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Six Months of the Bush Administration 7/89 [4]
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Six Months of the Bush Administration 7/89 [4]
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Draft Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13496
Folder ID Number:
13496-008
Folder Title:
Six Months of the Bush Administration 7/89 [4]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
25
6
4
2
Document No.
05691955
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
8/11/89
8/14/89 2:00 PM
DATE:
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
SIX MONTHS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION (REVISED DRAFT)
SUBJECT:
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
:
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
BREEDEN
WINSTON
CARD
CICCONI
DEMAREST
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
This is a. revised draft incorporating staff comments. Please
review closely and forward any factual corrections to Chriss
Winston, Rm. 122, x2930, no later than 2:00 PM Monday, August
14, with a copy to, my office. Thank you.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE TWO DOCUMENTS ATTACHED
RESPONSE:
See comments
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
3
for investment, make American business more competitive and
create new job opportunities.
Minimum wage: The President, by vetoing the excessive
across-the-board increase in the minimum wage proposed by
Congress, preserved job opportunities for the disadvantaged
and blunted the adverse economic impact such a move would
have had.
International Trade: The Bush Administration successfully
broke a stalemate in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade
negotiations and advanced its proposal to correct and
prevent trade distortions in agriculture. It is engaged in
bilateral trade talks with important trading partners to
encourage them to open their markets to our exports.
SEIZING INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEACE
"Europe Whole and Free": In a series of major speeches, the
President outlined a vision of a new Europe -- secure,
prosperous, whole and free -- vindicating four decades of
Western policies and seizing an historic opportunity to move
toward ending the postwar division of Europe.
Poland and Hungary: The President signalled his strong
support for democratic change in Hungary and Poland by
4
visiting those nations and offering political and moral
support as well as economic and trade incentives.
Economic Summit: Under President Bush's leadership, the
Paris Economic Summit made further progress on key U.S.
economic and political objectives such as a strengthened
debt strategy, economic policy coordination, completion of
the Uruguay Round by December 1990 and international
cooperation on protection of the environment. - Our political
allies agreed to support Polish and Hungarian economic
reforms.
"Beyond Containment": The President has responded to great
changes in the Soviet Union by moving "beyond containment"
to a policy that seeks to integrate the Soviet Union into
the community of nations.
Arms Control/NATO Summit: In arms control, the President has
accelerated the pace of negotiations with the Soviet Union,
with new American initiatives on reducing conventional
forces in Europe (endorsed by the NATO Summit), on "open
skies," and on strategic arms reduction.
The U.S.-Soviet Dialogue: The US-Soviet dialogue on Third
World regional conflicts has resumed intensively, and a US-
Soviet dialogue has begun on a new range of global problems
5
that require global cooperation, such as terrorism, the
environment, and narcotics.
China: In response to the suppression of the democratic
movement in China, the President signalled that we cannot
condone repression while he worked to preserve the basic
elements of a strategically important relationship.
Central American accord: The President and Congressional
leaders agreed on March 24 on a bipartisan strategy for
peace and democracy in Central America.
Strengthening Our Strategic Deterrent: After a thorough
review of U.S. defense strategy, the President submitted to
the Congress a defense budget that will modernize our
ability to deter war.
INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
Education: The President proposed and sent to the Congress a
comprehensive education package, The Educational Excellence
Act of 1989, which includes seven initiatives -- on merit
and magnet schools, alternative certification of teachers,
excellence awards for teachers, emergency grants to help
urban schools to fight drugs, increased funding for
6
endowments at Historically Black Colleges, and a National
as reported out of Senate
Science Scholars program. The Act has been reported to the
Hosing
Senate floor virtually intact
committee provides asound basis for continuing negotiations.
Note:not Note:nottrue true
Natural Gas Deregulation: On July 26, the President signed
into law the Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989, which ends all
remaining price controls on natural gas. This will phase
out all federal price controls on natural gas by January 1,
1993.
Clean Air Act revisions: On July 21, President Bush
transmitted to the Congress the first revisions to the Clean
Air Act since 1977. His legislation is designed to
drastically reduce three major threats to the nation's
environment: acid rain, urban air pollution, and toxic air
emissions.
Hazardous waste: The President announced that he will seek
new legislation to ban all exports of hazardous waste unless
an agreement already exists with the receiving country to
provide for its safe handling.
Ozone depletion: In order to prevent further damage to the
earth's protective ozone layer, the President has called for
a total worldwide phaseout of CFCs by the year 2000,
provided safe substitutes are available.
7
Medical Waste: The EPA has begun a tracking system for
medical wastes and the Justice Department has started a task
force to prosecute those who deliberately dump medical
wastes into the Nation's waters -- the first step in a
comprehensive program to help keep our beaches clean. The
President is committed to end ocean dumping of sewage sludge
by 1991.
Wetlands: The President is committed to "no net loss of
wetlands" and is directing his executive branch agencies,
through an interagency task force, to make recommendations
to achieve that goal. He has also proposed $206 million in
his budget to expand parks and wildlife refuges.
Combatting Violent Crime: President Bush transmitted to
Congress The Comprehensive Violent Crime Control Act of 1989
proposing measures to augment enforcement and prosecution,
strengthen current law, control certain semi-automatic
weapons, and expand prison capacity.
