to set them Peres of Israel? Is it one of your wishes for aside and do what we can do. Remember, the months ahead? throughout our history, the system that the The President. Well that, of course, will framers of the Constitution set up demands be up to them. If it is helpful in getting them honorable, principled compromise. to the point where they can make a peace, Public Debt obviously, that would be a good thing. But that is a—like every other part of this proc- Q. Did Dick Armey’s comments concern ess, ultimately that is up to them. you? The President. Well, I don’t think we NOTE: The exchange began at 2:15 p.m. in the should default on the debt. I think that would Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks,

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the President referred to President Hafiz al-Asad ests in property of these entities that are in of Syria and Prime Minister Shimon Peres of Is- the United States or in the possession or con- rael. A tape was not available for verification of trol of U.S. persons are blocked. Further, the content of this exchange. U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with these entities unless the Message to the Congress on Libya transactions are licensed by FAC. The des- January 22, 1996 ignations were made in consultation with the Department of State. To the Congress of the United States: 3. During the current 6-month period, I hereby report to the Congress on the de- FAC made numerous decisions with respect velopments since my last report of July 12, to applications for licenses to engage in trans- 1995, concerning the national emergency actions under the Regulations, issuing 54 li- with respect to Libya that was declared in censing determinations—both approvals and Executive Order No. 12543 of January 7, denials. Consistent with FAC’s ongoing scru- 1986. This report is submitted pursuant to tiny of banking transactions, the largest cat- section 401(c) of the National Emergencies egory of license approvals (20) concerned re- Act, 50 U.S.C. 1641(c); section 204(c) of the quests by Libyan and non-Libyan persons or International Emergency Economic Powers entities to unblock transfers interdicted be- Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. 1703(c); and section cause of an apparent Government of Libya 505(c) of the International Security and De- interest. A license was also issued to a local velopment Cooperation Act of 1985, 22 taxing authority to foreclose on a property U.S.C. 2349aa–9(c). owned by the Government of Libya for fail- 1. On January 3, 1996, I renewed for an- ure to pay property tax arrearages. other year the national emergency with re- 4. During the current 6-month period, spect to Libya pursuant to IEEPA. This re- FAC continued to emphasize to the inter- newal extended the current comprehensive national banking community in the United financial and trade embargo against Libya in States the importance of identifying and effect since 1986. Under these sanctions, all blocking payments made on behalf of Libya. trade with Libya is prohibited, and all assets The Office worked closely with the banks to owned or controlled by the Libyan govern- implement new interdiction software systems ment in the United States or in the posses- to identify such payments. As a result, during sion or control of U.S. persons are blocked. the reporting period, more than 107 trans- 2. There has been one amendment to the actions potentially involving Libya, totaling Libyan Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part more than $26.0 million, were interdicted. 550 (the ‘‘Regulations’’), administered by the As of December 4, 23 of these transactions Office of Foreign Assets Control (FAC) of had been authorized for release, leaving a net the Department of the Treasury, since my amount of more than $24.6 million blocked. last report on July 12, 1995. The amendment Since my last report, FAC collected 27 (60 Fed. Reg. 37940–37941, July 25, 1995) civil monetary penalties totaling more than added three hotels in Malta to appendix A, $119,500, for violations of the U.S. sanctions Organizations Determined to Be Within the against Libya. Fourteen of the violations in- Term ‘‘Government of Libya’’ (Specially volved the failure of banks or credit unions Designated Nationals (SDNs) of Libya). A to block funds transfers to Libyan-owned or copy of the amendment is attached to this -controlled banks. Two other penalties were report. received from corporations for export viola- Pursuant to section 550.304(a) of the Reg- tions or violative payments to Libya for unli- ulations, FAC has determined that these en- censed trademark transactions. Eleven addi- tities designated as SDNs are owned or con- tional penalties were paid by U.S. citizens trolled by, or acting or purporting to act di- engaging in Libyan oilfield-related trans- rectly or indirectly on behalf of, the Govern- actions while another 40 cases involving simi- ment of Libya, or are agencies, instrumental- lar violations are in active penalty processing. ities, or entities of that government. By virtue In November 1995, guilty verdicts were of this determination, all property and inter- returned in two cases involving illegal expor-

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tation of U.S. goods to Libya. A jury in Den- 103 and UTA 772 are brought to justice. The ver, Colorado, found a businessman families of the victims in the murderous guilty of violating the Regulations and Lockerbie bombing and other acts of Libyan IEEPA when he exported 50 trailers from terrorism deserve nothing less. I shall con- the United States to Libya in 1991. A Hous- tinue to exercise the powers at my disposal ton, Texas, jury found three individuals and to apply economic sanctions against Libya two companies guilty on charges of conspir- fully and effectively, so long as those meas- acy and violating the Regulations and IEEPA ures are appropriate, and will continue to re- for transactions relating to the 1992 shipment port periodically to the Congress on signifi- of oilfield equipment from the United States cant developments as required by law. to Libya. Also in November, a Portland, Or- egon, lumber company entered a two-count William J. Clinton felony information plea agreement for two The White House, separate shipments of U.S.-origin lumber to January 22, 1996. Libya during 1993. These three actions were the result of lengthy criminal investigations begun in prior reporting periods. Several Memorandum on Food Assistance to other investigations from prior reporting pe- Developing Countries riods are continuing and new reports of viola- January 22, 1996 tions are being pursued. 5. The expenses incurred by the Federal Presidential Determination No. 96–9 Government in the 6-month period from July 6, 1995, through January 5, 1996, that are Memorandum for the Secretary of directly attributable to the exercise of powers Agriculture and authorities conferred by the declaration of the Libyan national emergency are esti- Subject: Presidential Determination on Food mated at approximately $990,000. Personnel Security Wheat Reserve Release costs were largely centered in the Depart- By virtue of the authority vested in me as ment of the Treasury (particularly in the Of- President by the Constitution and laws of the fice of Foreign Assets Control, the Office of United States, including the Food Security the General Counsel, and the U.S. Customs Wheat Reserve Act of 1980 (the ‘‘Act’’) (7 Service), the Department of State, and the U.S.C. 1736f–1) and section 301 of title 3 Department of Commerce. of the United States Code, I hereby delegate 6. The policies and actions of the Govern- to the Secretary of Agriculture the authority ment of Libya continue to pose an unusual to release up to 1,500,000 metric tons of and extraordinary threat to the national secu- wheat from the reserve established under the rity and foreign policy of the United States. Act (the ‘‘reserve’’). Wheat released from the In adopting UNSCR 883 in November 1993, reserve will be used to provide, on a sale or the Security Council determined that the donation basis, emergency food assistance to continued failure of the Government of developing countries during fiscal year 1996 Libya to demonstrate by concrete actions its under the Agricultural Trade Development renunciation of terrorism, and in particular and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691, its continued failure to respond fully and ef- 1701 et seq.) to the extent that the Secretary fectively to the requests and decisions of the of Agriculture determines that the domestic Security Council in Resolutions 731 and 748, supply of wheat is so limited that quantities concerning the bombing of the Pan Am 103 of wheat could not otherwise be made avail- and UTA 772 flights, constituted a threat to able for disposition consistent with the cri- international peace and security. The United teria set forth in the Agricultural Trade De- States will continue to coordinate its com- velopment and Assistance Act of 1954, except prehensive sanctions enforcement efforts for urgent humanitarian purposes. with those of other U.N. member states. We Nothing in the delegation should be inter- remain determined to ensure that the per- preted as affecting the coordination require- petrators of the terrorist acts against Pan Am ments of Executive Order 12752.

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You are authorized and directed to publish Americans are living better, too many of our this determination in the Federal Register. fellow citizens are working harder just to William J. Clinton keep up, and they are rightly concerned about the security of their families. NOTE: This memorandum was released by the Of- We must answer here three fundamental fice of the Press Secretary on January 23. questions: First, how do we make the Amer- ican dream of opportunity for all a reality for all Americans who are willing to work for Address Before a Joint Session of the it? Second, how do we preserve our old and Congress on the State of the Union enduring values as we move into the future? January 23, 1996 And third, how do we meet these challenges together, as one America? Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, Mr. We know big Government does not have Vice President, Members of the 104th Con- all the answers. We know there’s not a pro- gress, distinguished guests, my fellow Ameri- gram for every problem. We know, and we cans all across our land: Let me begin tonight have worked to give the American people a by saying to our men and women in uniform smaller, less bureaucratic Government in around the world, and especially those help- Washington. And we have to give the Amer- ing peace take root in Bosnia and to their ican people one that lives within its means. families, I thank you. America is very, very The era of big Government is over. But we proud of you. cannot go back to the time when our citizens My duty tonight is to report on the state were left to fend for themselves. of the Union, not the state of our Govern- ment but of our American community, and Instead, we must go forward as one Amer- to set forth our responsibilities, in the words ica, one nation working together to meet the of our Founders, to form a more perfect challenges we face together. Self-reliance Union. and teamwork are not opposing virtues; we The state of the Union is strong. Our econ- must have both. I believe our new, smaller omy is the healthiest it has been in three Government must work in an old-fashioned decades. We have the lowest combined rates American way, together with all of our citi- of unemployment and inflation in 27 years. zens through State and local governments, We have completed—created nearly 8 mil- in the workplace, in religious, charitable, and lion new jobs, over a million of them in basic civic associations. Our goal must be to enable industries like construction and automobiles. all our people to make the most of their own America is selling more cars than Japan for lives, with stronger families, more edu- the first time since the 1970’s. And for 3 years cational opportunity, economic security, in a row, we have had a record number of safer streets, a cleaner environment in a safer new businesses started in our country. world. Our leadership in the world is also strong, To improve the state of our Union, we bringing hope for new peace. And perhaps must ask more of ourselves, we must expect most important, we are gaining ground in re- more of each other, and we must face our storing our fundamental values. The crime challenges together. rate, the welfare and food stamp rolls, the Here, in this place, our responsibility be- poverty rate, and the teen pregnancy rate are gins with balancing the budget in a way that all down. And as they go down, prospects is fair to all Americans. There is now broad for America’s future go up. bipartisan agreement that permanent deficit We live in an age of possibility. A hundred spending must come to an end. years ago we moved from farm to factory. I compliment the Republican leadership Now we move to an age of technology, infor- and the membership for the energy and de- mation, and global competition. These termination you have brought to this task of changes have opened vast new opportunities balancing the budget. And I thank the for our people, but they have also presented Democrats for passing the largest deficit re- them with stiff challenges. While more duction plan in history in 1993, which has

