Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Monday, October 7, 1996 Volume 32—Number 40 Pages 1893–1967

1

VerDate 28-OCT-97 11:45 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P40SE4.000 p40se4 Contents

Addresses and Remarks Bill Signings—Continued See also Bill Signings Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Balanced budget agreement—1927 Act of 1996, remarks—1951 Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Related Boston Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997, Arrival—1927 statement—1933 Campaign concert for Senator Kerry— Electronic Freedom of Information Act 1928 Amendments of 1996, statement—1949 Fall River—1922 Energy and Water Development Middle East summit—1931, 1939 Appropriations Act, 1997, statement—1934 New York, Buffalo—1954 Mother Teresa, legislation conferring Radio address—1914 citizenship, statement—1942 Rhode Island, Providence—1916 Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, Texas 1997, statement—1935 Fort Worth—1902 Waiving enrollment requirements, Houston statement—1935 Astronaut Shannon Lucid, welcome— Witness retaliation, witness tampering and 1908 jury tampering legislation, statement—1941 Community—1909 Bill Vetoes Longview—1893 Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Bill Signings Refuge Eminent Domain Prevention Act, Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation message—1950 Act of 1996, statement—1948 ‘‘Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Communications to Congress Donation Act,’’ statement—1943 See also Bill Vetoes Carjacking Correction Act of 1996, Caribbean Basin economic recovery, message statement—1941 transmitting report—1943

(Continued on the inside of the back cover.)

Editor’s Note: The President was in Chautauqua, NY, on October 4, the closing date of this issue. Releases and announcements issued by the Office of the Press Secretary but not received in time for inclusion in this issue will be printed next week.

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

2

VerDate 28-OCT-97 11:45 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P40SE4.000 p40se4 Contents—Continued

Communications to Congress—Continued Meetings With Foreign Leaders Convention on the International Maritime Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu—1939, Organization, message transmitting report— 1943 1942 Jordan, King Hussein I—1939, 1943 Inter-American Convention on Serving Palestinian Authority, Chairman Arafat—1939, Criminal Sentences Abroad, message 1943 transmitting—1938 Traffic and motor vehicles, message Proclamations transmitting reports—1961 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month— Communications to Federal Agencies 1959 National Domestic Violence Awareness Drawdown of Defense Department Month—1960 commodities, services, and training for the National Student Voter Education Day—1950 Economic Community of West African Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and States’ peacekeeping force, memorandum— Nonimmigrants of Persons Who Formulate 1934 or Implement Policies That Are Impeding Family violence provisions, memorandum on the Transition to Democracy in Burma or guidelines to States for implementation— Who Benefit From Such Policies—1957 1958 Executive Orders Statements by the President Supporting Families: Collecting Delinquent See also Bill Signings Child Support Obligations—1925 Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996, passage—1957 Interviews With the News Media Omnibus parks legislation—1932, 1957 Exchanges with reporters Welfare reform initiatives—1933 Boston, MA—1927 Supplementary Materials Chautauqua, NY—1962 Oval Office—1939 Acts approved by the President—1965 Rose Garden—1931 Checklist of White House press releases— Interview with the Houston Chronicle and the 1965 Dallas Morning News—1898 Digest of other White House News conference with Middle Eastern announcements—1963 leaders, October 2 (No. 129)—1943 Nominations submitted to the Senate—1964

3

VerDate 28-OCT-97 11:45 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P40SE4.000 p40se4 Week Ending Friday, October 4, 1996

Remarks in Longview, Texas Thank you, Judge Frank Maloney, for being here. And ladies and gentlemen, I’d September 27, 1996 like to take a little personal privilege here The President. Thank you. Thank you. and ask your retiring Congressman, Jim Chapman, who has served you well and Audience members. Four more years! worked hard, just to come up here and say Four more years! Four more years! one word. This is the biggest crowd he’ll see The President. Thank you very much. in Longview until he leaves office, and I want Folks, I would have come all the way to him to have a chance to say hello to you. Longview just to see the Rangerettes and Come on up here, Jim. hear the Ranger Band. Thank you very much. I thank you for coming out on a little bit [At this point, Representative Jim Chapman of an overcast day and keeping the rain away. made brief remarks.] I feel like the Sun shines on us in Longview Audience members. Four more years! today, don’t you? [Applause] Four more years! Four more years! Thank you, Martha Whitehead, for being The President. Thank you. Thank you. a great mayor, a great state treasurer, for Ladies and gentlemen, 4 years ago I had keeping your campaign commitment and a pretty tough time here. I ran for President working yourself right out of a job. Somehow against two guys from Texas. [Laughter] It I think that people will think you’re entitled hardly seemed fair to me. I’m sure I spent to a lot more good jobs in the future. Thank more time in Texas than anybody else who you for your leadership. Thank you, County had run for President recently. And you were Commissioner James Johnson, for being very good to me. We had a good showing here. Thank you, Ann Richards, for your here. I’ve had an opportunity to come back wonderful talk. I heard it in the back. Thank to Texas many times in the last 4 years, and you, Texas Democratic Party chair and I want to thank all those who have been my former Deputy Secretary of the Department friends and supporters through good times of Energy, Bill White. He did a great job and bad. for us in Washington, and he’s doing a great You know, we had some tough decisions job for the Democratic Party here in Texas. to make when I became President. But think And thank you, Garry Mauro, my friend of what this country was like 4 years ago. We many years, for standing up for us, sticking had high unemployment, the slowest job with us, and waiting around until we finally growth since the Great Depression, growing got to the point where we can win in the inequality because working people’s wages State of Texas because we’ve done a good were stagnant. The crime rate was going up. job for the people of Texas. The welfare rolls were going up. The country I also want to thank Max Sandlin for being was becoming more divided, and people here and for speaking earlier. And I want were becoming more skeptical, even cynical, to ask you to send him to the United States about our politics. And I believed it was be- Congress. We’ve got some great candidates cause we did not have a unifying vision to in this part of Texas running for their first take us into the 21st century. terms in Congress: Max Sandlin, Jim Turner, And I have a simple, straightforward idea John Pouland. I hope they will all win. I hope of what I want this country to look like in you will help them so they can help you build 4 years when we start a new century and a that bridge to the 21st century that we’ve new millennium. In Longview, Texas, and been talking about. every town like it all across America, I want 1893

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 1894 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

the American dream to be alive and well for the biggest decline in the number of children everybody who is willing to work for it, with- living in poverty in 20 years. We are on the out regard to where they start out in life. right track, and we need to stay on that track I want this country to be the world’s strongest to the 21st century. force for peace and freedom and prosperity, We have increased education opportuni- because our peace and our freedom and our ties, from more children in Head Start to a prosperity depends upon America’s ability to better, lower cost college loan program, to lead and stand up for those things in the the AmeriCorps program, to allow young world. And I wanted us to be a country that’s people to work their way through college by coming together, not being torn apart by our serving in their communities. We’re moving differences. And I believe we can all say in the right direction. we’re a lot better off by that standard today The crime rate has gone down for 4 years than we were 4 years ago. We’re on the right in a row because of those 100,000 police Ann track for the 21st century. Richards was talking about. And when they We’ve done it by trying to meet our chal- told all the hunters in east Texas that the lenges and protect our values with a simple President was trying to take their guns away little strategy: opportunity for all; responsibil- when the Brady bill passed, it sounded pretty ity from all; and an American community that good at the time, and we took a terrible lick- treats everybody fairly and gives everybody ing in a lot of places in 1994. You would have a role to play. thought I was going to knock on the doors Now, you look at the results and you think myself and take people’s guns away. about the tough times in 1993 and 1994. Well, guess what? Now we know. Now we When we were passing our economic plan, know. Two hunting seasons have come and Mr. Morales’ opponent said, ‘‘If the Presi- gone. It turns out that I was telling the truth. dent’s plan passes, unemployment will go up, When we took the 19 assault weapons off the deficit will go up, we’ll have a terrible the street we protected 650 kinds of hunting recession.’’ That’s what he said. Well, now weapons. So 2 years later not a single hunter we know. A trained economist, they say. Four in Texas has lost their rifle. But 60,000 felons, years later we have 101⁄2 million new jobs, fugitives, and stalkers could not get handguns 900,000 here in Texas; the lowest unemploy- because of the Brady bill. ment rate in America in 71⁄2 years; the lowest So the crime rate went down. The welfare unemployment rate here in 15 years; in every rolls are down by nearly 2 million in America. single year a record number of new small Child support collections are up by almost businesses; the highest rate of homeowner- 50 percent—nearly $4 billion a year more ship in 15 years; 41⁄2 million new home- in child support collections. That’s helping owners. to move people off welfare and give families And yesterday, in the annual report of the dignity and reinforce the responsibility of ev- United States Census Bureau on how we’re eryone to support their children. We are doing as a country in terms of our income, moving in the right direction. we got the following information. Last year, And you know, when I ran for President— median—that’s the people in the middle, di- and I liked what Martha said. You know, she rect middle, not the average, the people in literally reinvented Government. She con- the middle—median household income last solidated her job. I heard our friends in the year increased by almost $900 after inflation, other party, they always said the Federal the biggest increase in family income in 10 Government is a terrible thing. It’s nothing years. Family income since that economic but waste. It would mess up a one-car pa- plan passed has gone up over $1,600. rade. And they made a living—they owned And even more important, more of us who the White House for decades, you know, just are working are sharing in it. We had the kicking the Federal Government around. biggest decline in the inequality of incomes They hated it so much, but they couldn’t bear and the biggest decline in the number of to be outside of it. It kind of tickled me. But working Americans living in poverty in 27 they never did anything about it. They bad- years, from one year to the next. We had mouthed it. They said how bad the Govern-

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 27 1895

ment was. They said we Democrats were there was a lot of talk and very little action. nothing but Government lovers and we Everybody spent all their time trying to get would defend every program. their 30 seconds on the evening news, seeing Well, guess what? Now we know. Our ad- who they could blame for America’s prob- ministration reduced the size of the Federal lems. And I said, we are going to change the Government by 250,000. It’s the size it was way Washington works. We’re going to stop now when John Kennedy was President. As asking, ‘‘Who is to blame’’ and start asking, a percentage of our work force it’s the small- ‘‘What are we going to do to get this country est it’s been since Franklin Roosevelt first moving again and help people?’’ took the oath of office in 1933. That’s what So I tell you today, we are better off than we did to reinvent this Government. We’re we were 4 years ago. But we’ve got a lot to still serving you, but it is smaller. do. And we’re going to be better off still. We have reduced the burden of Federal And I came here to ask the people of Long- regulations more. We have eliminated more view and east Texas and this great State to unnecessary programs. We’ve given more au- help and join in in building that bridge to thority back to State and local government. the 21st century. We’ve shared more authority with the private Now, you know this approach is right; we sector than they ever did when they had the are better off than we were 4 years ago. We White House. The only difference is we’re don’t need a U-turn. We need to bear down doing it because we think it will help to cre- and go right on into that future. And I want ate the conditions and give you the tools to to ask you to help us. I want you to help make the most of your own lives. So we still me balance that Federal budget. We’ve al- believe we ought to balance the budget, but ready taken the deficit down 4 years in a row we don’t believe we ought to wreck the Med- for the first time since before the Civil War. icare program or the Medicaid program or They talked about it; we did something about undermine education or the environment. it. But we’ve got to balance the budget in That’s the difference. a way that is fair to everybody. We can pro- Folks, you know, I spent the last 12 years tect education and the environment and re- of my life before I moved to Washington a search and technology, we can protect Medi- lot closer to Longview than to Washington. care and Medicaid, and we can afford a tar- And I was in Washington at a dinner last geted tax cut tied to childrearing and edu- night, and Senator Dodd, the chairman of cation. our party, said that he sort of felt sorry for I am very proud of the fact that on October me when I showed up. I’d never been in the 1st, 10 million Americans will get an in- the House; I’d never been in the Senate; I’d crease in their minimum wage. You may not never served in anybody’s administration; I’d know there is also in that bill tax cuts to help just been a Governor. I didn’t understand small business if they invest more, tax cuts how Washington worked, and it was more to help small businesses—self-employed about talk than action. people that have to buy their own health in- surance policy. And there is also a $5,000 At this point, an audience member required [ tax credit for any family that will adopt a medical attention. ] child. That’s pro-family, pro-work, and pro- You need some help? Where’s my doctor? business. I’ve got my medical team. We’ve got some- What I want to see us do now is to give body here who fainted. We’re coming. We’ll the American people tax credits for bring it right there. Somebody hold your childrearing. I want to see tax cuts for edu- hand up, and we’ll find you. They’ll be right cation. I want to see tax cuts for home buy- there. Here they are. There’s nothing else ing. I want to see tax cuts for medical care. we can do. You all just—let’s go on with the And I want to explain in a minute how all show here; they’re going to take good care that works, but the main thing I want to say of him. to you is we can afford the right kind of tax Now, listen, when we came there the thing cut. But we should not have a tax cut that that bothered me about Washington was that is a big, across-the-board tax cut that goes

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 1896 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

to people like me who don’t need it and that computer generation and it gives you a head- will increase the deficit again. ache to think about all this, here’s what it Now, every time I get on a plane and leave means in simple terms. If we can hook up Washington, they say, ‘‘Now, Mr. President, every classroom in Longview to the World the economy is going well now; don’t go Wide Web, to the Internet, to all these other down to someplace like Longview and talk networks of information—and we did that in about the deficit. It bores people to death. New York City and we did that in the They don’t want to hear about it, and nobody remotest place in North Dakota—for the first cares about it except when times are tough.’’ time in history the kids in the poorest school Well, let me tell you what it means. You go districts, the kids in the most remote school home tonight and you think about this. Be- districts would have access to the same infor- cause we cut the deficit by 60 percent, we’re mation at the same level of quality and the not borrowing as much money. That leaves same time as the kids in the richest public more for you. That means interest rates are and private schools in America. It has never lower. happened before. We could revolutionize Now, last year our Republican friends put education, and we ought to do it. out a report that I agree with—I agreed with The second thing we ought to do is to them last year, and I wish they hadn’t make a college education available to every changed their position—last year they said, single person who needs it of any age. And ‘‘If we get off of this plan to balance the here’s my plan to do that in three little ideas. budget, interest rates will go up by 2 per- Number one, let more families save in an cent.’’ Now, when you go home tonight, you IRA, an individual retirement account, for think about what that would mean. If your their retirement, but let them withdraw from car payment, your credit card payment, and it tax free if they’re using it pay for a college your house payment went up by 2 percent, education, a health emergency, to buy a first that would take your tax cut away right quick, home. Number two, make a community col- wouldn’t it? lege education as universal in American in Think what it would mean. Even worse, 4 years as a high school diploma is today. if all the little businesses up and down this Make 2 years of education as universal by street here and every other business in this giving families a tax credit, dollar-for-dollar, country had to pay 2 percent more for a busi- off their tax bill for the cost of tuition at the ness loan, then small business would have typical community college in America today. a harder time expanding and growing and Number three, give the families of this coun- hiring new people. So I say, yes, cut taxes, try a $10,000 deduction for the cost of any but pay for every dime of it and still balance college tuition, any vocational tuition, up to the budget. That’s my plan. Help people edu- $10,000 a year every year the kids are in col- cate their kids, help people build their fami- lege or their parents are in college. We ought lies, but do it right. to make this available to America, and we The second thing I want to say is, we’ve can pay for it and balance the budget. Will got to build a bridge to the 21st century you help me build that bridge to the 21st where every single person has a chance to century? [Applause] get a world-class education. And I could keep I want to build a bridge to the 21st century you here until tomorrow at this time talking where the crime rate goes down for 4 more about the schools and education. But let me years. If we take it down 8 years in a row just tell you two of the things I want to do. it might be low enough for us to stand it. Number one, I want to see every class- And I have some specific ideas. First of all, room in this country and every library and we’ve got to finish the job of putting those every school in America hooked up not only 100,000 police on the street. For reasons that with computers but hooked up to the infor- absolutely amaze me, the Congress—this mation superhighway, to the Internet, to the Congress—is still trying to stop us from put- World Wide Web. And let me say what that ting police on the street, even though it is means—let me tell you what that means. If lowering the crime rate and preventing crime you’re like me and you’re sort of out of the and helping kids to stay out of trouble.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 27 1897

Number two, we ought to do more drug economy when there are millions of workers testing of people who are out on parole. Sixty at work all over America worried sick about percent of the cocaine and heroin consumed their kids while they’re trying to do their job. in the United States today is consumed by I want to create a country where everybody people who are already in the criminal justice who wants to work can work, where every- system in some way. You should not be on body has to work who can work, but where parole if you go back to drugs. That will make every worker can be a good parent, because us a safer country. that’s our first and most important job. That Number three, we ought to fully fund our is what I’m trying to do, and I want you to safe and drug-free schools act. We ought to help me build that bridge to the 21st century. have a D.A.R.E. officer in every grade school And finally, let me say that I believe almost classroom that needs it in America, out there every American now understands that we helping these kids to stay off drugs and stay can’t build a bridge to the 21st century unless out of trouble. For reasons I do not under- we find a way to improve our environment stand, this Congress has tried to cut that pro- as we grow our economy. I’m really proud gram in half. I want to do more. We have of the fact that we passed a safe drinking got to convince our young people not to get water law; we passed a pesticide protection in trouble in the first place. We’re not going act supported by all the farm groups and all to jail our way out of their problems, we’ve the consumer groups, to improve the quality got to keep them on a good path to the fu- of our food; that we are working hard to clean ture. We’ve got to keep them on that bridge up toxic waste dumps and we cleaned up to the 21st century. And we need to do what more in 3 years than our predecessors did we can to help you folks, the parents, the in 12. But I am concerned about the continu- religious leaders, and the people in law en- ing environmental challenges we have, and forcement who are willing to go into these I want to leave you with just one. schools and help our kids. We need to sup- As you look at all these kids in the audi- port them in every way we can. We’ve got ence today, there are still 10 million Amer- a program to do it, and I want to finish that ican children—10 million American chil- job. And I want you to help me build that dren—living within 4 miles of a toxic waste bridge to the 21st century. site. If you will give us 4 more years, we’ll I want to build a bridge to the 21st century clean up the 500 worst sites so we can say, where we have stronger families. And what’s America’s children are growing up next to the biggest problem I hear from families all parks, not poison. And that’s a part of our over this country? Everywhere I go they say, bridge to the 21st century. ‘‘We’re having trouble doing our job as par- Now, folks, you have a clear choice in 39 ents and doing our jobs. We’re working hard- days. Are we going to build a bridge to the er than ever before, but our kids need us past or a bridge to the future? Do we really more than ever before.’’ think it’s better to say you’re on your own, That’s why I’m proud that the first bill I or was my wonderful wife right—it does take signed was the family leave law. It’s given a village like Longview to raise our kids and 12 million families—12 million of them—the build our businesses and build our future? chance to take a little time off from work Are we going to build a bridge that’s big if they have a baby born or a sick child or enough and broad enough and strong enough a sick parent, without losing their jobs. And for us to all walk across and that will be we’re a better country because of that. It’s strong enough for our children and grand- been good for our economy. children to walk across? I believe we ought to expand it and say You know, I want to ask every one of you you can get a little time off from work to to go out and talk to the people you know go to a parent-teacher conference or a regu- who aren’t here today—it doesn’t matter lar doctor appointment with your child, too. what their party is—and just ask them this, We do not weaken America’s economy when say, you know, the century only changes once we make it possible for people to do right every 100 years, and this country is changing by their children. We weaken America’s dramatically, the way we work, the way we

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 1898 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

live, the way we relate to the rest of the the more you’re working, the less you’re world. It is changing. And ask people, what sleeping, the more you’re under pressure, do you want America to look like when we you’re going to—every now and then people go into that new century? What do you want say something that they wish they hadn’t said. America to look like when our children are And I think the thing to do is just simply our age? In 100 years what do you want peo- say that you wish you hadn’t said it. And ple to say that we did at this moment in time that’s what he did. I thought it was a big with our responsibility? thing for him to do. So that’s what I think If what we do is to create opportunity for about it. everybody who is willing to work for it, if Q. Why do you think you can carry Texas? we prove that unlike all these other countries The President. Number one, because that are torn apart by their differences, we Texas is better off than it was 4 years ago. can be a country of different races, different The State of Texas has done well under our religions, different points of view, bound to- policies, both our general economic policies gether by our fidelity to the American system and American values, that we can lead the and the specific things I supported, like the world—that’s what I want the story to be. space station and the V–22, which is made If those are the questions people ask before in Fort Worth, for example. Number two, the election in November, 39 days from now, my plans for the future would be better for I believe I know what the answers will be. the State of Texas than Senator Dole’s pro- You go out and reach out to other citizens gram. And number three, Bill White and so that we can go forward and build that Garry Mauro and all these grassroots Demo- bridge to the 21st century. crats have worked hard to kind of rebuild Thank you, and God bless you all. the party at the grassroots level. And I’ve worked hard to try to change the relationship NOTE: The President spoke at 8:55 a.m. at Tyler of the National Democratic Party of Texas and Center Streets. In his remarks, he referred for too long. The Democrats just sort of gave to former Mayor Martha Whitehead of Longview; up on Texas. So they’d come to Texas and former Gov. Ann Richards of Texas; Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro; State Supreme raise money and turn around and leave, and Court judicial candidate Frank Maloney; and sen- I thought that was wrong. And we’ve worked atorial candidate Victor Morales. This item was out an agreement—it’s been in place now for not received in time for publication in the appro- some time, you know—sending a lot of the priate issue. money that we raised back to Texas, try to help build the party. Interview With the Houston And I guess, finally, because I think that Chronicle and the Dallas Morning last time when I ran I didn’t really get a clear News in Longview shot at the voters, even though I did cam- paign here a couple days. And I was from September 27, 1996 Arkansas and I had two opponents from 1996 Election Texas, and I think it sort of put me in a hole—that and then some of the things that Q. We’d like to talk to you about Texas politics. But if I could just ask you one sort happened early in my term. And I think that, of Texas news-of-the-day question. Mr. Mo- you know, obviously now people are begin- rales is in some hot water over remarks he ning to look at what my record is, what we’ve made a couple days ago. What is your assess- done, my ideas about the future as compared ment of that? with my opponent’s. The President. Mike put out a statement, And I just think that for all those reasons and that’s what I agree with. I think that he we have a chance to win. If we can get people said something he regretted and he apolo- to look at the evidence, as opposed to kind gized for it, and I think that’s a good thing. of the accumulated rhetoric of the last 20 You know, if you stay in this business long years, I think I’ve got an excellent chance enough, the closer you get to the campaigns, to win.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 27 1899

Q. Does your financial commitment here The President. Well, let me just say, those depend on Senator Dole pulling out of Cali- aren’t decisions, believe it or not, that I’m fornia? personally reviewing here every day. So I The President. No. No. can’t answer that specifically. But we plan Q. Because he’s not running any ads here to make a major effort here. And I hope it right now. will be helpful to the others who are running, The President. No, I think that they prob- because I think the more we get the message ably think that they can’t lose Texas, you out, the more we get the record out, the know, because Kansas is close and there’s— more we get the contrast out, the more likely you know, a lot of the State officials, major we are to do well here. State officials, the two Senators, the Gov- You look at a place like Longview and all ernor are Republicans, and they probably these places all through east Texas, it’s pretty think that they can’t lose. much like the economy of Arkansas, which But my commitment here—a lot of what also has a 15 or 20 year low in unemployment I try to do is to help them build the grassroots rate. And I’m doing well there because they strength again, to go back into communities. know me and I was their Governor and they When Bill White left our administration, left trust me. But we haven’t done as well here the Energy Department and came home because the Republicans have had a big leg here, he really wanted to build kind of a up and they did a pretty good job of kind mainstream, progressive Democratic Party in of characterizing me in a way that would not Texas again at the grassroots. And I’ve tried be acceptable to a lot of Texas voters. And to support that. And we made an agreement I’ve been trying to climb out of that for 3 then—he and Truman Arnold, some oth- or 4 years, and I think the sheer weight of ers—if I raised any funds in Texas, we’d kick the evidence is finally beginning to be felt. back a certain percentage to Texas. And I think people are fundamentally fair- And I also told them I’d, you know, I minded. And I have a certain affinity for this wasn’t interested in coming to Texas any- State. I spent a lot of time here—ever since more just for fundraising; I didn’t believe in the last nearly 40 years, I’ve been coming that. I wanted to see the people. And that’s to Texas in one way or another. And so I why we’re here in Longview, we’re going to just think I ought to make an effort here, Fort Worth, and we’re going to be overnight and I intend to do it. in Houston when I go to do our event there. I also think it’s a mistake for anybody who You know, in the last 40 days we’re going wants to lead the country to not make an to have pretty well, for a while at least, just effort in the second biggest State in America. kind of play it by ear in terms of what else— The future of the United States is in no small what we do in terms of television ads because part going to be the future of the State of of the—we had run some, you know, in Texas Texas. The attitudes of the people here about already. We did some in east Texas earlier. immigration, about trade, about education, But what we do, it depends in part on what about health care policy, about economic pol- the other competing considerations are. I icy, about what’s the best way to reduce don’t know whether—you know, you told me crime and welfare, all this—what happens something I don’t know. I thought the Dole here will have a big impact on how the rest campaign was still running ads in California. of the country goes. And I just think it’s not Q. No, I meant in Texas. They’re not run- responsible for any President just to not be ning in Texas. I guess the point I was getting engaged in it. at, in ’92 you came within 2 or 3 percentage points of President Bush, even though your campaign spent very little money here—al- Appropriations Legislation though you spent quite a bit of time here. Q. Will you sign the immigration bill if And Bush spent a lot of money here and time it passes Congress as it’s written now, or will as well. I was just wondering if you were you press for the Members to change the going to make a financial commitment as well provisions dealing with public benefits and as a commitment of your time. legal immigrants?