Fighting Drug Abuse: The Administration is requesting $6
billion in funding for FY 1990 to fight the drug war,
increasing outlays by nearly $1 billion for drug education,
treatment and enforcement. In September, the President will
announce the Administration's new drug strategy and budget.
Drug-free Public Housing: The Bush Administration is working
to make public housing drug free, and to protect the rights
all
of the vast majority of decent, law-abiding public housing
residents.
D.C. Anti-Drug Efforts: The Office of National Drug Control
Policy has responded to the drug emergency in the District
of Columbia by expanding the Metropolitan Area Task Force,
working for more prisons, and providing support in
enforcement and local treatment efforts.
Space: The President announced a three-step commitment to
establish America's preeminence in space -- Space Station
Freedom, a permanent presence on the Moon, and a manned
mission to Mars -- for this and future generations.
Transportation: The President directed the Secretary of
Transportation to develop a national transportation policy
to move America into the 21st century.
WORKING FOR A KINDER, GENTLER AMERICA
Child Care: The President has transmitted to the Congress a
child care package, the Working Family Child Care Assistance
Act of 1989 which provides a new refundable child care tax
9
credit of up to $1000 per child under age four, for low and
moderate income working families. This legislation will
also make the existing Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
refundable, and does not discriminate against religious or
family-based child care or a parent who chooses not to work
outside the home.
Head Start: The President has also transmitted legislation
to Congress that would allow a $250 million increase in Head
FY90 FY
Start appropriations. This will pay for enrollment of up to
95,000 more four-year-olds in the program.
Severary
7362
National Service: The President is spearheading a movement
proposed ?
to call all Americans to national service. He has announced
the formation of a foundation known as the Points of Light
Initiative to identify, enlarge and recreate those community
replicate
service initiatives that are working and to discover and
encourage new leaders.
Welfare Reform: The Administration issued proposed rules on
April 18 to implement the major provisions of the Family
Support Act of 1988, as the next step in welfare reform.
The Administration is proposing to spend $3.6 billion over
the next five years to implement the JOBS program. The Act
will help reduce the number of individuals who need welfare.
10
Medicaid: To address the all-too-high infant mortality rate,
the Administration forwarded to Congress legislation to
improve federal Medicaid assistance to pregnant women,
infants and children.
Homelessness: President Bush has called for full funding of
the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act and for a new $50
million matching grant program to promote public/private
partnerships to assist homeless families and the mentally
ill.
Enterprise Zones: President Bush asked Congress to enact
labor and capital-based incentives -- through enterprise
zones -- to create jobs and entrepreneurial activity in our
most distressed communities.
Campaign Finance Reform: On June 29, the President
announced comprehensive campaign finance proposals designed
to lessen the power of special economic interests and
restore competition to American Congressional elections.
Civil Rights: The President has called upon Congress to
reauthorize the Commission on Civil Rights
and has proposed
Note: this is
additional funding for Historically Black Colleges and
not a civil
Universities (HBCUs).
The Administration has endorsed the
rights item.
there is no
Hates Crimes Bill which provides for the collection of data
issue of
supported extending Civil rights protection to
"rights in
individuals with disabilities.
Sencerey
HBCU funding.
7362
11
about crimes motivated by race, religion, or ethnicity. The
Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice has
vigorously pursued the enforcement of the Fair Housing
Amendments Act of 1988 which became effective in March.
Ethics: President Bush sent his ethics reform legislation,
The Government-Wide Ethics Act, to the Congress on April 12,
and he issued an Executive Order announcing ethical
principles for the conduct of executive branch employees.
Whistleblower Protection: On April 10, the President signed
S. 20, the "Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989." This law
will strengthen the protections and procedural rights
available to those federal employees who report misdeeds and
mismanagement.
# # #
a summary of administration activities
for Disabled americans is missing See page 39,
BUILDING A BETTER AMERICA
SIX MONTHS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
KEEPING THE ECONOMY STRONG
Maintaining the current expansion with low inflation is the
key to improving standards of living, increasing job
opportunities for all Americans, and increasing investment in
productive capacity. Economic performance during this expansion
has been exceptionally good with extraordinary job growth. The
policies of the Bush Administration are designed to preserve this
to strong change record. the text. we have had The longest peace time expanses
of m record since late 1987
you have
August the lorgest does expansure not Enstituted size
Record peacetime expansion: The current expansion reached 80 months,
The 1961-69 expansion lasted 106
Second peacetime
months in July. August will mark the longest economic
61-69
expansion in U.S. history, surpassing the World War II expansion
expansion of 80 months (from June 1938 - February 1945).
106 months
Job creation: Over 20 million new jobs have been created
during this expansion, and this year, the unemployment rate
has reached levels not seen in 15 years. During this
decade, America has created more new jobs than Japan and the
nations of Western Europe combined.
Record income: Real per capita disposable personal income
personal income after taxes and inflation -- has risen 19
percent during this expansion. Real median family income
2
set a new record in 1987, the last year for which data are
available.
Note: Industrial
Al-Samarric 5873
Industrial output: During this expansion, American
production
40
for July
will be
industrial output has grown almost 41 percent, nearly double out
Western Europe's growth rate in industrial output.
this
week.
