    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [September 28, 1996]
    [Pages 1721-1722]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Omnibus Budget Agreement and an Exchange With Reporters
    in Boston, Massachusetts
    September 28, 1996

        The President. Good evening. Early this morning we reached an
    important agreement with Congress to continue balancing the budget while
    we invest in education, protect the environment,

    [[Page 1722]]

    and keep our streets safe. This budget agreement was a victory for our
    values and a victory for the American people. It was also, in
    particular, a victory for the people of Massachusetts.
        I want to talk briefly about three things in particular that are
    important to this State. First, the budget agreement includes $50
    million that can be used for shipyard reactivation. Today I have
    instructed Secretary Pena to complete negotiations for a binding letter
    of commitment to revitalize the Quincy Shipyard, which we just flew
    over, and to do it within 30 days after I sign the budget.
        I especially want to thank Senator Kerry, Senator Kennedy, and
    Congressman Studds for their hard work to include this provision in the
    budget agreement. Their work will help to create a world-class
    shipbuilding operation to bring new jobs, new technology, and new
    opportunity to the people of Quincy.
        Second, the budget includes important funds to continue the cleanup
    of Boston Harbor. Last year Senator Kerry and Senator Kennedy joined us
    to stop congressional efforts to walk away from that commitment. And
    because of their work this year we are going to keep moving forward to
    make the Boston Harbor safe, clean, and healthy.
        Finally, I want to say a word about our ongoing effort to streamline
    our Government. We're working hard to overhaul Defense Department
    management while maintaining an unwavering commitment to the best
    equipped, trained Armed Forces in the world. We've closed 228 of the
    Defense Department's more than 300 finance and accounting facilities,
    while working hard to improve training for Defense Department financial
    managers. Today I'm pleased to announce that the budget agreement also
    includes funds to establish a financial management education center at
    Southbridge, Massachusetts. The Pentagon will release $5 million for the
    center's development next week, and classes will begin on March 1, 1997,
    18 months ahead of schedule. The Southbridge center would not be
    happening today without the leadership of Senator Kerry, Senator
    Kennedy, and Congressman Neal.
        This budget agreement shows what we can do when we work hard on
    things that really matter to the American people. It creates opportunity
    by working to revitalize the shipbuilding industry, takes responsibility
    by working to reform our Government in a responsible way while providing
    the best training to our Armed Forces. It strengthens our community by
    continuing our efforts to clean up our environment here at the Boston
    Harbor. We are on the right track to the 21st century, and I am very
    pleased about it.
        Now I'd like to ask the Senators each to say a word.

    [At this point, Senator John F. Kerry and Senator Edward M. Kennedy made
    brief remarks.]

        Q. Mr. President, aren't these programs--[inaudible]--election-year
    pork?
        The President. Well, for one reason, I've been working on these
    things for far more than one year. The Southbridge project is a big
    project, goes back several years. The Boston Harbor project was going on
    before I got here. The Quincy project developed when they had a person
    interested in going there.
        So we've been working very hard on it, and I think if they didn't
    have independent merit, it would have been difficult for us to get them
    in these times, which have been particularly contentious. So I think,
    you know, every one of these things will stand on its own merit. But the
    people in Boston have paid an enormous amount out of their own pockets
    to clean up the Boston Harbor, and it would have been unconscionable for
    us to walk away from our continuing commitment to that. These other two
    projects we've been working on, waiting for, for a very long time. It's
    not something that just came up overnight tied to the election cycle.
    This is a multiyear effort, and I want to congratulate all the community
    leaders who are here. They're the ones that ultimately deserve the
    credit for bringing this day to bear.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:40 p.m. at Logan Airport.