    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [April 7, 1993]
    [Pages 416-417]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing Enabling Legislation for the National Commission to
    Ensure a Strong Competitive Airline Industry
    April 7, 1993

        Today I am signing into law H.R. 904, a bill providing for
    appointments to the ``National Commission to Ensure a Strong Competitive
    Airline Industry.'' I am pleased to have the opportunity to join with
    the Congress so quickly in the new session in this effort to gain a
    fuller understanding of the difficulties facing the Nation's aviation
    industry--both airlines and aircraft manufacturing.
        The recent experience of the aviation industry has not been good.
    Unemployment in the airline industry has reached record levels over the
    past few years. The backlog of new orders for aircraft has shrunk,
    leading to unemployment in the aircraft manufacturing industry as well.
    When I visited the Boeing Corporation in Everett, Washington, managers
    and employees alike described the personal impact of these developments.
        The issues facing the industry have an international dimension. In
    recent remarks at the American University here in Washington, I stressed
    that our Nation is ready to compete in the world economy fairly and
    squarely. In our bilateral and multilateral aviation negotiations, my
    Administration will promote fair competition in international trade and
    airline routes.
        I asked Secretary of Transportation Pena to join with the Congress
    to develop a process for addressing the industry's problems, and I am
    pleased by this strong bipartisan result. The aviation industry is
    important not only to our economy, but (as Operation Desert Storm
    demonstrated just 2 years ago) to our national defense as well. The
    information and recommendations developed by the Commission will assist
    us in building a consensus from the many competing views on how
    government and industry can best work together to address the aviation
    industry's current difficulties.
        I am pleased that this legislation accelerates the deadline for the
    Commission's report. I have asked Secretary Pena, working with the rest
    of the Cabinet, to do everything possible to get the Commission up and
    running quickly. I look forward to receiving the Commission's report
    within 90 days after appointments to the Commission are completed.
        I note that the House Subcommittee on Aviation has already begun to
    assemble a record of the relevant issues during its hearings in
    February. With concerted effort by all parties, this

    [[Page 417]]

    Commission can provide valuable, timely answers.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    April 7, 1993.

    Note: H.R. 904, approved April 7, was assigned Public Law No. 103-13.