Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
Monday, February 19, 1996 Volume 32—Number 7 Pages 237–311
1
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:01 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P07FE4.000 p07fe4 Contents
Addresses and Remarks Communications to Federal Agencies Idaho, departure from Boise—293 Interim Report of the Presidential Advisory Iowa Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses, Community in Des Moines—267 memorandum—302 Community in Iowa City—242 Community in Mason City—249 Executive Orders Roundtable discussion on the work-study Economy and Efficiency in Government program in Des Moines—262 Procurement Through Compliance With National Information Infrastructure Advisory Certain Immigration and Naturalization Act Council—277 Provisions—281 New Jersey Education technology initiative in Union Interviews With the News Media City—298 Exchanges with reporters Roundtable discussion in Union City—294 Oval Office—273 New York, fundraising dinner in New York West Des Moines, IA—262 City—302 State Dining Room—277 Oregon, workers and volunteers at the flood wall in Portland—290 Letters and Messages Radio address—240 Chinese New Year, message—309 Roundtable discussion on tobacco use Vietnamese Lunar New Year, message—309 prevention—273 Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys—280 Statements by the President Terrorist attack in London, United See also Bill Signings Kingdom—240 Centers for Disease Control report on tobacco Virginia, roundtable discussion on the V-chip and youth—301 with families in Alexandria—237 Executive order on illegal immigration—283 Washington Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Community in Woodland—284 Veterans’ Illnesses, interim report—293 Roundtable discussion on the floods in Woodland—284 Supplementary Materials Bill Signings Acts approved by the President—311 Farm Credit System Reform Act of 1996, Checklist of White House press releases—311 statement—259 Digest of other White House National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal announcements—309 Year 1996, statement—260 Nominations submitted to the Senate—311
Editor’s Note: The President was in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, PA, on February 16, 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 10:01 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P07FE4.000 p07fe4 Week Ending Friday, February 16, 1996
Remarks in a Roundtable Discussion ellite where you may have access to large on the V-Chip With Families in numbers of channels and a large number of Alexandria, Virginia movies. The difference in this and the Tele- February 9, 1996 communications Act is that it requires this V-chip which I want to show you. This is a The President. First of all, I’d like to V-chip. And it will be required to be put into thank our hosts for welcoming us in and to all new television sets so that as every family all the members of the press and our guests in America buys a new set, they will have here. As you know, yesterday I signed into this. The V-chip basically is a power to the law the Telecommunications Act of 1996 parent, a technology marvel. It enables ev- which was the first major overhaul of our erybody to have all the benefits of television. telecommunications laws in six decades. It will enable everyone to have the benefits That bill will do an enormous amount of of the new developments coming out of the good for our country. It will, for consumers, telecommunications revolution, but it will open up vast new opportunities for entertain- give parents more control over the content ment, vast new opportunities for information, of the programming to which their young vast new opportunities for different kinds of children are exposed. communication. It will create many, many Let me say I think it’s quite important. thousands of high-wage jobs. But it will also Just this week we have seen another major bring a lot more images and messages into study chronicling the destructive impact on every home in America. young children of hours and hours and hours One of the things that the Vice President, of mindless violence and the so numbing im- Mrs. Gore, and I like so much about this pact it has on our young children. bill is that in addition to getting the benefits So that’s what the V-chip is designed to of the telecommunications revolution, it do. It will add about a dollar to the cost of gives more power to the parents to control every television set—a little less, actually. what their young children see on television And we replace our TV sets at the rate of by requiring all new television sets to have about 25 million a year, so as you can see, a V-chip in them. And so we wanted to come here today to it will rapidly come to be a very important discuss with these folks how they feel about part of American family’s arsenal of tools for it and to give them and to give you a chance raising children. to see how this will work. So, I’d like to turn And there’s another benefit that this will it over to the Vice President and give him bring as well. I have challenged the leaders a chance to make a demonstration and some of the entertainment industry to come and comments. meet with me about this, to talk about how we can develop a rating system for television [Vice President Gore said that the V-chip leg- programs like we have a rating system for islation gives parents the ability to make cat- movies. And we believe as more and more egorical choices about what their children families get this and exercise their options can watch. He then demonstrated the V-chip under it and as more and more information concept by programming the host family’s is available to parents, that it will change the satellite television system to block movies ex- programming so that even parents who can’t ceeding a designated rating limit.] afford to buy a new television this year or The President. Let me explain. This tech- next year as the V-chip comes out will begin nology—you get this if you hook into a sat- to benefit from it.
237
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 238 Feb. 9 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
So that’s what the V-chip is. I guess I want And I think that it’s much harder if kids— to bring you back to Al, and he wants to say like 5 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 15 a few words before we turn it over to—— years, they’re dominated by this notion that it’s a violent, brutal world, people do what- [Vice President Gore introduced Tipper ever they can get away with doing. Gore, who expressed her long-standing con- cern about children’s exposure to graphic and [Vice President Gore mentioned the estimate violent television programming and thanked that a child would witness 20,000 simulated the President for enabling families to protect murders on television by high school gradua- tion, and then asked if anyone had ever had their children in their own homes. She then to comfort a child whose sleep was affected invited the participants to comment. The first by what they saw on television. Several par- participant said she was excited about the op- ticipants answered that they had, and the last portunity to decide what would come into one complained that even if the programming her home through the airwaves. An elemen- was acceptable, the commercials could be a tary school principal and father said that tel- problem.] evision had more power to influence children than schools did in terms of time and the The President. I must say, since I don’t V-chip represented a giant step in saving the watch as much television as I used to, I was children. He also raised the issue of candy sort of unaware of that. But it’s so interesting produced in the form of syringes.] you said that, because my best friend from childhood called me yesterday, a guy I went The President. What you said about the to grade school with, and he has three won- candy, that makes a point about what I think derful children. They’re various ages like is important about the television violence your children. His oldest child is my daugh- study. It seems to me—and what you said ter’s age, and he has two younger ones. He about the hours—it’s not so much—and I said the same thing. He was talking about know a lot of people in the media who a show he was watching with his youngest produce these programs get very defensive. child, a little girl, and he made the same They think they’re being unfairly attacked. point you did, that—no one had ever said They talk about there’s always good content, this before, the disconnection between the often a good moral to the story of some of programming content and the ads. these things. But it’s the cumulative impact [The participant said that she felt she had of it. I don’t think they see it from the par- to be there the entire time her child was ents—perspective of the parents. It’s not that watching. Vice President Gore said that our kids couldn’t handle this program, that broadcasters should fix that, just as movie program or the other program. It is a total previews now are rated. Two participants impact of hour after hour after hour, day agreed that television ads posed a daily prob- after day. lem. Another participant said that the V-chip And the candy thing you mentioned made ratings system would have a direct impact the point to me that—what it means is that as a guide even for people without V-chip people began to think of things as normal televisions.] that we should never accept as normal, so we began to accept a level of violence in our The President. That’s correct. society, that it’s normal. It’s not true. And [The participant asked about the prospect of that’s the thing that bothers me. We have a V-chip that would be an installable item to go back. Now, one of the things that we’ve at a low cost.] really worked hard on in our administration is trying to help communities reduce the The President. That’s a big problem. crime rate. And I think we ought to—we We’re concerned about that. Do you want need to keep at it until we go back to a time to talk about that? when people think that violence is abnormal, [Vice President Gore said that there would not normal; when crime is the exception, not be devices to make an older TV compatible the rule. with the V-chip system. He added that with
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 9 239
the introduction of the V-chip, the dynamics human nature, and whether you’re optimistic in the marketplace would change in favor of or pessimistic, in ways that you don’t—you programming that would not be blocked by can’t know while it’s happening to you. That’s the V-chip.] what I would say in defense of stricter par- The President. Keep in mind, though, the ents. ratings, as we all know—all of us who’ve ever It’s not that kids can’t handle one thing, purchased advertising know—advertising nearly any one thing. You know, you read rates are tied to rating rates. Income is all a lot of examples of children that see horrible related to rating rates. If there are—let’s say incidents on the street, and they grow up to there are 300 million television sets in the be perfectly fine, wonderful people. It’s the United States, which is, I think, about right. total impact. And that’s why parents need to That means within 4 years, at a 25-million- have this. a-year replacement rate, a third of the tele- [One young man said he thought it was an vision sets will have these. If, among the excellent idea for younger children, especially third, just a significant percentage—not even when both parents were working. A parent a majority, just a significant percentage of the added that blocking certain shows made a parents with young children begin to use this statement to children about individual and along with the rating system, it will affect family values. Vice President Gore agreed the overall ratings, and it will have a backup that drawing a line is a significant part of impact that will benefit the parents that don’t parenting. Another participant expressed dis- own it. may that violence is presented as entertain- Also, I think, to be fair, a lot of our chil- ment. The school principal noted that vio- dren are still at a position in their life that lence had become too commonplace and stat- if we knew enough to know what things to ed the need to teach nonviolence. He also ask them not to watch, they wouldn’t do it. praised the V-chip as a means to cope with I don’t think we should minimize the fact unexpected violent or sexual content in mov- that a lot of these problems are caused by ies on cable.] blind ignorance. The President. Let me just say one final [A participant said that she avoided un- thing about this. Maybe we ought to change wanted programming at home by not watch- the name from V-chip to parent power chip. ing television. Vice President Gore then asked One of the things that we talk about all the children for comments on how they felt the time, to go beyond this, is that all these about it. One child responded that he had technological changes that are going on in nightmares after watching scary movies with the world are so wonderful in so many ways, a friend. Another child said that many par- in making opportunities for people to do ents were overprotective concerning tele- things they never could do before. But if vision shows.] we’re not careful, they also make the majority The President. I agree with that. I think of the people feel that they’re losing control kids are a lot more—good kids that have of their lives in many ways, not just this way, good, loving parents and a good, loving in many ways. And I think anything we can home, they can handle a lot more sometimes do to harness the power of new technology than their parents think. I agree with that, to give people more control back over their but the only thing I would say in defense lives, their family lives, the workplace, the of the parents is, remember what I said in community, that’s a good thing. We don’t the beginning, it’s not so much that one pro- want people to feel powerless. gram. If it was just one program, you know, One of the things that frustrates people it wouldn’t be—it is the total impact of this in this country is they feel like there are all on families where there are no restrictions these forces out there running around work- for hours and hours a day, every day of the ing on their lives, and they have no control week, for a whole childhood. It changes your over them. And this is maybe just one small outlook toward the world, and what is and step, but it’s a way of saying to people that is not acceptable, and what you think about new technologies can put you back in the
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 240 Feb. 9 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
driver’s seat in your life, not take you further peace. During my visit there last year I could and further out of it. see for myself that the demand for peace was [A participant thanked the President and the lasting. No one and no organization has the Vice President for support of the V-chip legis- right to deny the people of Northern Ireland lation to empower parents.] a peaceful future, and I am determined to do all that I can to see that the enemies of The President. It’s still the most impor- peace do not succeed. tant work in this society. It’s everybody’s Last night I spoke to the British Prime most important job. Minister, John Major, to express our shock Participants. Thank you. and sadness over this event. I also spoke to The President. Thank you very much. the Irish Prime Minister, John Bruton. I as- Thanks again for having me here. sured both of them that America would con- tinue to be committed to work for a nego- NOTE: The President spoke at 11:05 a.m. at the tiated, secure peace. residence of Ric and Jean Voigt. This item was not received in time for publication in the appro- Let me say again that this terrible incident priate issue. reminds me of a lesson I have learned in working for peace throughout the world in the last 3 years. The real differences in our Remarks on the Terrorist Attack in world are not between Catholics and Protes- London, United Kingdom tants, Arabs and Jews, Muslims, Croats, and February 10, 1996 Serbs, they are between those who embrace peace and those who reject it, those who look The President. Good morning. I have a to the future and those who are blinded by few words to say about yesterday’s terrorist the hatreds of the past, those who open their bombing in London. As all of us know, it arms and those who are determined to keep injured scores of people. Let me begin by clenching their fists. saying that I know I speak for all Americans We all have to choose. The people of who join Hillary and me in praying for those Northern Ireland have chosen peace. They who were hurt and for their speedy recovery. do not deserve to have a small group choose We also hope that those responsible for this bloodshed and violence and wreck the peace- terrible and cowardly act are quickly brought ful life they long for. And the people of Great to justice. Britain do not deserve to have this violence There can be no doubt about the purpose wreaked upon them. We will not stop in our of this attack. This attack was aimed at the efforts until peace has been secured. growing prospects for peace, a just and last- Thank you. ing peace in Northern Ireland. I am deeply concerned by reports that the Irish Repub- NOTE: The President spoke at 8:47 a.m. on the lican Army has announced an end to the South Lawn at the White House, prior to his de- parture for Iowa City, IA. cease-fire. The cease-fire and the good will and hard work of the parties to the Irish con- flict have given the people of Northern Ire- The President’s Radio Address land the greatest gift of all: the simple bless- February 10, 1996 ings of a normal life. Since the cease-fire went into effect a year Good morning. Today I want to talk with and a half ago, people of all faiths have been you about our families and our future—a fu- able to go about their daily lives without the ture of great possibilities and strong chal- disruption of searches and roadblocks, and lenges, challenges we cannot meet with Gov- especially without fear of the bullet and the ernment alone, but we can’t meet them by bomb. We must not turn away from that path letting people fend for themselves, either. now. We have to go forward together. I know that the overwhelming majority of In my State of the Union Address, I out- the people of Northern Ireland, Catholic and lined our seven biggest challenges for the fu- Protestant alike, want to stay on the path of ture, challenges we must meet if we are going
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 241
to make the American dream available to all We know that when parents are absent or our people and unite our country around our abusive the results can be tragic. Recently shared values. in Chicago a 5-year-old boy was held 14 sto- Those seven are: strengthening our fami- ries above the pavement by a 10-year-old and lies and giving our children better child- an 11-year-old, and dropped to his death. hoods; providing better education for all The boys who did the killing were essentially Americans; enhancing the security of work- parentless, with both fathers in prison. In ing families through access to health care, New York, a 6-year-old girl was beaten and lifetime education and training and secure tortured to death by her own mother. pensions; fighting crime and gangs and drugs We know neglect can be bad, too, and not until crime is the exception, not the rule, in just in physical ways. Just this week, another America again; protecting our environment; national study confirmed the destructive im- maintaining our world leadership for peace pact on children of being permitted to watch and freedom; and continuing to reform and excessive violence on television for hours and reinvent our Government so that it does a hours a day, year after year after year. Be- better job at less cost in helping our people yond that, we all know of the threats to our to make the most of their own lives, and solve children outside the family. We must do a our problems together. better job of dealing with these challenges. Our first, and in many ways our most im- The sad fact is that while the overall crime portant, challenge is to strengthen our fami- rate is going down, crime among juveniles lies and improve childhood for all of our chil- is still going up. While the overall drug use dren. Our children are shaped by many rate is going down, drug use among our chil- forces, first and foremost by their parents, dren is still going up. When we lose these but also by other relatives, schools, places of children, we suffer terrible individual losses worship, their peers, their communities, and and more; we lose a piece of our shared fu- the larger economic and social forces of our ture. time. I know today’s parents face tough chal- If the first years of a child’s life go right, lenges. This information and technology rev- with engaged, caring parents to love and en- olution in the new global economy we’re ex- courage them, to teach them right from periencing is transforming the world to a de- wrong, it can mean the difference between gree seldom seen in history. Many of these a lifetime of fulfillment and a lifetime of frus- changes are good, but let’s face it, many of tration and disappointment. It can also mean them put extra tremendous stress on Ameri- the difference between an America prepared ca’s parents, financial and otherwise. to meet the challenges of the 21st century That’s why we’ve worked hard to help par- and an America that is not. ents in building strong families and bright These days, most parents are working futures for their children with things like the harder just to make ends meet; so it’s an even Family and Medical Leave Act so parents greater challenge to spend the time, the en- won’t have to sacrifice their jobs when there’s ergy, the concentration necessary to get chil- a baby born or family emergencies, with in- dren off to a good start. And it’s a tougher vestments in Head Start and immunization job because our children are subject to so so our children get off to a healthy start, with many outside forces that can undermine their the earned-income tax credit, which this year growing up. will cut taxes for working families with in- Sadly, too many of our children are grow- comes of less than $27,000 so that no families ing up without parents; others are abused or with full-time workers and children will be neglected by their parents; others have par- in poverty, with record amounts of child sup- ents who simply don’t know how to be strong, port collected, and with successful new ef- positive forces, the kind of forces every child forts to make our streets and schools safer— needs in his or her life. Too often, these par- 100,000 more police, things like the Brady ents become shadows on the outskirts of law, which has now kept 40,000 criminals their children’s lives. from getting handguns.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 242 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
Just this week I signed the Telecommuni- get that basic truth. Their lives and our com- cations Act of 1996 which gives the parents mon future depend upon it. the V-chip so they can take greater respon- Thanks for listening. sibility for their children’s lives and help them to kick the degrading influence of ex- NOTE: The address was recorded at approximately cessive television violence and other inappro- 8:15 a.m. on February 10 in the Oval Office for priate programming out of their house. broadcast at 10:06 a.m. Now we’re working hard to pass bipartisan legislation to prevent insurance companies from dropping people when they switch jobs Remarks to the Community in Iowa or when their family members or they have City, Iowa preexisting health conditions. A sick child is February 10, 1996 enough weight on your shoulders without threatening the family’s insurance. We’re try- Thank you very much. Thank you, Erin. ing to pass welfare reform which supports Thank you to the University of Iowa Band. both work and childrearing, and we ought You were great. I thank the basketball team to raise the minimum wage. No parent can for ending their practice early so we could raise a child on $4.25 a hour, though millions come and gather, and I hope they have prac- are trying to do just that. ticed enough to do very well. I think they Government will continue to do its part. have. But governments don’t raise children; par- I congratulate the University of Iowa on ents do, and no program can ever replace all of its successes, athletic and academic, and parents teaching their children right from I think we should, in addition to football and wrong and helping them to grow into strong, women’s and men’s basketball, mention the self-confident citizens. We can give you the long success of the wrestling team here, V-chip, but you have to use it. We can make which has always impressed me. dads send checks to support their children, I want to thank Allison Miller, who spoke but a check is no substitute for a parent’s here before, for her work on the Clinton- love and guidance. Gore campaign. And I thank Bob Rush for We can continue to improve our schools, running for Congress and trying to change but what happens in the classroom depends the direction of the House of Representa- in part on what happens at home, before and tives. I want to thank the Iowans who have after school. We can pass laws to help fami- contributed to the success of our administra- lies, but families must help themselves with tion, and in particular two: your former attor- parents respecting each other, keeping vio- ney general, Bonnie Campbell, who directs lence out of the home, challenging each our Office of Violence Against Women; and other to work harder to stay together. Di- the President of the Overseas Private Invest- vorce may be easier than staying together for ment Corporation, who directs jobs for parents, but usually it’s tougher for the kids. America by getting investments abroad, Ruth So to every parent I say: Turn off the TV Harkin. I thank her for the wonderful job more. Get to know your child’s teacher. she has done. Spend time together. Read and learn to- You know, I’m glad to be back in Iowa, gether. Above all, teach your child right from and I was glad to hear Senator Harkin giving wrong. If parents do their job and the rest you all those reasons you should vote in the of us, including Government, do our part, caucus in just a couple of days. He didn’t America’s future will be assured because we give you the best reason of all, from my pure- work together. ly selfish point of view. You see, I’ve always The Bible asks: ‘‘If your child asks for admired the Iowa caucuses, and the last time bread, would you give him a stone? If he I ran, for some reason, I could get almost asks for fish, would you give him a serpent? no votes here. [Laughter] And so I would If he asks for an egg, would you give him like just one time before I have to retire from a scorpion?’’ Our children are what we give politics to get a great vote in the Iowa caucus. them, what we teach them. We dare not for- So I ask you to please go out and do that.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 243
I have been privileged to serve you now living in a time of profound change, more for 3 years. And before we talk about the profound than any period of our history since next 4, just let me thank you for the last 3: we moved from being fundamentally a rural, for the support I received in Iowa in 1992; agricultural society to being a more urban, for the incredible experience that Hillary and industrial society 100 years ago. This change I and Al and Tipper had when our bus drove we are now going through is as profound as through here, and the times I came back, that. and the people I met, the stories I heard, Senator Harkin mentioned Bill Gates, the the things I learned; for the opportunity to great founder of Microsoft. You know, he’s come here when you were reeling from the written a book about the future, the informa- floods with our Federal Emergency Manage- tion superhighway, and he says that the revo- ment Agency and the other agencies to try lution in communications brought on by digi- to help Iowa put itself back together and get tal chips will be more profound than anything back on a good foot to the future; for the that has happened since the printing press rural summit we had here where people was invented in Europe by Gutenberg 500 came from all over America to Iowa to talk years ago. That is the dimension of the period about our plans for rebuilding rural America, of change in which you live. as well as urban and suburban America. I How does this affect you? We’re changing thank you for all that. the way we work, where mind counts more And let me also say there was a sense in than muscle. We’re changing the way we which, while I only came to Iowa on these communicate because of the information ex- occasions, Iowa was always there with me be- plosion. We’re changing the workplace itself. cause of the heroic, courageous, never-fail- Workplaces tend to be less bureaucratic, less ing, energetic, determined stands that Tom hierarchical, and smaller. And it’s great if Harkin has taken in the United States Senate you’re on the upside of it, but not so good every day he has served. if you’re like a lot of my classmates from My fellow Americans, I know that because grade school and high school and college, Iowa has this incredible responsibility of be- who are being laid off from some of these ginning the process of nominating the Presi- companies as they downsize. dent, and because so much time and money If you change the way you work, if you is spent here, ever more on television ads, change the way you communicate, if you it seems, this year, there is always a lot of change the way the workplace works, if the discussion about what the Iowa caucus means marketplace changes so that financial mar- and what the election is about. And very kets and markets for goods and services are often, it’s in terms of, is this going to be an all global, the way markets for farm products election where grassroots campaigns will be have been for years, inevitably, we’ll have to less significant than television ads? Is this change the way we live and the way we relat- going to be an election where some kind of ed to each other and the rest of the world. message works better than another? Is this And that means the roles of our Government going to be an election where economics or must change, too. social issues and fundamental values domi- But our Government must be the servant nate? In other words, there’s all this sort of of the people. And so, to decide what we handicapping that goes on, and I guess you should do for the next 4 years and into the get used to it. But let me tell you: This elec- future, we have to first ask ourselves what tion fundamentally is about you. And don’t kind of country do we want to be? What is you ever forget it. It’s about your responsibil- our vision for the future? How are we doing ities. It’s about your opportunities. It’s about now? That will answer the question of which your country. It’s about your future. It is policies we should pursue. about you. And you must make sure that is My vision for the future is one in which exactly what it is about all year long until this incredible age of possibility—there are November. literally more possibilities available for per- As I said in my State of the Union Address sonal fulfillment today and tomorrow than at and have said all across America, we are now any time in our history—I want those possi-
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 244 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
bilities available to every American without I had lunch with a good friend of mine regard to race or gender or income or region. from out West who is a terrifically successful Every American who is willing to work for businessman. By blind accident of fate, 40 them ought to have them. years ago he and I went to the same little I want America to be strong enough and red brick schoolhouse in our hometown in good enough to still be the world’s strongest Arkansas. And so did his brother, a man with force for peace and freedom, as long as we a college education, a good man, he worked are needed to try to heal the divisions in this hard, almost 50 years old. His kids are ready troubled world, and as long as we need to to go to college. Twice in the last 5 years be a leading force to protect our own security his brother has lost his job because his com- and advance the quality of our own lives. And pany has been bought out by another one, more than anything else, I want this country and they went through one of these to grow and work and live together. I am downsizes. sick and tired of seeing us divided by short- So we have a lot of good news and a lot term political strategies that are bad for our to be happy about. But the American dream country. and all the possibilities of this age have not Now if you share that vision, you have to been open to everyone. That’s what the Rural ask yourself, how are we doing? And if you Development Conference was all about. ask yourself, how are we doing, you have to There are pockets in our cities and in our answer, we’re doing better than we were, but rural areas that this has not reached. not nearly good enough. That is the short Look at our leadership in the world. I am answer. grateful that we’ve made progress for peace, Look at the economy. Nearly 8 million new from Northern Ireland to southern Africa to jobs, a big drop in the unemployment rate, the Middle East to Bosnia to Haiti. I’m grate- an explosion in the growth of manufacturing ful for that. I am grateful that there are no jobs here in Iowa, the lowest combined rates nuclear missiles pointed at the United States of unemployment and inflation in 27 years, anymore. a 15-year high in homeownership for 3 years But we know the work of peace and free- in a row, record numbers of new small busi- dom, of security is far from over. We saw nesses. Interestingly enough, businesses it yesterday in an act of venality and coward- owned by women alone in the last 3 years ice when the peace was broken in Britain have created more new jobs than the For- and that building was blown up and innocent tune 500 have laid off. That is good. people were thrown in to the hospital, in total In each of the last 3 years, a record num- violation of the wishes and dreams of both ber of new self-made millionaires, not people the Catholic and the Protestant people in the who inherited it, people who had the talent street in Northern Ireland who came out to God gave them developed it, had a good idea, cheer the First Lady and me because they and went out and made it on their own. That want the United States to keep the peace is good for America, and we should be proud and to move to a resolution. We know these of that. We have all-time-high exports of our are problems. products. Our exports are growing faster than We saw it when the Prime Minister of Is- our imports for a change. You can see it in rael, my dear friend, was shot down at the what’s happened to corn prices and soybean moment of his greatest triumph, pushing for prices in Iowa. You can see it in what’s hap- peace. We see it when, in Japan, they can pened to high-tech telecommunications ex- break open a little vial of poison gas in the ports all across the country. subway and kill hundreds of people like that. That is the good news. But what is the We see it when terrorists come in to our whole truth? Half the American people still country from other countries and blow up haven’t gotten a raise in terms of what their the World Trade Center. We see it when ter- incomes will buy in the last 10 or 15 years. rorists can exchange information over the Some Americans who worked hard and Internet about how to make simple bombs played by the rules are just being left behind like the one that killed our beloved fellow in all these changes. citizens in Oklahoma City.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 245
So I say to you: This is a much more peace- unless they work together and stand together ful, secure world than it was. But we have and make the most of their potential. a lot of work to do to free the world of the You know, it’s amazing to me when I hear dangers of weapons of mass destruction, to these debates and people act as if what we free the world of the dangers of terrorism really ought to do is just give everybody and and drug trafficking and organized crime. We each other a good letting-alone. Well, we just have to work on this. And we cannot with- had the Super Bowl. And whenever we have draw from the world. If we want a com- a Super Bowl, the stars get all the television prehensive nuclear test ban treaty this year, time. That’s all right. That’s probably the way if we want a global effort to preserve the en- it ought to be. All I know is that the team vironment, we can’t say America cannot be that won the Super Bowl last time won in bothered with you. We have to lead the world large measure because the guys whose names for peace and freedom. you may not know who were playing from How are we doing? Perhaps most impor- tackle to tackle on offense and defense made tant in how we are doing is that there is some them a team. And a lot of us could look good evidence that we are getting our act together playing on a team like that. again as a country, that we are coming back Iowa went to a bowl game this year not together around our basic values. In the last because of the stars, just because of the team. 3 years nationwide, the crime rate is down, Your basketball teams are doing well not just the welfare rolls are down, the food stamp because of the stars, because it’s a team. rolls are down, the poverty rolls are down, We’ve got to put everybody on the field in the teen pregnancy rates are down now for America, and we have to work together as 2 years in a row. That is good news for Amer- a team. That’s how we’re going to do it. ica, and we should rejoice in that. And that means you need a Government But the crime rate is still too high. There that’s less bureaucratic and does fewer stupid are still too many people trapped on welfare things but is still strong. I didn’t hear any- who want to be independent. There are still body in Iowa begging for a weak FEMA too many children having children. And there when the floods came down. I don’t hear any is still too much that doesn’t make sense in farmers in Iowa begging for a weak trade am- this country. We all know that. We can’t stop bassador when we’ve got a good deal so we now. can sell our farm products around the world. So what is this election about? I think it’s I don’t hear anybody here in this campus, about our challenges for the future and how where you’ve got the direct loan program and we’re going to meet them together. You have you know it costs less, you have better repay- to do that before you can answer this great ment terms—no one in America will ever question about what the role of our Govern- have an excuse not to go to college again if ment is and what the President should be you can pay the loans back as a percentage doing. of your income, so you can never be broken This is not that tired old debate about big down by the burden of college debt. Who Government versus small Government. The wants a weak student loan program? I don’t Democrats and this President and our ad- believe we want that. ministration, we cut the deficit in half and With families all over America driven into reduced the Government to its smallest size welfare partly because absent parents don’t in 30 long years. But we cut 18,000 pages pay their child support, we have record child of Federal regulation that were useless. We support collections this year. I don’t think closed thousands of offices we didn’t need you want an America with a weak child sup- anymore. That’s all well and good. But we port collection system. You want an America also—while this is not about big Govern- with a strong child support collection system. ment—there is no more big Government— We know we have to create most of our it’s also not about having Government walk jobs from small businesses and that that’s away and leave the American people to fend where most of the new jobs are coming from. for themselves in the global marketplace I don’t think we want a weak Small Business where they won’t amount to a hill of beans Administration. The one you have has cut the
