Home > 2001 Presidential Documents > pd08ja01 Memorandum on Keeping the Heating Fuel Distribution System Open...pd08ja01 Memorandum on Keeping the Heating Fuel Distribution System Open...
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Subject: Potential Electricity Shortages in Western States
Increased demand for electricity during cold winter weather can make
it a challenge for electric utilities to meet the demand of their
customers and keep lights on and their homes and businesses warm.
Currently, the supply of electric power is tight on the West Coast due
to record demand for electricity. The region faces the possibility of
electricity
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shortages in some areas, which would put both consumers and businesses
at risk.
The Federal Government is among the largest consumers of electricity
in Western States. It is important that the Federal Government lead by
example in taking energy conserving steps to reduce the risk and
severity of power outages. Therefore, I direct that:
<bullet> All managers of all Federal buildings in Washington and
Oregon join those in California and take steps to reduce
consumption of power to the maximum extent practicable
consistent with public health and welfare, and that of
employees; and
<bullet> Federal agencies coordinate with other State and local
government agencies to minimize the use of electricity in
all government buildings in Washington, Oregon, and
California.
When the Federal Government, State governments, businesses, and
consumers work together to use electricity wisely, we can reduce the
risk of power shortages in the short term and keep the power on.
William J. Clinton
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Monday, January 8, 2001
Volume 37--Number 1
Pages 1-16
Week Ending Friday, January 5, 2001
Memorandum on Keeping the Heating Fuel Distribution System Open
December 30, 2000
Memorandum for the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Transportation,
Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
Subject: Keeping the Heating Fuel Distribution System Open
When inclement weather strikes and the demand for heating fuel
rises, the distribution system through which fuel is delivered is often
placed at great strain. Freezing harbors delay the delivery of critical
fuel supplies, and the demand for heating fuel deliveries rises,
increasing workload of drivers who deliver fuel to homes and businesses.
Last winter, for example, critical deliveries of heating oil were
delayed as harbors froze and barges were unable to reach their docks.
In order to minimize the likelihood of bottlenecks in the heating
fuel distribution system, I direct the Secretaries of Energy and
Transportation to work together and take all reasonable measures to keep
the harbors open and the delivery trucks on the roads. If shipping
channels freeze, the Coast Guard shall be prepared to keep them open to
the extent possible. The Department of Transportation shall inform State
and local governments and private companies as appropriate about the
criteria and procedures for obtaining waivers from hours of service
regulations in order to increase trucking capacity for emergency fuel
deliveries and shall respond to such requests as quickly as possible.
Finally, the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Emergencies
shall coordinate closely with the Department of Transportation's
Emergency Transportation Representative to address any other
transportation problems as they arise in order to keep heating fuel
moving through the distribution system to the consumer.
William J. Clinton
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Week Ending Friday, January 5, 2001
Memorandum on Providing Loans to Small Businesses Facing High Energy
Costs
December 30, 2000
Memorandum for the Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Subject: Providing Loans to Small Businesses Facing High Energy Costs
Increased demand for energy and a colder than normal winter has led
to higher than normal energy costs. Because many small businesses lack
significant capital reserves, they may lack the resources or cash flow
to meet higher energy bills.
In order to assist such businesses, I am directing you to begin
aggressive outreach programs to potential borrowers, SBA lenders, and
other partners to make them aware of the SBA lending and technical
assistance programs that are available to assist small businesses that
may need assistance in meeting energy bills. SBA-guaranteed loans offer
eligible small businesses sufficient cash to continue to meet their
immediate energy needs and will allow them to spread their energy
payments over a longer period than
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the payment period typically provided by their vendors.
William J. Clinton
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Monday, January 8, 2001
Volume 37--Number 1
Pages 1-16
Week Ending Friday, January 5, 2001
Statement on the Rome Treaty on the International Criminal Court
December 31, 2000
The United States is today signing the 1998 Rome Treaty on the
International Criminal Court. In taking this action, we join more than
130 other countries that have signed by the December 31, 2000, deadline
established in the treaty. We do so to reaffirm our strong support for
international accountability and for bringing to justice perpetrators of
genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. We do so as well
because we wish to remain engaged in making the ICC an instrument of
impartial and effective justice in the years to come.
The United States has a long history of commitment to the principle
of accountability, from our involvement in the Nuremberg tribunals that
brought Nazi war criminals to justice, to our leadership in the effort
to establish the International Criminal Tribunals for the former
Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Our action today sustains that tradition of moral
leadership.
Under the Rome Treaty, the International Criminal Court (ICC) will
come into being with the ratification of 60 governments and will have
jurisdiction over the most heinous abuses that result from international
conflict, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The
treaty requires that the ICC not supersede or interfere with functioning
national judicial systems; that is, the ICC prosecutor is authorized to
take action against a suspect only if the country of nationality is
unwilling or unable to investigate allegations of egregious crimes by
their national. The U.S. delegation to the Rome Conference worked hard
to achieve these limitations, which we believe are essential to the
international credibility and success of the ICC.
