[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 18 (Monday, May 4, 1998)]
[Page 729]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Funding Considerations for the 
Supplemental Appropriations Conference

April 28, 1998

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. Leader:)

    I am writing with respect to the treatment of International Monetary 
Fund (IMF) and United Nations (UN) funding in the pending supplemental 
appropriations conference.
    I am pleased that both Houses have approved needed funding for 
domestic disaster relief and defense. I urge Congress to approve this 
funding as I requested it, without violating the ``firewalls'' agreed to 
in last year's balanced budget deal or including objectionable 
extraneous measures.
    However, I am deeply concerned that the conference report may not 
include the funding I have requested for the IMF. Delay or failure to 
approve the full IMF requests could undermine our capacity to deal with 
threats to world economic stability and could leave us unable to protect 
American workers, farmers, and businesses in the event of an escalation 
or spread of the Asian financial crisis or a new crisis.
    I am also deeply concerned by the possibility that the conference 
will not include payment of our UN arrears. The failure to provide the 
full request in this bill could jeopardize our chance to affect 
negotiations starting in May on lowering U.S. dues and would undermine 
U.S. leadership in the international community.
    Some would link passage of IMF funding and UN arrears to legislation 
related to international family planning. There are deep convictions on 
both sides of this debate, which should be settled on its own merits--
and not used to sidetrack other legislation on matters vital to our 
nation's well-being.
    I urge you in the strongest possible terms to include the full 
requests for the IMF and UN arrears in the bill now in conference.
    Sincerely,
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House 
of Representatives; Trent Lott, Senate majority leader; Thomas A. 
Daschle, Senate minority leader; Richard K. Armey, House majority 
leader; and Richard A. Gephardt, House minority leader.