    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [August 26, 1994]
    [Pages 1509-1510]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State,
    the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
    August 26, 1994

         Today I have signed into law, H.R. 4603, the ``Departments of
    Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies
    Appropriations Act, FY 1995, and Supplemental Appropriations for FY
    1994.''
        This Act provides funding for the Departments of Commerce, Justice,
    and State; the Judiciary; and several smaller agencies.
        This Act marks a bold first step in our effort to combat violent
    crime in America. In this Act, the Congress has provided $2.3 billion in
    funding to support the key new programs in the newly-passed Crime Bill.
    Foremost, the bill makes good on the promise of the Crime Bill by
    providing $1.3 billion to begin putting 100,000 new police officers on
    the street over the next 6 years.
        The Act will enable the Justice Department to escalate its efforts
    to secure the border and to control illegal immigration. Resources are
    provided to expand the number of agents at high-risk crossing points to
    deter illegal immigration, improve the equipment available to agents to
    increase their effectiveness, expedite deportations of criminal illegal
    aliens, and increase asylum adjudications. The Act also provides, for
    the first time, a funding source to help States that are burdened by
    large numbers of criminal illegal aliens in their prisons. This $130
    million initiative highlights the Federal Government's commitment to
    share the responsibility for reducing the fiscal impact of illegal
    immigration with affected States.
        A total of $100 million is provided to States to upgrade their
    criminal records databases, continuing implementation of the Brady Bill
    to ensure that handguns stay out of the hands of criminals. Innovative
    programs such as boot camps and drug courts are supported to promote
    cost-effective methods of dealing with young nonviolent offenders.
    Finally, funds are provided to stop or penalize those criminals who
    prey, intentionally, on women.
        This Act, coupled with the Crime Bill, will provide the foundation
    for our bold new strategy of fighting crime in the United States.
        The Act also provides important funding for some of my investment
    priorities, including development of the information highway, the
    defense conversion projects of the Economic Development Administration,
    and projects to foster high technology at the National Institute of
    Standards and Technology.
        In addition to providing important funding for fiscal year 1995, the
    Act provides urgently needed emergency funding for fiscal year 1994. Due
    to an increased need for disaster assistance, stemming primarily from
    the Northridge earth-

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    quake in California and the recent flooding in the Southeast, the
    Disaster Loan Program of the Small Business Administration (SBA) is out
    of funds. This Act provides $470 million for SBA's Disaster Loan
    Program. Concurrently with signing H.R. 4603 into law, I am informing
    the Congress of my designation of these funds as an emergency
    requirement, thereby making them available.
        Finally, this Act provides important funding for our contribution to
    United Nations international peacekeeping efforts around the world.
    These efforts are essential to reducing regional tensions and preventing
    or stopping the horror of war.
        Unfortunately, the Act does not provide sufficient funding for the
    Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for fiscal year 1995. If the
    Congress does not provide additional funds for the SEC before adjourning
    in October, the SEC will have to shut down before the Congress returns
    next year. To avoid this, I urge the Congress to enact legislation
    providing the necessary budgetary resources for the SEC prior to the
    start of the new fiscal year.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    August 26, 1994.

    Note: H.R. 4603, approved August 26, was assigned Public Law No. 103-
    317.