[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 48 (Monday, December 4, 1995)]
[Pages 2089-2090]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Approval of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 
1996

November 30, 1995

    I have decided this evening to approve the Department of Defense 
appropriations bill.

[[Page 2090]]

This legislation is vital to fund our national defense, so that the 
United States remains the strongest force for peace in the world.
    This bill provides for a strong national defense, supports our 
commitments to the quality of life of our forces and their families, 
maintains high military readiness, and funds investment programs 
necessary to modernize the equipment used by our combat forces. 
Continuing American global leadership is ensured by the support the bill 
provides for our forces.
    I made this decision because my Administration has reached agreement 
with Congressional leaders to provide funding, out of the funds 
contained in this bill, for the troop deployment and other efforts to 
secure peace in Bosnia. The pressing demands of peace and of our 
military service men and women compel my approval of this measure.
    I have expressed my strong concerns that this legislation contains 
excessive spending for projects that are not currently needed for our 
defense. I will forward to Congress rescission legislation that would 
eliminate funding for those projects, and I urge Congress to act on it. 
We should spend no more than we need to at a time when we are determined 
to balance the budget.
    I am also concerned that section 8117 of the Act contains certain 
reporting requirements that could materially interfere with or impede 
this country's ability to provide necessary support to another nation or 
international organization in connection with peacekeeping or 
humanitarian assistance activities otherwise authorized by law. I will 
interpret this provision consistent with my constitutional authority to 
conduct the foreign relations of the United States and my 
responsibilities as Commander in Chief.
    In addition, I remain very concerned about provisions of the Act 
that restrict service women and female dependents of military personnel 
from obtaining privately funded abortions in military facilities 
overseas, except in cases in which the mother's life is endangered or 
the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. In many countries, these 
U.S. facilities provide the only accessible, safe source for these 
medical services.
    My Administration is continuing discussions with the Congress on the 
remaining spending bills, in order to protect necessary priorities in 
education, the environment and law enforcement. Over the past several 
days we have made progress in good faith discussions with the leadership 
of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to close the gap 
between us on these issues. The decision I am making tonight is 
consistent with our understanding that these discussions will continue 
with the goal of reaching a satisfactory conclusion as rapidly as 
possible. We should promptly complete this task, so there is no 
unnecessary shutdown of the government.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
November 30, 1995.

Note: H.R. 2126, became law without the President's signature on 
December 1, and it was assigned Public Law No. 104-61.