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 1900 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

The President. Well, right now we are— The President. Well, for one thing, I think let me say this. I don’t want to dodge this that—two of the things I mentioned in my question, but I have to because it is the sub- speech. I think that the things that candidates ject of negotiations, even as we are talking all over the country and Members of Con- here. We’re trying to work out a set of agree- gress are trumpeting, the people supporting ments with congressional leadership, the Re- me today, were directly out of decisions that publican leadership and the Democrat lead- were made in ’93 and ’94 that were unpopu- ership, on a set of continuing resolutions on lar then that have been proved right now. the unresolved budget matters that we can And the two that I mentioned specifically are put into one big bill that will enable them the economic program and the crime bill. to go home—they read them this morning— You heard me say, I remember very well go home and at least have a month to cam- when Senator Gramm said, ‘‘If you pass this paign. And I understand that. economic program, it’s just going to be a ter- So we were successful in getting the rible thing. It’s going to have a big recession, Gallegly amendment out, which I strongly and everybody’s income will go down. It’ll opposed. I believe Governor Bush came out be awful.’’ And of course the results are just against it, and I appreciate that. And there the opposite. But I think that they were ef- are still some things in that bill that I don’t fective in attacking that. like. I think they are unfair to legal immi- I think the second thing is, in the crime grants. So I would hope that we could secure bill, they—in a lot of rural places that had some improvements. But the less I say, the a lot of Democratic voters but were real con- better now, while they’re talking it through. servative voters, like east Texas, there was Anything I say might—— an effective attack on the Brady bill and the Press Secretary Mike McCurry. Mr. assault weapons ban that, you know, this was President, I’m actually calling those—we’ve been calling those an omnibus appropriations somehow going to lead to the impairment bill, as opposed to a continuing. It’s sort of of hunters and sportsmen and women’s like continual, but they would actually com- rights. And of course, now we know it didn’t plete the appropriations bill, as opposed to do it, but it did help to lower the crime rate. a continuing. So I think that’s dramatically different. The President. There is a chance we can? Then, of course, we were just in the Press Secretary McCurry. I think what teeth—just in the immediate aftermath of they’ve been working on—what Leon’s—the the defeat of the health care bill, where a latest report from him is that we really are— vast amount of money had been spent to try we’ve got the prospect of taking all six of to convince people that the Government was these bills and putting them in an omnibus trying to take over health care. And I think appropriations bill. now, when we went back to a step-by-step The President. You know, we were so reform process, taking various elements that close on all the bills but one. Once we got were in our original bill—like the Kennedy- an agreed-upon education funding level, we Kassebaum bill that says you can’t lose your were so close I was hoping maybe we could health insurance if you change jobs or some- do it. one in your family gets sick, or the bill I signed yesterday, no more drive-by deliveries 1996 Election and a partial mental health insurance cov- Q. Mr. President, this must seem very dif- erage included, and then the spina bifida ferent to you today than ’94. I mean, you benefits to Vietnam veterans with children— basically didn’t come to Texas in ’94, and the those things, they show that we’re making general feeling was candidates didn’t wel- progress on health care. Another very impor- come your presence then. Do you agree with tant provision we passed that was a part of my assessment? our original bill, was increasing the deduct- The President. I do agree with that. ibility, tax deductibility of health insurance Q. Okay. What caused you to be in such premiums that self-employed people have to bad shape then and—— buy.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 27 1901

So I think now when people see we’re Gingrich—I think that, again, once people making progress in health care, we’re going hear both sides of the argument, then they’ll to do it step-by-step instead of trying to do know that he can take one comment out of it all at one time, so everyone can see that context and maybe make a television ad out the Government’s not trying to take over of it. But the record shows a very different health care, we’re just trying to create the picture. conditions in which we can, if you will, en- Now, I say that—all of us should be con- able the American people to fill in the blanks, cerned about the fact that in 4 years, when to take these gaps, these terrible gaps and cocaine use dropped by a third in America, problems out of our system. it increased among teenagers. That should So I think the country is better off. A lot concern everybody. And everybody, includ- of those decisions look better in retrospect ing me, should be willing to assume some than they did in ’94 because they’ve brought responsibility for that. I’m not trying to dis- good results. And I also think that the things claim all. You know, if the efforts we’re mak- we’ve been doing in the last 2 years to build ing to have good results should be credited, on that, to show how this country can meet then we have problems; I have to take some its challenges and protect its values, have responsibility for that. We need to—it’s been very helpful as well. So that’s why I much more serious than it’s been treated so think it’s changed. But it was not good here far. in ’94. I think it’s better here in ’96. And For example, there’s a lot of evidence the only thing I can ask the people of Texas that—in Canada, for example, tobacco and to do is to look at the evidence, look at the drug use among juveniles is up. In some Eu- record, listen to the alternatives, and make ropean countries it is. And it appears that up their own mind. there was a beginning of a shift in attitudes Q. The CNN poll shows the race narrow- about 1990 about how dangerous this is and ing to 10 points now. Do you think Senator that we, the adults of this country, and in Dole’s charges of being a liberal and the drug other countries as well, have not succeeded issue, is that having an impact or is this a in changing those attitudes back. And so I natural narrowing or do you trust that poll? think it’s a very serious issue. But I don’t The President. Well, it’s hard to say. It’s think his attack on me is very persuasive once hard to say. I don’t know. I just don’t know. you look at the facts. I’m not sure we know yet. You know, we And the liberal issue I just think, you probably have to let it simmer out another know, it falls of its own weight. I do believe couple of days. that there are differences between us: He I think it is—I think if you look—on the was against the student loan program, and drug issue, if you look at our record, if you I improved it. He was against the family and look at the fact that I have—not only as Presi- medical leave, and I supported it and got it dent but as Governor—consistently opposed through. He was for the Gingrich-Dole any legalization of drugs; consistently in- budget, and I opposed it. So that’s true. But creased enforcement; that I passed a crime I’m the first President since before the Civil bill over the opposition of Senator Dole that War to reduce the deficit in all 4 years of had 60 death penalties in it, including capital his administration. We reduced the size of punishment for drug kingpins; that I ap- the Government more than my two Repub- pointed, first, a former police chief of Hous- lican predecessors, not just in terms of em- ton, Lee Brown, and then the most—at the ployees but in terms of regulations and pro- time he retired from the Army, the most grams eliminated. decorated veteran in the American military, So I just don’t think—and you know, I’ve General Barry McCaffrey, to be our drug got a crime bill that’s the most conservative, czar, so it’s obviously important to me; and tough crime bill that the country ever passed. that I fought for programs that will help com- And we moved almost 2 million people off munities keep kids off drugs, like the safe welfare through giving the States and local and drug-free schools program, again over communities more authority before the wel- the opposition of Senator Dole and Mr. fare reform bill ever passed. I think—again

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 1902 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

when the debates come on and when people line of Presidents who have received hats look at all the evidence, that welfare charge, from the publisher of the newspaper here. as you often hear down here in Texas, it’s I was so impressed when I heard that Presi- pretty hard to make that dog hunt, I mean dent Roosevelt and President Truman and that liberal charge. It’ll fall to the evidence President Coolidge and Winston Churchill if people listen to it. had gotten these hats. And then when I put Press Secretary McCurry. We’ve got to mine on, I wondered, I wonder if they ever go. wore those cowboy hats. [Laughter] I’ll wear Q. Thank you for the time. mine, and I thank you for it. The President. Glad to do it. I’d like to thank Art Brender and the Tarrant County Democrats who have worked NOTE: The interview with Kathy Lewis of the Dal- so hard to help at least a fair portion of you las Morning News and Nancy Mathis of the Hous- ton Chronicle began at 10:20 a.m. at Armadillo get here today. Thank you, Speaker Jim Willie’s restaurant. In his remarks, the President Wright, for being here and for all your serv- referred to Truman Arnold, chairman and chief ice to our country and the people of this executive officer, Truman Arnold Companies, and county. Thank you, Governor Ann Richards, Gov. George W. Bush of Texas. A tape was not for all you have done for Texas and for our available for verification of the content of this country. interview. This item was not received in time for I want to thank these fine young people inclusion in the appropriate issue. in the Tarrant County President’s Band. Aren’t they fine looking? [Applause] They’re Remarks in Fort Worth, Texas going to play for us later. Thank you. September 27, 1996 Thank you, Carlton Lancaster, for the work you’ve done to get them together—you The President. Thank you very much. and Jesse and Bob Copeland. I was so im- Hello, Fort Worth! Well, folks, I’ve got 39 pressed when I heard about this band. I more days, but the Rangers just have one couldn’t wait to hear them. And they prom- more day. It is great to be here. And Mr. ised me now when I get off here and start Mayor, thank you for welcoming me here, shaking hands, you’re going to play some and thank you for your strong leadership. more for me. You see the saxophone section And I want to say on behalf of the people raising their horns there, that’s good. Thank of our entire country, it is truly inspiring to you. come to Fort Worth, to stand in this gorgeous I want to thank Bill White, the Texas State square to see the magnificent work that has Democratic chairman and the cochair of our been done here by your citizens—of course, campaign. He did a magnificent job for all the Bass brothers, but others as well—to ren- of you when he was the Deputy Secretary ovate this place and make this city look beau- of Energy in our administration. And now tiful and livable and attractive, a place you that he’s home in Texas, he’s doing a great can be proud of. Thank you very much for job for all of us again. And thank you, Garry what you have done. Mauro, the Texas State land commissioner Sundance Square is a place that any Amer- and my long-time friend, for cochairing our ican would be proud to stand in and feel good campaign. Thank you, Senator Mike in, and it shows you what we can do when Moncrief and Representative Glenn Lewis. we work together, when we change the way I want to say a special word of thanks to we do business from pointing fingers and try- our candidates for Congress, a man who’s ing to blame people to saying how can we been a friend of mine a long time, the 5th roll up our sleeves and work together to make congressional district candidate, John life better for everyone. That’s what I am try- Pouland. I hope you’ll help him win this elec- ing to do. tion. And your former mayor, a great mayor, I’d like to thank Rich Connor for giving a man who will be a great Congressman if me that beautiful hat. Don’t you think it you will give him a chance to serve, Hugh looked pretty good? I thought it looked pret- Parmer. Thank you very much for being here ty good. And I’m honored to be in the long today.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 27 1903

Thank you, Yolanda Cuevas-Chavera. Boy, 13,000 folks in Longview this morning. It was what a wonderful representative she is of a pretty good crowd. American free enterprise and the idea that I want to tell you two different stories. I if we give everybody an opportunity, all of had a great interview with two reporters who us will be better off. We’re better off that said, ‘‘Why are you in Texas, and do you real- people like her can start a business and cre- ly think you can win here, and what’s your ate jobs and make our communities and our message?’’ And I said ‘‘Well, you know, 4 country stronger. years ago I had a pretty hard hill to climb. I have to say that one of the things that I had to run against two guys from Texas I determined to do when I became President 4 years ago.’’ [Laughter] ‘‘And Texas has was to create a climate in which it would been voting Republican in Presidential races be possible for more people to start small on a fairly regular basis for a good while now. businesses and to succeed. And in the last So I said to myself, first of all, for 12 years 4 years there are a lot more folks like Yolanda I was the Governor of Arkansas, your neigh- out there. And every single year we have set boring State. I spent it, I’m sure, except for a record for new small business starts. The candidates for President from Texas, I spent Small Business Administration cut its budget more time in Texas in the last 40 years than but doubled its loan volume to provide more anybody else that’s running for President.’’ opportunities for small businesses to be start- [Laughter] ‘‘And if you look at the results ed, including a 300 percent increase in loans of what I said we would do, what we have to small business women, people like Yolanda done, and how much better off Texas is today who are moving this country forward. than it was 4 years ago, if the people are We made every small business in the coun- willing to give me a fair shot and look to the try eligible for a tax cut if they invest more future, yes, I think we can carry Texas be- money in their business. We made it easier cause it’s right for the American people.’’ for small businesses to take out pensions for I ran for President, my fellow Americans, themselves and their employees and for the because I thought national politics had be- employees in small businesses to take those come too much rhetoric and too little action, pensions with them, which is so important. because I got sick and tired of people calling And just a couple of days ago we increased each other names and trying to demonize the tax deductibility of the health insurance their opponents and trying to scare the living costs of people who are self-insured, which daylights out of people and convince people will help small business people all across this that their opponents were no good. And if country—more Yolandas, a stronger Amer- you noticed, I gave strict instructions at our ica. Democratic National Convention I didn’t Thank you, Martin Frost, for your unre- want anybody to say anything bad, personally, lenting efforts to give the House of Rep- about Senator Dole; about Congressman resentatives back to the American people and Kemp, a man I like; about Mr. Perot; about take it away from those who tried to destroy even Speaker Gingrich, who says some pretty the Medicare system, take away Medicaid’s harsh things about the rest of us. What I said guarantee of health care to families with was, let’s talk about their votes, let’s talk members with disabilities, to our poorest about their positions, let’s talk about where children, to newborns, to elderly folks in we differ, and let’s look at who’s right and nursing homes. Thank you for that. Thank who’s wrong. That’s what elections ought to you for stopping the cuts in student loans be about. and education funding and environmental Now, I believe that we need a common protection. vision for our country to take us together into And thank you, Victor Morales, for run- the next century. And here’s what I want it ning for the Senate. I want to tell you a little to be like for these children in this audience: tale, folks, when you think about how you I want us to go into the next century with ought to make a decision. I had an interview the American dream of opportunity alive for with a couple of reporters today. I was in every single person who’s willing to work for Longview before I came here. We had it, without regard to their race, their gender,

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 1904 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

and what they start out with in life. If you’re The President. Now? Now? No? Yes. Is willing to work hard, you ought to have a it on? chance. You ought to have a chance. Audience members. Yes! We’re living in a global economy. We’re The President. Can you hear in the back? living in a global society. You can move Audience members. Yes. money and information and ideas and tech- The President. Well, here are the facts: nology around the world in no time. Our di- We have 101⁄2 million more jobs; record ex- versity, our differences, the fact that we come ports; record numbers of new small busi- from so many different places is a great, great nesses; 41⁄2 million new homeowners; a 15- source of strength for the United States, if year high in home ownership; a 71⁄2-year low we can learn to get along together and re- in unemployment—in Texas, a 15-year low spect each other and be fair with one an- in unemployment—the lowest combined other. I want us to be one American commu- rates of unemployment, inflation, and home nity. And I want us to be the world’s strong- mortgages in 27 years. We’re moving in the est force for peace and freedom and prosper- right direction. ity because that’s an important part of our Here are the facts: Yesterday we learned future as well. Now, how have we done creat- in the annual report put out by our Census ing opportunity, insisting on responsibility, Bureau that median incomes in America rose and bringing us together in a community? about $900 last year after inflation—the big- That’s the test. And what are we going to gest rise in the incomes of average Americans do? in a decade—and $1,600 since that plan went Now, Mr. Morales, he’s offered himself as into effect. a candidate for the Senate. I remember in Listen to this: Yesterday we learned from 1993 when I asked the Congress to pass our the Census Bureau that in 1995, childhood economic program, to get the deficit down, poverty reached its lowest level, had the big- get interest rates down, get this economy gest drop in 20 years—in 20 years. We moving again and keep investing in new tech- learned that the number of poor people in nologies and education and the environment America went down by the largest number and protecting our obligations to our seniors, in 20 years. We learned that all Americans to the Medicare program, Mr. Morales’ op- for a change are beginning to benefit in the ponent said, ‘‘If the President’s plan passes, economic recovery. Wages are rising for the the deficit will go up, unemployment will go first time in a decade, and we had the biggest up, the economy will be in terrible shape.’’ decline in inequality among working people That’s what he told you. And my opponent in 27 years. We’re going forward together. agreed with him. We are going forward together. Well, now we know. Now we know. You And let’s look at some other scorecards. don’t have to guess in Texas. And I’m glad In the area of health care, we made 25 mil- we’ve got some folks in the back representing lion Americans eligible to keep their health the other side. They’re welcome. insurance by passing a bill which says you Audience members. Boo-o-o! can’t lose your health insurance anymore just The President. No, no, don’t boo them. because you changed jobs or somebody in They’re welcome here. This is America; your family has been sick. everybody’s welcome here. They’re welcome Yesterday I signed a bill to stop drive- here. I’m glad they’re here. But here we are through deliveries, to stop insurance compa- now in 1996, and here are the facts on the nies from throwing women and their little opportunity—— babies out of the hospital 24 hours after the babies are born. The bill also begins to pro- At this point, the audio system failed. [ ] vide some protection for health care cov- You reckon they cut the microphone off? erage for families with mental illness, a very [Laughter] Is it on? Now? Turn this thing important thing in our country. And the bill on. Cheer a while while we wait. says to Vietnam veterans who were exposed Audience members. Four more years! to Agent Orange—many of their children Four more years! Four more years! have gotten spina bifida—finally, after all this

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 27 1905

long time we’re going to give disability sup- And our friends in the other party, they port and other help to those people who always say Government is the problem, Gov- served our country. It’s a good thing for ernment is the enemy, Government is bad. America. But you know what? We’ve done more to Look at the family scorecard: 12 million reduce the size of Government than they American families have taken advantage of ever did. It’s the smallest it’s been since John the family and medical leave law that says Kennedy was President. We got rid of more you can take a little time off. If you’ve got regulations, ended more unnecessary pro- a baby born or a sick parent you can take grams, gave back more authority to States a little time off without losing your job. Now, and local governments to run their own af- our opponents didn’t think much of that bill, fairs than our Republican predecessors did. either. They said it was bad for business. But But what we did not do is to give you a Gov- 31⁄2 years later, we’ve got 12 million families ernment so weak it could not build a strong that are stronger and 101⁄2 million new jobs. economy, invest in education, protect the en- I think we were right and they were wrong. vironment, and take care of the people who The crime rate has come down for 4 years have earned the right to a little help from in a row. There were one million fewer vic- the rest of us. We are going to go forward tims of crime last year than there were when together. That is the right thing to do. I took office. The welfare rolls have come So I say to you, my friends, in the next down by nearly 2 million. Child support col- 39 days, I hope those of you who are here lections are up by nearly 50 percent, $3.8 at this rally will go visit with those who aren’t billion a year, lifting families out of welfare. here at this rally and say, ‘‘You know, we On October 1st, in just a few days, 10 million might ought to vote for this President. We hard-working Americans will get an increase might ought to vote for these candidates back in their minimum wage. In that same bill— here, because this country is on the right in that same bill we offer a $5,000 tax credit track, and we don’t want to take a U-turn. to families who will adopt children. There’s We need to go right ahead, straight into the a lot of kids out there that need homes. This 21st century.’’ is pro-family legislation at its best. I want to ask you to help me to continue We have made the air cleaner, our drink- this work to build that bridge to tomorrow. ing water and food safer. We’ve cleaned up The future of this country represents our more toxic waste dumps in 3 years than were best days if we do the right things. The kids cleaned up in the 12 years before I became in this audience, they’ll be doing jobs that President. We are moving in the right direc- haven’t been invented yet. A lot of the chil- tion, building our bridge to the 21st century. dren in this audience will be doing jobs that Our national security is stronger. There are have not been imagined yet if we do the right no Russian missiles pointed at the children things. of America for the first time since the dawn We’ve got to keep this economy going. of the nuclear age. We are tackling terrorism That means we have to balance the budget, all over the world. We are promoting peace. but we’ve got to do it in the right way. We We have 200 separate trade agreements of can balance the budget and still protect our all kinds, from NAFTA and the GATT world investments in education, in the environ- trade agreement to 21 agreements with ment, in Medicare, and Medicaid. We Japan. If you doubt whether it works, in those shouldn’t let them raid workers’ pension 21 areas with Japan our American exports funds under the guise of balancing the budg- have increased by 85 percent and we’re num- et. We can have a tax cut, but it ought to ber one in producing cars in the world again be the right kind of tax cut, targeted to fami- for the first time since the 1970’s. lies that need it for childrearing, for edu- And Fort Worth has made its contribution cation, for buying that first-time home, for to our national security, for it is here that medical care. And when you sell your home, the V–22 Osprey is made, a very important if you got a gain on it you shouldn’t have part of America’s defense future. And I thank to pay taxes on it, because it’s where most you for that. people’s savings are. We can afford that.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 1906 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

And that’s what we ought to do. But we sure that every, every single classroom in ought not to have a tax cut we can’t afford, America and every library in every school has even though it’s popular at election time. not only computers and educational materials And here’s why. I tell this everywhere I go. and teachers trained on the computers but Every time I leave town in Washington, some is hooked up to this worldwide information expert says, ‘‘Now, don’t go down there again superhighway, to the Internet, to the World into the heartland and talk about the deficit. Wide Web. People are bored by the deficit. Nobody What does that mean? It means the kids cares about balancing the budget when the in the poorest schools in America and the economy is good.’’ Here’s why you ought to kids in the most remote rural schools for the care about it. first time in the history of this country can One big reason this economy has taken off get the same information in the same time in the last 4 years is that we brought the defi- in the same way as the children in the cit down. What does that mean? We had to wealthiest schools in America. And that will borrow less money. When we borrowed less, revolutionize educational opportunity. And that left more for you. That meant the inter- we can do that. Will you help me build that est rates went down. bridge to the 21st century? [Applause] Our friends in the Republican Party put And most important of all, I want to open out a study last year that I have to tell you the doors of a college education to every sin- I agree with. I wish they still agreed with gle American who is willing to go and work it. But they agreed with it last year. What for it. I want to let more families save for that study said was if we’re not on a plan an IRA, for their own retirement, and then to balancing the budget, it will add 2 percent withdraw from it tax-free, if they want to, to the interest rates that American people to pay for education. I want to say that we are charged. can make 2 years of college as universal in Now, you just figure it out for yourselves. 4 years as a high school diploma is today, What would it mean to you to have to pay by giving families a tax credit, a dollar-for- 2 percent more on your credit card debt, on dollar reduction on their tax bill for the cost your college loan, on your car payment, on of a typical community college tuition in this your home payment? What would it mean country. And then everybody can go. Every- to the economy of Fort Worth and Tarrant body can go. County and Texas if every businessperson And I believe that we ought to give a tax had to pay 2 percent more every time they deduction of up to $10,000 a year to families went to the bank to borrow money? It would for the cost of any college tuition, under- mean fewer jobs, a weaker economy, not as graduate or graduate, medical school, veteri- many pay raises. It’s not a good deal. Let’s narian school, you name it. We can lift Amer- only have the tax cut we can afford. Let’s ica if we do that. Will you help me build pay for it, and let’s target it to education, that bridge to the 21st century? [Applause] childrearing, and build a stronger America. I want you to help me build a bridge that Let’s do that. keeps the crime rate coming down. The I want to build a bridge to the 21st century crime rate in Fort Worth has dropped 50 per- that says to every child in this country and cent in the last 4 years, 50 percent in this every adult, education is now a lifetime en- community. If we lower it for 4 more years, deavor and we’re going to have the best edu- it might be low enough for us to all feel safe cation opportunities in the entire world. again on our streets, in our homes, in our Forty percent of our 8-year-olds still cannot schools. That’s very important. We’ve got to read on their own. That is bad. They can’t keep putting 100,000 police on the street. learn the rest of the things they need to learn. We’ve got to continue that fight. I want to mobilize an army of volunteers And let me say one thing about that. We to work with parents and teachers to make had a pretty rough time, our side did, in the sure that by the year 2000 every third grader elections of 1994, and one reason was a lot in America can pick up a book and say, ‘‘I of good, God-fearing people in Texas and Ar- can read this all by myself.’’ I want to make kansas and other places who loved to hunt,

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 27 1907

loved to go out in the woods and engage in were right and they weren’t. And I think we sports shooting as well as hunting, were abso- need to keep building that bridge to the 21st lutely convinced when our opponents said century. that we were trying to take their guns away I want to ask you all to think about that. because we banned 19 kinds of assault weap- There’s more we need to do for families, ons and passed the Brady bill. That’s what more we need to do to clean up our environ- they said, and a lot of people believed them. ment. There’s still 10 million American chil- They were scared, and they voted against dren living within 4 miles of toxic waste some good people in Congress. dumps. But if you’ll give us 4 more years, Well, it’s been 2 years, and it’s kind of like we’ll clean up the 500 worst dumps so we the economic plan: Now we know. Now we can say our kids are growing up next to parks know. Not a single Texas hunter has lost a and not poison. Every child in America de- rifle. Everybody is still hunting with the same serves that. And I hope you’ll help us build weapon they had 2 years ago if they want that bridge to the 21st century. to. Every single soul in the country. But you Ladies and gentlemen, this election is know what? Sixty thousand fugitives, felons, about your future and about the future of and stalkers cannot get a handgun because your children and your children’s children. of the Brady bill, and we’re safer because We are living in a time of phenomenal of it. We are safer because of it. And I don’t change in the way we work and live and re- think they ought to be able to buy guns, peo- late to each other and the rest of the world. ple who beat up their spouses and their kids, If we make the right decisions, if we build either. I don’t think they should. And I think the right kind of bridge, if it’s big and broad we ought to extend it. enough for all of us to walk across and for And we ought to keep going until we put our children and our children’s children to 100,000 police on the street so we can pre- walk across, the best days of this country are vent more crime. We ought to test people still ahead. on parole for drug use, because 60 percent So I ask you again in the next 39 days to of the serious drugs in this country are used help us build that bridge by going out and by people that are already in the criminal talking to other people and saying, ‘‘What do justice system. And parole is a privilege; peo- you want our country to be like in 4 years? ple shouldn’t be able to get out and abuse What do you want our country to be like as it and go back on drugs and become criminals we start that new century? What do you want again. Our children deserve better than that, our country to be like when our children are and I hope you’ll help us. our age?’’ If we ask the right questions, we’ll And one other thing, we can’t entirely jail give the right answers in Texas and all across our way out of this problem. We’ve got to America. Help us build that bridge to the keep our kids out of trouble in the first place. 21st century. We’ve got to do more to keep them off drugs Thank you, and God bless you all. in the first place. One of the things that I NOTE: The President spoke at 1 p.m. at Sundance have fought hardest for is the safe and drug- Square. In his remarks, he referred to Fort Worth free schools act, which gives schools all across businessmen Ed, Bob, and Sid Bass who revital- our country the resources they need to make ized historic Sundance Square; Richard L. Con- sure that they’ve got those D.A.R.E. officers nor, president and publisher, Fort Worth Star coming into the classroom, they’ve got other Telegram; Art Brender, chair, Tarrant County people coming in to talk to these kids and Democratic Party; former Speaker of the House be good role models and tell them that drugs of Representatives James Wright; Carlton Lan- can kill them and destroy their lives. caster, his wife, Jesse, and Bob Copeland, event And you know, that’s another thing that coordinators; State Senator Mike Moncrief; State Representative Glenn Lewis; and Yolanda Mr. Morales’ opponent and mine tried to cut. Cuevas-Chavera, CEO, Cuevas Distribution Co., Now, why in the world they wanted to cut who introduced the President. This item was not the safe and drug-free schools act and stop received in time for publication in the appropriate us from putting 100,000 police on the street issue. A portion of these remarks could not be is beyond me. But I think we know now we verified because the tape was incomplete.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 1908 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

Remarks Welcoming Returning it brings. Now it’s a part of our lives thanks Astronaut Shannon Lucid in to this crew and others like them. Houston, Texas The mission from which Dr. Lucid returns continues to cement the close and growing September 27, 1996 bonds of cooperation between the United States and the Russian space programs— Thank you very much. Thank you. I want something that we have worked very hard to say first how very much I appreciate the for—not only the cooperation between our work that is done here by all of you at NASA. Nation and Russia but between our Nation Thank you, George Abbey. Thank you, Dan and other nations as well in the space station Goldin. Thank you, every one of you who project. worked for America’s space program for a We are committed to continuing the job well done. This is all of your triumph strong United States space program. We here today, and America is very proud of you. have to keep the space shuttle flying; work Thank you very much. toward the international space station with Of course, like all of you, I’m here to say all of its promise and challenges; develop the welcome home to Shannon Lucid. There’s X–33, which will replace the shuttle; and help so many things to say about the incredible to create a revolution in global communica- skill and stamina and dedication it takes to tions; and continue robotic exploration of be in space for 6 months. Her achievements: Mars and the solar system. the longest single flight by an American in I was told, in preparing these remarks, that space; the longest duration for any woman when Dr. Lucid was in the eighth grade, she in space; five shuttle missions now for her. wrote an essay saying she wanted to be a It’s a monument to the human spirit. One rocket scientist. She was told by her teacher of the wits on my airplane remarked as we there is no such thing as a rocket scientist were coming down, he said, ‘‘You know, Mr. and if there were, it wouldn’t be a woman. President, you’re always talking about bring- Well, how lucky we are that not everyone ing the deficit down for 4 years in a row; can foresee the future. it’s a good thing you haven’t been giving her I say that today to make this point: The frequent-flier miles or we’d be in debt children here, whether when they grow up again.’’ [Laughter] It’s an amazing, amazing they have anything to do with the space pro- achievement. gram or not, many of these children will be And I know I speak for all Americans when doing work that has not been invented yet, I say I think we all feel at least that we’ve many of these children will be doing work gotten to know Dr. Lucid, watching her grin that has not been imagined yet. And we owe and bear it as the mission was extended, it to them, their future, and their children’s hearing her eagerness to see her family, her future to continue in the American tradition yearning for what she called the wind and of pushing back the frontiers of knowledge, the sun. Perhaps more than she knows, she exploring the frontiers that we don’t yet un- has also set a remarkable example for a new derstand. generation of young Americans and espe- Our space pioneers reflect the very best cially young girls all across this country who of America’s spirit of exploration, our never- look up to her and now see new possibilities ending search for new horizons. And Dr. for themselves. And we thank her for that Shannon Lucid today stands tall among them as well. all. We are grateful for her. We welcome her Let me also salute Bill Readdy and the home. crew of the Atlantis. What seems to me re- Thank you. markable about their launch and return is that they make it now seem easy, and we NOTE: The President spoke at 4:30 p.m. at Elling- know it’s not. But we know that their bravery ton Field. In his remarks, he referred to space and their professionalism make possible for shuttle Atlantis commander William Readdy. This all of us regular space travel with all of the item was not received in time for publication in scientific, military, and commercial benefits the appropriate issue.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40SE4.030 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 27 1909

Remarks in Houston ticket to the future. Just like the mayor said, September 27, 1996 if we can learn to live and work together, there is no stopping America and our best The President. Thank you. Thank you so days are still ahead. much. Hello, Houston. I’m glad to be here. Now, 4 years ago I had a tough time in Thank you for being here. I want to thank Texas. I mean the Democrats hadn’t been all those who have spoken before and all winning the White House in a long time, and those who are here with us. I thank Con- then I looked up and both my opponents gressman Gene Green and Congresswoman were from Texas. [Laughter] It hardly Sheila Jackson-Lee—how well they have rep- seemed fair. And here you were, the biggest resented you. I am proud to work with them. State in—the second biggest State in the I want to thank Nick Lampson, who’s run- country, representing so much of the future, ning for Congress in the 9th District, and and I know I’d spent more time in Texas I hope you’ll help him get elected. than anybody else running over the last 40 Thank you, Senator Rodney Ellis, Mario years. And I had to run against two people Gallegos. Thank you, State Representative Al from Texas. [Laughter] Well, that’s not a Edwards. Thank you, Texas Democratic handicap anymore, and I don’t have any ex- Chairman Bill White, my long-time friend, cuse. But neither do you. for your service in the Energy Department So why don’t we just think about where in our administration and now for leading our we’ve come from and where we’re going? party here. Thank you, Garry Mauro. Thank Four years ago, this country had high unem- you, Victoria Baldwin. And thank you, Mayor ployment, 20 years of stagnant wages, in- Bob Lanier and Elyse Lanier for your great creasing inequality among working people. leadership. The crime rate was going up. The welfare rolls were going up. Public cynicism was At this point, there was a disturbance in the [ going up because we despaired that we could audience. ] make any difference, that what our leaders Audience members. Boo-o-o! in Washington did would make any dif- The President. Hey, folks, wait a minute, ference to people here at home, wherever wait a minute, wait a minute. I’m glad—wait home was in America. a minute, wait, wait. I’m glad we’ve got some Well, 4 years can make a lot of difference. people from the other camp here. They need And I appreciate what Congressman Green to hear this. and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee And you know, when all you do—wait a said. I especially appreciate what the mayor minute. And you know, it’s hard to hear when said about the work we’ve done together. But all you’re doing is name calling. And so, I let me tell you what happened to me when want you to do what I said at the Democratic I was in Longview this morning. We had Convention. I want us to be respectful and 13,000 people in Longview this morning. It polite and positive and issue-oriented, be- was great, unbelievable. And I ran into three cause there are some things I want everybody people, just walking down the line like I al- in Texas to hear today. And I want you to ways do. After I talked, I went down the line help me say it. and shook hands with people. And I ran into You know, I came right here to this park three people; they weren’t holding my signs almost 4 years ago, right at the end of the or the other party’s signs. They weren’t hold- election. And I said that I wanted to give ing—they were just people there. But I want this country back and its future back to ordi- to tell you who they were. nary Americans. I said that I wanted us to I met a man who was a Vietnam veteran, go into the 21st century with opportunity with his wife and his child. And his child has alive for everybody, with every citizen being spina bifida, has had 12 operations. That man responsible, and this country coming to- and his child at long last, because of a bill gether, not being driven apart by our dif- I signed yesterday, are finally going to get ferences. We should respect our differences, the medical attention and the disability sup- build on them, and understand it’s our meal port they need.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1910 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

