    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [June 29, 1995]
    [Page 978]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Agreement With Congress on Budget Rescissions Legislation
    June 29, 1995

        I am pleased that we have reached an agreement with Republicans and
    Democrats in the Congress on the rescissions bill.
        I vetoed the original rescissions bill because it reduced the
    deficit the wrong way. The new bill achieves the same amount of deficit
    reduction as the previous bill, but it does so the right way, by
    protecting investments in children, education, national service, job
    training, and the environment that Congress wanted to cut. These are the
    kind of balanced priorities that make sense for our country as we enter
    the difficult budget debates ahead.
        Specifically, the new legislation restores $733 million in these
    critical areas, including $220 million for the safe and drug-free
    schools program, $60 million for training teachers and other reforms
    under Goals 2000, $105 million for AmeriCorps, and $225 million for the
    safe drinking water program.
        Like the original bill, the legislation contains over $16 billion in
    spending cuts, and it provides supplemental funds I requested for
    disaster relief activities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
    the Federal response to the bombing in Oklahoma City, increased
    antiterrorism efforts, and debt relief to Jordan to facilitate progress
    toward a Middle East peace settlement.
        We have now achieved a bill that I am prepared to sign. This is
    essential legislation, and I hope the Congress will act on it quickly.
    While on balance I believe we made such significant changes that I am
    able to sign the legislation, the bill does contain provisions I do not
    support.
        I still do not believe this bill should contain any of the
    provisions relating to timber. I opposed the timber salvage rider
    because I believe that it threatens once again to lead to legal gridlock
    and to impair, rather than promote, sustainable economic activity. I
    continue to have that concern. But the conferees did accept important
    changes in the language that preserve our ability to implement the
    current forest plans and their standards and to protect other resources
    such as clean water and fisheries.
        Furthermore, Chairman Hatfield insists that the timber salvage
    provisions provide complete discretion for the administration to
    implement these provisions according to our best judgment.
        I take Senator Hatfield at his word. Therefore, after signing the
    rescissions bill into law, I will direct the Secretary of Agriculture,
    the Secretary of the Interior, and all other Federal agencies to carry
    out timber salvage activities consistent with the spirit and intent of
    our forest plans and all existing environmental laws.
        We will abide by the balanced goals of our forest plans, and we will
    not violate our environmental standards. Both are too important to
    protecting our quality of life and our economy.