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 246 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
loan form from one inch to two pages, has the Pell grants. We ought to have a million cut down the delay time a lot, is 40 percent people in work-study programs who are— smaller in terms of budget, but we have dou- young people who are willing to work them- bled the loan volume of the SBA. And we’d selves through college. And if we’re going to better keep doing that if we’re going to create have a tax cut, we ought to have a tax cut more jobs through small businesses in Amer- for the cost of college tuition all across Amer- ica. We need a strong, strong SBA. ica. So what we really need is a Government Our third great challenge is to do some- that is a partner that helps people to make thing to give every family that’s willing to the most of their own lives, that helps fami- work access to the economic security that is lies and communities to seize their opportu- coming to the most successful families in nities and meet their challenges, that puts America. At a minimum, since people are all the players on the field and helps us work changing jobs, that means that every family together. That is why, in the State of the ought to have access to affordable health care Union, I said our country—not our Govern- that they can’t lose just because somebody ment but our country—has seven great chal- in their family gets sick. lenges for the future. Let me just call a timeout here. Here’s First, to strengthen our families and give something you don’t have to wait for the elec- your childhoods back to all America’s chil- tion to do. There is a bipartisan bill with 45 dren. Too many have been robbed of their cosponsors that was voted out of the Senate childhoods for too long. That’s what we were committee unanimously. It is on the floor of trying to do with our tough stand against ille- the Senate just waiting for the leadership to gal teenage smoking. That’s what we were let it come up, sponsored by Senator Kasse- trying to do yesterday or the day before when baum of Kansas, a Republican Senator, and I signed the telecommunications bill to open Democratic Senator Kennedy of Massachu- up vast new opportunities in information and setts. And this bill is a simple bill. It just entertainment and create tens of thousands says that you can’t be deprived of your health of jobs, but also give parents in their homes insurance when you change jobs, and you that V-chip to protect their small children, can’t lose your health insurance if you or because just last week we saw another study somebody in your family gets sick. It is a sim- saying that hour after hour after hour, week ple bill. All the consumer groups have en- after week, year after year of exposure to dorsed it. The Chamber of Commerce has mindless violence numbs our young people endorsed it. The National Association of to the impact, the consequences, and the Manufacturers is for it. Everybody’s for it ex- moral dimensions of violent behavior. We cept the health insurance lobby. It was voted must stand against it. It is wrong. out unanimously, and we cannot get it to a We need every young—our second chal- vote in the Senate. Tell the United States lenge is to make sure everybody in America Senators that are here campaigning to go can do what those of you who are students back and vote that bill out, send it to the here are doing, getting a world-class edu- House, send it to my desk. Give the Amer- cation adequate to the 21st century. Every ican people the protection they need. school, every library in this country should Let me just give you two other examples be hooked up to the Internet by the year I feel very strongly about. I think if American 2000, and every child ought to be able to families lose their jobs, they ought to be able access it. Every State ought to have as low to immediately—immediately, not a month a dropout rate and as high a student perform- later—get into an education and training pro- ance rate as the State of Iowa does. We ought gram. If they’re grossly underemployed, they to have high national standards for perform- ought to be able to do it. I have given the ance. Congress a proposal to take all these scores And we need to open the doors of college of training programs the Federal Govern- wider, not close them shut. We should keep ment has developed over the years, collapse the direct loan program. We should keep the them into a funding stream and give every national service program. We should expand unemployed person in America a voucher
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 247
they can take to their local community col- venting crime, not just catching criminals. I lege, to their nearest education and training am proud of the fact that the Brady law has institution to immediately begin to acquire kept over 40,000 people with criminal the skills that go back into the workplace. records from getting guns. I am proud of It’s a simple, direct, good idea for America. that. The third thing we ought to do is to recog- But I tell you, we cannot stop until a cer- nize that most people who are working for tain test is met. We know that every society small businesses—they still need retirement. has crime. We know there will always be vio- And we have a proposal to make it easier lence. We know things will happen among for people who work for small businesses and people that make them do things they their employers to take out pension plans. shouldn’t do. You know what the test is for We also ought to protect the pension plans when crime doesn’t have to be at the top that exist. Just a year or so ago, I had to sign of our agenda? When every one of you be- a bill to protect 81⁄2 million Americans whose lieves when you see a story on the news or pensions were in danger and to secure the you read about it in the paper involving a pensions of 40 million others. crime, you see it as the exception, not the You remember it wasn’t so many years ago rule; you stop being deadened to it; you stop that all these people were losing their life saying, ‘‘Oh, the news is coming on. We’ll savings, their pensions because they had have 5 minutes of crime, and then we’ll see been allowed to be abused by the employers. what else is going to happen.’’ I say to you, we should not allow people to Now, what I want to say to you is, I have go back and raid these pension funds and seen in city after city after city in this country, put the pensions of America’s workers at risk the crime rate plummeting. I am telling you again. That is not the right thing to do, and we can take our streets back. But I also want we should stand against it. you to know that the biggest problem we Let me just say one last thing about eco- have is the abysmal condition of childhood. nomic security. I hear a lot of talk in Wash- For while the crime rate is going down in ington about family values. And a lot of the America, random violence among juveniles people who talk about it act like the worst under 18 is going up. While drug use is going thing that ever happened to America was the down in America, random drug use among minimum wage. If we don’t raise the mini- juveniles is going up. We cannot jail our way mum wage this year, it will fall to a 40-year out of this problem. We can be tough, but low in terms of what it will buy. You cannot we have to be smart. We have to reach out raise children on $4.25 an hour. But millions to our children and give them a future they of Americans, millions of your fellow coun- deserve. trymen and women, are not on welfare, they I will be brief about this one because I are not abusing the system. They are the real imagine I’m preaching to the choir, but we heroes in this country. They will get up Mon- must drop the crazy idea that in order to day morning and Tuesday morning and grow our economy we have to absolutely de- sometimes 6 days a week and sometimes stroy our environment. We have to preserve more, and they will go to work to try to sup- and enhance the quality of the environment port their family for $4.25 an hour because if we expect this country to go forward. Washington has turned a deaf ear to them. You know, I had a very interesting con- No one should do that. If we are prowork versation with the President of China a few and pro-family, we ought to raise the mini- months ago. And we have some differences mum wage. It is wrong. with China, and he said, ‘‘Sometimes I think Our fourth challenge is to continue the the United States looks at us as a future struggle to take our streets back, to make threat, and you want to contain us.’’ And I them safe again, to make our schools and our said, ‘‘No, Mr. President, I don’t.’’ But I said, neighborhoods safe again. I am proud of the ‘‘There is one threat you present to our fu- fact that this administration has led an effort ture, but it’s our fault as much as yours.’’ to put 100,000 more police officers on our And he looked at me with a sort of quizzical streets and that community police are pre- look in his eye, and he said, ‘‘Whatever do
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 248 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
you mean?’’ I said, ‘‘Well, your economy is and getting shot and killed. It’s about saying growing like crazy. You’re buying a lot of our to the Europeans, ‘‘We don’t want you to farm products now. We’re buying a lot of close up. We want you to be open. We want your products. Everybody in China wants to you to be open in trade. We want you to get rich, like everybody in America, and I be open in ideas. We want you to be our don’t blame you. But you have over 1.2 bil- allies, our friends, our partners in the future. lion people, and if every one of your people And if we have to stand with you now be- gets an automobile, like every one of our peo- cause we are still the strongest country in ple has, we’re not going to be able to breathe the world after the cold war, we will do it the air together. We will be choking together, to stop that kind of slaughter, because we’re in common.’’ partners in the future.’’ That’s why I’ve worked for the clean car. If we want to go to Pakistan, for example, That’s why I supported ethanol. That’s why and say, ‘‘We think there’s a suspected terror- I’ve done all these things to try to find a way ist there. Will you arrest this person, even to grow the economy and preserve the envi- if it costs you something politically. And ronment. That’s why we shouldn’t cut envi- make it possible for us to bring someone back ronmental protection. We shouldn’t weaken here to justice. We can’t say that we have environmental regulations. We shouldn’t no concern about India, we have no concern walk back on safe food and safe drugs and about Pakistan, we don’t care what’s going clean air and clean water. We should stay on on the Indian subcontinent, it’s a long way the course of protecting the environment. away.’’ We’d better care. We had better care. I’ve already had my say about this, but the If you want a safe world, if you want these most unpopular one of these challenges or countries to say, ‘‘We’ll never develop nu- the one that elicits a giant yawn from most clear missiles,’’ if you want them to say, as people when I say we’ve got to maintain our I am pleading with them to say this year, leadership in the world for peace and free- ‘‘No more nuclear testing: It is over,’’ we dom. And a lot of people say well—I mean, have to cooperate in the world. I get the feeling that a lot of Americans when The last challenge is, together you and I I said that at the State of the Union were have got to make this democracy work, and sitting in their homes, and they said, ‘‘Well, we’ve got to make people think more of it. go on, Mr. President, I trust you. You’ve done Every survey talks about how cynical people pretty well on that. But I wish you wouldn’t are, how skeptical they are. Even people who even bother me with it. I’ve got too many say, ‘‘My circumstances are better,’’ say, ‘‘I’m problems to think about at home. The cold worried about my country, don’t have any war is over. The Russians aren’t going to faith in my Government.’’ It’s your Govern- bomb us anymore. Let’s forget about that.’’ ment. But remember what I told you: Our sec- I’ve worked hard for political reform. We ond biggest market in terms of growth is passed lobby reform. We passed a law that Latin America. If you want them to cooper- says Congress has to live under the laws they ate with us in the economy, if you want them impose on the private sector. We passed a to stop sending drugs to our shores to pollute law limiting the ability of Congress to require our kids, just remember, we have to cooper- State and local governments to spend money ate with them. We have arrested, in the last if they won’t help them do it. They ought 2 years, seven of the eight leaders of the Cali to pass two more things: the line-item veto drug cartel, the biggest one in the world, be- they have been promising me for 3 years, cause we cooperated. And they put their lives and they ought to pass a campaign finance on the line; we didn’t have to do that. You reform law that gives power back to the can’t say, ‘‘Well, we’ll be with you when it’s American people. good for us, and meanwhile don’t call.’’ But make no mistake about it, my fellow You know what Bosnia is about, in part? Americans, no matter what we do there, un- It’s about stopping that war from spreading less people like you all across America do to other countries and dragging the Ameri- things like show up at these caucuses and cans in where we’d have soldiers in battle tell people you believe in your country and
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 249
talk about the problems, but also brag on come, and your future will be the glory of what’s going right, we can’t turn this country all American history. around. Cynicism is a cheap, phony excuse Thank you. God bless you, and come out for inaction. It is a poor shield against having Monday night. to assume your own responsibility. This is a great country. Whenever I go NOTE: The President spoke at 12 noon at the Carver Hawkeye Arena. In his remarks, he re- overseas people say to me if they follow ferred to University of Iowa students Erin Barber trends here, ‘‘How could the American peo- and Allison Miller, Clinton/Gore campus coordi- ple be cynical? You have a stronger economy nator; and Bob Rush, Clinton/Gore chair, Johnson than any other advanced country. You have County. a smaller deficit as a percentage of your in- come already than any other advanced coun- try. You have a lower tax burden as a percent- Remarks to the Community in Mason age of your income than any other advanced City, Iowa country. You’ve spent half your money for February 10, 1996 the last 30 years on defense, on Social Secu- rity, and on Medicare. You won the cold war. The President. Thank you very much. You cut the elderly poverty rate in half and Thank you for that wonderful, wonderful senior citizens in America have the highest welcome. I do feel that I have a home in expectancy of any group—life expectancy of the Heartland, and if I hadn’t felt it before any senior group in the entire world. America I got here tonight, I sure do now. I thank should be proud of itself.’’ you for your warmth and your enthusiasm. Thank you, Dr. Buettner. Thank you, Deo That’s what I say to you. We know we can Koenigs. Thank you, Ruth Harkin, for doing solve problems. What we need to do is to such a wonderful job in helping to create op- stop whining about it and carping about it portunities for our businesses and for our and get on with doing it, and doing it to- working people through the Overseas Private gether—together. Investment Cooperation. And thank you, Let me end where I began. This election Senator Tom Harkin, for continuing to have is not about me, it’s not about all those folks a heart and continuing to have the stomach running television ads about each other and and the will to stand up and fight for the me—[laughter]. It’s not about some spin interests of ordinary Americans when so about what this does or doesn’t mean this many others have backed away. time, or whether it’s more TV ads and less I have had a wonderful time here already. grassroots. It’s about you. And an election I landed the airplane just in time to catch ratifies and makes explicit the truth of any the snow and the wind coming back. [Laugh- democracy that ultimately you are the boss. ter] Impeccable timing. And then I went over You have the power. You must have vision. to Clear Lake to the farm co-op. And we You must know what you want this country had a wonderful—and I had a great time to look like for your children and your grand- there with all the folks who worked there. children. You must know what kind of life And we brought in a truckload of corn, and you want to live. You must understand that I said to myself, if corn stays above $3, I there will be more out there for you if you’re ought to do all right in Iowa. willing to work for it than any previous gen- And believe it or not, there were even rail eration of Americans. And you must under- cars there to take it away. I saw that. [Laugh- stand that in order to really enjoy it you’ve ter] got to make it available to all Americans who Audience member. [Inaudible] [Laugh- don’t have the capacity to reach it now. ter] The central lesson I have learned in 3 years The President. Well, we’re working on it. as your President is that we desperately, des- [Laughter] And then, of course, I came here. perately, desperately have to face the fact And I’ve been hearing all about the advertis- that we must go forward together. If we do, ing in Iowa, all these ads, you know. You there is no stopping us. The best is yet to know. [Laughter] So I want you to know I
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 250 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
listen to the ads, and I want to show you lenges we have and to make the future what how in touch I am with where I am tonight it ought to be for all the American people. based on advertising. Of all the places I could All of you know that Iowa has an extra re- have been tonight, I chose NIACC first. [Ap- sponsibility in the political process. In an age plause] Thank you. Thank you. where national politics tends to be domi- Let me say that it is true I always feel at nated more and more by glib sound bites, home in Iowa. I’m always glad to be back people are expected to come to Iowa to look here. We have had the opportunity, Hillary at their constituents face to face, to listen and I and our administration officials, to be to their concerns and listen to their babies here many times. I do think it’s fitting that cry. [Laughter] We’re not expected to have I’m here tonight, just as it was fitting that these set, pat, controlled events and just a major portion of our first bus tour went communicate with folks through paid ads, through Iowa. I still have vivid memories of and I like it. the people I met along the way. I still have And I hope every one of you will take the rich recollections of the conversations I had time to show up on caucus night and make with elected officials, like your agriculture your voices heard. Even if I don’t have a secretary, and conversations I had with peo- named opponent, I hope you’ll show up for ple I just stopped the bus alongside of the me. For another reason—thanks to the won- road and got off the bus and spoke with. And derful man who introduced me, it was impos- I’ve always tried, in the last 3 years, to get sible for me to get any votes in Iowa 4 years up every day and go to work and try to work ago in the caucus. And I would hate to retire for you and people like you all over this coun- from politics never having done well in the Laughter try. Iowa caucuses. [ ] So, for purely self- ish reasons, I hope you will go on Monday So before I say anything else I want to night. just thank you for the opportunity that I have I want to talk to you tonight about the chal- had to serve as your President for the last lenges facing our country from the perspec- 3 years. I also want to say that being here tive of rural communities. I’m fairly sure that at this North Iowa Area Community College I am the last American President who will is a fitting place for this event tonight be- ever be elected who once lived in a home cause, as you will see as I get into my re- in the country without indoor plumbing. I marks, the community college in some ways know how far this country has come in the is a symbol for what I think we ought to be last 50 years. I’m not ashamed of it, and I doing in America. It is community-based, survived it, and it makes a good story now— nonbureaucratic, sensitive to the needs of its [laughter]—especially when I tell wide-eyed customers, the students. It’s a place where kids about the snakes that used to get in the everybody can come. It’s changing all the outhouse. [Laughter] But—oh, there was time as the economy changes and as the somebody getting the chills over there. needs of the community and the students [Laughter] change. And it doesn’t run on hot air and I have seen what this country can do in rhetoric; it runs on partnership, cooperation, rural America when we pull together and people reaching across the lines that divide work together. Just before I came here— them in a society to come together, to build keep in mind, I lived when I was a young a community institution that will take not man for a year or so, maybe nearly 2, in a only the student but the community into the home in the country that didn’t have indoor future. plumbing. I just came from a demonstration That is what we need to do as a country. at this community college of a computer pro- That is the central message I bring to you gram using satellite information that tells tonight. We have got to go forward together. farmers the difference in their soil composi- We’ve got to put behind us the petty divisions tion, their average yield, and gives them all and the easy cheap shots and the wedge is- kinds of information that they can access that sues that tear the heart out of American civic they never could have gotten before. That life, and get back together to face the chal- is how far we have come in 50 years.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 251
And what I want to say to you tonight is your community, and your future. That’s that our real obligation to work together is what it ought to be about. to find a way to take these phenomenal Now, let’s just look at for a moment where changes that are going on now, the biggest we are and what’s good and what’s still to in a hundred years—in the way we work, in be done. In a sentence I would tell you that the way our workplace is organized, and the we’re better off as a nation than we were way we communicate with one another, in 3 years ago, but we’ve still got some strong the markets to which we sell, and in the way, challenges we have to face. Begin with the therefore, we relate to each other—the big- economy. Now we have the lowest unem- gest changes in a hundred years. The chal- ployment and inflation rates combined we’ve lenge for our country is to harness those had in 27 years. We have almost 8 million things in a way that opens opportunity for new jobs. Here in Iowa, unemployment has all Americans and does it consistent with the dropped to 3.2 percent. Across our country, values of rural America, with family and work homeownership is at a 15-year high. Exports and community. I believe we can do it. of our products and services are at an all- We live in an age of incredible possibility. time high. Agricultural exports hit record lev- It is literally true that the young people here els in 1995, over $54 billion, $10 billion more in this room tonight will have available to than when I took office. them more options for living out their We still need to do better for the livestock dreams than any generation of people who industry, as the people in my home State al- have ever lived on the face of the Earth. It ways remind me. But in agriculture you know is literally true, as all of you know, that tech- we have a huge positive trade balance. And nology and information, the digital chip is that’s one of the reasons for the corn and transforming everything, including agri- the wheat and the soy bean prices that our culture, as I just said. It is also true that this farmers are enjoying today. opportunity also carries with it, as every Now, that’s the good news. But we also change does, a lot of challenge. know that in this remarkable economy that If you go back in history to the last period for 3 years in a row has produced a record that was more or less like this, you have to number of new small businesses starting up, go back 100 years, to the time when most and a record number of self-made million- Americans stopped living in the country and aires—not people that had it given to them, started living in towns and cities, and farmers people that went out and by their wits and got productive enough and factories became hard work and made it themselves—most available enough that most people stopped Americans have not gotten a raise. Most working on the farm and began to work in Americans, when you look at the purchasing factories or in activities that supported them. power of their income, are working for about You have to go back that far to see a what they were 10, 15, 18 years ago. And change this great. And in many ways, this many Americans have been victims, if you will be greater. But if you study the history will, of this changing economy because they of that era you will see the same thing hap- worked for big companies that downsized or pen then that’s happening now: enormous that were bought out or whatever. opportunities opening up for people; vast for- Many Americans have been on the receiv- tunes being made by people who had noth- ing end of a great company announcing ing, but a great uprooting that put new pres- they’re going to lay 10,000 people off. Their sures on families, on communities, and called stock price goes up, but the price of dignity into question whether the American dream and the price of supporting one’s children, could really be available to everybody who if you happen to be one of those 10,000, goes was willing to work for it. And if you fast- down. forward that to today you see what this elec- So we have to think about how can we tion should really be all about. take all of this dynamism, this wonderful, It shouldn’t be about all the process and churning age of possibility, and make it avail- political things people talk about. It ought able again to every American who’s willing to be about you, your families, your work, to work for it? That’s our first challenge.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 252 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
If you look at our role in the world, we ica, and we ought to keep working at it until see America, a positive force for peace and that’s exactly what happens. freedom from Haiti to Northern Ireland, to Obviously, if the nature of work changes, the Middle East, to Bosnia, all over the the nature of the workplace changes, the na- world. We also know from the terrible bomb- ture of communications changes, and the na- ing in London yesterday to the assassination ture of markets that we sell our goods and of the Israeli Prime Minister, to the terrorist services change, it’s going to change your life, acts from blowing up the World Trade Cen- and it’s got to change Government. So how ter to opening up that poison gas in Tokyo, should you change and what should you do this is still a dangerous world. And so we still and what should you expect your President have challenges we have to face. And much to do for the next 4 years? as we liked to say, ‘‘Well, the cold war is over, You have to begin by asking, what kind and the Soviet Union is not threatening us of country do you want to live in? What is anymore; we’d like to fold up our tent, come your vision of what America should be? My home, and just worry about what’s in front vision is of a country where every person, of us,’’ we can’t do that either. without regard to their station in life or And people in farming communities ought where they live has a chance to have the to know that better than anybody else. If you American dream if they are willing to work want to sell to the rest of the world, you have for it and do what it takes to achieve it. Every to be a good neighbor and a solid partner, person has a chance. and you’ve got to stand up for peace and free- My vision is of a country where people dom and try to remove the threats to decent people living good lives in every part of the work together in communities as they do in world, because that affects us as well. community colleges—to help each other If you look at the most important thing make the most of their own lives and seize to me, how are we doing in dealing with all their opportunities and face their challenges, this change in preserving and reinforcing our where we are not constantly looking for ways basic values, advancing the cause of family to look down on our neighbors and be di- and work, of opportunity and responsibility, vided from them, but we define objectives of people working together, I think you’d we can reach in common—and in a spirit of have to say the news is encouraging. In the honorable compromise that has kept this country as a whole for 3 years, the crime rate country going for nearly 220 years we get is down; the welfare rolls are down; the pov- after working together to make America a erty rolls are down; the teen pregnancy rate better place community by community. That is down. That is good news. is my vision. But if you flip it over, you’d have to say, If you say to me, ‘‘Well, what does that ‘‘Are you satisfied with any of those condi- mean about the Government, Mr. Presi- tions?’’ And to be honest, the answer is, no. dent?’’ it would be the following: Govern- So it’s good that we’re coming together again ment’s got to be like all these other organiza- around our basic values. It’s good that we’re tions. We don’t need a big, centralized, top- kind of getting our act together as a country. down bureaucracy anymore. The technology But we have work to do. And I’ll just give revolution has rendered that irrelevant. If you one example. people are working in smaller and smaller We all know there will always be crime work units, if you don’t need a lot of folks in any society. You can’t transform human in the middle to pass information down and nature. There will always be some level of orders up or the reverse, we can do better violence. So people often ask me, ‘‘Mr. Presi- with a smaller, less bureaucratic Govern- dent, how would you declare success in the ment, one that costs less and does better. war on crime?’’ And I have a simple, one- But if our mission is to help people make sentence answer, ‘‘When people like you the most of their own lives and to help people hear about a crime and you’re surprised work together to make the most of their situ- again. When crime is the exception rather ation, then we do not need a weak Govern- than the rule again.’’ And it can be in Amer- ment. When Iowa was flooded out with that
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 253
500-year flood, you did not want a weak Now, it’s in that framework that I would FEMA. You liked it that you a strong one. like to ask you all to look at this great debate If you want corn over $3 and soybeans at that’s been going on in the last year about $7, you don’t need a weak Trade Ambas- balancing the budget. First of all, we ought sador. You need somebody who’s strong and to balance the budget. This country never can guarantee a fair deal for America’s prod- had—never had—a commitment to running ucts in the global market. You need someone permanent big deficits year-in and year-out who’s strong. until 1981. Never. It’s very important that If you believe as I do that every single high you understand that. school graduate needs at least 2 years of post- In the whole history of America, from the high school education, and the ability to time we started until 1981, we had a trillion- come back to school for a lifetime, you don’t dollar debt, which was a very small percent- need a weak college loan program and a weak age of our overall income, our earning capac- Pell grant program. You need a strong, strong ity. And we borrowed money when we were emphasis on education. in wartime, when we had to mobilize the If you want to reinforce family values, and country in a hurry, when we were in a De- it makes you sick to know that there are thou- pression and we had to put people to work sands upon thousands of mothers and their in a hurry, or when we were in a recession children on welfare solely because the absent and we wanted the Government to spend fathers don’t pay their child support, and some money to help people who were genu- your heart jumps for joy when I tell you that inely in distress and to keep the economy in the last 3 years, each year we have broken from going downhill further. We never had records for collecting more and more and a permanent deficit until the 12 years before more child support across State lines, you I showed up in Washington. don’t want a weak program. You want a Now, in that time we quadrupled the na- strong program that can do the job for Amer- tional debt because people kept insisting we ica’s families. could spend more money year-in and year- If more and more of our businesses are out than we were taking in, and somehow being created in smaller units, and more and it would all add up. It violated arithmetic. more new jobs are coming through small And we’re paying the price for it today. And business, we don’t need a weak Small Busi- a lot of progressives like Senator Harkin and ness Administration. We’ve got an SBA that’s me are agreeing to cut some things we wish cut its budget by 40 percent and doubled we wouldn’t have to cut out of that budget its loan volume, that’s cut its regulation in so we can end this. We have cut this deficit half and cut its application to two pages, but in half in 3 years. And we need to finish the they’re out there making loans. And the con- job. We need to finish the job. sequence of that? Let me just give you one. But remember what our mission is: to pro- In the last 3 years, businesses owned by vide opportunity, to help people make the women alone—just by women—have created most of their own lives, to help people solve more new jobs than the Fortune 500 have their problems together. That means we have laid off. That’s what we need to be a strong, to balance the budget in a way that is consist- effective partnership. ent with our mission and our values. So we need a Government that is leaner, You know, you hear these words roll that is more creative, that is less bureaucratic, around, Medicare and Medicaid and all that. that does fewer dumb things. But we don’t Let me just tell you a few facts. The budget need somebody that’s in the Government I have proposed—the budget I have pro- and we don’t need a Government that is so posed would hold Medicare spending below weak it can’t help fulfill the mission, to help the projected rate of private health care in- people make the most of their own lives and creases. But it protects people on Medicare help people work together at the grassroots with the quality of their program and the cost level to advance our country’s cause and to they can afford to pay. keep our country the world’s strongest force If you’d go to Washington you would swear for peace and freedom. that everybody on Medicare was a millionaire
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 254 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
making out like a bandit. Well, I’ve got news inflation rate in the private insurance pre- for you. Seventy percent of the people on miums that most of you pay. And we know Medicare are living on less than $25,000, and we can hold it down. people on Medicare are paying the same per- We know we ought to have more poor peo- centage of their income out-of-pocket for ple in managed care programs. But don’t be health care they were paying 30 years ago, fooled: Two-thirds and more of the Medicaid before there was a Medicare. budget goes to benefit working families who So I say we ought to save some money. have parents in nursing homes, have people We have to have some savings to get the with disabilities in their families; and the Medicare Trust Fund back in order. We other third goes to pregnant women and should encourage people to save money by their little children. And they’re our little going into managed care plans. But we have children, too, and we better give them decent no business doing something that will under- health care and give them a chance to get mine the economic stability or the health off to a good start in life. care of senior citizens in the United States I feel the same way about investments in of America. education and the environment. If you know I feel the same way about the Medicaid that these are critical to your future, why in program. It’s not so famous because it’s more the world would you cut them, especially if complex. It’s a program where the States and you don’t have to? the Federal Government contribute to help So let me say this: In spite of all the back elderly people in nursing homes, most of and forth you’ve heard, I have spent 50 hours them from middle class families, who could working in good faith with the Republican never afford the over $30,000 a year it costs, leaders and the Democratic leaders of the on average, for people who have to go to Congress. And in our private meetings we nursing homes. It helps pregnant women and have discussed things openly, honestly, and little children who are either at or just barely in good faith. We have identified over $700 above the poverty line. And it helps families, billion—where I come from that’s still including a lot of middle class families who money—[laughter]—over $700 billion of sav- have people with disabilities in their family. ings that are common to both plans that we Now, we all know that Senator Harkin is could put in, have a balanced budget plan, the father of the Americans with Disabilities protect Medicare, Medicaid, education, and Act, and we’re proud of that. But he would environment, protect our fundamental obli- be the first to tell you that if we really want gations to our rural communities and our people with disabilities and their families to other fundamental obligations and even have have a decent, dignified life, and have the some left over for a modest tax cut, and still opportunity to live up to the fullest of their balance a budget in 7 years according to the potential, we have got to keep Medicaid way Congress scores the budget. They get there to keep middle class families doing the to keep the books. We can do that. So why best they can to take care of their children shouldn’t we do that instead of continuing and their siblings and their parents from endlessly to fight over issues that divide us going broke. It is a very important thing. that will undermine our security? The man with the red ribbon back there— Let me say this: I think there’s a good let’s talk about that. There’s all kinds of peo- chance there will be a budget agreement. But ple in this country that are HIV positive that even if there isn’t, this deficit will keep going are able to work, pay taxes, contribute be- down because the American people, without cause they have access to Medicaid. If you regard to party, have figured out we can’t take Medicaid away from them, they will get keep doing this. We can’t keep spending our- sicker sooner and cost you more money. selves in a hole every year when we don’t People, you know—again, you hear people borrow the money to invest it in something talk about it, you’d think this Medicaid pro- that will grow the economy—just spending, gram was some colossal ripoff. Now, let me deficit year after year after year. It is going tell you, in the last 2 years the inflation rate to go down. We are going to make that yes- in Medicaid has been way below the average terday’s legacy.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 255
