[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 41 (Monday, October 16, 2000)]
[Page 2449]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Senate Action on Departments of Veterans Affairs and 
Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations 
Legislation

October 12, 2000

    I am pleased that the Senate has passed a VA/HUD bill that will open 
the doors of opportunity in America for those who need it most, build on 
our agenda for national energy security, and strengthen our commitment 
to the environment. With this legislation--which includes key provisions 
negotiated by my budget team--we take an important step toward 
addressing critical national priorities and opening the doors of 
opportunity for many more Americans.
    This legislation builds upon my opportunity agenda with increased 
funding for economic development through empowerment zones and 
enterprise communities and community development financial institutions, 
all part of my new markets initiative, and with 79,000 new housing 
vouchers for low income families. This agreement also increases support 
for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's emergency food and shelter 
programs which work with States and communities to help the homeless and 
hungry. We are also strengthening our commitment to national service 
with additional support for the Corporation for National and Community 
Service, the first increase since the inception of this critical 
volunteer agency in 1993.
    With this legislation, we support the significant expansion of 
cutting-edge basic scientific research at the National Science 
Foundation. This includes research in nanotechnology--the manipulation 
of matter at the molecular and atomic level--which holds the promise of 
scientific breakthroughs in a wide range of fields. It also advances 
scientific research through support for space exploration at NASA. At 
especially at this time of elevated fuel prices, I am also pleased that 
this bill provides resources for technologies to increase fuel 
efficiency, an essential part of our long-term strategy to reduce 
dependence on oil.
    This agreement also contains increased funding for enforcement of 
the Nation's environmental laws and for the cleanup of polluted 
waterways. The agreement we reached drops or fixes several objectionable 
riders that threatened to harm our environment. Yet, while we were able 
to ameliorate the impact of the remaining riders, we were not able to 
rid this bill entirely of objectionable provisions, in particular the 
rider relating to ozone.
    This agreement also provides the additional $1.5 billion I requested 
for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the largest increase ever 
requested by any administration. This funding will support efforts to 
improve veterans' medical care and the delivery of key services, 
including disability benefits.
    This agreement is clear proof of the progress we can achieve when we 
work together to address the Nation's priorities.