[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
[February 10, 2000]
[Pages 225-226]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement Announcing Embassy Security Initiatives
February 10, 2000

    Today I am announcing initiatives to further improve the security of 
American men and women serving their country in diplomatic and consular 
missions overseas and to ensure that the United States performs these 
activities in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
    I intend to request $1.1 billion in my budget for fiscal year 2001 
for Embassy security initiatives including construction of new 
facilities, additional protective measures for existing facilities, and 
the full cost of maintaining a high level of security readiness. The 
budget also includes a sustained commitment to this effort, including 
$14 billion over the next 10 years in security enhancement funding and 
new construction. I will again ask the Congress to provide advance 
appropriations for the construction of new facilities in future years to 
provide a solid foundation on which to plan and execute the Embassy 
security construction program.
    We must continue to reexamine how we manage and protect all U.S. 
Government employees who work overseas. Last year, following on the 
excellent work of Admiral Crowe and 
the

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Accountability Review Board, the Secretary of State appointed a panel, chaired by Lewis Kaden, to review our overseas operations. The Overseas 
Presence Advisory Panel included a distinguished array of individuals 
with diplomatic, military, and governmental experience, as well as 
important members of the business community. The Panel's report last 
November recommended a wide range of improvements in rightsizing, 
managing, improving, and protecting our staff who work abroad. The 
report also recommended changes to the way our representatives overseas 
work as a team in support of American interests and in the management 
and financing of U.S. Government overseas facilities.
    The Panel has made an important contribution to our Nation's 
security and the conduct of international affairs. My budget proposals 
reflect and fully support their recommendation that a greater commitment 
is needed in this critical area. I also agree with their recommendation 
for review and improvement in the way we manage our overseas presence.
    I have asked the Secretary of State to lead a Cabinet committee to implement the Panel's 
recommendations regarding rightsizing. This process will look at the 
full range of agency staff, who serve in U.S. missions abroad, and make 
recommendations about the appropriate levels and skills with which we 
should staff our Embassies in the new century. It will also review and 
make recommendations regarding the management, financing, and 
computerization of overseas facilities.
    I ask the Congress to join me in working to protect America's 
presence throughout the world and to ensure that we maintain the best 
and most effective presence overseas to serve America's interests.