I want to ask you just for a few minutes know about it; I hope you have seen that. before I close to think about what tomorrow’s Let me tell you what it will do. It also, like legacy is going to be. That’s what I talked this community college, is a symbol of what about in the State of the Union, the seven we ought to be doing. It will create tens of great challenges I think that are facing us thousands of high-wage jobs. It will give peo- all. And I just want to mention them quickly ple in rural areas more access to information, and ask you to think about what you expect more access to learning, and more access to me to do and what you should be doing about entertainment. each of these. But it will protect the right of little tele- The first of these challenges, clearly, is to phone companies providing long distance do more to strengthen our families and to service, for example, and smaller cable tele- give childhood back to all American children. vision companies and little guys who own Too many of them have been robbed of it. radio stations to at least have a chance to You know as well as I do that if every child compete in this brave new world and not be in this country had the benefit of a stable wiped out from the get-go. And it will, among home full of love and discipline, where they other things, require that we provide tele- were encouraged to live up to the fullest of communications services at a discount rate their capacities and protected from life’s cru- to every hospital and library and classroom elest developments, that we’d have about half in this country, so rural America doesn’t get the problems we’ve got on the social front. left out. We all know that. And it passed almost unanimously, with all The question is, what are we going to do the Republicans and Democrats finally giving about it? I’ve told you we’ve done what we up and voting for it because we worked out could to make sure we collect more child all the problems in the American way. But support than we ever have. I have taken on the profamily issue I want you to be aware this issue of teen smoking. No one ever want- of is it also will require all new television ed to take the tobacco companies on, but sets to contain a V-chip which will permit there’s something wrong with every State in parents to decide if they don’t want their the country saying that smoking’s illegal and young children to watch programs on tele- smoking’s going up among children. And we visions that are too violent or have other inap- know 3,000 kids a day start smoking, and propriate conduct. And it’s a good thing. 1,000 of them will die sooner because of it. Our second challenge is to renew our I can’t stand it anymore. I want to do some- schools and to provide educational oppor- thing about it, and I want you to help. I want tunity for every American. That means, you to help. among other things, in our schools we have We know—just last week there was yet an- to connect every classroom, every classroom other survey, a national study saying that if in the smallest rural hamlet in rural Arkansas you permit young children to grow up and or rural Iowa, rural Maine, Northern Califor- spend hour after hour after hour for year nia, everyone to the Internet by the year after year after year watching gratuitous, 2000, so that all of our children, wherever mindless, senseless violence on television they live, will have a world, literally a world that they will become desensitized to vio- of information at their fingertips. And we lence. They will come to see it as normal, have to make sure the kids have the ability as the rule, rather than the exception. And to access that. it will mess up the way they look at the world, Our public schools should be the province and the chances are greater that it will mess of folks at the grassroots local level. That’s up the way they behave. Now, I say the time why yours work as well as they do. But we has come to do something about that. ought to have national standards and national One of the things that I was really proud means of measuring achievement so that of the last week, one of the best things that’s every child has a chance to be in the kind happened since I’ve been President is that of system that have given Iowa such a low I was able to sign into law the Telecommuni- dropout rate and a high student achievement cations Act of 1996. A lot of you may not rate. There’s no reason everybody in America
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 256 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
can’t achieve those same standards if we had I like the fact that it gives farmers some a system to provide it. And I am committed more flexibility to plant to the market and to that. not just to the programs. I like the fact that And I will say again, we ought to open the Senate bill, unlike the House bill, in- the doors of college wider, not have them cluded the conservation reserve and the wet- shut. We need to maintain the direct loan lands preservation programs. I like the fact program. We need to maintain the that it included the nutrition programs and AmeriCorps program that allows young peo- protected them, which we have to do—the ple to earn money by serving in their commu- WIC programs and the other nutrition pro- nities and then use it for college. We need grams. to expand the Pell grant program. And I pro- And I like the fact that the Senate bill took posed in the State of the Union—I want to an amendment which embodied one of the reiterate it here—that we give $1,000 merit central recommendations I got at the Rural scholarship to every student in the top 5 per- Development Conference at Ames, that we cent of every high school graduating class in held for all of rural America not very long the United States of America. ago here in Iowa at Ames; it creates a rural I believe—I want us to extend the work- development fund to help diversify the study program so that a million young people economies of the rural parts of our country. can work their way through college on work- I like those things about that bill and that study. And if we’re going to cut taxes, we is good. The fund for rural America would invest $300 million to fund development and ought to cut taxes in the best way we can, research programs to help us remain com- to grow the American economy and bring the petitive. I like that. That’s all good for Ameri- American people together. We ought to ca’s farmers. make college tuition tax-deductible. But what I have real questions about is Our third challenge is to provide economic the way the so-called freedom to farm law security for every American willing to work actually works in practice. They proposed to for it. I don’t mean a guarantee; I mean a have a 7-year period when everybody gets safety net, a sense of framework that will per- a check every year in the same price, no mat- mit people to succeed. The first thing we ter what the crop price is. So this year you’ve have to do is to keep doing what we’re doing got—I mean, today I think corn was $3.30 right. We need to keep creating more jobs and Iowa soybeans were somewhere between at high wages. That’s what the Telecommuni- $6.80 and $7.05, depending on where it was. cations Act does. We need to keep exporting That’s about the range that it was today. And American products. people are still going to get a check. Under But we also need to do some other things. this bill if you don’t plant anything you get Just before I came to Iowa today I signed a check. the farm credit regulatory relief act, which It used to be nearly everybody thought you provides better credit opportunities to farm- ought to have to farm to get a farm payment. ers and ranchers. And again, it shows what [Laughter] So I’m worried about that. You we can do when we cross party lines to work know, farmers have never wanted to be— together. There’s another important thing we and I have fought this battle for years against could do for the farmers, with spring planting urban journalists—farmers have never want- on us, we could pass a farm bill. It should ed to be seen as being on welfare. We had have been passed a long time ago, and we farm support programs for two reasons only: ought to pass a good one. one is to help us compete with people who Now the Senate passed a bill this week were subsidizing their farmers a lot more that has some very good provisions in it, but than we were; and second, to get family farm- I have some problems with it. Let me tell ers through rough years because they you what I like about it; then I’ll tell you couldn’t finance their own bad years. That’s what I don’t like about it. And then after- why we had those programs. wards, maybe you can write and tell me what So I’m worried about that. I’m also worried you like about it and don’t like about it. that in the bad years there won’t be near
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 257
enough money in this program to have a gen- a lot, and nearly everybody will have to go uine safety net. I mean, it sounds great. back for further education and training. We’re going to give you a check every year So I have suggested that we take 70 of for 7 years whether you need it or not. That’s these training programs and create what I a pretty good deal. Well, this year it sounds call a ‘‘GI bill’’ for America’s workers, put great because people don’t need it. The them in a big fund. And if somebody up here prices are high, and maybe we can keep them in this part of the country loses their job, high for a long time. There’s a fair chance we ought to just send them a voucher and we can because of the growing wealth of Asia let them bring it here to the community col- and the growing population there and be- lege to decide what they need for themselves cause of the changes in their production ca- in the form of education and training. I think pacity. There’s a fair chance that we’re in it’s one of the best things we could do to for a few years of high farm prices, but we get adults back into education and training, may not be. We may have weather that will to increase their earnings, and get them have high prices and no crop to sell. We’ve through the times when they lose their jobs. all been there before. One of the number one priorities, one of So I tell you, I will work to get a good the top three, I think, priorities of the White farm bill. I will do it as quickly as I can. And House Conference on Small Business was to I just wanted to come here tonight and tell make it easier and cheaper for self-employed you honestly how I feel. There’s a lot of people, for small business people and for things in this Senate bill I like, and we do farmers to take out pension plans for them- need to let farmers plant more for the market selves and their employees. We have an item than the programs. But I think we have to in this budget, this balanced budget plan that really think about whether it is reasonable would do that. And as far as I know, there’s to say that we’re going to have this flat pay- no opposition to it. We ought to do that. It ment, and you get it whether you plant or should be easier. And then people ought to not; you get it no matter how high the crops know that their pensions are going to be pro- are. And then when the crops go to the bot- tected. We shouldn’t go back to raiding pen- tom you won’t have enough to help you and sion plans like we did in the eighties, and keep you out of bankruptcy. we ought to find a way for people who have I think we have reached a point with the to change jobs to take their pension around world markets when we could actually see with them so that we will all know that no young people coming back into farming, matter what happens to us in life, as long when we could actually see in America the as we’re working we’ll be able to have a de- number of family farmers growing again for cent retirement when the time comes. the first time in forever just because of And lastly, on this issue, middle class peo- changes in the market. And I think we have ple, if we’re going to continue to be the only to be very careful with this farm bill to meet advanced country in the world where people our vision, which is to give everybody who under 65 don’t have a guarantee of health can do it and is competitive a chance to be insurance, then at least we ought to have a treated fairly and to succeed. That is my only guarantee that people have access to afford- goal. able health insurance that they don’t lose I do believe there are two or three other when they change jobs or when someone in things we ought to do to give people eco- the family gets sick. That’s simple enough, nomic security. One of them would directly and we ought to do it. affect this institution. We built up over the I want every one of you to know this be- years a whole lot of different training pro- cause I want you to ask everyone in your con- grams in the Government—70, 80, I don’t gressional delegation to support it. There is know—a whole bunch of training programs. a bipartisan bill in the United States Senate Every one of them was passed with the best sponsored by the Republican Senator from of intentions to try to solve some little prob- Kansas, Senator Kassebaum, and Senator lem in the economy as it came up. The truth Kennedy from Massachusetts, with 45 spon- is now the work force is just turning over sors which simply says you cannot lose your
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 258 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
health insurance just because you changed And I believe if we’re going to honor work jobs or just because you or somebody in your and family, we ought to do better than that. family gets sick. And if you’re in a small work And I hope you will support it. unit you ought to be able to get into a big The fourth thing we’ve got to do is con- pool at your option to buy health insurance tinue the crime fight. We talked about that more cheaply, the way Government employ- earlier. I just ask you to remember, when ees or people working for big businesses do. you see the things that we’re doing and The national chamber of commerce, the they’re debated, we shouldn’t stop our pro- National Association of Manufacturers, all gram to put 100,000 more police on the the consumer groups have endorsed this bill. street. We shouldn’t weaken the program It has been voted out of the committee that your former attorney general, Bonnie unanimously, and we cannot get it scheduled Campbell, now heads to try to reduce domes- for a vote because the health insurance com- tic violence and violence against women. We panies are lobbying against it. It is wrong. shouldn’t—we shouldn’t back up from the We’ve got everybody for it. It ought to pass. clear truth. It will help farmers. It will help small busi- We’ve now been through a bunch of hunt- ness people. Ask people to vote for it in the ing seasons. We’ve been through deer season Iowa congressional delegation. [Applause] and duck season, at least in my home, and I thank you for standing up. I hope the just about everything else we hunt. Every message will go out across the country. This hunter in my State now knows that the peo- is what the election is about. It’s about you. ple who told them back in 1994 they were It’s not about tactics and politicians and ads. going to lose their guns did not tell them It’s about you and your future. And I’m going the truth. We killed a bunch of ducks with to try from now until November, whatever the same guns we were using 2 years ago judgment you make on the election, to keep giving it back to you so you an use this oppor- in Arkansas this year. tunity to shape your future. But, I’ll tell you one thing, over 40,000 Let me just make a couple of brief remarks criminals did not get to buy their handguns about the remaining challenges. If you want because of the Brady bill. We were right economic security, how can we justify a mini- about that, and we should stay with it. mum wage that’s at a 40-year low in purchas- The fifth thing we have got to do is to ing power? That’s where we are now. You rid ourselves of this notion that we can ad- know, in Washington, there’s a lot of talk vance our economy at the expense of our en- about family values. Well, I’ll tell you one vironment. For the next 20 years, we will be thing, it’s pretty hard to raise a family on growing jobs by protecting the environment. $4.25 an hour. But there are millions of peo- That’s why I supported ethanol and why I ple out there trying to do it. And they’re he- still do. That’s why I supported natural-gas- roes to me. powered vehicles. That’s why I supported When I think of the people that get up electric-powered vehicles. That’s why I sup- every day, knowing they could take a powder ported the ‘‘Big Three’’ in Detroit with our and go on welfare and get health care for clean car initiative. That’s why I am against their kids, and they still show up for work these attempts to weaken the enforcement and they do their 40 hours and sometimes powers of the EPA or to weaken our commit- they do a lot more, and they do it for the ment to safe food, clear air, and clean water. minimum wage because they believe in the We have to grow this economy while protect- dignity of work and they want to set a good ing the environment of the United States for example for their children, and I can’t get our children. anybody to schedule for a vote raising the As I said before, and I will say it again minimum wage to take it from $4.25 just to just briefly, we cannot do this if we divorce $5.15 an hour and get out of a 40-year low ourselves from the world. I intend to con- in earning power, that’s not my idea of the tinue and I ask you to support me, to try high-tech economy. I think the American to keep this country on the forefront of the people believe we can do better than that. work for peace and freedom.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 259
We have a chance this year to get a com- country has problems. As long as people exist prehensive test ban treaty so that there will on the face of the Earth, there will be prob- be no more nuclear testing. That will dra- lems. Cynicism is a cheap and poor excuse matically reduce the chance that any kind of for inaction and the evasion of personal re- nuclear weapon will ever be used against any- sponsibility. As long as you’re cynical about body in the entire world again. The United somebody else, you don’t have to pick up States will have to lead that fight if it’s going your own shovel and start digging. And it’s to get done. That’s one example. wrong. It’s wrong. And the last challenge we face is to make So I say to you, for the United States of our Government inspire more trust and work America, the best is yet to come. For the better. We’re going to continue this reinvent- children in this audience, the age of possibil- ing Government move that the Vice Presi- ity will give them more chances to live out dent has led so brilliantly. We are going to their dreams than any generation of Ameri- continue to downsize the Government. It’s cans has ever had. But it won’t work unless already the smallest it’s been in 30 years. But we make sure everybody has got a chance we’re going to try to keep it strong. at that dream, unless we give our people the I read today something that my friend power to make the most of their own lives, James Carville wrote in his new book, which and unless we remember that we cannot af- will be coming out pretty soon. He said, ‘‘You ford cynicism, and we have to go forward know, people always say the Government together. can’t do anything right.’’ He said, ‘‘Well, for It’s the most important lesson I have 30 years we spent half your money—half learned again and again and again in 3 years your money for 30 years—on just three as your President. I will never knowingly do things: defense, Social Security, and Medi- anything to see the American people divided care. You be the judge. We won the cold again or to coddle the cynics again. We need war. We cut the poverty rate among seniors to stand up, rear back, and seize our future. in half. And if you get to be a senior citizen Thank you, and God bless you all. in America today because of Medicare, you have a higher life expectancy than any group NOTE: The President spoke at 5:25 p.m. at the of elderly people anywhere in the world. I North Iowa Area Community College. In his re- marks, he referred to David Buettner, president, think we got our money’s worth, and I think North Iowa Area Community College and Deo we have to continue to give the American Koenigs, Iowa State Representative. people their money’s worth for what we do in public life.’’ We do have more to do. I hope the Con- Statement on Signing the Farm gress will finally give me that line-item veto Credit System Reform Act of 1996 they’ve been promising in their Contract. February 10, 1996 That’s one thing in there I like. And I hope they will finally pass a genuine bipartisan Today I have approved H.R. 2029, the campaign finance reform bill to give even ‘‘Farm Credit System Reform Act of 1996,’’ more power back to the American people. which will reform and expand the activities I want to leave you with this. I want you of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Cor- to think about it Monday, when you try to poration (Farmer Mac), as well as provide figure out whether you want to go to the regulatory relief to members of the Farm trouble to go out or not. We can pass cam- Credit System. paign finance reform. We can pass all kinds This bill should lower the cost of credit of reforms. But whether this country really for farmers and ranchers by passing along the works depends upon you, what’s in your benefit of Farmer Mac’s lower interest rates mind and what’s in your heart. to local banks. Other changes also will make There is no call for the cynicism which ex- it more attractive for county and regional ists in America today. This country is doing banks to participate in the Farmer Mac pro- some things that are very important better gram, which will link these local banks to na- than any other country in the world. This tional and international credit markets.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 260 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
This bill is an example of the kind of re- I vetoed the original version of this legisla- inventing government that I have encour- tion, H.R. 1530, on December 28, 1995. aged in all areas of government. Under this Since that time, the Congress has addressed new law, banks and farmers will have less my three central national security concerns paperwork, and the auditing programs will about the earlier bill. First, the Congress de- be freer to target areas of major concern. leted the provisions requiring deployment by As Farmer Mac takes on new business re- 2003 of a costly missile defense system de- sponsibilities as a mortgage purchaser and an signed to defend against a long-range missile issuer of securities, it will be important for threat, which our intelligence community the Farm Credit Administration and the does not foresee in the next decade. Such Treasury Department to monitor the use of a course of action would have prevented us these new authorities to ensure the contin- from deploying the best possible technology ued safety and soundness of this government- if a real threat were to emerge at a later time. sponsored enterprise. Similarly, the relevant Moreover, implementation of the system congressional committees have requested the called for in H.R. 1530 would probably have Farm Credit Administration, working with been inconsistent with the Anti-Ballistic Mis- the Treasury, to conduct periodic evaluations sile Treaty. of Farmer Mac. Second, the Congress deleted the require- I also note that H.R. 2029 maintains a ment that the President submit a supple- common board of directors for the Farm mental appropriations request within a de- Credit System Insurance Corporation and fined time period after commencement of the Farm Credit Administration, which certain contingency and other operations, serves as a regulator of the system. As pre- such as the ongoing military operations in viously proposed by the Administration, the Bosnia. The Act does, however, continue to Congress should reconsider this structure in contain unwarranted restrictions on the man- the future to provide more independence for ner in which such operations may be funded. the board. Third, the Congress deleted the restriction I am pleased to sign this bill in order to on the President’s authority to make and im- expand opportunities and lower costs for the plement decisions relating to the operational ranchers and farmers of America. or tactical control of elements of the U.S. armed forces, a restriction which clearly in- William J. Clinton fringed on the President’s constitutional au- The White House, thority as Commander in Chief. February 10, 1996. The Act also includes a number of provi- sions of great importance to our national de- NOTE: H.R. 2029, approved February 10, was as- fense and to the men and women in our signed Public Law No. 104–105. armed forces, authorizing critical defense programs to be continued and new ones to be initiated. The Act authorizes the full 2.4% Statement on Signing the National increase in pay and allowances for our mili- Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal tary personnel. It authorizes the Military Year 1996 Housing Privatization Initiative, which pro- February 10, 1996 vides new authority to acquire and improve military housing and supporting facilities Today I have signed into law S. 1124, the through the use of private expertise and cap- ‘‘National Defense Authorization Act for Fis- ital. It authorizes necessary military construc- cal Year 1996.’’ This Act authorizes appro- tion and NATO infrastructure programs. It priations for Department of Defense military continues the Department of Energy’s activities, including military construction, science-based Stockpile Stewardship pro- and defense activities of the Department of gram. It provides for the sale of the Elk Hills Energy. It also provides, extends, or amends Naval Petroleum Reserve. various authorities relating to national de- The Act also contains the Administration’s fense programs and activities. proposal to allow the United States to extra-
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 10 261
dite indicted war criminals and provide evi- Moreover, the Secretary of Defense and dence directly to the International War the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Crimes Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia have advised me that the arbitrary discharge and Rwanda—a provision that should en- of these men and women would be both un- courage others to cooperate fully with the warranted and unwise; that such discharge War Crimes Tribunal. is unnecessary as a matter of sound military And, this legislation makes important policy; and that discharging service members strides in the area of procurement reform, deemed fit for duty would waste the Govern- which will help produce a better-equipped ment’s investment in the training of these military for less money. The legislation gives people and would be disruptive to the mili- agencies enhanced authority and flexibility in tary programs in which they play an integral their use of computers and telecommuni- role. cations, while insisting on accountability. I agree. Consistent with the Administration’s efforts Consequently, I have concluded that this under the National Performance Review to discriminatory provision is unconstitutional. create a government that works better and Specifically, it violates equal protection by re- costs less, the Act encourages agencies to quiring the discharge of qualified service adopt the best practices of successful compa- members living with HIV who are medically nies in the private sector. And the Act in- able to serve, without furthering any legiti- cludes measures to facilitate the purchase of mate governmental purpose. As President commercially-available goods and services, to Franklin D. Roosevelt said in 1943, explain- streamline and clarify procurement integrity ing his decision to sign an important appro- laws, and to substantially improve the process priations bill notwithstanding the fact that it for resolving bid protests for information contained a provision that infringed upon in- technology. dividual rights, ‘‘I cannot . . . yield without All of these measures are important to the placing on record my view that this provision effective and efficient operation of our armed is not only unwise and discriminatory, but forces. I regret, however, that this legislation unconstitutional.’’ continues to contain a number of provisions, In accordance with my constitutional de- identified in my earlier veto message, that termination, the Attorney General will de- will adversely affect the Defense Depart- cline to defend this provision. Instead, the ment’s ability to carry out its national defense Attorney General will inform the House and mission. Senate of this determination so that they First, I am strongly opposed, as is the De- may, if they wish, present to the courts their partment of Defense, to the provision requir- argument that the provision should be sus- ing the discharge of military personnel living tained. with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Further, to mitigate any unfair burden that (HIV), where such discharge is not required this legislation could place on these service by any medical, public health, or military members and their families pending any re- purpose. This provision is blatantly discrimi- peal or judicial invalidation, I have directed natory and highly punitive to service mem- the Secretaries of Defense, Veterans Affairs, bers and their families. People living with and Transportation, in carrying out the provi- HIV can and do lead full and productive sions of this Act, to take all steps necessary lives, provide for their families, and contrib- to ensure that these service members receive ute to the well-being of our Nation. The men the full benefits to which they are entitled— and women affected by this provision are including, among other things, disability re- ready, willing and able to serve their country tirement pay, health care coverage for their with honor and should be allowed to con- families and transition benefits such as voca- tinue to do so. tional education. Therefore, I strongly support the current I am troubled by another provision in this efforts in the Congress to repeal this provi- Act, which restricts the ability of service sion before a single service member is dis- women and military dependents to obtain charged from the armed forces. privately-funded abortions in military facili-
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 262 Feb. 10 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
ties overseas. I remain firmly opposed to this Americans to believe they make a difference provision. In many countries, these U.S. fa- if they go to town meetings, if they go to cilities provide the only accessible safe source forums for candidates, if they ask questions, for these medical services. I will support con- if they try to make some connections. And gressional efforts to repeal this and a similar also because this is the beginning of a long provision that became law in the ‘‘Depart- process. I mean, all these—I’ve come to Iowa ment of Defense Appropriations Act, 1996.’’ a lot in the last 5 years, and I expect I’ll be Finally, I note that section 1404 of the Act here again before November. expresses the sense of the Congress that the Q. Yesterday Bob Dole said he’s the can- Secretary of Defense should not take any didate that can beat you; he ought to get the steps toward dismantling or retiring specific nomination. How would you feel about run- strategic nuclear delivery systems until the ning against Bob Dole? START II Treaty enters into force, and it The President. I want the Republicans to prohibits obligating or expending funds in fis- select their nominee. That’s their job, not cal year 1996 for such steps. Reading the pro- mine now. One of the things that I have visions of section 1404 together, I interpret found about this is that no one knows who the section to prohibit obligations or expendi- can beat someone else before the actual tures only before the START II Treaty enters event occurs. No one knows. It’s futile to into force. The explanation of Section 1404 speculate. in the conference report supports this inter- I think the Republicans will pick the per- pretation. son they believe is the best qualified to rep- resent their party, and then we’ll have an William J. Clinton election. The White House, Q. And there’s nobody who you’d rather February 10, 1996. run against, sir? There’s no candidate out here who you’d say, ‘‘Yeah, I can beat this NOTE: S. 1124, approved February 10, was as- one’’? [Laughter] signed Public Law No. 104–106. The President. Well, if they wrote me a letter and asked me to nominate someone, Exchange With Reporters at I’d—[laughter]—I’d be happy to accommo- A.K. O’Connor’s Restaurant in date them. But—— West Des Moines, Iowa Q. Who would you suggest? The President. ——since they’re not February 11, 1996 going to do that, I don’t see that I should speculate. The President. Did you see that woman with the button out there that said, ‘‘Presi- NOTE: The exchange began at 11:17 a.m. A tape dent Clinton and national media, thanks for was not available for verification of the content promoting Iowa tourism’’? [Laughter] of this exchange. 1996 Election Q. President Clinton, everyone keeps ask- Remarks in a Roundtable Discussion ing, why are you out here campaigning? You on the Work-Study Program in don’t really have any opposition in the pri- Des Moines, Iowa mary, why bother? I mean, in the caucuses February 11, 1996 here—why bother? The President. Well, because we will hold [Sally Hinders, assistant provost for career caucuses, the Democrats will, and people will services, Drake University, welcomed the come. And I want them to know that I would President and introduced the participants, appreciate their support. I want them to one of whom indicated that he was from know what I am trying to do, what I intend Winterset, IA, site of the ‘‘Bridges of Madison to do in the future, and because I want to County.’’] validate this process. I think this is—I want The President. They should have given this to work the way it’s supposed to. I want you the role. [Laughter]
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.012 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 11 263
[Ms. Hinders discussed some of the advan- that we have a 50-percent increase in the tages of the work-study program at Drake work-study program, to get up to a million University, indicating that students who par- students a year in work-study because we ticipate tend to become more involved in the haven’t kept up over the years in work-study Drake community and often use their experi- with the demand, with increasing enroll- ences as stepping stones to other opportuni- ment. And I also believe that the cost of col- ties. She then asked the President to talk lege tuition up to $10,000 a year ought to about the program.] be deductible, which I believe would be— The President. Well, let me begin by from my point of view, it’s the best kind of thanking all of you for taking some time on tax cut you could have because you’d be giv- a Sunday afternoon to do this. I’m delighted ing a tax reduction to people who are invest- to be here, delighted to be at Drake. ing either in themselves or their children Since I became President I’ve worked hard and, therefore, making a big investment in to try to increase access to colleges and uni- our common future. versities for young people because it’s obvi- But the work-study program is of real in- ous that more need to be able to go and more terest to me because I worked myself need to be able to stay. And I never will for- through college; I worked myself through law get when I was Governor I had an encounter school. I don’t believe I would have made one night with a number of students in Fay- it if I hadn’t had the jobs. And I also have etteville, which is the hometown of the Uni- observed just what you said, that a lot of versity of Arkansas, and I just stopped in a young people actually do better when they little place, drank a cup of coffee. And there have a work experience to go with their were several students there, and I talked to schooling. So I’m hoping to persuade the two of them of the group there who had actu- Congress to adopt this increase in work- ally dropped out of school once already be- study, even though in general we’re reducing cause they were afraid they couldn’t afford the budget. And we will offer to the Congress the cost of staying in. They were worried a way to do this consistent with our need about whether they could get the proper stu- to balance the budget in 7 years. So this won’t dents loans, whether they could get any bust the budget or anything, but it will help scholarships, whether they would ever be a lot more people to go and then to stay in able to pay back their loans. college. So I began to work on it when I was a Let me just make one other point on that. Governor, things we could do at the State I’m very encouraged that the college-going level. And when I ran for President I had rate in our country is still going up, but I a commitment to try to expand opportunities am not encouraged that it has started to fall for college going. And essentially what we again in the last 2 or 3 years among people have done so far is to put the Pell grant pro- whose incomes are in the lowest 20 percent gram back on track—it was in serious trou- of our economy. And if you think about it, ble—passed a national service program, the whole sort of premise, or promise, of which this year has 25,000 young people in America from our earliest immigrants is that it earning money for college tuition while hard working parents would be able to open doing community service; and to expand loan more opportunities to their children. So it’s options so that more young people could not a good thing that we have that happening. have the option to pay their loans back as So one of the things I hope will happen a percentage of their income when they get out of the whole combined impact of all out if they take a job that wouldn’t permit these proposals is that young people who them to make what would be the normal come from families with very modest in- commercial repayment schedule. And that comes will start increasing their college- would mean no one would ever have to forgo going again, just like the rest of our country. borrowing money because they would always [Ms. Hinders introduced some work-study be able to handle the loan repayment. participants, the first of whom indicated that And then in the State of the Union Ad- the program was a stepping stone to an in- dress I recommended, as you pointed out, ternship and that throughout the experience
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.013 p07fe4 264 Feb. 11 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
