    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [October 14, 1997]
    [Pages 1366-1367]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Line Item Vetoes of the Department of Defense
    Appropriations Act, 1998
    October 14, 1997

        Over the past 4\1/2\ years, my administration has worked hard to cut
    the deficit and to ensure that our tax dollars are used wisely,
    carefully, and effectively. We have reduced the deficit by 85 percent
    even before enacting the historic balanced budget legislation this past
    summer.
        The line item veto gives the President an important tool to save
    taxpayers money, avoid unnecessary Government spending, and ensure that
    the national interest prevails over narrow interests. It will enable
    America to continue the fiscal discipline that has helped create our
    strong

    [[Page 1367]]

    economic expansion. And by allowing a President to sign important
    legislation while canceling projects that do not meet important national
    goals, it will change the way Washington works.
        America must--and will--continue to have the world's strongest
    military. We have an obligation to manage our defense budget with both
    national security and fiscal responsibility in mind. Every penny of our
    defense dollars should be used to sustain and strengthen the best
    trained, the best equipped, and the best prepared Armed Forces in the
    world.
        Today, for the third time, I am using the line item veto to cancel
    13 projects inserted by Congress into the Department of Defense's
    appropriations bill. These cancellations will save the American taxpayer
    $144 million. This use of the line item veto will help ensure that we
    focus on the projects that will best secure our strength in the years to
    come.
        I canceled the projects because they were not requested in my fiscal
    year 1998 budget, and because either they were not contained in our
    future years defense program or the Department of Defense determined
    that they would not make a significant contribution to U.S. military
    capability. In two cases, I canceled items that had broader policy
    implications for longstanding U.S. national security policy. I have been
    assured by the Secretary of Defense that none of the cancellations would
    undercut our national security or adversely affect the readiness of our
    forces or their operations in defense of our Nation.
        As I said last week, I will continue to scrutinize other
    appropriation bills, using appropriate criteria in each instance, and I
    will exercise the line item veto when warranted.

    Note: The reports detailing the cancellations were published in the
    Federal Register on October 15. H.R. 2266, approved October 8, was
    assigned Public Law No. 105-56.