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already cut the deficit nearly in half in 3 Tonight I want to speak to you about the years. challenges we all face as a people. Our first Since 1993, we have all begun to see the challenge is to cherish our children and benefits of deficit reduction. Lower interest strengthen America’s families. Family is the rates have made it easier for businesses to foundation of American life. If we have borrow and to invest and to create new jobs. stronger families, we will have a stronger Lower interest rates have brought down the America. cost of home mortgages, car payments, and Before I go on, I’d like to take just a mo- credit card rates to ordinary citizens. Now, ment to thank my own family, and to thank it is time to finish the job and balance the the person who has taught me more than budget. anyone else over 25 years about the impor- Though differences remain among us tance of families and children, a wonderful which are significant, the combined total of wife, a magnificent mother, and a great First the proposed savings that are common to Lady. Thank you, Hillary. both plans is more than enough, using the All strong families begin with taking more numbers from your Congressional Budget responsibility for our children. I’ve heard Office to balance the budget in 7 years and Mrs. Gore say that it’s hard to be a parent to provide a modest tax cut. today, but it’s even harder to be a child. So all of us, not just as parents but all of us These cuts are real. They will require sac- in our other roles—our media, our schools, rifice from everyone. But these cuts do not our teachers, our communities, our churches undermine our fundamental obligations to and synagogues, our businesses, our govern- our parents, our children, and our future, by ments—all of us have a responsibility to help endangering Medicare or Medicaid or edu- our children to make it and to make the most cation or the environment or by raising taxes of their lives and their God-given capacities. on working families. To the media, I say you should create mov- I have said before, and let me say again, ies and CD’s and television shows you’d want many good ideas have come out of our nego- your own children and grandchildren to tiations. I have learned a lot about the way enjoy. both Republicans and Democrats view the I call on Congress to pass the requirement debate before us. I have learned a lot about for a V-chip in TV sets so that parents can the good ideas that each side has that we screen out programs they believe are inap- could all embrace. propriate for their children. When parents We ought to resolve our remaining dif- control what their young children see, that ferences. I am willing to work to resolve is not censorship; that is enabling parents to them. I am ready to meet tomorrow. But I assume more personal responsibility for their ask you to consider that we should at least children’s upbringing. And I urge them to enact these savings that both plans have in do it. The V-chip requirement is part of the common and give the American people their important telecommunications bill now balanced budget, a tax cut, lower interest pending in this Congress. It has bipartisan rates, and a brighter future. We should do support, and I urge you to pass it now. that now and make permanent deficits yes- To make the V-chip work, I challenge the terday’s legacy. broadcast industry to do what movies have Now it is time for us to look also to the done, to identify your program in ways that challenges of today and tomorrow, beyond help parents to protect their children. And the burdens of yesterday. The challenges are I invite the leaders of major media corpora- significant. But our Nation was built on chal- tions in the entertainment industry to come lenges. America was built on challenges, not to the White House next month to work with promises. And when we work together to us in a positive way on concrete ways to im- meet them, we never fail. That is the key prove what our children see on television. to a more perfect Union. Our individual I am ready to work with you. dreams must be realized by our common ef- I say to those who make and market ciga- forts. rettes, every year a million children take up

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smoking, even though it’s against the law. paign against teen pregnancy. And I chal- Three hundred thousand of them will have lenge all of us and every American to join their lives shortened as a result. Our adminis- their efforts. tration has taken steps to stop the massive I call on American men and women in marketing campaigns that appeal to our chil- families to give greater respect to one an- dren. We are simply saying: Market your other. We must end the deadly scourge of products to adults, if you wish, but draw the domestic violence in our country. And I chal- line on children. lenge America’s families to work harder to I say to those who are on welfare, and es- stay together. For families who stay together pecially to those who have been trapped on not only do better economically, their chil- welfare for a long time: For too long our wel- dren do better as well. fare system has undermined the values of In particular, I challenge the fathers of this family and work, instead of supporting them. country to love and care for their children. The Congress and I are near agreement on If your family has separated, you must pay sweeping welfare reform. We agree on time your child support. We’re doing more than limits, tough work requirements, and the ever to make sure you do, and we’re going toughest possible child support enforcement. to do more. But let’s all admit something But I believe we must also provide child care about that, too: A check will not substitute so that mothers who are required to go to for a parent’s love and guidance. And only work can do so without worrying about what you—only you can make the decision to help is happening to their children. raise your children. No matter who you are, I challenge this Congress to send me a bi- how low or high your station in life, it is the partisan welfare reform bill that will really most basic human duty of every American move people from welfare to work and do to do that job to the best of his or her ability. the right thing by our children. I will sign Our second challenge is to provide Ameri- it immediately. cans with the educational opportunities we’ll Let us be candid about this difficult prob- all need for this new century. In our schools, lem. Passing a law, even the best possible every classroom in America must be con- law, is only a first step. The next step is to nected to the information superhighway, make it work. I challenge people on welfare with computers and good software and well- to make the most of this opportunity for inde- trained teachers. We are working with the pendence. I challenge American businesses telecommunications industry, educators, and to give people on welfare the chance to move parents to connect 20 percent of ’s into the work force. I applaud the work of classrooms by this spring, and every class- religious groups and others who care for the room and every library in the entire United poor. More than anyone else in our society, States by the year 2000. I ask Congress to they know the true difficulty of the task be- support this education technology initiative fore us, and they are in a position to help. so that we can make sure this national part- Every one of us should join them. That nership succeeds. is the only way we can make real welfare Every diploma ought to mean something. reform a reality in the lives of the American I challenge every community, every school, people. and every State to adopt national standards To strengthen the family we must do ev- of excellence, to measure whether schools erything we can to keep the teen pregnancy are meeting those standards, to cut bureau- rate going down. I am gratified, as I’m sure cratic redtape so that schools and teachers all Americans are, that it has dropped for 2 have more flexibility for grassroots reform, years in a row. But we all know it is still and to hold them accountable for results. far too high. That’s what our Goals 2000 initiative is all Tonight I am pleased to announce that a about. I challenge every State to give all par- group of prominent Americans is responding ents the right to choose which public school to that challenge by forming an organization their children will attend, and to let teachers that will support grassroots community ef- form new schools with a charter they can forts all across our country in a national cam- keep only if they do a good job.

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I challenge all our schools to teach char- to use as they please for community college acter education, to teach good values and tuition or other training. This is a ‘‘GI bill’’ good citizenship. And if it means that teen- for America’s workers we should all be able agers will stop killing each other over de- to agree on. signer jackets, then our public schools should More and more Americans are working be able to require their students to wear hard without a raise. Congress sets the mini- school uniforms. mum wage. Within a year, the minimum I challenge our parents to become their wage will fall to a 40-year low in purchasing children’s first teachers. Turn off the TV. See power. Four dollars and 25 cents an hour that the homework is done. And visit your is no longer a minimum wage, but millions children’s classroom. No program, no teach- of Americans and their children are trying er, no one else can do that for you. to live on it. I challenge you to raise their My fellow Americans, higher education is minimum wage. more important today than ever before. In 1993, Congress cut the taxes of 15 mil- We’ve created a new student loan program lion hard-pressed working families to make that’s made it easier to borrow and repay sure that no parents who work full-time those loans, and we have dramatically cut the would have to raise their children in poverty student loan default rate. That’s something and to encourage people to move from wel- we should all be proud of because it was un- fare to work. This expanded earned-income conscionably high just a few years ago. tax credit is now worth about $1,800 a year Through AmeriCorps, our national service to a family of four living on $20,000. The program, this year 25,000 young people will budget bill I vetoed would have reversed this earn college money by serving their local achievement and raised taxes on nearly 8 mil- communities to improve the lives of their lion of these people. We should not do that. friends and neighbors. We should not do that. These initiatives are right for America, and I also agree that the people who are helped we should keep them going. And we should under this initiative are not all those in our also work hard to open the doors of college country who are working hard to do a good even wider. I challenge Congress to expand job raising their children and at work. I agree work-study and help one million young that we need a tax credit for working families Americans work their way through college by with children. That’s one of the things most the year 2000, to provide a $1,000 merit of us in this Chamber, I hope, can agree on. scholarship for the top 5 percent of graduates I know it is strongly supported by the Repub- in every high school in the United States, lican majority. And it should be part of any to expand Pell Grant scholarships for deserv- final budget agreement. ing and needy students, and to make up to I want to challenge every business that can $10,000 a year of college tuition tax deduct- possibly afford it to provide pensions for your ible. It’s a good idea for America. employees. And I challenge Congress to pass Our third challenge is to help every Amer- a proposal recommended by the White ican who is willing to work for it, achieve House Conference on Small Business that economic security in this new age. People would make it easier for small businesses and who work hard still need support to get farmers to establish their own pension plans. ahead in the new economy. They need edu- That is something we should all agree on. cation and training for a lifetime. They need We should also protect existing pension more support for families raising children. plans. Two years ago, with bipartisan support They need retirement security. They need that was almost unanimous on both sides of access to health care. More and more Ameri- the aisle, we moved to protect the pensions cans are finding that the education of their of 8 million working people and to stabilize childhood simply doesn’t last a lifetime. the pensions of 32 million more. Congress So I challenge Congress to consolidate 70 should not now let companies endanger overlapping, antiquated job-training pro- those workers’ pension funds. grams into a simple voucher worth $2,600 I know the proposal to liberalize the ability for unemployed or underemployed workers of employers to take money out of pension

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funds for other purposes would raise money When companies and workers work as a team for the Treasury. But I believe it is false they do better, and so does America. economy. I vetoed that proposal last year, Our fourth great challenge is to take our and I would have to do so again. streets back from crime and gangs and drugs. Finally, if our working families are going At last we have begun to find a way to reduce to succeed in the new economy, they must crime, forming community partnerships with be able to buy health insurance policies that local police forces to catch criminals and pre- they do not lose when they change jobs or vent crime. This strategy, called community when someone in their family gets sick. Over policing, is clearly working. Violent crime is the past 2 years, over one million Americans coming down all across America. In New in working families have lost their health in- York City murders are down 25 percent, in surance. We have to do more to make health St. Louis, 18 percent, in , 32 percent. care available to every American. And Con- But we still have a long way to go before gress should start by passing the bipartisan our streets are safe and our people are free bill sponsored by Senator Kennedy and Sen- from fear. ator Kassebaum that would require insurance The crime bill of 1994 is critical to the companies to stop dropping people when success of community policing. It provides they switch jobs and stop denying coverage funds for 100,000 new police in communities for preexisting conditions. Let’s all do that. of all sizes. We’re already a third of the way And even as we enact savings in these pro- there. And I challenge the Congress to finish the job. Let us stick with a strategy that’s grams, we must have a common commitment working and keep the crime rate coming to preserve the basic protections of Medicare down. and Medicaid, not just to the poor but to Community policing also requires bonds people in working families, including chil- of trust between citizens and police. I ask dren, people with disabilities, people with all Americans to respect and support our law AIDS, senior citizens in nursing homes. enforcement officers. And to our police, I In the past 3 years, we’ve saved $15 billion say, our children need you as role models just by fighting health care fraud and abuse. and heroes. Don’t let them down. We have all agreed to save much more. We The Brady bill has already stopped 44,000 have all agreed to stabilize the Medicare people with criminal records from buying Trust Fund. But we must not abandon our guns. The assault weapons ban is keeping 19 fundamental obligations to the people who kinds of assault weapons out of the hands need Medicare and Medicaid. America can- of violent gangs. I challenge the Congress to not become stronger if they become weaker. keep those laws on the books. The ‘‘GI bill’’ for workers, tax relief for Our next step in the fight against crime education and child rearing, pension avail- is to take on gangs the way we once took ability and protection, access to health care, on the mob. I’m directing the FBI and other preservation of Medicare and Medicaid, investigative agencies to target gangs that in- these things, along with the Family and Med- volve juveniles and violent crime, and to seek ical Leave Act passed in 1993, these things authority to prosecute as adults teenagers will help responsible, hard-working Amer- who maim and kill like adults. ican families to make the most of their own And I challenge local housing authorities lives. and tenant associations: Criminal gang mem- But employers and employees must do bers and drug dealers are destroying the lives their part, as well, as they are doing in so of decent tenants. From now on, the rule many of our finest companies, working to- for residents who commit crime and pedal gether, putting the long-term prosperity drugs should be one strike and you’re out. ahead of the short-term gain. As workers in- I challenge every State to match Federal crease their hours and their productivity, em- policy to assure that serious violent criminals ployers should make sure they get the skills serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. they need and share the benefits of the good More police and punishment are impor- years, as well as the burdens of the bad ones. tant, but they’re not enough. We have got