her employers were supportive of her efforts. [Another participant said that the program A parent indicated that her daughter would had reduced the burden on his family, and not be at a private university were it not for it gave him a greater appreciation for edu- the work-study program and that, while her cation and a career.] husband’s job as a teamster was not always The President. Your son spoke very well. stable, they never had to worry about their daughter’s education.] [The student’s father said the work-study program had helped both his sons, teaching The President. Well, let me say I know them to work harder toward their goals. An- that Drake has made a real effort to hold other participant said that a family member down the tuition, too, so that more people had faced medical problems that had dimin- will be able to afford to go. And I just spoke ished family financial resources, but that to the National Association of Independent Drake had been able to put together a finan- Colleges and Universities in Washington a cial aid package which allowed him to go to couple days ago, and I tried to cite the num- school and help pay for his education.] ber of schools that were doing that. I think more and more schools are trying not to just The President. How many hours a week get caught in a vicious cycle where they have on average do all of you work? to raise tuition and then they have to find Q. About 10, 11. more aid, then they have to do more work- The President. About 10, 11? About the study. same for everybody? And do you all find that I’d just like to remind everybody—I know it doesn’t undermine your studies? all of you around this table know this, but [The student said that the program made her the American people who are watching us work harder, set a schedule, and keep to it. and citizens of Iowa who are watching us, Another indicated that it helped them ma- this is not—this should not be viewed as a ture. Work-study student Molly Adams said social program. This is an investment in our that it increased her sense of responsibility future. The taxpayers make out big time on and went on to explain her work with the this investment. We get a whole lot more Grace United Methodist Church and how it back out of all of you because you’re going helped the community in Des Moines.] to have college degrees, because you’re going to be able to live out your own dreams, be- The President. Marilyn, what percentage cause you’re going to be able to do what you of Molly’s pay comes from the Government, wish to do. and what percentage do you have to come And not just financially. This is not entirely up with? a money issue. There’s also—our society is Marilyn Adams. Isn’t it one-third and a a better place when people find more per- third? I think that’s right—25 and 75. sonal fulfillment in the work that they do. The President. So your church pays for So it is a financial issue, but it’s also much 25 percent? So it’s the same as with the col- more of a moral and social issue. It knits us lege, then? together more strongly when more people Q. Correct. have a chance to develop their God-given The President. Because when you employ abilities. people it’s 75–25, isn’t it? I personally believe that we don’t make Q. Correct. any better investments than this. And almost The President. So do you have to allocate 100 percent of people like you in your posi- work-study slots off-campus, is that how it tion will pay back to the Government far works? more in increased taxes than you ever took Q. Correct. We’re supposed to spend 5 out in student loans or Pell grants or work- percent of our overall allocation on off-cam- study funds or anything else. And I think pus studies. that’s an important thing for the American The President. Does the law limit you to people to remember, that this is an invest- 5 percent? ment with a big-time return. Q. No.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.013 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 11 265
The President. So it’s Drake policy? Or is a demand for more work-study positions, is it Department of Education policy? If you and if we could go—one million a year is wanted to have—if a college or university our goal, and that basically costs—it would wanted to place 25 percent of the work-study be about a 50-percent increase from where people off-campus, could they do so? we are now. Q. As far as I know we could, if we could find the places and the students to work [Ms. Hinders said that those are the kinds there. of opportunities that students and parents are The President. And what percentage of really looking for. Employers and work-study your students are on work-study? students then described their programs.] Q. About 75 percent of our students who The President. Let me ask you some- receive financial aid go ahead and accept thing, you’re a freshman? their work award and work. Q. Yes. Q. And I can add to that, about 80 percent The President. That’s one thing I wanted of our students receive some form of finan- to ask. How do you deal with the demand— cial aid. if the demand exceeds the supply, do you The President. So a majority do this, are give any preference to older students or is on some sort of work-study. it strictly by income, by need, without regard Q. Oh, yes. to class? The President. Now, if you had more po- sitions, could you fill them? [Ms. Hinders explained that Drake Univer- [Several participants indicated their willing- sity begins with need-based students but said ness to take more work-study positions. Ms. that it is a part of the financial aid program. Hinders discussed matching funds and indi- She then introduced the director of the uni- cated that Drake contributes additional versity’s financial aid program who said that money because they like the work-study pro- work-study was a cornerstone of the financial gram.] aid program and that it was a win-win situa- tion for all involved.] The President. Now, I saw in the notes I was given before I came in here that the The President. I also think the value that students make between $4.65 an hour and the students give you—Erica mentioned that $7.00, but mostly nearer $4.65 than $7.00. just the work experience, working with older But what would you say the average pay is? people in a good environment. It’s amazing Between $4.65 and $5.00 an hour? how quickly young people mature and to take Q. Right around $5.00, yes. a responsibility. The President. What determines the pay, You know, it’s a funny thing, when the the ability of the match or the nature of the Government was shut down—which wasn’t job, or what? too funny—[laughter]—but when it was shut down there were days when the whole White [One participant said it was the nature of House was practically being run by the in- the job; another said supply and demand play terns. [Laughter] It was amazing. There were a part, but some positions require very spe- probably four of us with gray hair—[laugh- cialized skills and the wages go up a little ter]—and the rest of it, the kids were sort bit in order to be competitive with the mar- of running the show. And they did a great ketplace. Another participant said that Drake job. I mean, they worked hard; they kept the University overspends the matching funds basic functions open. They worked quite well and really spends more like 50 percent.] the first time we were shut down, and we The President. Really? didn’t have everything covered by the budg- Q. Lots of students coming in and out et. every day are involved with those positions. It just reminded me again of how impor- And they’re quite varied as well. tant it is to give young people that experi- The President. But you would—anyway, ence, too. It sort of binds the community and I take it that—you all agree then that there the society together in very important ways.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.013 p07fe4 266 Feb. 11 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
Ms. Hinders. Well, very much so. I know cost, like a national work-study program, re- that we’re running a little bit short on time. quire some involvement with the National The President. Tom, you want to say Government. something? And as I said, these are really matters that historically have not been, at least in my life- Senator Harkin thanked all the participants [ time, the last 30 years, have not been really and mentioned that he was the only Senator matters of much partisan debate. But what to sit on both the committee for higher edu- has happened in the last, sort of, decade, cation and the appropriations committee, there’s been this sort of head of steam built and in the last Congress was chairman of the up behind the notion that Government per appropriations committee. ] se was bad. Not dumb regulations, or an ill- The President. I hope you will be again. advised program, or a bad tax system, or Senator Harkin. Well, I hope so. [Laugh- whatever, but just the whole idea of Govern- ter] By the way, Rebecca, as I told you, is ment was intrinsically—something wrong doing a great job for me. The youngest per- with it. And I basically don’t agree with that. son I’ve every had in that—the position of I think what’s happened is we need—all being the scheduler is a tough position. organizations have to become less bureau- The President. It’s the worst job in an cratic, less rule-oriented, more oriented to- office. ward empowering people to solve their own problems. And Government’s like that, too, Senator Harkin said that during his years [ but we cannot meet our educational obliga- on the education committee the commitment tions unless there is a public, broad-based, to education had declined year after year and national commitment to helping you do what indicated that was particularly true of Pell you do here at the grassroots level. grants and college work-study programs. He And actually, one thing I like about the concluded by saying that the President sup- work-study program is it’s my idea of what ports these programs and that he hoped that it ought to be—we say, okay, here’s a national interest rates on student loans would remain problem; we need more young people going low. ] to college, but it costs a lot to go and most The President. I think that’s quite impor- people can’t afford to go. Okay? Here’s the tant. I think it’s been underestimated, the national solution: We should give money to impact of not having that interest accumulate help that happen. But we don’t tell you how until people have been out a few months. to do it. In other words, that’s the way the Q. Definitely. Federal Government ought to operate more. The President. Let me just also say, to We say—we set a national goal. We provide follow up on what Senator Harkin was saying, some resources to meet that goal. We ask and to try to put it in some larger political you to make a contribution as well. Then you context—for the last 30 years anyway, by and get to decide how. We all agree on the what, large, education has not been a particularly nationally, and then you define the how at partisan issue. We’ve had broad bipartisan Drake. And at the University of Iowa, they support for these things until just recently. might define it in an entirely different way. And I hope we can get it back, because I mean, that’s the way this country ought to this is—this big philosophical debate going work, where people work together in that on in Washington, if you believe the Govern- fashion. ment is the problem and is the reason for I just sat here and made a list of the seven all of our ailments as a society, then you think people I worked for in college and law people are better off if you just get the deficit school. [Laughter] It’s quite interesting. I down, have a strong defense and let people was thinking, more than half of them I still manage for themselves. If you believe that hear from, I still have a relationship with and we’re stronger as a country when we deal I still feel enormously indebted to because with our common problems in a common they gave me a chance to get my education. fashion, we will work together on them, then I was sitting here thinking about it while you it’s obvious that things that have a big-ticket all were talking. [Laughter]
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.013 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 11 267
Ms. Hinders. Well, as we draw to a close, tion. The one who is absent is your former Senator Harkin, do you have any additional attorney general, Bonnie Campbell. She di- comments that you’d like to add? rects our Office of Violence Against Women, Senator Harkin. Do you have any stu- and we are doing a good job finally bringing dents in the Head Start program? America’s attention to the problems of do- Q. We do. mestic violence and violence against women. Senator Harkin. You do? And I want to thank the other public servant Q. Yes. in the Harkin family, Ruth Harkin, the Presi- Senator Harkin. Good for you. dent of the Overseas Private Investment Cor- Ms. Hinders. This has been a pleasure to poration, for doing a magnificent job in pro- have you here today, Mr. President. We have moting our economic interests around the enjoyed coming together as a group to talk world. And, finally, let me say, Tom Harkin to you about an issue that we really have a and I have been together all weekend and passion for. And we can tell that you do, too. that’s the third time I’ve heard him tell those So, on behalf of Drake and our entire com- jokes, and they get funnier every time he tells munity, thank you. them. [Laughter] The President. Thank you, and good luck You know, if you do this as long as I have to all of you. you have the privilege, sometimes the bur- den, of hearing a lot of people speak, watch- NOTE: The roundtable began at 12:45 p.m. in the ing a lot of people work. And I want every Knapp Center at Drake University. person in Iowa to know, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican or an independ- Remarks to the Community in Des ent, there is not a single, solitary soul in the Moines Congress of the United States that every day February 11, 1996 works harder to do what he believes is right to the very core of his being than Tom Har- Thank you so much. First let me thank kin of Iowa. And on some of the long, cold all of you for making me feel so welcome. days and weeks of 1995, it was immensely It was a wonderful feeling just to come into reassuring to have him in the Senate speaking this room today and see you full of energy up for what we believe is right. and commitment and conviction, and appar- Let me say to all of you, I’m delighted to ently, pretty happy. I liked it, and I thank be here on the eve of the caucuses. I want you. you to go for all the reasons that Senator Har- I want to thank President Ferrari, and your kin said. I have a selfish, entirely personal Young Democrats president, Sherry Desing, reason for wanting you to go. All my life, and your student body president, Sandy Mar- since I was a little boy I’ve heard about the shall, who met me outside, and all the people Iowa caucuses. I’ve waited for the returns from Drake who have played any role in this. to come in. In 1992, I couldn’t seem to get I want to thank the Knapp Center event staff. many votes in the Iowa caucus. This is my And I want to say a special word of thanks last chance, and I would really like to do well. to the band, who played so well today and I would appreciate it if you would do that. did such a good job. Let me thank not only Amber, but the I thank Amber Schafer for her wonderful other young students and their parents and introduction and for embodying what a lot their employers who met with me just a few of this election is all about—your future and moments ago when we discussed the work- your hopes and your dreams. study program as you were coming in here, I thank Mayor Davis for being here. We’ve because they really represent what this elec- known each other a long time. I was thrilled tion is all about. when he got elected mayor, and I think he’s You know, people descend on Iowa every doing a fine job for you, and I’m glad he’s 4 years and they try to discern what new de- here. I want to thank two other Iowans, one velopment is going on in national politics, of whom is not here and one of whom is, and that makes the election. That’s what the who have been a big part of our administra- election is all about. And this year I read all
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.013 p07fe4 268 Feb. 11 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
these columns and I see all this news cov- and wheat are at high prices now, and the erage on whether the ads are more important farmers are enjoying that. We have—listen than the grassroots campaigning, or the nega- to this—in the last 3 years alone, in each suc- tive ads becoming more influential. Let me cessive year there have been record numbers tell you something, folks: Every election is of new small businesses started and record about you. Not us, not those of us who run— numbers of new self-made millionaires, not but those of you—this makes you the boss. people who inherited it, people who worked This is about your responsibilities. This is for it and made it. about your opportunities. It’s about your fu- Now, that’s one side of America’s econ- ture. It’s about your Nation. It’s about what omy, and it is exhilarating. And it is the side kind of country we’re going to have. It is your of America’s economy that most of you who election, and it’s about you, and don’t you are students here at Drake will move into. ever forget it. It is your chance to chart your But there is another side to America’s econ- future. omy: About half our people still haven’t got- This is an election that is full of ten a raise in terms of the real purchasing perplexities, or a time full of perplexities. I’ve power of their incomes in 10 or 15 years, watched the signs. I saw a job sign up there a lot of our people who have worked hard and I’ve seen some very generous, nice signs all their lives, worked for these big compa- about what we’re trying to do. I like the ‘‘My nies that are doing all this downsizing. President’’ one. Thank you very much, young Hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear man. from somebody I’ve known, who is my age, Let me give you some perplexing things nearly 50—I hate to say it—[laughter]—it’s to think about, sort of the good news of this hard for me to look at you and think I’ll be moment. I said in the State of the Union eligible for the AARP in 6 months—[laugh- Address that this is a time of great possibility, ter]—but there it is. But anyway, I get letters and it is. But it’s also a time of great chal- from people my age, people I’ve known. And lenge. And sometimes you read about what they’ve been downsized, and they’ve got kids is going on in the country and you think, well, the age of the students that are here. And that’s inconsistent with my experience; why they say, ‘‘Well, this is great. My corporation are all these things happening? stock went up. They laid me off. How am Let me just go through the areas that I I going to educate my kids?’’ So you ask your- ran for President to address. I said in 1992 self, well, if all these incredible good things that I was running because I wanted to re- are happening, how did that happen? store the American dream for every citizen Or let’s look at the march of the world in this country willing to work for it, because toward peace after the cold war. There are I wanted our country to be the world’s no nuclear missiles pointed at the people of strongest force for peace and freedom and the United States for the first time since the because I wanted us to come together and dawn of the nuclear age. Your country is con- not be divided. I am tired of people trying tinuing to fight to reduce the threat of weap- to divide the American people for their own ons of mass destruction. We have thwarted interests instead of unite us for our common terrorist attacks on our soil. We have worked interests. for peace from Haiti to Northern Ireland to Now, that is still our mission. How are we South Africa to the Middle East to Bosnia. doing? Look at the economy. In the last 3 This is all a good thing. The world is plainly years we have nearly 8 million more jobs; more secure than it was 3 years ago. we have a big drop in the unemployment rate But it only takes a few people to decide in Iowa, as well as throughout the country; that they don’t want to bear the burdens of we have a 15-year high in homeownership; the daily work of peace to do an act of cow- we have—the so-called ‘‘misery index,’’ ardice and madness, like those people that which is the combined rate of unemployment blew up that building in London yesterday and inflation, is the lowest it has been in 27 or the cowards that killed the Prime Minister years. We have all-time high exports, which of Israel, because he stood for peace, or the is one of the reasons that corn and soybeans people that walked into the subway in Japan
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 11 269
and broke open that little vial of poison gas gether, or not—that is the most important and killed all those folks, or the people who lesson I have learned. are still terrorizing the citizens of their com- There is no more big Government. Our munities in Latin America because they insist Government has been shrunk now—the Na- on running drug cartels because there’s just tional Government’s the smallest it’s been in too much money in it and they don’t care 30 years. We did that. It’s the smallest it’s who they kill in the process. been in 30 years. But I saw those young peo- So this is a safer world, all right, but there ple today, and their parents and their em- are still a lot of things out there that we have ployers right before I came in here—and to face. Or look at the most important thing your work-study program here at Drake, of all: How are we doing in being true to that’s the kind of country we ought to have, our basic values as a people? There’s a lot where we say nationwide, we want more of evidence that we are getting our act to- young people to go to school; we think you gether, and it’s good. In the last 3 years in ought to be able to go to school even if your the United States the crime rate is down; the family’s hit on hard times and you don’t have welfare rolls are down; the poverty rolls are all the money. We think it’s a good invest- down; the teen pregnancy rate has dropped. ment to pay people who are willing to work That is good news and America should be their way through school. We think that’s a proud. good thing. We’re not going to tell you how On the other hand, we all know they’re to do it, who to hire, what to do, but we still too high, don’t we? When can we be think it’s a national responsibility to help peo- satisfied about crime? I’ll tell you when: ple get this done. It is a good thing. when crime is the exception, not the rule So let me ask you very briefly to consider again; when you flip on the evening news where we are as a country in light of what and you’re surprised to see the lead story be I said. First, don’t be discouraged. We are a murder or a rape or arson or something going through a period of change as profound else that a civilized people shouldn’t have to as anything that’s happened in 100 years. look at every night on the news. One hundred years ago, we moved as a coun- So, my fellow Americans, I tell you again, try mostly from rural areas to where we most- this is the age of possibility. More people will ly lived in cities and small towns. We moved be able to have more opportunities to live from a time where most of us worked on out their dreams and to fulfill their God- the farm to a time when those who stayed given capacities than at any point in our his- on the farm were productive enough to feed tory if we find a way to solve the challenges ourselves and the world, and most of us we have and to do it together. worked in the factory. It happened 100 years Sometimes people come up to me and ago. say—I mean just almost as if they’re my Now what’s happening is we are moving neighbors—they say, ‘‘What’s the most im- from a time when our economy is dominated portant thing you’ve learned in the last 3 not by industry, but by information and tech- years?’’ and I’ve learned a lot, so it’s a pretty nology, and where we live in a global village long list. [Laughter] But if you ask me what of worldwide markets. The changes in work the most important thing is, it is that the de- are staggering. There’s more mind and less bate this country should be having is not muscle. The changes in the workplace are whether we’re going to have big Government staggering. There are more computers and solve all the problems—no one believes that fewer bureaucrats and people moving up and anymore—but it is certainly not whether we down the line and more workplaces are can just leave everyone to fend for them- smaller and more flexible. The changes in selves. It is whether we are finally going to communications are breathtaking, and the get serious about working together on a daily changes in the markets are amazing. The basis the way we do when the town floods money markets and the markets for goods out, the way we do when the chips are down, and services are global. the way we did when Oklahoma City—trage- Of course, there are going to be changes dies happen. If we are going to do this to- in our lives. And of course, there must be
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 270 Feb. 11 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
changes in what our Government does. more Head Start for children. That’s why I Whenever you have a big uprooting like this, want our children immunized. That’s why, you can look at all of human history and you in the telecommunications bill, I fought to will see when things change this much, a lot give parents the V-chip, because we had an- of people do very well, but a lot of people other study last week which showed that are disoriented and suffer and are chal- years and years of hours a day of sustained, lenged. mindless violence have a deadening, numb- So our challenge is to figure out a way for ing, destructive impact on young people, and everybody to benefit, for all people to partici- parents ought to be able to limit it. pate who are willing to work for it and to We have got to do more. We have got to grow this country together instead of letting do more to raise the level and the reach of it continue to be divided. We should not use education in America. Every one of our pub- elections to divide; we should use elections lic schools should be able to have the low to unite this country and move it forward. dropout rates and high achievement rates Now I ask you all to see every issue de- that you generally find in Iowa. There is no bated this year in that context. When you reason that should not be in every State in hear a discussion about the national budget, the country, in every school in the country. you should say: We want you to balance the By the year 2000, every classroom, every budget. This country has got no business run- library in this country, and every schoolhouse ning a deficit every year, even when times in this country, no matter how poor, no mat- are good. We never should have gotten into ter how rural, no matter how inner-city, that pattern of the 12 years before I became should be connected to the Internet, so that President when we were exploding the defi- every child, no matter how poor, should be cit. We shouldn’t have done it. We have cut able to reach the world with learning. the deficit in half in 3 years, and we need And we know that every young American to finish the job. But you should ask yourself should be able to go on to college. I am when you hear a proposal: Will this help all proud of the fact that this administration has people who are willing to work for it achieve improved the student loan options for stu- the American dream? Will this bring us to- dents, has passed the national service pro- gether instead of dividing us? Is this consist- gram and put 25,000 young people out there ent with our values of work and family and serving their communities and earning community? Will this help us be a leading money for college, has increased the Pell force for peace and freedom? grant program. But it is not enough. I have The budget that I favor enables us to bal- proposed that we now give a $1,000 National ance the budget by the congressional score- Merit Scholarship to everyone who graduates keeping and still protects our obligations to in the top 5 percent of any high school in our parents through Medicare and Medicaid, the United States of America every year. And our obligations to our children through edu- I believe that we need to increase the work- cation and protection of the environment and study program by 50 percent, so that we can investment in their health care. That’s the have one million students every year working kind of balanced budget we ought to have. their way through college, contributing to the It is consistent with our values. workplace, growing America, and improving Let me say this: As we go from now to their chances for the future. November, I hope we will see that deficit And finally, let me say, on the question as yesterday’s legacy, and ask ourselves, what of education, if we are going to have a tax are the great challenges facing all these cut, the best way to spend the money is to young people in this audience, in this country give families a deduction from their taxes of today or in the future? I believe they are up to $10,000 a year for the cost of college seven, and let me reiterate them for you. tuition. We couldn’t make a better invest- One, we have got to do more to strengthen ment. family life and give all of our children their Our third great challenge is to bring eco- childhoods back. That’s why I want to do nomic security to working families who never something about crime. That’s why I want get a raise, lose their jobs, don’t have health
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 11 271
care, and are worried about their pensions. of Congress and say, ‘‘Bring it up to a vote Because every family that’s out there working and pass it, and send it to the President of and raising children deserves to have a meas- the United States so I can have some more ure of security. It used to be security came peace of mind.’’ It is the right thing to do. because you could guarantee someone a job Finally, our working families need the se- for a lifetime at the same company. If you curity of knowing they can get and keep a see all this downsizing now, how will we de- pension. Whether you’re a small-business fine security in the future? Here’s how I person, a farmer, or somebody working in think we have to define it. Every working a big outfit, you ought to be able to get a family should: pension and know it’s going to be secure. I No. 1, have access to immediate education do not intend to let our pension funds be and training whenever they lose a job. People raided again as they once were. I don’t want ought to be able to look to the Federal Gov- our pensions endangered, and I want to make ernment for a ‘‘GI bill’’ for America’s work- it easier for small-business people and farm- ers. If a person loses a job, they ought to ers to take out pensions for themselves and get a voucher in the mail worth $2,600 a year their employees. That’s a very important part to take to the nearest community college or of family security as well. other appropriate training institution to And while I’m at it, let me make one last begin right away preparing for a new line point about family security. I learned that of work. these young people working on work-study No. 2, all of you know that the First Lady here are making between $4.65 and $7.00 and I, and our administration, tried hard to an hour. Most of them make between $4.65 solve the health care problem so that every and $5.00 and hour. But do you know—and American family could have health insur- that’s not a lot of money, but it will buy a ance. Now we have apparently made a deci- pizza and take you to the movie every now sion, with the help of hundreds of millions and then, pay some of your costs and relieve of dollars in lobbyist advertising, that we will the burdens on your families. But the mini- remain the only country in the world with mum wage in America is still $4.25 an hour. an advanced economy that cannot figure out If it is not raised this year, it will be at a how to give health insurance to everybody 40-year low in terms of purchasing power. under 65. If you’re over 65, we did it. Well, You cannot raise a family on $4.25 an hour, at least we ought to be able to guarantee that but millions of Americans are trying to do the people who don’t have it have access to it. We have consigned—you think about that, affordable health insurance that they can I want you to think about that—I want the buy. At least we ought to be able to do that. young people out in this audience who are There is—it’s not too late to ask everybody on work-study making $4.65 an hour, know- who wants to be President about this issue. ing how you have to watch every penny if There is before the United States Senate you just want to order a pizza once a week, today a bill sponsored by 45 Republican and to imagine what you would do if you were Democratic Senators, endorsed by not only working for $4.25 an hour, trying to support the labor organizations and the consumer or- children of your own. It cannot be done. ganizations, but the national chamber of There’s a lot of talk in this country about commerce and the association of manufac- family values every election time. Well, my turers, which would say, simply, you cannot family value says, we ought not to ask people lose your health insurance when you change to raise children on $4.25. We ought to raise jobs or when you or someone in your family the minimum wage. gets sick. That’s what health insurance is for. Stronger families, better education, eco- That bill would help millions of families nomic security. Fourth, we have to continue to have a little peace of mind as they struggle to fight for safe streets, to lower the crime with life’s challenges. That bill is on the floor rate. It is abysmal that young people today of the Senate, but the insurance companies feel the fear they do from crime and violence. do not want it brought up to a vote. I want We are making progress. We are going to the people of Iowa to write their Members put 100,000 police on the street because we
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 272 Feb. 11 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
know with community policing you can pre- I have supported these things, and I want vent crime and drive the crime rate down. you to support them, as well. This can never We were right to pass the Brady bill and be a partisan political issue again. the assault weapons ban. It has made this The people of Iowa and the United States a safer country. I just want to point out— can put this away for decades as a partisan I imagine that Iowa is not all that different political issue if you will just stand up and from Arkansas, where half the people have say: I want my environment preserved. I a hunting or fishing license, or both. I just want my children to grow up in a healthy got back from New Hampshire, where they country, and I know the planet cannot be had a big deer season, and I can tell you preserved unless we can grow the economy we had plenty of ducks in Arkansas, and they in a way that is good for the environment, shot them with the same weapons they used not destructive of it. You can do that. You before we passed the assault weapons ban. can give that to the future, and you ought All those people who said those hunters were to do it. going to lose their guns didn’t tell them the Finally, let me just briefly say there are truth. They weren’t right; they were wrong. two other things that we have to face. One But I’ll tell you who did lose their guns: is we have to continue to be the leader of 41,000 felons could not buy handguns be- the world for peace and freedom and secu- cause of the Brady bill. It was the right thing rity. It is so easy to say we should walk away to do. from these challenges now with the cold war And what we ought to do, we must have over. But we can’t. We have a chance this a renewed effort to finish the work of putting year to get a comprehensive nuclear test ban the police on the street and to move against through, no more nuclear testing. We have gangs and drugs and guns. And we must con- a chance to do that. We ought to do that, tinue to fight it abroad as well as at home. but we have to lead to do it. The fifth thing we have to do is to leave Everything we want other people to do for the environment safer and cleaner for today us in the rest of the world requires us to and tomorrow. Until the last year or so, the be willing to lead because we are strong and work of cleaning the environment was by and great and we are trusted. We want the Euro- large a bipartisan one. Until the last year or peans to be fair and buy our agricultural so it would have been unthinkable for a ma- products. We want Latin America to grow jority in either party to say, ‘‘Let’s cut the with us in trade. How can we walk away from enforcement at the Environmental Protec- them if they’re willing to risk their lives to tion Agency by 25 percent. Let’s delay all work with us to do what we did in the last regulations. Let’s tie all new efforts to clean year and a half, to arrest seven of the eight air and clean water up in knots in court for leaders of the Cali drug cartel? We can’t; years and years and years. Let’s walk away we’ve got to work with them. from our commitment to safe food and safe So it isn’t particularly popular. Every time drinking water and the kinds of things that I talk about foreign policy in a large group make this country a safe and good place to I get the feeling people are going to yawn live. Let’s delay regulations designed to ad- or say, ‘‘Well, you’re doing all right. I trust dress problems like the E. coli problem you, but don’t make me think about it.’’ This where people ate contaminated meat, and is a very small world. We’ve got corn over some died, or the cryptosporidium problem $3 today because of foreign policy. Wheat that got into the water system in Milwaukee is over $5. You’ve got $7 soybeans because and 100 died. we’ve got a growing world market. But you We cannot afford to have a partisan divi- can’t just have economics without a commit- sion on this. We cannot afford to say we can’t ment to freedom and decency. And we have grow our economy unless we pollute our en- to be a part of all of that, and we must under- vironment. We have to do everything we can stand how it fits together. to grow our economy by preserving our envi- The last thing that I want to say to you ronment. That’s why I supported ethanol and is that we have got to have a political system electric cars and natural gas cars. That’s why capable of generating support and trust from
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 12 273
