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and play by the rules. Many more financial under this emergency declaration will be institutions will discover new, profitable lines provided at 100 percent Federal funding. of business. And it doesn’t cost taxpayers a The Federal Emergency Management dime. It can create miracles in small towns Agency (FEMA) will coordinate Federal as- and big cities from coast to coast, miracles sistance efforts and designate specific areas like mortgage or business loans for people eligible for such assistance. The Federal Co- who never thought they could own a house ordinating Officer will be Mr. Dell Greer of or business, multifamily housing loans, and FEMA. He will consult with you and assist commercial development loans in low to in the execution of the FEMA-State Agree- moderate income communities. ment governing the expenditure of Federal To maximize the benefits that can accrue funds. to both banks and consumers, the final regu- Sincerely, lation issued today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Board of Governors NOTE: This letter was attached to a statement by of the Federal Reserve, and the Federal De- Press Secretary Mike McCurry announcing disas- posit Insurance Corporation will place em- ter assistance to City, Oklahoma. phasis on performance, not paperwork. The new regulations will make the act easier for banks to implement and will result in more Letter to Federal Emergency consistent evaluation of their performance. Management Agency Director James With these improved regulations in place, the Lee Witt on Disaster Assistance to statute can reach its full potential to help our , Oklahoma communities help themselves. Now is the April 19, 1995 time to end uncertainty and get on with busi- ness, not to tinker with the statute. Dear Mr. Witt: Producing this final regulation has taken I have determined that the explosion at a lot of effort on the part of the regulators the Federal courthouse in Oklahoma City, and has involved excellent input from finan- on April 19, 1995, in the State of Oklahoma cial institutions and community groups is of sufficient severity and magnitude to war- throughout the country. I want to congratu- rant an emergency declaration under sub- late and thank everybody who participated section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Dis- in this process. aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act). My decision to make this declaration pursuant to subsection 501(b) of Letter to Governor Frank Keating on the Stafford Act is based upon the fact that Disaster Assistance to Oklahoma the explosion occurred at a Federally-owned City, Oklahoma courthouse. I, therefore, declare that such an emergency exists in the city of Oklahoma April 19, 1995 City in the State of Oklahoma. In order to provide Federal assistance, you Dear Governor Keating: are hereby authorized to coordinate and di- I have declared an emergency under the rect other Federal agencies and fund activi- Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer- ties not authorized under other Federal stat- gency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act) for utes and allocate from funds available for the city of Oklahoma City in the State of these purposes, such amounts as you find Oklahoma due to the explosion at the Fed- necessary for Federal emergency assistance eral courthouse in Oklahoma City on April and administrative expenses. 19, 1995 in the State of Oklahoma. I have Pursuant to this emergency declaration, authorized Federal relief and emergency as- you are authorized to provide emergency as- sistance in the affected area. sistance as you deem appropriate under Title Emergency assistance under Title V of the V of the Stafford Act at 100 percent Federal Stafford Act will be provided. Assistance funding.

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Sincerely, into exile by the enemies of democracy. But Bill Clinton instead of giving in to bitterness, you carried on the struggle for freedom with reason and NOTE: This letter was attached to a statement by reconciliation as your only weapons. And you Press Secretary Mike McCurry announcing disas- prevailed. ter assistance to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Now you lead a nation that has remained at peace with its neighbors for more than a Remarks Welcoming President century. That strong tradition of peaceful re- Fernando Cardoso of Brazil lations and your personal commitment to de- April 20, 1995 mocracy give Brazil a vital role to play in strengthening cooperation among the nations President Cardoso and Mrs. Cardoso, dis- and deepening the roots of civil society tinguished guests. I am pleased to welcome throughout our hemispheres. The United to Washington a good friend of the welcomes the opportunity to work States and one of our hemisphere’s most dy- with you in this noble cause. namic leaders. We must also work to further the goal we Mr. President, let me begin by expressing set at the Summit of the Americas, to create my appreciation and the appreciation of the a free trade area of the Americas by the year American people for the call and the message 2005. The building blocks of free trade, the you sent to us yesterday in the wake of the North American Free-Trade Agreement, and terrible incident in Oklahoma City. Let me MERCOSUR, are in place. Now let us move say again, those responsible will be brought to justice. They will be tried, convicted, and forward to transform our vision of a commer- punished. We will never let the forces of in- cially integrated hemisphere into concrete humanity prevail in the United States. reality. At this moment, the rescue efforts in Okla- The emerging partnership between our homa City continue. And we hold out hope two countries extends beyond supporting de- that more survivors will be found. To all mocracy in emerging markets. We are also those carrying on this dangerous work, to the joining forces to stop the proliferation of families and loved ones of those still missing, weapons of mass destruction, to protect the our prayers are with you. And to all those environment, to fight against drug smuggling, here watching and those who are watching and to keep peace in countries that are us through the airwaves, I have ordered all threatened by ethnic conflict and civil war. our flags today throughout the United States The United States is counting on Brazil’s to be flown at half-mast. And I ask you now continued leadership in meeting these major to join with me in a moment of silence for challenges of our time. the victims. Mr. President, you represent a vibrant [At this point, a moment of silence was ob- people whose pride in the past is matched served.] only by their hope for the future. Your own efforts to bring economic stability and social May God’s grace be with them. justice to Brazil are responsible for much of Mr. President, as the largest democracies that promise of tomorrow. On this solid foun- in the Americas, our countries have a special dation and under your leadership, Brazil is responsibility to work together, to support poised to take its rightful place as a shining the extraordinary trend toward democracies example for all the Americas and all the and open markets throughout our region. world. Today we will pursue that joint action. We both know it is needed to manage our com- Mr. President, we are honored to have you mon problems and to seize our shared oppor- here. Welcome to the White House. Wel- tunities. come to the United States. Mr. President, your own life embodies the resilience of the democratic spirit of the NOTE: The President spoke at 10:42 a.m. on the Americas. Thirty years ago, you were forced South Lawn at the White House.

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