Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Monday, September 29, 1997 Volume 33ÐNumber 39 Pages 1371±1429 1 VerDate 22-AUG-97 07:53 Oct 01, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P39SE4.000 p39se4 Contents Addresses and Remarks Communications to CongressÐContinued See also Meetings With Foreign Leaders Future free trade area negotiations, letter Arkansas, Little Rock transmitting reportÐ1423 Congressional Medal of Honor Society India-U.S. extradition treaty and receptionÐ1419 documentation, message transmittingÐ1401 40th anniversary of the desegregation of Iraq, letter reportingÐ1397 Central High SchoolÐ1416 Ireland-U.S. taxation convention and protocol, California message transmittingÐ1414 San Carlos, roundtable discussion at the UNITA, message transmitting noticeÐ1414 San Carlos Charter Learning CenterÐ 1372 Communications to Federal Agencies San Francisco Contributions to the International Fund for Democratic National Committee Ireland, memorandumÐ1396 dinnerÐ1382 Funding for the African Crisis Response Democratic National Committee luncheonÐ1376 Initiative, memorandumÐ1397 Saxophone Club receptionÐ1378 Interviews With the News Media New York City, United Nations Exchange with reporters at the United LuncheonÐ1395 Nations in New York CityÐ1395 52d Session of the General AssemblyÐ1386 Interview on the Tom Joyner Morning Show Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh in Little RockÐ1423 AFL±CIO conventionÐ1401 Democratic National Committee luncheonÐ1408 Letters and Messages Radio addressÐ1371 50th anniversary of the National Security Council, messageÐ1396 Communications to Congress Meetings With Foreign Leaders Angola, message reportingÐ1414 Russia, Foreign Minister PrimakovÐ1395 Canada-U.S. taxation convention protocol, message transmittingÐ1400 Notices Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty and Continuation of Emergency With Respect to documentation, message transmittingÐ1390 UNITAÐ1413 (Continued on the inside of the back cover.) Editor's Note: The President was in Little Rock, AR, on September 26, 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 22-AUG-97 07:53 Oct 01, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P39SE4.000 p39se4 ContentsÐContinued Proclamations Statements by the President Austrian-American DayÐ1422 Campaign finance reformÐ1421 Gold Star Mother's DayÐ1422 Supplementary Materials Minority Enterprise Development WeekÐ 1383 Acts approved by the PresidentÐ1429 National Farm Safety and Health WeekÐ Checklist of White House press releasesÐ 1428 1385 Digest of other White House National Historically Black Colleges and announcementsÐ1426 Universities WeekÐ1384 Nominations submitted to the SenateÐ1427 3 VerDate 22-AUG-97 07:53 Oct 01, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P39SE4.000 p39se4 Week Ending Friday, September 26, 1997 The President's Radio Address no child leaves our schools without mastering September 20, 1997 the basics. Unfortunately, two events in recent days Good morning. We're living in a time of have jeopardized this essential progress in great hope and optimism and prosperity in education. First, the same forces that have our Nation. Our economy is booming. We've resisted education reform and high standards cut the deficit 80 percent and passed a plan and accountability for years in the House of to balance the budget. Crime and welfare Representatives have voted against develop- rolls are dropping. But perhaps most impor- ing the national standards we need to chal- tant for the long-term future of America, this lenge students, improve teaching, empower has been a banner year for education, too. parents, and increase accountability in our Our historic balanced budget is truly an schools. In effect, they've cast their votes education budget, with the largest new in- against better schools and for a status quo vestment in education since 1965; from more that is failing too many of our children. children in Head Start to our America Reads Second, the Senate narrowly passed an program that will mobilize a million volun- amendment that would undermine some of teers to make sure all our children can read our most successful efforts in the last 5 years when they leave the third grade, to putting to strengthen our schools. National efforts to computers in all our classrooms and libraries bring more charter schools to more commu- by the year 2000. nities, to bring computers to every classroom, We've also had the largest increased in- to create safe and drug-free schools across vestment in helping people to go on to col- our country, all these would virtually be abol- lege since the passage of the GI bill 50 years ished by an amendment which would throw ago, the increased Pell grant scholarships and all our education funds into a pot and distrib- work study positions, the HOPE scholarship ute it in an arbitrary way to the States. to help pay for the first 2 years of college and other tax credits and IRA's, all these Today, I'm going to see firsthand just how things will truly open the doors of college high these stakes are. I'm visiting the San to all who are willing to work for it for the Carlos Charter Learning Center in Califor- first time in American history. nia, one of many charter schools across our But we can't rest. We have more to do country and in the State of California that in education to fully prepare our children to are bringing new life, new energy, and new seize the opportunities of the new century. creativity into public education. Charter And especially, we all know we have to do schools are established by educators with less more to improve the quality of public edu- redtape, but higher expectations. Students cation. must choose to attend them, and they exist I have called upon all Americans to leave only as long as they're doing a good job. politics at the schoolhouse door and to work Our administration has been helping char- together to provide our children with the ter schools to get started all across our coun- best education in the world. And many have try, and our balanced budget contains funds answered that call. Just last week, the Senate to establish hundreds more of them all voted overwhelmingly, 87±12, for voluntary around America. This is an innovation we national tests in fourth-grade reading and cannot afford to lose. Making sure every 8- eighth-grade math, bringing us an important year-old can read, every 12-year-old can log step closer to setting high national standards onto the Internet, every 18-year-old can go of academic excellence that will ensure that on to college, these are national goals, and 1371 VerDate 22-AUG-97 08:10 Oct 01, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P39SE4.022 p39se4 1372 Sept. 20 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1997 we must support national efforts to meet panel today. But I thank all of you for coming them. because I believe in charter schools, and I In the 21st century, our children must believe they are an important part of helping have a world-class education. We must us to lift our standards and renew our schools strengthen our schools, raise our standards, and achieve the kind of educational excel- insist that our students master the basics, and lence that all of our children need as we demand excellence at every level. So if Con- move into the 21st century. gress sends me partisan legislation that de- I congratulate the San Carlos Learning nies our children high national standards or Center for being the first of its kind in Cali- weakens our national commitment to strong- fornia, which obviously makes it among the er schools, I'll have to give it the failing grade very first in the United States. it deserves, and I'll veto it. Let me just give you a little, brief personal Bringing vital change and progress to our history here. When I was Governor of my schools will take courage and the steadfast State for 12 years, I spent a great deal of commitment of all. But throughout our his- time working on school reformÐand so did tory, we have always risen to the challenge HillaryÐspent lots of time in the schools, of building better futures for our children. talking to teachers, talking to parents, talking If we all work together, we are up to the to students, dealing with issues of curriculum task today as well. development and teacher training and all Thank you. those things. And when we were active in the 1980's, the State of Minnesota became NOTE: The address was recorded at 3:16 p.m.