the American people. The Congress has to development. And of all those wealthy na- pass the line-item veto they’ve been promis- tions, we have created the largest number ing. The Congress has to pass campaign fi- of jobs; we have the highest rate of growth; nance reform, like they’ve been promising. nobody has a lower tax rate; nobody has a But let me say this, this is a two-way street. lower deficit as a percentage of their econ- That’s why I like the caucuses; you actually omy. We have problems, but we are moving have to make some effort to have your voice on them. heard. You need to say, ‘‘I’m going to stop Cynicism is a cheap excuse for inaction, this uncritical bashing of Government and in- for walking away from the responsibilities of stead ask myself what do we have to do to- citizenship—citizenship. gether to move this country forward.’’ So I say to you, I will do everything I can When the streets were flooded here, you as long as I am your President to meet those did not want a weak FEMA or a weak SBA. seven challenges for the future. I will do ev- When we can collect, as we did last year, erything I can to complete my mission to see a record amount of child support payments that every American who will work for it can to give back to families that have been aban- achieve the American dream, to see that we doned, you don’t want us to be weak; you remain the strongest force for peace and want us to be strong. You want us to be freedom, to see that we keep coming to- strong. You don’t want a weak student finan- gether instead of being torn apart. But in the cial program, you want a strong student fi- end, what happens to this country still de- nancial program. We can cut the default rate, pends on what it has depended on for almost but we ought to loan more money to people. 220 years: you, the people; we, the people. My friend, James Carville, has a line in You be there. You lift up your sights. You his new book, that I just commend to you. fight for your future. And we will see the He said, everybody likes to bash the Govern- best is yet to come. ment. But, he said, in the 30 years, our Gov- Thank you, and God bless you all. ernment has spent half of our tax money on NOTE: The President spoke at 2:05 p.m. in the just three things: national defense, Social Se- Knapp Center at Drake University. In his re- curity, and Medicare. That’s half your money. marks, he referred to Michael R. Ferrari, presi- What happened? We won the cold war, cut dent, Drake University, and Mayor A. Arthur the poverty rate among senior citizens in half, Davis of Des Moines. and Medicare means today, if you get to be 65 in America, we have the longest life ex- pectancy for senior citizens of any country Remarks in a Roundtable Discussion on the face of the Earth. We can do things on Tobacco Use Prevention and an together, folks, when we do it right, and we Exchange With Reporters ought to say that. February 12, 1996 Let me say especially to every young per- son in this audience, this country has got a [Secretary of the Department of Health and lot of problems, and every politician in it Human Services Donna Shalala introduced makes mistakes, and Government sometimes the President and thanked him for his leader- does dumb things. But this is a very great ship on the issue of tobacco and children.] country. And in this period of change, re- The President. I’m looking forward to it. member something President Kennedy said First of all, let me welcome all of you here to my generation when the Berlin Wall was to the White House and to the Oval Office. up and the Communist world was divided As I’m sure you know, this is an issue that from the free world. He said, ‘‘Our democ- has concerned me for some time, and there racy is far from perfect, but we never had are real reasons for it. Three thousand young to put up a wall to keep our people in.’’ You people start smoking every day, even though remember that. it’s illegal for them to do so. A thousand will And remember, most of the problems we have their lives shortened because of it. have in this country are broadly shared by Smoking tobacco is the largest single cause other nations who are where we are in our of preventable death in the United States
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 274 Feb. 12 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
every year. And while there are things the should control that. Children should have a Government can do about it, we need your chance to learn within the family unit, within help. the school, within the churches, within the When I gave my State of the Union Ad- community, without being bombarded by all dress I said that our country has seven great kinds of destructive messages that will knock challenges for the future, but the first and them off track. So ultimately, this is an effort most important is to strengthen our families that will give some dimension of real control and give all of our children back their child- and values back to the family, which is what hood. In the case of teen smoking, the Food we want to do. and Drug Administration is reviewing about Well, I’d like to spend the rest of the time 700,000 comments from citizens before de- listening to you. We could start—Donna, ciding what to do to discourage the market- how should we do it? ing, the advertising, the sales of cigarettes to children more. We just promulgated what it [Two participants described doing a survey called the Synar regulation, named in honor in their neighborhood on tobacco sales to un- of the late Congressman from Oklahoma, derage children, and they related their expe- Mike Synar, which requires States to take riences of how easy it was to buy cigarettes.] stronger stands to discourage teen smoking The President. Out of the places you and to set a goal of reducing teen smoking went, how many carded you and how many by about 80 percent over the next several sold? years. So we’re working hard, but we know we’ve [The young people said that about 60 percent got to have your help. We know this has got of merchants sold them tobacco. One of the to be a partnership. I think the most impor- participants said she had surveyed 50 stores.] tant thing I’ve learned as President is that The President. Fifty? while Government can’t solve all of our prob- Q. Yes. lems, we have no business going back to a time when everybody’s left to fend for them- The President. Wow. selves. These are things we have to do to- [The young people said that they tried 12 gether. And I want to compliment the Robert vending machines and got cigarettes from 11 Wood Johnson Foundation and, of course, of them. Secretary Shalala then introduced the National PTA—thank you so much—and the president of the PTA at Robinson High the American Cancer Society and all of those School who discussed their efforts to have who are going to create this National Center vending machines removed.] for Tobacco-Free Kids. This center is sort of a symbol of how I The President. Let me say, all of you are think America ought to work, because it will from Virginia. Hasn’t the Virginia—isn’t involve the best national experts but, more there a new proposal before the Virginia leg- importantly, community groups, all kinds of islature to take much stronger positions. And grassroots groups of people working together I—all I know is what I’ve read about them, to try to deal with this issue. but it appeared to me that they were really And I just want to thank you and say that moving in the right direction. I hope that your presence here today and Q. One is, as far as carding. your work and your concern, especially the The President. What does it do? young people, will be a symbol that will, Q. You will have to picture photo I.D. in through the help of all these fine people here order to purchase. That one will work. But covering us, go out across America so that for all intents and purposes, right now I’m others will do that. afraid that the vending machine one is get- I mean, the ultimate issue here is to pro- ting watered down. tect our children more and to give more con- The President. In Virginia when you get trol of family life back to parents. I don’t a driver’s license, do they put your picture think many parents want their children to on it? start smoking. And parents, not advertising, Q. Yes, sir.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 12 275
[The participants added that they doubted other diseases caused by smoking. What I’m that the Virginia law would do away with trying to say is, please stop young people and vending machines.] teenagers from smoking. We are tomorrow’s The President. Well, one of the proposals future.’’ Good for you. Good luck. that we are considering, that’s being consid- [A participant described being caught smok- ered here by the FDA, is the question of ing by the school security guard who took whether there should be no vending ma- their cigarettes and gave them a ticket, result- chines in any place that children have access ing in a visit to the court. Her mother de- to. If you’re going to have vending machines, scribed the Smokeless Saturdays program in maybe they should just be where only adults which the principal offers the parents of chil- can come in. dren caught smoking a choice between a 3- [A participant said that advertising for to- day suspension or participating in the bacco seems to be increasing and especially Smokeless Saturdays program.] in African-American and Latin-American The President. Let me ask you some- neighborhoods. He concluded that there were thing. Do the young people in your school two anti-tobacco initiatives before the City who smoke believe that it’s dangerous? Council in the District of Columbia and asked for the President’s help in getting them [A participant said that they really don’t passed.] care.] The President I didn’t know that. Thank The President. They just don’t think you for telling that. I’ll see what we can do about it one way or the other—— about it. Q. No. Q. You’re a resident. The President. I wanted to ask another The President. Let me just say one thing question, if I might, because I want to—this about the advertising. I have said this before, is relevant, I think, to the PTA concerns. Do but I want to reiterate. If anyone doubts the the schools in your school district, do they impact of the advertising on the children, you have programs like, for grade schoolers, have only to look at the evidence that chil- which show pictures of lungs in people who dren are much more likely to buy the three have smoked for a long time and all that? most heavily advertised brands than adults Are those programs in the schools? are. Adults are more likely to shop, buy ge- [A participant said that in Fairfax County neric brands, cut their costs, you know. Kids they have created coalitions of businesses, go right to the advertised brands. I think it’s churches, communities, and schools. She de- something like 85 percent of all cigarettes scribed a meeting with children and parents sold to young people are the three most heav- where they showed graphic slides and videos ily advertised brands. on drug abuse and driving while intoxicated.] [A participant said that people marketing The President. The thing that made the cigarettes claim to be trying to get smokers biggest impression on our daughter when she to switch brands, but he believed if the ads was in grade school was—and Hillary and I were strong enough to overcome brand loy- talked to her about this—the thing that made alty, they were strong enough to convince the biggest impression on her was a class she children to smoke. Another participant said had where they just showed them pictures she thought that advertisement encouraged of lungs in progression. peer pressure.] And you know, she saw all these black The President. That’s what her letter to lungs, and it made this vivid impression. And me says, ‘‘I’m glad you’re trying to stop teens my mother had smoked all her life, prac- and other people from smoking. There are tically, since she was a teenager. She started already enough people dying from diseases, as a teenager, as most people do. And my and I don’t want any more people to die from daughter kept telling her what her lungs diseases. I think these are the diseases you looked like—this 8-year-old beating up on die from, like lung cancer, throat cancer and her grandmother. And for her 8th birthday,
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 276 Feb. 12 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
my mother stopped smoking. That was her [One participant said that they had no gift to her granddaughter for her 8th birth- friends who smoke but that she could con- day. vince them to quit. Another participant indi- But that’s why I asked you, because I cated that it is not that easy.] thought it made a real impression on the chil- The President. To convince people? dren in the class. That’s why I asked you that. [A participant said he tried to find out how [A participant said that with the high drop- people started. He then started working with out rate in large cities many children would elementary school-age children, teaching miss classroom training but still need to be about the harmful effects of tobacco prod- reached.] ucts.] The President. That sort of thing, I think The President. Let me ask a question. you’ve got to do that early. Why did you get into this? Why do you care [Several participants described school pro- so much about this? grams, and advocated starting early and [The participant said that his godmother died making the children aware of the short-term of a smoking-related illness and that made consequences.] him decide to stay away from drugs and to The President. One of the biggest prob- try to help his friends avoid having to deal lems we have in our country, and one prob- with what he had to deal with.] lem I have as President, and one problem The President. What about you? everybody who’s in a position of any kind of responsibility has—is dealing with the ten- [A participant said that she got involved be- sion every human being has between think- cause she found smoking really disgusting, ing about what’s happening right this second, especially since it kills so many people.] and what’s right to do over the long run. And The President. You were great, all of you. in the world we live in the wonderful thing This is very encouraging. I’ll do what I can about it is that we get some much informa- to support you. We’ll keep working on it. tion about so many things so fast, in ways We’ll do it together. we never did before, we have so many op- tions we never had before. It’s a very exciting 1996 Election time to be alive, but it’s also true that people Q. Mr. President, can we have your are just being constantly bombarded with all thoughts on the Iowa caucuses today? This these things. And I think when you’re a is an historic day, obviously, for the American young person it’s just harder to believe that people. One specific thought: Did you think every little thing you do has a consequence a year ago you would be unopposed for the over the long run. Democratic Presidential nomination? And that’s a problem for—it’s been a prob- The President. I don’t know what I lem throughout human history. It’s part of thought a year ago. I don’t know if I thought human nature. But I think it’s more difficult about it. I hope I’ll win tonight. [Laughter] for young people today and particularly on That’s my thought on the Iowa caucuses. I this issue, which is why I think these groups hope, as I told—you know, 4 years ago, there are so important. All of your efforts really was effectively no campaign in Iowa because count. And I think that maybe the young peo- Senator Harkin ran and, as he well should ple here, maybe that’s the most important have, he got almost all the votes there. And thing of all. I mean, I can’t—does the peer today, because there appears to be effectively pressure seem to work? Do you think you no race in the Democratic caucus primary, have any influence over your classmates? I don’t know how many people will go to- Q. It’s worth a try. night. But I hope that the trip over the week- Q. Us? end made an impact. And I believe it did. The President. Yes. Do they think you’re I was, frankly, astonished by the size and kind of loony, or do they think you’re doing the enthusiasm of the crowds and by the re- something good? sponse to just a serious discussion of the is-
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 13 277
sues facing the country and my determina- The President. I said what I thought tion to not let this election divide the Amer- about what happened the last few days. ican people and also, not to let the citizens We’re going to look at all the evidence. We’re of this country off the hook by saying, ‘‘Oh, going to see what we know and what we can I’m cynical. It doesn’t make any difference.’’ do, and I’m going to do what I think is best Look at these kids. These children here— to try to promote peace there. That’s what especially this young lady who was brave I’m going to do. And that’s all I can do. enough to come—[inaudible]—they are a Thank you. stunning rebuke to the idea that it does not matter what ordinary citizens do in this coun- 1996 Election try. It does matter what ordinary people do. Q. Are you curious about what Republican These kids wrote a letter to the President, candidate is going to emerge? they get to come in here and talk about it. The President. [Laughter] Well, I expect And it shows you what people can do if they I’ll know something by what happens in Iowa work together. And so that’s what I think tonight. At least if the results are clear before people in Iowa responded to. bedtime. I’m just like you; I honestly don’t I was exuberant about the weekend, I know what’s going to happen. And I have thought it was very good. I don’t know what’s found it’s not very fruitful to spend your time going to happen in the Republican caucus. speculating on things over which you have I don’t have any idea. As you all know, the no influence. And I have no intention of par- nature of the rules and the size of the turnout ticipating in the Republican primary. I’ll let has a lot to do with that. So I really don’t them decide who they want to run. have a clue what’s going to happen. Q. Do you like watching them fight it out among themselves. Peace Process in Northern Ireland The President. Well, I don’t know how Q. Mr. President, are you concerned that to answer that. [Laughter] the British are no longer going to deal with Thank you. Mr. Adams of Sinn Fein? The President. Well, let me say this, I NOTE: The roundtable began at 1:27 p.m. in the think that all the parties are probably assess- Oval Office. In his remarks, the President referred ing and reassessing where they are and what to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams. is necessary to do now, but I intend to do whatever I can on behalf of the United States to try to restore the cease-fire and try to get Remarks to the National Information the peace process going again. Infrastructure Advisory Council and I can tell you this: I believe if you let the an Exchange With Reporters Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ire- February 13, 1996 land have a say in this, it wouldn’t be close. They do not want to go back to violence. The President. Thank you very much. I They want to go forward to peace, and they want to thank Ed and Del, and I want to expect the people who are representing them thank all of you for serving. This was truly to be disciplined and mature and to peace- a distinguished council, a very diverse group. fully work this out. That’s what they expect I bet you had some interesting meetings. to be done. And I just hope and pray it can [Laughter] I wish I had been privileged to be done. hear all of them. And I’ve been working—actually, I did When Ed McCracken was talking about some work last week before the cease-fire the reports and he compared it to President was broken, and I intend to do some more Kennedy, he said, you know, President Ken- work this week on it. We will do everything nedy launched a move that sent Americans— we can to try to get the process back on track. men to the Moon—no, men into space, he Q. Do you think Gerry Adams can still be said, men into space. I thought he was going trusted after what happened in the last few to say this is going to send all of our children days? into cyberspace. [Laughter]
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 278 Feb. 13 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
And what I was thinking about, watching sistent with the best principles of fair com- Ed and thinking about the work his remark- petition and public interest. Among other able company has done—all of you have things, it will help your recommendations in probably seen that picture of me when I was the KickStart Initiative to become law be- in high school, shaking hands with President cause of the guarantees in there for access Kennedy. After I saw ‘‘Forrest Gump’’ and of schools and libraries and hospitals. So all thought about Ed, now every child in Amer- of these things are very hopeful. ica will be able to shake hands with President If you think about the challenges facing Kennedy. [Laughter] our country. If you just take the ones that Let me assure you that we are going to I mentioned in the State of the Union: the take these recommendations seriously. The challenge to build strong families and to give council’s work may be done, but the Nation’s all children a childhood, the challenge to give work is just beginning. And I know I speak every American access to the education we for the Vice President, who 20 years ago need for the 21st century, the challenge to coined the term ‘‘information super- provide greater economic security for Ameri- highway,’’ and Secretary Brown and all the cans in a time when their particular jobs may other members of our administration who are be less secure than they were in a former around this table, Deputy Secretary Kunin, economy, the challenge to make our streets Mr. Givens, Mr. Barham, and others: We are safe, to keep our environment clean, to re- very grateful for this work. store integrity to our Government, to main- All of you know that we are entering an tain out leadership in the world. All these age of incredible possibility for the American things will be aided by the technological ex- people. I believe that the signing of the Tele- plosions symbolized by the information su- communications Act of 1996 last week will perhighway. help to increase those possibilities, and I We know now, for example, that we can want to thank Reed Hundt and all others who make families more secure by providing bet- worked on that legislation and all of you who ter health care because of technology. People supported it. in rural areas can contact a doctor in a city If you just think about what has happened all the way across the country for help in since this council was formed in 1993, the dealing with a medical problem. We know growth of the Internet, the hit movie created we can make our criminal justice system by computer animation, the explosion of work immensely better because of comput- technology, we know that the potential to im- ers. We see that dangerous criminals can be prove the lives of the American people, both arraigned by computer without having to economically and otherwise, is absolutely move them from police station to courthouse. staggering. And we all know that we are just We can expand our opportunities to identify at the beginning of that process. problems because of technology. Today if The thing that I liked so much about the someone steals a car and drives it halfway Telecommunications Act is that that act was across the country and leaves it in a shopping passed in a manner and requires a certain mall parking lot, within literally a matter of public interest in its implementation that I a couple of seconds, as soon as the car is think represents the best of what we ought found, its owner can be identified and the to be doing and how we ought to be doing facts surrounding its loss can be established. it. You know, the act in the end passed almost We know that technology can enable our unanimously. And it, to me, represents the Government to work better and it already model of the public and private cooperation has in so many ways. Millions of Americans we ought to have for the future in so many will file their tax returns electronically this ways. year because of the advances of technology, It obviously unleashes the forces of the lifting a lot of burden and time off of them. market more than ever before. It will bring We know Americans starting small busi- vast new opportunities for information, for nesses can get all their SBA information from learning, and for entertainment to the Amer- a single place on line now. And these are ican people. It will do it in a way that is con- just the beginnings. The KickStart Initiative
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 13 279
is particularly important to me because of the As I said in my State of the Union Address, promise it holds to achieve one of my major as we change the nature of work and we goals, to connect all the schools, the libraries, change the nature of the workplace, and and community centers in this country to the more and more organizations become less information superhighway by the year 2000. bureaucratic, less hierarchical and more flexi- And it can be done community by commu- ble, the era of big Government is also passing nity. I was in Concord, New Hampshire, the from the scene as defined by big, centralized other day, just 2 days after all the schools bureaucracies. This Government today is the in that community were connected. And it smallest it’s been since 1965. By the end of was truly a community effort, the kind of this year it will be the smallest it’s been since thing that we have to have. I happened to 1963. be in a school in the neighborhood with the But just because we don’t have a big Gov- lowest per capita income in the community. ernment in a traditional sense, doesn’t mean And I saw what local community leaders had that we should have a weak one. It doesn’t done to make equipment available to stu- mean we can allow individuals and families dents that they could take home and share and communities to go back to a time when with their parents, even students who came they had to fend for themselves. In this new from modest circumstances, with parents world we are facing we can only take advan- with no formal education or previous experi- tage of the opportunities and beat back the ence. problems if we work together. The community grassroots KickStart ele- You have set an example. And this report ment of this whole endeavor, I think, is in- shows the kind of framework of partnership credibly, incredibly important, and I applaud that enables people to make the most of their you for making it a separate report and mak- own lives and communities to do the best ing sure that we all do our part to help that they can in seizing their own opportunities succeed. that I believe should be followed by Ameri- As you noted in your report, educational cans in many, many other areas of our Na- technology has actually helped to raise edu- tion’s life. cational performance. You can see it in test Your support for the Benton Foundation, scores at the Clearview Elementary School, which I particularly want to applaud, will in Chula Vista, California, which you men- help countless schools and libraries and com- tioned. You also know that it’s allowing stu- munities learn from each other and speed dents around the country to do things they their progress much faster than what other- could never have done before, to examine wise had been possible. gray whales, to study Hawaii’s volcanoes, to And thanks to the help of Bill Nye, the explore the Gala´pagos, all without leaving the Science Guy, with the bow tie—that I can’t classroom. I remember I met a young man tie. [Laughter] The video produced by Dis- not very long ago in Albany, New York, an ney and AT&T will make it easier for every- 8th-grader who has done a research paper one to understand the information super- on volcanoes, entirely based on resources in highway. I want to thank Bill and Disney and Australia, because of his access to the infor- AT&T and I want to thank all the other com- mation superhighway. panies that have made their own contribu- We know, too, that technology can bright- tions to this endeavour. en educational prospects in all kinds of Finally, let me just emphasize what is to schools, even in areas where achievement you obvious, but may not be obvious to all had previously been very modest. The Chris- of our fellow Americans who have not been topher Columbus School in Union City, New exposed to these developments. This is not Jersey, which you mention in your report, is about technology for technology’s sake. It’s a school I plan to visit later this week to try about using technology to help people work to highlight the importance of your rec- together to realize a better future for them- ommendations and our goal, and to dem- selves and for their families. You have helped onstrate to Americans all across this country to challenge America, and you have shown that it really can make a difference. us the way, a way which offers the promise
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 280 Feb. 13 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
of the American dream to all of our citizens NOTE: The President spoke at 2:09 p.m. in the who are willing to work for us, and offers State Dining Room at the White House. In his us a way to continue to work together in a remarks, he referred to NIIAC co-chairs Edward new era. R. McCracken, chairman and chief executive offi- cer, Silicon Graphics, Inc. and Delano E. Lewis, That is the most important lesson I have president and chief executive officer, National learned as President. We have to find new Public Radio; and Reed Hundt, Federal Commu- ways to work together so that people, as indi- nications Commission Chairman. viduals and families in the communities, can realize their great promise—and you have done that for us in these two reports. Your country is indebted to you, and I thank you. Remarks to the 1996 Super Bowl Thank you very much. Champion Dallas Cowboys Q. Thank you, Mr. President. February 13, 1996 The Vice President. You did great. The President. You led the way. Thank Please be seated. Mr. Hill, it’s good to see you very much. you. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the White House. It’s a great pleasure and honor for me to welcome Jerry Jones and his family, Iowa Democratic Caucusus and Coach Switzer and the entire Dallas Q. [Inaudible]—think of the Iowa Demo- Cowboys team, the coaches, the staff. Wel- cratic caucusus—the results? come back to the White House. This is begin- The President. Well, obviously I was ning to be boring for them, I think. [Laugh- pleased. I think we got all the delegates and ter] almost all the votes, 99.8 percent. [Laughter] But this is the only thing that happens at The thing I’d like to point out, though, that the White House as regularly as the State I was astonished by, and I did not learn until of the Union Address. In some ways, it’s bet- about midnight last night, is that apparently, ter. It’s shorter—[laughter]—and there’s no in an uncontested caucus, 50,000 people response. [Laughter] went. By contrast, there were only about, I I think everyone in America knows the re- think, 100,000 people in the Republican cau- markable record of the Dallas Cowboys; is cus with nine candidates, and they had antici- well aware that they have won the Super pated 30,000 or 40,000 more. Bowl 3 out of the last 4 years and that makes And to me, the fact that 50,000 people eight trips to the Super Bowl and five vic- went out on a cold winter night in Iowa to tories. This year I thought was especially im- reaffirm their support for the positive direc- portant for the team, and Jerry Jones said tion in which we’re taking the country, and so after the victory over Pittsburgh, I might the idea that we do have to work together, add, a hard-won victory and an excellent we do need a strong set of new ideas in which game. And the Steelers put up a great fight. the Government is a partner in the fight for But Jerry must have been thinking about the future, that’s the most rewarding thing the injuries the team had overcome, the fact of all. I was stunned. that there were two losses in December. And There never have been 50,000 people go I have to say to my longtime friend and fellow to the Iowa caucus in an uncontested elec- Arkansan, Barry Switzer—he was second- tion, never had been anywhere close to guessed so much, for a while I thought peo- 50,000 people. And I want to thank the peo- ple had mistaken him for the President. ple of Iowa for the reception they gave to [Laughter] me. I want to thank the people who worked I want to congratulate everyone who for our efforts. And most of all, I want to played on this team, Emmitt Smith for his thank those 50,000 Americans who showed remarkable record-setting 25-touchdown that our people are not cynical, they haven’t year; be a long time before that’s—[applause] given up on citizenship, and they are pre- I congratulate those who are here and those pared to take control of their future. who are not here, Troy Aikman, all the re- Thank you. ceivers, the defensive backs.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 13 281
But I would be remiss as someone who Executive Order 12989—Economy understands what it’s like to get the limelight and Efficiency in Government all the time, when you’re backed by a team Procurement Through Compliance that deserves the credit, and they don’t often With Certain Immigration and get it. That’s the way Presidents are. I’m al- Naturalization Act Provisions ways up giving the speeches, always getting the credit—but as somebody who has been February 13, 1996 a footfall fan ever since I was old enough This order is designed to promote econ- to know what the football looked like, I don’t omy and efficiency in Government procure- believe I’ve ever seen a team play better from ment. Stability and dependability are impor- tackle to tackle on offense and defense as tant elements of economy and efficiency. A the line did for the Dallas Cowboys in the contractor whose work force is less stable will closing games from the playoffs up to the be less likely to produce goods and services Super Bowl. They were awesome, and they economically and efficiently than a contrac- deserve a lot of the credit as well. tor whose work force is more stable. It re- I want to say a special word, too, to Charles mains the policy of this Administration to en- Haley, who came back from all of his injuries force the immigration laws to the fullest ex- and played in the Super Bowl. It was wonder- tent, including the detection and deportation ful to see him on the field. And if he wasn’t of illegal aliens. In these circumstances, con- out of pain, he sure hid it. And if you can tractors cannot rely on the continuing avail- play in pain, you can run for public office. ability and service of illegal aliens, and con- [Laughter] It’s something you might con- tractors that choose to employ unauthorized sider. aliens inevitably will have a less stable and I also want to say a special word of appre- less dependable work force than contractors ciation—I think all Americans and people that do not employ such persons. Because who are fans of the Cowboys and people who of this Administration’s vigorous enforce- are fans of the Steelers were glad to see the ment policy, contractors that employ unau- performance that Larry Brown put into the thorized alien workers are necessarily less Super Bowl that won him the MVP award, stable and dependable procurement sources especially after he lost his young son. I think than contractors that do not hire such per- every parent in America identified with it and sons. I find, therefore, that adherence to the admired his courage as well as his perform- general policy of not contracting with provid- ance. ers that knowingly employ unauthorized So this was a good year for the Dallas Cow- alien workers will promote economy and effi- boys. But because of the way they won and ciency in Federal procurement. the way they played and the obstacles they Now, Therefore, to ensure the economi- overcame, it was a good year for professional cal and efficient administration and comple- football and for reminding us all that talent tion of Federal Government contracts, and is never enough. You also have to want to by the authority vested in me as President win. You have to have the courage to accept by the Constitution and the laws of the Unit- adversity and overcome it when you face it. ed States of America, including 40 U.S.C. And you have to keep going when the going 486(a) and 3 U.S.C. 301, it is hereby ordered gets tough. This year the Dallas Cowboys did as follows: just that. And every one of us in America Section 1. (a) It is the policy of the execu- can cheer them for that great accomplish- tive branch in procuring goods and services ment. that, to ensure the economical and efficient So, congratulations. We’re glad to have you administration and completion of Federal at the White House. Government contracts, contracting agencies should not contract with employers that have NOTE: The President spoke at 5:05 p.m. in the East Room at the White House. In his remarks, not complied with section 274A(a)(1)(A) and he referred to Dallas Cowboys former player Cal- 274A(a)(2) of the Immigration and National- vin Hill, owner Jerry Jones, and quarterback Troy ity Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(a)(1)(A), 1324a(a)(2)) Aikman. (the ‘‘INA employment provisions’’) prohibit-
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.014 p07fe4 282 Feb. 13 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
ing the unlawful employment of aliens. All dures and standards prescribed by the Fed- discretion under this Executive order shall eral Acquisition Regulation. be exercised consistent with this policy. (b) The head of the contracting agency (b) It remains the policy of this Adminis- may debar the contractor or an organizational tration to fully and aggressively enforce the unit thereof based on the determination of antidiscrimination provisions of the Immigra- the Attorney General that it is not in compli- tion and Nationality Act to the fullest extent. ance with the INA employment provisions. Nothing in this order relieves employers The Attorney General’s determination shall from their obligation to avoid unfair immi- not be reviewable in the debarment proceed- gration-related employment practices as re- ings. quired by the antidiscrimination provisions (c) The scope of the debarment generally of section 1324(b) of the INA (8 U.S.C. should be limited to those organizational 1324b) and all other antidiscrimination re- units of a Federal contractor that the Attor- quirements of applicable law, including the ney General finds are not in compliance with requirements of 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(6) con- the INA employment provisions. cerning the treatment of certain documen- (d) The period of the debarment shall be tary practices as unfair immigration-related for 1 year and may be extended for additional employment practices. periods of 1 year if, using the procedures es- Sec. 2. Contractor, as used in this Execu- tablished pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1324a(e), the tive order, shall have the same meaning as Attorney General determines that the organi- zational unit of the Federal contractor con- defined in subpart 9.4 of the Federal Acquisi- tinues to be in violation of the INA employ- tion Regulation. ment provisions. Sec. 3. Using the procedures established (e) The Administrator of General Services pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1324a(e), the Attorney shall list a debarred contractor or an organi- General: (a) may investigate to determine zational unit thereof on the List of Parties whether a contractor or an organizational Excluded from Federal Procurement and unit thereof is not in compliance with the Nonprocurement Programs and the contrac- INA employment provisions; tor or an organizational unit thereof shall be (b) shall receive and may investigate com- ineligible to participate in any procurement plaints by employees of any entity covered or nonprocurement activities. under section 3(a) of this order where such Sec. 5. (a) The Attorney General shall be complaints allege noncompliance with the responsible for the administration and en- INA employment provisions; and forcement of this order, except for the debar- (c) shall hold such hearings as are required ment procedures. The Attorney General may under 8 U.S.C. 1324a(e) to determine wheth- adopt such additional rules and regulations er an entity covered under section 3(a) is not and issue such orders as may be deemed nec- in compliance with the INA employment essary and appropriate to carry out the re- provisions. sponsibilities of the Attorney General under Sec. 4. (a) Whenever the Attorney Gen- this order. If the Attorney General proposes eral determines that a contractor or an orga- to issue rules, regulations, or orders that af- nizational unit thereof is not in compliance fect the contracting departments and agen- with the INA employment provisions, the At- cies, the Attorney General shall consult with torney General shall transmit that determina- the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of tion to the appropriate contracting agency Labor, the Administrator of General Serv- and such other Federal agencies as the Attor- ices, the Administrator of the National Aero- ney General may determine. Upon receipt nautics and Space Administration, the Ad- of such determination from the Attorney ministrator for Federal Procurement Policy, General, the head of the appropriate con- and such other agencies as may be appro- tracting agency shall consider the contractor priate. or an organizational unit thereof for debar- (b) The Secretary of Defense, the Admin- ment as well as for such other action as may istrator of General Services, and the Admin- be appropriate in accordance with the proce- istrator of the National Aeronautics and