Higher national saving and investment: During the first
nine months of fiscal year 1989, the Federal Government
budget deficit was less than during the same period in the
previous fiscal year. Partly due to the discipline of
Al. 5873 Samarie
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, the Federal deficit has declined from
6.3 percent of GNP in fiscal year 1983 to an estimated 2.9
percent this fiscal year The personal saving rate has nose
5,
risen to 5.4 percent Business fixed investment as a
percent of real GNP rose to 12.4 percent in the second
quarter of 1989.
during The
first half of
This year
BUILDING A BETTER AMERICA
SIX MONTHS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
KEEPING THE ECONOMY STRONG
Maintaining the current expansion with low inflation is the
key to improving standards of living, increasing job
opportunities for all Americans, and increasing investment in
productive capacity. Economic performance during this expansion
has been exceptionally good with extraordinary job growth. The
policies of the Bush Administration are designed to preserve this
strong record.
Record peacetime expansion: The current expansion reached 80
months in July. August will mark the longest economic
expansion in U.S. history, surpassing the World War II
expansion of 80 months (from June 1938 - February 1945).
Job creation: Over 20 million new jobs have been created
during this expansion, and this year, the unemployment rate
has reached levels not seen in 15 years. During this
decade, America has created more new jobs than Japan and the
nations of Western Europe combined.
Record income: Real per capita disposable personal income --
personal income after taxes and inflation -- has risen 19
percent during this expansion. Real median family income
2
set a new record in 1987, the last year for which data are
available.
Industrial output: During this expansion, American
industrial output has grown almost 41 percent, nearly double
Western Europe's growth rate in industrial output.
Higher national saving and investment: During the first
nine months of fiscal year 1989, the Federal Government
budget deficit was less than during the same period in the
previous fiscal year. Partly due to the discipline of
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, the Federal deficit has declined from
6.3 percent of GNP in fiscal year 1983 to an estimated 2.9
percent this fiscal year. The personal saving rate has
risen to 5.4 percent. Business fixed investment as a
percent of real GNP rose to 12.4 percent in the second
quarter of 1989.
3
Inflation under control: Consumer price inflation has
remained under five percent for the past seven years, and
the recent slowing in economic growth to a sustainable rate
will lessen price pressures in the near future. The
Administration and the Federal Reserve share the goal of
achieving price stability.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Presenting a budget: The President put forth a budget that
addresses our fundamental obligations for national security
and support of the needy, while providing sufficient funds
to advance high-priority initiatives. The President's
budget restrains overall growth of spending and meets the
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings targets -- with no new taxes in Fiscal
Year 1990.
Reaching a budget agreement with Congress: The President
and Congress announced on April 14 a budget plan to reduce
the estimated Fiscal Year 1990 deficit by about $64 billion
below Fiscal Year 1989. The plan called for reducing the
deficit to $99.4 billion, meeting the targets set by the
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law. This is the first budget
agreement in recent years reached before the start of the
budget year and not framed in the context of crisis.
OMB
4
Savings and Loan reform: The President signed the Financial
Institution Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 on
Hallyzo 3/20
August 9. This legislation comes to grips with the problems
facing our savings and loan industry, and will safeguard and
Note:
stabilize America's financial system.
125
The frequently
The Act authorizes regulators to spend $166 billion
cited H 1668
over 10 years to eliminate ongoing losses of more than 500
is actually
159 million.
insolvent savings institutions, and recover assets for
towerer, this
taxpayers. This legislation abolishes the agency once
figure includes
2 portion of
responsible for thrift supervision, and creates a new agency
Treasury's net
that will operate as part of the Treasury Department. A new
interest costs
and Treasury's
insurance fund, called SAIF, will protect deposits in thrift
sayments son
the interest cost
institutions with the guarantee of the full faith and credit
of the new
sand age Acy.
of the United States. Penalties for wrongdoing by officers
A better
of insured institutions will be stiff, and criminal
Signa at
matches the
penalties will be added as well. Also, effective
text is
immediately, tougher requirements will be established for
125B-- 125 B--
strick includes
safe and sound operating practices in the thrift
syments Made for
institutions.
shior FSLIC
comments
and ben
o
Solution of the international debt problem: The
he 500
Administration has taken the lead encouraging commercial
xeludes Sth. (but
banks to reduce the debt and debt service burdens of
interesteasts).
developing countries. At the Administration's urging, the
IMF and World Bank have agreed to support debt and debt
service reduction in conjunction with their debtor programs
5
to promote investment, growth, and the return of flight
capital to these countries. The recent agreement between
Mexico and commercial banks with its emphasis on debt and
debt service reduction attests to the viability of the
Administration's plan for resolving the LDC (less developed
countries) debt problem and should lead to similar
agreements with other heavily-indebted countries.
O
Capital gains tax rate cut: A lower tax rate for long-term
capital gains is a key element of President Bush's economic
program. It will reduce the cost of capital in the United
sweenb
States, create incentives for investment and increase job
opportunities for Americans. The President's proposal,
which has been sent to Congress, includes:
-- A 45 percent capital gains exclusion for qualified
capital gains, or a 15 percent maximum capital gains
tax rate at the taxpayer's option.
