Home > 2000 Presidential Documents > pd08my00 Statement on the Legal Framework Agreement for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan...pd08my00 Statement on the Legal Framework Agreement for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan...
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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
[frwais.access.gpo.gov]
[Page 944-945]
Monday, May 8, 2000
Volume 36--Number 18
Pages 943-1020
Week Ending Friday, May 5, 2000
Proclamation 7298--Law Day, U.S.A., 2000
April 28, 2000
By the President of the United States
of America
A Proclamation
The freedom of America's citizens is sustained by American law. In
crafting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, our Nation's founders
wisely understood that liberty and law are equally important to ensuring
human rights and preserving human dignity. Law without freedom becomes
tyranny; freedom without law becomes chaos.
The theme of this year's Law Day observance, ``Speak up for
Democracy and Diversity,'' reminds us of the vital role that the law and
America's legal community have played in protecting our freedoms and
extending them to an ever-widening circle of Americans. Many signal
victories for civil rights have been won in the courts by men and women
of conscience whose commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law
compelled them to speak out against bigotry and discrimination. Many
Americans have found champions among the legal profession to defend
their rights and to uphold our Nation's promise of equality and justice
for all. From the War for Independence to the War Between the States,
from emancipation in the 19th century to women's suffrage and the civil
rights movement in the 20th century, courageous Americans have risen to
the challenge of improving upon our laws and extending their protections
to all of our citizens.
Today, thanks in large measure to the efforts of our Nation's legal
community, people of all backgrounds, races, and religions are working,
living, and learning side by side. The doors of opportunity are open
wider than ever. But despite the advances we have made, we still see in
our society stubborn
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obstacles to true freedom and justice--obstacles such as poverty,
unemployment, and lingering discrimination. That is why I have called
America's legal community to action once again to lead the fight for
equal justice under law. Whether promoting racial diversity in our
judicial system and the legal profession, using their knowledge of the
law to help underserved communities increase homeownership and
entrepreneurship, or providing skilled representation to low-income
Americans to ensure the protection of their rights, our Nation's lawyers
can make important and lasting differences in preserving justice and
promoting freedom and equality.
I encourage all Americans to observe Law Day by reflecting on the
impact that our Nation's laws have had upon the quality of our lives and
the strength of our democracy. From the promise of a more perfect union
prescribed in the Preamble to the Constitution to the daily rulings of
our modern-day justice system, our Nation's system of laws has made real
our founders' vision and sustained their fundamental values. As we
continue to work for a more just society for all, let us celebrate our
legal heritage and reaffirm our reverence for the rule of law, which has
safeguarded our liberty and preserved our democracy for more than 200
years.
Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United
States of America, in accordance with Public Law 87-20 of April 7, 1961,
do hereby proclaim May 1, 2000, as Law Day, U.S.A. I urge the people of
the United States to consider anew how our laws protect our freedoms and
contribute to our national well-being. I call upon members of the legal
profession, civic associations, educators, librarians, public officials,
and the media to promote the observance of this day with appropriate
programs and activities. I also call upon public officials to display
the flag of the United States on all government buildings throughout the
day.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth
day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
fourth.
William J. Clinton
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 2, 2000]
Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on May
3. This item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate
issue.
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[Page 945]
Monday, May 8, 2000
Volume 36--Number 18
Pages 943-1020
Week Ending Friday, May 5, 2000
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Imports of Crude Oil
April 28, 2000
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
Pursuant to section 232(c) of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 1862(c)), I am notifying you that I concur with the
findings of the Secretary of Commerce in his report, ``The Effect on the
National Security of Imports of Crude Oil and Refined Petroleum
Products,'' which determined that imports of crude oil threaten to
impair the national security.
Further, I have accepted his recommendation that trade remedies not
be imposed but that existing policies to enhance conservation and limit
the dependence on foreign oil be continued. I am taking this action
because we have already proposed additional tax credits to promote
renewable and efficient sources of energy, new tax incentives to support
the domestic petroleum industry, and further investments in energy-
saving technologies and alternative energy sources, as the report
suggested.
Sincerely,
William J. Clinton
Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
House of Representatives, and Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate.
This item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate
issue.
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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 945-946]
Monday, May 8, 2000
Volume 36--Number 18
Pages 943-1020
Week Ending Friday, May 5, 2000
The President's Radio Address
April 29, 2000
Good morning. Next week, when the full Congress returns from Easter
recess, they'll have less than 75 working days left to make this year a
year of real progress for the American people. There is no more
important critical piece of unfinished business than our
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need to ensure that every American, young and old, has adequate,
affordable health care.
Today I want to again urge the Congress to step up to this challenge
by making the passage of a strong Patients' Bill of Rights and the
provision of a voluntary Medicare prescription drug benefit top
priorities when they return to Washington.
This critical legislation is long overdue. The more than 190 million
Americans who use managed care or other insurance plans have waited too
long for a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. They deserve
the right to see a specialist, to emergency room care, wherever and
whenever they need it, and the right to hold health care plans
accountable for harmful decisions.
Last year, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, the House passed a
strong Patients' Bill of Rights that provides the right protections all
Americans need and deserve. It's a bill I would sign. But more than 6
months later the bill is still languishing in Congress. Despite their
pledge to complete a real bill, the Republican majority has not only
delayed action, it's actually considering legislation that would leave
tens of millions of Americans without Federal protections.