And then I went down the line a little And yesterday, the census report, which ways, and I met a lady who said, ‘‘I’m a 34- comes out every year at this time, a totally year-old single mother of two children, and nonpolitical document, tells us how we’re I’m a graduate of AmeriCorps. I work for doing. Here’s what the census report of the my community, and now I’m paying my way United States said yesterday: It said that in through the college here to start a better life 1995 median income—that is the families in and give my kids a better life.’’ the middle—increased on average almost And then I went on down a little more $900 after inflation over ’94, the biggest in- and I met a lady who was really crying. She crease for ordinary Americans in 10 years. was so—I didn’t know what was the matter, It said that since that economic plan passed, she was obviously disturbed. And she said, the increase was over $1,600 in the pockets ‘‘I’m sorry that I’m emotional, but because of ordinary Americans. It said that we had of the family and medical leave law, I was the biggest decrease in child poverty in one able to take a little time off from work when year in 20 years in 1995. It said that we had my husband was so sick with cancer, and I the biggest decrease in inequality among didn’t lose my job. And it made a big dif- working American families in 27 years. It said ference to our life and our family.’’ that we had the biggest reduction in the I say this to point out that too many times number of people living in poverty—most of over the last several years our politics in them working, I might add—in 27 years. It Washington have been more about hot air said that we had the biggest drop recorded than concrete action to change the lives of to the lowest levels ever—listen to this— the American people for the better. And I since they have been keeping these statistics, was determined when I went to Washington that the poverty rate among African-Ameri- to replace the politics of finger-pointing and cans and American senior citizens had asking who’s to blame with the politics of say- reached its lowest level in recorded history. ing, what can we do to make this country We are on the right track, folks, to the 21st a better place? What can we do to work to- century. Don’t let anybody kid you about gether? What can we do to build a better that. We are moving in the right direction. future for our children? And I come here As Congressman Green said, on October to tell you today we’re in better shape than 1st, 10 million Americans will get an increase we were 4 years ago and we’re on the right in their minimum wage. And let me tell you track for the 21st century. what else that bill does. It gives a $5,000 tax You know, I couldn’t help but thinking credit to anyone who will adopt a child. about a lot of things that have been said over There’s a lot of kids out there that need a the last 4 years. I remember that Mr. Mo- good home, and this will help. rales’ opponent once said that if the Presi- Thanks to the leadership of people like the dent’s economic plan passes in 1993, the def- mayor of Houston, the crime rate in the icit will go up and unemployment will go up United States has dropped for 4 straight and it will throw us into a recession. It’s a years in a row. And our crime bill is putting terrible, terrible idea. And a lot of people 100,000 police on the street and helping to believed him, and it took a while before we support the decline in crime. And we ought could tell, you know. But now we know. Now to finish it. we know. Now, let me say one other thing. Mr. So here’s the report on what they all voted Lampson’s opponent and a lot of other peo- against: 4 years later, 101⁄2 million new jobs, ple made a lot of headway 4 years ago, going a record number of new small businesses, out to Texans and to people in my home record exports of America’s goods and serv- State and around the country saying, ‘‘Well, ices, the highest rate of homeownership in that fool President’s trying to take your gun 15 years, 41⁄2 million new homeowners, every away. That’s what that Brady bill’s all about. small business in the country eligible for a That’s what that assault weapons ban’s all tax cut when they invest more in their busi- about. He wants to take your gun away. He’s ness if they buy their own health insurance, going to interfere with your second amend- easier for them to take our retirement plans. ment rights.’’ And you know, no one knew

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 27 1911

in 1994, and it was pretty scary. But now we have to balance the budget because that we know. And you know something, it turned keeps interest rates down. All the experts tell out we told the truth. That bill protected 650 me not to talk about that. They said, ‘‘You different kinds of hunting and sporting weap- go out and rally, you’ll bore people to death ons. Not a single hunter in Texas, not a one, if you talk about balancing the budget.’’ But lost a rifle. But 60,000 felons, fugitives, and let me tell you something. Our opponents stalkers could not get handguns because of on the other side, they talk about how con- the Brady bill. We were right, and they were servative they are. We have reduced the defi- wrong. And now we know. We’re on the right cit 4 years in a row. You know when the last track to the 21st century. time that happened was? You know when it The welfare rolls are down almost 2 mil- happened, in the 1840’s, before the Civil lion. Child support collections are up almost War. Don’t tell me about conservative. Don’t 50 percent, by $3.8 billion. That’s why people tell me about that. We reduced the size of can get off welfare, if their children are sup- the Government, the number of Government ported by their parents. Our environment is regulations and killed more ineffective and cleaner, our water, our air, our food. We’re outdated programs than they ever did. Don’t making progress in public health and the en- tell me about being conservative. vironment. We cleaned up more toxic waste But I’ll tell you something. I think we dumps in 3 years than our opponents did in ought to have enough Government left to 12. We are moving in the right direction. And help people get an education, to protect our I came here to ask you to help me build that environment, to take care of the elderly with bridge to the 21st century. Will you do it? Medicare, and to build this country and move Will you do it? it forward. And I think you do, too. I think Audience members. Yes! you do, too. So, yes, balance the budget. But The President. Now, folks, I want—— do it without wrecking Medicare, Medicaid, Audience members. Four more years! education, and the environment. And do it Four more years! Four more years! without wrecking our commitment to the fu- The President. Thank you. Thank you. ture. We have to invest in research and tech- Now listen, we’ve got just 39 days left, 39 nology. days for every one of you to find some time Just before I came here, I went out to wel- to talk to your friends and neighbors and come Shannon Lucid back to Houston from family members, other folks who work with space. And I was given a note before I wel- you and live with you in Texas, people you comed her that said when she was a little know beyond the State borders. And I want girl, she told someone that she wanted to be you to talk to them about the bridge to the a rocket scientist, and an adult said to her, 21st century we have to build. There are there’s no such thing, and if there were, it three or four big ideas in this election. Do wouldn’t be a woman. you think we ought to build a bridge to the Audience members. Boo-o-o! future or can we build a bridge to the past? The President. Well, let me tell you Audience members. No-o-o! something. My little girl and little girls all The President. Do you believe that you’re over America and not so little girls, they think better off on your own, or do you think the Shannon Lucid’s pretty great. And they First Lady’s right, it does take a village to think—and a lot of little boys do, too. And raise our children and to build a great city, the point is that she is doing something that to build a great State, to build a great nation, we could not have imagined just a few years all of us working together? Do you believe ago. And these kids in this audience today— our best days are behind us or our best days and all of you who brought your children, ahead of us? I want to thank you and all of you young Audience members. Yes! people that came on your own, I want to The President. That is what you have to thank you. But our commitment to the space decide. program is one example of the fact that we Folks, we have to—first of all, we’ve got are going to solve problems, climb moun- to keep this economy growing. That means tains, and push back boundaries in ways that

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1912 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

we cannot even imagine. You young people cent on your home mortgage, 2 percent on will be doing work that hasn’t been invented your student loan? What would it mean to yet, often that hasn’t been imagined yet. the economy of Houston and Texas if every Let me just give you just a couple of exam- business person had to pay 2 percent more ples. Number one, we have more than dou- to borrow money? It would mean fewer jobs, bled the life expectancy of people with the slower growth, fewer pay raises. It would take HIV infection in only 4 years with medical us right back where we were. We do not want research. Number two—I’ll give you another to go back; we want to go forward, build a example. A lot of you were very moved by bridge to the 21st century. And I want to what Christopher Reeve said at our Demo- ask you to help me build a bridge to the 21st cratic Convention about the importance of century that will give world-class education medical research. He’s so brave, so powerful. to all of our children. And I hope you will Just a few days before he made that speech, do that. it was revealed that for the first time ever First thing I want to say is, we’ve got a in laboratory animals with severed spines had lot of great educational opportunities in this movement in their lower limbs because of country, but 40 percent of the 8-year-olds nerve transplants to those spines. Who knows in America can’t even read a book by them- what we can do to give people their mobility selves yet. And I want to mobilize an army back, to give people their future back? Who of volunteers, through AmeriCorps, through knows? We have to keep fighting for that. senior citizens, through reading specialists, to We have to keep fighting for that. Third ex- go out and work with parents and teachers ample: The United States just issued into a so that by the year 2000 every 8-year-old in joint venture with IBM to build a supercom- America can pick up a book and say, ‘‘I can puter that will do more calculations in one read this all by myself.’’ And I want you to second then you can do on your hand-held help me do that. calculator at home in 30,000 years. That is I want us to connect every classroom and the future, and I’m determined to see that library and every school in America to the we keep investing in that future so every one information superhighway. You know why? of these kids will have a place in it. A lot of you are older like me and aren’t great And let me say this: We can have a tax with computers. Let me tell you in plain lan- cut. But it ought to be a tax cut that is tar- guage what that means. If we put the com- geted to folks who need it and targeted to puters, the software, the teachers out there the purposes that will help our country most, who understand it, and then we hook it up to raising children, to getting people a college to all these information networks, what that education, to paying for health care and the means is, for the first time in the history of first home, and to making sure people don’t America the kids in the poorest, inner-city have to pay a tax on their home when they schools, the kids in the remotest rural schools sell it, because often that’s the only savings in west Texas and North Dakota and you they’ve got in life. That’s the kind of tax cut name it will have access to the same informa- we can afford and we ought to have the one tion at the same level of quality in the same we can afford, but we shouldn’t have one we time as the children in the richest schools, can’t afford. You don’t want to go back and public or private, in the United States do. run up this deficit again. It will revolutionize education. We can do One thing our friends in the other party that if you’ll help. We can do that. Will you said last year that I agree with—they were help us build that bridge to the 21st century? absolutely right, and I hate to see them [Applause] change their position—last year they said, if Let me say this. Most of us are going to we’re not on a plan to a balanced budget have to face the fact that education is a life- it will add 2 percent to our interest rates. time endeavor. More and more the average Now, I want you to go home and think about age of people going to college is higher and this tonight. What would it mean to you if higher. More and more when people lose a you had 2 percent on your car payment, 2 job, they got to go back to school and get percent on your credit card payment, 2 per- training if they want to get a better job in-

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 27 1913

stead of a worse one. We have got to make a job, more money on child care than ever the doors of college open to every single before. But we’re going to give what used American who is willing to work hard to be to be in that check to the States, and eventu- a good student. That ought to be the only ally to the local community workers, and they criterion. have to figure out how to turn that welfare And I want to do three things. Number check into a paycheck for every able-bodied one, I want more families to be able to save person within 2 years. That means that every- in an IRA, an individual retirement account, body in Houston, Texas, that ever cussed the save for their retirement account, but take welfare system has now got an obligation to it out without any taxes if they’re using the say, ‘‘What can I do to help these people go money to pay for education. to work?’’ Because we want people to suc- Number two, in 4 years I want at least ceed at home and at work. That’s what we 2 years of education after high school, a com- want for poor families, what we want for munity college degree, to be as universal in working families. And I intend to help, and America as a high school diploma is today. I want you to help. I want you to help. And it will be easy to do. This is not com- We’ve got to keep working to help our plicated. Nearly every American lives within families succeed at home and at work. Any- driving distance of a good community col- where I go in America, the number one thing lege. And they work or they’d go out of busi- I hear from families is that every working ness. They’re great institutions. family, whether they’re modest income, mid- What we propose to do is to let you take dle income, even upper income working fam- off your tax bill dollar-for-dollar the tuition ilies, nearly every family I talk to with chil- cost at the typical community college for 2 dren can cite one or two traumatic examples years, so that every American of any age can in their lives when they’ve had a real conflict go. And we can pay for it in the balanced between their jobs and their job at home of budget. raising their children. I say we want to build And finally, in this great city with great a bridge to the 21st century where Americans higher education facilities and great medical can succeed with their children—their most facilities, I believe we ought to give the important work—and at their jobs. And that’s American taxpayers a deduction of up to what this whole policy is all about. $10,000 a year for the tuition cost of any edu- That’s why I think—that’s why, with all re- cation after high school at any age. And I spect to the folks who are here, I think we want you to help me deliver that. were right and they were wrong when I There’s a lot more we have to do, folks. signed the family and medical leave law. We need to keep supporting people like your Now, what they said—what they said was, mayor here and finish the job of putting ‘‘If you pass this family and medical leave 100,000 police on the streets. We need to law, it will be terrible for business.’’ All the keep supporting community antidrug activi- law said is, if your business has 50 or more ties and antigang activities like the safe and employees, an employee can have a little drug-free schools programs that I fought so time off when there’s a baby born or a sick hard for and that we stopped this Congress parent or a sick child, without being fired. from gutting when they tried to do it. We That’s all it said. need to keep doing that. Now, 3 years later, now we know. Twelve We’ve got to keep working—and I have million families have taken some time off, a plan to help the cities and the private sector and during that time we’ve got 101⁄2 million create 1 million jobs to help the new welfare more jobs and a record number of new small reform law succeed. Let me say this: That businesses every year. We can protect work new law says something simple and straight- and family in America and build this country forward and it’s controversial, but I want you together. to know why I believe it’s the right thing to I believe we can improve our environment, do. It says the Federal Government will con- not just protect it, and grow the economy. tinue to guarantee to poor families medical And I want to tell you that in spite of what care and nutrition, and if the person takes I said before about toxic waste sites, there

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1914 Sept. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

are still 10 million American children living can walk across into the 21st century. Now, within 4 miles of a toxic waste dump—10 you have to ask yourself, do you believe that? million of them. But if you’ll give us 4 more Audience members. Yes! years, we’ll clean up the 500 worst dumps, The President. Will you help us build that and our kids will be growing up next to parks, kind of bridge? not poison. Will you help us build that bridge Audience members. Yes! to the 21st century? [Applause] Will you do The President. Do you believe our best that? [Applause] days are still ahead? Let me make one last comment. A big part Audience members. Yes! of building our bridge is how we relate to The President. Then for 39 days go out the rest of the world and how we relate to and tell it to other people, and we’ll have each other. I’m proud of the fact that this a great victory in Texas and in America. country is a safer country than it was. The Thank you, and God bless you. Thank you. nuclear threat has been diminished. We have NOTE: The President spoke at 5:42 p.m. at Sam been a force for peace. We have strength- Houston Park. In his remarks, he referred to Vic- ened our efforts against terrorism. We have toria Baldwin, principal, Fulmore Elementary dramatically expanded trade. But we have to School in Austin, TX. This item was not received face the fact that we are going to live in a in time for publication in the appropriate issue. global society where no matter where you live, we can transfer ideas, information, money, technology, across the borders of na- The President’s Radio Address tions in a split second. September 28, 1996 Now, if you think about that kind of world, Good morning. Today I want to talk to you there is no nation as well-positioned as the about a new executive action I’m taking to United States to do well. Why? Well, look crack down on deadbeat parents who won’t around this crowd today—because we all pay the child support they owe. come from somewhere else. Everybody but During my time as President, I’ve had a the Native Americans all come from some- straightforward strategy: opportunity for all, where else—everybody. When I welcomed responsibility from all, and coming together the Olympic teams to Atlanta there were in a stronger American community. That’s teams from 197 different national groups. America’s basic bargain. The largest county in America, Los Angeles We’ve worked hard to offer every Amer- County, has people from 150 of those places ican opportunity, the chance to make the in one of our counties. When I looked at the most of his or her own life. We’ve got 101⁄2 American Olympic team it occurred to me million new jobs, the lowest unemployment that if they took their uniforms off we in 71⁄2 years, the deficit has been cut by 60 wouldn’t know where they’re from. [Laugh- percent. And just this week, we received ter] They could be from China; they could more news that our strategy is working and be from Japan; they could be from India; America is on the right track. According to they could be from Pakistan; they could be the U.S. census, the income of a typical fam- from the Middle East; they could be from ily went up $1,600 over inflation over the the Nordic countries; they could be from Eu- past 2 years. In just the last year the increase rope; they could be from Latin America; they was almost $900, the biggest increase in a could be from anywhere. That’s America. decade. The number of people living in pov- This is not a country based on race, eth- erty and the rate of income inequality in our nicity, or specific religious convictions. This country dropped faster than at any time since is a country which has said for over 200 years, 1968. Our economy clearly is on the right if you believe in the Declaration of Inde- track to the 21st century. pendence, the Bill of Rights, and the Con- As we offer opportunity, we must also de- stitution of this country, you’re our kind of mand responsibility. The problems of our so- person. All you’ve got to do is show up tomor- ciety will only be solved if there is an upsurge row and behave and we’ll build a bridge you of personal responsibility, if individuals take

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 28 1915

it upon themselves to meet their obligations, We now have new evidence of how effec- do the right thing, and give something back tive this crackdown has been. In 4 years, to those around them. child support collections in our country have No area cries out for greater personal re- risen from $8 billion to $11.8 billion—a near- sponsibility than the quiet crisis of child sup- ly 50 percent increase in child support collec- port. No one should be able to escape re- tions. And nearly 800,000 paternities were sponsibility for bringing a child into the identified. That’s an increase of 50 percent world. That is our first and most fundamental over 1992. duty. But today too many fathers have tried We’ve made a real difference. But we can to walk away from that obligation. When a do more, and we must do more. This past father leaves the home it can throw a mother week, the Justice Department proposed leg- and children into poverty. In fact, one of the islation making it a felony and increasing main reasons people go on welfare is because penalties for crossing State lines to avoid pay- the father has failed to meet his obligations ing child support or to refuse to pay support of child support. If all the parents in this for a child in another State. country paid the child support they owe, we Last year I issued an Executive order re- could move 800,000 women and children off quiring all employees of the Federal Govern- the welfare rolls tomorrow. ment to pay the child support they owed. So our administration has waged an un- Today I’m issuing a new Executive order de- precedented and sustained campaign to col- signed to crack down even harder on those lect child support and make deadbeat parents who refuse to pay their child support. pay up. We required States to set up pro- First, I’m ordering Federal agencies to grams at hospitals to find out the identity of take necessary and legal steps to deny Gov- fathers at the time a baby is born. Two hun- ernment loans, such as small business loans, dred thousand fathers have been identified farm loans, home loans, to deadbeat parents. through this program. We’re requiring moth- Second, the Government will do more to ers who receive welfare to tell us the name collect child support itself. We’ll create a of the father of the child. We set up a na- streamlined computer system that can find tional data base of delinquent parents and out which people who receive Federal pay- linked up the data bases from 17 States. And ments still owe child support. We’ll deduct I’m pleased to report that in its first few child support debts from these fees paid to months this system has identified over 60,000 Government consultants and vendors and the delinquent fathers. Over half owed money benefits paid to retired Federal employees. to mothers on welfare. The Treasury Department estimates that And the landmark welfare reform legisla- some $800 million in payments go to these tion I signed last month institutes the most deadbeat parents. These funds can then be dramatic crackdown yet on child support en- paid to the mother and the children. forcement. It says to deadbeat parents: Pay The Executive order says simply if you owe up or we’ll track you down, garnish your child support, you shouldn’t get the support wages, and make you pay what you owe. of the National Government. You can’t make Under the new welfare law, States will sus- money off the taxpayers if you’re refusing to pend driver’s licenses of deadbeats who don’t support your own children. It says we mean pay and the National Government will take business, and we intend to make responsibil- away passports. This year, at my direction, ity a way of life. the IRS will collect $1 billion in child support We know that when we do take respon- by withholding part of tax refunds. sibility we can meet the difficult challenges The U.S. Postal Service has begun work like crime, welfare, and poverty. We’re al- with the States to post lists of parents who ready making real and dramatic progress on owe support. And we’re using the new infor- child support collections. And I am confident mation technologies to catch delinquent par- that we can make even more progress. But ents, linking the web pages of 20 States to ultimately, we will only meet this challenge post the identities of deadbeat parents on the if we recognize that governments don’t raise Internet. children, parents do. We need everyone to

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1916 Sept. 28 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

take responsibility to give our children the sure need you there as you saw over the last love and support they need and deserve, to 2 years. And thank you, Patrick Kennedy, for show them by our own actions the meaning serving with such energy and determination. of right and wrong. If we do this, then I have You know, I thought I had energy until I great confidence in our country, our chil- met Patrick Kennedy. [Laughter] I don’t dren, and our future. know if he ever sleeps, but he certainly never Thank you for listening. stops working for the people of Rhode Island. And I thank him for what he has done. NOTE: The address was recorded at 7 p.m. on Thank you, Senator Claiborne Pell and September 27 at a private residence in Houston, Mrs. Pell, for a lifetime of service to this State TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on September 28. and to our Nation. Thank you not only for your dedication to education but also for your work for the cause of world peace and for Remarks in Providence, all you have done to advance it. And finally, Rhode Island Senator, after so many years in which our September 28, 1996 national politics have become too mean, too personal, too divisive, and too full of hot air, Good morning, Rhode Island! Thank you it was a real honor for me to stand up here so much. Thank you. Thank you for being and watch you once again in positive, grace- here in such large numbers and with such ful, constructive tones set out what is best great good spirits. You deserve these good about our country, best about our Constitu- spirits because our country is on the right tion, and best about public service. We wish track to the 21st century. you well, we love you, and we thank you. Mayor Cianci, thank you for that wonder- And thank you, Jack Reed, also for a life- ful welcome and for your exuberant leader- time of service, beginning with your career ship. Under that leadership, as I saw when at West Point, culminating now in your soon- I drove into town today, Providence has be- to-be ascendance to the United States Sen- come once again not only a truly historic city ate, for representing the American dream. but a wonderfully beautiful one. It’s an honor It’s alive and well, and unlike some, you want for me to be here in this great place. it to be alive and well for everyone else as Thank you, Secretary of State James well. And we thank you for that. Thank you. Longevin, for being here, for being on this Ladies and gentlemen, I am especially glad platform with me and for serving well and to be here in Rhode Island today and with for embodying the proposition that every Senator Pell to bring you some exciting news person in this country ought to have a chance that occurred late last night. Last night we to live up to his or her God-given capacities. reached a broad bipartisan agreement on the Thank you for serving. budget for the Government next year. It is I want to thank the legislative leaders, good for America because it continues to Governor Sundlun, the other distinguished move us toward a balanced budget while pro- citizens of Rhode Island who are here. I want tecting, not violating, our values. to say a special word of thanks to the people It is especially exciting for me because the who provided our music, the Cranston High budget adopts my program to continue our School West Marching Band, the Easterly advances in education. And it is a fitting trib- High School—Westerly High School Jazz ute to Senator Claiborne Pell’s last session Band, and the Holy Cross Cathedral Church of Congress because—and I don’t think he Gospel Choir. Thank you. knows this yet—the budget we agreed to last Thank you very, very much, Dawn night contains the biggest increase in Pell Fayerwether. Thank you for standing up here grant scholarships in 20 years. as a living symbol of what our common ef- The budget will put 40,000 more young forts are all about: to build a bridge to the children in Head Start. The budget fully 21st century we can all walk across. funds our commitment to the technological Thank you, Lieutenant Governor Bob literacy initiative which will connect every Weygand, for running for Congress. We’ll classroom in every school in America to the

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 28 1917

information superhighway by the year 2000. stored a measure of bipartisanship and work- It protects our environment by funding clean ing together in Washington. Look what hap- air, clean water, and safe food. It recognizes pens when you abandon extremism in favor that we are both a nation of immigrants and of working together: a nation of laws. It builds on our approach The Kennedy-Kassebaum health care re- to combat illegal immigration at the borders, form bill, making 25 million Americans eligi- in the workplace, and in the criminal justice ble to keep their health insurance when they system, but it does so without hurting inno- change jobs and say they can’t be denied it cent children or punishing legal immigrants. if someone in their family gets sick. Thank goodness we have turned that around. A welfare reform bill that says we will con- It restores the antidrug funding I asked tinue our national commitment to health care Congress to pass, including full funding of and nutrition for poor families, we will spend the safe and drug-free schools program, to more money on child care when people on give our children something to say yes to welfare take jobs, but we will develop now early in life so they don’t get in trouble in a community-based system of dealing with the first place. I hope we have ended the poor families so that every community in this ill-advised attempt to move away from that. country can and must take responsibility for Safe and drug-free schools, the D.A.R.E. moving people from welfare checks to pay- program, people going into our schools, checks. It is a good thing for this country. working with our kids: that’s the way to go. On October 1, just a few days away, 10 And I’m proud that the Congress agreed last million Americans will get an increase in night. their minimum wage because of the mini- It enacts the terrorism proposal I made mum wage increase. And we have made last month—antiterrorism proposal—and every small business in the country eligible puts into effect Vice President Gore’s com- for a greater tax cut if they spend more mission’s recommendation on increased air- money in their business. And in the same port security measures, making air travel legislation, we made it easier for people in safer for all Americans and those who come small businesses to take out pensions for here. It ends—and I hope for good—the at- themselves and their employees and for the tempts of Congress to stop our commitment employees of small businesses to take those to putting 100,000 more police officers on pensions with them when they go from job our streets. It continues the program until to job. And in the same piece of legislation, we finish the job of putting those 100,000 there is a $5,000 tax credit for people who police out and making all of the streets of adopt children. There are so many children America safer for our children and their fam- out there that need a home; I hope this will ilies to walk. help them to find it. And in a marked departure from the con- And just a couple of days ago, I passed gressional efforts of just several months ago, a piece of legislation which protects mothers it not only reflects an abandonment of their and newborns from being thrown out of the attempts to repeal the ban on assault weap- hospital within a day after the children are ons, but it accepted my recommendation that born. we expand the Brady bill to say that now that Ladies and gentlemen, the budget agree- we’ve taken guns away or prevented guns ment we reached last night—make no mis- from going to 60,000 felons, fugitives, and take about it—yes, it reflects my priorities, stalkers because of the Brady bill, it’s time but it was reached because it reflects your to extend that and say you shouldn’t get a priorities. And you have been speaking loud handgun if you beat up your spouse or your and clear about what kind of America you child either. Thank you, thank you, thank want to go into the 21st century. It’s a victory you. for your values. It’s a victory for our country. In the last 3 months, as the American peo- Thank you so much for making yourselves ple have made it clear that they have no in- heard. tention of seeing our country torn apart and This agreement proves that if we work to- divided over a radical agenda, we have re- gether instead of pointing our fingers at one

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1918 Sept. 28 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

another, we can do what we need to do. We Dawn Fayerwethers. And I believe we did can balance the budget, invest in our people, the right thing to start AmeriCorps and then keep our streets safe, stay on the right track. to stop them from doing away with it. It We can produce results for the American means more Marilyn Concepcions. That’s people. what this election is all about. That’s what Ladies and gentlemen, there are a lot of this country is all about. That’s what our fu- things that are said in every election. But you ture is all about. know, when you get right down to it, the real This is not an accident, and this is not con- issue is whether, after all is said and done, fined to a few people. Yesterday I was in the America produces more people like Dawn great and the very big State of Texas. And Fayerwether, or not. The real issue is wheth- I was in Longview, Texas, a town of about er we are working together to create the con- 70,000 people, in the morning for a rally like ditions and give ourselves the tools to make this. There were lots of people there. After the most of our own lives, to build good work the rally I did as I customarily do, I walked lives and good families and strong commu- down along the line there and shook hands nities and a strong nation. with people. And within the course of 5 min- I heard Dawn telling her story. Right be- utes I met the following people. I met a fore I saw Dawn I met a person from Provi- young 34-year-old woman, a single mother dence that I hope I’ve helped to make a little of two children, who went back later than famous. Her name is Marilyn Concepcion, most young people do and served in and she’s standing over there. Stand up, AmeriCorps and was using her money to go Marilyn. to the local junior college to start a life again I saw—Marilyn spoke at the Democratic so she could support her children. Convention to tell her story, but I hope I’ve And then I met a woman who was very helped to make her a little famous. I’m going emotional, who said to me, ‘‘Mr. President, to do this because I saw Senator Dole doing I’m so grateful that the family leave law was this the other day; I think it’s all right. passed because my husband had cancer and [Laughter] I wrote a book about what I I could spend some time with my husband thought was at stake in this country, in this and not lose my job.’’ I think America’s better election and going into the 21st century, because of that. I think we were right to pass called ‘‘Between Hope And History.’’ And I the family leave law. And those who oppose started the section on opportunity with it were not. Marilyn’s story, from Providence, Rhode Is- And then I met a man in a camouflage land. jacket, a military jacket, who was there with An immigrant from Puerto Rico, a high his wife and daughter in a wheelchair, who school dropout, a person who worked many served our country with honor in Vietnam, jobs, a person who got involved in one of who was exposed to Agent Orange, and as our AmeriCorps programs, City Year, one of has happened too many times, his child had the best programs in the country—and spina bifida, and she had had 12 operations. Rhode Island has just voted to go statewide And in that bill which ended drive-by preg- with City Year—where young people are nancies, we also said at long last and too late, given a chance to work in their communities we’re finally going to give some help to those to solve problems, to help people, and in the people. They’re qualifying for disability. process earn money to go back to school. And They’re qualifying for medical support. Their this young immigrant lady, an AmeriCorps sacrifice should not be visited on their chil- graduate, a public servant in City Year, a high dren, and if it is, we’ll do our best to make school dropout, is about to start—or just it right. That’s what this country is all about. started her second year at Brown University, That’s what this country’s all about, and that’s one of the finest institutions of higher edu- what this choice is all about. cation in America. We have to decide some big questions. We I believe we did the right thing to resist all know how much the world is changing. those efforts to cut the Pell grant program Think how much the way we work and live and instead expanded it. That means more and relate to each other and the rest of the

