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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
[frwais.access.gpo.gov]
[Page i-ii]
Monday, December 13, 1999
Volume 35--Number 49
Pages 2517-2577
Contents
[[Page i]]
Weekly Compilation of
Presidential
Documents
[[Page ii]]
Addresses and Remarks
Arkansas, Chamber of Commerce in Little Rock--2565
Democratic National Committee dinner--2559
Digital divide, narrowing--2552
Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights, presentation--2521
Fort Gibson, OK, school shooting--2521
Health care quality and patient safety--2527
``Keep Hope Alive'' reception--2534
Kennedy Center Honors reception--2518
Massachusetts
Departure for Worcester--2552
Memorial service for firefighters in Worcester--2555
National Christmas tree lighting--2551
Radio address--2517
Senator Tim Johnson, reception--2532
Bill Signings
Chattahoochee River, legislation to protect segment, statement--2557
Commerce in depiction of animal cruelty, legislation to establish
Federal criminal penalties--2557
Digital Theft Deterrence and Copyright Damages Improvement Act of
1999, statement--2559
Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999, statement--2524
John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Act, statement--2558
U.S. Holocaust Assets Commission Extension Act of 1999, statement--
2558
Communications to Federal Agencies
Improving health care quality and ensuring patient safety,
memorandum--2530
Narrowing the digital divide, memorandum--2554
Interviews With the News Media
Exchanges with reporters in the Rose Garden--2527, 2552
News conference, December 8 (No. 185)--2537
Letters and Messages
Ramadan, message--2559
Proclamations
Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human Rights Week--2526
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day--2531
Statements by the President
See also Bill Signings
Vietnam, flooding--2556
Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire--2518
World Trade Organization Seattle Round--2518
Supplementary Materials
Acts approved by the President--2575
Checklist of White House press releases--2574
Digest of other White House announcements--2574
Nominations submitted to the Senate--2574
Editor's Note: The President was in West Memphis, AR, on December 10,
the closing date of this issue. Releases and announcements issued by the
Office of the Press Secretary but not received in time for inclusion in
this issue will be printed next week.
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF
------------------------------
PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS
Published every Monday by the Office of the Federal Register, National
Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC 20408, the Weekly
Compilation of Presidential Documents contains statements, messages, and
other Presidential materials released by the White House during the
preceding week.
The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is published pursuant to
the authority contained in the Federal Register Act (49 Stat. 500, as
amended; 44 U.S.C. Ch. 15), under regulations prescribed by the
Administrative Committee of the Federal Register, approved by the
President (37 FR 23607; 1 CFR Part 10).
Distribution is made only by the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The Weekly Compilation of
Presidential Documents will be furnished by mail to domestic subscribers
for $80.00 per year ($137.00 for mailing first class) and to foreign
subscribers for $93.75 per year, payable to the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The charge
for a single copy is $3.00 ($3.75 for foreign mailing).
There are no restrictions on the republication of material appearing in
the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents.
[[Page 2517]]
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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
[frwais.access.gpo.gov]
[Page 2517-2518]
Monday, December 13, 1999
Volume 35--Number 49
Pages 2517-2577
Week Ending Friday, December 10, 1999
The President's Radio Address
December 4, 1999
Good morning. Yesterday we crossed a historic threshold with the
creation of more than 20 million new jobs since January 1993. This is a
great American achievement and further proof of the health of our
economy, which now has given us the longest peacetime expansion in our
Nation's history. Today I want to talk about a group of new workers who,
just a few short years ago, were virtually locked out of our growing
economy and their chance at the American dream--the more than one
million Americans who are now moving from welfare to work every year.
Seven years ago I asked the American people to join me in ending
welfare as we know it. In 1996, with bipartisan support, we passed a
landmark welfare reform bill. Today I am pleased to announce that we've
cut the rolls by more than half. Fewer Americans are on welfare today
than at any time since 1969, 30 years ago. We're moving more than a
million people a year from the welfare rolls to the payrolls, 1.3
million in 1998 alone. And most of the people who get jobs are keeping
them. They're getting raises and paying taxes and teaching their
children to honor the dignity of work.
