    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [June 5, 1997]
    [Page 704]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Supplemental Disaster Assistance Legislation
    June 5, 1997

        By attaching a political wish list to the much-needed disaster
    relief legislation, the congressional majority has chosen politics over
    the public interest.
        The people of the Dakotas and Minnesota have been hit hard by
    devastating floods. They, and the people in other States around the
    country that have suffered disasters, urgently need funds from the
    enactment of a straightforward disaster relief bill. I have asked the
    Congress for such legislation.
        Instead, the Republican majority in Congress has insisted on
    attaching to this vital legislation political provisions that they know
    are unacceptable. Among them, the bill would violate our balanced budget
    agreement, cutting critical investments in education and the environment
    instead of providing important increases in investments in these and
    other areas. In addition, it would prohibit the Commerce Department from
    taking steps to improve the accuracy and cut the costs of the year 2000
    decennial census. There are other unacceptable provisions as well. None
    of them have any place in this legislation.
        Disaster relief legislation is neither the time nor the place for
    these matters. Congress needs to appropriate this disaster relief, so
    communities can begin long-term recovery, and funds can continue for
    families to rebuild homes and businesses and farmers to dig out their
    fields to plant crops.
        I call on the Republican leaders of Congress to keep the politics
    off disaster relief legislation. They should now, without delay, send me
    straightforward legislation without provisions that are not in the
    interest of the American people and that they know I will not accept.