    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [March 12, 1996]
    [Pages 434-435]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Departure for the Summit of the Peacemakers
    March 12, 1996

        Good afternoon. As you know, I am on my way to Sharm al-Sheikh for
    an unprecedented summit in support of peace in the Middle East. I will
    meet there with the leaders of Israel, many of the Arab countries,
    Russia, Europe, and other nations to condemn the appalling acts of
    terror that have occurred in Israel in the last several days and to find
    ways to combat those who still seek to kill peace with violence.
        The will of the people for peace is clearly greater than the forces
    of division. As we have seen in Northern Ireland and Bosnia and around
    the world, America must continue to support those who seek peace, and
    America will continue to support those who seek peace.
        This Summit of the Peacemakers can be an important step in the
    process toward peace in the Middle East. After the summit I will also
    make a short visit to Israel to stand with the

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    people there in their time of grief. I will also bring a message that in
    this time of difficulty and in the battle against terror and the
    struggle for peace, Israel is not alone.
        Before I leave I would also like to say something to the Congress.
    We face here urgent domestic issues that demand our attention and our
    action. This Friday the Government will shut down for a third time if
    Congress does not pass a funding bill. Today I signed a temporary
    measure to ensure the creditworthiness of the United States until
    approximately the end of the month. But to preserve the full faith and
    credit of America, Congress must pass a long-term, straightforward debt
    extension.
        Other significant legislation also awaits action. We should pass a
    balanced budget plan that reflects our values and supports our economic
    growth. The Congress and I have identified in common over $700 billion
    in savings, more than enough to balance the budget in 7 years and to
    protect Medicare and Medicaid and our investments in education and the
    environment, and to provide modest but important tax relief.
        We should also pass a bipartisan welfare reform bill that genuinely
    moves people from welfare to work and strengthens families. And we
    should pass the Kennedy-Kassebaum health care bill so that working
    people do not lose their health insurance when they change jobs or when
    someone in the family gets sick.
        Agreement on all these bills is clearly within reach. Our Nation
    must move forward. We cannot wait until after November to do the
    people's business. We have an obligation to keep the Government open and
    funded, and we have a distinct opportunity, if we act now, to pass the
    right kind of balanced budget, welfare reform, and health insurance
    reform.
        I say again to Congress what I said in the State of the Union
    Address and what I have said repeatedly since: My door is open. I am
    ready to meet with the leaders of the Congress at any time to move
    forward on any or all of these matters of national urgency. It is time
    to put partisan politics aside and work together in the national
    interest. Spring is coming, and we ought to give the American people a
    rebirth of bipartisan, productive accomplishment in this new spring.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:46 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House.