    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [January 4, 1996]
    [Page 9]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing District of Columbia Continuing Appropriations
    Legislation
    January 4, 1996

        Today I have signed into law House Joint Resolution 153, which
    provides authority for the District of Columbia to continue full
    operations.
        This measure continues the authority provided by the Fourth
    Continuing Resolution for FY 1996, which I signed December 22, and will
    enable the District to continue to operate, using District funds,
    through January 25.
        Because H.J. Res. 153 allows the District government to continue to
    operate without disruption, it is a step in the right direction.
    Nevertheless, it is only a step. It does not end the partial shutdown of
    the Federal Government that continues to affect the Departments of
    Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban
    Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, State, and Veterans Affairs; the
    Environmental Protection Agency; the National Aeronautics and Space
    Administration; the Small Business Administration; and nearly three
    dozen smaller agencies.
        This shutdown is hurting millions of innocent Americans--such as the
    600,000 senior citizens who may not get services under the ``Meals on
    Wheels'' program, or the 2,500 moderate- and low-income working families
    per day who cannot get their Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
    mortgage loans processed. The longer the shutdown continues, the more
    Americans across the country will feel its impact.
        The shutdown has forced the Administration to furlough 280,000
    workers in these departments and agencies. And while the Administration
    has kept 480,000 others on the job because they perform emergency
    services, we cannot pay them until the shutdown ends. Thus, by not
    ending the shutdown, the Congress is disrupting the lives of three-
    quarters of a million Federal workers, most of whom live paycheck to
    paycheck and are having severe problems paying their mortgages or rent,
    buying food, and protecting their families.
        I am concerned that this bill contains an objectionable provision
    that would single out poor women by prohibiting the use of District
    funds for providing abortion services. I oppose including this provision
    in the regular fiscal year 1996 District of Columbia Appropriations
    Bill, and I urge the Congress to send that bill to me--in a form I can
    sign--as expeditiously as possible.
        Once again, I urge the Congress to end this shutdown immediately by
    sending me an acceptable continuing resolution to fund these departments
    and agencies, or acceptable fiscal 1996 appropriations bills for them.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    January 4, 1996.

    Note: H.J. Res. 153, approved January 4, was assigned Public Law No.
    104-90. This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on January 5.