Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Monday, January 20, 1997 Volume 33ÐNumber 3 Pages 41±55 1 VerDate 05-AUG-97 14:10 Aug 15, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\TEMP\P03JA4.000 pfrm07 Contents Addresses and Remarks Letters and Messages Congressional Medal of Honor, presentation Ramadan, messageÐ41 to African-American heroes of World War Proclamations IIÐ42 Israeli-Palestinian agreement on HebronÐ48 Religious Freedom DayÐ51 Mexico's repayment of loansÐ48 Statements by the President Presidential Medal of Freedom, presentations Secretary of Defense PerryÐ45 Bombing of a women's health clinic in Senator Bob DoleÐ51 Atlanta, GAÐ50 Radio addressÐ41 Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1997 appropriationsÐ47 Communications to Congress National economyÐ47 Northern Ireland peace processÐ45 Intelligence community budget, letter transmitting reportÐ45 Supplementary Materials Acts approved by the PresidentÐ55 Interviews With the News Media Checklist of White House press releasesÐ54 Exchanges with reporters Digest of other White House Briefing RoomÐ48 announcementsÐ53 Roosevelt RoomÐ48 Nominations submitted to the SenateÐ54 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 05-AUG-97 14:10 Aug 15, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\TEMP\P03JA4.000 pfrm07 Week Ending Friday, January 17, 1997 Message on the Observance of put up with the insecurity and loss that goes Ramadan with rampant crime. I was determined to January 10, 1997 turn that around, to give people the tools they need to take back their streets and Warm greetings to all those celebrating the schools and neighborhoods, to reestablish a sacred month of Ramadan. sense of security and true freedom in our Each year during Ramadan, Muslims country, and to restore our people's faith in across America and around the world com- the power of law and order. memorate God's revelation of the Koran to We had a comprehensive plan to fight Muhammad with a month of rigorous fasting crime, to put 100,000 new community police and devout prayer. This period of discipline officers on the street and tough new penalties for body, mind, and spirit draws the Muslim on the books, to keep guns away from crimi- community closer not only to God, but also nals by passing the Brady bill and banning to their fellow human beings. assault weapons, to steer young people away By experiencing hunger during Ramadan, from crime, gangs, and drugs in the first the followers of Muhammad learn true com- place. This approach is working. passion for the poor of the world who go hun- This week the FBI reported that serious gry every day. By reflecting on God's teach- crime dropped another 3 percent last year, ings in the Koran, they learn humility and dropping for the 5th year in a row, the long- the beauty of forgiveness. And, by their ex- est decline in more than 25 years. This is ample of devotion and self-discipline during great news, not because it gives us a chance Ramadan, Muslims remind us all that our to sit back and rest on our laurels but because true strength is derived, not from food and it does show all of us that if we work together drink, but from closeness to God. we can make a difference. As the crescent moon marks the beginning Now that we've finally turned the crime of Ramadan again this year, Hillary and I ex- on the run, we have to redouble our efforts. tend our best wishes for a holy and memo- We have to drive the forces of violence fur- rable observance. ther and further into retreat. And as we move Bill Clinton forward, we have to remember that we're not just fighting against crime, we're fighting for NOTE: This message was released by the Office the kind of nation we want to build together of the Press Secretary on January 11. for the 21st century, for an America where people feel safe when they walk around the The President's Radio Address block at night and untroubled when they kiss January 11, 1997 their children goodbye in the morning, an America where nobody's grandmother lives Good morning. Today I want to talk about across the street from a crackhouse and no- how to build upon the progress we've made body's child walks to school through a neigh- together in working against crime and vio- borhood overrun by gangs. We're fighting for lence, and especially how we can fight against our children and for their future. youth crime. As I begin my second term as President, Four years ago it seemed to many Ameri- the next stage in our fight must center on cans as if the forces of crime and violence keeping our children safe and attacking the had gained an intractable hold over our coun- scourge of juvenile crime and gangs. I want try, and law-abiding Americans were afraid every police officer, prosecutor, and citizen that from now on they would just have to in America working together to keep our 41 VerDate 05-AUG-97 14:12 Aug 15, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\TEMP\P03JA4.013 pfrm07 42 Jan. 11 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1997 young people safe and young criminals off lence, this will be the top crime fighting pri- the streets. This should be America's top pri- ority of my second term. I've asked the Attor- ority in the fight for law and order over the ney General to closely examine the growing next 4 years. I pledge it will be mine. threat of witness intimidation by gangs and We must help parents protect their chil- to recommend strong measures to stop it that dren and bring order and discipline to their can be included in this legislation. We must lives. That's why I support school uniforms not allow the very gangs we're fighting to and community-based curfews. That's why grind the wheels of justice to a halt. we made zero tolerance for guns in schools Over the past 4 years we've shown that the law of the land and passed Megan's Law we can roll back crime and violence. Now to demand that States tell a community is no time to let up. There is still too much whenever a dangerous sexual predator enters of it. But if we continue to work together, its midst. Now we must do more to give to stand up for what is right, to work with young people something to say yes to, after our community police officers, to take re- school, on weekends, and in the summer. sponsibility for ourselves and our families And we must finish the job of putting and the other children in our communities 100,000 police on our streets. who need a guiding hand and an encouraging At the same time, young people must un- word, if we'll do all these things, we can keep derstand that if they break the law, they will the crime rate coming down and we can build be punished, and if they commit violent the future our children deserve. crimes, they will be punished severely. I am Thanks for listening. determined to break the backs of criminal NOTE: The address was recorded at 4:55 p.m. on gangs that have ruined too many lives and January 10 in the Roosevelt Room at the White stolen too many futures by bringing the full House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on January 11. force of the law against them. One of the most difficult problems facing law enforcement in this fight is the power Remarks on Presenting the of gang members to thwart the criminal jus- Congressional Medal of Honor to tice system by threatening and intimidating African-American Heroes of the witnesses against them. Too many people World War II in too many communities will not testify January 13, 1997 about gang crimes because they are afraid of violent reprisal. We must not allow the The President. Secretary Perry, Secretary voice of justice to be frightened into silence Brown, other members of the administration, by the violent threats of gangs. General Shalikashvili and the members of Today the Justice Department is releasing the Joint Chiefs, General Powell, Senator a report called ``Preventing Gang And Drug- Craig, Senator Kempthorne, Congressman Related Witness Intimidation.'' This report Miller, the members of the families and is a handbook for police officers, prosecutors, friends of the medal recipients, and Mr.