    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [May 13, 1993]
    [Pages 653-654]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the Champion University of Texas Wheelchair Basketball Team
    and an Exchange With Reporters
    May 13, 1993

        The President. Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to be the first
    President to welcome the national intercollegiate wheelchair champions
    to the White House. I have to tell you that I am very impressed by this
    group of fine young men. They've done some amazing things. For the 3d
    year in a row, the Moving Mavs from the University of Texas of Arlington
    have brought home a national championship. I hear that they're the pride
    of UT-Arlington, that their home games are drawing record crowds, and
    that every time another banner is brought home in Texas Hall the
    excitement and the enthusiasm of the fans keeps building.
        I want to recognize a few of the people who've been instrumental in
    this team's remarkable success: the driving force behind the Moving
    Mavs, of course, the coach, Jim Hayes; Ryan Amacher, president of the
    University of Texas of Arlington; and one of their biggest supporters,
    my friend Congressman Martin Frost, who just coincidentally happens to
    represent them. [Laughter]
        I'm impressed with their winning record and their hard work and
    determination. I understand that this team really reflects the pioneer
    spirit of Texas and does not flinch in the face of obstacles. All of
    them are pioneers not only in wheelchair athletics but in the ongoing
    struggle in our Nation to obtain equal opportunities on and off the
    court for all Americans with disabilities, not inabilities.
        They display the attributes of strength and determination. They've
    practiced. They've worked hard. They've produced a championship team in
    ways that few people ever know. I commend all of you for your
    unrelenting pursuit of excellence and for your demonstration about what
    is true in every sport: that as an individual you may star, but as a
    team you can be champions.
        I believe that when people are empowered and when they work
    together, when they're given the opportunity to make something of
    themselves by a real community effort, that's when we all achieve the
    fullest meaning in our lives. If we're going to be a strong America,
    we're going to have to do more of what you've done with this team,
    coach.
        I'm proud of all of you. I welcome you to the White House. I know
    the people back home are proud of you, too.
        Thank you very much.

    [At this point, Dr. Amacher, Mr. Hayes, and team member Phung Tran
    presented gifts to the President, and Representative Frost expressed his
    thanks.]

        The President. Thank you. Thank you very much, all of you, and good
    luck to all of you. You know, things do get busy around here, but if
    people like you don't come to see us sometimes, we forget why I'm here.
    It's easy to get too busy and lose connections with the people in the
    country. You know, tonight all over this country people will see a
    picture of you here. And you have no idea whether some young person will
    see your picture here and be inspired and say, ``Well, I can do more
    with my life. I can make more of myself. There is something else I can
    do.'' And I don't think you could possibly underestimate the impact that
    your achievement will have on others. I really want to encourage you. I
    also want you to know I don't have the upper-body strength to play
    basketball. Now, don't run off with that. [Laughter]

    Tax Legislation

        Q. Mr. President, are you satisfied with the way your tax bill came
    out of the House Ways and Means Committee?

    [[Page 654]]

        The President. Chairman Rostenkowski called me about an hour or so
    ago, right after the vote, and based on what I know, I'm very satisfied.
    I'm immensely pleased. All the basic features of the bill remained
    intact, and many of the changes that were made I think made it a better
    bill. So again, I have not had a chance to study all the things that
    were done today, but based on what I know, I believe it is a very good
    bill indeed. It still maintains the essential features. The earned-
    income tax credit is there for people making roughly $29,000 a year or
    less to basically add fairness to the Tax Code and relieve them of the
    impact of the energy tax.
        The bill is highly progressive, virtually all of the money raised on
    people with incomes of over $100,000. The immunization program, the
    family preservation program is intact. The empowerment zone program was
    endorsed by the committee, and they added quite a bit of money to it so
    we could encourage more cities to get involved in trying to bring free
    enterprise into distressed areas. I think that is a very impressive
    thing. And I think changing the small business incentive to an expensing
    rather than an investment tax credit is basically a net plus because
    more small businesses can access it at less hassle. So I feel very good
    about it--what I know about the bill. You know, like I said, I haven't--
    but what I know about it is very encouraging.
        Q. Why shouldn't the American people regard this as a black letter
    day with a new tax bill coming their way?
        The President. Because all this money is going to go to reduce the
    deficit. Because we've got interest rates at a 20-year low. Because most
    Americans have refinanced a home or a business loan, they've already
    saved more money in interest costs than they will pay in higher taxes.
    And because if we don't do something to cut spending and increase some
    taxes we're going to bankrupt the country.
        We tried it the other way for 12 years. We tried lowering taxes and
    increasing spending, and we went from a $1 trillion to a $4 trillion
    debt; didn't work out very well. And I think the American people want us
    finally to step up to the bar and reduce this national deficit and get
    it down eventually to zero and get some economic growth going.
        I also believe until we bring the deficit down we won't have any
    money to invest in education and training and new technologies. We have
    to prove to the American people first we've got the discipline to spend
    their money properly and to run this Government properly.
        I think it's not a black letter day. It's a red letter day for
    America. We're finally beginning to face our problems in a mature way.
    And I'm encouraged. And I applaud the House Committee for what they did
    today.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:42 p.m. in the Diplomatic Reception Room
    at the White House. A tape was not available for verification of the
    content of these remarks.