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 13 283
Space Administration shall amend the Fed- has put in place a comprehensive strategy to eral Acquisition Regulation to the extent nec- address the problem of illegal immigration. essary and appropriate to implement the de- Over the past 3 years, we have begun to re- barment responsibility and other related re- verse years of neglect at the border, with a sponsibilities assigned to heads of contracting 50 percent increase in border patrol agents departments and agencies under this order. and new technology to stop illegal crossings. Sec. 6. Each contracting department and We are deporting record numbers of crimi- agency shall cooperate with and provide such nals and other deportable aliens. But all this information and assistance to the Attorney will not stem the tide of illegal immigration General as may be required in the perform- if we do not reduce the job magnet that ance of the Attorney General’s functions draws illegal immigrants to this country. under this order. It is against the law for businesses to hire Sec. 7. The Attorney General, the Sec- workers who are illegal immigrants and are retary of Defense, the Administrator of Gen- not authorized to work in the United States. eral Services, the Administrator of the Na- For too long, however, the Immigration and tional Aeronautics and Space Administration, Naturalization Service (INS) has lacked the and the heads of contracting departments resources needed for vigorous enforcement. and agencies may delegate any of their func- My administration has provided the INS with tions or duties under this order to any officer the resources it needs to enforce the law. or employee of their respective agencies. We have made it easier for employers who Sec. 8. This order shall be implemented want to comply with the law. At the same in a manner intended to least burden the time we have cracked down on employers procurement process. This order neither au- who repeatedly violate the law. But we must thorizes nor requires any additional certifi- do more. cation provision, clause, or requirement to Today I am signing the Executive order be included in any contract or contract solici- on immigration that I announced in my State tation. of the Union Address. This Executive order Sec. 9. This order is not intended, and keeps Federal contracts from going to busi- should not be construed, to create any right nesses that knowingly hire illegal workers. It or benefit, substantive or procedural, en- reinforces the principle that Government forceable at law by a party against the United business—and tax dollars—should not be di- States, its agencies, its officers, or its employ- rected to employers who knowingly hire ille- ees. This order is not intended, however, to gal workers. And for the first time, it will preclude judicial review of final agency deci- subject those companies to Governmentwide sions in accordance with the Administrative debarment. This will help the efficiency of Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 701 et seq. our Government. And it will have the effect William J. Clinton of increasing respect for our laws. The Exec- utive order is simple and straightforward. It The White House, will neither burden employers with needless February 13, 1996. paperwork, nor place unreasonable demands on Government contracting agencies. [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, At the same time, I want to make clear 8:45 a.m., February 14, 1996] that we will not tolerate employment dis- NOTE: This Executive order was published in the crimination. Federal laws prohibit employers Federal Register on February 15. from discriminating against employees or new hires on the basis of national origin or race. These antidiscrimination laws protect Statement on Signing the Executive legal workers, and I am determined that our Order on Illegal Immigration strengthened enforcement of illegal immi- February 13, 1996 gration laws will not weaken these protec- tions. We are a nation of immigrants. But we American jobs belong to America’s legal are also a nation of laws. My administration workers. This Executive order will make
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 284 Feb. 13 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
clear that when it comes to enforcing our as quickly as possible to do as much as we Nation’s immigration laws, we mean busi- can, everything we’re allowed to do within ness. We are determined to restore the rule the law, to help you rebuild and to go on of law to our Nation’s immigration system. with your lives. I can see just from talking to the mayor— he told me he had lived here all of his life— Remarks to the Community in that this is a wonderful community with Woodland, Washington good, strong families and good, strong values, February 14, 1996 and I loved seeing the children at the school today. We will do what we can to help you Good morning. Let me say first of all a put it back together and get going in the right word of thanks to Mayor Graham for giving direction just as quickly as we can. And me a good tour this morning. I’m here with meanwhile, I hope you will keep your spirits your two Senators, Senator Murray and Sen- up. This will pass, and it will get better, and ator Gorton and of course Governor Lowry we’ll do everything we can to help. and Congresswoman Smith. And we have God bless you, and thank you. also Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon with us. And James Lee Witt, the Director of NOTE: The President spoke at 10:40 a.m. in a resi- FEMA, and my Chief of Staff, Mr. Panetta dential neighborhood. In his remarks, he referred and I came in this morning to—and we flew to Mayor James Graham of Woodland and Gov. Mike Lowry of Washington. over the flooded area, and we’ve been walk- ing down the streets talking with some of the folks. Remarks in a Roundtable Discussion I was on the other side of the street where on the Floods in Woodland the houses were built higher, and they now February 14, 1996 have lakefront property, I see. That’s what the Gleasons told me and, of course, I was The President. Is everybody here? Mark, with Doug and DeLois Youngnickel down do you want to start? there in their home, and I saw how much they’ve lost. [Mark Anderson, Woodland deputy fire chief, Let me say to all of you, I know there’s thanked the President and other roundtable nothing that anyone, including the President, participants, summarized the efforts to con- can say that will make these losses go away. trol the flooding, and asked the President to I can tell you that in my life, in my former comment.] life when I was a Governor, I have been in The President. Well, first of all, I want whole communities that were wiped out by to thank you and the fire chief and the mayor floods. I’ve been in whole communities that and everybody in this community who were torn apart by tornadoes. And I have worked so hard. You deserve to be a little been very impressed with what the people emotional, and I bet you haven’t had much here have done—the way you’ve rallied to- sleep in the last several days. gether, the way you’ve worked to help save Mr. Anderson reported that although he got as much as you could—the work the Corps [ little sleep during the first 4 days of flooding, of Engineers has done to try to get the water the last few nights were more restful. down as much as possible as quickly as pos- ] sible. And I want to begin just by thanking The President. When the mayor and I all of you who worked hard to minimize the were coming in here—we went out and damage of this flood. toured one of the neighborhoods, and we When I leave here, we’re going to kind met with some people who had lost their of a roundtable discussion, and we’ll talk homes, along with Governor Lowry and Sen- about what the Federal Government can do ator Gorton, Senator Murray and Congress- to try to help you rebuild. The only thing woman Smith and Secretary Pen˜ a, and the I can do to you is to pledge to you that I FEMA Director, James Lee Witt, who is to will do everything I can to see that we move my left there. It was interesting—he intro-
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 14 285
duced me to one man who was standing on We believe that—Mr. Panetta, my Chief the side of the street. He said, ‘‘That man and Staff, and I were coming out here, and ran a jackhammer for 8 hours with a cracked we were just trying to assess what we know rib.’’ And I think that’s sort of symbolic of is the damage in Washington and Oregon and what this community has done in the last few over in Idaho. We think we’ll have to do a days. lot more, and we’re prepared to do it. And And I just wanted to say the whole country I basically want to spend the rest of this time has been touched by the pictures we’ve seen, that we have here listening to the citizens moved by the losses that you’ve endured but and the elected officials that are here, so that also moved by the way that you have rallied when we leave here we’ve got a very good in this crisis. And I thank you very much for idea of where we are and what we need to what you have done. do. I understand that you evacuated a thou- sand people in 40 minutes. If that’s true you [Mr. Anderson introduced a Woodland resi- could probably become police chief of Wash- dent who had worked for 4 days on a jack- ington, DC, or fire chief of New York City— hammer without going home. He then invited [laughter]—or Denver or some big place. roundtable participants to join in.] Mr. Anderson. I came here from a larger The President. Do you want to start? fire department, and I really like the size of Q. I’m a terrible public speaker, as you Woodland. [Laughter] soon will learn. [Laughter] The President. Let me say that—what I Mr. Anderson. want to do today is mostly hear from all these Go ahead, Mr. Johnston. folks that are here with us, but I would like The President. Just pretend you’re not to just—and both your elected officials and talking to the public; just pretend you’re talk- the citizens that are here. One of the things ing to us. that we have really worked hard on since I’ve Mr. Johnston. No, we’ll survive—you’re been President is trying to help make sure talking about—go back sometime this sum- the Federal Government did its part when- mer—— ever there’s a natural disaster. The President. Did you lose everything When I appointed James Lee Witt to head in your house? FEMA, he had headed the Emergency Man- agement Agency of our home State of Arkan- [Mr. Johnston said that he had lost 75 percent sas for several years before that, and we had of his household effects, including photo- been inundated with floods. We had the graphs, and had taken furniture and bedding highest per capita rate of tornadoes in Amer- to the trash dump.] ica. We have picked up after every known The President. Mayor? disaster. And we really tried to work hard with people. [Woodland Mayor Jim Graham praised the We know that the State and local commu- community’s response to the disaster. A par- nity groups and people like the Salvation ticipant then asked FEMA Director, James Army and all the folks that have worked here Lee Witt, how long it would take to assess are terrific. We just want to do everything damage to homes and provide financial as- we legally can as quickly as we can to be sistance. Mr. Witt asked the participant if helpful. And that’s what I want to hear about they had called the 800 number and indi- today: where are you now; how are you going cated that checks were being issued that day. to rebuild; what can we do. He said that residents could get temporary Today we can announce that we will be housing assistance or emergency home repair able to provide over $26 million to the com- assistance or an individual family grant and munities to help rebuild the community fa- that they should hear in just a few days. Gov- cilities, $10 million in emergency relief funds ernor Mike Lowry then thanked the Presi- for Federal highway damage, and $2 million dent for his presence and for the speed with to meet other emergency needs. But there which Federal funding was provided during will be more that has to be done, a lot more. the disaster and during previous flooding.]
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 286 Feb. 14 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
The President. That’s a poor way to get Mr. Anderson. With that kind of support, Federal money, having these floods. [Laugh- the community of Woodland can accomplish ter] anything. The President. Don’t forget, folks, this [Governor Lowry said the flood will be the country is made up of Woodlands. And most most expensive natural disaster in the history of us who live in bigger towns now once came of the State of Washington, estimates running from places like Woodland. So you should to $300 million with 2,600 residences and never—don’t feel insignificant just because over 50 bridges lost.] you’re small. In some ways—I was just telling the mayor, I said, ‘‘It must be immensely re- The President. Thank you. Anyone else warding to be the mayor of a place where like to talk? you can know people, you see them. When [A participant thanked the President for visit- they commit these acts of heroism and gener- ing and for caring and said that the commu- osity you know who they are.’’ nity was one that worked together and that There are a lot of places that are so big the Federal Government had stepped in to now, it would be impossible to know whether fill its role. She indicated that she had trav- the guy that worked a jackhammer for 8 eled around the State and that 1,000 families hours had a cracked rib, or not. In a place like this you know that. And that really counts couldn’t get from their homes to the cities for something. because of damaged bridges and that the Tri Senator Gorton? Cities were running out of heating oil.] Senator Slade Gorton. Mr. President, it The President. Thank you. Let me say, is said that a picture is worth a thousand first of all, on things like the heating oil words, and lord knows the people who follow issue—these big, specific issues come up, it’s you around certainly live by that. very important that we know about them if The President. A thousand pictures is there’s something we can do to help, and worth one word. [Laughter] there may be. [Senator Gorton said that for the people of Governor Lowry talked about the dimen- Woodland and Washington having the Presi- sions of the losses, and I think that that’s dent come and see firsthand what these peo- probably a conservative estimate, depending ple have gone through, to bless the efforts on—you know, just based on what we’ve that they have made, and to pledge his aid seen. We may have to come back to you, is very important. He thanked the President to Senator Gorton and Congresswoman for coming and for the assistance he brought Smith and to the Congress for some sort of with him.] supplemental appropriation on this, and if so, we want to do it as quickly as possible, be- The President. Thank you. cause I don’t want all of these folks out here Congresswoman Smith? Congresswoman Linda Smith. hanging by their fingernails, full of anxiety Thank you. We’re honored you are here. I saw kids about whether we are or are not going to do what I did when I remember seeing Presi- be there when they need us. dent Kennedy—now you know how old I am, Ms. Howell, do you want to say anything? about the same age as you are. [Laughter] They tell me you’re great. I expected you The President. Looks better on you. to be able to talk all over us. [Laughter] The [Laughter] guys with the best seat in the house up there were clapping for you. [Laughter] [Representative Smith said that the Presi- dent’s visit gave the people reassurance that [Ms. Howell thanked the President for com- there will be a coordination, that it will be ing to such a small place as Woodland and real, and that they would turn all the people said the people of the community had power into cleaning up. She also asked for reached out to one another and the commu- a direct assistance site, saying the people nity would maintain its hope.] were stunned by the destruction and would
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 14 287
appreciate having someone to talk to directly But I really appreciate you saying that, be- for assistance.] cause sometimes I think we forget that in The President. James Lee? the moment. A lot of times it comes up a week or so later, sometimes 2 weeks later [Mr. Witt introduced Linda Ramsey, Wash- when it’s really difficult. ington State Emergency Management Agen- I want to hear from our last panelists, but cy, and said her agency was willing to put before I do I want to say again—I want to a disaster coverage center in Woodland thank Secretary Pen˜ a for coming with us. which would put all the Federal agencies and And I want to recognize in the audience, as the State agencies and everyone in the same we’re going back to Oregon as soon as we building. He added that State and FEMA leave here, the presence of Senator Hatfield, outreach teams had been going door-to-door Mark Hatfield, and Senator Ron Wyden, the in the community, working with people as new Senator from Oregon. Thank you both well. Representative Smith commended the for being here with us. FEMA Director and the FEMA professionals working in her District.] [A participant, speaking for all the local emergency managers, thanked the President, The President. May I say—she made a the Governor, and the FEMA Director for point here, the Congresswoman made a point their response to the series of disasters in the that I think is, in some ways, for all of you, area. Another participant added that it not just for us, one of the most important couldn’t have been done without FEMA and things that’s been said here today. A lot of the Washington, State Emergency Manage- the people who have been hurt by this flood ment Officer and Trudy Winterfeld, emer- are, frankly, still in shock. They have not real- gency management supervisor for Cowlitz ly come—they’re still trying to come to grips County.] with what’s happened to them and grieving over the loss of family pictures, and things The President. Thank you, Trudy. that seem small until you lose them and then Let me just say, you made a point which they become big. provoked another thought in my mind. We And I know that it’s true; whenever we went down Gun Club Road today, and we go into a rural area or a set of small towns, saw the houses on the right side of the road people do feel awkward even asking for that were wiped out, and the houses on the things from the Government; they don’t left side of the road had been built recently, quite know how to do it. And I appreciate consistent with the Federal flood standards. the response James Lee gave to you. And as they all said, they all developed lake- But I just want to remind you that I met front property overnight because behind all a couple on the street that told me they’d their houses is a big lake. But all those houses been married 64 years this year, and I could survived. tell they were just trying to come to grips And I think it’s worth pointing out that with this. we’ve had several places in America that I just ask you all to be sensitive to this. within the last 5 or 6 years have had two Sometimes when the flood waters go down floods that went into their 100-year flood and there’s nothing for a neighbor to do plain. And no one quite knows—there’s a lot that’s real visible like stack the sandbags up, of speculation—one of the major news maga- we forget that there’s going to be a lot of zines had a cover story on the extreme winter scars inside. A lot of these folks are going weather, speculating that it was related to the to be hurt for a very long time, and they’re phenomenon of global warning. No one real- going to have to try to come to grips with ly knows. But we do know that both in the it. And all of us, from the Federal Govern- winter and the summer now, we’re having ment on down, need to be very sensitive to our weather in more extreme bursts, so that this. It’s going to be—there’s a lot of tough more of our precipitation is coming in more things that people are going to have to deal extreme bursts. And we’re having also a really with. The churches will have to help; every- long, hot spells that are quite extreme. Last body will. year was the hottest year ever recorded.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 288 Feb. 14 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
So these are things that we have to be sen- something like this happens, we remember sitive to, and I think that it’s just worth re- why we have neighbors in Government.] membering as we all start the rebuilding ef- The President. Thank you. But I think it’s fort that there’s something to be said for hon- important to remember he said it right, too; oring the building standards in the flood it’s neighbors and Government—if you had plain; that it may be that these aren’t 100- one without the other, it wouldn’t work. year flood plains anymore, they may be 10- year flood plains for all we know. There may [A participant said the chamber of commerce be something rather fundamental going on, was concerned about the integrity of the and there’s nothing to be harmed by at least dikes. FEMA Director Witt said that the playing it safe. President had signed mitigation legislation in Mark, anybody else want to speak? 1993, adding 15 percent more money that Q. Yes, sir. This will be the best, famous— can go to mitigation projects, projects which whatever adjective you can think of, sir, for States do to prevent disasters reoccurring.] a Valentine’s Day that we’ll never forget. The President. Yes, I might say in the [Laughter] Middle West, there has already been another The President. I received a note from a flood in one of those areas where hundreds young lady from this community whose mid- of people were saved from losing their homes dle name is Valentine because she was born a second time, but there are other ways to on Valentine’s Day, and she asked me to mitigate; you don’t have to—it’s just that— come by and have a piece of cake at her that was the Mississippi and the other big house. [Laughter] The mayor said we were rivers there, and they were way down in the too busy; I’m going to blame it on him. flood plain, and there was no practical way [Laughter] for them to do something like the people did Mayor Graham. Thanks. on the lefthand side of Gun Club Road when The President. I appreciate that. I was walking down there. Mayor Graham. Actually, we couldn’t get So they decided that they wanted to do the driver to turn the steering wheel in the that, and they saved it. There are other less right direction. [Laughter] drastic mitigation strategies that you can fol- The President. Thank you. low here, and you need to just decide wheth- Mayor Graham. Did we have some time er—how you want to do with the dike or your for questions from the audience, Mr. Presi- flood wall or whatever you want to do here, dent? and come up with a plan through the State, The President. Does anybody have any and you will be eligible for funds to try to questions about the whole operation here? implement it. Yes, sir. There was a question back there? [A participant asked about a project to deep- [A participant asked if the Corps of Engi- en the Columbia River which would increase neers could take some action with regard to international trade and asked if it would go two or three miles of identifiable problem forward given Government cutbacks.] dikes.] The President. I don’t know that I’m fa- The President. Can they use any of their miliar enough with the project to answer. public infrastructure money to fix that? Does anyone want to comment on it? Slade Q. The Corps of Engineers has—— or Patty or anybody? The President. Oh, they’re Corps dikes? [A participant said that both Senator Hatfield and Senator Wyden, and the two Senators [Mr. Witt indicated that the Corps of Engi- from Washington were working on the issue neers would make many such repairs. A par- and making progress but that it was a long- ticipant pointed out the need for an early term project. Another participant told the warning system on the river in addition to story of an encounter with an elderly gen- repairing the dikes.] tleman who said that there is so much nega- The President. Sir, let me follow up on tive talk about the Government, but when what you said. It is true that the Corps of
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 14 289
Engineers can do that. It’s also true they’re ing using 5 percent of mitigation funds to- probably out of money because we’ve had ward early warning systems.] a lot of floods this year, including back in— The President. Mr. Panetta says, drawing you probably saw the floods we had in Penn- on his experience as former chairman of the sylvania and West Virginia and Maryland House Budget Committee, so he knows this back on the East Coast, so we will probably stuff—[laughter]—he says if we get the have to include some more money for the money to the Corps, he believes they have Corps of Engineers in whatever supple- some flexibility to build on the revetments mental budget we do. But if we do it, they as a part of the mitigation plan. So we need can immediately, if they have the personnel, the—I would think that you all should work go back and fix the dikes. with the Governor and try to make that a Yes, sir? part of the mitigation plan, because obviously Q. I live on Gun Club Road that you drove that’s what we’re trying to do, to go back to down. We can replace our stuff; you know, his question. We’re trying to minimize the you can’t replace lives. As long as nobody chance of this occurring again. So I would got hurt, that’s what matters. urge you to make sure that you make that The President. Thank you. a priority, and then we’ll try to make sure Q. We had no loss of life, and we had no whatever we can do whatever is necessary injuries. to give the Corps the legal authority to do The President. Thank you for saying that. it. Mr. Anderson. Do we have a question Yes, sir. There’s a gentleman in the back over here? there. We’re bringing you a microphone. The President. These are, I think, the leg- islators from the local area. We thank them [A participant said he thought the town of for coming out as well. Woodland owed a thank you to the inmates of the Larch Mountain Corrections Facility [A State representative said that it was vitally and all the Hispanics in the farm commu- important that the people register with the nities who helped avoid an even worse disas- 800 number as soon as possible. He asked ter.] FEMA to do more active marketing on the 800 number information. Mr. Witt said that The President. There’s another question they were trying via the Recovery TV channel back there. and the Recovery Times to get information [A participant said the work done by high out to the public.] school students was impressive and it was The President. Senator, you—well, let’s amazing to see all the youth in the commu- do this gentleman and then we’ll come back nity coming together. He added that he had to you. a tape for the President of the high school jazz band.] [A State senator said that the rivers were get- ting so shallow that they could not sustain The President. Send it up here. the flow and the Corps of Engineers had over The gentleman here in the blue jacket the year built revetments to reenforce the there. banks of the rivers but in doing so had never [A participant said the restaurants in town taken into account the fact that the rivers deserved thanks for feeding the flood work- had gotten more shallow. He asked for a re- ers, which they did around the clock.] appraisal of the revetments and also asked for work on an early warning system for area The President. Is there a question back rivers.] here? There’s someone with a hand up over here to the right. And then there’s a lady The President. Do you want to say any- over here. I’m running you guys crazy. thing about that, James Lee? [Laughter] This guys a—he’s with us, and [Mr. Witt said that local emergency manage- he needs the exercise. [Laughter] This is part ment officials could make warning systems of my, you know, get-my-staff-fit campaign. a priority. He added that they were consider- [Laughter]
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 290 Feb. 14 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
Q. Happy Valentine’s Day, Mr. President. The President. Thank you. The President. Thank you, sir. NOTE: The roundtable began at 11:20 a.m. in the [A participant described how after days of bay of the Woodland city hall/fire station. working, the crew working on the dikes began needing rest and that they had asked for help on radio and television and the com- Remarks to Workers and Volunteers munity response was to have 100 new work- at the Flood Wall in Portland, ers within the hour.] Oregon The President. Thank you. Now, there February 14, 1996 are two over there. Two people over here. There are two over there. You can stay now. Thank you very much. Thank you very [Laughter] much, Jim McKune, for your fine words and, Q. Thank you for coming to Woodland, even more, for your fine work. Mr. President. I’m one of your supporters I want to say on behalf of all Americans, that writes you letters from Woodland, al- having had the opportunity now to fly over though you probably never see them. the areas of Oregon and Washington which The President. Keep them coming. were damaged by the flood and many of Q. One of my concerns is the possibility which are still under water, our country has that Congress could close down the Govern- been watching you and pulling for you and ment in March—will that interfere with the praying for you. We have a lot of admiration help needed for this area? for the incredible work that has been done, The President. Well, first of all, I don’t and we’re proud of the contributions made think that’s going to happen. And I believe by all the groups and all the individuals who that the leaders have made it pretty clear that have worked so hard. we don’t think that’s going to happen. And I want to thank especially, on behalf of I believe that we will pass the legislation nec- the Federal Government, the Federal Emer- essary to—the Congress can’t act on it until gency Management Agency and its Director, we draw it up. We have to get up the supple- James Lee Witt, who is here with me today; mental appropriation necessary to provide the Corps of Engineers, who used their night the funds here. But as soon as we know it, scopes to make sure the dikes along the Co- what they are, we have—you know, it’s going lumbia were holding strong; the Secretary of to take us a while because we can’t keep— Transportation Federico Pen˜ a, who is also we want to do it all at once. But I believe here today. I want to thank the National that as soon as we know the Congress will Guard which has done about everything it act appropriately. I wouldn’t worry about could to help. And I understand they even that. I think they’ll take care of it. air-dropped hay to cattle cut off by water on I thought there was somebody else. No- Sauvie Island. body else? Okay. I want to congratulate and thank Bill Long Do you have a question, young lady? You and Steve Barrett for the tour I just got of want to ask a question? She had her hand the wall and the work they did to build it up. Do you want to ask a question? Do you and all those who did it so well. And let me want to say something? I don’t blame you, say a special word of appreciation also to that’s the right thing to do. Governor Kitzhaber and my good friend, Q. Mr. President, she wants to wish you Mayor Katz; Senator Hatfield and Senator a Happy Valentine’s Day. Wyden, and Congressman DeFazio and Con- The President. See, I had to have valen- gressman Bunn. We’re going to need them tines with my little girl last night. So I need all in the next few weeks because we don’t a valentine today. have enough money right now in the Treas- Thank you very much. ury to meet all the demands for the problems that Oregon and Washington and your neigh- [Mr. Anderson said they had run out of time, bors in Idaho have gone through, and we’re and thanked all the participants for coming.] going to have to go back to Congress and
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 14 291
ask for a little help. But I’m sure it will be sought to save their cows, to Sherman Coun- there. And I thank them for their support. ty, where wheat farmers saved the battle of I want to say a special word of thanks, too, their fields, to Marion County, where kids to the United States Marine Corps members volunteered around the clock to help in shel- who worked on this wall. I understand some ters. There are individual heroes everywhere: of them worked all night long. A tugboat crew rescuing a man stranded on I won’t keep you here long. I just wanted top of his house; a police officer jumping into to come here and listen, and in a few mo- a debris-filled river to save a life; rescue ments we’ll be going to kind of a roundtable workers evacuating people from their flood- where I’ll be hearing about where you are ed homes; neighbors helping neighbors move now in the flood recovery efforts, and getting cattle to higher ground. some suggestions about what else needs to But I also think we know that all of these be done. But I do want to point out some- individuals together really is what made this thing. If you look at this wall behind us, it such an extraordinary, remarkable experi- seems to me that it is a symbol of what our ence. This wall will never obscure the tri- country does when everybody pulls together umph that the people who lost their homes and works together and forgets about their and their lives in the Pacific Northwest— differences and focuses their attention and there were four lives lost, dozens of people their hearts and their minds. injured, thousands more evacuated, a lot of I understand it was exactly a week ago farmland was ruined, a lot of livestock was when Mayor Katz learned that the seawalls destroyed. That is a tragedy. It can never be might be no match for the river, and that obscured. The roads, the homes, the busi- you would have to get an emergency wall nesses, the powerlines that were swept away up before the river was expected to crest on in the mudslides, the avalanches and the Thursday night. Crews worked overnight, but wash-outs, they are many. there were too few of them for such a big And let me say to all of you, the people job, and without outside help, clearly the wall who experienced these losses, a lot of you couldn’t have been ready. So the mayor have rallied to their side in the last couple called on the people of Portland. I’ve had of days, and I applaud you for that. But I enough experience with the mayor to know can tell you, from years of experience long that she’s hard to turn down, but with the before I became President, as a Governor aid of the river coming down, I suppose that with whole communities flooded out and focused the attention of the citizens. whole towns leveled by tornadoes, the going Within minutes, 1,000 men and women will get tough again for these people in a from all over the area cast aside what they week or 2 weeks or 3 weeks. Many of them were doing to come to build the wall, to ham- are almost in shock now. But they will have mer the boards, to wrap them with plastic, to come to grips with the dimensions of their to pile the rock, to pass sandbags hand to losses. hand. Restaurants donated food, carpenters And so I ask you all, everybody who put lent equipment, AmeriCorps volunteers— a shoulder to build this wall and everybody young people learning construction skills— who has done anything else in the last few put their education to work, and, as I said, days, be on the lookout for your friends and there were even 60 marines who pitched in neighbors for the next few weeks, because and finished the wall on time. When the river a lot of them will have to come to grips with finally crested, it was about where you built enormous personal loss and anxiety and pain, the wall. and they will need you then as well. I have seen similar stories of courage and I want to thank you for doing your part, teamwork all around this State. We know that for pulling together. You will have our help, a lot of the places hit by this flood were in I assure you of that, in the job of cleaning very small towns and rural areas, places that up and rebuilding. And we will help you until often get overlooked but places that are really it is finished. Today, I’m going to survey the the backbone of our Nation, places from damage, as I said, talk with Members of your Tillamook County, where dairy farmers congressional delegation, with your State and
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 292 Feb. 14 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
local officials, with the citizens who are deal- to face. I know that it takes time to get this ing with this. We want to know what more done. But let me say again, we can do it. we at the national level can do to help. I hope you will never forget this wall be- I want you to understand that I know that hind me, and goodness knows, I hope you this is not just an emergency for a few days never need it again. But I hope you will al- or a week. We have been committed—we ways remember for as long as you live what are still working on the hurricanes that hit the people of Portland did in one remarkable Florida years ago. We have continued to day. And I hope that all of us will find in work on the terrible floods that hit the Mid- our minds and hearts the wisdom and dle West a couple of years ago. We are trying strength to be a little more like the people to finish the work of dealing with the after- of Portland were on that one day every day math of the earthquake and the fires that hit of the year. If we had that kind of cohesion, California. We know that we have to be your that kind of common commitment, we’d real- partners until the complete work of rebuild- ly be in pretty good shape. ing the lives, the economy, and the commu- When I was up in Washington a couple nities that were damaged by this flood is over. of hours ago, I went to the home of man, And I look forward to that. 70 years old, hard of hearing, lost everything When I became President, one of the he had in his home including his hearing aid. things I promised myself I would do is to And all he did the whole time I saw him— at least see that the Federal Government did he and his wife were there and their two a good job when disaster struck. I had lived daughters had come in, their granddaughter in a State which had the highest per capita trying to help them deal with the aftermath incidents of tornadoes in America, and I of losing everything in a home they had lived know what it’s like when you need help and in for decades—and all he did was crack it’s not there. laugh- I am proud of the fact that, where it used jokes the whole time I was there—[ to take a month or more for families who ter]—trying to keep everybody else in a good were hurt in disasters to get checks, now you humor. can call an 800 number and get it within days. And he said, ‘‘You know, it’s amazing how Already more than 3,500 Oregonians have all these total strangers showed up to help registered for help, and the first checks were me.’’ He said, ‘‘People were going down into mailed to them today. my basement, which I turned into an indoor The Small Business Administration will do swimming pool—[laughter]—and really risk- everything in its power to get Oregon’s small ing getting hurt pretty seriously trying to help business communities up and running again. me save the few little things I’ve accumulated And I am pleased to announce today emer- in my life.’’ And he said, ‘‘I’m real grateful, gency grants from other Government agen- but I just wish we could all be that way every cies. The Department of Transportation is day.’’ And that’s a pretty good pearl of wis- today committing $10 million to help repair dom from a man who, at the age of 70, is highways damaged by the flood. The Depart- looking at a future without anything that he ment of Housing and Urban Development had just a couple of days ago. is speeding $10.3 million for community de- Let me close by asking you to remember velopment and housing assistance. The De- that today is your State’s birthday. On Feb- partment of Labor is providing $2 million in ruary 14, 1857, the people of the Oregon emergency funds for dislocated workers. Territory decided their bond to each other And today, we are opening two disaster was strong enough to sustain a State. The recovery centers in Tillamook and Clackamas spirit that brought statehood was alive and Counties. Residents can go to the center and well again here last week. May that spirit heal meet with representatives of all the Federal the wounds of recent days, and may it con- and State agencies that are taking part in the tinue to grow and flourish for another 139 recovery. So those who can’t get everything years and beyond. they want or need over the 800 number will Thank you, happy birthday, and God bless be able to go in and deal with someone face you.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 15 293