-- A phased-in increase in the qualifying holding period
from one year to three years.
-- An exemption from the capital gains tax for families
earning under $20,000.
Minimum wage proposal: The President believes in keeping job
Sweeny
opportunities available for youth and for those seeking to
enter the economic mainstream. The excessive across-the-
board increase in the minimum wage which was proposed passed by
6
Congress would have had an adverse economic impact and cut
job opportunities drastically. Accordingly, the President
vetoed the bill, passed by Congress. The veto was later
sustained.
International Trade: The Administration is forcefully
promoting the opening of world markets. It successfully
broke a stalemate in the Uruguay Round's mid-term review and
put in place a framework, agreed to by the 96 member
nations, to correct and prevent trade distortions in
agriculture. It is engaged in bilateral trade talks with
important trading partners to encourage them to open their
markets to our exports. Together these efforts should
greatly expand opportunities for U.S. exports.
Steel imports: The President initiated a two-and-a-half
year Steel Trade Liberalization Program designed to phase
out, in a responsible and orderly manner, the Voluntary
Restraint Arrangements (VRA's) that currently limit steel
imports into the U.S. and to negotiate an international
consensus to address trade-distorting practices.
Agricultural initiatives: The Administration has announced
additional advance deficiency payments of 10 percent
available to producers of wheat, feed grains, rice and
upland cotton. In addition, a top-level Working Group on
7
Rural Development was established by the President to focus
on an action-oriented agenda.
National Energy Plan: The President directed the Secretary
of Energy to develop a comprehensive national energy
strategy for the nation. The strategy will help the nation
meet our energy security and environmental responsibilities
and, at the same time, allow a sensible mix of energy
sources to protect America's technical competitiveness.
SEIZING INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEACE
President Bush is committed to maintaining a strong American
role in world leadership and sees in present global trends an
unprecedented opportunity for strengthening both world peace and
the cause of freedom.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
"Europe Whole and Free": In a series of major speeches, the
President outlined a vision of a new Europe -- secure,
prosperous, whole and free -- vindicating four decades of
Western policies and seizing historic opportunities to move
toward ending the postwar division of Europe.
8
-- Western Europe: As the European Community heads toward
a single market in 1992 and develops its political
institutions and a more coordinated approach to foreign
policy, the President welcomed these developments and
proposed new mechanisms for consultation with the EC
Commission and member states. Seeing the resurgence of
Western Europe as a triumph of Western values and
principles, the President welcomed its success,
confident that a mature partnership will-serve mutual
interests.
-- NATO Summit: At the successful NATO Summit, the
President's vision of Europe as well as agreement on a
new conventional arms reduction initiative helped
restore Alliance unity and confidence and define the
Alliance's future agenda.
-- Eastern Europe: As Poland and Hungary take
unprecedented steps toward pluralism, democracy, and
market economic policies, the United States has
signalled its strong support. These steps provide an
opportunity not only for a democratic transition in
these countries, but also for a broader process of
European reconciliation. Offering political and moral
support as well as economic assistance, the President
proposed two major new initiatives for Poland and
Hungary.
9
-- Poland: Following up on the program the President
announced earlier this year in Hamtramck, Michigan, he
called for action to declare Poland a beneficiary
country under the U.S. Generalized System of
Preferences. The Overseas Private Investment
Corporation will be authorized to operate in Poland,
and the US is proposing a private business agreement
that will promote contacts between the private sectors
of both countries. The President will ask Congress to
provide a $100 million fund to help capitalize and
invigorate the Polish private sector and encourage the
World Bank to move ahead with new loans to help Polish
agriculture and industry. He has encouraged other
members of the Paris Club to agree to an expeditious
rescheduling of Polish debt. Finally, he will ask
Congress for $15 million in a cooperative venture with
Poland to help fight air and water pollution in Krakow.
-- Hungary: The President will ask Congress to authorize a
$25 million fund as a source of new capital to
invigorate the Hungarian private sector. As soon as
new emigration legislation has passed the Hungarian
Parliament, the President will inform Congress that
Hungary is in full compliance with the restrictions of
the Jackson-Vanik Amendments of the 1974 Trade Act.
This will make Hungary eligible for Most-Favored-Nation
tariff treatment for the maximum period allowable under
10
the law. The President also declared Hungary a
beneficiary country under our Generalized System of
Preferences which will allow duty free entry of
Hungarian products into the U.S. market. He also
called for legislation to allow OPIC to operate in
Hungary, and for greater scientific, technical,
educational and cultural exchanges between the US and
Hungary. The President will seek to establish an
International Environmental Center for Central and
Eastern Europe in Budapest. Finally, he announced that
the Peace Corps would operate in Hungary -- the first
time in a European country.
-- The Economic Summit in Paris: The mission of the
President's historic visit to Poland and Hungary and
his successful effort at the Paris Economic Summit was
to promote concerted actions among the industrial
democracies in the economic and political arenas. The
industrial democracies demonstrated their unity, as
they dealt with a variety of issues on the
international economic agenda, as well as the problem
of drugs and the environment.
