pd09my94 Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters on Departure From the CNN...

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contracts. There are about 30 self-compacting tribes today. We're 
working with Congress to raise that number by 20 tribes every year. We'd 
like self-governance to become a permanent program. But we must ensure 
services will still be provided to the smaller tribes that do not choose 
to participate.
    What is the goal of a better and more equal partnership, and more 
empowered tribes and more efficient government? Ultimately it must be to 
improve the living conditions of those whom we serve. And that must be 
our third and final principle.
    Together we must position American Indians and Alaska Natives to 
compete economically as we move toward the 21st century. I invited the 
leaders of every recognized tribe here today. But I'll be the first to 
acknowledge that not all have been able to join us because they simply 
don't have the resources to come. And I know well that many of you have 
come here at great personal sacrifice to yourselves and the members of 
your tribes. That only underscores the importance of our work. Let us 
dedicate ourselves to making

[[Page 943]]

certain that the next time we all meet together, conditions will be 
different and better and all of our brothers and sisters will be able to 
join us.
    We must do more to create jobs, raise incomes, and develop capital 
for new businesses. I know there are more success stories in Indian 
country every year but not nearly enough as the people who bore witness 
to your conditions here today so eloquently said. Strengthening tribal 
economies will require new thinking and the courage to change. It will 
require investing in the health, the education, and the skills of 
American Indians and Alaska Natives, as we must do for all Americans.
    To the extent that some of the building blocks can be put in place 
here in Washington, we are working to do that. Our empowerment zone 
legislation, for example, contains at your request special new 
incentives for investing in reservations. This is only part of the 
solution. We can continue to enforce the regulations of the Community 
Reinvestment Act to make sure local banks invest and lend in Indian 
communities. We've brought more tribal leaders than ever together with 
bankers to improve mortgage loans, financial services, and to cut 
regulations. We must make these efforts permanent and more effective. 
And we know a more comprehensive approach is necessary.
    At my direction, the Vice President has established a working group 
on Indian economic development as part of our Community Enterprise 
Board. I've asked them to study the recommendations from last year's 
National Indian Economic Summit and to consult fully with you every step 
of the way. Our goal is clear: to work with you to enhance economic 
development in every tribe. I'd like to emphasize that what I have asked 
them to do in this issue, I asked them to do on all issues. This great, 
historic meeting today must be the beginning of our new partnership, not 
the end of it.
    I'd like to make a point about economic development that has to do 
with gaming. As a former Governor, I understand some of the concerns 
that the Governors have raised. But as President, I know that gaming 
gives you a competitive edge when you've had precious few. And the 
benefits often extend to surrounding communities in full measure. Some 
of you are now able to invest more in housing and health care and child 
care and infrastructure and taking care of your elders. I know that 
gaming is controversial, even among tribes. As many of you have 
acknowledged, it's also important that tribal governments continue to 
diversify their economies. Many of you are working with congressional 
leaders, Governors, and Secretary Babbitt to resolve tough issues.
    My goal is this: I want the tribes to continue to benefit from 
gaming, and I want current disputes over the 1988 Gaming Regulatory Act 
to be worked out. I strongly support the process now underway to achieve 
that goal. But just as with the national economy, we know we can't solve 
every problem overnight. The important thing is to create policies that 
give every tribe the chance to have a strong economy in the long run, to 
develop the will and the consistency to stick with those policies over 
time, and to keep working and talking together.
    Last year, you were kind enough to invite the First Lady to the 
Indian Health Summit. You asked her to make certain your treaty rights 
to health care and your rights under the Indian Health Service be 
preserved and made a part of our health care proposal. Because we work 
together and because of you and your input, only one of the health care 
plans now before the Congress addresses these issues and ensures that 
tribal members will receive the same high-quality health care as 
everyone else. That is our plan, thanks to you.
    There has been a great deal of debate this year about the budget of 
the Indian Health Service. It was mentioned earlier. The fact is that we 
are operating under the tightest spending limits in memory. In our 
efforts to bring the deficit down, I have recommended the total 
elimination of 100 programs and cuts in 200 others. And that is 
contributing to the country's economic revival. But I believe the health 
needs of tribal communities and families and children clearly require 
special attention. Therefore, I have amended next year's budget to 
restore more than $120 million in funding for the Indian Health Service.

[[Page 944]]

    Finally, as we heard so eloquently today, there is in America, 
across the lines of race and class and region, a profound concern for 
our children. Too many are poor or sick or unsupervised. Too many are 
likely to use violence or be the victims of violence. Too many are 
unprepared intellectually for life or work. Yet nothing is so striking 
in tribal communities as your love of family and extended family and 
your devotion to your children. Every segment of our society could well 
take a lesson from you. But in spite of your best efforts, too many of 
your children also suffer from poor health and inadequate education. And 
we are trying hard to address these problems. You mentioned Head Start; 
our budget calls for continued, substantial increases and expansions of 
the Head Start program, as well as the Women and Infants and Children 
program.
    Our education plan, called Goals 2000, for the first time sets 
world-class education standards for every school and all our children 
and gives local communities the grassroots support they need to achieve 
those goals. Goals 2000 contains millions more next year for BIA-funded 
schools and schools serving Native Alaskans. And these funds cannot be 
spent until the education goals of your community are considered.
    In the 1980's, our Nation fell behind many Third World countries in 
the rate at which we immunized children against communicable diseases. I 
know the Indian Health Service does a good job of immunizing children. 
Beginning this year, under the Vaccine For Children program, every 
Indian child, no matter where he or she lives and regardless of whether 
they are fortunate enough to live near an IHS facility, will be eligible 
for free vaccine.
    The Great Law of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy contained this 
advice: ``In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our 
decision on the next seven generations.'' We are stewards; we are 
caretakers. That standard will keep us great if we have the vision of 
your forefathers.
    As we look back on the American journey, the test ahead is always 
whether we are moving in the right direction of more tolerance, wider 
justice, and greater opportunity for all. It is the direction that 
counts, always the direction. And our choices will set that direction.
    Of course, as you well know, our history has not always been a proud 
one. But our future can be, and that is up to us. Together we can open 
the greatest era of cooperation, understanding, and respect among our 
people ever. I know that we will. And when we do, the judgment of 
history will be that the President of the United States and the leaders 
of the sovereign Indian nations met and kept faith with each other and 
our common heritage and together lifted our great nations to a new and 
better place.
    Thank you all.

