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7344284
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Exchange of Remarks between the President and Marcello Serafini, Minister of the Italian Embassy [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7344284
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document
title
Exchange of Remarks between the President and Marcello Serafini, Minister of the Italian Embassy [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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7344284
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1
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1976-06-01
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6
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1976
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737e6cc9bf5c3361
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Digitized from Box 27 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 1, 1976
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
EXCHANGE OF REMARKS
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT
AND
MARCELLO SERAFINI
MINISTER OF THE ITALIAN EMBASSY
THE ROSE GARDEN
3:40 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Vice President, Mr. Minister,
distinguished Members of the House and Senate, distinguished
guests:
This supplemental appropriations bill and our
signing today provides over $12 billion to fund very important
programs of all Cabinet departments and many other agencies
during the remainder of fiscal year 1976 and the transition
quarter.
Although the bill contains a number of undesirable
increases in spending levels, it contains funds that are
needed very quickly in areas including education, health,
energy research, veterans' benefits and including the United
States' contribution to the new International Food and
Agricultural Development Fund, a major United States
initiative at the 1974 World Food Conference in Rome.
Of great importance, this bill contains $25 million
in disaster relief assistance, which I requested of the
Congress on May 11 to help the Italian nation recover from
the devastating effects of the earthquake of May 6.
Let me express my deep appreciation to both Houses
of the Congress for their prompt and favorable action at a
time when natural disaster has brought such great tragedy
to the people of Italy. Americans everywhere are moved
to respond quickly and in the spirit of profound friendship
between our two countries.
These disaster relief funds will give us the
welcome chance to build on the assistance we have already
been able to give. Almost from the moment the earthquake
struck, United States Ambassador John Volpe and the United
States military forces stationed in Italy were on the scene,
making our initial assistance contribution.
MORE
Page 2
On May 13 the Vice President and Daniel Parker,
my special coordinator for international disaster
assistance, went to Italy, at my request, to receive a
firsthand report on the impact of the earthquakes and on
the ways in which the United States could be of assistance.
I received their report on May 17 and based on
this information, our specialists are now working with the
Italian authorities to implement the most effective
possible recovery program. The ties between the American
and the Italian people are very broad and very deep. Our
hearts and hands go out to thousands who have been stricken
and who have lost their loved ones in this tragic disaster.
I know that all here join me in the profound hope
that the funds and assistance programs made possible by
this legislation will enable the people of Italy to rebuild
their homes and their towns and to place this great
tragedy behind them.
We in the United States, 215 million of us, want
to do everything possible to assist our good friend and
ally at this time of great need.
MR. SERAFINI: I am deeply moved, Mr. President.
On behalf of the Italian Government, on behalf of the people
of Italy, on behalf of those people who were stricken by
this calamity, I wish to convey to the people of the
United States, to those Congressmen and Senators who took
the initiative to raise all these funds, to you personally,
Mr. President, our feeling of deepest appreciation and
gratitude for this token of friendship and human solidarity.
I am sure that this money that has been collected
here in the framework of our friendly relations will be
instrumental in helping those people who just want to build
up their homes and PO back to work.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
END
(AT 3:47 P.M. EDT)