"Beyond Containment": Seeing an historic process of change
in the Soviet Union, the President has declared his
intention to move beyond the successful policy of
containment of Soviet power to a new policy whose goal is
11
integrating the Soviet Union into the world community as a
constructive partner. Positive changes so far in Soviet
policies -- in human rights, economic reforms, and
settlement of some international conflicts -- need to be
encouraged and broadened. The United States will be ready
to respond to such further developments. Already:
--
The US-Soviet dialogue on conflicts in regions of the
Third World has resumed intensively, with regular
meetings at the level of Assistant Secretary of State.
--
A US-Soviet dialogue has begun on a new range of global
problems that require global cooperation, such as
terrorism, the environment, and narcotics.
--
In arms control, the President has accelerated the pace
of negotiations, with new American initiatives on
reducing conventional forces in Europe (endorsed by the
NATO Summit), and on strategic arms reduction. U.S.
initiatives also aim at early progress on verification
issues to further early agreement on strategic arms
Morison
- The reductions. President has endorsed open skies plan
to and test demonistrate Societ Readines Dooperatively do open their with society u.s. Souiet
allies that weare working to lesson danger and
China: In response to the tragic suppression of the
democratic movement in China, the President ordered the
suspension of all government-to-government sales and
commercial exports of weapons, suspension of visits between
US and Chinese military leaders, sympathetic review of
requests by Chinese students in the United States to extend
relax nternationdHentons.
12
their stay, and review of other aspects of US-PRC bilateral
relations. The President's policy signals that repression
cannot be condoned. But it also seeks to preserve the basic
elements of a strategically important relationship that has,
itself, played a major part in China's recent policy of
reform and openness.
Latin America: The President has established a close,
working relationship with Latin American neighbors to foster
a new partnership on hemisphere problems like democracy,
debt and drugs. Relations with Mexico are closer than at
any time in recent memory. The U.S. has also worked with
the Organization of American States to develop a hemispheric
consensus urging Manuel Noriega to leave power.
Bipartisan Accord on Central America: The President and
Congress agreed on March 24 on a bipartisan plan for peace
and democracy in Central America:
-- Regional peace: The President and Congress agreed that
the region's democracies deserve our support, that
Nicaragua's subversion of its neighbors must end, and
that Soviet support for violence and subversion in the
hemisphere must also end.
-- Humanitarian aid: Congress agreed to support the
Administration's request for continued humanitarian
assistance for the Nicaraguan Resistance at
13
current levels through the elections in Nicaragua
scheduled for February 1990.
:
Democracy: The Communist Sandinistas are being put to
the test to permit a real democratic electoral contest
for political power, fulfilling the promises of
democratic pluralism that they have made (and broken)
so often before.
Middle East: The Administration is devoted to promoting
progress toward peace in the Middle East by supporting the
government of Israel's May 14 initiative calling for
Palestinian elections in the occupied territories. These
elections can be a step toward a comprehensive peace
settlement that assures Israel's security and the legitimate
political rights of the Palestinians. The Administration is
also supporting the efforts of the Arab League to bring
peace to Lebanon.
A strong Defense: The President proposed to Congress a two-
missile plan to maintain a strong, modernized strategic
deterrent. The plan to deploy the rail-mobile Peacekeeper
and the road-mobile Small ICBM will also give the U.S.
momentum in strategic arms control negotiations.
-- The President proposed to Congress an integrated
package on strategic modernization that capitalizes on
the revolutionary potential of the B-2, and modernizes
he
Marrison
14
Gomber
the third leg of the Triad -- essential also to our
arms control positions.
-- The President requested a funding level of $4.6 billion
for the Strategic Defense Initiative to support an
informed development and deployment decision within the
next 4 years.
Air Transportation Security: The Administration has taken
several measures to enhance security and efficiency in the
air transportation system. These efforts include:
-- A proposed 17% increase in the budget for the Federal
Aviation Administration.
-- New requirements for installation of explosive
detection devices in high-risk airports.
-- Intense international negotiations to enhance security
abroad.
Review of Defense Management: The President directed the
Department of Defense to conduct a complete review of its
management and acquisition practices. The resulting
Administration blueprint to strengthen and streamline the
weapons procurement process will serve the American taxpayer
well. The President has ordered the Defense Department to
implement the blueprint.
15
INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
Record economic growth has provided America with the
opportunity to invest in a brighter future. Because America's
available resources are limited, the President's programs are
designed to focus our efforts on those initiatives most likely to
create growth in the years ahead.
EDUCATION
The President's actions to improve education are guided by
four key principles: that excellence and success in education
should be recognized and rewarded; that federal funding should be
targeted to those who need it most; that choice and flexibility -
- for educators, parents and students -- are important to
educational reform and to achieving excellence; and finally, that
greater accountability is needed in the education system to
assure that students are actually receiving the highest quality
education.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
On April 5, the President proposed and sent to the Congress
a comprehensive education package, The Educational
Excellence Act of 1989, which includes seven initiatives:
-- The Presidential Merit Schools program -- to reward
schools that are making substantial progress in raising
16
students' educational achievement, creating a safe and
drug-free school environment, and reducing the drop-out
rate.
