    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [July 28, 1993]
    [Page 1224]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Excused Absence for Federal Employees in Disaster Areas
    July 28, 1993

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Excused Absence for Employees Affected by the Flooding of the
    Mississippi River and Its Tributaries

        I am saddened by the devastating losses caused by the flooding of
    the Mississippi River and its tributaries and the impact on the well-
    being and livelihood of our fellow Americans. Many parts of the Federal
    Government have been mobilized to respond to this disaster and to begin
    a massive effort to recover from the ravages of this flooding.
        As part of this effort, I request heads of executive departments and
    agencies who have Federal civilian employees in the areas designated as
    disaster areas because of the flooding to use their discretion to excuse
    from duty, without charge to leave or loss of pay, any such employee who
    is faced with a personal emergency because of the flooding and who can
    be spared from his or her usual responsibilities. This policy should
    also be applied to any employee who is needed for emergency law
    enforcement, relief, or clean-up efforts authorized by Federal, State or
    local officials having jurisdiction.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on July 29.