[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 47 (Monday, November 27, 2000)]
[Pages 2923-2925]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2001

November 22, 2000

    Today I am signing into law H.R. 5633, the ``District of Columbia 
Appropriations Act, 2001.''
    I commend the House and Senate for passing a version of the District 
of Columbia appropriations bill that I can sign. I am pleased that the 
Majority and Minority were able to come together on this legislation 
under the leadership of Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, the 
District's stalwart champion. While I continue to object to the riders 
in the enrolled bill, some of the most highly objectionable provisions 
that would have intruded upon D.C. citizens' right to make decisions 
about local matters have been deleted or modified from previous versions 
of the bill. This bill is a fair compromise.
    I commend the Congress for providing virtually all of the Federal 
funds I requested for the District of Columbia. The bill includes 
essential funding for Courts, Corrections, and the Offender Supervision 
Agency, and for the tuition assistance program for District of Columbia 
residents. The bill fully funds the New York Avenue Metro station and 
provides a start on funding for brownfields remediation and economic 
development in Anacostia.
    I continue to object to remaining riders that violate the principle 
of home rule, including, but not limited to, provisions infringing on 
voting rights, HIV/AIDS prevention, abortion, implementation of the 
Domestic Partners Act, special education, and the Mayor's personnel 
authorities.
    The Act also includes troubling provisions with regard to needle 
exchange programs in the District. While I am pleased that it does not 
prohibit private entities from using their own funds for needle exchange 
programs, the Act does retain a ban on local funds for that purpose, an 
infringement of ``home rule.'' Even more objectionable is the language 
that prohibits the exchange of needles in large portions of the city. In 
the form in which it passed the House, this language would have had the 
practical effect of ending needle exchange programs in the District of 
Columbia. My Administration worked hard to remove this language from the 
final bill, and we appreciate the work of the conferees to make this 
provision less harmful and allow for those conducting needle exchange 
programs to adapt and continue operation. However, even though the 
language has been improved upon, these provisions are an encroachment on 
the District's prerogatives, create an unnecessary burden on the 
District, and could seriously disrupt current HIV prevention efforts.

[[Page 2924]]

    The Act also prohibits the District from legislating with respect to 
controlled substances and from freely crafting effective programs for 
nonviolent, drug-dependent offenders. This provision also significantly 
encroaches on the District's autonomy, and undermines its ability to 
deal effectively with this serious problem.
    The people of the District of Columbia deserve the same respect in 
ordering their local affairs that the people of our States enjoy. These 
provisions must be re-examined in the future.
    Today marks an important occasion for the District of Columbia. In 
1995, the District faced a severe fiscal and managerial crisis, city 
services were in a shambles, and the city faced deficits as far as the 
eye could see. Today, thanks to the leadership of Mayor Anthony 
Williams, the District's finances are in order, city services are being 
restored, and the city stands on sound financial footing. Later this 
year, the District will be able to certify 4 straight years of balanced 
budgets, with growing surpluses, paving the way for cessation of the 
Financial Authority and a full return to Home Rule.
    For our part, we have tried to be a sure and steady friend of the 
residents of the District of Columbia. In January 1996, I proposed a 
plan to revitalize the District as the Nation's Capital, and to improve 
prospects for ``home rule'' to succeed. The plan was designed to relieve 
the District of Columbia government of major financial and managerial 
responsibilities that were beyond its capacity and that are commonly 
performed by States, rather than municipalities; to invest considerable 
resources to improve the city's criminal justice system and 
infrastructure; and to strengthen its economic base.
    The National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement 
Act of 1997 significantly restructured the Federal- District of Columbia 
government relationship. The Act increased the Federal match rate for 
Medicaid from 50 to 70 percent; assumed certain state justice functions, 
including incarceration of adult felons, supervision of parolees, and 
financial oversight of the District's courts; relieved the city of $5 
billion of unfunded pension liabilities that the District had inherited 
from the Federal Government in the late 1970s; and provided tax relief 
to District of Columbia residents and businesses. Last year, my 
Administration persuaded the Congress to pass further changes to the 
Medicaid formula, saving the District $9 million per year. The 
Revitalization Act implementation will save the District well over $2 
billion over the next 5 years.
    In addition, I signed into law $1.2 billion in Federal tax 
incentives over 5 years, including a wage credit to hire D.C. residents, 
additional small business deductions, tax exempt bond financing, a first 
time home buyer credit, and a zero capital gains rate. In addition to 
funding to implement the Revitalization Act, we have also obtained 
additional Federal appropriations for the District: $239 million in FY 
'99, $34 million in FY '00, and over $55 million in FY '01. These 
appropriations have been used for critical economic development 
initiatives, including $25 million to capitalize the National Capital 
Revitalization Corporation, $25 million to fund a new Metro station at 
New York Avenue, and funding for key infrastructure projects, management 
reforms, education, and public safety. I also signed into law the 
College Access Act, providing $17 million per year for D.C. high school 
students to attend out-of-state schools at in-state tuition rates.
    Lastly, let me mention that since 1995, under the leadership of the 
Office of Management and Budget, Federal agencies on our D.C. Task Force 
have been involved in a range of activities designed to draw on the 
Federal Government's technical expertise and available Federal grants to 
improve the city's tax collection, education and training, housing, 
transportation, health care delivery, economic development, and other 
governmental functions. These activities are ongoing and touch upon 
virtually every aspect of District government.
    I am proud of our support for the District, and even prouder of what 
the residents and government of the District have been able to 
accomplish. As the Congress concludes its business for the year, we look 
forward to

[[Page 2925]]

working together to address other important issues affecting the 
District of Columbia.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 November 22, 2000.

Note: At the time of publication, H.R. 5633, approved November 22, had 
not been received by the Office of the Federal Register in time for 
assignment of a public law number.