A right that can't be enforced isn't a right at all, it's just a
request. We need a strong bill that protects all Americans and all
plans, not one that provides more cover for the special interests than
real coverage for American patients.
Congress also has an obligation to strengthen Medicare and modernize
it, with a voluntary, affordable prescription drug benefit. No one
creating a Medicare program today would even think of excluding coverage
for prescription drugs. Yet more than three in five older Americans
still lack affordable and dependable prescription drug coverage.
Just this week we saw further evidence of the unacceptable burden
the growing cost of prescription drugs places on senior Americans.
According to a report by the nonprofit group, Families USA, the price of
prescription drugs most often used by seniors has risen at double the
rate of inflation for 6 years running, a burden that falls hardest on
seniors who lack drug coverage because they simply don't receive the
price discounts most insurers negotiate.
Seniors and people with disabilities living on fixed incomes simply
cannot continue to cope with these kinds of price increases. That's why
we must take action to help them, not next year or the year after that
but this year. My budget includes a comprehensive plan to modernize
Medicare and provide for a long overdue prescription drug benefit for
all beneficiaries.
I'm pleased there's growing bipartisan support for tackling this
challenge. Earlier this month Republican leaders in the House put forth
an outline of a plan that offers as a stated goal access to affordable
coverage for all older Americans. Unfortunately, their plan falls short
of meeting the goal. It would do virtually nothing for seniors with
modest middle class incomes between $15,000 and $50,000 a year. Nearly
half of all Medicare beneficiaries who lack prescription drug coverage
fall into that category.
It's not too late to give all our seniors real prescription drug
coverage this year. We can work together on a plan that's affordable,
dependable, and available to all older Americans.
So I say to Congress, when you come back to Washington next week,
let's get back to work on a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of
Rights; let's get back to work on voluntary Medicare prescription drug
benefits. The health care of Americans is too important to be
sidetracked by partisan politics. The need is urgent, and the time to
act is now.
Thanks for listening.
Note: The address was recorded at 5:58 p.m. on April 28 in the Oval
Office at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April 29. The
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
April 28 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.
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[Page 946-948]
Monday, May 8, 2000
Volume 36--Number 18
Pages 943-1020
Week Ending Friday, May 5, 2000
Remarks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner
April 29, 2000
The President. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, President Page,
President-elect Dillon, distinguished guests. I am really happy to be
here. Happy to be reunited at long last with the White House Press
Corps.
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[Laughter] If I may, let me direct your attention to a photograph.
[Laughter] Taken just moments ago, it proves beyond a doubt that I am
indeed happy to be here. [Laughter]
Now wait a minute. It seems that my hair in that photo--[laughter]--
is a little longer than it is tonight. So maybe I am happy to be here,
and maybe I'm not. Feel free to speculate. [Laughter] Admittedly, looks
and photos can be deceiving. Now look at this photo. It's a recent one
of the Vice President applauding one of my policy initiatives.
[Laughter] But look a little closer. Those are not his real hands.
[Laughter]
Now this photo. [Laughter] It made all the papers, but I have to
tell you something. I am almost certain this is not the real Easter
Bunny. [Laughter] The next one is my favorite. I really like it. Let's
see the next photo. [Laughter] Isn't it grand? [Laughter] I thought it
was too good to be true. But there is one thing beyond dispute tonight.
This is really me. I am really here. And the record on that count is
clear, in good days and bad, in times of great confidence or great
controversy, I have actually shown up here for 8 straight years. Looking
back, that was probably a mistake. [Laughter] In just 8 years, I've
given you enough material for 20 years. [Laughter]
This is a special night for me for a lot of reasons. Jay Leno is
here. Now, no matter how mean he is to me, I just love this guy--
[laughter]--because, together, together, we give hope to grey-haired,
chunky baby boomers everywhere. [Laughter]
Tonight marks the end of an era--the after-dinner party hosted by
Vanity Fair. [Laughter] As you may have heard, it's been canceled. Every
year, for 8 years, the Vanity Fair party became more and more and more
exclusive. So tonight, it has arrived at its inevitable conclusion: This
year, no one made the guest list. [Laughter] Actually, I hear the
Bloomberg party will be even harder to get into than the Vanity Fair
party was. But I'm not worried, I'm going with Janet Reno. [Laughter]
Now, the Bloomberg party is also a cast party for the stars of ``The
West Wing,'' who are celebrating the end of their first season. You'll
have to forgive me if I'm not as excited as everyone else is at the
thought of a ``West Wing'' finale party. But I've got to give them
credit; their first season got a lot better ratings than mine did--
[laughter]--not to mention the reviews. The critics just hated my travel
office episode--[laughter]--and that David Gergen cameo fell completely
flat. [Laughter]
Speaking of real-life drama, I'm so glad that Senator McCain is back
tonight. I welcome him, especially. As you all know, he just made a
difficult journey back to a place where he endured unspeakable abuse at
the hands of his oppressors, the Senate Republican caucus. [Laughter]
I am glad to see that Senator McCain and Governor Bush are talking
about healing their rift. Actually, they're thinking about, talking
about healing their rift. And you know, I would really like to help
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