Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Monday, January 29, 1996 Volume 32ÐNumber 4 Pages 83±118 1 VerDate 28-OCT-97 08:13 Jan 12, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P04JA4.000 p04ja4 Contents Addresses to the Nation Interviews With the News Media State of the UnionÐ90 Exchange with reporters in the Oval OfficeÐ 87 Addresses and Remarks Letters and Messages Kentucky Ramadan, messageÐ83 Community in LouisvilleÐ102 Community policing, roundtable discussion Meetings With Foreign Leaders in LouisvilleÐ99 Israel, Foreign Minister BarakÐ87 Radio addressÐ83 Texas Resignations and Retirements Barbara Jordan, funeral service in General Services Administration, HoustonÐ85 Administrator, statementÐ114 Space Shuttle Endeavour astronauts, arrival Statements by the President in HoustonÐ86 U.S. Conference of MayorsÐ108 See also Resignations and Retirements George Burns, 100th birthdayÐ87 Communications to Congress Northern Ireland peace processÐ98 Space Shuttle Challenger, 10th anniversaryÐ Department of Transportation, message 115 transmitting reportÐ115 Libya, message reporting on U.S. national Supplementary Materials emergencyÐ88 Acts approved by the PresidentÐ118 Checklist of White House press releasesÐ117 Communications to Federal Agencies Digest of other White House Food assistance to developing countries, announcementsÐ115 memorandumÐ89 Nominations submitted to the SenateÐ116 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 08:13 Jan 12, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P04JA4.000 p04ja4 Week Ending Friday, January 26, 1996 Message on the Observance of reasoned thought and eloquence to even the Ramadan most emotional debates. After she left the January 19, 1996 Congress, she went home to Texas to teach at the University of Texas and to continue Greetings to everyone observing the holy her work in public service. I appointed her month of Ramadan. to chair the United States Commission on As the crescent moon signals the approach Immigration Reform. And Barbara Jordan of this most sacred time in the Islamic year, was very instrumental in the progress we Muslims the world over commemorate the have made in tightening our border to keep revelation of the Koran to Muhammad. For illegal immigrants out and securing our work- Muslims, this marks a time of quiet reflection place for American citizens and legal immi- and religious devotion through fasting, self- grants. examination, and intensive study of the In developing a comprehensive system to teachings of Islam. Encouraging gratitude for keep us both a nation of immigrants and a our blessings and compassion for those in nation of laws, her work was pure Barbara need, Ramadan cleanses the heart and lifts Jordan: fair, principled, and strong. Our Na- the soul. tion has lost a great American, a states- During this time of unprecedented move- woman, a representative of the people with ment toward peace in the Middle East, Mus- a powerful voice and a great spirit. And many lims and people of all faiths have the oppor- of us have lost a friend and an inspiration. tunity to join together in creating a new We, the people, will greatly miss her. world of harmony. Ramadan, with its prom- Now I'd like to talk about our efforts to ise of renewal, helps to nourish the spirit of reach common ground on a balanced budget, brotherhood in us all. In this season of hope, a balanced budget that also protects Medi- let us resolve to work together for a better, care, Medicaid, education, and the environ- brighter futureÐa future in which children ment, and does not raise taxes on working of every religion can live together in peace. families. The budget talks are suspended now Hillary and I offer best wishes to Muslims because the Republican congressional lead- everywhere for a memorable observance. ers walked away from the table. I wish they Bill Clinton hadn't done that, and I hope they'll come back and soon, because I believe our goal NOTE: This message was released by the Office can be met. After all, we've both agreed on of the Press Secretary on January 20. enough savings to balance the budget in 7 years according to the Congress' own esti- The President's Radio Address mates, without having to hurt our economy January 20, 1996 or sacrifice the values that I've talked about. That's what we ought to do: balance the Good morning. Before I speak with you budget, protect the things we're committed this morning about our budget, I want to take to protect. And we ought not to delay in get- just a moment to remember someone very ting on with the people's business. In less special, a national treasure our Nation lost than a week now, the Republican Congress this week, former Texas Congresswoman could once again shut down our Government Barbara Jordan, the first African-American for the third time in 2 months. I urge them woman elected to Congress from the South. not to do that. In the last shutdown alone, In her years in public service, she gave the Federal Housing Administration was un- voice to our national conscience and brought able to insure single family home loans for 83 VerDate 28-OCT-97 08:22 Jan 12, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P04JA4.022 p04ja4 84 Jan. 20 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 tens of thousands of deserving applicants. I am committedÐlet me say again, I am Many, many thousands of citizens couldn't committed to finishing the job of balancing get passports. Some veterans couldn't get the budget. I have gone the extra mile in benefits. Many Medicare claims couldn't be our talks. The Republicans asked for a 7-year processed. Small businessesÐlots of themÐ plan to balance the budget; I gave them a couldn't get loans to create new jobs. Envi- plan. They asked that we use the figures from ronmental cleanup actions were halted. the Congressional Budget Office. Even The shutdown also put hundreds of thou- though I disagreed with them, I did that, too. sands of Federal workers with families to I tried every way I can to accommodate Re- support under a horrible strain. Like most publican demands and bargain in good faith. American workers, most of them live pay- But there are areas of disagreement, and they check to paycheck. They simply cannot af- involve far more than money. They involve ford a third shutdown, and they don't deserve our values and different visions about what it. kind of people we're going to be and how Let's remember, since I've been President we're going to get to the next century. we have reduced the size of the United States The Republicans insist on cuts in Medi- Government by 205,000 employees. Your care, Medicaid, education, and the environ- Government has closed thousands and thou- ment that I believe are unwarranted. I know sands of offices, eliminated hundreds of pro- they're not necessary to balance the budget. grams. It's now the smallest Federal Govern- They admit they're not necessary to balance ment since 1965. As a percentage of our work the budget. And I believe they violate our force, it's the smallest Federal Government commitment to our children, our parents, since 1933. You probably didn't know that. and our future. Among other things, their And one big reason is that the Federal em- proposals would raise Medicare premiums; ployees who have been left behind are work- repeal Medicaid's guarantee of adequate ing harder, working smarter, and doing a bet- medical coverage for pregnant women, peo- ter job for you. They deserve to be able to ple with disabilities, children and older do their work and not to be thrown out of Americans; cut our efforts to keep drugs and work. violence out of public schools and to help Two Government shutdowns so far have schools reach high national standards of ex- cost taxpayers about a billion-and-a-half dol- cellence in learning; and dramatically cut the larsÐa billion-and-a-half dollars. That's not enforcement of environmental laws to keep Monopoly money. Shutting down the Gov- our air and water clean. My budget shows ernment again would be unbelievably irre- we don't need these drastic steps, and we sponsible. So again I say to the Republican can still give a modest tax cut to people who Congress, don't do that. We can't afford to need it. bleed money and productivity at a time when We can end this budget stalemate.