In signing, however, we are not abandoning our concerns about
significant flaws in the treaty. In particular, we are concerned that
when the court comes into existence, it will not only exercise authority
over personnel of states that have ratified the treaty but also claim
jurisdiction over personnel of states that have not. With signature,
however, we will be in a position to influence the evolution of the
court. Without signature, we will not.
Signature will enhance our ability to further protect U.S. officials
from unfounded charges and to achieve the human rights and
accountability objectives of the ICC. In fact, in negotiations following
the Rome Conference, we have worked effectively to develop procedures
that limit the likelihood of politicized prosecutions. For example, U.S.
civilian and military negotiators helped to ensure greater precision in
the definitions of crimes within the court's jurisdiction.
But more must be done. Court jurisdiction over U.S. personnel should
come only with U.S. ratification of the treaty. The United States should
have the chance to observe and assess the functioning of the court, over
time, before choosing to become subject to its jurisdiction. Given these
concerns, I will not, and do not recommend that my successor submit the
treaty to the Senate for advice and consent until our fundamental
concerns are satisfied.
Nonetheless, signature is the right action to take at this point. I
believe that a properly constituted and structured International
Criminal Court would make a profound contribution in deterring egregious
human rights abuses worldwide and that signature increases the chances
for productive discussions with other governments to advance these goals
in the months and years ahead.
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Monday, January 8, 2001
Volume 37--Number 1
Pages 1-16
Week Ending Friday, January 5, 2001
Statement on Judicial Vacancies
January 3, 2001
The most fundamental right of American democracy is the right to
equal justice under the law. Whenever our citizens knock on the door of
justice, they have a right to expect a judge to answer. Unfortunately,
too many courts around the country are in a state of emergency because
of judicial vacancies. In these places justice is being delayed. The
people's appeals are not being heard. That is simply unacceptable.
That's why today I
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renominated eight highly qualified appellate court nominees for
vacancies that are considered by the U.S. Judicial Conference to be
judicial emergencies.
They are Roger Gregory of Virginia, nominated to fill a vacancy on
the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; Judge James
Wynn of North Carolina, nominated for the fourth circuit; Enrique Moreno
of Texas, nominated for the fifth circuit; Judge Helene White of
Michigan, nominated for the sixth circuit--the longest waiting nominee;
Kathleen McCree Lewis of Michigan, nominated for the sixth circuit;
Bonnie Campbell of Iowa, nominated for the eighth circuit; Barry Goode
of California, nominated for the ninth circuit; and James Duffy of
Hawaii, nominated for the ninth circuit. Together, these nominees have
waited a total of 4,757 days for Senate action--that's more than 13
years combined. Only one of them has even received a hearing. And two--
the nominees from Hawaii and North Carolina--are from States with no
current representation on the appellate court, even though under Federal
law every State should have such representation.
It is my sincere hope that we can work with the Senate in a
bipartisan spirit to get these nominees confirmed. The qualifications of
these nominees are not in question. All of them are highly rated and
respected. They also represent the kind of diversity that we all know
enhances fairness and confidence in our courts.
In a nation that prides itself in the fair and expeditious rule of
law, the people have a right to expect that judicial emergencies are
treated with the urgency they demand. So, I urge the new Senate to give
these nominees the simple up or down vote they deserve without further
delay.
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Volume 37--Number 1
Pages 1-16
Week Ending Friday, January 5, 2001
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Convention on the Safety of
United Nations and Associated Personnel With Documentation
January 3, 2001
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith, with a view to receiving the advice and consent
of the Senate to ratification, subject to an understanding and a
reservation, the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and
Associated Personnel adopted by the United Nations General Assembly by
consensus on December 9, 1994, and signed on behalf of the United States
of America on December 19, 1994. The report of the Department of State
with respect to the Convention is also transmitted for the information
of the Senate.
Military peacekeepers, civilian police, and others associated with
United Nations operations are often subject to attack by persons who
perceive political benefits from directing violence against United
Nations operations. The world has witnessed a serious escalation of such
attacks, resulting in numerous deaths and casualties. This Convention is
designed to provide a measure of deterrence against these attacks, by
creating a regime of universal criminal jurisdiction for offenses of
this type. Specifically, the Convention creates a legal mechanism that
requires submission for prosecution or extradition of persons alleged to
have committed attacks and other offenses listed under the Convention
against United Nations and associated personnel.
This Convention provides a direct benefit to United States Armed
Forces and to U.S. civilians participating in peacekeeping activities by
including within its coverage a number of types of operations pursuant
to United Nations mandates in which the United States and U.S. military
and civilians have participated in the past. If the United States were
to participate in operations under similar conditions in the future, its
forces and civilians would receive the benefits created by this
Other Popular 2001 Presidential Documents Documents:
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