    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [October 12, 1996]
    [Pages 1830-1831]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1830]]

    Statement on Signing the Water Resources Development Act of 1996
    October 12, 1996

        Today I am signing into law S. 640, the ``Water Resources
    Development Act of 1996,'' which authorizes water resources development
    projects and programs in support of the Department of the Army's Civil
    Works mission.
        I am very pleased that the Congress has passed this important
    legislation. It represents the culmination of a 4-year effort on the
    part of the Administration and the Congress to enact legislation to
    preserve and develop water infrastructure needs critical to the Nation's
    safety, environment, and economic security. It will serve to improve the
    Nation's water-related infrastructure, create new jobs for Americans,
    and encourage both economic growth and environmental restoration and
    protection.
        This bill represents another important step forward for the Florida
    Everglades--one of America's richest treasures. Three years ago, my
    Administration made the Everglades one of our highest environmental
    priorities, establishing a special task force to coordinate Federal
    activities in the area. In February of this year, the Vice President
    announced our comprehensive program to restore the Florida Everglades.
    Several weeks later, I signed a Farm Bill that provided a $200 million
    downpayment on Everglades restoration; it was sponsored by the Florida
    delegation with support from Republican and Democratic leaders in the
    Congress. I called on the Congress again to enact our comprehensive
    Everglades restoration plan.
        This legislation enacts the majority of that plan, establishing the
    Everglades and South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Program. It directs
    the Secretary of the Army to work in partnership with various State and
    Federal agencies participating in the South Florida Ecosystem
    Restoration Task Force to coordinate a long-term restoration effort. It
    authorizes a number of projects to restore and protect the South Florida
    ecosystem.
        After decades of decline in the Everglades, the people of South
    Florida and the Nation should take great pride in the steps we have
    taken together to bring them back. Restoration will take many years of
    hard work and cooperation, but we know we are on the right track.
        Apart from the Everglades provisions, this legislation also includes
    revisions to cost sharing, which require non-Federal interests to
    provide a minimum of 35 percent of the costs of both flood control
    projects and environmental protection and restoration projects
    authorized in the future. I would have preferred that the non-Federal
    share be increased to 50 percent and that the new cost sharing apply to
    projects authorized in this bill. Nevertheless, the changes here
    represent a significant first step toward greater non-Federal
    participation in key water resource projects of the future. These
    changes also represent recognition of the need for non-Federal
    beneficiaries to share more fully in the cost of such projects in these
    times of Federal fiscal constraints. Flood control cost-sharing
    provisions also require the non-Federal project sponsors to develop
    flood management plans that will help reduce the potential for future
    flood damages.
        I am concerned about the potential overall Federal cost of the bill.
    Under existing budget constraints, many projects and initiatives
    authorized by this bill cannot be funded within a reasonable timeframe.
    Thus, such authorizations may raise unrealistic expectations for non-
    Federal sponsors who expect timely project initiation and completion. I
    am also concerned about certain provisions of the bill that assign
    responsibilities to the Federal Government that more appropriately
    belong to State and local governments or the private sector, that are
    inconsistent with established cost-sharing rules, or that authorize
    projects that are not economically justified.
        On balance though, this is important legislation that will not only
    help save the Everglades, but also promote responsible water resources
    projects and programs. I appreciate the diligent efforts of all involved
    to produce a bill that continues the vital role of the Army Corps of
    Engineers in building and maintaining a strong water resources program.
    This legislation will continue and in many ways strengthen the Federal/
    non-Federal partnership principles started in 1986. It will also allow
    the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain an orderly program for

    [[Page 1831]]

    the construction of productive water resources projects.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    October 12, 1996.

    Note: S. 640, approved October 12, was assigned Public Law No. 104-303.
    This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    October 14.