[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 14 (Monday, April 8, 1996)]
[Page 594]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Twelfth Continuing Resolution

March 29, 1996

    Today I have signed into law H.J. Res. 170, the Twelfth Continuing 
Resolution for fiscal year 1996.
    House Joint Resolution 170 provides for a temporary extension of 
appropriations, through April 24, for activities funded in the five 
appropriations bills that have not been enacted into law. Thus, it 
prevents a third government shutdown.
    Full-year funding is provided for the Federal payment to the 
District of Columbia and the Federal contribution to the District's 
retirement funds. Language is included to permit the seven unions of the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to continue to represent FAA 
employees and to bargain collectively on their behalf.
    I commend the Congress for providing $198 million to cover the costs 
of civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace accords in Bosnia. 
Subject to certain conditions, these funds will be available to finance 
civilian programs identified for the rest of fiscal year 1996. The 
commanders of the United States military units that are part of the 
NATO-led Bosnia Peace Implementation Force (IFOR) have strongly urged 
that the Congress make these funds available expeditiously in order to 
support their military mission. This bill provides an appropriately 
prompt response to their request.
    In addition, the provision of this $198 million will enable the 
United States, as provided for in this bill, to mobilize broad 
international support for economic revitalization at an aid donor's 
conference on Bosnia, scheduled for mid-April. In sum, the bill 
demonstrates bipartisan support for the kind of American leadership 
abroad that serves our country well.
    Despite this accomplishment, we are now halfway through the fiscal 
year, and the Congress still has not completed the work it should have 
done six months ago. That is a disservice to the American people.
    While this is taking place, school districts around the country are 
facing the possibility of teacher layoffs, environmental clean-ups are 
being delayed, and States, local governments, and government contractors 
must contend with continuing uncertainty as they seek to provide 
critical services to the public.
    My Administration has been working with the Congress in an effort to 
resolve our differences on funding levels for education, the 
environment, and other key priorities, as well as on numerous special 
interest legislative riders. We have made some progress in our 
discussions, but many difficult issues remain to be resolved.
    It is time for the Congress to do its job. I call on the Congress to 
meet its responsibilities by sending me legislation for the remaining 
fiscal year 1996 appropriations bills in an acceptable form.
    I hope that this will prove to be the final continuing resolution 
for fiscal 1996, and I intend to continue working with the Congress to 
ensure that it is.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
March 29, 1996.

Note: H.J. Res. 170, approved March 29, was assigned Public Law No. 104-
122. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.