    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [March 30, 2000]
    [Page 578]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on House Action on Supplemental Appropriations Legislation
    March 30, 2000

        I am pleased that the House of Representatives today took action
    that would meet many of the essential, immediate needs in my
    supplemental budget request, including helping victims of Hurricane
    Floyd, providing energy assistance for families struggling with rising
    oil prices, helping keep illegal drugs out of our country by supporting
    the Colombian Government's fight against drug traffickers, and providing
    for our troops in Kosovo.
        It is vital that Congress avoid delay in meeting these needs; the
    costs of delay are great. A delay in Kosovo funding would soon
    jeopardize our current level of military readiness around the world and
    our ability to help the people of Kosovo build peace and a better
    future. A delay in support for Colombia's antidrug efforts would signal
    that Colombia lacks the international support to prevail against drug
    traffickers. At home, delaying funding for the victims of Hurricane
    Floyd would leave thousands in temporary housing possibly through their
    second winter and without funding to replenish the program for home
    energy assistance. A delay in LIHEAP funds would leave many Americans,
    especially the elderly and infirm, vulnerable in the event of an extreme
    heat wave this summer.
        The bill produced by the House today, while meeting essential needs,
    is also flawed. The House bill is too large--providing unnecessary
    funding for certain areas while failing to fund areas of the highest
    importance, including Embassy security for our diplomatic personnel in
    Kosovo and elsewhere in the region, building peace and stability in
    Kosovo to support the efforts of our troops, and contributing our
    Nation's share to the U.N. peacekeeping force there. In addition, the
    House bill fails to provide debt relief for the world's poorest nations.
        Because the needs in my budget request are essential and immediate,
    I urge the Senate to turn swiftly to its work on the budget request and
    to produce a better, right-sized bill, that includes the necessary level
    of funding for Kosovo and debt relief, and that should pass without
    delay.

    Note: The statement referred to LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy
    Assistance Program.