    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [October 20, 1999]
    [Pages 1832-1834]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and
    Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000
    October 20, 1999

        Today I have signed into law H.R. 2684, the ``Departments of
    Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent
    Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000.''

    [[Page 1833]]

        This Act will fund vital housing, community development,
    environmental, disaster assistance, veterans, space, and science
    programs. Specifically, it provides funding for the Departments of
    Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the
    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Aeronautics and
    Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency
    (FEMA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and several other
    agencies.
        The Act funds a number of my Administration's high priorities,
    including the Corporation for National and Community Service at this
    year's current funding level. National Service gives young people the
    opportunity to obtain funding for a college education while serving the
    country in areas of great need, such as the environment, public safety,
    and human services. National Service also allows young people to
    participate in service-learning programs that provide substantial
    academic and social benefits, including the opportunity to learn
    responsible citizenship.
        I am pleased that the Act also provides full funding of HUD's
    highest priority: $10.9 billion for the renewal of all Section 8
    contracts, assuring continuation of HUD rental subsidies for low-income
    tenants in privately owned housing. I am also pleased that the Act
    provides 60,000 housing vouchers for low-income families. In addition,
    the Act adequately funds programs to help distressed communities,
    including my new initiative for America's Private Investment Companies
    (APIC), Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), assistance to the
    homeless, the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund,
    Brownfields redevelopment, and rural and urban empowerment zones. The
    CDBG program promotes housing and economic activity in low- and
    moderate-income areas. It provides funding for housing rehabilitation,
    construction, and homebuyer assistance. The CDFI Fund helps to create a
    network of community development banks across the country, spurring the
    flow of capital to distressed neighborhoods and their currently
    underserved low-income residents.
        The Act includes funding that could support part of my New Markets
    proposal, which will help ensure that all Americans share in our
    economic prosperity. APIC and the rural and urban empowerment zones will
    help revitalize communities so that they can take advantage of the
    strength of the economy and help those left behind in our economic boom.
    Additionally, $1.02 billion is provided for homeless assistance grants,
    enabling localities to continue to shape and implement comprehensive,
    flexible, coordinated ``continuum of care'' approaches to solving
    homelessness.
        I am pleased that the Act adequately funds Fair Housing programs,
    which will enable HUD to expand significantly its activities aimed at
    reducing the level of housing discrimination nationwide.
        The Act provides $710 million, a significant increase, for elderly
    housing, recognizing the dramatic rise in our elderly population and the
    changing housing needs that accompany this unprecedented demographic
    shift. The Act replaces old models, which separated housing from
    services, with new models that bring services to elders where they
    live--allowing seniors to remain in their homes and communities longer.
        I am also pleased that H.R. 2684 provides $19.8 billion for the
    medical care of our Nation's veterans. Since January, long waiting times
    in VA medical centers have disrupted the level and quality of medical
    care that veterans have received. This level of service is unacceptable,
    and the funding levels in the Act will allow us to address this issue.
    The Act will also allow for the provision of a range of home- and
    community-based care for those high-priority veterans who do not have
    access to such services, and it provides resources for the aggressive
    testing and treatment of Hepatitis C.
        The Act provides $7.6 billion for the EPA, which will enable the
    agency to adequately implement our environmental laws. I am pleased that
    H.R. 2684 adequately funds EPA's portion of the Clean Water Action Plan
    and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. However, the Act should
    have provided full funding for the Climate Change Technology Initiative
    and the new Clean Air Partnership Fund at the requested levels.
    Furthermore, I continue to believe that the provision prohibiting
    implementation of the Kyoto Protocol is unnecessary, as my
    Administration has no intent of implementing the Protocol prior to
    ratification. This year's language is identical to last year's
    provision. Since this year's House and Senate report language is
    contradictory, we will implement the Kyoto provision consistent with the
    language in last year's conference report. I also am disturbed

    [[Page 1834]]

    that the conference report includes new language that is aimed at
    restricting efforts to reduce smog by delaying EPA action on several
    States' clean air petitions. My Administration has a strong commitment
    to clean air and will continue to use the full range of authorities
    under the law to make our Nation's air safe to breathe for all
    Americans.
        The Act also adequately funds the Nation's investment in space and
    science programs. It provides $13.65 billion for NASA and $3.9 billion
    for the NSF, including $126 million for my Administration's Information
    Technology in the 21st Century Initiative. If we want to maintain our
    current economic prosperity, it is essential that we sustain our
    investment in long-term research across all the scientific and
    engineering disciplines. This Act maintains the Nation's investments in
    science, technology, and learning, which have fueled unprecedented
    economic growth for the past decade.
        Finally, I am pleased that H.R. 2684 adequately funds FEMA to help
    cope with unforeseen disasters. The $2.5 billion in contingent emergency
    funds, along with the $821 million appropriated, ensures that the
    country is well prepared to deal with unforeseen natural disasters and
    that FEMA has adequate resources to respond to Hurricane Floyd and other
    disasters.
        I am pleased that my Administration and the Congress were able to
    work together successfully on this bill--in a spirit of cooperation--to
    resolve our respective differences and produce a bill that is fully paid
    for and effectively addresses critical needs of the American people. I
    am especially pleased that we were able to achieve acceptable funding
    levels in a number of areas by providing offsets that were agreed on by
    both sides. I urge the Congress to work with my Administration in
    similar fashion in coming to mutually acceptable agreements on the
    remaining FY 2000 appropriations bills and to do so expeditiously. The
    American people deserve no less.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    October 20, 1999.

    Note: H.R. 2684, approved October 20, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
    74.