NOTE: The President spoke at 1:30 p.m. in Water- Remarks on Departure from Boise, front Park. In his remarks, he referred to Jim Idaho McKune, volunteer carpenter; Bill Long, super- visor, bureau of maintenance; Steve Barrett, struc- February 14, 1996 tural engineer; Gov. John A. Kitzhaber of Oregon; and Mayor Vera Katz of Portland. [The President’s remarks are joined in progress.] On the ground, we are doing what needs Statement on the Interim Report of to be done not only now, in the next few the Presidential Advisory Committee days, but for as long as it takes, until the on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses people there are back on their feet and back to normal. February 14, 1996 Let me also say that, as I’m sure all of you know, this has been a long day for me, I am pleased to accept the interim report but it’s been a very rewarding one, even of the Presidential Advisory Committee on though I’ve seen a lot of sad and heart- Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses. Dr. Joyce breaking things. And not only in my con- Lashof and the Committee members have versations here but in my trip to Oregon and made an impressive start on helping to en- to Washington, I’ve seen a lot of loss, but sure that we are doing all we can both to I’ve also seen what happens when the Amer- determine the causes of the illnesses Gulf ican people work together in a spirit of genu- war veterans are suffering from, and to pro- ine community and when people exhibit indi- vide effective medical care to those in need. vidual acts of courage and kindness that seem I am pleased that the Committee’s interim to overwhelm the dimensions of even the report recognizes the serious efforts under- worst tragedy. And I have seen that as well. way in the administration to restore these I think the lesson that I have learned more men and women to good health. I know that than any other in 3 years and a few days as the Departments of Defense, Health and President is that when this country works to- Human Services, and Veterans Affairs will gether, we never lose. And when we permit review the recommendations contained in ourselves to be divided, we often wind up this report and will continue the research, being less than we ought to be. outreach, and medical programs needed to I thank again everybody here in the north- improve the lives of Gulf war veterans and western part of our country for what I have their families. seen today, for the work that they have done. I have asked Secretary William Perry, Sec- And I want to say again specifically to the retary Donna Shalala, and Secretary Jesse people of Idaho, I will follow up on the sug- Brown to develop an action plan for imple- gestions that we have gotten. I look forward menting the recommendations in the interim to working with you. And I hope, as the report. I am also asking the Departments to members of your congressional delegation continue their record of full cooperation with suggested to me in there, Senator the Advisory Committee as it prepares its Kempthorne in particular, that maybe the final report over the next 10 months. model of cooperation that we’ve seen in deal- As I said last March when announcing my ing with this flood can become a model for intention to establish the Advisory Commit- other kinds of cooperation in the future, so tee, 5 years ago we relied on these Gulf war that Americans everywhere feel that their veterans to fight for our country; they must Government is a partner in a common en- now be able to rely on us to try to determine deavor to help individuals and families and why they are ill and to help restore them communities make the most of their God- to full health. We are all indebted to the given capacities. Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf Thank you. Good luck, and we’ll be at War Veterans’ Illnesses for its contribution work on this immediately. Thank you. to this critical task. I look forward to review- ing their final recommendations later this NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 7:50 year. p.m. at the Idaho National Guard Ramp at Boise
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 294 Feb. 15 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
International Airport. These remarks were re- in the entire United States is hooked up to leased by the Office of the Press Secretary on the information superhighway, that all our February 15. The press release did not include children have access to computers and the the President’s complete opening remarks. A por- finest educational software, and all of our tion of these remarks could not be verified be- cause the tape was incomplete. teachers have the kind of training and sup- port that, obviously, you have provided here, and that there is a kind of connection that Remarks in a Roundtable Discussion we see here. on Education Technology in Union I am very excited about the prospects that City, New Jersey young people like those here at this table in February 15, 1996 this room will be able to learn things that I could never have even dreamed of as a The President. Thank you very much, child. And while I want districts like yours Carol. Good morning, Secretary Riley. You to be able to stand out and be proud, I think look great long distance there—[laughter]— all of you want every child to have the oppor- glad you’re in the Cabinet. Good morning, tunities that your children have. Bob Fazio, and thank you again for what you And that’s why I wanted to come here to said and for the remarkable work you have announce what our next steps are. As I said done here. I want to say hello to Senator Lau- in the State of the Union, when I outlined tenberg and Congressman Menendez, who the importance of meeting the challenge of had so much to do with starting this tech- providing all of our children an education for nology effort in this school system; and to the 21st century, one of the primary goals Jim Cullen at Bell Atlantic, and the others I set was making sure every classroom was who are here from the private sector; and hooked up to the information superhighway the teachers, the parents, and especially the by the year 2000. students who are here; and the students from the 65 schools in Hudson, Bergen, and Mor- Today, I am proposing and will include in ris Counties who are with us today, thanks my budget to the Congress a $2-billion tech- to technology. I want to say hello to all of nology literacy challenge that will put the fu- you. ture at the fingertips of every child in every I have been looking forward to this for classroom in the United States. Let me ex- some time. And the Vice President and I plain just briefly how it will work. have had some very exciting conversations We’ll basically do what you have done here about what we would see here and what all in Union City on a national level. We will of you have done here. And I want to just use the resources of State and local govern- begin by thanking all of you for making this ments and school districts, of the private sec- kind of partnership work and by proving what tor, the schools, the students, the parents, I said in the State of the Union, that we have and the teachers. The proposal is part of the an obligation if we want all Americans to have balanced budget plan, as I said, I sent to the opportunities that this new information Congress, and we will use these funds basi- and technology age offers, we have an obliga- cally as challenge grants to try to make sure tion to make sure that all of our children have that no school district, no matter how poor, access to world-class education through the no matter how urban or rural, will be denied finest technology. And you are doing that. the opportunity to do what your children And I’m very, very proud of you, and I’m have been able to do because of your vision very excited to listen to all of you and what and work. you have to say today. I ask for all the people in this country who But I would like to talk a little bit about will support this effort to get active, to get what we are trying to do. What we trying involved. Companies like Bell Atlantic can to do from the White House is to work in do a great deal, but they can also use a lot partnership with everybody in America who more help. And obviously, none of this will is concerned about this to see that by the happen unless the school and the parents year 2000 every classroom and every library support the endeavor.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 15 295
So we’re going to try to do our part. We this equipment at the fingertips of our edu- want to support you. And we look forward cators to remember that what happens then to the day when we can have a conversation is the magic between the teachers, the chil- like this and every school child in America dren, and the parents. And I thank you for can be a part of it. what you said. Now I’d like to turn this over to our high- Mr. Fazio. Thank you, Mr. President. tech Vice President who has educated me— The President. Mr. Vice President, who between the Vice President and my daugh- is going to go next? ter, I’m about to figure out this modern age. [Mr. Fazio introduced a teacher who de- [Laughter] And I want to thank them both scribed how her school used technology and and introduce the Vice President and thank concluded saying she was nervous.] him for all the work he has done in this im- portant area. The President. You’re doing great. [The Vice President spoke of President Ken- [The teacher said the President’s initiative is nedy’s initiative in America’s early space pro- important to Union City because many stu- gram, and compared it with President Clin- dents there cannot afford home computers ton’s initiative to link schools to the informa- and thanked him for his effort.] tion superhighway.] The President. Thank you. The President. Thank you. [The Vice President introduced a participant Let me just say one other word and then who commented that learning computer skills we’ll go back to the planned rotation. Bob at an early age will aid students when they Fazio said something that sparked a warm reach high school and college.] response in me and reminded me that tech- nology is only as good as the people who are The President. Let me ask you some- using it; and in the service of education, it’s thing. Why do you think that students here only as good as the educators who are com- are doing better now, like on test scores and mitted to educating our children; and he in- things like that, than they would have done troduced himself as the instructional leader if there had been no technology here? What of this school. do you think the most important thing is Having worked now for almost 20 years about technology? in the field of education reform and having [The participant said that computers give had the opportunity as a Governor to travel students immediate access to current infor- all across America, to go into many of our mation and lead to students doing better in country’s finest schools, it wasn’t so many school by giving them more time to study.] years ago that there were almost no prin- cipals in America who would have introduced The President. That’s right. Do you think themselves as the instructional leaders of that having access to the computer makes all their schools. They thought of themselves as children believe that they’re equal, that they managers, people who kept order and made can have equal aspirations because it’s an sure the books balanced and did all kinds equalizer across income, isn’t it? of things that were unrelated almost to what Q. Yes, it is. was going on in the classroom. And the rea- The President. Is it also more fun? son this technology initiative is working here Q. Yes. is because, from the principal to the teachers, The President. Do you think that has people understand what the mission is. And something to do with why people learn more, I wanted to thank you. because it’s more fun? [Laughter] That was a statement that people that Q. Yes, I do. haven’t spent a lot of time in classrooms The President. That’s not bad, that’s okay. might not have even paid any attention to, You can say that. [Laughter] It doesn’t have but to me it meant more than anything else to be hard; it can be fun. you said. And I thank you for that because [The Vice President introduced a participant it’s important for all us who are trying to put from Bergen Academy, who described how
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 296 Feb. 15 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
partnerships were created between busi- of security about your child’s education, and nesses, schools, and professionals to bring you feel more involved in it because of this technology into the schools and community. technology project. He said that technology makes teaching more exciting, and he wakes up every morning not [Mr. Calles said his children teach their par- ents to use the home computer and explained knowing what is going to happen.] that school administrators can communicate The President. It is like our job. [Laugh- with parents at home using E-mail.] ter] The President. Do you have a lot of par- [The participant said that rather than being ents who communicate through E-mail now? a teacher, he now is a facilitator, a teammate in solving problems. He then introduced two [Mr. Fazio answered in the affirmative.] students, who described their computer The President. I’d like to call on Jim projects, including an effort to put a ‘‘biovis- Cullen, the vice chairman of Bell Atlantic. ualization and 3-D gallery’’ on the Internet.] Bell Atlantic has been an indispensable part The President. Tell us what bio- in this project here at Christopher Columbus visualization is. For all of us mere mortals, in Union City. I want to thank you, but I’d we’d like to know what that means. [Laugh- like for you to talk about your role, why you ter] did it, and what you think the future holds. [A participant explained biovisualization and [Mr. Cullen described the process of elec- described his project of electronically repro- tronically linking schools with outside re- ducing specimens from the Smithsonian In- sources. He noted that the Telecommuni- stitution. Other students then described and cations Act of 1996 encourages the establish- demonstrated their projects.] ment of electronic links to educational institu- tions and libraries. The Vice President said The President. That’s great. that the President was responsible for that [A participant told how the program has mo- part of the legislation.] tivated children and exposed families to the The President. Explain to everybody what education process.] is in it, though, so that—— The President. Thank you very much. [The Vice President summarized the legisla- [Vice President Gore introduced the next par- tion, emphasizing the challenge grants that ticipant from Bergen Academy.] will create public-private partnerships. Mr. Cullen then said he expects corporations will The President. Good morning. be eager to begin such partnerships.] The participant said parents work closely [ The President. Jim, I want to hear from with school administrators to expand the pro- Congressman Menendez and Senator Lau- gram. ] tenberg and the mayor and Secretary Riley The President. Thank you very much, about their perspectives on this and their in- Lou, and thank you, Mr. Calles. I want to volvement with it, because they all have been just comment very briefly. I think if every involved. But just before I do, I’d like to ask school in America had 75 to 80 percent pa- you to just touch once more on something rental participation, we wouldn’t have half that has come up several times today that the problems we’ve got, and we’d have a lot comes up in other places where I’ve been— more computers in the schools a lot faster. I was in Concord, New Hampshire, several I thank you for that. days ago, 2 days after they connected all the And I wanted to say to you, Mr. Calles, schools in their community—and that is the one of the things that you said that meant challenge of making sure that children have a great deal to me personally was that you access and their parents have access to com- thought it had helped at home, too—the at- puters and to being hooked in when they’re mosphere of education at home. I mean, I at home. How important do you think that gather you feel that you have a higher level is? Could you say again, very briefly, what
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 15 297
steps you took to do that, just to emphasize [Mayor Bruce Walter noted the role of gov- that for the people that are listening here, ernment and concluded by thanking the because this is one thing that’s going to re- President and the Vice President.] quire an extra amount of effort in several The President. Thank you. places in the United States to get this done. Mr. Vice President? And so if you could just—and maybe, Bob, you might want to comment a little bit—but [The Vice President reviewed the concept of if you could just talk briefly about it, and then universal communications as it applies to the we’ll go to our public officials. future and thanked the participants for dem- onstrating the future.] [Mr. Cullen summarized the vision of the in- The President. We will do that. But be- formation superhighway, concluding that it fore we get up from this table I want to leave has the potential to be available around the you with one final thought to muse about, clock.] and I hope not only all of you but all the The President. But it’s important to ham- people who will read or see about this—as mer that home. I mean, the ultimate vision President, I have said repeatedly, I believe— of this is that the reach of the information when it comes to the American people I have superhighway will equal the reach of tele- two great objectives, and that is to do every- phones and television here. It will be in every thing that we can do to make the American house. dream available to every person who is will- ing to work for it, and secondly, to do it in [A participant reported that Mayor Bruce a way that brings the American people to- Walter’s vision is to open the public library gether instead of divide them. to on-line users as a way of providing a safe Technology has been a big part of this de- haven for children.] bate. Technology clearly here is uniting us The President. Congressman and Senator and moving us forward. Erika said it: It and mayor? doesn’t matter where you come from, doesn’t matter who your family is. And Luciano said [Representative Robert Menendez said New it: You can be an immigrant family; you can Jersey is willing to work with the President bring a computer there; you can have access to move the rest of the Nation onto the infor- to the information. People—all people can mation superhighway.] have high expectations for themselves, no matter what their income background, no The President. Great. matter what their roots are, they can do that. Senator? This is brining us together and moving us [Senator Frank Lautenberg emphasized how forward. technological advances have sharpened stu- If you look beyond the schooling years, dents’ learning abilities and concluded by there are lots of people who are afraid that thanking the President and the Vice Presi- technology is doing the reverse. In our econ- dent.] omy, where we have global information and global markets and breathtaking changes in The President. Mayor, I’d like to let you productivity, you read every day—and I have speak last, so let me interject here and call talked about it in my State of the Union Ad- on Secretary Riley out there in cyberspace dress—we have almost 8 million new jobs, to ask if he has any comments. but half the country hasn’t gotten a raise and a lot of people are wondering what will hap- [Secretary of Education Richard Riley spoke pen to them if their big company becomes of the role of Government as a leader and a smaller company because of information supporter of technology initiatives.] productivity. The President. Thank you very much. What I want the American people to see And thank you for your leadership to make about this is that when we complete the work sure that’s exactly what we did. of bringing the information superhighway to Mr. Mayor? all education and to all of our people, it will
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 298 Feb. 15 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
empower everybody, and it will close the cir- in cyberspace somewhere. It’s nice to have cle, and it will enable us to use these great all of you with us. And let me say a special new forces of the modern world to bring all word of thanks to the parents, the teachers, of America together and to move all of Amer- and the students of this school and the Ber- ica forward. gen Academy who joined us today to talk You know, you can’t turn around and go about what all this means to our children and back. This will carry us forward. And I think our future. And let me ask us all to give a it’s a very, very great thing for our country. special word of recognition to the two stu- And some day, when Erika is about our age dents who just spoke, who must have been thinking about her children and her grand- somewhat nervous, but did not betray it, children, we will look upon what you are Marlon Grenados and Tonya Nagahwatte; doing as the beginning of a great renewal they did a great job. of American society that goes even far be- I’m very glad to be back in New Jersey yond education and proves that we can make and in Union City. All of you know that the this technology our friend and reinforce the Vice President and I came here today be- American dream and give everybody a cause this school system is undergoing a re- chance to live up to their own dreams. markable transformation. I want the rest of And you are real pioneers, and I’m very the country to know about it, and I want ev- grateful to you. Thank you, everybody. erybody in the country to be able to emulate it. Let me begin by acknowledging the con- NOTE: The President spoke at 10:45 a.m. in a tributions of Congressman Bob Menendez, classroom at Christopher Columbus Junior High who was formerly mayor here, a true native School. In his remarks, he referred to Carol Lisa, son of Union City, a sponsor of the New Jer- principal, Bergen Academy of Technology, and Bob Fazio, principal, Christopher Columbus Jun- sey Telecommunications Act in 1991 that set ior High School. A portion of this discussion could the stage for the remarkable events we are not be verified because the tape was incomplete. celebrating today. The rebirth of Union City and your schools reminds us that we do live in an age of great Remarks on the Education possibility if people are willing to work to- Technology Initiative in Union City gether to make the most of it. More Ameri- February 15, 1996 cans from all walks of life will have more chances to live up to their dreams than at Thank you very much. Mr. Vice President, any time in our Nation’s history. New tech- thank you for that introduction and for your nologies are opening prospects for vast new leadership to advance the technological revo- areas of human activity that will bring pros- lution in America and especially to bring its perity. A growing global marketplace is put- benefits to all of our children. Thank you, ting a premium on the kind of ingenuity and Mr. Mayor; Superintendent Highton; Sen- skills Americans can contribute to the ator Lautenberg; Congressman Menendez; present and the future. Secretary of Education Klagholz; Bob Fazio, But let’s face it, we also know that this the principal of this fine high school; I’m glad new era is a time of great new challenges, he’s not running for President this year. putting new pressures on families that are [Laughter] not particularly well equipped to deal with Jim Cullen, the vice chairman of Bell At- it. More and more of our citizens are living lantic, thank you so much for everything you better, but more and more of our families have done to make this school district a suc- are working harder and harder just to keep cess, and the work you have done throughout up. They justifiably wonder if they and their this State and throughout your area of serv- children will be winners in this new age, or ice. To the folks at Bergen Academy, and if they will be left behind in some downsizing Secretary Riley and to others joining us on or in some job in which they never get a the information superhighway, including stu- raise. dents from 65 schools in 3 counties, and I After what I have seen today, I believe believe Congressman Torricelli is out there more strongly than ever before the answer
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 15 299
to the problems of those who are not yet ben- ful and free. And finally, our Government efiting from the information age is not to try must be one that serves and works and earns to put walls up or turn around and go back, your trust, instead of your distrust. it is to keep going forward until every child I think it is fair to say that none of those and every family in every home, in every goals can be achieved unless we are success- workplace can see what we are seeing here ful in improving the quality of education for today. all Americans. We will do this through a part- You know, in the State of the Union Ad- nership, not through big Government. The dress, I talked about the importance of the high-tech information age means that all budget discussions we have been having in large bureaucracies will be restructured, that Washington for the last year, the need to fin- more decisions will be pushed down to the ish the work of balancing the budget but to grassroots, that people will be able to make do it in a way that recognizes our obligations more decisions for themselves. to our future through investments in edu- But we dare not go back to an era when cation and environmental protection, and all of our people were left to fend for them- that recognizes our obligations to our families selves. We have to go forward together, with and to our larger American family, including teamwork, just the way Union City has gone those who through no fault of their own need forward together, with teamwork to have this help from all of us, and that’s why we ought remarkable educational achievement we cel- to preserve the Medicare and Medicaid pro- ebrate today. grams. But I also said there, and I would I thank Congressman Menendez for what like to reiterate here, I believe there is a he said in echoing the title of the First Lady’s broad bipartisan consensus in this country to book, which I’m pretty proud of. He is right, continue the work until we have eliminated it does take a whole village to raise and edu- this permanent deficit, until we are living cate our children. And it takes all of us to within our means, until we are committed, meet all these common challenges. all of us, in living on a balanced budget. That’s what Union City is an example of. So what we have to do now is look to the That’s why we wanted to come here today. future. In that address, I outlined what I be- I loved looking into the eyes of young people lieve are the seven great challenges facing in the meeting which we just came from and America if we want all Americans to have hearing one of them say, you know, the thing a chance at the American dream, and if we about this technology is we can all achieve. want to grow together, not be driven apart. It doesn’t matter whether we’re the richest We must build stronger families and better family in the State or not. It doesn’t matter childhoods. We must have better education. what our background is. It doesn’t matter if We must make sure all of our children— our parents came here just a few years ago. every single one of them—has access to the This is the great equalizer. We can have high educational opportunities of the present and standards and high expectations and we can the future. We must build economic security all make it if we work together. That is the for every single working family genuinely message America needs to heed today. willing to work for it to hook into that future For 3 years, working with our distin- so that they will not be left behind. We must guished Education Secretary, Dick Riley, continue the fight to make our streets safer who may not be a cheerleader in his next until crime in America is once again the ex- life—[laughter]—but has been a terrific ception, not the rule. We must work to clean cheerleader for America’s children for the up our environment while we grow our econ- last 3 years and, indeed, even before. We omy and forever dispose of the myth that have worked on a simple strategy for edu- you cannot have a strong economy unless you cation. We believe in high standards. We be- are destroying your environment. We cannot lieve in high expectations. We believe in high afford any more of the luxury of pretending levels of opportunity. We believe in high that that is true. technology. And we believe the doors of col- We must continue to work to lead the lege should be open to every single American world toward a direction that is more peace- citizen.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 300 Feb. 15 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
We have worked hard to expand Head Let me just say, when I was the age of Start, to implement the Goals 2000 program, the students here—let me just give you some which gives to States and school districts the examples of what has happened in this 50 ability to advance toward high national stand- years. When I was the age of the students ards through grassroots reforms, like public that we met with today, the big technological school choice; or even letting teachers start breakthroughs were Technicolor movies and their own public schools; or doing things like stereo music. I can remember when 3–D you have done here that can’t be done every- movies came out and you got to wear little where in the beginning. We have worked to glasses to look at the movies and we really create a network of school-to-work programs thought that was hot stuff, that we had to to help young people who don’t go on to col- put glasses on to see movies that looked like lege immediately to at least find good jobs real people. I remember when color tele- and to continue their education when they visions and cellular telephones and comput- leave high school. We have set challenges to ers that could fit on somebody’s desk were schools to recognize that they must impart science fiction; nobody could even imagine the basic values that keep our society to- it. gether, through character education and For our young people today that all seems teaching good values and good citizenship. like ancient history, not science fiction. They All these things we have done. We have interact with computers at the supermarket, expanded Pell grants and created a new di- at the check-out counter, in video arcades, rect lending program that makes it easier for in their homes. You know, to them it’s all young people to borrow money for college second nature. I’d venture to say that at least and easier for them to repay it. Our half the adults in this room have learned AmeriCorps program is now giving 25,000 more about computers from their kids than young Americans a chance to work in their from any other source. communities to solve problems at the grass- But it’s a real misfortune that not every roots and earn money for college. schoolroom in America has the computers we But we have to do more. In the State of celebrate today here and at the Bergen Acad- the Union I proposed giving $1,000 merit emy. That is wrong. And that’s why I have scholarship to the top 5 percent of every high issued this challenge to our Nation to form school graduating class, to expand work-study a national partnership to make sure every to include a million students so more people young American has access to the future can work their way through college. And if through the information superhighway. we are going to cut taxes, what better way When I was young, I thought the future to do it than to give a tax deduction of up was there for every American who would to $10,000 to every American family for the work for it. It turned out to be true for my cost of college tuition? That would be a good generation. It will be true for this generation, way to cut taxes. too, and it will be a bigger, brighter, broader But we know that none of these things will future, but only if we bring the benefits of work until we bring the information and the information revolution to every single technology revolution into every school, and one of them. through the schools, into the homes of every Bob Menendez talked about the achieve- school student in the United States of Amer- ments of this school district. But think about ica. You heard the Vice President say he was it. Not so long ago this school system was in Philadelphia yesterday to celebrate the on the brink of a State takeover under New birthday of ENIAC, the first computer. He Jersey’s law that, actually, has a lot to rec- was too delicate to say it’s 50 years old this ommend it, saying that if students aren’t year, and it was born in the same year I was. learning, the State should have a right to [Laughter] The computer and I this year will move in. But you rescued it. And you did become eligible to join the American Asso- it the way we have to meet our challenges; ciation of Retired Persons. [Laughter] I don’t everybody working together, everyone doing know about the computer, but I hope I don’t their part, the board of education voting to quite qualify this year. [Laughter] modernize, Bell Atlantic making all the con-
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 15 301
tributions it made linking up the schools, the passed that bill, and the industries that sup- State of New Jersey helping with its re- ported it. We must all continue to do our sources, teachers and experts writing a new part. curriculum, parents actually coming here for But our National Government must do its weekend training taught by a teacher and her part, too. Consistent with the recommenda- students, parents who now can work with tions of the National Information Infrastruc- their children at home on the computer. And ture Advisory Committee, which I appointed the students have taken this opportunity and and which recently issued its last reports— this responsibility. They feel empowered, full of communications executives and others and they know it makes learning more fun. expert in communication around our coun- You know that with the computers in the try, I am today announcing a major initiative classroom and at home, linked together, homework is being done in a new way; class- to energize our people to work to fulfill that rooms, lessons take on a new life; parents mission even more quickly. I am proposing and teachers can keep in touch by E-mail. in my present budget, paid for in the bal- Test scores have gone up and truancy and anced budget, a $2 billion technology literacy dropout rates have gone down. In the words challenge that will put the future at the fin- of the Vice President, that he coined 4 years gertips of every child in every classroom in ago; everything that should be up is up and America. everything that should be down is down, and The two Members of Congress here that’s the way it ought to be all over America. present are in a unique position to support We’re not just talking about an option that this endeavor—Senator Lautenberg, because it would be nice for schools to have. Over before he became a Senator, he was in the 130 recent academic studies have shown information business, and he saw the possi- clearly that the use of technology and support bilities of computers, and he knows it should of instruction has led to higher achievement be used to do more than make successful in language, in art, in math, in social studies businesses, it should make successful stu- and, of course, in science. We have dramatic dents; and Congressman Menendez because proof of the power of technology to expand of what he has done with you here. opportunity for our young people. We have Together, working with like-minded to harness that power and spread it through- Democrats and Republicans, we can make out this country. this America’s cause. We can do this. We can In the State of the Union, I called on Americans to join in this national mission to have computers in every classroom. We can make every child technologically literate, to have all students eager to learn. We can have connect every classroom and library in our the face of every single child light up, and country by the dawn of the 21st century, we can know that down deep inside every which is just a few years away, to connect child can believe again that he or she—no them with quality computers, trained teach- matter what their background, no matter ers, creative software. We must do every- what their economic challenges—can fulfill where what you have done here. the mission that they have the capacity to We are making real progress. We are fulfill. We can do this. We can do it together, bringing companies and volunteers together and I believe we will. in California to wire 20 percent of those Thank you, and God bless you all. schools this year alone. And the Vice Presi- dent and I are going out there in a few days to celebrate that. And in the telecommuni- NOTE: The President spoke at 11:30 a.m. in the cations bill which I signed last week, there gymnasium at St. Michael’s Academy. In his re- marks, he referred to Mayor Bruce D. Walter of is a requirement for companies to provide Union City; Tom Highton, superintendent, Union a discount for connecting all of our class- City School District; and Leo Klagholz, State sec- rooms and libraries to the information super- retary of education. highway. And I thank the people in Congress who unanimously—almost unanimously—
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 302 Feb. 15 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
