    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [May 1, 1997]
    [Page 525]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Interim Report of the Presidential Advisory Committee
    on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
    May 1, 1997

        I appreciate the ongoing, rigorous work of the Presidential Advisory
    Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses, and I welcome their interim
    letter report.
        The care and well-being of our Gulf war veterans is a national duty
    and a national priority. That is why I appointed the Committee in May
    1995, extended its mandate in January 1997, and directed its attention
    in February 1997 to the recently released intelligence documents
    concerning possible chemical exposures.
        I am determined that my administration will do everything necessary
    to uncover all the facts and act on any relevant information, to provide
    our Gulf war veterans with the quality medical care they need, and to
    make sure that in any future troop deployments, we draw on lessons
    learned in the Gulf war to better protect the health of our troops and
    their families.
        This interim report, like those that preceded it, will help us meet
    that responsibility in an increasingly effective way. I have asked the
    Secretaries of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services,
    as well as the Acting Director of Central Intelligence, to study the
    report and, 2 weeks from today, provide me their proposals for
    implementing the Committee's recommendations.
        To further strengthen our search for the facts, Secretary Cohen and
    Acting DCI Tenet have asked former Senator Warren Rudman to review the
    results of their ongoing investigations related to Gulf war illnesses
    and to offer appropriate recommendations. Senator Rudman brings solid
    expertise and sound judgment to this important job. I am confident he
    will assist the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence
    Agency in ensuring their investigations are thorough and will also
    enhance our ability to integrate Gulf war intelligence ``lessons
    learned'' into our future planning.
        I am grateful for the PAC's dedication and persistence, and look
    forward to their continued, indispensable efforts to make sure no stone
    is left unturned on behalf of America's Gulf war veterans. We will not
    rest in our determination to find the answers our service men and women
    need and ensure that they receive the care and benefits they deserve.