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to keep more of our young people out of Yet Congress has voted to cut environ- trouble, with prevention strategies not dic- mental enforcement by 25 percent. That tated by Washington but developed in com- means more toxic chemicals in our water, munities. I challenge all of our communities, more smog in our air, more pesticides in our all of our adults, to give our children futures food. Lobbyists for polluters have been al- to say yes to. And I challenge Congress not lowed to write their own loopholes into bills to abandon the crime bill’s support of these to weaken laws that protect the health and grassroots prevention efforts. safety of our children. Some say that the tax- Finally, to reduce crime and violence we payer should pick up the tab for toxic waste have to reduce the drug problem. The chal- and let polluters who can afford to fix it off lenge begins in our homes, with parents talk- the hook. I challenge Congress to reexamine ing to their children openly and firmly. It those policies and to reverse them. embraces our churches and synagogues, our This issue has not been a partisan issue. youth groups and our schools. The most significant environmental gains in I challenge Congress not to cut our sup- the last 30 years were made under a Demo- port for drug-free schools. People like the cratic Congress and President Richard D.A.R.E. officers are making a real impres- Nixon. We can work together. We have to sion on grade schoolchildren that will give believe some basic things. Do you believe them the strength to say no when the time we can expand the economy without hurting comes. the environment? I do. Do you believe we can create more jobs over the long run by Meanwhile, we continue our efforts to cut cleaning the environment up? I know we can. the flow of drugs into America. For the last That should be our commitment. 2 years, one man in particular has been on We must challenge businesses and com- the front lines of that effort. Tonight I am munities to take more initiative in protecting nominating him, a hero of the Persian Gulf the environment, and we have to make it War and the Commander in Chief of the easier for them to do it. To businesses this United States Military Southern Command, administration is saying: If you can find a General Barry McCaffrey, as America’s new cheaper, more efficient way than Govern- drug czar. ment regulations require to meet tough pol- General McCaffrey has earned three Pur- lution standards, do it, as long as you do it ple Hearts and two Silver Stars fighting for right. To communities we say: We must this country. Tonight I ask that he lead our strengthen community right-to-know laws re- Nation’s battle against drugs at home and quiring polluters to disclose their emissions, abroad. To succeed, he needs a force far larg- but you have to use the information to work er than he has ever commanded before. He with business to cut pollution. People do needs all of us. Every one of us has a role have a right to know that their air and their to play on this team. water are safe. Thank you, General McCaffrey, for agree- Our sixth challenge is to maintain Ameri- ing to serve your country one more time. ca’s leadership in the fight for freedom and Our fifth challenge: to leave our environ- peace throughout the world. Because of ment safe and clean for the next generation. American leadership, more people than ever Because of a generation of bipartisan effort before live free and at peace. And Americans we do have cleaner water and air, lead levels have known 50 years of prosperity and secu- in children’s blood has been cut by 70 per- rity. cent, toxic emissions from factories cut in We owe thanks especially to our veterans half. Lake Erie was dead, and now it’s a thriv- of World War II. I would like to say to Sen- ing resource. But 10 million children under ator Bob Dole and to all others in this Cham- 12 still live within 4 miles of a toxic waste ber who fought in World War II, and to all dump. A third of us breathe air that endan- others on both sides of the aisle who have gers our health. And in too many commu- fought bravely in all our conflicts since: I sa- nities the water is not safe to drink. We still lute your service and so do the American have much to do. people.

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All over the world, even after the cold war, horrors have now begun to give way to the people still look to us and trust us to help promise of peace. Now our troops and a them seek the blessings of peace and free- strong NATO, together with our new part- dom. But as the cold war fades into memory, ners from central Europe and elsewhere, are voices of isolation say America should retreat helping that peace to take hold. from its responsibilities. I say they are wrong. As all of you know, I was just there with The threats we face today as Americans a bipartisan congressional group, and I was respect no Nation’s borders. Think of them: so proud not only of what our troops were terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass de- doing but of the pride they evidenced in what struction, organized crime, drug trafficking, they were doing. They knew what America’s ethnic and religious hatred, aggression by mission in this world is, and they were proud rogue states, environmental degradation. If to be carrying it out. we fail to address these threats today, we will Through these efforts, we have enhanced suffer the consequences in all our tomorrows. the security of the American people, but Of course, we can’t be everywhere. Of make no mistake about it: Important chal- course, we can’t do everything. But where lenges remain. our interests and our values are at stake, and The START II treaty with will cut where we can make a difference, America our nuclear stockpiles by another 25 percent. must lead. We must not be isolationist. We I urge the Senate to ratify it now. We must must not be the world’s policeman. But we end the race to create new nuclear weapons can and should be the world’s very best by signing a truly comprehensive nuclear test peacemaker. ban treaty this year. By keeping our military strong, by using As we remember what happened in the diplomacy where we can and force where we Japanese subway, we can outlaw poison gas must, by working with others to share the forever if the Senate ratifies the Chemical risk and the cost of our efforts, America is Weapons Convention this year. We can in- making a difference for people here and tensify the fight against terrorists and orga- around the world. For the first time since nized criminals at home and abroad if Con- the dawn of the nuclear age—for the first gress passes the antiterrorism legislation I time since the dawn of the nuclear age— proposed after the City bombing, there is not a single Russian missile pointed now. We can help more people move from at America’s children. hatred to hope all across the world in our North Korea has now frozen its dangerous own interest if Congress gives us the means nuclear weapons program. In Haiti, the dic- to remain the world’s leader for peace. tators are gone, democracy has a new day, My fellow Americans, the six challenges the flow of desperate refugees to our shores I have just discussed are for all of us. Our has subsided. Through tougher trade deals seventh challenge is really America’s chal- for America, over 80 of them, we have lenge to those of us in this hallowed Hall opened markets abroad, and now exports are tonight: to reinvent our Government and at an all-time high, growing faster than im- make our democracy work for them. ports and creating good American jobs. Last year this Congress applied to itself We stood with those taking risks for peace: the laws it applies to everyone else. This Con- in Northern Ireland, where Catholic and gress banned gifts and meals from lobbyists. Protestant children now tell their parents, vi- This Congress forced lobbyists to disclose olence must never return; in the Middle who pays them and what legislation they are East, where Arabs and Jews who once trying to pass or kill. This Congress did that, seemed destined to fight forever now share and I applaud you for it. knowledge and resources and even dreams. Now I challenge Congress to go further, And we stood up for peace in Bosnia. Re- to curb special interest influence in politics member the skeletal prisoners, the mass by passing the first truly bipartisan campaign graves, the campaign to rape and , the finance reform bill in a generation. You, Re- endless lines of refugees, the threat of a publicans and Democrats alike, can show the spreading war. All these threats, all these American people that we can limit spending

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and we can open the airwaves to all can- son: The remaining Federal work force is didates. composed of hard-working Americans who I also appeal to Congress to pass the line- are now working harder and working smarter item veto you promised the American peo- than ever before to make sure the quality ple. of our services does not decline. Our administration is working hard to give I’d like to give you one example. His name the American people a Government that is Richard Dean. He’s a 49-year-old Vietnam works better and costs less. Thanks to the veteran who’s worked for the Social Security work of Vice President Gore, we are elimi- Administration for 22 years now. Last year nating 16,000 pages of unnecessary rules and he was hard at work in the Federal Building regulations, shifting more decisionmaking in Oklahoma City when the blast killed 169 out of Washington, back to States and local people and brought the rubble down all communities. around him. He reentered that building four As we move into the era of balanced budg- times. He saved the lives of three women. ets and smaller Government, we must work He’s here with us this evening, and I want in new ways to enable people to make the to recognize Richard and applaud both his most of their own lives. We are helping public service and his extraordinary personal America’s communities, not with more bu- heroism. But Richard Dean’s story doesn’t reaucracy but with more opportunities. end there. This last November, he was forced Through our successful empowerment zones out of his office when the Government shut and community development banks, we’re down. And the second time the Government helping people to find jobs, to start busi- shut down he continued helping Social Secu- nesses. And with tax incentives for companies rity recipients, but he was working without that clean up abandoned industrial property, pay. we can bring jobs back to places that des- On behalf of Richard Dean and his family, perately, desperately need them. and all the other people who are out there But there are some areas that the Federal working every day doing a good job for the Government should not leave and should ad- American people, I challenge all of you in dress and address strongly. One of these this Chamber: Let’s never, ever shut the areas is the problem of illegal immigration. Federal Government down again. After years of neglect, this administration has On behalf of all Americans, especially taken a strong stand to stiffen the protection those who need their Social Security pay- of our borders. We are increasing border ments at the beginning of March, I also chal- controls by 50 percent. We are increasing in- lenge the Congress to preserve the full faith spections to prevent the hiring of illegal im- and credit of the United States, to honor the migrants. And tonight, I announce I will sign obligations of this great Nation as we have an Executive order to deny Federal contracts for 220 years, to rise above partisanship and to businesses that hire illegal immigrants. pass a straightforward extension of the debt Let me be very clear about this: We are limit and show people America keeps its still a nation of immigrants; we should be word. proud of it. We should honor every legal im- I know that this evening I have asked a migrant here, working hard to be a good citi- lot of Congress and even more from America. zen, working hard to become a new citizen. But I am confident: When Americans work But we are also a nation of laws. together in their homes, their schools, their I want to say a special word now to those churches, their synagogues, their civic who work for our Federal Government. groups, their workplace, they can meet any Today the Federal work force is 200,000 em- challenge. ployees smaller than it was the day I took I say again, the era of big Government is office as President. Our Federal Government over. But we can’t go back to the era of fend- today is the smallest it has been in 30 years, ing for yourself. We have to go forward to and it’s getting smaller every day. Most of the era of working together as a community, our fellow Americans probably don’t know as a team, as one America, with all of us that. And there’s a good reason—a good rea- reaching across these lines that divide us—

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the division, the discrimination, the rancor— Our country is and always has been a great we have to reach across it to find common and good nation. But the best is yet to come ground. We have got to work together if we if we all do our parts. want America to work. Thank you. God bless you, and God bless I want you to meet two more people to- the United States of America. Thank you. night who do just that. Lucius Wright is a teacher in the Jackson, Mississippi, public NOTE: The President spoke at 9:14 p.m. in the school system. A Vietnam veteran, he has House Chamber of the Capitol. created groups to help inner-city children turn away from gangs and build futures they can believe in. Sergeant Jennifer Rodgers is Statement on the Peace Process in a police officer in Oklahoma City. Like Rich- ard Dean, she helped to pull her fellow citi- Northern Ireland zens out of the rubble and deal with that January 24, 1996 awful tragedy. She reminds us that in their response to that atrocity the people of Okla- I welcome the report released today by the homa City lifted all of us with their basic international body on decommissioning that sense of decency and community. was set up by the British and Irish Govern- Lucius Wright and Jennifer Rodgers are ments as one track of the twin-track approach special Americans. And I have the honor to for moving the Northern Ireland peace proc- announce tonight that they are the very first ess forward. I am proud that the international of several thousand Americans who will be body was chaired by a distinguished Amer- chosen to carry the Olympic torch on its long ican, Senator George Mitchell. Senator journey from Los Angeles to the centennial Mitchell and his colleagues, General de of the modern Olympics in Atlanta this sum- Chastelain of Canada and Mr. Holkeri of mer, not because they are star athletes but Finland, have made a significant and positive because they are star citizens, community he- contribution to the peace process, and I join roes meeting America’s challenges. They are the British and Irish Governments in ex- our real champions. pressing gratitude for their service. Please stand up. [Applause] The international body’s report is based on Now each of us must hold high the torch the submissions it received from relevant and of citizenship in our own lives. None of us interested parties in the can finish the race alone. We can only and Ireland. Together with the political achieve our destiny together, one hand, one track, I believe it will be a valuable tool for generation, one American connecting to an- the Irish and British Governments as they other. work to reach the goal of all-party talks. There have always been things we could I encourage all the parties to use the report do together, dreams we could make real of the international body to advance the which we could never have done on our own. peace process. Its recommendations do not We Americans have forged our identity, our reflect the views of any one party, but the very Union, from the very point of view that considered judgment of its members, who we can accommodate every point on the want only to help the people of Northern planet, every different opinion. But we must Ireland achieve a just and lasting peace. be bound together by a faith more powerful Their recommendations deserve serious and than any doctrine that divides us, by our be- open-minded consideration by all who share lief in progress, our love of liberty, and our that goal. relentless search for common ground. The United States stands by its commit- America has always sought and always ment to support the efforts of the British and risen to every challenge. Who would say that Irish Governments, the political parties and having come so far together, we will not go the people of Northern Ireland to create a forward from here? Who would say that this bright and peaceful future for themselves age of possibility is not for all Americans? and their children.