We've changed the culture of welfare from one that fostered
dependence to one that honors and rewards work. That's why I fought to
create high performance bonuses for States that do the most for parents
entering the work force. I am pleased to announce the first of those
awards today.
Twenty-seven States will share $200 million in bonuses for four
categories: how many people they've placed in jobs; how well those
people did at keeping their jobs and improving their wages; the biggest
improvement in job placement; and the biggest improvement in on-the-job
success. The States ranked highest were Indiana, Minnesota, Washington,
and Florida. I congratulate these States for their achievement. If every
State had performed as well as Indiana in placing workers in jobs, we
would have helped more than twice as many people go to work last year. I
challenge every State to invest its welfare reform resources in helping
people to succeed at work.
This is not just about numbers. It's about real people. People like
Wendy Waxler of Washington, DC. Wendy wanted a job, but needed time to
care for her daughter, who has cerebral palsy. She couldn't afford to
lose the Medicaid that paid the doctor's bills. Through welfare to work,
Wendy found a flexible job and kept Medicaid and food stamps, at first.
Now she and her daughter have health insurance, and Wendy has new
confidence and new dreams.
People like Wendy Waxler are an asset our economy simply cannot
afford to waste. So we must do more to support working families and
people who are trying to turn their lives around. That's why I've asked
Congress to raise the minimum wage, so that a full-time job is a real
ticket out of poverty; it's why we won new resources and will fight for
more, for our new markets initiative, to make it easier for businesses
and banks to invest in America's poorest communities; and why I'm asking
Congress to increase our commitment to quality child care.
All of us have a moral responsibility to do everything we can to
ensure that every eligible family receives health care and nutritional
assistance, so all our children can grow up healthy. I fought hard to
ensure that the welfare reform law guaranteed these critical supports.
Now our administration is taking steps to hold States accountable and
make sure families get the benefits they need. Today I am also
announcing new performance bonuses like the ones I just awarded for
States that do the best at enrolling eligible families in Medicaid and
food stamps.
Finally, the old welfare system actually weakened families, by
discouraging couples
[[Page 2518]]
from marrying or living with their children. We want to change that, so
starting next year there will also be bonuses for States that do the
most to get poor children into two-parent homes, where we know they have
the best chance of breaking the cycle of poverty.
Supporting hard-pressed working families and helping people to make
the transition from welfare to work isn't just the right thing to do;
it's also the smart thing. It encourages millions of people to take
responsibility for their families, their future. In so doing, it expands
opportunity and strengthens our economy and builds a healthier future
for all of us.
Thanks for listening.
Note: The address was recorded at 7:15 p.m. on December 3 in the Oval
Office at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 4. In
his remarks, the President referred to the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law No. 104-193. The
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
December 3 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.
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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 2518]
Monday, December 13, 1999
Volume 35--Number 49
Pages 2517-2577
Week Ending Friday, December 10, 1999
Statement on the World Trade Organization Seattle Round
December 4, 1999
We made progress at the Seattle WTO trade meetings although
significant differences remain. I remain optimistic that we can use the
coming months to narrow our differences and launch a successful new
round of global trade talks. A successful round will include bringing
down barriers in agriculture, manufacturing, and services, keeping E-
commerce tariff-free and ensuring that trade will lift living conditions
for working people everywhere while protecting the environment. And, as
I said in Seattle, a successful WTO must be more open and accessible to
all citizens around the world.
I am determined to move forward on the path of free trade and
economic growth while ensuring a human face is put on the global
economy.
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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
[frwais.access.gpo.gov]
[Page 2518]
Monday, December 13, 1999
Volume 35--Number 49
Pages 2517-2577
Week Ending Friday, December 10, 1999
Statement on the Fire at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse
Company
December 4, 1999
Hillary and I were deeply saddened to learn of the tragedy that has
struck the Worcester community. The six firefighters who are now missing
and presumed dead valiantly put their lives on the line in the effort to
save others and protect their city. Their courageous service reminds us
all of the tremendous commitment and sacrifice made by the thousands of
firefighters across America who risk their own lives every day to
protect our communities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these
courageous firefighters, to their families, to the Worcester Fire
Department, and the city of Worcester.
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