[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 15 (Monday, April 19, 1999)]
[Pages 642-643]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on House Action on the Republican Budget Proposal

April 14, 1999

    The budget passed by House Republicans falls short of what the 
American people need

[[Page 643]]

for meeting the challenges of the 21st century. It fails to lock away 
the surplus to strengthen Social Security and Medicare, and it fails to 
meet many of America's other critical needs for the future. The fiscal 
discipline of the past 6 years has given us a historic opportunity to 
meet our Nation's most serious long-term challenges. I will continue to 
work with the Congress to use the surplus to pay down our national debt, 
to strengthen Social Security and Medicare, to encourage our people to 
save for the future, and to meet our defense, education, and other long-
term needs.