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Remarks in a Roundtable Discussion And then we developed a—I want to com- on Community Policing in Louisville, pliment the Attorney General and the Justice Kentucky Department, they developed a pretty hassle- free way of applying for the money; there’s January 24, 1996 not a lot of bureaucracy in it. And then we don’t tell anybody how to train the police; The President. Let me first of all thank we don’t tell them how to deploy; we don’t the chief, the mayor and Governor Patton, tell them how to relate to the community. Congressman Ward for making us feel so That’s all things that have to be decided here welcome. The Attorney General and her en- tire team who work on this are here, and at the local level. That’s none of our business. we want to thank all of the citizens and the We just know that we have to do what we police officers who want to meet with us. can to give you the resources necessary to achieve the goal. I’d like to make just a couple of brief points. First of all, when I ran for President The second point I want to make, just to and I began to travel the country looking for emphasize what has already been said, it is ways to bring the crime rate down, when I obvious to me that there are basically three realized in every community I visited that or- components to success. One is having the po- dinary citizens were worried about crime and lice out there properly deployed. And the violence, the one thing that came up over second, and maybe the most important, is and over in all parts of the country that having some relationship with the commu- seemed to be working was what is now nity. That’s why I asked the American people known generally as community policing. And last night to respect and work with their po- when we finally passed the crime bill in 1994, lice officers, because if you don’t have that which had been debated in Congress for 6 then this won’t work. years, we had added to that crime bill a spe- The third thing I want to say—I want to cific title to give funds to communities all compliment the mayor—is that within this across our country to create 100,000 new po- whole framework our biggest problem now lice officers. There was a reason for that. is rising levels of violence among juveniles Between 1965 and 1995, more or less, the nationwide. And the mayor also is participat- violent crime rate in America tripled, but the ing in another one of our programs and got number of police officers on our street in- some funds to start, I know, some sports creased by only 10 percent. And that’s why teams and other things here to make a special we did that. Now, we’re about a third of the effort with young people. And that’s the last way home. Louisville’s gotten 16 police; I thing I want to emphasize. You know, we just think Jefferson County has gotten a total of got so many of these children out there that 36, something like that. But we’re working are in trouble, having difficulties. And the hard to try to get more people out here. police cannot do that alone. They need peo- It is now being recognized. I know one ple to support them in organizing and coming of the major news magazines had a cover up with the resources to give the children story where the City Police Chief in areas with high rates of crime something the other day, talking about how crime was positive to do. And I think that Louisville’s coming down in America because of commu- got a lot to be proud of on all fronts. I’m nity policing. One of the things I asked the glad to be here, and I’ve already said more Congress to do last night was to support this than I meant to. I’d like to listen to you now. program until we finished it. I just want to make two other points if [At this point, Mayor intro- I might. This, in my opinion, is the way the duced Carolyn MacLuton, past president, Federal Government ought to relate to Community Oriented Policing Board, 4th Po- American citizens. We put up the money, lice District, and Nick Altieri, president, and we say this money is for police, and you Mayor’s Block Watch Council, who discussed have to put up some. We’ll put some, and community involvement with the police in here it is if you want it. Louisville.]

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The President. Let me ask you a question. The President. I must say, this is the first You said—and I appreciate you saying that, person I ever heard talk about that, but it but you couldn’t be doing this without the makes a world of sense that it would be very Federal funds. But it’s also true that you good for citizens if one person on every block couldn’t be doing it if you didn’t have the in a big city, for example, knew how the po- citizens involved—— lice department worked, what the police Mr. Altieri. Absolutely. Absolutely. were up against, how the structure was, what The President. And that’s the point I was the budget was. I think it would make a huge trying to make in the State of the Union last amount of difference. That’s a wonderful night, that when you’re dealing with prob- idea. lems that are these people problems that— Ms. Dawson. Mr. President, I think we whether it’s crime or the—you know, trying have a manual that we can give you, or some to get jobs into places, move people off wel- of your staff, that you can take back with you. fare, you deal with all of these people prob- The President. Great. That’s a wonderful lems, you’ve got to have a partnership. There idea. is no Government program to solve this. Mayor Abramson. Yes, we’ve got that You’ve got to have grassroots citizens in- right there. You want us to just bring it up volved in it; otherwise, there is no way to and put it on the—— get it done. The President. Go ahead. I sort of liken it—we strike the match and [Mayor Jerry Abramson introduced Stephen you stoke the fire; you have to do it. Kelsey and Robin Cook, District Resource Mayor Abramson. And every district is Officers, who discussed police outreach ef- different, so they can tailor things for what forts in the community which build grass- is unique to the district in their neighbor- roots support for community policing ef- hood, because the citizens and Ms. forts.] MacLuton understands her district and Nick The President. But it looks to me like understands his, and they can tailor their sit- what is happening in the—and, by the way, uation to the specifics right in their neighbor- law enforcement is not the only place where hood; and that’s what’s been so successful. we need to do this, as I said. But you know, The President. Since you’ve been doing to go back and organize people on a commu- this, do you think the general feeling of the nity basis is a very important thing in this people that live in your neighborhood about country. I mean, if you think that’s—really, the police has improved? we’ve gotten away from that in a lot of ways. [Ms. MacLuton indicated that there had been And that’s why so many organizations and a great deal of improvement in police-com- so many Government programs fail, is be- munity relations. Mayor Abramson intro- cause there’s no structure underneath it duced Officer Charles Waters who discussed that’s capable of actually carrying the load. the importance of partnership between the So I’m very impressed by this. community, the residents, and city agencies. General Reno, do you want to say any- Mayor Abramson then introduced Peggy thing, ask any questions? Dawson, a member of the COPS Board and [Attorney General stated that the the Mayor’s Block Watch Council, who dis- Citizens Academy Manual was an excellent cussed increased community understanding tool for community relations. The partici- of problems police face through the Citizens pants then discussed giving area youth posi- Police Academy.] tive activities in the community and economic The President. Is this being done any- growth as a factor in improving the commu- where else in the country that you know of? nity.] Chief? The President. If I could just make one Mayor Abramson. Is it? observation about it, because I think it was Police Chief Doug Hamilton. San Fran- Officer Waters that mentioned he could get cisco? business back into the neighborhoods when

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the crime rate goes down—if you look at the [The participants indicated that the program American economy now, basically there are is most effective in preventing crime but that two problems. I talked about one of them it also fostered a sense of community last night, and that is that most Americans empowerment. The last speaker indicated have jobs, but it’s hard for them to get a raise that it contributed to the stronger families in the global economy because there’s always and discussed education in the family, con- so much pressure to hold down the wages. cluding that because his grandmother cor- And so that’s a different question. I’ve tried rected his grammar, he spoke well.] to deal with that. The President. I was so afraid you were The other big problem is that the national going to say good. [Laughter] unemployment rate is 5.6 percent, but with the exception of a few States like California [Gov. Paul Patton stated that the program still getting over the terrible blow they took had shown strong results in empowering the when the defense budget went down, for ex- community and thanked Mayor Abramson ample, and the recession of the late eighties, for the enlightening program.] most other places have an unemployment The President. Let me just say in closing rate that’s about 4 percent or 4.5 percent that—I want to go back to the last question generally, and then there will be these pock- that I asked. What our goal is, you know, ets where the unemployment rate is 10 or and all of the—I want to thank the police 12 or 15 percent. officers around the table who participated, Q. Thirty percent. as well as the citizens—when I ask is the pri- The President. Or 30 percent, yes. And mary benefit of this system that it helps you you can’t—so that, if you look at it in this catch people quicker when they commit way, that is the number one potential market crime so it helps prevent crimes in the first for the rest of the American economy. If you place. look at it that way. There are all these people I think in the end it will do both, but the living in our country that if they had jobs answer of prevention is very important. I and they had any money, they would be mean, we have to get back to a point in our growing our economy faster. They would be, country when the crime is the exception rath- in effect, if you added another one percent er than the rule. I mean, and I thought it to the work force, that would give everybody was so perceptive when you said that some else a raise, because they’d be buying every- police officers were wondering, well, are they thing everybody else produced; they would going to turn me into social workers, or is be generating a higher level of growth. this right or wrong. And that’s another thing that I think has We don’t want police forces to be occupy- been overlooked. One of the main economic ing armies in our cities. We want them to strategies we could follow to grow the Amer- be skilled. We want them to be able to shoot. ican economy from inside would be to make We want them to be able to protect them- all these places that have high crime rates selves. We want them to be able to protect safe so investment that now might go, oh, other people. But we should be working to- south of the border, or anywhere else could ward a goal in America where the crimes are easily flow in there to put people to work the exception, rather than the rule. We can’t and create opportunity. I think it’s something be in a position anymore where the fastest that we’ve really underestimated, the eco- growing job category in the United States are nomic aspect of this. I wanted to ask one prison guards and where the fastest growing other question mostly of those of you who part of the State budget is investing in more have worked on the community boards and prisons. And I say that as a former Governor the crime watch. Would you say that this po- who has built as many prisons, I guess, as licing strategy makes your neighborhood anybody on a per capita basis. safer, primarily because you can catch people And you have to put people in jail, and who commit crimes more quickly, or because if they’re dangerous, you’ve got to leave them it prevents more crimes from occurring in there a long time. But every child that you the first place? keep from committing that first armed rob-

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bery, from firing that gun the first time, from I missed a pretty good show. And since I doing that first drug deal—every child you like music a lot I hope I’ll get a rain check do that to, you’ve done 10 times as much to hear what I missed, because I heard they than you even do when you make an arrest. were terrific. Let’s give them a hand. Thank And I think what you see here—to go back you, sir. [Applause] to what the Congressman said—is that the Since I am in this high school, too, I could further you get away from this neighborhood not leave without acknowledging a graduate toward Washington, DC, and the more dis- of this high school who is making a contribu- tance there is between Washington and you, tion of signal importance to the United the harder it is to communicate. And so sim- States. Thomas Graham, Jr., is serving today ple messages tend to come through even as my special Representative for Arms Con- though they may be wrong. And you say, trol and Disarmament. His picture hangs in well, this person says the answer is personal the school hall of fame here, and I just want responsibility, and this person says somebody you to know he’s in my hall of fame, too. ought to help solve it. And the truth is, the He’s doing a great job for the United States answer is both. The answer is both. And of America. that’s what you all have done here. I take Last night I had the privilege to deliver my hat off to you. And I’ve been very moved the State of the Union Address to the United by what I’ve heard today and I must say I’m States Congress and to our country. I came very encouraged. And we’ll keep trying to here today to continue to work on the themes help you and you keep carrying the load and and the issues that I discussed with the we’ll keep cheering. American people last night. And I did it be- Mayor Abramson. Thank you, sir. cause Louisville has done so much to make The President. Thank you. community policing a reality, and because without safe streets the American people NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 2 cannot be free. p.m. at the Louisville District 4 Police Station. Without the fear of crime and violence it is going to be hard for us to get investment Remarks to the Community in and jobs and opportunity back into some of Louisville our most distressed neighborhoods all across January 24, 1996 America. Unless we can prove that we have the discipline, the values, and the intel- Thank you. Thank you very much. Gov- ligence to organize ourselves into a safer soci- ernor Patton, Mr. Mayor, Congressman ety that gives our young people a better hope Ward, Judge Armstrong, Chief Hamilton: for the future, it’s going to be hard for Amer- Let me say on behalf of not only myself but ica to reach its other objectives and for all Attorney General Reno, who is here with me, of our people to live out their dreams. and our team from the Justice Department, So I came here today to follow up on the we are honored to be in Louisville today. We work of the State of the Union. As I said, are honored to be your partners in the search our Union is strong. In many ways our econ- for a safer community. And I, personally, was omy is stronger than it’s been in 30 years. honored to spend a few moments this morn- We have the lowest combined rates of unem- ing with some of your community leaders and ployment and inflation we’ve had in 27 years. your police officers. And I think any commu- In the last 3 years there have been over 7.8 nity in America would be proud to have a million new jobs coming into our economy. community leader like Carolyn MacLuton We have all-time high trade numbers. We and a police officer like Stephen Kelsey, and have all-time high numbers of small business I thank them. formation. We have an all-time high number I want to thank Mr. Burks, your principal of self-made millionaires, not people who are here at the Louisville Male High School. I inheriting their money, people that went out thank the orchestra quartet and the band for there and earned it and made it on their own. playing, and the people for singing. Some of All these things are good. But we also my staff was in here listening, and they said know that most Americans are out there