--
A new Magnet Schools of Excellence program -- to
support the establishment, expansion or enhancement of
magnet schools, increasing parental choice and
improving quality education.
-- The Alternative Certification of Teachers and
Principals program -- to assist States interested in
broadening the pool of talent from which to recruit
teachers and principals.
--
President's Awards for Excellence in Education -- to be
awarded to public and private school teachers in every
state who meet the highest standards of excellence.
:
Drug-free Schools Urban Emergency Grants -- to provide
special assistance to selected urban school districts
that are disproportionately affected by drug
trafficking and abuse.
-- A National Science Scholars program -- to provide
college scholarships to high school seniors who have
excelled in the sciences and mathematics.
-- Additional Funding Authorization for Endowment Matching
Grants at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
-- to strengthen HBCUs by building endowments, an
especially effective way to create financial strength
and long-term security.
17
On April 24, the President issued a new Executive Order on
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
S
Highlights of the order include:
--
Establishing the President's Board of Advisors on
Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the
Department of Education.
--
Directing Federal agencies to increase opportunities
for HBCU involvement in Federal programs and directing
the Secretary of Education to develop an Annual Federal
Plan for Assistance.
--
Calling for the White House Office of National Service,
along with other Federal offices to work to encourage
private sector support of HBCUs.
18
THE ENVIRONMENT
President Bush, a long-time environmentalist, has taken
strong action to protect the environment. He believes that
environmental protection, conservation and wise management of our
national resources must have a high priority on our national
agenda.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Natural Gas Decontrol: On July 26, the President signed into
law the Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989, which ends all
remaining price controls on natural gas. This will phase
out all federal price controls on natural gas by January 1,
1993.
Clean Air legislation: President Bush transmitted to the
Congress a sweeping program to ensure clean air for all
Americans. The President's plan, transmitted to Congress on
July 21, 1989, calls for the first revisions to the Clean
Air Act since 1977 and is designed to curb three major
threats to the nation's environment: acid rain, urban air
pollution, and toxic air emissions.
-- Acid Rain: Sulfur dioxide emissions that cause acid
Bythe year 2000
Plager
4852
rain will be cut rearly in half, by ten million tons, and
nitrogen oxide levels cut by two million tons by the
19
end of this century. Companies will be allowed to
trade credits among themselves for reductions they
make, so that they can decide how to bring aggregate
emissions down as cost-effectively as possible.
-- Urban Air Pollution: By employing a mix of federal
measures and state initiatives, this legislation will
sharply cut air pollution in our cities by the year
2000. The federal measures alone will cut hydrocarbon
emissions -- which contribute to urban ozone -- by
almost half.
Currently, 81 cities don't meet Federal air
quality standards. This legislation will bring clean
air to all but 4 cities by 2000 -- and within 20 years,
Los Angeles, Houston, New York, and Chicago.
In the nine urban areas with the greatest smog
problems, smog will be cut through alternative fuels
and clean-fueled vehicles. The President is calling
for the phased-in introduction of a half a million
clean-fueled vehicles in 1995, building up to a million
in 1997 through 2004.
To the maximum extent feasible, automobile and
fuel companies will be allowed to trade reduction
credits among themselves.
-- Toxic Air Emissions: All categories of airborne toxic
Player
chemicals should be cut by 75 percent by the year 2000.
In its first phase, this initiative should will substantially eliminate
troy Ban ?
# of deaths
sub reduce
7 lym
Plager
4952
reduce the health 20 threat posed
about three-quarters of the needless deaths from cancer
that are suspected to have been caused by toxic
industrial air emissions.
Until now, because of an unworkable law, the EPA
has been able to regulate only seven of the 280 known
air toxics. The President's plan will allow EPA to do
its job better, and will apply the most best advanced
industrial technology currently available to control these
airborne poisons. The legislation promises certifiable
progress in regulating sources of toxic air emissions
on a set schedule.
Alaskan oil spill: A Cabinet-level team was sent to assess
the Alaskan oil spill, and a joint federal-state resource
recovery team was convened. The National Transportation
Safety Board is investigating the accident. Exxon has
accepted responsibility for paying for the cleanup, and for
employing local civilian personnel necessary to control
further damage. The Departments of Transportation and
Interior, as well as the EPA, are coordinating the long-
range planning to restore the environment of Prince William
Sound, and the President has ordered a review of existing
contingency plans for accidents such as this.
21
oil Spill Legislation: On May 11, the Administration
transmitted to Congress comprehensive oil pollution
liability and compensation legislation that broadens and
strengthens our existing patchwork of laws. The bill
provides swift and assured compensation for cleanup costs
and damages through a liability system based on strict
financial responsibility requirements for shipowners backed
up by an oil-industry financed fund.
-
Outer Continental Shelf Task Force: The President set up a
special task force to address environmental concerns about
oil and gas drilling off the coasts of California and
Florida.
Department of the
--
On April 18, the Interior Department proposed a $6
million research program on oil spill detection,
containment and clean-up technology.
Cleaning up hazardous wastes: The President announced he
will be seeking new legislation to amend the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act in order to give the United
States Government authority to ban all exports of hazardous
waste unless an agreement exists with the receiving country
providing for the safe handling and management of those
wastes.