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 28 1919

world has changed in the last few years. And our money wasted if we give a small portion think how much it will change in the future. of it to the Pell grants, to the Head Starts, We know that it’s going to change. The young to the preservation of our shared environ- people in this audience today, they’ll be ment? Do we really believe you’d be better doing jobs, many of them, that haven’t even off if you were on your own, or don’t you been invented yet. Some of them will be think the First Lady is right: It does take a doing work that has not been imagined yet. village to raise a child and to build a country? Yesterday I had the great honor of wel- Folks, 4 years ago the people of Rhode coming home to Houston to the space pro- Island were very good to me. But I asked gram there, the Johnson Space Center, Shan- you to take me on faith. You didn’t really non Lucid after her long, miraculous stay in know. After all, I’d never been in Congress space. When she was a young girl, she told or the Senate, never worked in an adminis- someone she wanted to be a rocket scientist, trative capacity in the Federal Government. and the adult said, there is no such thing, I was just a Governor of a small State—you and if there were, it wouldn’t be a woman. can identify with that. [Laughter] Some said [Laughter] Well, today there are a lot of a Governor of a small State had no business rocket scientists and a lot of them are being President. But one thing you learn in women. And a lot of young girls were thrilled a small place is that hot air doesn’t get you to see Shannon Lucid staying in space for very far because people find you out. [Laugh- 6 months. ter] And it seemed to me that it was time And I can tell you that every time we go to stop the finger-pointing in Washington into space, we gain new knowledge that helps and start asking what can we do to roll up us here at home in preserving the environ- our sleeves and make this country a better ment and advancing the frontiers of medical place; how can we work together; how can science. Every time we do that, we push back we move forward? the frontiers of human knowledge and create Now you don’t have to take it on faith. new opportunities for our people to make You’ve got some evidence. And I want to ask a living in ways that make the most of their you in the next 38 days to talk to your friends God-given capacities. and neighbors in this State and beyond the So I say, I think we were right. President borders of this State about the evidence and Kennedy was right to support the space pro- the stakes for the future, because there’s no gram, and those who opposed it then were guesswork now. I said I wanted to take this not right. I’m glad President Kennedy did country into the next century with the Amer- that. And I’m proud to still be supporting ican dream alive for every person who was the frontiers of America’s exploration at responsible enough to work for it. I said I home and in the heavens. wanted our country to be the world’s strong- When you come down to it, there are a est force for peace and freedom and prosper- few big questions that we have to ask. And ity. And I said that I believed we had to go this is a truly historic period in our history. into the 21st century as a stronger American You have seen from the debates of the last community, respecting our diversity, not 4 years two starkly different views of our fu- being torn apart by it as so many other places ture and what we should do as a people. And in this old troubled world are and that if we you have to decide, do we want to build a did those things—opportunity for all, respon- bridge to the future, or do we really believe sibility from all, an American community in we can build one to the past? I believe we which all have a place—our best days were have to build a bridge to the future; it is still ahead. The evidence is in. We are on America’s historic mission to always go into the right track. Now you have to go out and the future. convince the rest of the American people Do we believe—do we really believe that that that is exactly the case. our money is wasted when we give a small You know, compared to 4 years ago—just portion of it to give Dawn Fayerwether a listen to this—we have 101⁄2 million more chance to get an education or Marilyn Con- jobs, the lowest unemployment in 71⁄2 years. cepcion a chance to work in City Year? Is The unemployment rate in Rhode Island is

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1920 Sept. 28 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

exactly half what it was when I became the income group can cite a few examples in life President of the United States. Homeowner- when they were afraid that the demands of ship is at a 15-year high. The deficit has been their work took away from the responsibil- cut by 60 percent and has gone down 4 years ities of their parenthood. There is no more in a row for the first time since before the important job than raising our children. We Civil War, in the 1840’s. We are moving in have to keep a strong economy. That’s what the right direction. things like the Family and Medical Leave Act A couple of days ago we got some news are for. We have a more productive economy that really warmed the hearts of those of us when people are not worried sick about their who belong to our political party, because children while they’re at work. That is the it showed that our prosperity after 20 years kind of America I am trying to build. of stagnant wages and 20 years of increasing Now, I think we also have to face the fact inequality in our country among hard-work- that we’ve got to build on—we have to build ing people, that things are starting to change. on the pioneering work of Claiborne Pell to Last year after inflation the typical family’s keep America’s educational opportunities income went up by $900, the biggest increase and standards and performance up to the fin- in a decade. Last year we had the biggest est in the world. And there are two things drop in child poverty in 20 years. Last year I’d like to emphasize in particular. Forty per- we had the biggest drop in the number of cent of the children in this country who are poor people in 27 years. And we had the big- in the third grade still can’t read a book on gest decrease—decrease—in the inequality their own. It’s going to be very hard for them of incomes of working families in 27 years. to master the demands of the information We are on the right track to the 21st century. age if that’s so. I want to mobilize an army As the previous speakers have said, we of AmeriCorps volunteers, reading special- have expanded educational opportunities. As ists, senior citizens to go in and work with the mayor noted, we have done what we parents and work with schools to make sure could to work with local communities to that by the year 2000 every 8-year-old in this bring the crime rate down. And the crime rate in America has gone down for 4 years country can pick up a book and say, ‘‘I can in a row. There are almost 2 million fewer read this all by myself.’’ people on welfare. Child support collections When we finish the work of hooking up have gone up almost 50 percent, by $3.8 bil- all of our classrooms to the information su- lion. And that’s one of the reasons people perhighway—for those of you who aren’t are moving off welfare, because parents are computer geniuses like our children are, but being required to assume responsibility for I’m not, let me explain in plain language what their children again. that means. It means not only computers and The Family and Medical Leave Act not educational materials and the computers and only helped that lady in Longview, Texas, teachers trained to work so that they’re not who talked to me yesterday, 12 million times letting the kids get ahead of them on the American families have been able to take a computers, it means something else. When little time off from work when a baby was you hook all these computers into the born or a child or a parent was sick without Internet, into the World Wide Web, into losing their jobs. And it’s been good for our these other information networks, what that economy. I’d like to see it expanded so that means is that for the first time in the entire families can take some time off to go to regu- history of the United States the children in lar parent-teacher conferences and regular the poorest inner-city schools, the children doctors appointments with their children or in the most remote rural schools will have their parents. access to the same information at the same I want to see a country where people can level of quality in the same time as the chil- succeed at home and at work. One of the dren in the wealthiest and best public and biggest challenges facing us today is that the private schools in the United States. It has American people are working harder than never happened before. We can do it now, ever before and almost every parent of any and we must do it now.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 28 1921

And I want, finally, to make sure that we people can borrow money to grow new busi- have literally opened the doors of college nesses and hire new people. education to every person in this America But we cannot do it in a way that violates who is willing to work for that, without regard our values and tears us apart as a country. to their income. And I have three specific We do not need to destroy the Medicare pro- proposals to add to what we’re doing. gram in order to save it and balance the Number one, I think more Americans budget, and I don’t intend to let it happen. should be able to save in an IRA, but with- We do not need to revoke our historic guar- draw from that retirement account without antee of health care coverage to poor moth- tax consequences if they’re going to pay for ers and their little children, to the elderly a college education, a health care emergency, who are in nursing homes, whose children buying a home. are often middle class workers who would Number two, I believe that we should give be poor if it weren’t for Medicare helping people like Dawn literally the cost of at least their parents. And we must not do it to fami- a community college education so that we lies who have family members who have dis- can say by the year 2000, we have made 2 abilities. That keeps them in the middle class years of education after high school just as and gives their family members the dignity universal as a high school diploma is today. of decent health care without driving the And it will be easy to do. It would be easy families into poverty. to do. We cannot do it by cutting back on edu- I propose a tax credit which would let peo- cation or the environment or on research. ple take from their income taxes, dollar-for- Here we are celebrating the space program. dollar, the cost of the typical community col- You clapped for that. There’s more on the lege tuition in America. It will be a wonderful way. We have doubled the life expectancy thing. We can overnight say the community of people with HIV in just 4 years because college system is accessible to all of you. And of medical research and the rapid movement it will pay us back, and we can pay for it. of drugs into the marketplace. And finally, I think we ought to make up Many of you were very moved by Chris- to $10,000 a year of college tuition deduct- topher Reeve’s speech at the Democratic ible for any kind of higher education, 4-year Convention calling for more research dealing colleges, medical school, veterinary school, with spinal cord injuries and other medical you name it. Will you help me build that problems. Let me tell you, just a few days bridge to the 21st century? [Applause] before he gave that speech, for the first time We need to build a bridge to the 21st cen- ever, a laboratory animal with a completely tury that continues our work to prove that severed spine showed movement in its lower we can clean up our environment and grow limbs because of nerve transplants into that our economy. There are still some people spine. No telling what we can do if we keep who don’t believe that. But let me tell you, pushing back the frontiers of knowledge. We there are still 10 million children growing up cannot walk away from the future. within 4 miles of toxic waste dumps. If you’ll So there it is. You have the evidence. You give us 4 more years, we’ll clean up the 500 have 4 years of proof that we’re on the right worst dumps so that we can say, our children, track; that saying we’re building a bridge to they’re growing up next to parks, not poison. the future, saying it takes a village, saying Will you help me build that bridge to the that community and opportunity and respon- 21st century? [Applause] sibility are the right way to go. You have a Finally, let me say we’ve got to keep this world of evidence around the world, where economy going, growing, and strong. That countries are being torn apart when they means we do need to balance the budget, don’t get along with each other, when they because that keeps interest rates down, that discriminate against people based on their keeps your home mortgage, your car pay- race or their gender of their ethnicity or their ments, your student loan payments, your tribal group or their religious convictions. credit card payments down. It keeps the in- This country is in the best shape of any nation terest rates on business loans down so more in the world to go into that next century, and

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1922 Sept. 28 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

our best days are still ahead if we vote on Thank you, Senator Ted Kennedy. And November 5th to build a bridge to the 21st Vicki, thank you for being here. You know, century. I wish I had as much energy as Ted Kennedy Thank you, and God bless you all. does. I just left Providence, where I was with Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and he was NOTE: The President spoke at 1:50 p.m. at Station the bounciest person on that stage. Ladies Park. In his remarks, he referred to Mayor Vin- and gentlemen, you cannot imagine the phe- cent A. Cianci, Jr., of Providence; former Gov. nomenal impact that Ted Kennedy had on Bruce Sundlun; Dawn Fayerwether, student, this Congress. After they passed their radical Community College of Rhode Island; Senator Claiborne Pell’s wife, Nuala; and senatorial can- budget and I vetoed it and you made clear— didate Jack Reed. you and people like you all across America, in all 50 States, Democrats, Republicans, and independents, too—that you basically agreed Remarks in Fall River, Massachusetts with me and us and not them, it was just September 28, 1996 amazing what Ted Kennedy was able to do in this Congress. The President. Thank you. The Kennedy-Kassebaum health care re- Audience members. Four more years! form bill will make 25 million Americans eli- Four more years! Four more years! gible to keep their health insurance when The President. Thank you. Thank you. they change jobs and say they can’t lose it Hello, Fall River! Mr. Mayor, thank you for if somebody in their family gets sick—25 mil- making me feel so welcome. Senator Ken- lion. And this Congress, which just a year nedy pointed out I have been all over the ago was out there trying to raise income taxes world. This is my first trip here. If I had know on the lowest income working American fam- what I was missing, I’d have been here soon- ilies, trying to lower the income of the work- er, I can tell you that. Thank you very much. ing people with the lowest incomes in the Thank you. country—thanks to the leadership of Ted Are there any Portuguese-Americans Kennedy, on October 1st, which I think is here? [Applause] Obrigado [Thank you], Fall Tuesday, 10 million Americans will get a pay River. I’m glad to be here. I’m delighted to raise when their minimum wage goes up. be here with all of you. I thank Joan Menard Thank you, Senator, thank you. for starting us off and for the good work she And I might add that bill will also make has done. I want to thank Jim McGovern for it easier for people in small businesses to take presenting himself as a candidate for Con- out retirement plans and for employees in gress, and I hope you’ll make him a Con- small businesses to keep those retirement gressman. He’d be a good one. I want to plans when they move from business to busi- thank my good friend Congressman Barney ness. So it’s good for workers and good for Frank who’s here, who used to represent you business. It also has a $5,000 tax credit for in the legislature. Thank you, Barney. And families who adopt children who need a I want to thank his sister, Ann Lewis, who home, and I hope more of them will get a is the spokesperson for my Presidential cam- home now. Thank you for that bill. It’s a good paign. You may have seen her on television bill for America. taking up for me. She’s going to wind up get- I’m delighted to be here with my friend ting her name recognition up as high as her Senator John Kerry and with Teresa. And I brother’s, and that’s a pretty good thing. And want to tell you, folks, I know that John Kerry I want to thank their proud mother, Elsie has a vigorous and spirited race. But every Frank, who is here somewhere today. I saw one of you here in Fall River knows what’s her. Thank you, dear. I am delighted to be really at stake. We’re going through a period here with all of you. But I want to say a spe- of great change in this country in how we cial word of thanks, as an old musician, to work, how we live, how we relate to the rest Our Lady of Light Band and the Mike Moran of the world, what it will take for us to see Band. Thank you both for providing the that every American lives up to the fullest music for us. of his or her God-given potential.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 28 1923

When I put forward my economic plan in When I was in Providence, I was intro- 1993, the other side said it would cause a duced by a woman who got a Pell grant to recession and increase unemployment and go back to the community college to try to increase the deficit. Well, now we know. do right by her family. And there was another We’ve got 101⁄2 million jobs, and the deficit young woman there in Providence that I fea- has gone down 4 years in a row for the first tured in my book and that spoke at the time since before the Civil War. John Kerry Democratic Convention, a Puerto Rican im- was right. He’s on the right side of history. migrant girl, a high school dropout, worked When we tried to get past 6 years of talking several jobs, joined AmeriCorps, our national tough on crime but nothing happening— service program, and then got herself—after rhetoric and rhetoric and rhetoric and no ac- dropping out of high school and becoming tion—to put 100,000 police on the street, to a leader in AmeriCorps—got herself into ban deadly assault weapons, to pass the Brown University, where she just started her Brady bill, the other side, they led the fight second year. That’s what this is all about, against it. But John Kerry helped us pass the helping people to make the most of their own toughest, smartest, best crime bill this coun- lives. try has seen in many a day, and the crime Yesterday I was in the great State of Texas. rate has gone down for 4 years in a row. John And people tell me, ‘‘Well, that’s a Repub- Kerry was on the right side of history, and lican State; what did you go down there for?’’ Massachusetts should stay with him. I’ll tell you why I went. There were 13,000 And when we were expanding Head Start people in the small town of Longview, Texas, and passing that school-to-work program at about 8:30 yesterday morning. And after Senator Kennedy talked about to help young I spoke, as is my custom, I went out into people who don’t go to 4-year colleges get the crowd and I started shaking hands. I met good training and good jobs, when we im- the following three people in 5 minutes. I proved the college loan program by cutting met a 34-year-old single mother with two the cost and improving the repayment terms, kids who joined AmeriCorps and had gotten when we did these things, the other guys, herself some money helping the local com- they tried to stop us. But John Kerry helped munity and was going back to the junior col- us pass it. He’s on the right side of history. lege there. Then I met a woman who said, And he’s on the right side of history in mak- ‘‘Mr. President, if it hadn’t been for the Fam- ing college available to all Americans. We’ll ily and Medical Leave Act, I don’t know what do it if you give us 4 more years and if you I would have done. My husband had cancer, give us John Kerry back to the United States but I got to take some time off and be with Senate. him when he was so desperately ill without And finally, let me thank Sheila Levesque. losing my job and wrecking our family.’’ Could every one of you get up here and do You know, the other side, their leaders what she did? fought against the family and medical leave Audience members. No-o-o! law. But John Kerry and Barney Frank and The President. A single mom, a nurse, Ted Kennedy, they were on the right side worked all night long on her shift, hadn’t had of history, helping people succeed at home any sleep—I said, ‘‘Sheila, did you get any and at work. It was the right thing to do. sleep last night?’’ She said, maybe an hour And then I met a man who had a camou- or two since she got off work—stood up here flage jacket on, obviously a veteran. He was in front of this vast crowd and told you the a Vietnam veteran standing there with his story of her life. The reason we wanted her wife. His little daughter was in a wheelchair. to do that is that this election is not about She’d had 12 operations because her father the politicians on this stage. This election is served our country in Vietnam, was exposed about whether the decisions we make con- to Agent Orange, and like far too many chil- nect and improve and advance the lives and dren of veterans, his child got spina bifida. the values of people like Sheila Levesque all But finally last week in a bill that I signed, over this country. That’s what this election we finally at long last gave help in the form is about. That’s what it’s about. of disability payments and extra medical sup-

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1924 Sept. 28 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

port to the children of Vietnam veterans born we try to reach back and build a bridge to with spina bifida—who were exposed—and the past? You know we have to build a bridge it’s high time. That’s what this election is all to the future. about. That’s what this is all about. Do you believe, as my opponent said in My fellow Americans, you were very good all honesty in his speech to the Republican to me in 1992, but you took me on faith and Convention—he was being absolutely honest the word of others. When I said to you that and candid, and he said, frankly, he did not we could create an America in the 21st cen- agree with the First Lady that it took a vil- tury with opportunity for everyone respon- lage; he thought families and individuals sible enough to work for it, where we were would be better off being left alone, that they coming together and respecting our diversity could do better on their own. You know instead of being torn apart by it, where we something? I think Hillary was right. I think were still leading the world toward peace and it does take a village to raise our children freedom and prosperity, you took me on and build our communities and build our fu- faith. But after 4 years of working for oppor- ture. tunity, responsibility, and a stronger commu- But you have to decide. You have to de- nity, you don’t have to do that anymore. The cide. I’m glad that a little of my—a precious evidence is in, and now we know. Now we little of my income as a tax-paying citizen know. went to help to give Sheila Levesque a With 101⁄2 million more jobs, a record chance to be a better mother, a more produc- number of new small businesses, and the tive citizen, and build a better future. And census report last week telling us—I almost you know what? I think I’m better off be- wept when I read it. Who ever heard of cry- cause of that, and I think you are, too. ing over a dry Government report? But every For every young person in this audience, year they tell us how we did the year before. I believe it is a good thing for us to enact So the census report for 1995 said, compared the educational program for the 21st century to the year before, that typical American fam- that Senator Kerry outlined. Why shouldn’t ilies had $900 more after inflation; that we we say we’re going to make 2 years of com- had the biggest drop in childhood poverty munity college education as universal as a in 20 years; the biggest drop in poverty in high school diploma is in the next 4 years? female households in 30 years, female-head- We need to do it. Why shouldn’t we do it? ed households; the biggest drop in the num- Let people take the money off their taxes ber of people living in poverty in 27 years; for the cost of a typical tuition. Why shouldn’t and the biggest drop in the inequality of we give people a $10,000 tax deduction for working families in 27 years. We are on the the cost of tuition after high school, any kind right track to the 21st century, and we need of college tuition, people of any age? Why to keep going. We need to keep going. shouldn’t we do it? We can pay for it. I’m We have more to do. We have more to for that. do to build that bridge to the 21st century. And I’m for balancing the budget, too, be- Yes, we made a lot of progress these last 3 cause that will lower your interest rates on months because you made your voices heard. your student loans, your car payments, your But you have to say again on election day, house payments, on your credit card pay- what is the direction of this country? And ments. It will lower your interest rates. It will in all candor, friends, I’m tired of the mean- keep interest rates down for business loans ness and the personal attacks that have domi- so that we can keep creating new jobs and nated our politics for too long. There are build on the economic record of the last 4 honest differences between us. We can share years. But I am not for doing it and using them with respect. that as an excuse to wreck Medicaid, which And the ideas here at issue that will deter- has given our commitment, our solemn com- mine whether we’re on the right side of the mitment of health care to poor children, to future are the following: Do you believe that the elderly in nursing homes, most of them we have to build a bridge to the 21st century themselves the parents of middle class fami- big enough for all of us to go across, or can lies. I don’t want to see us walk away from

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 28 1925

middle class working families who because States and say, we have got to keep building of Medicaid have had family members with that bridge to the 21st century, and we’ve disabilities who could live in dignity without got to go across it together? We cannot be driving their families into poverty. We don’t divided by race, by gender, by religion, by have to do that to balance the budget, and ethnic group. We are a great, great country, I won’t do it. and our best days are still ahead if we are We don’t have to cut back on education committed to going across that bridge to- or environmental protection. And we have gether. Will you do it? to continue investing in research and tech- Audience members. Yes! nology. Yesterday, folks, I was in Houston, The President. Then we’ll prevail. Thank and I welcomed home that magnificent astro- you, and God bless you all. Thank you. naut Shannon Lucid when she came home after 6 months. A lot of you saw her come NOTE: The President spoke at 5:04 p.m. at Ken- home. When she was a little girl, she told nedy Park. In his remarks, he referred to Mayor an adult she wanted to be a rocket scientist Edward Lambart, Jr., of Fall River; State Rep- resentative Joan Menard; Senator Edward Ken- when she grew up. And she was told, there nedy’s wife, Vicki; Senator John Kerry’s wife, Te- is no such thing, and if there were it wouldn’t resa Heinz; and Sheila Levesque, who introduced be a girl. [Laughter] Well, guess what? There the President. are a lot of them now, and a lot of them are women. And the young girls of America and the young women liked seeing Shannon Executive Order 13019—Supporting Lucid up there. Families: Collecting Delinquent What is the point of that? President Ken- Child Support Obligations nedy believed we could go into space and September 28, 1996 make a success of the space program, and he fought for it. I’m glad he did. I’m glad The Debt Collection Improvement Act of he supported it. I’m glad I have supported 1996, Public Law 104–134 (110 Stat. 1321– it. And I’m glad we’ve still got it. And I think 358 et seq.), was enacted into law on April those who thought it shouldn’t be done were 26, 1996, as part of the Omnibus Consoli- wrong. We have to continue to invest in re- dated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of search to build a better future. I want the 1996. While the primary purpose of the Debt young people here to be able to do those Collection Improvement Act is to increase jobs of the future. We are today building a the collection of nontax debts owed to the supercomputer with IBM that will do more Federal Government, the Act also contains calculations in one second than you can do important provisions that can be used to as- on a hand-held calculator in 30,000 years. sist families in collecting past-due child sup- And we have to do that. port obligations. We are today seeing experiments with lab- The failure of some parents to meet their oratory animals whose spines who have been child support obligations threatens the severed, who have movement in their lower health, education, and well-being of their limbs again because of nerve transplants. We children. Compounding this problem, States have doubled the life expectancy of people have experienced difficulties enforcing child with HIV and AIDS in only 4 years. We have support obligations once a parent has moved to keep going and investing, and we’re better to another State. With this Executive order, off when we do that, building a better future, my Administration takes additional steps to being on the right side of history, building support our children and strengthen Amer- that bridge. ican families by facilitating the collection of So here’s what I want to know from you. delinquent child support obligations from For 38 days, for 38 days, will you help us persons who may be entitled or eligible to build that bridge to the 21st century? [Ap- receive certain Federal payments or Federal plause] Will you talk to your friends and your assistance. neighbors, your coworkers, people in Massa- Accordingly, by the authority vested in me chusetts and your friends beyond in other as President by the Constitution and the laws

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1926 Sept. 28 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

of the United States of America, it is hereby With respect to a class of payments estab- ordered as follows: lished after the date of this order, such sub- Section 1. Administrative Offsets. (a)(1) missions shall be made not later than 30 days The Secretary of the Treasury (‘‘the Sec- after such class is established. retary’’), in accordance with the provisions (d) The head of each executive department of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of and agency that certifies payments to the 1996 and to the extent permitted by law, and Secretary shall promptly implement any rule, in consultation with the Secretary of Health regulation, or procedure issued by the Sec- and Human Services and other affected retary pursuant to this section. agencies, shall promptly develop and imple- (e) The head of each executive department ment procedures necessary for the Secretary and agency that is authorized by law to dis- to collect past-due child support debts by ad- burse payments shall promptly implement ministrative offset, and shall issue such rules, any rule, regulation, or procedure issued by regulations, and procedures as the Secretary, the Secretary pursuant to this section and in consultation with the heads of affected shall: agencies, deems appropriate to govern ad- (1) match, consistent with computer ministrative offsets by the Department of the privacy matching laws, the payment cer- Treasury and other executive departments tification records of such department or and agencies that disburse Federal payments. agency with records of persons delin- (2) The Secretary may enter into recip- quent in child support payments as di- rocal agreements with States concerning the rected by the Secretary; and collection by the Secretary of delinquent (2) conduct administrative offsets to child support debts through administrative collect delinquent child support pay- offsets. ments. (b) The Secretary of Health and Human (f) The Secretary shall, to the extent per- Services shall, within 120 days of the date mitted by law, share with the Secretary of of this order, implement procedures nec- Health and Human Services any information essary to report to the Secretary of the Treas- contained in payment certification records of ury information on past-due child support persons who are delinquent in child support claims referred by States (including claims obligations that would assist in the collection enforced by States pursuant to cooperative of such debts, whether or not an administra- agreements with or by Indian tribal govern- tive offset is conducted. ments) to the Department of Health and Sec. 2. Denial of Federal Assistance. (a) Human Services. The Secretary shall, to the extent permitted (c) The head of each executive department by law, ensure that information concerning and agency that certifies payments to the individuals whose payments are subject to Secretary or to another disbursing official administrative offset because of delinquent shall review each class of payments that the child support obligations is made available department or agency certifies to determine to the head of each executive department if any such class should be exempt from off- and agency that provides Federal financial set and, if any class is so identified, submit assistance to individuals. to the Secretary a request for such an exemp- (b) In conformance with section 2(e) of tion together with the reasons therefor. With this order, the head of each executive depart- respect to classes of payments under means- ment and agency shall, with respect to any tested programs existing on the date of this individuals whose payments are subject to order, such submission shall be made within administrative offset because of a delinquent 30 days of the date of this order. With respect child support obligation, promptly imple- to classes of payments other than payments ment procedures to deny Federal financial under means-tested programs existing on the assistance to such individuals. date of this order, such submissions shall be (c) The Attorney General, in consultation made within 30 days of the date the Secretary with the Secretary of Health and Human establishes standards pursuant to section Services and other affected agencies, shall 3716(c)(3) of title 31, United States Code. promptly issue guidelines for departments

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 28 1927

and agencies concerning minimum due-proc- Secretary pursuant to section 1 of this ess standards to be included in the proce- order. dures required by subsection (b) of this sec- Sec. 3. Reports. (a) The head of each exec- tion. utive department and agency shall provide (d) For purposes of this section, Federal to the Secretary such information as the Sec- financial assistance means any Federal loan retary may request concerning the imple- (other than a disaster loan), loan guarantee, mentation of this order, the provisions of the or loan insurance. Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (e)(1) A class of Federal financial assist- applicable to delinquent child support obli- ance shall not be subject to denial if the head gations, and the rules, regulations, and proce- of the concerned department or agency de- dures issued by the Secretary pursuant to termines: section 1 of this order. (A) in consultation with the Attorney (b) The Secretary shall report annually to General and the Secretary of Health and the President concerning the implementa- Human Services, that such action: tion by departments and agencies of this (i) is not permitted by law; or order and the provisions of the Debt Collec- (ii) would likely result in valid legal tion Improvement Act of 1996 applicable to claims for damages against the United delinquent child support obligations. States; Sec. 4. Judicial Review. This order does (B) that such action would be incon- not create any right or benefit, substantive sistent with the best interests of the or procedural, enforceable at law by a party child or children with respect to whom against the United States, its agencies, its of- a child support obligation is owed; or ficers, or any person. (C) that such action should be waived. William J. Clinton (2) The head of each executive department and agency shall provide written notification The White House, to the Secretary upon determining that the September 28, 1996. denial of a class of Federal financial assist- ance is not permitted by law or should be [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 9:38 a.m., October 2, 1996] waived. (f) The head of each executive department NOTE: This Executive order was published in the and agency shall: Federal Register on October 3. (1) review all laws under the jurisdic- tion of the department or agency that do not permit the denial of Federal fi- Remarks on Arrival in Boston, nancial assistance to individuals and Massachusetts, and an Exchange whose payments are subject to adminis- With Reporters trative offset because of a delinquent September 28, 1996 child support obligation and, where ap- propriate, transmit to the Director of Balanced Budget Agreement the Office of Management and Budget The President. Good evening. Early this recommendations for statutory changes; morning we reached an important agreement and with Congress to continue balancing the (2) to the extent practicable, review budget while we invest in education, protect all rules, regulations, and procedures the environment, and keep our streets safe. implementing laws under the jurisdic- This budget agreement was a victory for our tion of the department or agency gov- values and a victory for the American people. erning the provision of any Federal fi- It was also, in particular, a victory for the nancial assistance to individuals and, people of Massachusetts. where appropriate, conform such rules, I want to talk briefly about three things regulations, and procedures to the pro- in particular that are important to this State. visions of this order and the rules, regu- First, the budget agreement includes $50 lations, and procedures issued by the million that could be used for shipyard reac-

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1928 Sept. 28 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

tivation. Today I have instructed Secretary Now I’d like to ask the Senators each to Pen˜ a to complete negotiations for a binding say a word. letter of commitment to revitalize the Quincy [At this point, Senator John Kerry and Sen- Shipyard, which we just flew over, and to do ator Edward M. Kennedy made brief re- it within 30 days after I sign the budget. marks.] I especially want to thank Senator Kerry, Senator Kennedy, and Congressman Studds Q. [Inaudible] for their hard work to include this provision The President. Well, for one reason, I’ve in the budget agreement. Their work will been working on these things for far more help to create a world-class shipbuilding op- than one year. The Southbridge project is a eration to bring new jobs, new technology, big project, goes back several years. The Bos- and new opportunity to the people of Quincy. ton Harbor project was going on before I Second, the budget includes important got here. The Quincy project developed funds to continue the cleanup of Boston Har- when they had a person interested in going bor. Last year Senator Kerry and Senator there. Kennedy joined us to stop congressional ef- So we’ve been working very hard on it, forts to walk away from that commitment. and I think if they didn’t have independent And because of their work this year we are merit, it would have been difficult for us to going to keep moving forward to make the get them in these times, which have been Boston Harbor safe, clean, and healthy. particularly contentious. So I think, you Finally, I want to say a word about our know, every one of these things will stand ongoing effort to streamline our Govern- on its own merit. But the people in Boston ment. We’re working hard to overhaul De- have paid an enormous amount out of their fense Department management while main- own pockets to clean up the Boston Harbor taining an unwavering commitment to the and it would have been unconscionable for best equipped, trained Armed Forces in the us to walk away from our continuing commit- world. We’ve closed 228 of the Defense De- ment to that. partment’s more than 300 finance and ac- These other two projects we’ve been work- counting facilities, while working hard to im- ing on, waiting for, for a very long time. It’s prove training for Defense Department fi- not something that just came up overnight nancial managers. Today I’m pleased to an- tied to the election cycle. This is a multi- nounce that the budget agreement also in- year effort and I want to congratulate all the cludes funds to establish a financial manage- community leaders who are here. They’re the ment education center at Southbridge, Mas- ones that ultimately deserve the credit for sachusetts. The Pentagon will release $5 mil- bringing this day to bear. lion for the center’s development next week, Thank you very much. and classes will begin on March 1, 1997, 18 months ahead of class. The Southbridge cen- NOTE: The President spoke at 6:40 p.m. at Logan Airport. A tape was not available for verification ter would not be happening today without of the content of these remarks. the leadership of Senator Kerry, Senator Kennedy, and Congressman Neal. This budget agreement shows what we can Remarks at a Campaign Concert for do when we work hard on things that really Senator John Kerry in Boston matter to the American people. It creates op- September 28, 1996 portunity by working to revitalize the ship- building industry, takes responsibility by Thank you. You know, I just was looking working to reform our Government in a re- at Senator Kerry giving his speech. He gives sponsible way while providing the best train- me a beanpot. [Laughter] Whoever said he ing to our Armed Forces, it strengthens our didn’t have a sense of humor? Do you believe community by continuing our effort to clean that Governor Weld would have the guts to up our environment here to Boston Harbor. stand up here and say he couldn’t believe We are on the right track to the 21st century, that we had all those people from the sixties and I am very pleased about it. play and everybody kept their clothes on?

