    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [November 1, 1993]
    [Page 1878]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1878]]

    Statement on Signing Legislation To Phase Out Wool and Mohair Subsidies
    November 1, 1993

        Today, in signing S. 1548, something unusual will happen: a Federal
    program is being abolished so that more than a half billion dollars can
    be saved. This is a departure from business-as-usual in Washington,
    where programs seem destined to live forever, and Federal dollars raised
    from average Americans are treated as if they were meant to be spent or
    squandered instead of saved. But to accomplish the change my
    Administration is seeking, for the economy and for our country, it is no
    longer adequate to conduct the business of Government bound by the old
    arrangements. The legislation, which phases out the wool and mohair
    program, eliminates an outdated program, reduces the deficit, and
    affirms for the American people our commitment to change.
        In February of 1993, I sent to the Congress ``A Vision of Change for
    America,'' the budget document accompanying my economic reform program.
    Among the recommendations were reforms in the wool and mohair program;
    subsidies provided for nearly 40 years to wool and mohair producers when
    materials for uniforms and gloves were deemed by the Federal Government
    as ``strategic materials.'' Although the Department of Defense
    determined by 1960 that wool was no longer a strategic material, the
    subsidies continued. It would have been unthinkable to engage in an
    across-the-board effort to reduce the deficit--as we did in the
    beginning of our Administration--and not seek changes in this program.
        The Congress responded well to our recommendations: first, by
    providing a phase-down of the subsidies in the budget reconciliation
    legislation I signed last August; second, in the appropriations process
    when the Congress provided for a moratorium for one year on wool and
    mohair payments. The Vice President's National Performance Review
    suggested that the program be terminated. This legislation does
    precisely that.
        Since these products are no longer strategic materials; since the
    wealthiest producers receive the largest fraction of the payments; and
    since many program participants can focus their operations on other
    profitable sales, there is no justification for maintaining this program
    on the books. I therefore welcome the decision by the Congress to repeal
    the authority under which the program operates at the end of 1995, with
    payments reduced in the intervening years, so that the termination of
    the wool and mohair subsidy can occur in an orderly but final manner.
        This legislation reduces the deficit by $514 million over fiscal
    years 1994 to 1998.
        In February, when we first asked the Congress to reform this
    program, we initiated a national debate on changing the economic
    direction of our country. Since then, we have seen the Congress adopt
    nearly $500 billion in deficit reduction, and we have seen a marked and
    welcome change in our economic circumstances. We have seen positive
    changes in the deficit, and interest, inflation, and unemployment rates.
    Much, much more needs to be done. We need to do better in the creation
    of good-paying jobs. We need to make further reforms in spending by
    Washington, and we have proposed such reforms in the National
    Performance Review. We need to expand trade with adoption of the North
    American Free Trade Agreement. And, most of all, we must reform health
    care.
        In the past, our citizens might well assume that Washington could
    not adopt this much change. But, in 1993, the American people have seen
    their Government fulfill its commitments on a wide variety of issues. It
    is my hope, as I affix my signature on S. 1548, that this additional,
    promised reform expands their trust for the work we must undertake in
    the weeks and months ahead.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    November 1, 1993.

    Note: S. 1548, approved November 1, was assigned Public Law No. 103-130.