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working harder and harder and harder just to achieve the American dream. And if we’re to get by, and they’re worried about their going to do this, we have to remain the family security. This is the kind of thing that world’s strongest force for peace and free- happens when you change the economy as dom. And if we’re going to do this, we have dramatically as the world has changed in the to find a way to go into this very modern, last few years; when we’re no longer basically new world still clinging to our old-fashioned a self-contained economy, we’re in a global values, because it’s no accident that we’re economy; we no longer have an established around here after 220 years. This is the long- industrial society. The information and tech- est lasting democracy in human history be- nology age is changing the way everybody cause the principles on which we started works. were good, sound, correct principles that we And because of this there are challenges have to hold fast to even as we change and in this economy, as well as things to be proud adapt. of. Our country has been the world’s leading In Washington, our primary focus, as you force for peace and freedom, as we are today, know now, is on trying to reach agreement every place from Bosnia to the Middle East on how to balance the budget in 7 years. It’s to Northern Ireland. And we’re feeling se- important that you understand that your cure, but we also know that we are threat- country has rarely in its history had a perma- ened by terrorists from beyond and within nent deficit, really never had a permanent our borders, by organized crime, by drug deficit. There is a use for Government defi- traffickers, by weapons of mass destruction. cits, and we should all understand that. We see when a little vial of gas can break It is generally conceded that there are two and open in a Tokyo subway and kill hun- times when it is quite good to run a deficit. dreds of people, we know we still have chal- One is if you get into a steep recession; if lenges there. Our country is getting stronger in terms the Government can borrow money today of reasserting our basic values. I think that’s and spend it today and pay it back tomorrow, the most important thing of all. In the last then you can send it to the places that are 3 years the crime rate is down; the welfare in recession. You can keep people from starv- rolls are down; the food stamp rolls are down; ing. You can help people get by. And you the poverty rolls are down; the teen preg- can pump the economy up to get out of the nancy rolls are down; and the divorce rate recession more quickly. We have always done is down in America. That’s encouraging. that, particularly in this century. The American people did all that. I believe The other is if you have to mobilize the that our crime bill and cracking down on whole country for some emergency, usually child support enforcement and some of the in wartime. We had a huge deficit, by far things we’ve done supported that. That’s the bigger than we have today, back during American people kind of getting their act to- World War II because we literally had to mo- gether and coming back to our roots. bilize overnight. But those are generally the And as you look ahead—this basically, this only two circumstances in which it is permis- time we’re living in and the time toward sible to have a large deficit. We never had which we’re going, should be the age of a—all during the 1970’s we had relatively greatest possibility the American people have small deficits, but we had recession after re- ever known. More people from all walks of cession after recession in the 1970’s. life and all corners of our country should In the 1980’s we adopted a theory that have more options to reach all kinds of per- didn’t work. We said we can cut taxes and sonal and family and community fulfillment increase spending, and it will be so good for than they have ever had in all of human his- the economy, the budget will be balanced. tory. And it didn’t work. So we quadrupled the Our question is, how are we going to do debt in 12 years, and we got ourselves in a this? And my answer is, we have to do it fix. And there’s plenty of blame to go around. together. We have to recognize that as a No party is blameless in this. I didn’t come country everybody has got to have a chance here to talk about blame. But we have to

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change that, and both parties are going to We now have as a percentage of our in- have to help change it. come the smallest deficit of any of the big Now, in 1993 the Democrats adopted what countries, any of the big economies, because was a very controversial deficit reduction of what we’ve done in the last 3 years. But plan which they were criticized for. But it we need to finish it. It wouldn’t even bother cut the deficit in half in 3 years, and it cut me today but for what happened in the 12 interest rates and got the economy going. years before. And because of that we have Now, the Republicans, as I said last night got to keep going; we have got to finish this. in my speech, are working hard. I believe And I just ask for all of your support and they honestly do want to balance the budget your understanding. We’re going to have to in 7 years, and they want to do it, and we make some tough decisions, but we owe this should give them credit for that. That’s a gen- to our country. uine feeling on their part. And I have been And we need to do this in a bipartisan way working with them to get that done. so it doesn’t become a big partisan issue be- We have now identified, in common to our cause, like I said, there’s plenty of blame to two plans, there are almost $700 billion in go around for what happened in the 12 years savings. And last night, if you heard the before. But now we have to fix it. And if we can adopt a plan that has discipline and speech you know that I reached out to them, support across the country, you will see inter- and I said, ‘‘Look, we still have some dif- est rates go down, and we can keep this eco- ferences on the shape of—what we should nomic growth going and keep the jobs com- do on Medicare. We still have some dif- ing into Louisville, into Kentucky, into this ferences on Medicaid. We still differ on how county, and into our country. much it takes in investment to protect edu- So I ask for your prayers, your support. cation and the environment. We still have Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, some policy differences on the environment. this is something we need to do for the But we have both identified savings that are United States. more than enough to balance the budget in Now, I’d like to talk a little about what 7 years. And we are both willing to assume I think the future holds for the young people that responsibility. And the American people in this audience and for all of us here and will have plenty of opportunities to decide to focus in particular on the crime issue that who they think is right about these other we discussed last night. Because we have things, but we can really do this.’’ moved from an industrial age to a technology This morning the Speaker of the House, and information-driven age, large bureauc- Mr. Gingrich, had a press conference in racies will not dominate the future. The era which he issued—basically showed some in- of big Government would be over if for no terest in a variation of this proposal. And I other reason that the economy has changed. had a good conversation with him. I at- In addition to that, we now know that a tempted to call Senator Dole. I expect to talk lot of our most profound problems may need to him later. But our staffs are working. And the Government to act as partner but can’t I just want you to know that we are up there be solved by the Government. We can’t drive working on this. We ought to give the Amer- the crime rate down unless people in their ican people their balanced budget. local communities are working at it. That’s We can still afford a modest tax cut. It the genius of community policing. That’s why will drive interest rates down. And we can those two people came up here and intro- go on and worry about the future then. But duced me, the police officer and the commu- we are determined to do this. We need to nity leader, working together to prevent do this for America, and we have to do it crime. together, Democrats and Republicans to- We can’t do that in Washington, but we gether. Everybody is going to have to make can give them the ability to hire the police some sacrifice. We have got to do this. We they need to do it. We can give them the cannot go on with the idea that we can per- ability to start the youth sports teams they manently run a big deficit. need to give our kids something to say yes

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to. We can do things to help them, to em- of training they need. Employers and em- power them. But people at the grassroots ployees can figure that out on their own. level have to make the most of their own So we ought to get rid of the programs. lives. That reduces dramatically the need for And if you lose your job you just ought to large Government organizations. get a slip of paper in the mail that says, And the third reason is we’ve got a big ‘‘Here’s $2,500 if you use it for education.’’ deficit, so we can’t afford it. [Laughter] That’s what I want to do. I think it would So in the last 3 years we’ve—as I said last make a big difference in the people’s lives. night, we’ve reduced the size of your Federal I think it is wrong that a million Americans Government by 200,000 people; by 16,000 in working families have lost their health in- pages of regulations; by literally hundreds of surance in the last 2 years. And if we just programs being eliminated and thousands of could change the rules—I know we cannot offices being closed. But we still have a role agree in Washington on what needs to be to play in being a partner with the American done to change this entirely; I proved that. people as we go toward the future. And as But at least if we could agree to change the I said, I believe that basically we have a clear rules, there seems to be bipartisan agreement set of challenges that we have to meet in that we ought to be able to change the rules our families, in the workplace, in our church- that says, if you get insured, you ought to es and synagogues, in our community organi- be able to not lose your insurance if you zations. change jobs and not be cut off just because We have to do it together, with the Gov- somebody in your family gets sick and you ernment being a partner in this. We have develop a preexisting condition. I think if we a challenge to do better by our children and could just change those two rules it would to help our families grow stronger and stay make a big difference. together, a challenge to renew our schools I believe that—let me just say a couple and open the doors of college education even of other things. We have a great challenge wider, with more scholarships and loans and to keep our environment clean and safe. If opportunities for work-study and community you could see what I have just seen back on service. And I hope any tax cut that passes the East Coast with all these huge floods— will give people a deduction for the cost of I’m sure you’ve seen it on television—in a college education. I think that’s about the Pennsylvania, right there. I called the Gov- best kind of tax deduction we could have, ernor of Pennsylvania the other day. A couple because both children and their parents may years ago I spent the night in the Pennsylva- need it. nia Governor’s Mansion, and it’s a hundred We’ve got a challenge out there to help yards, I bet, from the river that’s right in people that are working hard and struggling, front of it. And the water was up in the Penn- trying to find enough economic security for sylvania Governor’s Mansion, in the base- their families. That’s why I favor raising the ment. minimum wage. That’s why I favor giving And all the flooding and all the prob- people who lose their jobs or who are under- lems—and one of our major news magazines employed, instead of directing them to a spe- had a cover a couple of weeks ago saying cific Government training program, I want that a lot of this extreme weather, both the to stop all that and just give everybody a heat and the cold, the tornadoes and the hur- voucher and let them go to their local com- ricanes, was all due to the fact that we are munity college or pick the training program changing the way the Earth works, by not they want to attend. protecting the air and basically by consuming You know, almost every community in more of the atmosphere. America now has very good education pro- I believe that if we’re going to grow our grams, 2-year degree programs. Almost every economy over the long run, we have to be American is within driving distance of one. concerned about clean air and clean water. The Government no longer needs to tell peo- We have to be concerned about the fact that ple when they’re out of work or when they’re millions of our kids are growing up near toxic struggling on a very low-wage job what kind waste dumps. I believe we can have more

