    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [July 26, 1995]
    [Pages 1151-1152]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Proposed Foreign Relations Legislation
    July 26, 1995

        Congress is now considering legislation--S. 908, ``The Foreign
    Relations Revitalization Act of 1995''--that would undermine the
    President's authority to conduct our Nation's foreign policy and deny us
    the resources we need to lead in the world. If this legislation comes to
    my desk in its present form, I will veto it.
        S. 908 attacks the President's constitutional authority to conduct
    America's foreign policy. No President, Democrat or Republican, could
    accept these restrictions because they threaten the President's ability
    to protect and promote American interests around the world.
        The legislation would ban or severely restrict diplomatic relations
    with key countries. Indeed, had it been in effect a few months ago, it
    would have prevented us from concluding the agreement with North Korea
    to dismantle its nuclear program. The legislation would handcuff our
    ability to take part in and lead United Nations operations, limiting our
    choice each time a crisis arose to acting alone or not at all. The
    legislation would abolish three important agencies, the Arms Control and
    Disarmament Agency, the Agency for International Development, and the
    U.S. Information Agency. Each is already making serious and successful
    efforts to streamline its operations, as part of my administration's
    reinventing Government program. Eliminating them entirely would
    undermine our effectiveness, not enhance it.
        In short, the legislation would put Congress in the business of
    micromanaging our Nation's foreign policy, a business it should not be
    in.
        This legislation combined with S. 961, ``The Foreign Aid Reduction
    Act of 1995,'' would also slash our international affairs budget, which
    already is only a little over 1.3 percent of our total Federal budget.
    We use these funds to fight the spread of nuclear weapons and
    technology; to combat terrorists, drug traffickers, and international
    criminals; to create American jobs by opening new markets for our
    exports; and to support the forces of peace, democracy, and

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    human rights around the world who look to America for leadership.
        The proposed cuts in the international affairs budget are dangerous
    and shortsighted. We know from experience that it is a lot less costly,
    in terms of money spent and lives lost, to rely on development aid and
    diplomacy now than it is to send in our troops later. There is a price
    to be paid for American leadership. But the return on our investment, in
    terms of increased security and greater prosperity for the American
    people, more than makes up for the cost. What America cannot afford are
    the foreign affairs budget cuts proposed in these bills.
        As I have made clear before, I want to work with Congress to get an
    international affairs bill I can sign, a bill that protects the
    President's authority to conduct foreign policy, maintains vital
    resources, and reflects a bipartisan spirit that serves America's
    interests. The legislation Congress is considering fails each of those
    tests. If it is sent to me as it now stands, I will veto it.