[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 42 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Pages 2513-2514]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Congressional Action on the Departments of Veterans Affairs 
and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies 
Appropriations Act

October 19, 2000

    I am pleased that Congress today passed a VA/HUD bill that will open 
the doors of opportunity in America for those who need it most, improve 
veterans' medical care, build on our agenda for national energy 
security, and strengthen our commitment to the environment.
    This legislation builds on 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 also support the significant expansion of 
cutting-edge basic scientific research at the National Science 
Foundation. This includes research in nano-technology--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.
    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 bill also contains increased funding for 
enforcement of the Nation's environmental laws and for the cleanup of 
polluted waterways. In addition, it 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 legislation 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'

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medical care and the delivery of key services, including disability 
benefits.
    I also am pleased that, in response to my veto, Congress has dropped 
a rider on the Energy/Water bill that would have undermined key 
environmental protections by preventing a return to more natural flows 
on the Missouri River. These forward steps are clear proof of the 
progress we can achieve when we work together to address the Nation's 
priorities.