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economic growth by cleaning up the environ- risk every time they walk outside their home. ment than we can by continuing to pollute Today I heard stories in Louisville about po- it. And I think the American people should lice officers and community people being reach consensus on that across partisan lines. friends, about children being able to walk on I know—I will say again what I said last their streets, about people slowly regaining night, most of the foreign policy decisions self-confidence that their neighborhoods be- I make I think from time to time are unpopu- long to them again. lar almost by definition. Most Americans will Let me just tell you one tiny story about say, ‘‘We’ve got enough problems here at why this is such a big deal to me. At this home. Don’t worry about it. Leave it alone.’’ time of year, almost exactly now, 4 years But if you could see how people all across ago—just a few days later than this 4 years the world still react to the United States, and ago, we were coming up to the New Hamp- if you could see how I do that the problems shire primary. I was a candidate for Presi- that we face have no borders, we can’t pro- dent. And I had to go down to New York tect ourselves from them, you would want City, and there was a fundraiser planned us to cooperate with other countries for there. And I’m ashamed to admit this, but peace and freedom. on this particular night I was feeling sorry We got a terrorist that we arrested in Asia for myself and totally preoccupied with what because another country cooperated with was going on in the campaign. them and brought that person back here to And they were taking me through a kitch- face our system of justice. We see all the en in this hotel where I was in New York. time the problems we have of drugs moving And I was lost in my own thoughts, wonder- across national lines. That’s why I named that ing about what was going to happen in New four-star general last night, General Barry Hampshire in 10 days and all that. And this McCaffrey, to be our drug czar, because he man who was in a hotel uniform—he was proved to me that we could use the military obviously working there in the kitchen— to help the Justice Department to cut off came up to me and just grabbed me. He said, drugs coming into our country. ‘‘Governor, I want to talk to you.’’ And he But if we want those countries where those spoke with a heavy accent. He was an immi- farmers are growing the coca leaf, and other grant, obviously, first-generation immigrant. countries where criminal gangs are hiding I said, ‘‘Okay.’’ He says, ‘‘My 10-year-old boy, out in thick jungle hideouts and making the he studies this election in the school. And drugs to go into the veins of our children— he has decided I should vote for you.’’ if we want them to risk their lives—which I didn’t know any 10-year-old boy in New they have to do, they have to risk their lives York knew who I was at the time. [Laughter] to uproot this—then we have to be good And so my spirits brightened, and I said, neighbors with them. We have to be good ‘‘Well, thank you very much.’’ And he said, partners with them. So this is an important ‘‘But let me tell you something, if I vote for thing. you, I want you to do something for me.’’ And the last thing that I would say is that He said, ‘‘In the country where I came from,’’ we need to do our part in Washington to he said, ‘‘we were very poor, but we were convince you that you get your money’s free.’’ He said, ‘‘Here we have a park across worth. And that’s what I said last night. I the street from our apartment house. My boy want the Congress to pass a line-item veto. cannot play in it unless I am there with him I want them to pass campaign finance re- because he would be in danger. We have a form. I want us to be able to prove we can school, a good school, only two blocks from protect our borders from illegal immigration. our home. My boy cannot walk to school, And I want you to feel that you’re getting because he would be in danger unless I go your money’s worthy up there. with him. So if I vote for you, will you make But I’ll say again, these challenges, these my boy free?’’ six challenges, we can meet them all. And It’s an amazing thought, isn’t it? Liberty, America will not become what it ought to we take it for granted that Americans have be until people do not feel that they are at liberty. We cannot have liberty unless crime

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becomes the exception rather than the rule. This city is also now trying to organize We’ll always have crime. We’ll always have sports teams for boys and girls in areas where violence. You can’t just transform human na- they’d be at risk. We’ve got to give our kids ture. But the kind of stuff we’ve been putting more to say yes to, and we’ve got to have up with as Americans for years and years and citizen help here. The Government in Wash- years is unacceptable. We have to say no. We ington can provide funds to help hire the po- have to take our streets back. lice. The Government in Washington can I came to Louisville because this program provide modest funds to help support the is working. And I came to Louisville to say prevention efforts. The people power has to to the American people, we’re going to put come from you. another 100,000 police on the street. We’re We can’t decide who should be hired for going to do our best to work with community the police force, how they should be trained, leaders, with mayors and county executives where they should be deployed, for goodness and neighborhood leaders all across this sakes. We don’t know what the difference country to make sure—and police chiefs— is between one neighborhood and another. that there is a good community policing pro- You have to do this, and people like you all gram in every community in America. But across America. as I learned today sitting around the table We can help with laws like the Brady bill. listening to the people who introduced me I went to a memorial service for my dear and the others who were there, none of this friend Mike Synar today, who died a few days will work unless citizens are prepared to do ago, a former Member of Congress. And Jim their part in fighting crime and taking back and Sarah Brady were there, and we were the streets. talking about how people like Mike Synar This system works primarily not because made it possible to keep 44,000 felons, peo- you catch people quicker when they commit ple with criminal records, from buying guns. crimes; it works primarily because people We can do that. But unless somebody is out don’t commit crimes in the first place if there taking responsibility, neighborhood by neighbors work with police officers, if every neighborhood, and child by child, we are not child is identified, if people work this all the going to make crime the exception rather time. than the rule. There are a lot of Americans out there who The Attorney General and I are very con- are concerned about crime. The Americans cerned about the problem of gangs, and in Louisville have done something about it. there are too many violent gangs now which The police have even started running an go out and try to involve juveniles in serious, academy for citizens so that neighborhood serious criminal activity. We intend to target leaders can go to the police academy, learn them. The FBI and the other investigative how the police force is organized, learn what agencies are going to wage a coordinated war their budget is, learn how many people they on gangs that involve juveniles and violent have, learn what their resources are, under- crime. We will do that. If there are young stand how they’re deployed. people who kill and maim like adults, they People are working together here. And ought to be prosecuted like adults. If there what I want to say to America here in Louis- are people living in these public housing ville is that every American has something projects where the other law-abiding citizens to contribute. You may not think you do, but have enough problems as it is keeping body you could. You could be in a neighborhood and soul together, and they’re out there watch group. If you see somebody in trouble, working their fingers to the bone for modest you could pick up the phone and call the wages and trying to live a decent life, they police. If you don’t have a neighborhood ought not to be involved in crime and drugs. watch group, you could ask your neighbors And if they are, they ought to be kicked out to get one together and call the local police of the public housing project immediately. force and tell them you’re ready to help. Peo- But the point I want to make is, in the ple could spend a few hours a week at a Boys end the answer is to stop people from doing Club or a Girls Club. that in the first place. We will never be able

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to jail our way out of this crisis. We cannot do our part to make sure those kids get to do that. We will not be able to jail our way live up to their God-given abilities. out of this crisis. If people hurt other people Thank you very much, and God bless you. and they’re serious threats to society, they ought to be put in jail for a long time. But NOTE: The President spoke at 3:32 p.m. in the we cannot solve the crime problem by mak- auditorium of the Male High School. In his re- marks, he referred to County Judge/Executive ing prison guards the fastest growing employ- David Armstrong and Principal Joseph Burks, Jr. ment category in the United States of Amer- ica. We need you. That is ultimately my mes- Remarks to the U.S. Conference of sage to you. We’re going to have the best Mayors drug strategy we can possibly have with Gen- January 25, 1996 eral McCaffrey. We’re going to have the best anti-gang strategy we can possibly have with Mayor Rice; Mayor Daley; Mayor Helmke, the Attorney General. We’re going to keep my old classmate, it’s good to see you here. supporting community policing with the Mr. Vice President, you are the only person great team she has put together, and we’re in the country that could have transformed not going to give these cities any hassles, a straight man routine into the best comedy these counties any hassles when they’re try- act in America. [Laughter] ing to get this job done. We will be support- I used to be able to be on a platform with ing them. someone I liked, and when they cracked a But if you really want an America where joke, I’d just write it down. And when no crime is the exception, not the rule again, one else was looking I would use it. [Laugh- it’s going to take you, too. We cannot do it ter] All of his jokes are now so carefully unless people, block by block, neighborhood bound to the persona he has created— by neighborhood, say, ‘‘There’s somebody [laughter]—they aren’t stealable. They don’t that shouldn’t be in this neighborhood.’’ even need to be patented anymore. [Laugh- ‘‘There’s an abandoned car that might have ter] drugs or weapons in it.’’ ‘‘There’s a child that We are, all of us, very glad to have you needs a helping hand.’’ You have to do that. here. I speak for Secretary Cisneros, Sec- We have got to have your help. retary Pen˜ a, for . We’re glad I ask you to think about this as I close. to have you here in your house. We’re here in this high school, this old, old I want to say a word of thanks to Tom high school—although this beautiful new au- Cochran for being a good representative of ditorium—and you think about the life you your interests and your concerns and of want these young people who are coming out working so closely with Marcia Hale and oth- of this high school to live. Imagine all the ers here in the White House. I want to thank possibilities that will be there. By the year you for the work you do every day and for, 2000 we’ve got a plan to hook up every class- so many of you, who have made me feel wel- room in America and every library in Amer- come over the last 3 years as I’ve come to ica to the worldwide Internet. You’ll have your cities. kids in Louisville who live in public housing As I said in the State of the Union a couple projects getting into libraries in Australia to of days ago, the state of the Union is strong. do research about volcanoes. It will be amaz- We have the lowest combined rates of unem- ing. ployment and inflation we’ve had in 27 years. You’ll have people able to travel the world We’ve had 7.8 million new jobs. Those big and do things that people 20 or 30 years ago numbers don’t mean much to people; they would never even have dreamed of being really want to know how they are doing in able to do. It will be very exciting. But they their communities; how is it on my block? won’t be free. No matter how modern, how But I think we can take some encouragement fancy, how wonderful it is, they won’t be free from knowing that the unemployment rate unless crime is the exception rather than the has dropped 31⁄2 percent in Detroit; it’s about rule. And that won’t happen unless all of us 41⁄2 percent total in Chicago; it’s dropped to

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under 5 percent in Philadelphia; 2 percent or a two-parent household, it is perfectly ac- decline in Los Angeles; 21⁄2 percent decline ceptable to require people on welfare who in New York. We could go through city and can work to work. I think we ought to do city and community after community to say that. We ought to be moving people from that. That is good news. dependence to independence. But it’s also It is good news that our country is helping important to remember that we want people peace to take root around the world, from to succeed as parents and as workers, and the Middle East to Bosnia. It is good news that all of us have—our first job is to our that all over our country we see a lot of the children. social indicators that have troubled so many That’s why I say that I hope we can reach of us for so long turning around. The crime a bipartisan agreement on a welfare reform rate, the welfare rolls, the food stamp rolls, bill that will be very tough when it comes the poverty rate, the teen pregnancy rate, all to work requirements and time limits and down over the last 2 to 3 years. That is very, child support enforcement but will under- very good news. stand we need adequate child care, and we But we also know that we’ve got a lot of need adequate support for those children be- work to do. And we know the world is chang- cause what we really want in America is for ing very quickly. And we know that there are every single parent to be able to succeed at an awful lot of Americans that have not been home and at work. privileged to participate in this recovering The second great challenge we have is to economy. And we know that saying that all provide our people with the educational op- these things are going down masks the fact portunities they need for the 21st century. that the crime rate, the welfare rolls, the food The 1990 Census had, if you went through stamp rates, the poverty rolls, the teen preg- all of the data, it had one stunning piece of nancy rates, they’re all still far too high, unac- information that I personally felt was the ceptably high. most important information I got out of the In the State of the Union Address, as I ’90 Census. It was the first time we could was preparing for it, I really tried to say to see from 1990 and 1980, looking backward, myself, if I were in anybody’s living room, one clear reason for the growing inequality what would I say to them. If I were just talk- in America. Why were so many middle class ing to one family about what the future of people working harder and harder and not our country would be like 5 years from now, getting ahead? Why was the rising tide not 10 years from now, 20 years from now, what lifting all boats? If you look at the ’90 Census, is it I would say that we have to do to keep you will see Americans who had at least 2 the American dream alive for all of our peo- years of education after high school tended ple, to keep this country coming together and to get jobs that they were able to keep, where moving together around its basic values, and the incomes tended to grow; those who didn’t to maintain the leadership of the United were in the other boat. States in the world? We have got to create a whole set of op- That is what I tried to talk about on Tues- portunities in education that will sustain the day night. I think we should start with our American dream for everyone. We’ve got to families because we know now that families get more parents and teachers able to run that work together and stay together are al- their own schools and able to have flexibility most never in poverty. We know that their from redtape, but they ought to have national children are far less likely to have the prob- standards of excellence and a recognized way lems which have consumed so much of our of measuring it. And people should be held time and our emotions and so much of the accountable for results—more flexibility to public treasure. meet higher standards. And one of the things An important of helping our families is that we can do together, one of the things passing the right kind of welfare reform, not the National Government can do is to imple- the wrong kind of welfare reform. I believe, ment this initiative that the Vice President since almost every parent in America has to has worked with the telecommunications in- work to make ends meet, whether in a one- dustry to develop to hook up every school

