[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.