[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
[September 30, 1996]
[Pages 1728-1729]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Energy and Water Development Appropriations 
Act, 1997
September 30, 1996

    Today I have signed into law H.R. 3816, the ``Energy and Water 
Development Appropriations Act, 1997.''
    The Act provides $20 billion in discretionary budget authority for 
programs of the Department of Energy (DOE), portions of the Interior and 
Defense Departments, the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and several 
smaller agencies.
    The Act provides $11.4 billion for atomic energy defense programs, 
$0.3 billion above my request. I am disappointed that the Congress has 
funded unrequested increases for nuclear weapons management and related 
programs, while curtailing investments in important civilian activities. 
Nevertheless, I am pleased that the Act will provide for a significantly 
enhanced Science-Based Stockpile Stewardship and Management program that 
will continue DOE's strong commitment to ensuring the safety and 
reliability of the nuclear weapons stockpile. This Act will also enable 
the Defense Environmental Restoration and Waste Management program to 
aggressively address the environmental legacy of previous weapons 
activities.
    I am pleased that the Congress dropped a provision that would have 
made funding for the nuclear waste management program contingent upon 
congressional passage of a subsequent authorization bill. This language 
could have led to the immediate suspension of ongoing work at the Yucca 
Mountain site.
    I am also pleased that the Congress provided $45 million to the 
International Nuclear Safety program, which assists nations of the 
former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in improving the safety of 
Soviet-designed nuclear reactors.
    I am disappointed that the Act cuts $93 million from my request for 
solar and renewable energy research programs. Investments in the 
development of advanced renewable energy technologies, which have a 
large potential export market, will create new jobs and reduce 
pollution, thereby addressing climate change and protecting human health 
and the environment. I am also concerned by the cuts in funding for

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DOE departmental administration and program direction in civilian 
research and defense programs that may jeopardize the Department's 
ability to perform its missions and maintain its financial management 
responsibilities.
    I am disappointed that the Act includes over $210 million in 
unrequested funds for Corps' construction, studies, and operation and 
maintenance programs. The Congress should have used these funds to 
restore reductions it made to other priority DOE and Corps programs, 
such as the Corps' wetlands regulatory program.

                                                      William J. Clinton

The White House,

September 30, 1996.

Note: H.R. 3816, approved September 30, was assigned Public No. 104-206. 
This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
October 1.