[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 31 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[Pages 1625-1627]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Honoring the Young American Medal Winners

August 4, 1994

    Thank you. Thank you so much, General Reno. And thank you, ladies 
and gentlemen, for being here. I would like to thank Janet Reno for the 
superb job she has done as the Attorney General of the United States and 
for the human face she has put on law enforcement in this country and 
the understanding she has brought as a career prosecutor to this work, 
the understanding that really is embodied in these awards today, which 
is that we have a job to do here in Washington but what really makes 
America great and what really makes America work is what happens on the 
streets, in the schools, in the neighborhoods, in the workplaces of 
America every day.
    I want to thank the Director of our Office of Drug Policy, Lee 
Brown, for being here; two Congressmen from the areas of two of the 
honorees today, Congressman Jerry Costello of Illinois and Congressman 
Steve Schiff of New Mexico, thank you for being here. I understand the 
Mayor of Belleville, Illinois, Roger Cook, is here. I thank the members 
of the Young American Medals Committee; the Administrator of the DEA, 
Tom Constantine; and Eduardo Gonzalez, the Director of the Marshals 
Service, who are also here.
    Last year was my first opportunity to engage in this ceremony. I 
just loved it. And the Attorney General was right. This job of mine is 
an interesting and diverse job, and on most days it's quite a wonderful 
job. But it rarely is so filled with joy as when you can recognize the 
wonder of the work of our young people.
    I think of our mission here in our administration at this time as 
the timeless one of trying to secure a future for our young people, so 
that every person in this country, without regard to their region or 
race or income or background, can live up to the fullest of their God-
given abilities. In this time, at the end of the cold war and at the 
beginning of a new era that is not yet fully clear to Americans, moving 
into a global economy with new opportunities and, to be sure, new 
troubles as well, that means as a minimum

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that here we have to restore economic growth and opportunity. We have to 
help people to rebuild the strength of our communities and our families. 
We have to empower individuals to do more for themselves. In short, 
we've got to make this Government work for ordinary citizens in a world 
we're working to make more peaceful and prosperous.
    Now, in the last few weeks, we've had some pretty good news on that. 
Our economy is clearly coming back. For the first time in 10 years it's 
predicted that all 50 States will have economic growth next year. We had 
a peace agreement signed here between Jordan and Israel last week, which 
must have brought joy to the hearts of every American that has seen that 
troubled region torn for so long. There are many good things happening. 
The largest, toughest, smartest crime bill in the history of the United 
States is in final debating stages and about to be voted on in the 
Congress. For the first time in the history of our country, both Houses 
of Congress are considering a bill to provide health care coverage to 
all Americans.
    But still, we have to recognize that in the end it is still true 
that the strength of this country is what happens on Main Street, what 
happens in the schools, what happens where ordinary Americans live and 
work.
    Today we celebrate the best of our young people for their courage 
and their commitment. We know that life requires both to be fully 
successful. And we know that our country is still around now after 218 
years because we've been blessed with an abundance of both.
    I must tell you that when I got up this morning and, as is my custom 
early in the morning, I wandered around, I did some of my routine, and 
then I sat and read the schedule for the day and I read the stories of 
these young people, I was reminded of a line that I used in my Inaugural 
Address but sometimes here in the heat of battle I forget: ``There is 
nothing wrong with this country that cannot be fixed by what is right 
with this country.'' Today we honor in dramatic and breathtaking fashion 
what is right with this country.
    The first recipient of the Young American Medal for Bravery is Carlo 
Montez Clark of Belleville, Illinois. He was on his way to a convenience 
store when he noticed smoke coming from a nearby building. He tried 
twice to get into the building, but was overcome by smoke. Finally, on 
the third try he got into the building, risking his own life, and saved 
the life of an elderly woman who suffered from emphysema. Let's give him 
a big hand. [Applause] Thank you.
    Now I would like to recognize, for service, Robyn Mae Davis of 
Albuquerque, New Mexico. She's worked hard to spread the important 
message of the dangers of alcohol abuse among young people. She tried to 
get the New Mexico State Fair to refrain from serving alcohol for a day 
or so; they declined. So she organized a human chain around the New 
Mexico State Fair in protest of their policy. As a result, for 4 days 
the fair was completely alcohol-free. I wonder if she would like to join 
my congressional lobbying staff. [Laughter] Good for you, Robyn, and 
congratulations.
    Our second winner of the Young American Medal for Bravery is Brandon 
Sisco of Texarkana, Texas. When Brandon's school bus made a routine 
stop, a young girl got off the bus and was attacked by two ferocious 
dogs. She was bitten many times. Brandon jumped off the bus and bravely 
fought off the dogs, guided the 6-year-old to safety inside the bus 
where he comforted her until paramedics arrived. At considerable risk to 
himself, he saved the young girl's life. Let's give him a round of 
applause. [Applause]
    Our final recipient is Amanda Stewart of Keyes, Oklahoma. In 1990 
Amanda was paralyzed in a car accident. She began a three-State campaign 
to raise consciousness regarding the dangers of drinking and driving. 
She told her peers they should think first about getting into a car with 
someone who had been drinking. She asked them to think before driving 
off first without fastening a seat belt. After an experience which would 
have crushed the spirits and broken the will of many people, even people 
2 or 3 times her age, this brave and beautiful young woman has doubtless 
inspired countless young people to change their behavior, to secure a 
better future for themselves. And in the process, she has exercised 
influence, power, and goodness far beyond anything

[[Page 1627]]

that anyone might have imagined. Thank you, Amanda, for your commitment 
and your courage.
    Ladies and gentlemen, let me close with what I always think of at 
moments like this. These young people have reminded us, as the Attorney 
General has said, of the power of one person to make a difference. Each 
of us in our own way have that power. And I think we would all admit, 
starting with the President, that every day at the end of the day we 
have done less than we might have done to exercise that power that is 
within us all, divinely inspired and given to us for whatever time we're 
on this Earth. Let's look at them and remember our obligations to make 
the most of every day.
    Thank you, and bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 4:32 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House.