Oct. 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1997

and deprive our citizens of needed environ- cerned that provisions within the Act could limit mental information. FHA’s ability to design efficient partnerships, The Act provides $24 billion in funding for increasing costs to the FHA insurance fund, and the Department of Housing and Urban Devel- could restrict opportunities for assisted tenants opment (HUD), including full funding for my to use portable vouchers to seek out the housing request to renew expiring Section 8 contracts, that best meets their particular needs. I am also thus assuring continuation of HUD rental sub- concerned that there is no direct and explicit sidies for low-income tenants in privately owned solution for the tax consequences that threaten housing. Funding is also provided for programs the restructuring process. such as the HOME Investment Partnership pro- The Act fully funds my request of $17.6 bil- gram, Community Development Block Grants, lion for the medical care of this Nation’s vet- and HOPE VI for severely distressed public erans and contains my requested user fee pro- housing. I am pleased that the bill continues posal, funded at $0.6 billion. This new revenue to support States and cities through these vital source gives the Department of Veterans Affairs economic development programs. The Act also the incentive to improve its collections while funds my request for Brownfields redevelop- ensuring more control over its future viability ment, an initiative to redevelop abandoned sites as a health-care provider. and return them to productive uses and thereby Unfortunately, the Act also eliminates funding help communities revitalize these areas. The Act for the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs, which also fully funds my requests for Homeless Assist- has served Presidents of both parties over three ance Grants and Housing Opportunities for Per- decades. I will work to ensure that a consumer sons with AIDS, and provides funding, although voice is maintained from existing agency re- not my full request, for antidiscrimination ef- sources. forts, including the Fair Housing Initiatives pro- WILLIAM J. CLINTON gram. The Act contains a major initiative to reduce The , the costs of Section 8 contract renewals for October 27, 1997. FHA-insured properties. The Act recognizes the gravity of the situation and provides HUD with NOTE: H.R. 2158, approved October 27, was as- many new tools. At the same time, I am con- signed Public Law No. 105–65.

Statement on Signing the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 October 27, 1997

I am pleased to sign into law today H.R. tember 30, 1997. Until the Congress reauthor- 2169, the ‘‘Department of Transportation and izes those programs within the constraints of Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998.’’ the Balanced Budget Act, we have only the This legislation provides funds to improve promise of record-high investment levels, not safety on our highways, airways, and waterways. the reality. It would also permit the highest level of Federal I submitted my proposal to reauthorize those infrastructure investment in history—investment programs, called ‘‘The National Economic to improve our Nation’s highways, transit sys- Crossroads Transportation Efficiency Act’’ tems, Amtrak, and airports and, as a result, im- (NEXTEA), last March. The Congress has held prove personal mobility and make America a hearings and begun work on this legislation. But, better global competitor. as we near the end of the first month of fiscal Unfortunately the Congress has done only half 1998, the Congress has not presented me with the job in passing this legislation. Authorization legislation that would reauthorize these pro- of the Federal grant programs for highways, grams. transit, and highway safety expired on Sep-

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I call on the Congress to act—before it ad- the Congress to resolve the issues and agree journs for the year—on a multi-year reauthoriza- on a multi-year bill. tion bill that will give transportation planners WILLIAM J. CLINTON and decision-makers the assurance of multi-year funding levels that they can use to continue The White House, to improve America’s vital transportation net- October 27, 1997. work. My Administration stands ready to assist NOTE: H.R. 2169, approved October 27, was as- signed Public Law No. 105–66.

Remarks at a Birthday Party for the First Lady in , October 27, 1997

The President. Thank you very much. You can doing other unbelievable things. They may well hear I’m a little hoarse tonight, but I’ll do my make a larger chapter in the history of this best to be heard over the din. Let me say to city, but you will never have a kinder, better, all of you, first of all, thank you, Mr. Mayor; warmer gesture than the one you’ve given Hil- thank you, Mrs. Daley; thank you, Lois lary today, and I will never forget it as long Weisberg. I thank all the committee, everybody as I live. Thank you very, very much. who had anything to do with this day today. Audience member. Four more years! You have made Hillary and, I might say, her The President. It’s not constitutional. [Laugh- mother and her brothers who came with her ter] today—you’ve made their whole family very I want to ask Hillary to come up now. You happy. This has been an unforgettable day in have to remember—this birthday—she wore it her life, and I am profoundly grateful to all lightly for a long time, but her staff started of you, and I thank you very much. celebrating it 50 days before the event. They You know, before I met Hillary, you could wanted her to recognize precisely how old she put what I knew about Chicago in a thimble was by giving her one present a day for 50 and have space left over. [Laughter] About a days up to the blessed event—[laughter]—which week after I met Hillary, I thought there was occurred yesterday. Now she’s still celebrating no other city on the face of the Earth. [Laugh- it as if she’s going to hold on for dear life. ter] I’ll never forget the first time I came here [Laughter] Whatever she wants to do, I’m for. to visit Hillary. I remember only two things: Ladies and gentlemen, our First Lady. her father would not come outside to say hello to me—[laughter]—which I thought showed NOTE: The President spoke at 9:25 p.m. in Gar good judgment on his part—[laughter]—and she Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center. In his re- took me to Chicago and showed me the city. marks, he referred to Mayor Richard M. Daley And I fell in love with it then—that was a long of Chicago and his wife, Margaret; Chicago Com- time ago now—and I have been ever since. missioner of Culture Affairs Lois Weisberg; and This is a magnificent place. You have done the First Lady’s mother, Dorothy Rodham, and unbelievable things. You’re in the process of brothers Tony Rodham and , Jr.

Remarks at Oscar Mayer Elementary School in Chicago October 28, 1997

Thank you very much. Thank you, Evaline, livan. Mr. Blitstein, thank you for welcoming and thank you, Mary. Thank you, Maggie Sul- me here.

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