[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 39 (Monday, October 4, 1999)]
[Page 1845]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Education Appropriations Legislation

September 28, 1999

    Today the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 
appropriations committee passed a spending bill that fails to invest in 
key initiatives to raise student achievement. While its funding levels 
are better than those of the House version, the Senate bill still falls 
short of what we need to strengthen America's schools. It does not 
guarantee a single dollar for our efforts to hire quality teachers and 
reduce class size in the early grades. It cuts funding for education 
technology and underfunds such efforts as GEAR UP and after-school 
programs. And it does not provide funding to turn around failing 
schools.
    To develop world-class schools, we need to invest more and demand 
more in return. We need accountability from our schools--and from our 
Congress, too.
    In addition, the reduction in funding for the social services block 
grant could severely undermine State and local efforts to provide child 
care, child welfare programs, and services for the disabled. By failing 
to fund the family caregiver initiative, the bill also withholds 
critical aid to families caring for elderly or ill relatives. The 
legislation also shortchanges public health priorities in preventive and 
mental health and underfunds programs that would give millions of 
Americans improved access to health care.
    If this bill were to come to me in its current form, I would have to 
veto it. I believe, however, that we can avoid this course. I sent the 
Congress a budget for the programs covered by this bill that provided 
for essential investments in America's needs, and that was fully paid 
for. I look forward to working with Congress on a bipartisan basis to 
ensure that this bill strengthens public education and other important 
national priorities.