    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [December 12, 1996]
    [Pages 2194-2195]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 2194]]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With the President's Drug Policy Council and
    an Exchange With Reporters
    December 12, 1996

        The President. Good morning. First, I'd like to thank Director
    McCaffrey and the other Cabinet and agency officials who are here for
    the second meeting of the President's Drug Policy Council.
        Before we begin the meeting I'd like to make two brief
    announcements: first, an important step we are taking to break the cycle
    of crime and drugs in the revolving door between prisons and drug use.
        In the last Congress, we pushed for and passed legislation which
    requires States to drug-test prisoners and parolees as a condition for
    receiving prison grants from the Federal Government. Today I'm pleased
    to announce that the Justice Department has developed drug test
    guidelines for the States that will help them to meet the requirements
    of the legislation. This law says to inmates, if you want out of jail
    you must get off drugs. And it says to parolees, if you want to stay out
    of jail you must stay off drugs. If you go back on drugs, then you have
    to go back to jail. The new guidelines call for every State to submit a
    plan for drug testing, for interventions, for sanctions to the Attorney
    General within 14 months as a condition of receiving Federal prison
    funds.
        We know this effort will work. A recent report shows that in
    Delaware, prisoners who got treatment in prison and during work release
    were 75 percent drug-free and 70 percent arrest-free after 18 months.
    But 80 percent of the prisoners who did not receive treatment went back
    on drugs, and two out of three were arrested again. There is a huge
    connection between crime and prison population and drug use which we are
    now strongly determined to break.
        Also let me say, in light of the recent initiatives in Arizona and
    California, I have instructed General McCaffrey and the other members of
    the Cabinet and the Drug Policy Council to review what our options are
    to make sure that we do not do anything that will increase drug use and
    that instead we do whatever we can to decrease drug use. And we will
    look at what our options are under Federal law to proceed there.
        I am confident we can make real progress here, but I am not
    unmindful of how difficult the challenge is. And you can see by the
    people around the table and by the work that General McCaffrey has done
    that we're going to work together, and we're very hopeful.
        General, thank you.
        Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey. Thank you, Mr. President.
        Well, we could proceed with the press out of the room. It probably
    would be helpful. [Laughter]

    Second Term Transition

        Q. Before we go, can we just ask if you've had a chance to discuss
    with Attorney General Reno her future, because that seems to be up in
    the air right now?
        The President. No, I've got about--there are four or five of my
    Cabinet members I haven't yet met with, but I'm going to try to get it
    all done by the end of the week.
        Q. Do you think tomorrow at the press conference you'll have some
    Cabinet announcements?
        The President. I don't know--oh, I might, I might.
        Q. Could you give us a sneak preview? [Laughter]
        The President. You know how this is, you all--we're partners in this
    deal, and you've got to have something every day. And so you've already
    had a good day today. I've got to give you something tomorrow now.
    [Laughter]

    District of Columbia

        Q. Do you think it's appropriate to spend $1 billion on the District
    of Columbia, as the control board is suggesting?
        The President. Well, I don't want to comment on the specific
    recommendation. Let me say this: I believe that every American has a
    stake in seeing the District of Columbia succeed. And the kind of
    netherworld, almost, relationship it has with the Federal Government has
    been a mixed blessing. And we have tried over the last 4 years to
    intensify our efforts--I know Secretary Cisneros, for example, has done
    a lot of work to try to reduce homelessness here.

    [[Page 2195]]

        But I believe that one of the things I should be doing in the next 4
    years is to make a more disciplined, organized effort and try to forge a
    partnership with the Congress--I know Speaker Gingrich, at various
    times, has expressed an interest in this--to try to do more to help the
    District of Columbia to be the kind of city it ought to be. And I intend
    to put a real priority on it. But I don't want to get into a dollar
    discussion now because I don't know enough about it to have an informed
    opinion.
        Thank you. I can't wait to see you tomorrow. [Laughter]
        Q. Might see you tonight.
        The President. Did you get your crossword puzzle, Mara [Mara
    Liasson, National Public Radio]? [Laughter] You were in the crossword
    puzzle yesterday, and I worked the whole puzzle. I gave it to McCurry.
    He's got a copy of it. Yesterday's USA Today crossword puzzle stars you.
    [Laughter]

    Note: The President spoke at 11:57 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House.