Bill Clinton

I know the Attorney General shares my commitment to those important environmental laws.

This intermodal project will speed the transportation of goods from these ports throughout the country and will also help sustain our Nation's competitive edge in Pacific Rim trade.

I am also pleased that the bill provides a $1.4 billion increase in funding for anti-drug programs.

I recommend that the Senate promptly give its advice and consent to the ratification of this Convention, subject to an understanding and a reservation that are described in the accompanying State Department report.

I therefore direct the drawdown from the inventory and resources of the Department of Defense of an aggregate value not to exceed $10 million in commodities and services to provide assistance to states currently participating in ECOMOG.

This bill, together with the FY 1997 omnibus appropriations bill that I have also signed, provides an increase of $286 million over fiscal 1996 for FAA operations.

This bill is good for America.

I commend the Congress for not including any new earmarked highway projects.

The admission of up to 78,000 refugees to the United States during FY 1997 is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest.

I am pleased that the Congress provided the minimum acceptable levels for certain key international affairs programs.

I am pleased that the Congress fully funded my request for the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) safety programs.

I am particularly pleased that the Congress, in the omnibus appropriations bill, fully funded my request for the Alameda Corridor project.

I hereby determine that the provision of assistance under Chapter 6 of Part II of the Act is important to the national interests of the United States.

I am disappointed that one of my priorities— a ban on physician 'gag rules'—was not included.

I am disappointed that the Congress has funded unrequested increases for nuclear weapons management and related programs, while curtailing investments in important civilian activities.

I transmit herewith the Inter-American Convention on Serving Criminal Sentences Abroad.

I am also pleased that the Congress provided $45 million to the International Nuclear Safety program, which assists nations of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in improving the safety of Soviet-designed nuclear reactors.

I am pleased that in the omnibus appropriations bill, the Congress fully funds my request of $201 million for the Department of Transportation to implement the Vice President's September 9 recommendations.

I hereby authorize that such $247 million in loan guarantee authority shall remain available.

This bill also funds the Nation's defense program for another year.

Again, I applaud the House for approving this legislation last night.

I continue to have concerns about certain provisions.

I'm prepared to do everything in my power to help the Israelis and the Palestinians end the violence and begin the peace process again in earnest.

The loss of life and the tragedy of the violence in the Middle East this week have been a terrible development for the Israeli and the Palestinian people.

I believe that—I think they're both concerned about the way events spun out of control, about the loss of life, the injury, the eruption of old tensions and bitterness.