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in every library in America to the Internet they knew they’d go to work for one com- by the year 2000, every single classroom, and pany, and they’d stay there until their work make sure that we not only have a hook-up, career was over. And the same thing with but that we have good software and skilled health insurance. But a million people in teachers, so that every single one of our chil- America lost their health insurance in the last dren will be part of the information age. 2 years, and we’ve had real trouble trying We’re committed to that. to maintain the integrity of pension systems. The third thing I think we have to recog- In December of 1994, an almost unanimous nize is that in this increasingly mobile econ- vote of the Congress in both parties basically omy we have to redefine what security means stabilized the pensions of 8 million Ameri- to a working family. It’s amazing, the Fortune cans that were in real trouble and 32 million 500 companies keep laying off people, but more that could have gotten in trouble. there have been more people hired by just— So how are we going to define this kind only by businesses owned by women in the of security for the working families that you last 3 years than have been laid off by the represent? I think, at a minimum, we have Fortune 500. Interesting statistic. There is to do the following things: that much dynamism in this economy. And We have to give people access to afford- all this change is real exciting, unless—except able health insurance that they don’t lose in the times when you come out on the short when they change jobs or when somebody end. Golly, elections are exciting, unless you in their family gets sick. And there’s a biparti- don’t win them. [Laughter] Then they’re less san bill before the Congress today which they interesting. could adopt which would do that. So the big picture is very exciting. But we Secondly, we ought to recognize that peo- have always recognized that the American ple know their own best interests when people who are working hard and playing by they’re laid off, and we ought to do what we the rules, obeying the law and doing the very can to move help to them as quickly as pos- best they could were entitled to some level sible. And what I favor doing is collapsing of security. 70 of the Government’s training programs, Let me just give you one example about which were each developed for little prob- how the old security systems don’t work. And lems—collapse them, put the big pot of a lot of you, particularly before you become money there, and when somebody in your public officials, I’m sure were involved in the community is laid off or is grossly under- unemployment system as employers or em- employed and they would qualify for these ployees, where you paid—if you were an em- training programs, instead of having to figure ployer you paid tax to the unemployment sys- out what training program for which they tem. The unemployment system was a great should sign up, just send them a voucher and idea the way it worked for decades. You paid let them go to the local community college the money in, and then when times were or whatever training institute is there. tough and you had to lay your workers off Then the third thing I think we have to they could at least draw a living wage, a little do is to figure out a way to make it easier less than they were making but a living wage for small businesses, and farmers particu- until you called them back. larly, to take out their own pension plans for For decades, 85 percent of the people who themselves and their employees. There’s a were laid off from work were called back to bill in the Congress today—it hardly costs the job from which they were laid off. Today, any money, but it would make some changes. over 80 percent of the people who are laid I think it was one of the top of the three off are not called back to the job from which or four priorities of the White House Con- they were laid off because of the changes ference on Small Business. It would make in the economy. So how do we deal with some changes which would make it possible that? for almost every business that could possibly For decades people had a pension they afford to do it, including a lot of them that could rely on in addition to Social Security cannot even afford the legal costs today, to if they worked for a big company because begin a pension program.

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So these are good beginnings. And they very hard to clean away all the sort of bureau- would strengthen your communities by ena- cratic hassles to getting the money. No one bling your families that are working out there said—the cities decided whom to hire, how in this more dynamic economy to succeed. to train them, where they’ll be deployed, how The fourth thing we have to do is do a they’ll work. The cities decide what the rela- better job of helping you to bring the crime tionship with the communities are. You make rate down. But you—this is a great success all the decisions of any significance within story in America. The crime rate is going the framework of saying, we’ve got to go to down in most communities in this country, community policing; we’ve got to drive this thanks to the efforts that you and your police crime rate down. chiefs, your police officers, and your commu- That is the kind of community-based part- nity leaders are making. Finally, a couple of nership that I think ought to be the model. weeks ago there was a big cover story in one And the results are pretty hard to quarrel of our major magazines acknowledging that, with, as all of you know. Now, the only thing saying we can have some hope that we can I want to say about that is we have made drive crime down. progress bringing the crime rate down, but Yesterday I was with Mayor Abramson in everybody knows it’s still too high. You go Louisville, and we sat and talked to the citi- out and interview any 20 citizens in America, zens and the community police officers that and they’ll tell you it’s still one of their deep- were working together in Louisville. Just a est concerns. few days ago I was with Mayor Lanier in We have to keep working on this. What Houston. We were conducting a funeral serv- should our goal be? Our goal should be to ice for our friend Barbara Jordan. And he make crime the exception rather than the was telling me about the work that they have rule. It’s a simple goal. Our goal should be done there to drive down juvenile crime. to make crime the exception rather than the They have 3,000 young people in a soccer rule so that people feel comfortable when program. And 2,500 of them get their uni- their kids are on the street playing, people forms and shoes from the city. They are kids aren’t afraid to walk down the street to the that would never otherwise be able to afford movie. We know that we will never abolish to participate in that sort of activity. crime in America. You will never take—we These things are going on all over our can’t transform what is inside every human country, and we are taking our streets back. being, but we could go back to a time when And I want to say a little bit about this be- it’s the exception rather than the rule. And cause this is—the model we’ve had together we have to keep working until we achieve in fighting crime is the model that I believe that goal. we should try to replicate in other places. The other challenges that I put before the We’ve worked together. We passed the crime country were, obviously, the important ones bill of 1994. We passed the Brady bill. That that you’ve worked on: to make sure that we needed to be a national law, uniform stand- continue to protect the environment and that ards; 44,000 people with criminal records we find even more ways to grow the economy have not gotten handguns as a result of it. while we’re cleaning up the environment in- We passed the assault weapons ban. That stead of the reverse; to maintain our coun- needed to be a national law. It wouldn’t be try’s leadership in the world; and to give our worth—you know, a city ordinance on assault Government greater and greater and greater weapons? A State law on assault weapons? capacity to do more while it costs less and It wouldn’t have worked. serve the people better. We passed the crime bill, and we said, And we don’t have—the era of big Govern- ‘‘Okay, this money can only be used for po- ment is over, but the era of strong, effective lice,’’ but that needed to be a national stand- Government in partnership with people is ard. Why? Because for 30 years we saw the not over. We’re not going back to a time violent crime rate triple and the aggregate when people can fend for themselves. Why size of America’s police force only went up do people come to cities in the first place? 10 percent. But the Attorney General worked What do cities give people? The ability to

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make more of their lives together than they for you to build and rehabilitate houses for could if they were apart. I mean, the whole your citizens. We continue to strongly sup- concept of cities is the symbol of what it is port the community development block we ought to be trying to do in America. Peo- grants. They’ve been around a long time, but ple live together because they think they’ll they really are the symbol of what it is we’re all be better off than if they were all out trying to do: Here are the subjects; you do somewhere else by themselves. it; be accountable at the end; if you mess That is the idea. And that is, to me, the up, we’ll tell you, but otherwise why should model that we ought to all have in our minds we be telling you how to do all this. Those of what the role of Government ought to be community development block grants have as we move into the 21st century, to make worked well for America. This is a stronger people to make more of their own lives, not country because of the way that program to do anything for anybody that they ought worked. to do for themselves but to help people make We have, secondly—let me just make one more of their own lives. other comment. I believe that the way the And that is the kind of partnership we have Secretary of Housing and Urban Develop- tried to have with you. It is very difficult to ment has worked with you on the problem do that and to say you’re doing it in Washing- of homelessness has worked well, too. You ton because everything here compulsively is know how to move the homeless people off filtered out to you through party politics, no your streets. Every community has a slightly matter how hard we try to avoid it. You don’t different homeless problem. And one of the have to worry about that quite as much as things I would like to say is, while we do we do. I think it was Mayor LaGuardia who this budget, I know we’re going to have to once said, ‘‘There is no Republican or Demo- cut a lot of things, but I think we’ve made cratic way to clean the streets.’’ [Laughter] some real progress in dealing with homeless- And I believe we need to take some of that ness in the last few years, and I think it would wisdom and bring it back here. There is, yes, be a great mistake if we reverse that progress. a Democratic and a Republican way to bal- ance the budget. I understand that. But there I think it would be a great mistake if we re- is also a whole lot of overlap, and that’s what verse that progress. We need to continue to we ought to be focused on. reduce the number of homeless people on So let me just mention four things very our streets. This, again, should not be a par- quickly that I know you’ll be discussing here tisan issue. I don’t believe there is a single that I think ought to be the basis of our part- person in America that really believes that nership within this framework that I outlined we should weaken our effort to do that. in the State of the Union. The second thing we’ve done is to work First of all, I want to thank again the Vice on these community development banks. President and Secretary Cisneros for the They’re quite controversial now in the Con- work they’ve done on the empowerment gress because they seem like an easy thing zones and the enterprise communities. We to cut because they haven’t been fully imple- are trying to find ways to take the lessons mented. But if you look at the experience we learned there and apply them to other of the South Shore Development Bank in communities. And as we work through this Chicago, or if you look at the experience of budget and next year’s budget, I believe that any of the other microenterprise loan pro- there should be a bipartisan consensus to grams that have been done in the United find ways to use the power of the Federal States, or if you look at how much our aid Government in ways that essentially help program has done in other countries, setting build public-private partnerships to rede- up development banks in places where they velop our cities. And I would urge you to would be a lot harder to start than it would support that and to give us any other ideas in most of your cities, it is obvious that if you have for that. we had a source of capital to start more new We have the HOME initiative, which all businesses and small businesses, no matter of you are familiar with, which provides funds if they’re just one-person businesses, in a lot

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of our poorest areas, we could grow the econ- But I know that the mayors have been on omy more quickly there than anyplace else. this issue, and I just want to assure you that What’s the greatest opportunity for Amer- we want to be there with you. And I believe, ican business today? The distressed neigh- again, we can build broad bipartisan support borhoods in our urban and rural areas. for the Brownfields initiative. Where do the largest number of people live The fourth thing that I want to comment in America that we could use to expand the on is the reinvention of HUD that Mayor work force in a hurry, or to expand the num- Cisneros is overseeing. I call him ‘‘mayor’’ ber of our consumers in a hurry? In the dis- when he starts talking to me about this. HUD tressed neighborhoods of our urban and iso- has now got 81 field offices. They’ve moved lated rural areas. huge numbers of people out of Washington. AID gave a $1-million grant several years They’re collapsing their divisions down to ago to a Central American country to set up four basic programs. For communities of a loan program. An average loan was $300 over 150,000 there will be a single point of apiece. That loan program now accounts for contact in the community so you can do all one percent of all of the jobs in that country, your business in one place. Grants that once and the $1-million fund that AID put down required 12 separate applications will now there now has—there’s $4 million in that require only one. bank account now. Those loans have been So that’s the kind of flexibility that I think paid back several times with interest over and we ought to have. Our goal is to reach, by over again. the year 2000, 671⁄2 percent homeownership If we really believe that free enterprise and in America. We’re already at a 15-year high not Government spending is the answer to right now. We’re moving. And if we can keep the problems of the inner city, we’re going going in this direction and you’ll help us and to have to give them some free enterprise. we work together we can get up to the point And free enterprise begins with capital. And where 671⁄2 percent of the people are in their there is lots and lots and lots of evidence own homes. That has never happened in the that this can be successful. So I urge you United States before. And that, again, will to support that. carry with it a certain amount of economic The third thing that I know is very impor- growth and development in all your commu- tant—I think more mayors have mentioned nities. this to me than any other single issue—is our And let me just say one other word since Brownfields initiative, and I want to thank Secretary Pen˜ a is here. We have been quite Carol Browner for the work that she has done successful and, again, have had a good sup- on it. We were getting ready to come over port from the Congress in our efforts to maxi- here, and I was preparing it and I said we mize the amount of money we’re putting out ought to call this Browner’s Brownfields. through the Department of Transportation [Laughter] It sounds like a kids’ softball in communities for infrastructure develop- team, you know? It was great. ment. That’s one place where we have This is a very important thing. If we can worked together with hardly a hitch. And be- get these vacant spaces that you have to put cause we have it’s attracted hardly any notice. fences around, that basically divide neighbor- [Laughter] But we’re moving in the right di- hoods and are inviting targets for all kinds rection there, and I want to thank you for of destructive things, to turn back into safe, doing that. sustainable economic endeavors we could do So these are the things that we believe we more in less time, with less money to move can do with you. And I hope that they will our cities forward than nearly anything else be symbolic and will exemplify the kind of we can do. So we want to help communities partnership that will take this country a long clean up old waste sites by giving tax incen- way down the road. tives to those who will buy and clean them Let me just say one other thing about the up. We want to clear away regulatory bur- budget. Since I gave the State of the Union dens. We want to do whatever we can to sup- Address, there have been some encouraging port you. things said by the congressional leaders about

