    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [September 12, 1996]
    [Pages 1560-1561]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Counterterrorism Initiatives
    September 12, 1996

        I have sent to the Congress $1.097 billion in proposals to
    strengthen our antiterrorism, counterterrorism, and security efforts in
    this country and abroad.
        These proposals include fiscal 1996 supplemental appropriations for
    the Department of Defense as well as fiscal 1997 budget amendments to my
    appropriations requests now pending before the Congress.

    [[Page 1561]]

        On July 29, I met with the bipartisan leadership of the Congress to
    discuss an appropriate Federal response to the threat of terrorism,
    adding to the strong antiterrorism initiatives my administration had
    already taken. This package of budget proposals is the product of an
    interagency review that I ordered, subsequent to that meeting, in the
    wake of recent acts of domestic and international terrorism. It is a
    comprehensive, balanced program to address this urgent requirement, and
    I urge the Congress to act expeditiously on it.
        Over the past year, the danger to U.S. forces and installations from
    international terrorism has grown. At my direction, the Department of
    Defense and the intelligence community identified measures to enhance
    programs to deter and thwart terrorism. My requests for 1996
    supplemental appropriations will fund the most urgent of them. These
    requests total $353 million for various antiterrorism activities to
    increase physical security at overseas installations and to improve
    intelligence capabilities to detect and combat terrorist activity.
        We have already begun to address the problems resulting from
    heightened terrorist activity. Last month, I approved the relocation of
    U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf region to lower threat areas. Though the
    Saudi Arabian government agreed to cover some costs to support this
    relocation, our forces have had to redirect funds from ongoing
    operations. Thus, to limit the adverse effects to the Department of
    Defense operations and provide sufficient funds for these critical
    antiterrorism measures, I urge the Congress to act upon these
    supplemental requests as soon as possible.
        The rest of the $1.097 billion in proposals is comprised of $728
    million in 1997 budget amendments for my antiterrorism,
    counterterrorism, and security proposals as well as requests for
    contingent emergency funding.
        It includes $207 million for the Department of Justice, $154 million
    of which would go to the FBI for additional positions and antiterrorism
    support; $201 million for the Department of Transportation, $198 million
    of which would go to the Federal Aviation Administration to purchase
    explosives detection devices and perform passenger profiling and
    screening; and $147 million for the Department of the Treasury, $66
    million of which would go to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
    to enhance its ability to respond to terrorist threats and investigate
    crimes involving explosives, and $60 million of which would go to the
    U.S. Customs Service to increase its capacity to screen passengers and
    detect dangerous materials.
        This package of proposals reflects my comprehensive strategy to
    fight terrorism on three fronts: (1) beyond our borders, to work more
    closely with our friends and allies; (2) at home, giving law enforcement
    the most powerful counterterrorism tools available; and, (3) in our
    airports, by increasing aviation security.
        Congressional spending levels for defense contain substantial
    increases over my budget request--in particular, for certain procurement
    and research and development projects that are not contained in the
    Department of Defense's long-term planning requirements. I believe that
    we can provide for our military readiness, antiterrorism activities, and
    for other important national needs in the context of an agreement with
    the Congress on FY 1997 spending levels.
        I strongly urge the Congress to enact this package as quickly as
    possible.