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 28 1929

[Laughter] Next thing you know John Kerry no, and so did Senator Kennedy and so did will be doing the macarena with Al Gore. John Kerry. And we did get more for medical Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the research because he asked for more for med- warm and wonderful reception you have ical research in the spinal cord area. And let given me tonight. Thank you for being here. me tell you, folks, lest you think that’s a pipe Thank you for being here for John Kerry, dream, just a few days before Christopher who richly deserves your support for reelec- Reeve spoke at the Democratic National tion because he has been fighting for your Convention, for the first time ever a labora- future, for the future of Massachusetts and tory animal with its spine completely severed the future of the United States, for a very got movement back in its lower limbs be- long time. And he has consistently been on cause of a nerve transplant to the spine. We the right side of that future. are going to solve that problem and many You know, I remember in 1993, when we others if we keep people like John Kerry, had a stagnant economy and high unemploy- who are on the right side of history. He de- ment and the country was dividing economi- serves the support. cally and socially and people were becoming And I can’t let this moment go without more and more cynical, and I put an eco- saying, after all the fights we had over the nomic plan forward to the Congress, and not budget over the last 2 years, it was a wonder- a single person in the other party voted for ful thing to see in the last few weeks, after it. And they all tried to terrify our side and the American people made their voices say, ‘‘Oh, this is a terrible plan. It will raise heard, Senator Kennedy taking the lead in the deficit; it will increase unemployment, passing a health care reform bill he’s worked bankrupt the country.’’ Well, John Kerry and on for years that says you can’t be denied Senator Ted Kennedy stood with the Presi- insurance anymore if you change jobs or if dent. And now we know, 101⁄2 million jobs someone in your family has been sick. Twen- later, we know that John Kerry was right and ty-five million Americans will be better off they were wrong. because of that, and that’s on the right side I remember in 1994, after crime had be- of history. deviled so many of our communities and peo- Tuesday, October 1st, 10 million Ameri- ple in Washington had talked about the need cans will get a pay raise when the minimum for a crime bill for 6 years and I had run wage goes into effect because Senator Ken- on the promise of putting 100,000 more po- nedy worked and Senator Kerry helped him lice officers on our streets to prevent crime, and we got a minimum wage increase. It was to make our streets, our schools, our neigh- the right thing to do. borhoods safer—I remember that the leaders Well, we’ve been here a long time, and of the other party said, ‘‘Oh, this is a terrible I know you want to go home. And I don’t thing.’’ And they won a lot of their elections want to take a lot of your time, but I want in ‘94 by convincing hunters in places like to say something especially to the young peo- my home State they’d lose their guns. But ple here tonight. I want to tell you something John Kerry stood firm, and we got that about being on the right side of history, and 100,000 police. We got the Brady bill. We I want you to think about it seriously just got the assault weapons ban. And this is a for a minute. safer country with 4 years of declining crime. Once in a generation or so our people in Thank you, John Kerry, for being on the right our long march of democracy have been con- side of history. fronted with a set of decisions that are so When Christopher Reeve spoke tonight, it profound that they will affect how we live reminded me so clearly of everything he said and how we relate to each other and the rest at a time when we were faced last year with of the world for a very long time. This is the budget—‘‘take it or leave it or we’ll shut that sort of time. We are being asked, basi- the Government down’’—it cut education, cally because of the differences between our- cut the environment, cut our investments in selves and our opponents, to decide two fun- research and technology, weakened our com- damental questions about what we’re going mitments for Medicare and Medicaid. I said to be like when we go roaring into the 21st

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1930 Sept. 28 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

century. No matter what happens, those of know the answer to that. You can also say, us that are well-prepared, especially our as my opponent did in all candor and com- young people, will have more changes to live pletely honestly when he spoke at the Repub- out our dreams than any generation of Amer- lican Convention—he said he really thought icans has ever had. that the First Lady was wrong, that we were But the two great questions we have to better off being left to ourselves and families face that will shape what we are as a country to make our way. But I think she was right. and what we look like 50 years from now I believe it takes a village to make the most are, number one, do we believe that we have of all of our lives. And I believe that you to build a bridge to the future that every think that, too. American is given the ability to walk across? And so I ask you—I ask those of you, espe- I think the answer to that is yes, but not ev- cially those of you who are young—some of erybody does. Whether you believe that or you may have indulged all of us who were not determines how you answer questions singing our old songs here tonight; some of like whether you’re for the Family and Medi- you now know them as well as we do and cal Leave Act, whether you believe it should love them as well. But all of you, I ask you be preserved and expanded so that people to think about this: This great choice is going can succeed at home and at work. Whether to affect how you live. Those of you who have you believe that or not depends upon wheth- most of your tomorrows in front of you, this er you think we should be providing an op- choice will affect them, because of the pro- portunity for every person who wants to go found changes going on in our country and to college to go, through tax credits and tax in our world. deductions and savings programs. I believe Whether we decide to build that bridge we should, and John Kerry believes we to the future that enables everyone to make should. And that is the right side of history. the most of their own lives, whether we de- The other great question we have to face cide to stay with the idea that we are a village is whether this incredible mosaic of diversity and we have to respect one another and bond that is America, all the differences that you together and be stronger and richer because can see here just by looking around this great of our differences, these things will deter- hall tonight, will be a source of strength and mine what America looks like when we cross sustenance to us that will add to our prosper- the bridge to the 21st century, when our chil- ity and more to the richness and quality of dren are our age and in 100 years when peo- our lives or whether we will be bedeviled, ple write back their histories about what we divided, and weakened by the differences did in our time. among us. And do not underestimate the weight of Look all around the world today. How this decision. This is a huge decision. These much of your time as President do I have are big questions. They will define the Unit- to spend—from the Middle East to Northern ed States of America for a long time to come. Ireland, to Bosnia, to Rwanda and Burundi, This is a decision that comes along once in to so many other places around the world— a generation, maybe once every 50 years. how much time trying to get people to stop Think how different the world would have defining their lives in terms of who they can been when the Founding Fathers in Massa- hate, whom they can look down upon be- chusetts and the other 12 States had made cause they are different because of race or the other decision they were asked to make: religion or region or gender or tribe? It is Don’t make this one country, make this a wrong. It is wrong. And we have to decide— club of 13 different States, just sort of a social we have to decide whether we’re going to organization; you can come and go as you beat the odds. These are the two great ques- please. I wouldn’t be here because there tions. would never have been a Louisiana Purchase I don’t like bumper stickers much, but the and I wouldn’t be an American. truth is it’s pretty good to say the question Think how different this country would be is, are we going to build a bridge to the future if Abraham Lincoln had not been President or try to reach back to the past? I think you when the States said, ‘‘Well, hey, we formed

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 29 1931

this country; we’ve got the right to get out.’’ reelected Senator from Massachusetts, be- And Abraham Lincoln said, ‘‘I don’t think so. cause he has been on the side of your fu- I don’t think so.’’ [Laughter] And he was will- ture—on the side of your future. ing to give a half a million lives, including You do not have to believe one bad thing his own life, to keep this country together. personally about his opponent. You do not And then to face the next question: ‘‘Well, have to make this a negative race at all. All if we’re going to stay together, don’t we have you have to do is to look at the fundamental to quit lying about who we are? How can choices before you. And for those of you who we have a Constitution that says all of us are are young especially, I say, imagine in your created equal and keep slavery? So we’ve got mind what you want this country to be like to get rid of that.’’ Think how different this in 4 years when we go roaring into a new country would be if we hadn’t made that de- century and a new millennium, what you cision 130-odd years ago. Think how dif- want our country to be like when your own ferent. Would all the other immigrants be children are your age. What do you want the here today? Would this place look like it does history of America to be 100 years from now? today? I don’t think so. What will they say about what we did now? Think how different this country would I hope they’ll say, America decided it takes have been when Theodore Roosevelt and a village, and we’re going to build a bridge Woodrow Wilson had to manage our transi- to the 21st century that we can all walk tion from being a rural country of small farm- across. ers to an urban country of great cities like Thank you. God bless you. Bear down and this one, which Mayor Menino leads so well bring a victory for us. Thank you. today. Think how different it would have been if they had answered these questions NOTE: The President spoke at 11:11 p.m. at the differently. They had to say, okay, now we’re Fleet Center. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. William F. Weld of Massachusetts and Mayor an industrial country. Are we going to let a Thomas Menino of Boston. A tape was not avail- few monopolies run out all the small business able for verification of the content of these re- people, or are we going to preserve free en- marks. terprise? They voted for free enterprise. Are we going to let these big companies destroy our natural heritage, or are we going to pre- Remarks Announcing the Middle serve things like the Grand Canyon and other East Summit at the White House and national parks and keep something for all an Exchange With Reporters generations to come? Are we going to let our September 29, 1996 children work 70 hours a week in coal mines and sweatshops as they were doing then, or The President. Good morning. The loss are we going to stop that and give our chil- of life and the tragedy of the violence in the dren their childhoods back and their edu- Middle East this week have been a terrible cation? Think how different America would development for the Israeli and the Palestin- be if we had answered those questions dif- ian people, a blow to all those who work for ferently. a lasting peace, an encouragement to those These are the questions that are being who oppose a lasting peace. asked of you and your generation. These are Earlier this week I called on Israelis and the kinds of questions that we are facing. Palestinians to end the cycle of violence, to When you ask which budget do you want, restore calm, to recommit themselves to the it’s really about what kind of people are we. hard work of building peace through negotia- Are we going together, respecting our dif- tions. There has been some progress since ferences, building a bridge? Or are we going then toward ending the confrontation but not to say, ‘‘It’s every person for himself; I wish enough. Therefore, after consulting with Sec- you well’’? retary Christopher, who has literally been I believe I know the answer. And I ask working around the clock with the regional those of you who are young—you have 38 leaders to resolve this problem, I have invited days. John Kerry has earned the right to be Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1932 Sept. 29 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

Arafat to come to Washington as soon as pos- had in the last 3 years is that the United sible. They have accepted my invitation, as States has not presumed to speak publicly has King Hussein of Jordan. I’ve also invited for either one of them and we have been President Mubarak of Egypt; he is seeing very careful about what we say, particularly whether it is possible for him to attend. I in advance of these meetings. I’m going to expect the meetings to take place early this do everything I can to facilitate a resolution week. of this, and I don’t want to say anything be- The United States has often played a piv- fore they get here that would complicate otal role in bringing Arabs and Israelis to- that. gether to work out their differences in peace. Q. Thank you. It is our responsibility to do whatever we can The President. Thank you. to protect the peace process and to help move it forward. This is such a moment. NOTE: The President spoke at 8:50 a.m. in the The events of this week are all the more Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Binyamin shocking because the Israelis and the Pal- Netanyahu of Israel, Chairman Yasser Arafat of estinians have taken so many giant steps to- the Palestinian Authority, King Hussein I of Jor- ward peace in the last couple of years. They dan, and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. have shown the world that they want peace. They know they must make hard choices to achieve that goal. Statement on House of I’m prepared to do everything in my power Representatives Action on Omnibus to help the Israelis and the Palestinians end Parks Legislation the violence and begin the peace process September 29, 1996 again in earnest. We have to return to the path of peace along which they have already I am pleased that the House voted last traveled so far. night to approve legislation that would im- Q. Mr. President, do you think that Israel prove our management of the national parks is ready to abide by it’s promise to keep pre- and other Federal lands. The bill represents vious peace agreements made by other gov- a victory for all Americans who treasure and ernments? want to preserve our natural resources. The President. Well, President—excuse This bill includes my top priorities for me—Prime Minister Netanyahu says that he parks legislation. That is, it includes provi- will abide by all previous agreements and sions to improve the management of the Pre- that is an understanding that he has reached sidio in San Francisco, help acquire the Ster- with Chairman Arafat. We will be discussing ling Forest in the New York/New Jersey the relevant issues here to the recent vio- Highlands Region, and establish the Tallgrass lence and what can be done to really get the Prairie National Preserve in Kansas. peace process back on track when they come At the same time, the bill deletes almost here. all of the provisions of the earlier conference Q. What do you think made them decide agreement that the administration had found to come to Washington? They seem so ada- objectionable. These provisions include those mantly opposed before. that would have adversely affected the Shen- The President. I believe that—I think andoah National Park and Richmond Battle- they’re both concerned about the way events field National Park in Virginia, the Sequoia spun out of control, about the loss of life, National Park in California, the Tongass Na- the injury, the eruption of old tensions and tional Forest, and other national parks and bitterness. And I believe they want to try to Federal lands. get beyond that and go back to moving to- To be sure, this is not a perfect bill. I con- ward the path of peace. I don’t think they tinue to have concerns about certain provi- would be coming here if they didn’t. sions. But on the whole, it represents a vast Q. What would you ask them to do? and good-faith improvement over the earlier The President. Well, I firmly believe that conference agreement. Again, I applaud the one of the reasons for the success we have House for approving this legislation last

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Sept. 30 1933

night, and I hope the Senate will do the same Nation’s competitive edge in Pacific Rim before it adjourns for the year. trade. The Act provides funding for most of the Department’s high-priority programs. I com- Statement on Signing the mend the Congress for not including any new Department of Transportation and earmarked highway projects. States can bet- Related Agencies Appropriations ter determine how to use these funds to meet their transportation infrastructure priorities. Act, 1997 William J. Clinton September 30, 1996 The White House, Today I have signed into law H.R. 3675, September 30, 1996. the ‘‘Department of Transportation and Re- lated Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997.’’ NOTE: H.R. 3675, approved September 30, was The Act provides $35.5 billion in funding assigned Public Law No. 104–205. This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary for the Department of Transportation and on October 1. several smaller agencies, including the Na- tional Transportation Safety Board. The bill is consistent with my request in most key Statement on Welfare Reform areas. Initiatives I am pleased that the Congress fully fund- September 30, 1996 ed my request for the Federal Aviation Ad- ministration’s (FAA) safety programs. This Today, I am pleased to announce two im- bill, together with the FY 1997 omnibus ap- portant steps my administration is taking to propriations bill that I have also signed, pro- continue our progress in making work and vides an increase of $286 million over fiscal responsibility the law of the land. 1996 for FAA operations. The FAA manages First, today we have given the green light the world’s largest and safest aviation system. to the first two States to submit their State To address the recent tragic aviation inci- plans under the new law—Wisconsin and dents, I asked Vice President Gore to chair Michigan. Both States will receive funding a Commission on Aviation Security and re- under the new welfare block grant for FY port back with recommendations for improv- 1997 as well as part of FY 1996, and will ing aviation security. I am pleased that in the now come under all the requirements of the omnibus appropriations bill, the Congress new welfare law, including the work require- fully funds my request of $201 million for ments and the 5-year lifetime limit on wel- the Department of Transportation to imple- fare receipt. Both States no longer need an ment the Vice President’s September 9 rec- AFDC waiver to carry out their welfare re- ommendations. form plans. The Act includes $150 million to capitalize I am especially pleased by this action, be- my proposed new State Infrastructure Banks cause as I have said before, Wisconsin’s plan (SIBs). It also lifts the limit on the number to replace the broken AFDC system with a of banks, allowing all States to apply. SIBs system based on work is one of the boldest, are an innovative use of private sector financ- most revolutionary welfare reform plans in ing ideas that will permit States to leverage the country. I am delighted to see it move infrastructure investment. forward. Michigan is also embarking on an I am particularly pleased that the Con- innovative plan to reward and require work gress, in the omnibus appropriations bill, and demand responsibility. I congratulate fully funded my request for the Alameda both States for recognizing what all Ameri- Corridor project, which connects the ports cans agree on: Welfare reform is first and of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California. foremost about work. This intermodal project will speed the trans- Second, tomorrow we will release the first portation of goods from these ports through- allotment of child care funds to the States. out the country and will also help sustain our I fought hard for the increased child care

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.001 p40se4 1934 Sept. 30 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

funding in the new law, because I believe (2) such unforeseen emergency requires that child care is essential to move people the immediate provision of assistance from welfare to work. Under the provisions under Chapter 6 of Part II of the Act. we fought for, funding in the new child care I therefore direct the drawdown from the block grant for States will increase this year inventory and resources of the Department from $1.3 billion to $1.9 billion. That means of Defense of an aggregate value not to ex- States will receive $600 million more for ceed $10 million in commodities and services child care this year than they would have re- to provide assistance to states currently par- ceived without the new law. ticipating (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, These steps build on the progress we have Guinea, and Mali), and for those states that already made over the last 4 years to reform may in the future participate, in ECOMOG welfare and crack down on child support en- to enhance ECOMOG’s peacekeeping capa- forcement. Since I took office, the welfare bilities to bring about a peaceful solution to rolls have dropped by 1.9 million; child sup- the crisis in Liberia. port collections have increased by nearly 50 The Secretary of State is authorized and percent to a record $11.8 billion; and last directed to report this determination to the year’s decline in the number of Americans Congress and to arrange for its publication in poverty was the largest one-year drop in in the Federal Register. 27 years. I am determined to keep working to make sure these trends continue moving William J. Clinton in the right direction. Statement on Signing the Energy and Memorandum on the Drawdown of Water Development Appropriations Defense Department Commodities, Act, 1997 Services, and Training for the September 30, 1996 Economic Community of West African States’ Peacekeeping Force Today I have signed into law H.R. 3816, September 30, 1996 the ‘‘Energy and Water Development Appro- priations Act, 1997.’’ Presidential Determination No. 96–56 The Act provides $20 billion in discre- tionary budget authority for programs of the Memorandum for the Secretary of State, Department of Energy (DOE), portions of Secretary of Defense the Interior and Defense Departments, the Subject: Determination to Authorize the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and sev- Drawdown of Commodities, Services, and eral smaller agencies. Training from the Department of Defense The Act provides $11.4 billion for atomic for the Economic Community of West energy defense programs, $0.3 billion above African States’ Peacekeeping Force my request. I am disappointed that the Con- (ECOMOG) Under Section 552(c)(2) of the gress has funded unrequested increases for Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as Amended nuclear weapons management and related Pursuant to the authority vested in me by programs, while curtailing investments in im- section 552(c)(2) of the Foreign Assistance portant civilian activities. Nevertheless, I am Act of 1961, as amended, 22 U.S.C. pleased that the Act will provide for a signifi- 2348(c)(2) (‘‘the Act’’), I hereby determine cantly enhanced Science-Based Stockpile that: Stewardship and Management program that (1) as a result of an unforeseen emer- will continue DOE’s strong commitment to gency, the provision of assistance under ensuring the safety and reliability of the nu- Chapter 6 of Part II of the Act in clear weapons stockpile. This Act will also amounts in excess of funds otherwise enable the Defense Environmental Restora- available for such assistance is important tion and Waste Management program to ag- to the national interests of the United gressively address the environmental legacy States; and of previous weapons activities.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 1 1935

I am pleased that the Congress dropped quirements of sections 106 and 107 of Title a provision that would have made funding 1 of the United States Code with respect to for the nuclear waste management program any appropriations measure of the 104th contingent upon congressional passage of a Congress that is presented to me after the subsequent authorization bill. This language enactment of H.J. Res. 197. I have done so could have led to the immediate suspension to avoid any confusion as to my ability to act of ongoing work at the Yucca Mountain site. on any form of legislation presented to me I am also pleased that the Congress pro- after certification by the Committee on vided $45 million to the International Nu- House Oversight of the House of Represent- clear Safety program, which assists nations atives that the form is a true enrollment. of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Eu- In signing this joint resolution, I express rope in improving the safety of Soviet-de- no view as to whether it is necessary to waive signed nuclear reactors. the provisions of Title 1 before I exercise my I am disappointed that the Act cuts $93 prerogatives under Article I, section 7 of the million from my request for solar and renew- Constitution where the Congress has pre- able energy research programs. Investments sented to me any form of bill or resolution in the development of advanced renewable it considers to be a true enrollment. energy technologies, which have a large po- William J. Clinton tential export market, will create new jobs and reduce pollution, thereby addressing cli- The White House, mate change and protecting human health September 30, 1996. and the environment. I am also concerned NOTE: H.J. Res. 197, approved September 30, was by the cuts in funding for DOE departmental assigned Public Law No. 104–207. This statement administration and program direction in civil- was released by the Office of the Press Secretary ian research and defense programs that may on October 1. jeopardize the Department’s ability to per- form its missions and maintain its financial management responsibilities. Statement on Signing the Omnibus I am disappointed that the Act includes Consolidated Appropriations Act, over $210 million in unrequested funds for 1997 Corps’ construction, studies, and operation September 30, 1996 and maintenance programs. The Congress should have used these funds to restore re- I have signed into law H.R. 3610, the fiscal ductions it made to other priority DOE and year 1997 omnibus appropriations and immi- Corps programs, such as the Corps’ wetlands gration reform bill. regulatory program. This bill is good for America, and I am William J. Clinton pleased that my Administration could fashion it with the Congress on a bipartisan basis. The White House, It moves us further down the road toward September 30, 1996. our goal of a balanced budget while protect- ing, not violating, the values we share as NOTE: H.R. 3816, approved September 30, was assigned Public No. 104–206. This statement was Americans—opportunity, responsibility, and released by the Office of the Press Secretary on community. October 1. Specifically, the legislation restores need- ed funds for education and training, the envi- ronment, science and technology, and law Statement on Signing Legislation enforcement; fully funds my anti-drug and Waiving Certain Enrollment counter-terrorism initiatives; extends the Requirements Brady Bill so that those who commit domes- September 30, 1996 tic violence cannot buy handguns; provides needed resources to respond to fires in the Today I have signed into law House Joint western part of the Nation and to the devas- Resolution 197, which waives the printing re- tation brought by Hurricanes Fran and

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 1936 Oct. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

Hortense; and includes landmark immigra- am, however, disappointed the Congress did tion reform legislation that cracks down on not adopt my proposal to repeal the 1995 illegal immigration without punishing legal salvage timber rider and restore the applica- immigrants. tion of environmental laws to salvage logging The bill restores substantial sums for edu- on Federal lands. cation and training, furthering my agenda of For research and technology, the bill pro- life-long education to help Americans ac- motes economic growth by continuing need- quire the skills they need to get good jobs ed Federal support for advanced technology. in the new global economy. It restores funding for the Commerce De- It provides the funds through which Head partment’s Advanced Technology Program, Start can serve an additional 50,000 disadvan- providing resources for new grants to support taged young children; fulfills my request for innovative technology companies across the the Goals 2000 education reform program, Nation. enabling States to more quickly raise their It also provides a sizeable increase for the academic standards and implement innova- National Institutes of Health, which will en- tive reform; increases funding for the Safe able NIH to expand its critical research into and Drug-Free Schools program, helping new ways to treat breast cancer, AIDS, and States reduce violence and drug abuse in other diseases. I am also pleased that the bill schools; provides most of my request for the provides nearly $1 billion for Ryan White Technology Literacy Challenge Fund to help AIDS treatment grants, including funds to States leverage technology funds; fulfills my help States purchase a new class of AIDS request for Title 1, education for the dis- drugs called ‘‘protease inhibitors’’ and other advantaged; and provides the funds to enable life-extending medications. And the Con- well over a half-million young people to par- gress also fully funded my request for the ticipate in the Summer Jobs program. Department of Housing and Urban Develop- For college students, I am pleased that the ment’s program that provides housing assist- bill fulfills my request for the largest Pell ance for people with AIDS. Grant college scholarship awards in history For law enforcement, the bill provides and expands the number of middle- and low- $1.4 billion to ensure that my program to income students who receive aid by put 100,000 more police on the streets of 126,000—to 3.8 million. I am also pleased America’s communities by the year 2000 pro- that the bill fully funds my Direct Lending ceeds on schedule; with this bill, we will have program, enabling more students to take ad- provided funding for 64,000 of the 100,000 vantage of cheaper and more efficient loans. that I called for at the start of my Administra- For the environment, the bill provides tion. The bill also increases funds for Justice funds to support the Environmental Protec- Department law enforcement programs, for tion Agency’s early implementation of two the FBI’s crime-fighting efforts, and for new major new environmental laws that I signed Federal prisons. As I had urged, the bill also this summer—the Safe Drinking Water Act, extends the Brady Bill to ensure that those and the Pesticide and Food Safety Law. In who commit domestic violence cannot pur- addition, the bill provides additional funds chase guns. Finally, I am pleased that the for energy conservation and to help finish the Congress provided a modest increase for the cleanup of Boston Harbor and help prevent Legal Services Corporation, which ensures beach closures. that those who lack the means still have ac- At the same time, the bill does not contain cess to our legal system. any of the riders that would have affected I am also pleased that the bill provides a management of the Tongass National Forest $1.4 billion increase in funding for anti-drug in Alaska, national Native American tribal programs. It doubles funding for Drug rights, the Interior Department’s manage- Courts, increases funds for drug interdiction ment of subsistence fishing in Alaska, long- efforts by the Defense, Transportation, and term management of the Elwha Dam in Treasury Departments, and provides the re- Washington State, and the issuance of emer- sources to expand the Drug Enforcement gency-efficiency standards for appliances. I Administration’s domestic efforts along the

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 1 1937

Southwest border and elsewhere. The bill and reduces them in the future. I continue also includes strong language about drug to believe that my long-range plan is more testing that my Administration had proposed, rational. It provides sufficient funds now requiring that localities have drug-testing while increasing them at the turn of the cen- programs in place for their prisoners and pa- tury when new technologies will become rolees in order to qualify for State and local available. prison grants. And it includes funding for the I am pleased that the Congress has pro- drug testing of Federal, State, and local vided the minimum acceptable levels for cer- arrestees. tain key international affairs programs, such For counterterrorism, the bill funds my re- as the U.S. contribution to the International quest for over $1.1 billion to fight terrorism Development Association and the Korean and to improve aviation security and safety. Peninsula Energy Development Organiza- It enables the Justice and Treasury Depart- tion and for international peacekeeping oper- ments to better investigate and prosecute ter- ations and arrears. I also commend the Con- rorist acts, and it provides funds to imple- gress for providing at least a modest increase ment the recommendations of Vice President in funding international family planning pro- Gore’s Commission on Aviation Safety and grams and for dropping misguided Mexico Security and the Federal Aviation Adminis- City restrictions, and for funding bilateral tration’s recent 90-day safety review. These economic assistance without rescinding funds will enable us to hire 300 more aviation prior-year appropriations. In addition, the security personnel, deploy new explosive de- Congress has facilitated the Middle East tection teams, and buy high-technology peace process by authorizing U.S. participa- bomb detection equipment to screen lug- tion in the Middle East Development Bank. gage. The bill also gives my Administration Nevertheless, I must note that the overall the authority to study the use of taggants in funding level for international affairs pro- black and smokeless powder; taggant tech- grams is well below what we need to assure nology holds the promise of allowing the de- that we can achieve our foreign policy objec- tection and identification of explosives mate- tives. rial. This bill, however, does more than fund I hereby designate as an emergency re- major portions of the Government for the quirement, as the Congress has already done, next fiscal year. It also includes landmark im- the $122.6 million in fiscal 1996 funds and migration reform legislation that builds on the $230.68 million in fiscal 1997 funds for our progress of the last 3 years. It strengthens the Defense Department for antiterrorism, the rule of law by cracking down on illegal counterterrorism, and security enhancement immigration at the border, in the workplace, programs in this Act, pursuant to section and in the criminal justice system—without 251(b)(2)(D)(I) of the Balanced Budget and punishing those living in the United States Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as legally. amended. Specifically, the bill requires the sponsors This bill also funds the Nation’s defense of legal immigrants to take added respon- program for another year; it fully funds my sibility for their well-being. And it does not defense antiterrorism and counter-narcotics include the so-called Gallegly amendment, efforts as well as the Cooperative Threat Re- which I strongly opposed and which would duction program, and at my insistence it pro- have allowed States to refuse to educate the vides a substantial amount of the funding for children of illegal immigrants. At my insist- my dual-use technology program. But it also ence the bill does not include the proposed provides about $9 billion more than I pro- onerous provisions against legal immigrants, posed for defense, including a substantial which would have gone beyond the welfare amount for weapons that are not even in the reform law. Defense Department’s future plans and were I am pleased that the Congress provided not requested by the service chiefs. This bill 7 additional months of food assistance for is part of a plan by the majority in the Con- needy immigrants, including benefits for gress that adds funds for investments now many elderly and children. This step will pro-