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the prospects of our getting a budget agree- instinctively they could do things together ment and continuing to work to bring the that they could never do on their own. Amer- deficit down. But I would remind you that ica can do what we have to do if we do it we still have some roadblocks in the way that together. And the mayors, the cities, the I think need to be cleared away. community leaders can lead the way. I urge Congress to keep the Government Thank you, and God bless you all. open and to pass the straightforward continu- ing resolution until we pass the rest of the appropriations bills for this year. NOTE: The President spoke at 3:02 p.m., in the We’ve also seen news that just today—of East Room at the White House. In his remarks, the serious consequences that could result he referred to U.S. Conference of Mayors officers if the Congress was to default on the debt Mayor Norm Rice, Seattle, WA, president; Mayor limit. No mayor would ever consider doing Richard Daley, Chicago, IL, vice president; Mayor such a thing. The repercussions would be far , Fort Wayne, IN, advisory board too harmful. And the Congress should not, chair; and John Thomas Cochran, executive direc- tor. either. Congress must choose not to shut the Government down again, and must choose to honor the full faith and credit of the United States. Statement on the Resignation of We are a very great nation, and we are Roger Johnson as Administrator of a very great nation not just because we’re General Services big, not just because we’re wealthy, and not just because we’ve got a powerful military. January 25, 1996 It’s because people know that we stand for certain things. They know we can be trusted. I learned of Roger Johnson’s resignation They know we keep our word. as Administrator of the General Services Ad- When the United States of America bor- ministration with deep regret. He served his rowed that money, the United States gave country with distinction over the last 3 years, its word it would honor its obligations. And bringing a common-sense approach and let’s- we should not, under any circumstances, for get-down-to-business style to the GSA. any reason, ever, ever, not a single one of He worked closely with the Vice President us, break the word of the United States of and the staff of the National Performance America. Review to implement real reforms at the Let me say, too, to all of you, I have been GSA. Because of his work, today’s GSA pro- very honored to fight the battles that we have vides better service with a smaller bureauc- fought together, across party lines, for the racy and lower operating costs. We will con- crime bill, to end unfunded mandates. You tinue to build on the work Roger started. have been a source of great inspiration to At a time when all Americans need to me. But this organization has been a source come together and confront our common of inspiration for progressive, positive change challenges, we need people like Roger John- ever since you convinced a reluctant Presi- son—a long-time Republican, a business dent Hoover to sign a municipal assistance bill in the Depression. leader—more than ever. Even as he leaves So I ask you to keep working with us. Help the Government, I hope public servants ev- us to pass the ‘‘Community Flexibility Act.’’ erywhere remember his example: to put par- Help us to protect the community develop- tisan differences aside and work for the com- ment banks. Help us to support the reform mon good. of HUD. Help us to get real welfare reform. Hillary and I wish Roger and Janice noth- Help us to keep the crime rate coming down. ing but the best as they return to California. Help us to do these things. We can do these I am deeply gratified by his kind words and things if we do them together. look forward to working with Roger in the The cities are the model. Why did people months ahead. begin to live in cities? Because they knew

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Message to the Congress broaden our horizons, the frontiers of knowl- Transmitting the Report of the edge continue to expand, and the dream of Department of Transportation exploration, as we find at Challenger Edu- January 25, 1996 cation Centers around the country, lives on. We have been fortunate to view our world To the Congress of the United States: from the vastness of space, and we owe a In accordance with section 308 of Public lasting debt of gratitude to the Challenger Law 97–449 (49 U.S.C. 308(a)), I transmit Seven and all those who have taught and still herewith the Annual Report of the Depart- teach us about our place in the cosmos. For, ment of Transportation, which covers fiscal as T.S. Eliot wrote: year 1994. We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring William J. Clinton Will be to arrive where we started The White House, And know the place for the first time. January 25, 1996. William J. Clinton NOTE: This message was released by the Office NOTE: An original was not available for verifica- of the Press Secretary on January 26. tion of the content of this statement.

Statement on the 10th Anniversary of the Loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger Digest of Other January 26, 1996 White House Announcements Ten years ago this week, our nation and the world were stunned and saddened by the The following list includes the President’s public loss of the crew of the Space Shuttle Chal- schedule and other items of general interest an- lenger. A decade later, we are still moved nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and by the memory of the Challenger Seven and not included elsewhere in this issue. honor the extraordinary sacrifice they made for our country. January 20 Throughout our history, pioneers have In the morning, the President traveled to dared to dream and live life to the fullest. Houston, TX, where he met with the family Like the pathfinders and explorers of our ear- of former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan liest days, like the settlers who pushed our before her funeral. In the afternoon, he re- boundaries westward, like the pilots who first turned to Washington, DC. took to the air, or the Apollo astronauts who January 21 lost their lives in pursuit of President Ken- In the morning, the President and Hillary nedy’s visionary call to reach the moon, the and Chelsea Clinton toured the Johannes Challenger astronauts believed in themselves Vermeer exhibit at the National Gallery of and in their mission. They believed in the Art. quest for knowledge and the pursuit of dis- The President declared a major disaster in covery. And each of them—including a spe- the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and or- cial school teacher who touched America’s dered Federal aid to supplement State and heart, Christa McAuliffe—possessed the rare local recovery efforts in the areas struck by courage of those willing to risk much to flooding beginning January 19 and continu- achieve great things. ing. The people of our space program still carry with them the memory of the Challenger as- January 22 tronauts and keep alive in their daily striving The White House announced that the the spirit of the friends and colleagues they President has invited President Konstandinos lost on that tragic day. Today, our space pro- Stephanopoulos of Greece for a state visit on gram is still strong, the Shuttles continue to May 9.

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January 23 January 26 The President declared a major disaster in In the morning, the President had a tele- the State of Maryland and ordered Federal phone conversation with President Boris aid to supplement State and local recovery Yeltsin of Russia. efforts in the area struck by flooding begin- In the evening, the President attended the ning on January 19 and continuing. annual convention of the National Associa- The President announced his intention to tion of Hispanic Publications at the National nominate Elmer B. Staats to the Board of Press Club. Trustees of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation. The President announced his intention to appoint Marsha M. Bera-Morris as a member of the Department of Defense Retirement Nominations Board of Actuaries. Submitted to the Senate The President announced his intention to nominate Lawrence Neal Benedict as Am- The following list does not include promotions of bassador to Cape Verde. members of the Uniformed Services, nominations to the Service Academies, or nominations of For- January 24 eign Service officers. In the morning, the President met with the family of former Congressman Mike Synar at St. John’s Church Lafayette Square Submitted January 22 before the Congressman’s memorial service. Mary Burrus Babson, In the early afternoon, the President trav- of Illinois, to be a member of the Board of eled to Louisville, KY. Aboard Air Force One Directors of the Corporation for National en route, he had a telephone conversation and Community Service for a term of one with Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich year (new position). on the national debt ceiling. In the evening, he returned to Washington, DC. Richard L. Morningstar, The President announced his intention to of , for the rank of Ambassador nominate Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey as Direc- during his tenure of service as Special Ad- tor of National Drug Control Policy. viser to the President and the Secretary of The President declared major disasters in State on Assistance to the New Independent the States of Connecticut, Massachusetts, States (NIS) of the Former Soviet Union and and Rhode Island and ordered Federal aid Coordinator of NIS Assistance. to supplement State and local recovery ef- forts in the areas struck by the ‘‘Blizzard of Luis Valdez, 1996,’’ which occurred January 7–13. of California, to be a member of the National The President declared a major disaster in Council on the Arts for a term expiring Sep- the State of New York and ordered Federal tember 3, 2000, vice Peter deCourch Hero, aid to supplement State and local recovery term expired. efforts in the area struck by severe storms Submitted January 24 and flooding beginning January 19 and con- tinuing. Lawrence Neal Benedict, of California, a career member of the Senior January 25 Foreign Service, class of Counselor, to be The President declared a major disaster in Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- the State of West Virginia and ordered Fed- potentiary of the United States of America eral funds to supplement State and local re- to the Republic of Cape Verde. covery efforts in the area struck by flooding beginning January 19 and continuing. Joseph J. DiNunno, The President announced his intention to of Maryland, to be a member of the Defense nominate Thomas Fink to the Federal Re- Nuclear Facilities Safety Board for a term tirement Thrift Investment Board. expiring October 18, 2000 (reappointment).

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Ronnie Feuerstein Heyman, Submitted January 25 of New York, to be a member of the National Council on the Arts for a term expiring Sep- Richard A. Paez, tember 3, 2000, vice Jocelyn Levi Straus, of California, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for term expired. the Ninth Circuit, vice Cecil F. Poole, re- signed. Barry R. McCaffrey, of Washington, to be Director of National Elmer B. Staats, Drug Control Policy, vice Lee Patrick of the District of Columbia, to be a member Brown, resigned. of the Board of Trustees of the Harry S Tru- Robert B. Rogers, man Scholarship Foundation for a term ex- of Missouri, to be a member of the Board piring December 10, 2001 (reappointment). of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term of 3 years (new position). Shirley W. Ryan, Checklist of Illinois, to be a member of the National of White House Press Releases Council on Disability for a term expiring September 17, 1997 (reappointment). The following list contains releases of the Office Withdrawn January 24 of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as items nor covered by entries in the Digest of Chris Evert, Other White House Announcements. of Florida, to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term of 3 years Released January 20 (new position), which was sent to the Senate Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry on June 6, 1995. on U.N. Ambassador ’s visit to Burundi Christine Hernandez, of Texas, to be a member of the Board of Released January 22 Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term of 2 years Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- (new position), which was sent to the Senate retary Mike McCurry on June 6, 1995. Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry Kirsten S. Moy, announcing the upcoming visit of President of New York, to be Administrator of the Konstandinos Stephanopoulos of Greece Community Development Financial Institu- White House announcement on the im- tions Fund (new position), which was sent proved White House World Wide Web site to the Senate on February 24, 1995. Released January 23 Cherry T. Kinoshita, of Washington, to be a member of the Board Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- of Directors of the Civil Liberties Public retary Mike McCurry Education Fund for a term of 2 years (new Transcript of a press briefing by Chief of position), which was sent to the Senate on Staff and Deputy Assistant to January 5, 1995. the President for Economic Policy Gene Stanley K. Sheinbaum, Sperling on the President’s State of the of California, to be a member of the National Union Address Security Education Board for a term of 4 Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry years, vice John P. Roche, resigned, which on the death of King Moshoeshoe II of Leso- was sent to the Senate on January 5, 1995. tho

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Released January 24 Transcript of remarks by National Security Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- Adviser Anthony Lake at the Marshall Leg- retary Mike McCurry acy Symposium

Released January 25 Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- retary Mike McCurry Acts Approved by the President Statement by Chief of Staff Leon Panetta on continuing resolution legislation NOTE: No acts approved by the President were Announcement of a nomination for the U.S. received by the Office of the Federal Register Court of Appeals judge for the Ninth Circuit during the period covered by this issue.

Released January 26 Approved January 26 Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- H.R. 2880 / Public Law 104–99 retary Mike McCurry The Balanced Budget Downpayment Act, I

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