[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[February 24, 1994]
[Pages 312-313]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Arrival in Groton, Connecticut
February 24, 1994

    The President. Well, this is hardly the time and place for a speech, 
but I am delighted to be here with Senator Dodd and Senator Lieberman, 
Congresswoman Kennelly, and your Congressman, Mr. Gejdenson.
    We're here to talk about health care today and to talk about the 
future of the people of Connecticut and the future of our country. I 
also want to say, since I am fairly near Groton, that I think most of 
you probably know, but yesterday Electric Boat was awarded one of the 
administration's technology reinvestment projects for defense 
conversion, to help to use the defense technologies that were developed 
in the 1980's to build the high-tech jobs here at home of the 1990's. 
And that will be a help in the future.
    Audience member. Sea Wolf!
    The President. Well, we hung in there with the Sea Wolf--we did the 
Sea Wolf. I did that. We reversed that decision. That's right.
    I also want to just say a special word of thanks to all of your for 
braving this weather and for coming out and for bringing your messages 
as well as your support. My family and I are very grateful for the 
friendship that we've been given all across this country, especially in 
the last month as I've dealt with the loss of my mother, and we've tried 
to deal with a lot of the challenges facing our country. And when you 
come out here and stand in this rain after the tough snow you had last 
night, it's very moving to me personally. I thank you for that.
    I want you to know one other thing. We've got a lot of tough 
challenges still ahead facing our country. We've got a lot of hard work 
to do in the Congress. We are facing the health care issue, the welfare 
reform issue. We're going

[[Page 313]]

to try to redo the unemployment system of the country. We have got a lot 
of big challenges facing this country, but we're going to meet them with 
your help and your support. And I just want you to tell these folks 
standing behind me that you do support them when they take the chances 
and show the courage to change the country and move it toward the 21st 
century.
    Thank you very much, and God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11:47 a.m. at the Groton/New London 
Airport.