Statement on the Centers for with the Committee as it prepares its final Disease Control’s Report on Tobacco report. and Youth I also request that you carefully review the February 15, 1996 recommendations and report back to me promptly with your plans for implementing This week at the White House, I heard the recommendations. As I said last March directly from a group of children about the when announcing my intention to establish easy access and allure of cigarettes. the Advisory Committee, we will leave no This report is further evidence that parents stone unturned in our efforts to determine need all the help they can get in their daily the causes of the illnesses experienced by struggle to keep our kids tobacco-free. Gulf War veterans and to provide the best Every day, more than 3,000 young people possible medical care to those who are ill. become regular smokers. Nearly a thousand William J. Clinton of them will have their lives shortened be- cause of tobacco-related illnesses. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Remarks at a Fundraising Dinner in this country, contributing to more than 30 New York City percent of all cancer deaths. February 15, 1996 Let me be clear: This administration will continue to lead the fight to help parents pro- Thank you so very much. I told the Vice tect children from the hazards of tobacco ad- President when we were outside and James diction. Earl Jones was speaking that we ought to go out here and smile and quit while we’re NOTE: The CDC report was entitled, ‘‘Access of ahead. [Laughter] And I did tell him, I con- Tobacco Products to Youths Aged 12–17 Years.’’ fess, that I thought it was kind of a bad deal that he got to be introduced by James Earl Message on the Interim Report of Jones and he introduces me all the time. But the Presidential Advisory Committee James Earl Jones fails the first test of Presi- on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses dential introductions that the Vice President passes with flying colors, which is, whenever February 15, 1996 possible, always, always be introduced by Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense, someone you have appointed to high office. the Secretary of Health and Human Services, [Laughter] the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Don’t you think it’s wonderful what a sense of humor the Vice President has developed? Subject: Interim Report of the Presidential I think—I actually resent it myself. [Laugh- Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ ter] I used to have a sense of humor, but Illnesses they told me it wasn’t Presidential. So, like On May 26, 1995, I established the Presi- everything else that’s really enjoyable, the dential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Vice President gets to do it. [Laughter] Veterans’ Illnesses to review and provide rec- Let me say to all of you who are here, ommendations on the full range of govern- to the people who cochaired this dinner and ment activities relating to Gulf War veterans’ all those who sold tickets and all of you who illnesses. The Committee has now released have come out on this third-time’s-the its interim report, which you have reviewed charm—[laughter]—to the leaders of the and forwarded for my attention. Democratic Party who are here; to James I am pleased that the Committee’s interim Earl Jones, who I admire very much; I thank report recognizes the serious efforts under- you for being here and for your wonderful way in the Administration to respond to the words and for your support. To Leslie Gore, health concerns of Desert Storm veterans, and to the orchestra, all the musicians, I and I thank you for your close cooperation thought they were terrific. And I think it’s with the Committee as it fulfills its charge. okay if Leslie Gore tells people she’s kin to I trust that you will continue to work closely Al. After I became President, I found out
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 15 303
I had all kinds of relatives I didn’t know that sions necessary to keep meeting the chal- I had. And it makes for interesting reading. lenges of each moment. [Laughter] I believe, as I have said on many occasions, I want to thank Mayor Dinkins and the that we are living through the period of great- members of the New York City government, est change in the way we work and live and the Members of Congress who are here, the relate to each other in a hundred years; that borough presidents who are here, and all of this moment represents the most fundamen- you who have come to be a part of this tal change since we moved from being pri- evening. marily a rural people to being primarily a I guess that because this is in all prob- people who lived in towns and cities, since ability my last campaign, unless someday I we moved from being primarily an agricul- run for the school board—[laughter]—I’m a tural economy to an economy primarily little bit nostalgic. And I was in this hotel based on industry. at a fundraiser almost 4 years ago to this This information age represents dramatic week. Some of you were here that night. And changes in the nature of work. There’s more I’m thinking tonight—and I ask all of you muscle—excuse me—more mind and less to give your prayers to our wonderful friend, muscle than work. And as people in New Paul Carey, who is battling an illness but is York read every week, it represents dramatic doing better, and he can’t be here. But I want changes in the nature of work organizations, to think about him because he was here with and more small businesses and big businesses me in that campaign. And so I’m kind of keep getting smaller. There are fewer levels counting my blessings tonight and remem- between the people at the top and the people bering that. actually implementing decisions. There has The Vice President has graciously bragged been an enormous growth in small business, on me because it’s unseemly to do it for your- as the Vice President said, but an enormous self, even in an election year. What I would downsizing of bigger companies. like to talk about tonight is the—kind of the This era represents an enormous, dramatic time in which we’re living and why the things change in the way information is commu- that we have done commend us for reelec- nicated. Bill Gates in his recent book said tion, but why we don’t deserve to be re- that the information age, based on the digital elected just based on our record because chip, represents the most profound revolu- there is so much more to be done. tion in communications since Guttenberg What are the fundamental facts of this printed the first Bible 500 years ago. And, time? A democratic system can only work if obviously, when you’re dealing with changes it preserves the freedom and liberty of all this profound, which also include the change citizens and is flexible enough to adjust to in markets, money markets, markets in the challenges of every time. It is no accident goods, and markets in services to global mar- that we’re the longest-lasting democracy in kets, it is clear that there must be changes human history. It isn’t easy to keep meeting in Government. It is also clear that there will the challenges. It’s no accident that Haiti, be changes in the patterns of people’s lives. which the Vice President mentioned, after And whenever in our history—and I be- being a nation, an independent nation for al- lieve whenever in any society in human his- most 200 years, just had its very first transfer tory—there has been a great uprooting, you of power from a democratically elected Presi- always see enormous opportunity for the gift- dent to another. ed, the clever, the understanding, the lucky, This is a wonderful system of government, and the well-prepared. But you also see a but it’s not always easy to get a majority of lot of people feeling insecure and disoriented the people, first, to zealously guard their own because they feel that they’re working hard freedoms and those of their neighbors, and and playing by the rules and their future to respect those who are different from them, seems to be drifting away. And that rep- and, secondly, to make the decisions nec- resents the remarkable paradox of the essary or to let their leaders make the deci- present moment.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 304 Feb. 15 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
Overwhelmingly, this is an age of possibil- pointed at any children in the United States. ity. The Vice President recited the economic I’m proud of that. If the Russians follow the statistics; I need not repeat them. But what lead of the United States Senate and adopt we know is that this is an unusual time be- a START II treaty, we will reduce by two- cause in these 3 years we’ve seen our econ- thirds the nuclear arsenals of both countries. omy produce 8 million jobs, a record number We have gotten almost 180 countries to agree of new small businesses, a record number to join the nonproliferation treaty and prom- of self-made millionaires—a remarkable and ise never, never to develop nuclear missiles. very good thing—not people who inherited This year I believe we will get a comprehen- their wealth, but people who went out and sive nuclear test ban treaty for the whole made it with the opportunities that this coun- world. This is a remarkable thing. try provided. And I am profoundly grateful for what this And yet, still, about half our people have Nation has been able to do, to work with not gotten a raise in terms of real purchasing other countries, to fight terrorism, and to power in a decade or more. We know that fight organized crime, and to fight drugs. I these entrepreneurs are exploding. We know, am profoundly grateful for the role we played for example, that businesses owned by in the liberation of South Africa, and the role women alone, just businesses owned by we played in Haiti, in the Middle East, in women, have created more new jobs than the Northern Ireland, and Bosnia. But you know Fortune 500 have laid off in the last 3 years. as well as I do that this work is ongoing; that But that’s not very helpful if you’re one of even though the nuclear cloud is not hanging the people my age who is, you know, 49 or over us as it once did, we still face serious, 50 years old and your kids are ready to go serious obstacles to doing everything we to college and you’re one of the ones that need to do. got laid off, and all you’ve ever been is a middle manager in a very big company, and There’s a lot out there to do when one you can’t imagine how you can ever find an- fanatic can break open a vial of sarin gas in other job making what you made doing a subway station in Tokyo and kill hundreds roughly what you used to do. What are you of people; when one fanatic in the United to do now? So that is the paradox we’re trying States can get on the Internet and find to come to grips with. through high-tech means the very low-tech If you look at the other great challenge way of making a bomb, like the bomb that I think we face, which is to live up to our destroyed the Federal Building in Oklahoma values and to come together as a country in- City. When our open borders can lead terror- stead of being driven apart by this change, ists into our country and allow them to come you see the same sort of thing. We should here and they do their mischief and then be ecstatic. The crime rate is down, the wel- leave and go to countries from which we can- fare rolls are down, the food stamp rolls are not have them return, we still have security down, the poverty rolls are down, the teen challenges. pregnancy rate is down. This country is com- Now, I would say to you, on balance, you ing together. The commissioner of police of should be pleased with where this country the city of New York was on the front page, is and where we’re going. The economic di- the cover of one of our major news magazines rection is right. The social direction is right. with a serious question implying we may have The national security direction is right. We turned the corner in our efforts to whip vio- are opening the American dream to more lent crime. That is something to be celebrat- people. We are coming together around our ing about. And, yet, we all know that all those basic values. We are still the world’s leading things that are going down are still too high. force for peace and freedom, but we have So our work is not yet done. a very challenging agenda for the future. And If you look at the role America has played it is that agenda on which I hope this election in the world, we should be rejoicing for the campaign will be waged. Not the cheap, silly, reasons the Vice President has said and for divisive, distractive issues that will under- others. There are no more nuclear missiles mine our ability to unleash the potential of
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 15 305
every American and do right by this great involved in world trade who want me to con- country. tinue to reach out to Latin America and to In my State of the Union I said there were Asia. But many of our fellow Americans are seven great challenges facing this country. I so burdened by the moment that I get the don’t want to talk about all of them tonight. feeling when they see me on television talk- I want to emphasize one or two. But I want ing about Ireland or Bosnia or whatever, they to talk about one or two, and remind you look and they say, ‘‘Well, you’re doing all of all of them. We must—we must continue right and as long as you don’t mess up I’ll to fight for stronger families and better child- let you do that, but I really kind of wish we hoods for all of our children. We must open didn’t have to fool with that.’’ But let me up the opportunities of the 21st century to remind you, we do have to fool with that. every American by giving everybody a world- If you want those countries in Latin Amer- class educational opportunity, based on high ica to cooperate with us in breaking the drug standards and high expectations and high gangs—and remember, in the last 3 years, technology and high opportunity. We must 7 of the 8 leaders of the Cali drug cartel have find a way to capture and maintain and even been put behind bars, thanks to that kind accelerate the dynamism of this wonderful of cooperation. If you want that to happen, new economy, and at the same time, provide we have to be good neighbors with the Latin a higher measure of economic security for Americans. They, after all, are risking their every American family willing to work for it. lives. We must continue the fight against crime. At least we have to become good trade Until we meet the real test of any civilized partnerships and other partnerships. If you society, which is not a zero crime rate—there want Europe to grow as an open community will never be a time when we won’t have instead of a closed community, if you want crime and violence, but there is a test that Americans to have a fair shake at selling our you can apply in your own home, to your goods, our services, and growing our econ- own personal experience—we will have done omy in partnership with the Europeans, we what we should do in crime when you feel have to be partners in the common security in your bones that it is the exception, not of democracy and freedom there. And that’s the rule; when you turn on the evening news part of what Bosnia is all about, apart from and you read about the latest murder, the the fact that it is the right thing to do. So latest rape, the latest madness, you think it’s I ask you all to support that, to support your the exception and you’re surprised, not numb country when we stand up for peace and to it. And until we reach that point we have freedom. to keep working on it as one of our highest And finally, our last challenge is we have national priorities. got to give the American people again a Gov- We must continue the fight to preserve, ernment that does more, costs less, and most maintain, and even enhance our natural envi- important, is worthy of their trust. But we ronment. We must reject once and for all also have to have a group of Americans who the totally destructive notion that we can only understand what their responsibilities are at grow this economy if we continue to destroy this time. People can’t be looking down their the environment. That is a terrible idea. It nose at the Government if they don’t do their won’t work. It will undermine our economy. part to raise their kids, if they don’t do their It will destroy our quality of life. And it’s part to educate their kids, if they’re not will- nice to have the Vice President at work every ing to do their part to work with their local day reminding me of that ultimate truth. police officers or their part to demand grass- We must maintain our leadership for roots environmental reform or their part to peace and freedom. In New York, we have show up and vote. So we have to have this a lot of people who deal with the rest of the kind of balance. world. You have a lot of wonderful Jewish In this new era, we will change the way Americans and Americans of Arabic descent the Government works. You heard the Vice who want me to continue to fight for peace President say it. I heard our friends in the in the Middle East. You have a lot of people other party for years lambast and rail against
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 306 Feb. 15 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
big Government. All I know is, it was still Americans’ access to information, to edu- pretty big when we showed up, and now it’s cation, to entertainment. And it will be done the smallest it’s been since 1965. I heard in a way that brings us together because it them rail against Government regulation. All protects the ability of all the players in tele- I know is, when we showed up there were communications to have their fair chance to 86,000 pages of Government regulations, and compete, the small as well as the large. It we’re getting rid of 16,000 pages of it. I heard protects the ability of people to know that these things, but I never saw anything done. there will be a diversity of opinions still avail- We are trying to give the American people able to them. And it gives a preference to a Government that’s not so big, that’s not our schools and to our libraries and to our antiquated, that’s not some dinosaur of the hospitals so they can be on the information age we used to live in instead of the one superhighway no matter where they are, and we’re moving toward. But that does not mean all our children have a chance to go into the we need a weak Government. It does not 21st century. mean we can go back to the time when peo- Let me say this: We did an event in Union ple were left to fend for themselves. City, New Jersey, today, which the Vice If you were to ask me, what is the one President talked about, which is the antith- lesson you have learned in the last 3 years, esis of what everybody worries about in the Mr. President, I would say to you, I have economy. All this anxiety in the economy learned that when this country is together, really is rooted in the fact that people are America never loses. And we have to solve afraid that there’s something about this tech- our problems together. That means the Gov- nological revolution that mandates inequality ernment has a role. That means citizens, that in wages and stagnant wages and people means families, that means community insti- being permanently dislocated. tutions, that means the private sector, that But if you saw these kids today, kids that means the churches and synagogues, that came from immigrant families, kids that were means all of us have to do something to- poor, kids that never would have been able gether. And we all have a role to play. And to dream of this before; all of them fluent to pretend otherwise is ridiculous. in the use of their computers, all of them And let me just give you a couple of exam- being able to go home and have access to ples of what I think we ought to be doing computers at home, all of them having taught and one example that affects New York that their parents how to use computers so that shows you what is still wrong with things in their parents are e-mailing the principal and Washington. And I believe there are laws we finding out back and forth how the kids are ought to change. I still—I can’t understand doing, you would see that the answer is not why Congress won’t pass a campaign finance to go back or put up walls around this coun- reform bill. They all say they’re for it, but try, the answer is to see this technological they won’t do it. [Applause] revolution through until it benefits every sin- And actually, most of you in this room gle American and gives us the future that should be clapping louder. It would save you we need. a lot of money if we passed it. [Laughter] And that is an example of how we ought I can’t understand why they won’t pass the to do it. We fought very hard for those public line-item veto. They said they thought it was interest provisions of the telecommuni- the greatest thing since sliced bread since cations bill. But in the end, the bill passed they took over the Congress. I’d like to have almost unanimously. And it is a good thing it. I’ll use it and it will help to bring the defi- for America. And it hooks us into the future. cit down. But the way we operate is fun- Now, that’s an example of what should be damentally important. done. Let me just give you one example. This An example of what should not be done telecommunications bill reflects the way our that most people in this room are familiar country ought to work. It will create tens of with was the outrageous political treatment thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of of my intention to nominate Felix Rohatyn high-wage jobs. It will dramatically increase to be the Vice Chairman of the Federal Re-
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Feb. 15 307
serve. And he is here tonight. I think we all our deficit reduction plan in ‘93 and the in- ought to give him a hand. Felix, where are terest rates dropped, there was a housing you? Stand up there. Let’s give him a hand. boom. And what always happens when [Applause] there’s a housing boom happened; lumber If you believe that we should give every- prices went up because they got tight. Except body a raise when the economy does better lumber prices this time did not lead to a new and you don’t want to engage in class war- inflation. Why? Because we got flooded with fare; if you believe all these people that are lumber from other countries, because we inevitably downsized when big corporations have an open economy. So we had our hous- become smaller should have the opportunity ing boom and no inflation. to go on with their lives and you don’t want Now, it seems to me a good thing for the to engage in class warfare; if you are per- President to do to say, wouldn’t it be nice plexed by how we can generate 8 million new to have a debate within a controlled frame- jobs and record numbers of new businesses work, with serious people, with a lifetime of and still have half the Americans not get a achievement, to see if we can’t give Ameri- raise, one clear area where we ought to de- cans a raise who are working hard; to see bate is whether the conventional wisdom if we can’t minimize inequality as we move about how fast this economy can grow is to this new economy; and to see if we can’t right. That ought to be debated. It ought to do it the old fashioned, American way, with be debated within the commitment to deficit opportunity and not class warfare? reduction and a balanced budget. I think That’s what I wanted to see done. And we’ve established our commitment to that. that’s why I wanted to put Felix Rohatyn on It ought to be debated within a commitment the Federal Reserve. But the politics of not to let inflation get out of hand. Washington said, no, we insist on the conven- But the truth is nobody but nobody knows for sure that this economy can’t grow any tional wisdom; we insist on holding people faster in the information age than it did be- down; we don’t even think it’s worth debat- tween 1970 and 1995. The truth is, if you ing. Over and out. That is wrong and we must want to get jobs into Brooklyn, into the end that kind of thinking if we want this Bronx, into the Mississippi Delta, into the country to grow and prosper and become rural areas of America; if you want to see what it ought to be. people who work hard and work harder today The last thing I want to say is this: The than they did 25 years ago on the average, most important thing about this election is get the rewards, one of the most obvious that you and everybody like you in this whole things you have to do is to see whether or country remembers that it’s not about me or not this economy can grow a little faster. I’m whoever the Republicans decide to nominate telling you, if this economy grew at an aver- when they get through with their business. age of 2.7 percent instead of 2.5 percent, all This election is about you and people like the arguments we are now having in Wash- you. It’s about all those people that served ington over balancing the budget would be your food tonight. It’s about everybody in be- gone like that—two-tenths of a percent— tween. And this country is still here after all over, history, out. this time, still doing well, still the envy of I believe, based on repeated conversations the world, because most of the time most I have had with business leaders, both Re- of us do the right thing. publicans and Democrats, in this country And one of the things that I have a hard over the last 3 years, talking about the very time dealing with is this alleged cynicism and rapid growth and productivity in our manu- skepticism among our people. Now, skep- facturing sector, the increasing growth in ticism is a healthy thing at one level. But you productivity in our service sector, and the tell me why the American people should be fact that we have such an open economy that cynical when we have the lowest unemploy- competition is an incredible pressure against ment rate, the highest growth rate, the lowest inflation, far more than ever before—and I’ll deficit, and the brightest prospects of any ad- just give you one example. When we put out vanced country in the world?
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 308 Feb. 15 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
People from other countries ask me all the much better off here economically. But time. They would give anything to have our where we lived before we were free.’’ He problems. Of course, we’ve got problems. said, ‘‘Here we have a park across the street Problems are endemic to the human condi- from our apartment, but my boy can’t play tion. But we see them as challenges and op- in that park unless I go with him. We have portunities. And cynicism is a cheap, bogus, a school down the street from our apartment, inadequate excuse for the inaction of our fel- my boy can’t walk to school unless I go with low citizens. And we’ve got to get rid of it. him. So if I do what my boy wants me to The other thing we have got to stop doing do and I vote for you, will you make my boy as a people—and I want you to pledge to free?’’ me that as our supporters you will carry And I thought to myself, what have you through this whole year doing this—we have been thinking about? This election is not got to stop using these elections to divide about you. It’s about him and people like the American people in ways that benefit him. And let me tell you something: When some politician at election time, but cripple we passed that crime bill and we put another the ability of the United States to come to- 100,000 police on the street, and I see the gether as one country. We have got to stop crime rate going down in city after city after doing that. city in this country because we did that; when Tonight I looked up at my table and when we passed the Brady bill and the assault the gentleman came to ask if we wanted any weapons ban, and the Democrats lost the wine, and I saw a man serving me that I met House of Representatives, probably because in this kitchen 4 years ago last week, and so many of them sat up and voted for that some of you may remember the cir- one bill—but I could go to New Hampshire cumstances I faced 4 years ago last week. and say, we just had a great deer season in We were dropping like a rock in New Hamp- New Hampshire, and the air was full of ducks shire. My obituary had been written by every in Arkansas and every hunter I know shot elated editorial writer in the country who al- them with the same gun they had last year, ways wanted one hide in every election. Ev- so the people who told you we were going erybody said we were going to single digits to take your gun away were not telling you in New Hampshire and the whole thing was the truth. But I’ll tell you something, there’s over. And Alan and Susan Patricof and I were over 40,000 crooks that couldn’t get a gun laughing around the table. We had 700 peo- because we passed the Brady bill. ple here; I thought we’d be lucky to have And I saw him tonight. I saw Demitrius 70 people here after what I had been through standing there, and I said, ‘‘Your son is about the last few days. 14 now?’’ ‘‘Yes.’’ ‘‘How’s he doing?’’ ‘‘Fine.’’ And I walked through the kitchen coming And I said, ‘‘You got a message for me?’’ He here and I was feeling pretty sorry for myself, said, ‘‘Yes. Keep fighting for the working peo- I’m ashamed to say. I was feeling pretty sorry ple, it’s still pretty tough out here.’’ for myself. And the man that came to my This election is about you. It’s about him. table tonight to serve us stopped me. And It’s about our country. And, yes, we have some of you heard this story, but I want to some challenges. But I’m telling you, these tell you—he’s still here, he’s still working for are high-class problems because this country his family and for this hotel. And he said, is moving in the right direction. And don’t ‘‘Governor, my 10-year-old son is studying let anybody tell you that your Government the Presidential elections. He has studied all is inherently bad. the candidates, and he says I should vote for James Carville’s new book, which I com- you.’’ Well, that made me feel better. I didn’t mend to all of you, points out in the last 30 know there was a 10-year-old in all the State years we spent half of your tax money on of New York who knew who I was. [Laugh- three things: defense, Social Security, and ter] Medicare. What did you get for it? We won He said, ‘‘But let me tell you something.’’ the cold war. We cut the poverty rate among He said, ‘‘I’m an immigrant, and where I elderly citizens in half. And if you get to be came from, we were very poor and we’re old enough to be on Medicare, seniors in the
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 309
United States have the highest life expect- Message on the Observance of the ancy of any group of elderly people in the Vietnamese Lunar New Year world. February 8, 1996 This is a very great country if you do your part and we do ours, we’re going to be just Warm greetings to everyone observing the fine. Let’s do that in 1996. Vietnamese Lunar New Year as you welcome Thank you, and God bless you. the Year of the Rat. This ancient annual festival unites people of Vietnamese heritage across America and NOTE: The President spoke at 8:45 p.m. at the around the globe in an exuberant celebration Sheraton New York Hotel. In his remarks, he re- ferred to former Mayor David Dinkins of New of hope and new beginnings. Family and York City. A tape was not available for verification friends gather to renew the bonds of love of the content of these remarks. and to rejoice in the rich cultural traditions of Vietnam. The joys of the coming year are anticipated with a flurry of fireworks, flowers, decorations, and feasting. Message on the Observance of the Tet is a fitting occasion for us to reflect Chinese New Year on the many gifts that Vietnamese Americans February 8, 1996 have brought to our national life—among them a reverence for family, an unquench- Warm greetings to everyone observing the able optimism, and an unwavering deter- Chinese New Year as you welcome 4694, the mination to make tomorrow better than Year of the Rat. today. Let us rejoice together in this season This ancient annual festival unites people of renewal and resolve to work for a future of Chinese heritage across America and of harmony and prosperity for us all. around the globe in a joyous celebration of Best wishes for a new year of happiness, hope and new beginnings. Family and friends health, freedom, and peace. gather to renew the bonds of love and to re- Bill Clinton joice in the rich cultural traditions of the Chi- nese people. The sorrows and mistakes of the NOTE: This message was released by the Office past year dissolve in a flurry of fireworks, of the Press Secretary on February 16. dancing, feasting, and the exchange of gifts. The Chinese New Year is a fitting occasion for us to reflect on the many contributions that Chinese Americans have brought to our Digest of Other national life—among them a respect for fam- ily, a reverence for knowledge, and an un- White House Announcements wavering determination to make tomorrow better than today. Let us rejoice together in The following list includes the President’s public this season of renewal and resolve to work schedule and other items of general interest an- for a future of harmony and prosperity for nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and us all. not included elsewhere in this issue. Best wishes for a new year of happiness, health, freedom, and peace. February 10 In the morning, the President traveled to Bill Clinton Cedar Rapids, IA, and then to Iowa City. In the afternoon, he traveled to Cedar Rapids NOTE: This message was released by the Office and then to Clear Lake, where he toured a of the Press Secretary on February 16. grain elevator at the Farmers’ Co-op Society.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 310 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996
In the evening, the President traveled from February 14 Mason City to Des Moines. In the morning, the President traveled to The President declared a major disaster in Portland, OR, and then to Woodland, WA, the State of Idaho and ordered Federal aid where he toured flood-damaged areas via to supplement State and local recovery ef- helicopter, motorcade, and on foot. In the forts in the area struck by severe storms and afternoon, the President returned to Port- flooding beginning February 6 and continu- land after touring flood-damaged areas by ing. helicopter, and then traveled to Boise, ID. In the evening, he traveled to Newark, NJ. February 11 The President announced that the White In the afternoon, the President returned House Leadership Conference on Youth to Washington, DC. Drug Use and Violence will be held March 7 at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, MD. February 12 In the afternoon, the President met with the Central and East European Coalition in February 15 the Roosevelt Room. He later attended a In the morning, the President traveled to meeting between Ulster Unionist Party lead- Union City, NJ. In the afternoon, he traveled er David Trimble and National Security Ad- to New York City and in the evening, to East viser Anthony Lake in the National Security Rutherford, NJ. Adviser’s office. The White House announced that the The President announced his intention to President has invited Greek Prime Minister appoint Mark S. Gaede as the Department Konstandinos Simitis to Washington for a of Agriculture representative to the Geologic working visit on April 9. Mapping Advisory Committee. The President announced his intention to The President announced the appoint- reappoint Thomas F. Eagleton, Gen. Lew ment of Daniel K. Tarullo as Deputy Assist- Allen, Jr., Sidney D. Drell, Zoe Baird, and ant to the President for Economic Policy. Lois D. Rice to the President’s Foreign Intel- ligence Advisory Board. February 13 The President announced his intention to nominate Henry E. McKoy as a member of The White House announced that the the Board of Directors of the African Devel- President has invited Amir Jabir al-Ahmad opment Foundation. al-Jabir Al Sabah of Kuwait to the White House for a working visit on February 28. The President announced his intention to The President declared a major disaster in nominate Mark E. Emblidge to the National the State of Vermont and ordered Federal Institute for Literacy Advisory Board. aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by ice jams and February 16 flooding, beginning January 19. In the morning, the President traveled The President announced his intention to from Newark, NJ, to Scranton and Wilkes- nominate Mary D. Greene to the National Barre, PA, where he toured flood-damaged Institute for Literacy Advisory Board. areas. In the afternoon, he returned to Wash- The President announced his intention to ington, DC. nominate Alberta Seybolt George and David The President announced his intention to A. Ucko to the National Museum Services appoint Robert Krueger as Ambassador to Board. Botswana. The President announced his intention to The President announced his intention to appoint Norman Brownstein to the U.S. Hol- reappoint Donald J. Pease as a member of ocaust Memorial Council. the Amtrak Board of Directors. The President announced his intention to The President announced his intention to reappoint Kailash Mathur to the National appoint Arthur Q. Davis to the Advisory Nutrition Monitoring Advisory Council. Council on Historic Preservation.
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 311
Nominations Released February 16 Submitted to the Senate Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry announcing that Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown will lead a commercial de- NOTE: No nominations were submitted to the Senate during the period covered by this issue. velopment mission to Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and Botswana
Checklist of White House Press Releases Acts Approved by the President
The following list contains releases of the Office of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as Approved February 10 items nor covered by entries in the Digest of Other White House Announcements. H.R. 2029 / Public Law 104–105 Farm Credit System Reform Act of 1996 Released February 10 Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry S. 1124 / Public Law 104–106 on disaster assistance for Idaho National Defense Authorization Act for Fis- cal Year 1996 Released February 12 Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- Approved February 12 retary Mike McCurry H.R. 1868 / Public Law 104–107 Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and on the President’s meeting with the Central Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1996 and East European Coalition, a group of 18 U.S. organizations H.R. 2111 / Public Law 104–108 Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry To designate the Federal building located at on the President’s meeting with National Se- 1221 Nevin Avenue in Richmond, California, curity Adviser Tony Lake and Ulster Unionist as the ‘‘Frank Hagel Federal Building’’ Party leader David Trimble Released February 13 H.R. 2726 / Public Law 104–109 To make certain technical corrections in laws Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry relating to Native Americans, and for other announcing the upcoming visit of President purposes Oscar Luigi Scalfaro of Italy Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry Approved February 13 announcing the upcoming visit of Amir Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah, of Kuwait H.R. 2353 / Public Law 104–110 To amend title 38, United States Code, to Transcript of a press briefing by Press Sec- extend the authority of the Secretary of Vet- retary Mike McCurry erans Affairs to carry out certain programs Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry and activities, to require certain reports from on disaster assistance for Vermont the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes Released February 15 Statement by Press Secretary Mike McCurry H.R. 2657 / Public Law 104–111 announcing the upcoming visit of Prime To award a congressional gold medal to Ruth Minister Konstandinos Simitis of Greece and Billy Graham
VerDate 28-OCT-97 10:22 Jan 09, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P07FE4.015 p07fe4