    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [November 20, 1995]
    [Page 1776]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1996
    November 20, 1995

        Last night I signed into law H.R. 2492, the ``Legislative Branch
    Appropriations Act, 1996.''
        The Act provides fiscal year 1996 appropriations for the Congress,
    the Congressional Budget Office, the Architect of the Capitol, the
    General Accounting Office, the Government Printing Office, and the
    Library of Congress.
        On October 3, 1995, I vetoed the first Legislative Branch
    Appropriations bill, indicating at the time that the bill was acceptable
    but that the Congress should not take care of its own business before it
    takes care of the people's business. At the time the Legislative Branch
    bill was sent to the White House, the Congress had passed only one other
    of the 13 appropriations bills. The Congress has now completed action on
    six bills that I have been able to sign.
        While much work remains to be done and the Congress remains behind
    schedule, I signed this bill recognizing that the Congress has indeed
    made some progress since October 3.
        I urge the Congress to meet its responsibilities by sending me the
    remaining FY 1996 appropriations bills in an acceptable form.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    November 20, 1995.

    Note: H.R. 2492, approved November 19, was assigned Public Law No. 104-
    53.