[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 42 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]
[Pages 2062-2063]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Water Resources Development Act of 1996

October 12, 1996

    Today I am signing into law S. 640, the ``Water Resources 
Development Act of 1996,'' which authorizes water resources development 
projects and programs in support of the Department of the Army's Civil 
Works mission.
    I am very pleased that the Congress has passed this important 
legislation. It represents the culmination of a 4-year effort on the 
part of the Administration and the Congress to enact legislation to 
preserve and develop water infrastructure needs critical to the Nation's 
safety, environment, and economic security. It will serve to improve the 
Nation's water-related infrastructure, create new jobs for Americans, 
and encourage both

[[Page 2063]]

economic growth and environmental restoration and protection.
    This bill represents another important step forward for the Florida 
Everglades--one of America's richest treasures. Three years ago, my 
Administration made the Everglades one of our highest environmental 
priorities, establishing a special task force to coordinate Federal 
activities in the area. In February of this year, the Vice President 
announced our comprehensive program to restore the Florida Everglades. 
Several weeks later, I signed a Farm Bill that provided a $200 million 
downpayment on Everglades restoration; it was sponsored by the Florida 
delegation with support from Republican and Democratic leaders in the 
Congress. I called on the Congress again to enact our comprehensive 
Everglades restoration plan.
    This legislation enacts the majority of that plan, establishing the 
Everglades and South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Program. It directs 
the Secretary of the Army to work in partnership with various State and 
Federal agencies participating in the South Florida Ecosystem 
Restoration Task Force to coordinate a long-term restoration effort. It 
authorizes a number of projects to restore and protect the South Florida 
ecosystem.
    After decades of decline in the Everglades, the people of South 
Florida and the Nation should take great pride in the steps we have 
taken together to bring them back. Restoration will take many years of 
hard work and cooperation, but we know we are on the right track.
    Apart from the Everglades provisions, this legislation also includes 
revisions to cost sharing, which require non-Federal interests to 
provide a minimum of 35 percent of the costs of both flood control 
projects and environmental protection and restoration projects 
authorized in the future. I would have preferred that the non-Federal 
share be increased to 50 percent and that the new cost sharing apply to 
projects authorized in this bill. Nevertheless, the changes here 
represent a significant first step toward greater non-Federal 
participation in key water resource projects of the future. These 
changes also represent recognition of the need for non-Federal 
beneficiaries to share more fully in the cost of such projects in these 
times of Federal fiscal constraints. Flood control cost-sharing 
provisions also require the non-Federal project sponsors to develop 
flood management plans that will help reduce the potential for future 
flood damages.
    I am concerned about the potential overall Federal cost of the bill. 
Under existing budget constraints, many projects and initiatives 
authorized by this bill cannot be funded within a reasonable timeframe. 
Thus, such authorizations may raise unrealistic expectations for non-
Federal sponsors who expect timely project initiation and completion. I 
am also concerned about certain provisions of the bill that assign 
responsibilities to the Federal Government that more appropriately 
belong to State and local governments or the private sector, that are 
inconsistent with established cost-sharing rules, or that authorize 
projects that are not economically justified.
    On balance though, this is important legislation that will not only 
help save the Everglades, but also promote responsible water resources 
projects and programs. I appreciate the diligent efforts of all involved 
to produce a bill that continues the vital role of the Army Corps of 
Engineers in building and maintaining a strong water resources program. 
This legislation will continue and in many ways strengthen the Federal/
non-Federal partnership principles started in 1986. It will also allow 
the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain an orderly program for the 
construction of productive water resources projects.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
October 12, 1996.

Note: S. 640, approved October 12, was assigned Public Law No. 104-303. 
This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
October 14.