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 1938 Oct. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

vide some help to individuals and States in stay on for years after they can retire, so preparing for the dramatic restriction of ac- buyouts will serve as an incentive for them cess to benefits that legal immigrants will to leave. Buyouts are an important tool to face under the welfare reform bill. help Federal managers downsize their agen- I am, however, extremely concerned about cies as we continue to move toward a bal- a provision in this bill that could lead to the anced budget—without relying solely on re- Federal Government waiving the Endan- ductions-in-force (RIFs). gered Species Act and the National Environ- I am disappointed that one of my prior- mental Policy Act in order to expeditiously ities—a ban on physician ‘‘gag rules’’—was construct physical barriers and roads on the not included. Several States have passed U.S. border. I know the Attorney General similar legislation to ensure that doctors have shares my commitment to those important the freedom to inform their patients of the environmental laws and will make every ef- full range of medical treatment options, and fort, in consultation with environmental I am disappointed that the Congress was not agencies, to implement the immigration law able to reach agreement on this measure. in compliance with those environmental laws. Nevertheless, this bill is good for America. I am also concerned about a provision that As I have said, it moves us down the path imposes a new ‘‘intent requirement’’ in unfair toward a balanced budget while protecting immigration-related employment cases that our values. It provides the needed resources could place hardships on some U.S. citizens to fight domestic and international terrorism. and permanent residents. I have asked the And it cracks down on illegal immigration Attorney General to take steps to alleviate while protecting legal immigrants. any potential discrimination that this provi- I am pleased to sign it. sion causes against U.S. citizens and author- William J. Clinton ized workers—particularly Hispanics and Asian-Americans who, by their appearance or The White House, accent, may appear to be foreign. Finally, I September 30, 1996. will seek to correct provisions in this bill that NOTE: H.R. 3610, approved September 30, was are inconsistent with international principles assigned Public Law No. 104–208. This statement of refugee protection, including the imposi- was released by the Office of the Press Secretary tion of rigid deadlines for asylum applica- on October 1. tions. The bill also makes important changes in the Nation’s banking laws. It assures the con- Message to the Senate Transmitting tinued soundness of the bank and thrift de- the Inter-American Convention on posit insurance system, and it includes sig- Serving Criminal Sentences Abroad nificant regulatory relief for financial institu- September 30, 1996 tions. At my insistence, the bill does not erode the protection of consumers and com- To the Senate of the United States: munities. With a view to receiving the advice and I commend Senators Baucus and Binga- consent of the Senate to ratification, I trans- man for raising the awareness of the issue mit herewith the Inter-American Convention of the proper accounting of highway trust on Serving Criminal Sentences Abroad, fund receipts. In next year’s reauthorization drawn up by the Committee on Juridical and of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Political Affairs within the Permanent Coun- and Efficiency Act, my Administration will cil of the Organization of American States rely on a baseline that treats all States fairly (OAS) and composed of representatives of and equitably. the Member States. The Convention was The bill includes a Government-wide pro- adopted and opened for signature at the gram to enable agencies to offer buyouts, twenty-third regular session of the General through December 31, 1997, of up to Assembly meeting in Managua, Nicaragua, $25,000 to employees eligible for early or on June 9, 1993, and signed on behalf of the regular retirement. Many of these workers United States at the OAS Headquarters in

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 1 1939

Washington on January 10, 1995. The provi- here, it clearly symbolizes our commitment sions of the Convention are explained in the to end the violence and to get the peace proc- report of the Department of State that ac- ess going again. We’ve come a long way in companies this message. the last 3 years. No one wants to turn back. Although the United States is already a And I’m personally quite gratified by this op- party to the multilateral Council of Europe portunity to have the chance to visit with Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced them, and I thank them for coming. Persons, which entered into force for the Q. Mr. Prime Minister, are you ready to United States, following Senate advice and abide by your previous promise to abide by consent to ratification, on July 1, 1985, only the peace agreements already made by Is- two other OAS Member States have become rael? parties to that Convention. Ratification of the Prime Minister Netanyahu. Absolutely. Inter-American Convention on Serving And our commitment to peace is also evident Criminal Sentences Abroad would help fill in the fact that we took up the President’s a void by providing a mechanism for the re- kind offer, important offer, to come here and ciprocal transfer of persons incarcerated in to try to put the peace process back on track. prisons in OAS Member States, to permit This is what we’re doing together. those individuals to serve their sentences in Q. Mr. Prime Minister, is there any pros- their home countries. A multilateral prisoner pect at all of your accepting some sort of transfer convention for the Americas would international commission of experts, archae- also reduce, if not eliminate, the need for ologists, religious leaders, to take a look at the United States to negotiate additional bi- what you’ve done by opening up this tunnel, lateral prisoner transfer treaties with coun- to simply reassure everyone that there is no tries in the hemisphere. potential violation of Muslim holy places? I recommend that the Senate promptly Prime Minister Netanyahu. You know give its advice and consent to the ratification our position, and I don’t think it would be of this Convention, subject to an understand- wise to open up a discussion here. But I have ing and a reservation that are described in a question for you: Don’t you have questions the accompanying State Department report. for the other—— William J. Clinton Q. Yes. Mr. President—— The White House, The President. We don’t want to do a September 30, 1996. whole press conference here, we’re just try- ing to—— NOTE: This message was released by the Office Q. Mr. President, have you had a chance of the Press Secretary on October 1. to consider the King’s suggestion of an inde- pendent commission to look at this problem Remarks Prior to Discussions With and possibly cool tempers that way and come Middle East Leaders and an up with some sort of a bridging proposal? Exchange With Reporters The President. Let me say again, this is October 1, 1996 our first opportunity to all meet together, and one of the things that I have learned over Middle East Summit the last several years is that anything any of The President. Wait, wait. Relax, every- us say publicly could undermine our ability body. We came here to end the violence, not to make progress, which is the ultimate ob- aggravate it. [Laughter] Let’s get everybody jective of this meeting. So I don’t want to in. Is everyone in? Let me say first that I make any premature comments here until we am delighted to have King Hussein, Prime have a chance to visit with each other and Minister Netanyahu, and Chairman Arafat do some more work. We’re going to work here. I thank them for coming. today, we’re going to work tomorrow, and We have had some good conversations al- then I’ll be glad to answer any questions that ready. This is our first meeting, all four of you may have. us, together. But I think, with their presence Q. Thank you, Mr. President.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 1940 Oct. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

[At this point, one group of reporters left the Let me begin by saying that I am very room, and another group entered.] pleased and honored to have His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Netanyahu The President. Let’s get everyone in. Is and Chairman Arafat here. I compliment everyone in? Let me begin by saying that I them all for coming. I think it’s evidence of am delighted to have His Majesty King Hus- their shared commitment to end violence, re- sein, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Chairman store order, and invigorate the peace process Arafat here. I thank them for coming to and keep moving in the right direction. Washington on short notice. I think it shows We have been working this morning, but a common commitment to end the violence this is our first chance, all four of us, to be and get the peace process back on track. We together. And I look forward to the rest of are committed to that. We have been work- today and to tomorrow and to making some ing this morning, but this is our first oppor- real progress here. I thank them for coming, tunity to be together, the four of us. And and we’re going to do our very best. we’ll be working the rest of the day and to- Q. Mr. President, Senator Dole and morrow, and then we’ll have a statement to Speaker Gingrich are calling you not to pres- make and questions to answer. sure Prime Minister Netanyahu. Is pressure But I’m very gratified that they have come really needed today for you to move these here, and we are all committed to moving leaders ahead in the track of peace? forward now. The President. What the United States Q. Mr. President, with your permission has done since I have been President is not I’m going to ask a question in Arabic. to pressure anyone but to get the parties to- gether and to explore alternatives and to see [Following the question, Chairman Arafat what could be done to find common interests answered in Arabic and a translation was not and shared values. And I think our approach provided.] has been reasonably successful, although ulti- Q. Mr. President, do you agree with His mately all the credit for the progress that has Majesty’s proposal, which—that establishing been made goes to the people who are living an international committee for Jerusalem? in the region; it is their future. The President. Well, His Majesty and I Our role is to try to help bring people to- had a chance to speak about this very briefly, gether and create the conditions in which a and we will be talking about it more. But successful resolution of these matters can as a matter of policy, I think I should not occur. And that is what we will try to do. comment on anything relating to what we Q. Mr. President, are you expecting from might be discussing today and tomorrow this meeting a schedule for the implementa- until we have finished, because I don’t want tion of the interim agreement, including, of to say anything that, even by accident, might course, the redeployment in Hebron? make our task more difficult. I want to make The President. First of all, as a matter our task easier. of policy I do not comment on meetings be- The United States here—after all, our role fore they occur. We are going to work to- is to try to help people get together and to gether. I don’t want to say anything. I don’t move forward. The substantive decisions are want anyone in our administration to say any- decisions which have to be made by the peo- thing that will make our difficult task even ple who live in the Middle East and who will harder. So what we’re going to do is go to share its future. work, see how far we can go, see what we Q. Mr. President, how do you assess the can produce and then we’ll make a comment first round? tomorrow and then answer questions about it. But I don’t want to comment about it now. [One group of reporters left the room, and Nothing I say could do anything to help move another group entered.] forward what we’re trying to do.

Q. Mr. President—— NOTE: The President spoke at 1:10 p.m. in the The President. Let everyone get in. Tell Oval Office at the White House, prior to a meet- me when everyone is here. ing with King Hussein I of Jordan, Prime Minister

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 1 1941

Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel, and Palestinian Statement on Signing the Carjacking Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. A tape was not Correction Act of 1996 available for verification of the content of these remarks. October 1, 1996 Today, I am proud to sign the Carjacking Statement on Signing Witness Correction Act of 1996. This legislation will Retaliation, Witness Tampering, and increase the security of all Americans—par- Jury Tampering Legislation ticularly women. Carjacking is a terrible crime. It is punish- October 1, 1996 able under Federal law. In cases where Today I am pleased to sign H.R. 3120, leg- carjackers have inflicted ‘‘serious bodily in- islation to protect the integrity of our legal jury’’ on their victims, this tough law gets system and ensure the safety of our families. even tougher—the maximum sentence may The United States is a nation of laws. We be increased from 15 to 25 years. have always been committed to making our Unfortunately, in a May 21, 1996, decision, legal system the best, the most effective, and in the case of United States v. Rivera, a panel the fairest in the world. on the First Circuit Court of Appeals held In the last three and a half years, we have that a rape that took place during a carjacking worked hard to live up to that fundamental did not constitute a ‘‘serious bodily injury.’’ obligation—putting more police on the That’s plain wrong, and the legislation I street; getting gangs and guns and drugs off am signing today will prevent this mistake the street; introducing tougher penalties for from ever happening again. This legislation a wide range of crimes; appointing more says clearly: Sexual assault causes serious judges with the American Bar Association’s bodily injury. Carjackers who rape their vic- top rating than any administration in 20 tims will meet with nothing less than the full years. force of the law. Today, we take an important new step. This legislation builds on the work we have This legislation dramatically increases the already done to make America safer for punishment for those who would influence, women. For too long, the threat of violence tamper with, or retaliate against witnesses, to women was not taken seriously enough. jurors, and court officers in federal criminal As American women were forced to look over cases. their shoulders, society looked the other way. Let me be very clear: The integrity of our So we took action. We passed the Violence legal system depends on the integrity of our Against Women Act, established a national courts. And the integrity of our courts de- registry of sex offenders, created a national pends on individual citizens serving as impar- 24-hour domestic violence hotline, and made tial jurors—free from intimidation or tempta- ‘‘three strikes and you’re out’’ the law of the tion. We must see to it that juries decide land. We passed Megan’s Law—and now cases based only on evidence presented in States must tell communities whether a dan- the courtroom. Our prosecutors must have gerous sexual predator is in their midst. We a fair chance to make their case. Our fight gave America the Brady bill—keeping guns against crime is too important, our system out of the hands of 60,000 felons, fugitives, of justice too sacred, the security of our peo- and stalkers. ple too vital, for justice to be denied because Last week, I signed into law a strong, new a jury has been tampered with. Federal law to stop stalkers. Yesterday, I With this legislation, we send a simple signed legislation to extend the Brady bill to message to those who would abuse our sys- keep guns away from people with a history tem of justice: When the integrity of our laws of domestic violence. and the safety our people are at stake, we I want to thank Representative Conyers will take no chances. for his hard work on this bill. And I want to add that this legislation is proof of the NOTE: H.R. 3120, approved October 1, was as- progress we can make for the American peo- signed Public Law No. 104–214. ple when we put politics aside and join with

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 1942 Oct. 1 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

each other in common cause. Together, with bly of the International Maritime Organiza- this bill, we have done much to give our fami- tion (IMO) at its seventeenth and eighteenth lies the safety and security they deserve. sessions. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State describing the amendments, their NOTE: H.R. 3676, approved October 1, was as- purpose and effect. signed Public Law No. 104–217. The United States is the world’s largest user of international shipping. These amend- Statement on Signing Legislation ments strengthen the International Maritime Conferring Honorary Citizenship on Organization’s capability to facilitate inter- Mother Teresa national maritime traffic and to carry out its activities in developing strong maritime safe- October 1, 1996 ty and environmental protection standards Today I am delighted to sign a resolution and regulations. The IMO’s policies and mar- conferring honorary United States citizen- itime standards largely reflect our own. The ship on Mother Teresa. United States pays less than 5 percent of the In 1950, Mother Teresa founded the Mis- assessed contributions to the IMO. sionaries of Charity. Since then, she has The 1991 amendments institutionalize the brought hope and love into the lives of mil- Facilitation Committee as one of the IMO’s lions of orphaned and abandoned children standing committees. The Facilitation Com- the world over. She has nursed the sick, mittee was created to streamline the proce- cared for the poor, and shown us, through dures for the arrival, stay and departure of concrete actions, how we can make real our ships, cargo and persons in international dreams for a just and good society. ports. This committee effectively contributes To be an American citizen is to share cer- to greater efficiencies and profits for the U.S. tain fundamental values: That we have a duty maritime sector, while assisting U.S. law en- to help others live up to their God-given forcement agencies’ efforts to combat narcot- promise, that we have a responsibility to ics trafficking and the threat of maritime ter- build up and reinforce the bonds of commu- rorism. nity, that we have an obligation to extend our The 1993 amendments increase the size hands to those who cannot always help them- of the IMO governing Council from 32 to selves. 40 members. The United States has always By this measure, Mother Teresa is already been a member of the IMO governing Coun- an American citizen. I am proud to make it official. cil. Increasing the Council from 32 to 40 Member States will ensure a more adequate NOTE: H.J. Res. 191, approved October 1, was representation of the interests of the more assigned Public Law No. 104–218. than 150 Member States in vital IMO mari- time safety and environment protection ef- Message to the Senate Transmitting forts worldwide. the Convention on the International The 1991 amendments institutionalize the Maritime Organization Facilitation Committee as one of the IMO’s main committees. The 1993 amendments in- October 1, 1996 crease the size of the Council from 32 to To the Senate of the United States: 40 members, thereby affording a broader I transmit herewith, for the advice and representation of the increased membership consent of the Senate to acceptance, amend- in the IMO’s continuing administrative body. ments to the Convention on the International Support for these amendments will con- Maritime Organization, signed at Geneva, tribute to the demonstrated interest of the March 6, 1948 (the IMO Convention). The United States in facilitating cooperation amendments were adopted on November 7, among maritime nations. To that end, I urge 1991, and November 4, 1993, by the Assem- that the Senate give early and favorable con-

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 2 1943

sideration to these amendments and give its hungry people have been fed at no cost to advice and consent to their acceptance. the Federal taxpayer. William J. Clinton In working with various private sector do- nors and food banks, however, it has come The White House, to light that liability concerns are often an October 1, 1996. impediment to food recovery and donation efforts. Although many States have enacted Message to the Congress their own ‘‘Good Samaritan’’ laws to support Transmitting a Report on Caribbean food recovery and donation efforts, many Basin Economic Recovery businesses have advised that these varying State statutes hinder food donations. October 1, 1996 This legislation will end the confusion re- garding liability for food recovery and dona- To the Congress of the United States: tion operations through uniform definitions I hereby submit the Second Report to the in one national law. This will encourage the Congress on the Operation of the Caribbean charitable and well-intentioned donation of Basin Economic Recovery Act. This report food to the needy, while preserving govern- is prepared pursuant to the requirements of mental authority to protect health and food section 214 of the Caribbean Basin Eco- safety. For these reasons, I am pleased to nomic Recovery Expansion Act of 1990 (19 sign this bill into law. U.S.C. 2702(f)). William J. Clinton William J. Clinton The White House, The White House, October 1, 1996. October 1, 1996. NOTE: H.R. 2428, approved October 1, was as- Statement on Signing the ‘‘Bill signed Public Law No. 104–210. This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary Emerson Good Samaritan Food on October 2. Donation Act’’ October 1, 1996 The President’s News Conference Today, I am pleased to sign into law H.R. With Middle Eastern Leaders 2428, a bill that will facilitate the donation October 2, 1996 of food and grocery products to needy indi- viduals. The bill, known as the ‘‘Bill Emerson The President. Good afternoon. Please be Good Samaritan Food Donation Act,’’ ex- seated. The four of us have agreed that I empts those who recover or donate appar- will speak about our 2 days of meetings, and ently fit food and groceries from criminal or then do my best to faithfully answer ques- civil liability arising from those activities. tions that you have about it. And of course, Through food recovery and donation, the other three leaders will have a chance Americans can share with the hungry a por- to be heard after the press conference. tion of our country’s immense food resources I’d like to begin by thanking King Hussein, that would otherwise be wasted. The Depart- Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Chairman ment of Agriculture has supported the recov- Arafat for coming here to Washington at this ery and donation of packaged food for years. critical and very difficult moment for the Moreover, during this Administration, the Middle East peace process. Their journey re- Department has undertaken a national initia- flects a true commitment to peace and an tive to help Americans ‘‘rescue’’ food of a understanding that there is no alternative to highly perishable, but nutritious nature. Most the path of peace their people have traveled of this food is prepared in restaurants, hotels, so far along in the last few years. cafeterias, and other institutional settings and I invited them here with three urgent goals would otherwise have been thrown away. in mind: first, to seek to curb the terrible Through this important effort, thousands of violence and death that we saw last week;

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 1944 Oct. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

second, to get the Israelis and Palestinians sions and to keep their eyes fixed on the prize talking again at the highest levels; and third, of lasting peace. But the progress they have to help both parties return to the hard work made has proved to the world that progress of building peace through negotiations. is possible and peace is possible. Both sides Today I can report progress on these goals. know there is no turning back. Just as there First, the Israelis and Palestinians clearly can be no peace without security, there can are talking again at the highest levels. I be- be no true security without peace. lieve the calm, constructive, face-to-face I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu and meetings Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat understand the choice they Chairman Arafat have had here will help to face every day. It is the choice between co- build trust between them and promote operation and conflict, between progress and progress on the issues that still divide them. regression, between hope and fear. The Is- The Prime Minister and the Chairman agree raeli and Palestinian people have chosen to that they are partners in peace, understand strive for cooperation, progress, and hope. that it is vital to take into account each other’s Now it falls to their leaders to guide them needs and concerns, and realize the impor- toward those goals, to help them stay true tance of removing the frictions between to their choice, and ultimately, to succeed. them. In this effort, we are all profoundly privi- Second, the Prime Minister and Chairman leged to have a partner in King Hussein. He Arafat have recommitted themselves to a has shown the world equal parts of courage nonviolent future, to renouncing violence in and wisdom, and he has especially shown that the resolution of their disputes. here this week. I thank him for being here. Third, they are ready to renew and inten- I rely on his counsel. The peace process has sify negotiations on implementing the In- no better friend. terim Agreement, with Hebron as the first Most of all, let me again thank Prime Min- priority. They are committed to engaging im- ister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat, who mediately in talks and to achieving tangible came here at very difficult times with ten- progress quickly. To assist them in this effort sions high. I am convinced they both want I am sending Dennis Ross, our Special Mid- a more peaceful, prosperous future for their dle East Coordinator, to the region now. The people. I am convinced they both want a very first meeting will take place on Sunday more secure future for their people. And I morning at Erez. They want to resolve the believe they are both prepared to do the hard problem of Israeli redeployment from He- work that is necessary to achieve their goals. bron, and they want to achieve this as soon For our part, the United States will always as possible. I might point out that these talks be there to help. We remain committed to will be occurring continuously, and these will our common goal, a just, lasting, and com- be the first continuous peace talks that have prehensive peace in the Middle East. We been held since the Prime Minister assumed recognize our special responsibility to protect office with the Palestinians. the peace process at moments of extreme dif- Finally, the leaders also understand the ficulty, to help move it forward. We have em- need to make arrangements between their braced this responsibility because those who security forces so that cooperation is more take risks for peace must be able to count reliable and the situation on the ground is on the United States. stabilized. They are prepared to do what is Mr. Hunt [Terence Hunt, Associated needed to achieve that as well. Press]. All of us should put the meetings we have had over the last 2 days into the proper per- spective. The peace process did not start Middle East Peace Process today, and it will not be finished tomorrow. Q. Mr. President, after these marathon ne- For 3 years now the Israelis and the Palestin- gotiations—we’re told they went nonstop ians have been moving forward along the through the night—was there any narrowing path to a lasting peace. Every step is hard. of differences on the fundamental disputes? It requires both sides to make difficult deci- You mentioned Hebron, as well as the tunnel

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 2 1945

in east Jerusalem. Or are the problems that you even—you spoke about progress, but it exploded last week in violence still festering? would seem you’re back at square one. The President. I would say that the prob- The President. Well, I wouldn’t say that. lems that exploded last week in violence— There’s been a clear commitment not to re- that the problems are still there; the dif- negotiate agreements by which both sides are ferences are still there. But I believe there bound but instead to talk about the imple- is a higher level of understanding and a high- mentation steps necessary to implement er level of trust than existed before these those agreements. And I think that there is talks began. They were not able to resolve a clear distinction there first. their differences here. But to be fair, when Second, the level of violence at least, thank we came together, there were no advance God, has declined in the last several days, guarantees that there would be large-scale and they are committed to taking it down substantive negotiations. We knew we only as close to zero as they can. I believe you had about a day and a half to work here. will see progress on that as they go back And they got the most out of it. I think that home. But we—when we compare where we a lot of people on both sides have hardly are today with where we were a week ago, slept. are we in better shape? Yes. Are we where And frankly, the agreement that was made I’d like to be? No. But we will get there, here to immediately restart these negotia- I think, if we keep working. tions and to do them on a full-time basis until Yes. agreement is reached on the critical issues, Q. Mr. President, would you please tell including Hebron, is encouraging to me. And us if Mr. Netanyahu has pledged to remove I think that it comes out of the different feel- the tanks and the soldiers inside Palestinian ing that they have about dealing with one territory which has been liberated, if you will, another—I hope it does—and also a sense and it is now the Palestinian Authority, as of urgency, given what has happened in the well? Because the Palestinians are choked to region in the last several days. death financially, economically. And if there Yes, sir, in the back. is quiet now, will you, Mr. Netanyahu, re- Q. Mr. President, is there a target date move, through your offices, these tanks and for ending the negotiations on the question these soldiers and create a harmonious, self- of Hebron and also on other outstanding confidence-building measures to facilitate for questions between Israel and the Palestinian the Palestinians to live like the rest of human Authority? Or is it negotiations without a tar- beings around the world? get date? The President. Let me say that that and The President. There was no specific date many other issues were discussed. Every set, but I think it’s important to point out issue that you would like to know was dis- that what they did agree to do was to start cussed, was discussed in the last 2 days. But immediately on a full-time basis with a prior- I believe that anything that was not in my ity on speed and a priority on Hebron. This statement, I feel bound to let the leaders is not—this is the first negotiations that these speak for themselves on. And I ask you and parties have undertaken since Mr. I ask the people of the Middle East, I ask Netanyahu became Prime Minister that have the Palestinians and others, to give us a few been on a full-time, in effect, permanent more days to let this thing unfold. Give us basis. And I am convinced that both sides a few more days to see whether these nego- want as quick as possible resolution. tiations start, whether they’re proceeding in Yes. good faith, whether progress can be made. Q. Mr. President, you said one of your I guess the message I want to send out goals was to end the cycle of violence in the across the Middle East is, I‘m convinced that Middle East. But today Israeli troops shot this process and that these parties are in bet- to death one Palestinian and wounded five ter shape in their relation to one another than others, and the negotiations that will take they were 2 days ago. And please, please give place are on issues that were supposedly set- us a chance to make this thing work in the tled a year ago here in Washington. Have days ahead.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 1946 Oct. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

Go ahead, Brit [Brit Hume, ABC News]. Q. Mr. President, you’re showing a lot of Q. Mr. President, as Gene [Gene Gibbons, trust in the word of Israel to keep these com- Reuters] mentioned earlier, some of these mitments in terms of the status of Jerusalem, things were thought to have been agreed pulling troops out of Hebron—they were upon before. And I’m wondering whether supposed to be done last March. What has you think it is fair to say not that the process restored your trust? And haven’t you really has broken down but that there has been a struck out in getting any kind of firm commit- major setback here from which you have not ment on anything? yet at least fully recovered? The President. Well, we never agreed— The President. Well, what I think has there was never an agreement when these happened is that we have not made as much parties came here to have substantive nego- progress as I wish we had. But the Israeli tiations. Nothing would make me happier if Government has made it very clear that they we had—I wish we had resolved everything have no intention of renegotiating the Oslo in 2 days, but I didn’t expect to do it. What Agreements, the Interim Agreement. Every- I’m trying to do was to get people together thing that the Government is bound by by and say, ‘‘We’ll stop the violence. We will previous action they intend to honor. But we immediately begin to talk—immediately— are now in a stage which we would have been about Hebron and the other issues. We will in anyway, talking about how to implement immediately begin to try to resolve these dis- this. And then there are the security ques- putes over the security matters which are tions which have been raised, which the par- preventing more rapid progress.’’ ties have agreed to talk about to try to resolve I am very pleased by the agreement that between the two of them as a result of the was reached, actually today before we came events of the last several days. out, to start the negotiations on Sunday But I do not expect there to be an effort morning and to do it on a full-time continu- to undermine the agreements which have ous basis, with a mutual commitment to re- been made. The question is, can we get the solve these things as quickly as possible. negotiations on a track so that they can be implemented in a hurry. That is the issue. I’m not asking any of you to trust anybody Yes, ma’am. about anything. I’m saying give us some time Q. [Inaudible]—you mention in your now to let the thing cool down and to let statement about the issue of Jerusalem and these full-time negotiations get underway, the tunnel that started the whole situation. and look at what results are produced, and Has there been any talk or any agreement make your judgments based on what actually that Israel will not do anything to change the happens. Let’s don’t—let’s don’t overreact status of Jerusalem before the final status ne- now. We’re in better shape than we were gotiations start? Thank you. 2 days ago. We still have a huge amount of The President. Well, there might be a— work to do, but the parties have to resolve let me say, first of all, the tunnel was dis- that between themselves, and I think they cussed at some length by the parties and all have committed themselves to a process the aspects of it, all the various elements of which makes that possible. the controversy, were discussed. No agree- Yes, sir. ment was reached between them about that Q. Mr. President, you called the parties issue, and that’s why it is not in my statement. here because there was a crisis. Do you really But I think there were some significant dis- feel and assess that this crisis is over and the cussions held. And again, the other question two parties that came here did the best they you asked me I think is part of the terms could to avoid further bloodshed in the re- of the agreement by which all parties are gion? Are you satisfied with their effort? bound; that is, to not to do anything to upset The President. Well, I am satisfied that— the balance of issues that have to be part I don’t know that the crisis is over. What I of the final status negotiations. am satisfied is, is that the level of—I hope Yes, Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press the level of violence has been brought lower International]. and can be maintained lower, at a lower level,