[At this point, the President signed the memorandum. The President and 
Mrs. Clinton and the Vice President and Mrs. Gore were then presented 
gifts.]

    The President. Before we go, I wanted to make a brief announcement 
to thank you, on behalf of the First Lady, the Vice President, Mrs. 
Gore, and our Cabinet for being here and for giving us a chance to be 
with you and for the wonderful gifts we have received.
    In keeping with a tradition that goes back to the early days of our 
Republic, I want each of you, in leaving, to receive a miniature replica 
of the Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. On the front is a picture of our 
third President, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of 
Independence and one of the chief architects of our democracy. When you 
receive your medal, you will see on the back two hands clasped, one with 
a cuff showing three stripes and three buttons, the other wearing a 
bracelet engraved with an eagle. The hands join with the inscription 
``Peace and Friendship.''
    As we pray and as we leave, let us hope that this is the beginning 
of true peace, true friendship, and true progress.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 4:40 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Chief Wilma Mankiller of the 
Cherokee Tribe in Oklahoma. This item was not received in time for 
publication in the appropriate issue.

[[Page 945]]


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[Page 945]
 
Monday, May 9, 1994
 
Volume 30--Number 18
Pages 941-1005
 
Week Ending Friday, May 6, 1994
 
Executive Order 12912--Amendment to Executive Order No. 12878

April 29, 1994

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), and in order to extend the 
reporting period of the Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement Reform from 
May 1, 1994, to December 15, 1994, it is hereby ordered that section 
2(a) of Executive Order No. 12878 is amended by deleting the date ``May 
1, 1994'' and inserting the date ``December 15, 1994'' in lieu thereof.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
April 29, 1994.

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:27 a.m., May 2, 1994]

Note: This Executive order 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 9, 1994
 
Volume 30--Number 18
Pages 941-1005
 
Week Ending Friday, May 6, 1994
 
Letter to Americans With Disabilities

April 29, 1994

    Greetings to everyone gathered in our nation's capital to voice your 
support for providing health security to all Americans. I am delighted 
that so many of you have come together for this exciting event.
    Now is the time to act on our awareness that disabilities are a 
natural part of the human experience. Having a disability does not 
diminish one's right to participate in any aspect of mainstream society. 
With the shared strengths of all those participating in this rally, you 
send a powerful message--the key to improving the quality of life for 
millions of Americans with disabilities and their families is passing a 
comprehensive health care plan that meets the needs of each one of our 
citizens.
    The active participation of groups like ADAPT, the National Council 
on Independent Living, and the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities 
is essential in meeting this crucial goal. I commend you for working 
toward making health care reform a reality. Your knowledge and expertise 
are helping to advance the rights of and services for all Americans, 
especially those persons with disabilities, and I thank you for your 
leadership and dedication. Working together, we can build a health care 
system that moves our nation from exclusion to inclusion, from 
dependence to independence, and from paternalism to empowerment.
    Hillary joins me in extending best wishes to all for a successful 
rally.
                                                  Bill Clinton

Note: This letter was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary but was not issued as a White House press release. This item 
was not received in time for publication in the appropriate issue.


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[Page 945-946]
 
Monday, May 9, 1994
 
Volume 30--Number 18
Pages 941-1005
 
Week Ending Friday, May 6, 1994
 
Letter to Hunters and Sportsmen

April 29, 1994

An Open Letter to Hunters and Sportsmen:

    I have been a hunter since I was 12. Where I come from, it's a way 
of life. And I will not allow the rights of hunters and sportsmen to be 
infringed upon.
    But I know the difference between a firearm used for hunting and 
target shooting and a weapon designed to kill people. The 19 specific 
types of assault weapons that would be banned by the proposal currently 
being considered in Congress have no place on a deer hunt, in a duck 
blind, or on a target range--and they certainly don't belong on our 
streets, in our neighborhoods, or on our schoolyards.
    But they are on our streets, in our neighborhoods, and on our 
schoolyards--they're the weapons of choice for drug dealers, gangs, and 
terrorists. And every year they kill children and police officers, 
mothers, and fathers.
    Our crime bill will make a big difference in stopping the violence 
in our neighborhoods, by putting 100,000 new police officers on the 
streets and putting tough penalties like three-strikes-you're-out on the 
books. But we've got to keep Uzis and Street Sweepers out of the hands 
of criminals. Every major police organization wants us to--and nearly

[[Page 946]]

80 percent of the American people feel that way too.
    High-paid lobbyists argue that the assault weapons ban will infringe 
on our right, as hunters and sportsmen, to own guns. But what they don't 
tell you is that the proposal I support specifically safeguards hunters' 
rights. It explicitly protects more than 650 hunting and recreational 
rifles from the ban.
    So that's why I'm writing you for your help. Call your 
representatives, and tell them that you know the difference between a 
hunting rifle and a weapon that was designed for the battlefield. Tell 
them you support the proposed ban on assault weapons--because it 
protects your rights and it doesn't protect criminals.
    Thank you.
    Sincerely,
                                                  Bill Clinton

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