[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 14 (Monday, April 6, 1998)]
[Page 550]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress Reporting on Appropriations for B-2 Bombers

March 31, 1998

To the Congress of the United States:

    In accordance with the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 
1998, Public Law 105-56 (1997), and section 131 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998, Public Law 105-85 (1997), I 
certify to the Congress that no additional B-2 bombers should be 
procured during this fiscal year.
    After considering the recommendations of the Panel to Review Long-
Range Air Power and the advice of the Secretary of Defense, I have 
decided that the $331 million authorized and appropriated for B-2 
bombers in Fiscal Year 1998 will be applied as follows: $174 million 
will be applied toward completing the planned Fiscal Year 1998 baseline 
modification and repair program and $157 million will be applied toward 
further upgrades to improve the deployability, survivability, and 
maintainability of the current B-2 fleet. Using the funds in this manner 
will ensure successful completion of the baseline modification and 
repair program and further enhance the operational combat readiness of 
the B-2 fleet.
    The Panel to Review Long-Range Air Power also provided several far-
reaching recommendations for fully exploiting the potential of the 
current B-1, B-2, and B-52 bomber force, and for upgrading and 
sustaining the bomber force for the longer term. These longer term 
recommendations warrant careful review as the Department of Defense 
prepares its Fiscal Year 2000-2006 Future Years Defense Program.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
March 31, 1998.