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 2 1947

while all the people in the Middle East watch there was no communications. And they have as these talks unfold. agreed to restore the peace, to commit them- Keep in mind—keep in mind—let me ask selves to a nonviolent future and a way of you this. When you try to evaluate whether resolving their differences and to begin im- we did the right thing or not, or whether mediate talks on a full-time basis to deal with this has been worth doing, imagine what we these issues. That’s what they’ve agreed to would be reading in the press or seeing on do. the news if Chairman Arafat and King Hus- Now, think of all the questions you’re ask- sein and Prime Minister Netanyahu had not ing me here today about all the things we come here and if everyone had withdrawn didn’t do. We didn’t do them. Think of the sort of to their respective positions and the questions you asked—all the things we didn’t turbulence that we were seeing in the region agree to. Then you can ask them all the kept welling up. Imagine where we would things we didn’t do. And if one of us talks be then. And keep in mind, too, that every- instead of four, the chances that we will say body who is here made a good-faith effort something that will make our work harder to address every single issue in the interim Sunday morning are less than if all four of agreement, all the issues that they are bound us answer all these hard questions about what to resolve, and to full-time negotiations be- hasn’t been done yet. Let’s don’t kid around. ginning Sunday morning. What we’re trying to do is to avoid saying So I’m just saying I think that they worked anything that will make our progress more very hard—and their teams hardly slept at difficult. We want to enhance the chances all, and they didn’t sleep much—they worked that we’ll actually get something done. very hard to put all these issues out, to see Yes. where they were, to identify the points of Q. Mr. President, are you satisfied with difference. I think when they start these full- the level of good faith on both sides, and time negotiations, they’d know a great deal there are any American assurances to both about where they are now. And they should sides about the involvement of the United be given a little bit of time here to see if States and the good faith of the other side? they can’t produce some results. That’s the The President. I can only tell you how only thing I’m saying. And I think they have I feel, first of all. All these things are matters all earned the right to that by coming here of feeling and trust, which is why you and proceeding in a good-faith manner. shouldn’t minimize the hours that these lead- Yes, Rita [Rita Braver, CBS News]. ers have spent with each other. I personally Q. Mr. President, in the past when you feel that the prospects for progress are more have had the leaders here, just about any likely than I did 2 days ago. And I have told leaders from any countries, we have always both parties that the United States will do heard from them in the White House, even whatever we can to support the peace proc- if they go off and have their own news con- ess and to support the parties, and to make ferences later. Why can’t we hear from them it a profitable thing to move forward in a here today? And doesn’t it seem to send a constructive way, and to minimize the risks message that things really have broken down, of peace. This is a risky business. And so, the fact that they’re not going to be able to yes, I think I’ve made that clear, and I’ll do speak within the auspices of the White my best to be there every step of the way. House? Yes, Wolf [Wolf Blitzer, CNN]. Last ques- The President. They’re certainly free to tion. speak. It was my understanding that they Q. Mr. President, with all due respect, can thought it would be better if I spoke and I follow up on Rita Braver’s question? When answered the questions, and I’ll tell you why. we see the three leaders sitting here behind Keep in mind—consider the commitment you, you say you want to urge everyone in they have made. They have come here after the Middle East to be reassured, to calm a period of days when the entire peace proc- down, to take this process seriously, but this ess could have been wrecked; when many, news conference is being seen in the Middle many people, innocent people, died; when East, all over the world, and when we don’t

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 1948 Oct. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

hear your guests describe their feelings, we The Antarctic Treaty has proven a unique- can only assume that they so disagree on ly successful agreement and has spawned an these fundamental issues that these 2 days innovative system of supplementary agree- of negotiations have been a failure. ments to protect the Antarctic environment The President. Well, I’ll tell you what I’ll and conserve its living resources. For these do. reasons, it gives me particular pleasure to Q. So why not let them speak? sign into law legislation that will provide au- The President. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. thority for the United States to ratify the I’m telling you, the only reason that they most recent extension of that system: the asked me to do this is because you’ve asked Protocol on Environmental Protection to the me some very interesting and difficult ques- Antarctic Treaty. The Protocol sets forth tions, some of which would be even more mandatory rules for the protection of the en- difficult for them to answer than for me. So vironment of Antarctica and the promotion they wanted me to answer it so we wouldn’t, of scientific research there. any of us, say anything that would wreck what The bill that I have signed today imple- we’re trying to do Sunday morning. But if ments the provisions of the Environmental they would like to come up—and since I’ve Protocol. The Senate has already given its answered my last question, if they would— advice and consent to ratification of the Pro- if any of them would like to come up and tocol. make a brief statement, or all of them would, Enactment of this legislation reaffirms I would be happy to have them make a brief United States leadership in Antarctic affairs. statement. Our leadership is expressed in our world class Your Majesty, would you like to start? Any- research program on the ice, which is helping body want to go? to answer basic questions about the earth. So, now this is a miracle. [Laughter] I The United States has also provided leader- didn’t part the waters, but I have silenced ship in the innovative diplomacy that has the voices. [Laughter ] made Antarctica a shining example of con- Thank you very much. Thank you. structive international cooperation. I would like to pay particular tribute to NOTE: The President’s 129th news conference those who made this legislation possible: the began at 2:45 p.m. in the East Room at the White U.S. negotiators who crafted the Protocol House. Present at the news conference were King and the legislators who have provided for its Hussein I of Jordan, Prime Minister Binyamin implementation. Congressional passage of Netanyahu of Israel, and Chairman Yasser Arafat this legislation reflected the bipartisan part- of the Palestinian Authority. nership that has been the hallmark of our Antarctic policy. I would like to pay tribute to the House Science Committee and the Statement on Signing the Antarctic Senate Commerce, Science, and Transpor- Science, Tourism, and Conservation tation Committee, which took the initiative Act of 1996 to move this bill. In particular, I commend October 2, 1996 Senator John Kerry for his continued interest and support for implementation of the Proto- I have today signed into law H.R. 3060, col and Chairman Bob Walker and Rep- the ‘‘Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Con- resentative George Brown for their initiative servation Act of 1996.’’ in moving this important legislation in this Almost 40 years ago, the United States Congress. Finally, I would like to recognize proposed a treaty among the nations carrying the leadership of the Vice President on this out scientific research in Antarctica. The re- issue, dating back to his days in the Senate. sulting Antarctic Treaty establishes this fas- cinating and remote region of our planet as William J. Clinton a zone of peace, reserved exclusively for peaceful uses, and guarantees freedom of sci- The White House, entific research there. October 2, 1996.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 2 1949

NOTE: H.R. 3060, approved October 2, was as- expanding the role of the agency reading signed Public Law No. 104–227. room. As the Government actively dissemi- nates more information, I hope that there Statement on Signing the Electronic will be less need to use FOIA to obtain gov- ernment information. Freedom of Information Act This legislation not only affirms the impor- Amendments of 1996 tance, but also the challenge of maintaining October 2, 1996 openness in government. In a period of gov- ernment downsizing, the numbers of re- I am pleased to sign into law today H.R. quests continue to rise. In addition, growing 3802, the ‘‘Electronic Freedom of Informa- numbers of requests are for information that tion Act Amendments of 1996.’’ must be reviewed for declassification, or in This bill represents the culmination of sev- which there is a proprietary interest or a pri- eral years of leadership by Senator Patrick vacy concern. The result in many agencies Leahy to bring this important law up to date. is huge backlogs of requests. Enacted in 1966, the Freedom of Informa- In this Act, the Congress recognized that tion Act (FOIA) was the first law to establish with today’s limited resources, it is frequently an effective legal right of access to govern- difficult to respond to a FOIA request within ment information, underscoring the crucial the 10 days formerly required in the law. This need in a democracy for open access to gov- legislation extends the legal response period ernment information by citizens. In the last to 20 days. 30 years, citizens, scholars, and reporters More importantly, it recognizes that many have used FOIA to obtain vital and valuable government information. FOIA requests are so broad and complex that Since 1966, the world has changed a great they cannot possibly be completed even deal. Records are no longer principally main- within this longer period, and the time spent tained in paper format. Now, they are main- processing them only delays other requests. tained in a variety of technologies, including Accordingly, H.R. 3802 establishes proce- CD ROM and computer tapes and diskettes, dures for an agency to discuss with request- making it easier to put more information on- ers ways of tailoring large requests to im- line. prove responsiveness. This approach explic- My Administration has launched numer- itly recognizes that FOIA works best when ous initiatives to bring more government in- agencies and requesters work together. formation to the public. We have established Our country was founded on democratic World Wide Web pages, which identify and principles of openness and accountability, link information resources throughout the and for 30 years, FOIA has supported these Federal Government. An enormous range of principles. Today, the ‘‘Electronic Freedom documents and data, including the Federal of Information Act Amendments of 1996’’ re- budget, is now available on-line or in elec- forges an important link between the United tronic format, making government more ac- States Government and the American peo- cessible than ever. And in the last year, we ple. have declassified unprecedented amounts of national security material, including informa- William J. Clinton tion on nuclear testing. The legislation I sign today brings FOIA The White House, into the information and electronic age by October 2, 1996. clarifying that it applies to records main- tained in electronic format. This law also broadens public access to government infor- NOTE: H.R. 3802, approved October 2, was as- mation by placing more material on-line and signed Public Law No. 104–231.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.002 p40se4 1950 Oct. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

Message to the House of terest in fish and wildlife resources should Representatives Returning Without unforeseen circumstances arise. Approval the Silvio O. Conte Private property is a fundamental Amer- National Fish and Wildlife Refuge ican right and value. But this bill is unneces- Eminent Domain Prevention Act sary and would erode a constitutional author- ity that has served the public interest for over October 2, 1996 200 years. As stated during debate on the To the House of Representatives: bill in the House of Representatives, H.R. I am returning herewith without my ap- 2909 is a solution in search of a problem. proval H.R. 2909, the ‘‘Silvio O. Conte Na- William J. Clinton tional Fish and Wildlife Refuge Eminent Do- The White House, main Prevention Act.’’ October 2, 1996. This bill would prohibit the use of eminent domain authority for the protection of the public’s fish and wildlife resources at por- Proclamation 6924—National tions of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish Student Voter Education Day, 1996 and Wildlife Refuge in the States of New October 2, 1996 Hampshire and Vermont. Because it is un- necessary and would undermine important By the President of the United States governmental interests, I cannot support it. of America First, the Conte Refuge poses no threat to property owners. Located along the Con- A Proclamation necticut River in the States of Connecticut, This election season marks the 25th anni- Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ver- versary of suffrage for Americans between mont, it represents an entirely new kind of the ages of 18 and 20. With the ratification national wildlife refuge. Rather than relying of the 26th amendment to the Constitution on the traditional approach of acquiring large in July of 1971, which lowered the voting age tracts of land, the comprehensive plan for from 21 to 18, our Nation placed its trust the Conte Refuge provides that only small in these young people and gave them a clear- amounts will come into Federal ownership— er voice in the halls of government. a total of only 1,200 acres in New Hampshire America’s bold experiment in self-govern- and Vermont, along with conservation ease- ment has inspired over 200 years of struggle ments for an additional 760 acres. Instead for a more complete sense of justice and free- of Federal land acquisition, the main empha- dom, an effort etched in the history of the sis for the Refuge will be on restoring the Constitution and its amendments. Emanci- Connecticut River watershed through vol- pation, women’s suffrage, civil rights, voting untary partnerships, cooperative agreements, rights—all of these battles were fought and and environmental education. The Fish and won by citizens of conscience and conviction Wildlife Service has no intention of using its who joined together to bring our Nation clos- eminent domain authority. er to the ideals enshrined in our Constitution Second, this bill would undermine a con- of full and equal representation and partici- stitutionally bestowed authority of the Fed- pation. eral Government by prohibiting the use of Since 1971, America’s young adults have eminent domain for fish and wildlife con- taken their rightful place in this march to- servation. The truth is that the Fish and ward true democracy and opportunity. Living Wildlife Service almost never uses eminent up to the trust placed in them and meeting domain for wildlife conservation purposes— this profound responsibility of citizenship, on a nationwide basis, since 1989, the U.S. they have voted in large numbers and have Fish and Wildlife Service has only used its played a crucial role in choosing leaders and eminent domain power with the consent of defining issues at the local, State, and na- the owner to settle price or title differences. tional levels. Generous in spirit, optimistic Still, eminent domain remains an important and idealistic in outlook, they have often tool of last resort, to protect the public’s in- proved to be the conscience of our Nation.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.003 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 3 1951

Now we are entering a new era in our na- Remarks on Signing the tional existence. We are approaching a time Comprehensive Methamphetamine unlike any in our past, in which ideas and Control Act of 1996 information will move around the world at unprecedented speed, and in which there October 3, 1996 will be more opportunity for people to live Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank out their dreams than ever before. I strongly you very much, Attorney General Reno; Sec- urge today’s young Americans to step for- retary Rubin; Secretary Shalala; General ward and accept the challenge of helping to McCaffrey; OMB Director Frank Raines; shape our Nation as we move into the 21st Under Secretary Kelly; our ATF Director, century. Register to vote, study the issues John McGaw; Bonnie Campbell; Bob Scully and the candidates, and think seriously about and the board members of NAPO; to the what kind of country you want America to families who are here represented that were be. And then, like the millions of Americans mentioned by the Attorney General who who have gone before you, exercise what may have paid such a great price to serve our be your most important right—the right to country in law enforcement. To the Mem- vote. bers of Congress who are here who sup- Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, ported this action in a completely bipartisan President of the United States of America, way, I thank you for being here: Senator by virtue of the authority vested in me by Biden, Senator Graham, Senator Feinstein, the Constitution and laws of the United Senator John Kerry, Senator Reid, Senator States, do hereby proclaim October 2, 1996, Specter, Senator Wellstone, Congressman as National Student Voter Education Day, Conyers, Congressman Fazio, Congressman I call upon Federal, State, and local officials, Fox, Congressman Frost, Congressman Lu- as well as leaders of civic, educational, and ther, Congressman Studds. I thank you all for your active support of these initiatives and religious organizations to conduct meaning- for your presence here today. ful ceremonies and programs in their schools, I would like to begin by saluting the brave churches, and other community gathering men and women who are in law enforcement places to foster a better understanding of the in the United States. Before this ceremony, 26th amendment to the U.S. Constitution I had the honor of meeting and presenting and the rights and duties of citizenship. the annual Top Cop award to 25 law enforce- In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set ment officials from around the country who my hand this second day of October, in the have displayed heroism, devotion to duty, year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- and service to their communities that is truly ty-six, and of the Independence of the United extraordinary. That service is also on display States of America the two hundred and twen- in every community every day. Our police ty-first. are at the center of our strategy as a nation for fighting crime, and today I think every William J. Clinton American should give them thanks. So I would like to ask all of you to recognize those who have been awarded the Top Cop award behind us. [Applause] [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, I would also like to say again a special word 8:45 a.m., October 3, 1996] of thanks to Richard Hagerman and Donna Whitson, to the O’Hare and Alou families, NOTE: This proclamation was published in the and to Karen Degan and her family for their Federal Register on October 4. remarkable work to prove that representative

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.003 p40se4 1952 Oct. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

government can still represent, can still actu- This strategy, of course, is not ours alone. ally respond to the legitimate needs and con- In fact, I would say to all those here—espe- cerns of the citizens of this country. cially to you, Senator Biden, who helped us This is a good day for America because write the crime bill of 1994—what we have we have seen a change in the attitudes of done in Washington is a reflection of what our people, the actions of communities, and we have heard from the energy, the deter- the work in Washington on the problem of mination, and the activities of thousands and crime. Today, after years and years of talking thousands of citizens and law enforcement about the crime problem, we can actually see officials all across this country where our po- that we can say with a clear heart and a clear lice are taking back their streets, enlisting the mind and absolute conviction to the Amer- active support of community watch groups, ican people, ‘‘There is something you can do of parents, of businesses. about crime.’’ We are getting results, and For 4 years in a row now, crime has come today we mark the passage of three more down in America. Murders are down; rapes laws that further advance our anticrime strat- are down; robberies are down; drug use is egy. down. The rising tide of juvenile violence, Four years ago, we put in place an which seemed poised to upend our progress, anticrime strategy that was both tough and has finally begun to recede. There are one smart. It was eventually embodied in the million fewer crime victims today than there 1994 crime bill. It has been behind all of were a year ago. Now we must press on. We must build on this strategy of putting more our actions over the last 31⁄2 years. We are police on the street and taking criminals, on track to putting 100,000 new community drugs, and guns off the street. That is what police officers on the street, people who work these measures we mark today do. with their neighbors to catch criminals, close First, earlier this week, Congress answered crack houses, who work with citizens groups, my call to expand on the proven success of which we have also supported, to prevent the Brady bill. When our police officers and crime before it happens. crime victims were advocating the passage I am pleased that the budget bill I signed of the Brady bill and the assault weapons ban, on Monday evening will keep moving for- those who opposed them told the Nation’s ward on our promise to finish putting hunters that Congress would take their guns 100,000 police on the street. We have tough- away. Well, now we know. After 2 years, not ened penalties, made ‘‘three strikes and a single hunter has been denied a weapon you’re out’’ the law of the land, expanded but 60,000 felons, fugitives, and stalkers have the death penalty, said to drug dealers who been denied guns because of the Brady bill. prey on public housing, ‘‘One criminal con- It was plainly the right thing to do. It has viction and you are out of public housing.’’ worked. We have said to sexual predators, ‘‘The law Until now, the Brady bill has worked to will follow you wherever you go,’’ and we bar felons from buying guns, handguns. are working to establish a national registry Thousands of people, however, who are for sexual predators to make absolutely sure wifebeaters or child abusers, even those who that that is exactly what happens. We are tak- have wielded weapons in their assaults, could ing guns off the street, banning 19 deadly still buy handguns with potentially deadly assault weapons, passing the Brady bill. consequences. There is no more harmful And we are giving our young people some type of violence than this. things to say yes to as well: expanded anti- In August, I asked Congress to pass an ex- drug programs in our schools, encourage- tension of the Brady bill to deny handguns ment to communities to enforce truancy to anyone convicted of domestic violence. I laws, impose community curfews, introduce am pleased that the Congress enacted this policies like school uniforms. All of these important domestic violence law as part of things will work to give our children a strong- the budget bill. It is a very fitting way to er sense of right and wrong and a greater begin Domestic Violence Awareness Month, capacity to do what is right. which I am proclaiming today. Now, with a

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.003 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 3 1953

strong voice, America says: If you are con- responsible citizens instead of just being in victed of a felony you should not have a gun. a revolving door, in and out of prison all their If you are a fugitive from the law, you should lives. not have a gun. If you are stalking or Finally, I’m pleased that Congress has harassing women or children, you should not passed important antidrug legislation that I have a gun. And if you raise and commit an submitted last spring to deal with meth- act of violence against your spouse or your amphetamine. Methamphetamine is a deadly child, you should not have a gun. That is now drug that unfortunately is gaining popularity. the law of the land. In 2 years, deaths from this drug have dou- Second, I am very pleased that in the bled. Currently isolated in geographic pock- budget bill Congress passed, more was done ets, its use now threatens to spread nation- to help break the cycle of crime and drugs. wide. Drug dealers with guns and criminals on With this legislation we increase penalties drugs are central to our crime problem. Up for trafficking in meth, toughen the penalties to two-thirds of the adults arrested for felo- for trafficking in those chemicals used to nies today have substance abuse problems. produce meth, and give the Justice Depart- When criminals go on parole and then they ment authority to regulate and seize those go back on drugs, chances are very high that chemicals. I am particularly pleased that we they will commit new crimes. Now, listen to are acting before this epidemic spreads. And this—I couldn’t believe it when I learned I thank General McCaffrey and Attorney this—60 percent, 60 percent, of the heroin General Reno for their urgency in this mat- and cocaine sold in our country is purchased ter. We have to stop meth before it becomes by people on bail, on probation, or on parole. the crack of the 1990’s, and this legislation Seventy-five percent of the prisoners with a gives us a chance to do it. history of heroin or cocaine use are released without treatment, to go back on drugs with- Again, let me say to General McCaffrey in 3 months and back to the cycle of crime a thank-you for your work and for holding and drugs. two national forums on methamphetamine, Today, States often do not do much to one with Senator Feinstein in southern Cali- drug test prisoners or parolees or take action fornia and one with Senator Kerry in Ne- to break them of their habit. Last month, I braska, over the next few months. proposed legislation to do something about All of these new laws will help us fight that. It requires States receiving Federal pris- crime, but we must recognize that more po- on funds to develop comprehensive drug lice and tougher penalties cannot fight crime testing and treatment programs for prisoners alone. Parents have to teach their children and parolees. And I am very, very pleased to stay away from drugs and out of gangs that the Congress passed this legislation. We and violence. Clergy, businesspeople, edu- say to inmates, ‘‘If you stay on drugs, you cators, all must do their part. We need more have to stay in jail.’’ We say to parolees, ‘‘If citizens out there patrolling the streets, and you go back on drugs, then you have to go we are trying to generate another million vol- back to jail. If you want to stay on the street, unteers to help because we know that these stay off drugs.’’ citizen patrols have dramatically reduced I have asked the Attorney General to issue crime when they are working with police offi- preliminary guidelines for the States to help cers. And all of our young people must de- them comply with this new law by the end cide to assume more personal responsibility of this year. I am pleased we are not wasting to stay off drugs, out of gangs, and away from any time. jail and within the law. And again let me thank the Congress for As of today, if you commit an act of vio- their prompt action on this problem. This has lence against your spouse or child, you can’t the potential to make a huge difference in purchase a gun. If you violate your parole the crime problem in America, as well as to and use drugs, you must go back to jail. If liberate a lot of people from a drug abuse you traffic in meth, you must pay a stiff pen- habit and enable them to go back to being alty. We are safer because of these actions.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.003 p40se4 1954 Oct. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

Again, I thank the Congress. And I’m We had high unemployment, stagnant wages, pleased to sign the legislation, and I’d like the slowest job growth since the Great De- to ask the Members who are here and the pression, rising crime, increasing inequality law enforcement officers to come up and be among working families, and increasing ten- with me. sions in our society. We were drifting toward the 21st century. And 4 years later, we’re on NOTE: The President spoke at 9:23 a.m. in the the right track, roaring toward the 21st cen- Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, tury. And I thank you for your support of he referred to Robert T. Scully, executive director, our efforts. National Association of Police Organizations. S. 1965, approved October 3, was assigned Public We have worked hard to create a country Law No. 104–237. in which the American dream is alive and well for all of our people, a country that is coming together instead of being driven Remarks in Buffalo, New York apart by our diversity, a country that is lead- October 3, 1996 ing the world to peace and freedom and pros- perity. And compared to 4 years ago, there’s The President. Thank you. Wow! Thank a lot of good news: 101⁄2 million more jobs; you. Thank you. Hello, Buffalo. Hello, Erie average family income is up $1,600 after in- County. You know, Congressman LaFalce, I flation since we passed the economic plan am on my way to Chautauqua to prepare for that our opponents said would drive the the debate. And I was listening to you go country into the ditch. They were wrong, and through these steps, and it occurred to me we were right. that I ought to take you with me. I need to We have record numbers of new busi- remember—I hope I can remember all those nesses. Ten million people got an increase things you just said Sunday night in the de- in their minimum wage the day before yes- bate. terday, on October 1st, when the minimum I am glad to be back here in Buffalo. I wage increase went into effect. And we thank you all for being here. I want to say learned last week that economic benefits are thank you, Mayor Masiello. Thank you, Erie finally going to all of our working people. We County Executive Dennis Gorski. I want to had the biggest decline in inequality among thank the leaders of the State Democratic wage earners in growing incomes in 27 years; Party, the Deputy Speaker Arthur Eve and the biggest drop in the number of people Mrs. Eve. Now they have two sons working in poverty in 27 years; the lowest poverty rate for me. Thank you very much. We have among senior citizens ever recorded; the big- Mayor Galie from Niagara Falls here. And gest drop in childhood poverty in 20 years. we have two other candidates for Congress This country is on the right track for the 21st here. I’d like to ask them to come forward century. and wave: Tom Fricano, the congressional When I became President our deficit was candidate from the 2d District, and Fran $290 billion and headed higher. We’d quad- Pordum from the 30th District. There you rupled the debt in 4 years. It is now going are. Thank you, gentlemen. down 4 years in a row, the first time that’s And I want to thank the high school band happened in any Presidential administration for playing for us. Let’s give them a big hand. since the 1840’s, before the Civil War. We [Applause] The colder it gets the harder it are moving in the right direction. is to play one of those instruments, I know. Our deficit would not exist today, we But in Buffalo, this is a heat wave, right? would have a surplus today—a surplus [Laughter] today—we would have even lower interest Let me tell you, I am delighted to be back rates, we could cut taxes more, we could here in your county, in your city. I’m glad grow the economy faster if we had a surplus to be back in western New York. You know, today, which we would have if it weren’t for 4 years ago when I came here and asked you the debt run up in the 12 years before I be- to help me rebuild the American dream, our came President, with the same economic country was drifting toward the 21st century. program that our opponents are advocating

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.003 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 3 1955

today: Nevermind, just cut taxes across the ment plans for themselves and their employ- board; blow it off; who cares about the defi- ees. cit? You should care. Why? Because if the And we have made it easier for people who Government has to borrow money, we’re are self-employed to take out health insur- competing with you for borrowing money. ance because they can now deduct more of That means your interest rates go up. And that health insurance premium from their tax that’s one thing I want to say: When you bill. We are moving in the right direction. think about the 21st century, you have to de- We have made 25 million Americans more cide. eligible for health care by passing the Ken- We need a targeted tax cut that is targeted nedy-Kassebaum bill because it says you to education, to childrearing, to buying that can’t lose your health insurance anymore just first home, to medical emergencies. And it because you change jobs or someone in your needs to be paid for, dollar for dollar, dime family has been sick. We are moving in the for dime. We do not need a huge, explosive, right direction to the 21st century. across-the-board tax break that goes to peo- And in the closing days of this session of ple that don’t need it, like me, and increase Congress, as the American people—I don’t your deficit, your interest rates, which means want to take credit for this; I want to give higher car payments, higher college loan pay- you credit for this—in the closing days of this ments, higher home loan payments, higher session of Congress—what a difference a credit card payments, and higher interest year makes. As you heard John LaFalce say, rates for the businesses in Erie County who a year ago they shut the Government down. are trying to borrow money to grow their But in the closing days of this session, they businesses and hire people and get this coun- passed legislation that I asked for ending try moving even stronger. I say let’s have the drive-by deliveries, saying you couldn’t kick right kind of tax cut, but let’s do it in a way mothers and newborn babies out of the hos- that grows the economy and builds all Amer- pital within 24 hours anymore. The doctors ican families and makes us a stronger coun- and the mothers should make that decision try. I hope you will support that approach. based on what’s best for the health of the Let me say there are also 12 million fami- mother and the baby. lies that have been able to take a little time They gave some coverage in the health in- off from work without losing their jobs when surance policies for mental health, which is a baby’s born, when a parent’s sick, when a very important thing to families all across a child’s sick because of the Family and Med- America. They covered for the first time— ical Leave Act. And I want to see it expanded and thank goodness we have finally done it— to let families go to those parent-teacher con- with extra health and disability benefits, chil- ferences and take their children and their dren of Vietnam era veterans who have spina parents to the doctor without losing their job. bifida because their parents were exposed to It’s the right thing to do. Agent Orange in Vietnam. This is a better We have made every small business in country now. We are moving forward. We America eligible for a tax cut if they invest are doing things that are consistent with our more in their own businesses to grow the values. economy and make their businesses and our And I’ll tell you something else. The crime country stronger. We’ve made it easier for rate has gone down for 4 years in a row; there small businesses to take out pensions and for are one million fewer crime victims now than their employees to take those pensions from there were. The crime rate’s not low enough, job to job. And that’s very important. Only but you think about it: If we could bring the about half the American people now have crime down 8 years in a row with a strategy a retirement plan at work. More and more that’s working, this country may have safe of our businesses are smaller business. More streets, safe schools, safe neighborhoods, and and more of our people are working there. the American people may feel genuinely se- This is a very important thing, making it easi- cure again in their homes and at work and er for small-business people to have retire- when their children go off in the daytime.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.003 p40se4 1956 Oct. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

That is the America that I’m working for in And just before I left I signed a bill which the 21st century. stiffens the penalty for trafficking in meth- Here in this county, you have benefited amphetamine. That’s hard to say; ‘‘meth’’ is from our commitment to put 100,000 more the shorthand. You may not even know what police officers on our streets. In 1994, Con- it is, but in some parts of our country it is gress passed that commitment. And in only in danger of becoming what crack was in the 2 years, we have already funded 44,000 of 1980’s. And we are determined to stop it be- those police officers. Now in this budget fore it becomes an epidemic. we’re going to keep going until we finish the That’s what I’m trying to do, folks, in all job, more police working to prevent crime of our problems. I’m trying to identify them, as well as catch criminals, working with get ahead of the curve, and keep America neighbors, working with children, working growing and going together. with school groups, working with church Let me just say one last thing. I know all groups. This will work. This will work. of you looked in the last 2 days as I worked Just before I came here today, I met with as hard as I could to get the peace process the police officers who have been named the in the Middle East back on track and to stop top cops of the year by the National Associa- the resumption of violence between the Is- tion of Police Officers, and we celebrated the raelis and the Palestinians. I want to ask you work done just in the closing days of Con- to think just for a moment, as I close, about gress for safer streets. The Brady bill—not how many places in the world people are very long ago this Congress, the majority, was fighting each other because they’re of a dif- telling people that the Brady bill was going ferent religion, a different race, a different to take guns away from folks. Well, it didn’t ethnic group, a different tribe: in Africa, take any guns away from hunters, but 60,000 Rwanda and Burundi; and Northern Ireland, felons, fugitives, and stalkers did not get where I’ve worked as hard as I could to re- handguns because of the Brady bill. And the store the peace process; in Bosnia where the Congress in this budget actually answered United States and allies from all over the my call to expand the Brady bill in a very world are working to get people to live in limited way to say if you’ve got a felony peace, where there is literally no ethnic dif- record, you shouldn’t get a handgun. That’s ference, even though they say they’re dif- what the bill says now. Now it says if you ferent ethnic groups, they’re in different reli- have beaten up your spouse or your child, gious groups, by—almost by accident of his- you shouldn’t be eligible to get a gun either. tory. And that is the law of the land, and that’s You see, the whole world today, now that a good thing for America. That’s a good thing the cold war is over, we have reduced the for America. threat of nuclear war; there are no nuclear And finally, the Congress did something weapons pointed at the children of the Unit- that I really strongly agree with and have ed States for the first time since the dawn asked for. They said that if States want to of the nuclear age. But all over the world, get money from the Federal Government to we see terrorism; we see weapons of mass build penal facilities, they have to drug test destruction; we see all of this violence rooted people in prison and on parole. Sixty percent in people’s desire to hurt other people be- of the heroin and cocaine bought in this cause they’re different from them. country is purchased by people who are in- And that’s the last thing I want to leave volved in the criminal justice system: they’re you with. We can go into the 21st century on bail; they’re on probation; they’re on pa- as the strongest country in the world, with role. We ought to test those people. They our best days ahead, because America is not ought to be treated. And we ought to say, about looking down on somebody because ‘‘Look, parole is a privilege, not a right. And they’re different from you. All you’ve got to if you do drugs, you’re going back to jail. If do to be an American is to believe in the you want to stay out of jail, stay off drugs.’’ principles of the Constitution, the Declara- It will make us a safer country, and we’re tion of Independence, the Bill of Rights and moving in the right direction with that. show up tomorrow and be a law-abiding citi-

