June 12 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

Thank you very much. Prime Minister Romano Prodi of Italy, President of the European Council, and Jacques Santer, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott President of the European Commission. During Q. What do you think of Trent Lott taking the news conference, the following persons were over? referred to: Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan President Clinton. Congratulations to him. Karadzic and Ratko Mladic; and Vice Prime Min- ister Lamberto Dini of Italy. A reporter referred NOTE: The President’s 124th news conference to the Societa Finanziaria Telefonica, S.p.A. began at 4:05 p.m. in Room 450 of the Old Execu- tive Office Building. The President met with (STET), an Italian telephone company.

Message to the Congress Transmitting the Report of the National Endowment for the Arts June 12, 1996

To the Congress of the United States: Putney, Vermont, to Mammoth Lakes, Cali- It is my pleasure to transmit herewith the fornia. The difference art makes in our lives Annual Report of the National Endowment for is profound; we see more clearly, listen more the Arts for the fiscal year 1995. intently, and respond to our fellow man with On September 29, 1995, at the close of the deeper understanding and empathy. fiscal year, the Arts Endowment celebrated its In these challenging times, when some ques- 30th anniversary. A young man or woman born tion the value of public support for the arts, at the same time as this Federal agency’s estab- we should reflect upon our obligation to the lishment has enjoyed access to the arts and cul- common good. The arts are not a luxury, but ture unparalleled in the history of the country. a vital part of our national character and our The National Endowment for the Arts has individual human spirit. The poet Langston helped bring tens of thousands of artists into Hughes said, ‘‘Bring me all of your dreams, you schools, teaching tens of millions of students dreamers. Bring me all of your heart melo- about the power of the creative imagination. dies. . .’’ For 30 years, the Arts Endowment This small Federal agency has helped launch has helped keep those dreams alive for our art- a national cultural network that has grown in ists and our audiences. May it long continue size and quality these past 30 years. to do so. This Annual Report is another chapter in a WILLIAM J. CLINTON great success story. In these pages, you will find projects that bring the arts to people in every The White House, State and in thousands of communities from June 12, 1996.

Statement on the Court Decision on the Communications Decency Act June 12, 1996

The Justice Department is reviewing today’s parents by enforcing this act to prevent children three-judge panel court decision on the Commu- from being exposed to objectionable material nications Decency Act. The opinion just came transmitted through computer networks. I will down today, and the statute says we have 20 continue to do everything I can in my adminis- days to make an appeal. tration to give families every available tool to I remain convinced, as I was when I signed protect their children from these materials. For the bill, that our Constitution allows us to help example, we vigorously support the development

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