22
Also, Secretary of Energy Watkins has put forth a plan of
action to identify and prioritize clean up of defense and
civilian radioactive waste; meet the Nation's security
needs; and comply with environmental safety and health laws.
Superfund: The President is reinvigorating the Superfund
hazardous waste clean-up program by directing EPA to take a
number of actions, including more aggressive action to force
private parties to clean up sites, stepped-up cost recovery,
and better use of existing emergency cleanup authorities.
EPA is also now finishing a priority review of Superfund to
improve its operation.
Ozone depletion: The President has called for a total
worldwide phaseout of CFCs by the year 2000, provided safe
substitutes are available, in order to prevent further
damage to the Earth's protective ozone layer.
Clean water and coastlines: The EPA has started a tracking
system for medical wastes and the Justice Department has set
up a task force to prosecute those who deliberately dump
medical waste into our Nation's waters -- the first step in
a comprehensive program to help keep our beaches clean. The
President is committed to end ocean dumping of sewage sludge
by 1991.
23
Wetlands: The President is also committed to "no net loss of
wetlands" and is directing his executive branch agencies,
through an interagency task force, to make recommendations
to achieve that goal. He has also proposed $206 million in
his budget to expand our parks and wildlife refuges.
marly the
Playu
Asbestos Ban: On July 7, EPA announced an almost total
4852
phase-out of nearly all uses of asbestos by 1997. The ban will
prohibit importation, manufacture and processing of
asbestos, a carcinogen linked to lung cancer and
mesothelioma (lung and chest cancer).
Improved Forecasting: The Commerce Department announced that
beginning in Fiscal Year 1990, the National Weather Service
will modernize and restructure its operations to provide
improved forecasting and weather warning systems. The new
system will include advanced weather radar, observation
automation, and a new communications system.
COMBATTING VIOLENT CRIME
The President is working to strengthen the nation's criminal
justice system and the Federal, state, and local law enforcement
partnership.
Four principles underlie the goals of our criminal justice
system and the means for accomplishing them: First, to protect
24
citizens and their property; to hold those who commit violent
crimes accountable for their actions; to have as the objective of
our criminal justice system the swift and certain apprehension,
prosecution and incarceration of those who break the law; and
finally, to ensure a sustained, cooperative effort by Federal,
state and local law enforcement authorities.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
O
On May 15, 1989, President Bush transmitted to Congress The
Comprehensive violent Crime Control Act of 1989 to combat
violent crime. The President's initiative includes:
:
strengthening Current Laws: The President is calling
on Congress to double the mandatory minimum penalties
-- from five years to ten years in Federal prison --
for the use of semi-automatic weapons in violent crimes
or drug felonies.
In addition, the Attorney General has been
directed to advise America's prosecutors to end plea
bargaining for violent Federal firearms offenses.
President Bush called on Congress to enact the
steps necessary to implement the death penalty for the
most serious Federal crimes, and urged state Governors
to match these Federal initiatives -- new mandatory
sentencing, tougher rules on plea bargaining, and
implementing the death penalty -- in the States.
25
-- Controlling Certain Semi-Automatic Weapons: In July,
the Administration took action to ban permanently the
importation of any semi-automatic weapons which fail to
meet the criteria specified in the Gun Control Act of
1968. The President also called for the closing of
loopholes which allow access to such guns by certain
classes of criminals, and he proposed prohibiting the
importation, manufacture, sale or transfer of gun
magazines of more than 15 rounds.
-- Augmenting Enforcement: The President has directed the
Attorney General and the Treasury Secretary, working
together with state and local authorities, to launch a
comprehensive, coordinated offensive against America's
most violent criminals.
President Bush requested funding for the hiring of
825 new Federal agents and staff -- 375 at the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; 300 at the FBI; and
150 Deputy U.S. Marshals. This offensive, including
state and local enforcement authorities, will target
violent criminals and repeat offenders.
-- Enhancing Prosecution: The President proposed
increased funds for the U.S. Attorneys Offices to
support 1,600 new prosecutors and staff, and increased
funds for the Justice Department Criminal Division to
support 168 new positions, to handle drug cases,
weapons offenses and other priority matters.
26
Hazizo
-- Expanding Prison Capacity: The President proposed an
additional $1 billion for Federal prison construction,
bringing the total FY 1990 budget to over $1.5 billion.
This will add 24,000 new Federal prison beds to the
ewent
31,000 beds,
currently operational
FIGHTING DRUG ABUSE
We have begun a new war on drugs in this country. The
President believes a four-pronged approach is key: education,
treatment, interdiction and enforcement. The policy of this
Administration is "sero tolerance." No amount of illegal drug
use is acceptable. This means dealing with both supply and
demand.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Budget: The Administration is requesting $6.4 billion in
funding for FY 1990 to fight the drug war, increasing
outlays by nearly $1 billion for drug education, treatment
and enforcement.
Education: The Administration is requesting nearly $1.1
billion for education and prevention efforts. This is a 16
percent increase over 1989 and includes funding for ongoing
programs and new initiatives.
27
Treatment: Funding for drug abuse treatment will be
increased 18 percent. The Administration is proposing over
$700 million to expand the nation's capacity to provide
treatment, particularly to indigent, disadvantaged youth,
and expectant mothers.