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.003 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 3 1957

zen. You can walk across our bridge to the Statement on the Bipartisan 21st century. And I want you to commit to Agreement on Omnibus Parks keep building that kind of American commu- Legislation nity where we grow and go together because October 3, 1996 our best days are still ahead. Stay with us, and help us build that bridge I am gratified tonight that we could reach to the 21st century. Will you do it? [Ap- a bipartisan agreement on an omnibus parks plause] bill that protects some of this Nation’s most Thank you, and God bless you. precious treasures. This legislation will im- prove the management of our Nation’s parks [At this point, Representative John LaFalce and public lands, and protect some of our made brief remarks.] most valued resources. This bill encompasses my top priorities for The President. I neglected to say this parks legislation, including measures to im- when I was speaking, but I do believe the prove management of the Presidio, acquire biggest Buffalo Bills fan in the entire United the Sterling Forest, and establish the States, outside of Erie County, was my late Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. It also mother and her husband, my stepfather. deletes almost all of the provisions that I had They’re pulling for you every week. Thank found objectionable, including those that you. would have adversely affected the Shen- andoah National Park and Richmond Battle- NOTE: The President spoke at 12:10 p.m. at the field National Park in Virginia, the Sequoia Greater Buffalo International Airport. In his re- National Park in California, the Tongass Na- marks, he referred to Mayor Anthony M. Masiello tional Forest, and other national parks and of Buffalo and Mayor James Galie of Niagara Federal lands. Falls. A portion of these remarks could not be Though not perfect, this bill represents a verified because the tape was incomplete. great victory for the American people and proves what we can accomplish if we work Statement on Passage of the Federal together. Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996 Proclamation 6925—Suspension of October 3, 1996 Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Who In passing the Federal Aviation Authoriza- Formulate or Implement Policies tion Act today, Congress has responded to That Are Impeding the Transition to my request to act quickly on the rec- Democracy in Burma or Who Benefit ommendations of the Gore commission and approved an important piece of legislation From Such Policies that will improve the security of our airports October 3, 1996 and airlines. By the President of the United States Because of this legislation, criminal back- of America ground checks can now be conducted on air- port personnel, new explosives detection A Proclamation technology can be deployed, baggage will be The current regime in Burma continues checked more thoroughly, passenger to detain significant numbers of duly elected profiling will be instituted, and families who members of parliament, National League for lose a loved one in an accident will be able Democracy activists, and other persons at- to get the help that they need. tempting to promote democratic change in I congratulate the Congress and I thank Burma. The regime has failed to enter into the Vice President, as well as Secretary Pen˜ a serious dialogue with the democratic opposi- and his team, for making this important legis- tion and representatives of the country’s eth- lation a reality which I look forward to sign- nic minorities, has failed to move toward ing into law. achieving national reconciliation, and has

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.003 p40se4 1958 Oct. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

failed to meet internationally recognized such time as the Secretary of State deter- standards of human rights. mines that it is no longer necessary and In light of this continuing political repres- should be terminated. sion, I have determined that it is in the inter- Sec. 6. The Secretary of State shall have ests of the United States to restrict the en- responsibility to implement this proclamation trance into the United States as immigrants pursuant to procedures the Secretary may es- and nonimmigrants of certain Burmese na- tablish. The Secretary of State may subdele- tionals who formulate or implement policies gate the authorities set forth herein as he that impede Burma’s transition to democracy deems necessary and appropriate to imple- or who benefit from such policies, and the ment this proclamation. immediate families of such persons. Sec. 7. This proclamation may be re- Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, pealed, in whole or in part, at such time as by the power vested in me as President by the Secretary of State determines that the the Constitution and the laws of the United Burmese regime has released National States of America, including sections 212(f) League for Democracy members currently and 215 of the Immigration and Nationality being held for political offenses and other Act of 1952, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1182(f), pro-democracy activists, enters into genuine 1185), and section 301 of title 3, United dialogue with the democratic opposition, or States Code, hereby find that the unre- makes significant progress toward improving stricted immigrant and nonimmigrant entry the human rights situation in the country. into the United States of persons described In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set in section 1 of this proclamation would, ex- my hand this third day of October, in the cept as provided for in section 2 or 3 of this year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- proclamation, be detrimental to the interests ty-six, and of the Independence of the United of the United States. I therefore, do proclaim States of America the two hundred and twen- that: ty-first. Section 1. The entry into the United William J. Clinton States as immigrants and nonimmigrants of persons who formulate, implement, or bene- [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, fit from policies that impede Burma’s transi- 8:45 a.m., October 4, 1996] tion to democracy, and the immediate family members of such persons, is hereby sus- NOTE: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on October 7. pended. Sec. 2. Section 1 shall not apply with re- spect to any person otherwise covered by sec- Memorandum on Guidelines to tion 1 where the Secretary of State deter- States for Implementing the Family mines that the entry of such person would Violence Provisions not be contrary to the interests of the United States. Section 1 shall not apply to officials October 3, 1996 assigned to Burmese missions in the United Memorandum for the Secretary of Health States or working-level support staff and visi- and Human Services, the Attorney General tors who support the work of Burmese mis- sions in the United States. Subject: Guidelines to States for Sec. 3. Persons covered by sections 1 and Implementing the Family Violence 2 shall be identified pursuant to procedures Provisions established by the Secretary of State, as au- Domestic violence has a devastating im- thorized in section 6 below. pact on families and communities. Each year, Sec. 4. Nothing in this proclamation shall hundreds of thousands of Americans are sub- be construed to derogate from United States ject to assault, rape, or murder at the hands Government obligations under applicable of an intimate family member. Our children’s international agreements. futures are severely threatened by the fact Sec. 5. This proclamation is effective im- that they live in homes with domestic vio- mediately and shall remain in effect until lence. We know that children who grow up

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.003 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 3 1959

with such violence are more likely to become tional assistance programs fully responsive to victims or batterers themselves. The violence the needs of battered women. in our homes is self-perpetuating and eventu- The Secretary of Health and Human Serv- ally it spills into our schools, our commu- ices is further directed to provide States with nities, and our workplaces. technical assistance as they work to imple- Domestic violence can be particularly ment the Family Violence provisions. damaging to women and children in low-in- Finally, to more accurately study the scope come families. The profound mental and of the problem, we should examine statutory physical effects of domestic violence can rape, domestic violence, and sexual assault often interfere with victims’ efforts to pursue as threats to safety and barriers to self-suffi- education or employment—to become self- ciency. I therefore direct the Attorney Gen- sufficient and independent. Moreover, it is eral and the Secretary of Health and Human often the case that the abusers themselves Services to make it a priority to understand fight to keep their victims from becoming the incidence of statutory rape, domestic vio- independent. lence, and sexual assault in the lives of poor As we reform our Nation’s welfare system, families, and to recommend the best assess- we must make sure that welfare-to-work pro- ment, referral, and delivery models to im- grams across the country have the tools, the prove safety and self-sufficiency for poor training, and the flexibility necessary to help families who are victims of domestic vio- battered women move successfully into the lence. I ask the Secretary of Health and Human work force and became self-sufficient. Services and the Attorney General to report For these reasons, I strongly encourage to me in writing 90 days from the date of States to implement the Wellstone/Murray this memorandum on the specific progress Family Violence provisions of the Personal that has been made toward these goals. Responsibility and Work Opportunity Rec- onciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 (Public William J. Clinton Law 104–193, section 402(a)(7)). These pro- visions invite States to increase services for Proclamation 6926—National Breast battered women through welfare programs Cancer Awareness Month, 1996 and help these women move successfully and permanently into the workplace. The Family October 3, 1996 Violence provisions are critical in responding By the President of the United States to the unique needs faced by women and of America families subjected to domestic violence. As we move forward on our historical mis- A Proclamation sion to reform the welfare system, this Ad- Each year we set aside the month of Octo- ministration is committed to offering States ber as a time to assess the toll that breast assistance in their efforts to implement the cancer takes on our society and the progress Family Violence provisions. we have made in our battle to overcome it. Accordingly, I direct the Secretary of the For those of us who have lost loved ones to Department of Health and Human Services this disease—mothers, wives, daughters, sis- and the Attorney General to develop guid- ters, and friends—the battle holds special ur- ance for States to assist and facilitate the im- gency. plementation of the Family Violence provi- Breast cancer remains the second leading sions. In crafting this guidance, the Depart- cause of all deaths among women ages 40 ments of Health and Human Services and to 55. In 1996, a woman will die from breast Justice should work with States, domestic vi- cancer every 12 minutes, and 184,300 olence experts, victims’ services programs, women in the United States will be diag- law enforcement, medical professionals, and nosed with the disease. Every one of these others involved in fighting domestic violence. diagnoses changes not only that woman’s life, These agencies should recommend standards but the lives of all who love and care for and procedures that will help make transi- her.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.003 p40se4 1960 Oct. 3 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

We have embarked on an all-out assault States, do hereby proclaim October 1996 as to combat this threat. The Federal Govern- National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I ment has nearly doubled funding for breast call upon government officials, businesses, cancer research, detection, and treatment communities, volunteers, educators, and all since 1993, from $271 million to $476 million the people of the United States to celebrate in the Department of Health and Human the successes we have had in advancing our Services alone. And in response to requests knowledge of breast cancer, and to reaffirm from 2.6 million of our Nation’s citizens, we our commitment to continue to work to- launched the National Action Plan on Breast gether to fight this disease. Cancer, an innovative public-private partner- In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set ship to develop a national strategy for pre- my hand this third day of October, in the vention, education and care. year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- We can be proud of the progress we are ty-six, and of the Independence of the United making in the fight against breast cancer. States of America the two hundred and twen- During the most recent 5-year period for ty-first. which data are available (1989–1993), age- William J. Clinton adjusted mortality rates for white women fell almost 6 percent. Although mortality rates [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, among African American women are still in- 11:28 a.m., October 4, 1996] creasing, the rate of increase has slowed to NOTE: This proclamation was published in the 1 percent, compared to 16 percent during Federal Register on October 7. the 1980’s. One of our most successful weapons in the fight against breast cancer is early detection. Proclamation 6927—National The new Mammography Quality Standards Domestic Violence Awareness Act now ensures that every woman who ob- Month, 1996 tains a mammogram to detect breast cancer October 3, 1996 in its earliest, curable, stages can be certain that facilities meet the highest quality stand- By the President of the United States ards for equipment and personnel. We are of America implementing the National Breast and Cer- vical Cancer Early Detection Program to A Proclamation make free or low-cost mammography avail- Domestic violence threatens the very core able to medically under-served women. The of what we hold dear. Millions of women and First Lady launched an education campaign children throughout our nation are plagued to inform and encourage older women to use by the terror of family violence each year, Medicare’s mammography screening benefit. and approximately 20 percent of all hospital And to improve early detection, we are trans- emergency room visits by women result from ferring imaging technologies from the space, such violence. Family violence is a crime that defense, and intelligence communities. transcends race, religion, ethnicity, and eco- I urge women throughout our nation to nomic stature, and one of its greatest trage- have appropriate mammograms, to perform dies is its effect on our young people: as many routine self-examination, and to take advan- as 3 million children witness violence in their tage of the latest in preventive medical care. homes each year. Armed with this commonsense approach and We must never give up in our efforts to the promising advances in research and treat- transform despair into hope for the women ment, we can look forward with confidence and families across this country who suffer to the day when breast cancer is finally eradi- violence at home. We must encourage all cated. Americans to increase public awareness and Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, understanding of domestic abuse as well as President of the United States of America, the needs of its victims. My Administration by virtue of the authority vested in me by is fully engaged in this struggle, coordinating the Constitution and laws of the United our efforts through the Violence Against

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.004 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Oct. 3 1961

Women Office at the Department of Justice lence and building in its place a brighter, and through the Department of Health and more secure future for our families and loved Human Services. ones. I salute all those whose efforts are help- Legislation enacted during the past several ing us in this endeavor and pay special tribute years is also helping to overcome the scourge to the survivors of domestic violence whose of domestic violence. The Violence Against courage is an inspiration to us all. I urge all Women Act that I signed into law has given Americans to join me in working toward the law enforcement critical new tools with day when no person raises a hand in violence which to prosecute and punish criminals who against a family member. intentionally prey upon women and children. Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, The Interstate Stalking Punishment and Pre- President of the United States of America, vention Act of 1996, enacted just last month, by virtue of the authority vested in me by makes it a Federal crime for any stalker to the Constitution and laws of the United cross State lines to pursue a victim, whether States, do hereby proclaim October 1996 as or not there is a protection order in effect, National Domestic Violence Awareness whether or not an actual act of violence has Month. I call upon all Americans to observe been committed, and whether or not the this month by demonstrating their respect stalker is the victim’s spouse. And I am and gratitude for all those individuals who pleased that the Congress has just taken ac- unselfishly share their experiences, skills, and tion to keep guns out of the hands of people talents with those affected by domestic vio- with a history of domestic violence. lence. My Administration has also worked to in- In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set crease the support available for battered my hand this third day of October, in the women and other victims of domestic vio- year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine- lence, including the elderly. In February, I ty-six, and of the Independence of the United announced the creation of a 24-hour, toll- States of America the two hundred and twen- free National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1– ty-first. 800–799–SAFE. The response to this service William J. Clinton has been overwhelming, and the hotline has already received over 50,000 calls—the ma- [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, jority from women and men who have never 11:28 a.m., October 4, 1996] before reached out for assistance. This year, we will also provide increased and unprece- NOTE: This proclamation was published in the dented resources for battered women’s shel- Federal Register on October 7. ters, domestic violence prevention efforts, and children’s counseling services. There is still much more to do, however. Message to the Congress The welfare reform legislation that I recently Transmitting Reports on Traffic and signed recognizes the special needs of do- Motor Vehicles mestic violence victims, and I urge all States October 3, 1996 to accept the option of implementing the new law’s Family Violence provisions. I have To the Congress of the United States: also directed the Department of Health and I transmit herewith the 1995 calendar year Human Services and the Department of Jus- reports as prepared by the Department of tice to develop guidance for States and assist Transportation on activities under the High- them in implementing the provisions. As we way Safety Act, the National Traffic and help families move from welfare to work, we Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, and the must ensure that they remain safe from vio- Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings lence in their homes and are given the sup- Act of 1972, as amended. port they need to achieve independence. William J. Clinton As a result of these and other efforts at the national, State, and local levels, we are The White House, one step closer to eliminating domestic vio- October 3, 1996.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.004 p40se4 1962 Oct. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

Exchange With Reporters in Q. Sir, they tell us they are going to—— Chautauqua, New York Q. Mr. President, do you expect Senator October 4, 1996 Dole to go on the attack? Do you expect Sen- ator—— Middle East Peace Process Q. ——tell us that they’re going to help The President. Good morning, everyone. you, in that sense, control your temper if you Q. Is Christopher going to the Middle East should get some of these. Is that a problem this weekend, Mr. President? for you, do you think? The President. It’s entirely possible. I— The President. No, but I think—what we we discussed it, and I think he’s probably do often is I give the answer I’d like to give, finalized his plans by now. I told him that and then I go back and give the answer I I wanted him to go there for the beginning should give if somebody takes a real broad- of the talks, which start, as you know, on Sun- side at me. [Laughter] No, we’re—I think day morning. And he’s supposed to go to Af- the most important thing is to remember that rica and I asked him not to cancel the trip this debate is as much about the American to Africa but to go to the Middle East first. people and their lives and their future as it So I’m assuming that those plans were made is about Senator Dole and me. And so, what and that he’ll be there in the beginning. I want to be able to do—and my objectives are fairly straightforward and basically quite Presidential Debate simple—I want to make sure that the voters Q. Mr. President, how’s the debate train- know what the record is, they know what the ing going, sir? And what makes you think you contrasts are between Senator Dole and me, need much training after all the speeches you and most important of all, that they know make and the news conferences you’ve been what I intend to do for the next 4 years. And through over the last 4 years? then they can make up their own minds. The President. Debates are different, be- I think my goal here is to make sure that cause it’s not just answering tough questions. the people actually get something out of this You—basically, there’s the person you’re de- debate other than just sort of an exercise in bating, the other candidate, plus the inter- who does a better job in outwitting someone locutor, plus the time constraints, so that else. That’s—I think it ought to be something really I’m—Senator Mitchell won last night. that’s genuinely informative, and I’m going [Laughter] I am badly out of shape on this, to try to make it that way. but I’m trying to get better. And I woke up Press Secretary Mike McCurry. Thank this morning and sort of massaged my you, Mr. President. bruises, and I’m ready to go at it again. Q. Mr. President, the polls being the way [Laughter] they are, a lot of people are wondering how Q. When Mr. Dole asks you whether much importance this debate really is. What you’re going to give Whitewater pardons and do you think? why your administration has been clouded The President. Oh, I think it’s quite im- by ethical problems, what will your response portant. I think the American people care be? a lot about their country. I think they know The President. Well, tune in tomorrow. we’re going through a period of real, pro- I’m going to answer the same thing I have found change, and that these decisions we’re already. There aren’t any under consider- going to make in the next couple of years ation, and I haven’t given any thought to giv- will affect our country well into the 21st cen- ing any. That’s not the issue. I just said I tury. think that nobody should be singled out for Q. Do you think you’re going to carry special treatment one way or the other, in- western New York, Chautauqua country, if cluding discrimination against them or dis- you will? crimination in favor of them. There’s a proce- The President. I hope so. I’ve met some dure for that that everyone follows, and there awful nice people here who say they’re work- is absolutely no consideration being given to ing for us up here and trying to help us win that. here. It’s unusual, as you know, for a Demo-

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.004 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 1963

crat to carry here, but I’m hoping we will, ing in the afternoon. Later, he made a con- and I feel pretty good about it. ference call from the Westin Hotel to African Q. Senator, is the President low-balling us Americans for Clinton/Gore ’96. He then at- when he tells us you beat him yesterday? tended the Democratic National Committee Senator George Mitchell. Well, I’ll reception for Representative Jack Reed at say—— the Westin Hotel. The President. Tell the truth, George. In the evening, the President traveled to You beat me like a drum. [Laughter] You Fall River and Boston, MA. Later, he at- kicked me all over the place last night. Tell tended a Democratic National Committee the truth. reception and dinner at the Meridian Hotel Senator Mitchell. Well, let me say this. in Boston. After midnight, the President re- I served as majority leader in the Senate for turned to Washington, DC. 6 years while Senator Dole was minority leader, so I debated him probably more than September 29 any other person, and I know just how effec- In the morning, the President had tele- tive he is. Senator Dole is a highly skilled phone conversations with House Speaker debater, and I think he’s going to be tough Newt Gingrich, Senate Majority Leader in this debate coming up on Sunday. But the Trent Lott, House Minority Leader Richard President, I think, will do all right. A. Gephardt, and Senate Minority Leader Q. Mr. President, what do you remember Thomas A. Daschle concerning his effort to most from the debates 4 years ago? What arrange a Middle East summit meeting at sticks out in your mind—the last time you the White House. went through this? In the afternoon, The President had tele- The President. Oh, no question about it, phone conversations with Chairman Yasser the townhall debate, the citizens debate, and Arafat of the Palestinian Authority, Prime the richness and variety and the relevance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel, of the questions that the citizens asked, and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, and King how little they were into politics and posi- Hussein I of Jordan inviting them to a sum- tioning and how much they were into the mit meeting at the White House. substance of their own lives and the future. I was very, very impressed by the questions that the American people asked who were September 30 part of that debate. That’s the thing I will In the morning, the President had a tele- always remember. phone conversation with President Mubarak of Egypt concerning the situation in the Mid- NOTE: The exchange began at 10:30 a.m. outside dle East and Mr. Mubarak’s inability to at- the Hotel Athenaeum. A tape was not available tend a summit meeting at the White House. for verification of the content of this exchange. The President announced his intention to nominate Letitia Chambers to be a Rep- resentative, and James C. Hormel and Prezell R. Robinson to be Alternate Rep- Digest of Other resentatives to the 51st session of the General White House Announcements Assembly of the United Nations. The President announced his intention to nominate Jane Lubchenco to the National The following list includes the President’s public Science Board, National Science Founda- schedule and other items of general interest an- tion. nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and The President declared a major disaster in not included elsewhere in this issue. South Carolina and ordered Federal aid to supplement recovery efforts in the areas September 28 struck by severe winds and flooding associ- In the morning, the President traveled ated with Hurricane Fran on September 4 from Houston, TX, to Providence, RI, arriv- and continuing.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.004 p40se4 1964 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

October 1 Submitted September 30 The President announced his intention to nominate Judith Espinosa to be a member Ann Jorgenson, of the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. of Iowa, to be a member of the Farm Credit Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Administration Board, Farm Credit Adminis- Environmental Policy Foundation. tration, for a term expiring May 21, 2002, The President announced the nomination vice Gary C. Byrne, resigned. of William W. Ginsberg to be Assistant Sec- Patricia A. Broderick, retary for Market Access and Compliance at of the District of Columbia, to be an Associ- the Department of Commerce. ate Judge of the Superior Court of the Dis- The President announced his intention to trict of Columbia for the term of 15 years, appoint Marilyn Golden to the Architectural vice Harriett Rosen Taylor, term expired. and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. William W. Ginsberg, of Connecticut, to be an Assistant Secretary October 2 of Commerce, vice Charles F. Meissner. The President announced his intention to nominate Daniel R. Stanley to the Postal Triruvarur R. Lakshmanan, Rate Commission. of New Hampshire, to be Director of the The President announced his intention to Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Depart- nominate George W. Black, Jr., to serve as ment of Transportation, for a term of 4 years a member of the National Transportation (reappointment). Safety Board. Nathan Leventhal, October 3 of New York, to be a member of the National In the morning, the President traveled to Council on the Arts for a term expiring Sep- Buffalo, NY. In the afternoon, he traveled tember 3, 2002, vice William Bailey, term to Chautauqua, NY. expired. The President announced his intention to appoint Karen T. Scates to the Advisory Jane Lubchenco, Committee on the Arts of the John F. Ken- of Oregon, to be a member of the National nedy Center for the Performing Arts. Science Board, National Science Foundation The President announced his intention to for a term expiring May 10, 2000, vice W. appoint Rear Adm. R.M. Mitchell, Jr., to the Glenn Campbell, term expired. Committee for Purchase From People Who Adan Munoz, Jr., are Blind or Severely Disabled. of Texas, to be U.S. Marshal for the Southern The White House announced that the District of Texas for the term of 4 years, vice President signed legislation on October 2 Basil S. Baker. that will expand duty free treatment of prod- ucts imported from the West Bank and Gaza Submitted October 1 Strip and help spur economic development Judith M. Espinosa, throughout the region. of New Mexico, to be a member of the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholar- ship and Excellence in National Environ- mental Policy Foundation for a term of 4 Nominations years, (new position). Submitted to the Senate Submitted October 2 Daniel R. Stanley, The following list does not include promotions of members of the Uniformed Services, nominations of Kansas, to be a Commissioner of the Postal to the Service Academies, or nominations of For- Rate Commission for the term expiring Octo- eign Service officers. ber 14, 2000, vice Wayne Arthur Schley, term expired.

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.004 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 1965

Checklist Released October 3 of White House Press Releases Transcript of a press briefing in Buffalo, NY, by Press Secretary Mike McCurry and Clin- ton/Gore ‘96 Press Secretary Joe Lockhart The following list contains releases of the Office of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry items nor covered by entries in the Digest of announcing that the free trade area has been Other White House Announcements. expanded to the West Bank and Gaza Strip Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry on visa restrictions on Burma Released September 28 Released October 4 Fact sheet entitled ‘‘Highlights of the 1997 Omnibus Spending Bill and Immigration Transcript of press briefing in Chataugua, Agreement’’ NY, by Press Secretary Mike McCurry and Clinton/Gore ‘96 Press Secretary Joe Released September 29 Lockhart Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- retary Mike McCurry Transcript of a press briefing by Deputy Press Secretary for National Security Affairs Acts Approved David Johnson on the planned Middle East by the President summit at the White House Approved September 30 Released September 30 H.R. 3675 / Public Law 104–205 Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- Department of Transportation and Related retary Mike McCurry Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 Transcript of a press briefing by Chief of H.R. 3816 / Public Law 104–206 Staff Leon Panetta, Treasury Secretary Rob- Energy and Water Development Appropria- ert Rubin, and OMB Director Franklin tions Act, 1997 Raines on the Omnibus Consolidated Appro- priations Act, 1997 H.J. Res. 197 / Public Law 104–207 Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry Waiving certain enrollment requirements on Haiti with respect to any bill or joint resolution of the One Hundred Fourth Congress mak- Announcement of nomination for the Dis- ing general or continuing appropriations for trict of Columbia Superior Court fiscal year 1997 Released October 1 H.R. 3610 / Public Law 104–208 Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, Transcripts of press briefings by Press Sec- 1997 retary Mike McCurry Announcement of nomination for U.S. Mar- Approved October 1 shal for the Southern District of Texas H.R. 1772 / Public Law 104–209 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to Released October 2 acquire certain interests in the Waihee Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- Marsh for inclusion in the Oahu National retary Mike McCurry Wildlife Refuge Complex Transcript of a press briefing by Secretary H.R. 2428 / Public Law 104–210 of State Warren Christopher on the Middle To encourage the donation of food and gro- East summit cery products to nonprofit organizations for

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.004 p40se4 1966 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

distribution to needy individuals by giving S. 1995 / Public Law 104–222 the Model Good Samaritan Food Donation To authorize construction of the Smithsonian Act the full force and effect of law Institution National Air and Space Museum Dulles Center at Washington Dulles Inter- H.R. 2464 / Public Law 104–211 national Airport, and for other purposes To amend Public Law 103–93 to provide ad- ditional lands within the State of Utah for H.R. 2512 / Public Law 104–223 the Goshute Indian Reservation, and for Crow Creek Sioux Tribe Infrastructure De- other purposes velopment Trust Fund Act of 1996 H.R. 2679 / Public Law 104–212 Approved October 2 To revise the boundary of the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge, to expand the H.R. 2366 / Public Law 104–224 Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Ref- To repeal an unnecessary medical device re- uge, and for other purposes porting requirement H.R. 2982 / Public Law 104–213 H.R. 2504 / Public Law 104–225 Carbon Hill National Fish Hatchery Convey- To designate the Federal building located at ance Act the corner of Patton Avenue and Otis Street, and the United States courthouse located on H.R. 3120 / Public Law 104–214 Otis Street, in Asheville, North Carolina, as To amend title 18, United States Code, with the ‘‘Veach-Baley Federal Complex’’ respect to witness retaliation, witness tam- pering and jury tampering H.R. 2685 / Public Law 104–226 To repeal the Medicare and Medicaid Cov- H.R. 3287 / Public Law 104–215 erage Data Bank Crawford National Fish Hatchery Convey- ance Act H.R. 3060 / Public Law 104–227 Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conserva- H.R. 3553 / Public Law 104–216 tion Act of 1996 Federal Trade Commission Reauthorization Act of 1996 H.R. 3186 / Public Law 104–228 To designate the Federal building located at H.R. 3676 / Public Law 104–217 1655 Woodson Road in Overland, Missouri, Carjacking Correction Act of 1996 as the ‘‘Sammy L. Davis Federal Building’’ H.J. Res. 191 / Public Law 104–218 H.R. 3400 / Public Law 104–229 To confer honorary citizenship of the United To designate the Federal building and the States on Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, also United States courthouse to be constructed known as Mother Teresa at a site on 18th Street between Dodge and Douglas Streets in Omaha, Nebraska, as the S. 533 / Public Law 104–219 ‘‘Roman L. Hruska Federal Building and To clarify the rules governing removal of United States Courthouse’’ cases to Federal court, and for other pur- poses H.R. 3710 / Public Law 104–230 To designate the United States courthouse S. 677 / Public Law 104–220 under construction at 611 North Florida Ave- To repeal a redundant venue provision, and nue in Tampa, Florida, as the ‘‘Sam M. Gib- for other purposes bons United States Courthouse’’ S. 1636 / Public Law 104–221 H.R. 3802 / Public Law 104–231 To designate the United States Courthouse Electronic Freedom of Information Act under construction at 1030 Southwest 3rd Amendments of 1996 Avenue, Portland, Oregon, as the ‘‘Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse’’, and for H.R. 1507 / Public Law 104–232 other purposes Parole Commission Phaseout Act of 1996

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.004 p40se4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 1967

S. 1834 / Public Law 104–233 Approved October 3 To reauthorize the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Act of 1992, and S. 919 / Public Law 104–235 for other purposes Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Amendments of 1996

S. 1675 / Public Law 104–236 Pam Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act of 1996

H.R. 3074 / Public Law 104–234 S. 1965 / Public Law 104–237 To amend the United States-Israel Free Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 to Act of 1996 provide the President with additional procla- mation authority with respect to articles of S. 2101 / Public Law 104–238 the West Bank or Gaza Strip or a qualifying Federal Law Enforcement Dependents As- industrial zone sistance Act of 1996

VerDate 28-OCT-97 13:21 Nov 07, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P40OC4.004 p40se4