    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [December 22, 1995]
    [Pages 1924-1925]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing Limited Continuing Appropriations Legislation
    December 22, 1995

        Today I have signed into law House Joint Resolution 136, which
    ensures that the Government makes veterans' benefit payments to 3.3
    million veterans and their survivors without further delay.
        The resolution also provides funding for several vitally important
    programs for children and

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    families. It continues funding for Aid to Families with Dependent
    Children (AFDC), ensuring that nearly 9 million children receive
    benefits vital to their well-being. It funds child care for about
    600,000 children whose parents are trying to work their way off welfare.
    And it continues funding for State child support enforcement agencies to
    ensure that ``deadbeat dads'' do not get a reprieve from supporting
    their children.
        In addition, H.J. Res. 136 provides authority for the District of
    Columbia to continue full operations. The resolution contains an
    objectionable provision that would single out poor women by prohibiting
    the use of District funds for providing abortion services. I have
    opposed including this provision in the regular fiscal year 1996
    District of Columbia appropriations bill. Nevertheless, H.J. Res. 136
    allows the District government to continue to operate without
    disruption.
        Although I welcome H.J. Res. 136, it is a poor substitute for what
    the Congress should do immediately--that is, send me an acceptable
    continuing resolution to reopen the departments and agencies that are at
    least partially shut down because they lack fiscal year 1996
    appropriations. Along with the Departments of Veterans Affairs and
    Health and Human Services, they include the Departments of Education,
    Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Justice, State, and the
    Interior; the Environmental Protection Agency; the National Aeronautics
    and Space Administration, and the Small Business Administration.
        To be sure, H.J. Res. 136 prevents the serious impact that the
    partial shutdown could have had on 3.3 million veterans and their
    survivors as well as nearly 9 million low-income children. But the
    shutdown continues to hurt millions of innocent Americans--from the
    20,000 parents and students each day who cannot apply for student aid,
    to the 2,500 moderate- and low-income working families each day who
    cannot get their Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage loans
    processed.
        The shutdown also has forced the affected departments and agencies
    to furlough a total of about 280,000 Federal employees, throwing their
    lives into disruption and raising their fears just as the holidays
    approach. Federal workers, who are already being asked to do their jobs
    more efficiently as we downsize the Government, deserve better.
        The congressional majority apparently wants to use a partial
    Government shutdown to force me into accepting their extreme budget
    plan. It did not work last month, when the majority prompted an earlier
    shutdown by not sending me an acceptable continuing resolution. And it
    will not work now.
        The Congress should send me an acceptable continuing resolution to
    reopen the Government, return to work the 280,000 Federal employees who
    were furloughed through no fault of their own, provide back pay for
    these workers, and give the American people the services they expect
    from their Government.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    December 22, 1995.

    Note: H.J. Res. 136, approved December 22, was assigned Public Law No.
    104-69. An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this statement.