Interdiction and enforcement: The Administration is
proposing over $4.6 billion for law enforcement programs in
1990, a 20 percent increase over 1989. This constitutes
about 70 percent of President Bush's proposed drug budget.
Substantial increases are requested in funding to strengthen
inspection, interdiction, intelligence efforts and crop
eradication programs, such as Operation Snow Cap, a
federally led effort which broke up a $1.2 billion drug
money-laundering operation. The President strongly supports
the death penalty for drug kingpins who commit drug-related
murders, and will appoint judges who will strongly enforce
the drug penalty laws.
Public housing: The Bush Administration is working to make
public housing drug free, to protect the rights of the vast
majority of decent, law-abiding public housing residents.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has acted:
-- To modify its lease and grievance procedures to
facilitate eviction of those involved in drug related
criminal activity;
Holen
5178
28
forhom?
--
To make drug use and trafficking a lease violation
= allFederal
subject to eviction proceedings;
subsidy
recipients;
--
To target federal assistance to anti-drug security
measures;
--
To revoke federal housing subsidies from those dealing
in drugs;
--
To involve the private and voluntary sectors in efforts
to rid public housing of drugs and give residents,
especially young people, a stake in their communities
and their futures.
In addition, the Office of National Drug Control Policy has
responded to the drug emergency in the District of Columbia
by expanding the Metropolitan Area Task Force, working for
more prisons, and providing FBI support in enforcement. The
assistance of the National Institute on Drug Abuse will be
provided to local treatment efforts. The Department of
Education will assist the District with 50 percent more
funds for drug prevention programs in city schools and the
Department of Labor will support employee assistance
programs and work with the business community to increase
job training for youth.
29
WORKING FOR A KINDER, GENTLER AMERICA
CHILD CARE
The changing nature of American society heightens the need
for quality, affordable, accessible child care. President Bush
wants to put choice in the hands of parents so that they -- not
government -- have the power to select the best and safest
environment for their children.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Child care: The President transmitted to Congress a child
care package, the Working Family Child Care Assistance Act
of 1989 which:
-- Provides a new refundable child care tax credit of up
to $1000 per child under age four, for low income
working families.
-- Makes the existing Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
refundable.
-- Does not discriminate against religious- or family-
based child care, or a parent who chooses not to work
outside the home.
tolen
5198
30
Note See
The President has directed Secretary of Labor Dole to
attached
(after this
determine whether the barriers to securing liability
insurance impair child care.
employer-provided
page) for
president's
description descri (f/budget) ption
Head Start: The President also transmitted legislation to
Congress that would allow a $250 million increase in Head
FY90
Start appropriation. S This will pay for enrollment of up to
95,000 more four-year-olds in the program.
NATIONAL SERVICE
The President's vision to help overcome the disintegration
of communities and build a better America -- not through a
federal government program, but through a nationwide service
movement -- has three facets: First, to issue a call to all
individuals and institutions to claim society's problems as their
own; second, to identify, enlarge and recreate what is working;
and third, to discover and encourage new leaders.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
President Bush called on:
-- all Americans and all American institutions, large and
small, to make service of central value in their daily
life and work;
FUNDING SUMMARY
(In millions of dollars)
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
Budget Authority
1,235
1,485
1,534
1,577
1,613
1,642
Outlays
1,202
1,351
1,485
1,546
1,589
1,623
c. Examining Barriers to Liability Insurance
OVERVIEW
Employers in substantial numbers are finding that it is simply good business practice to
establish policies that help their employees meet their child care responsibilities. A recent
Department of Labor survey indicates that almost two-thirds of workplaces with 10 or more
employees help employees with child care. Flexible work schedules and leave policies, as well
as counseling, information and referral services, are the most common forms of assistance.
Employer-sponsored child care on or near the work site is relatively rare, offered by only a
little over two percent. There is concern that lack of access to liability insurance may be deter-
ring some employers from offering this form of care.
"I would encourage employer-sponsored child care, flexible work schedules and benefit
plans which allow workers to choose the benefits they need. Employers must demonstrate
more flexibility and sensitivity to family needs.
"Employers have a major role in helping parents find needed child care but / do not
believe in give-aways of taxpayer dollars to get business to recognize what it already knows:
that it must provide assistance for more and better child care. Workers demand it; pro-
ductivity demands it; a business' bottom line demands it."
George Bush
PRINCIPLES
Insurance regulation is predominantly a State responsibility, but federally sponsored
research can inform State policies and practices.
If market barriers are preventing employers from obtaining liability insurance so they
can provide child care at or near the worksite, strategies should be developed to facilitate
their removal.
POLICIES
The President has directed the Secretary of Labor to conduct a study to determine whether
market barriers or failures are preventing employers from obtaining liability insurance neces-
sary to provide child care on or near their employees' worksites.
The study will examine commercial liability insurance, self-insurance, State-facilitated
market assistance plans (centralized insurance information systems in which insurers volun-
105
tarily participate), joint underwriting agreements (under which States require insurers to
participate in providing insurance), and other arrangements relevant to this issue.
The Secretary will develop a timetable for the study which allows it to be completed no
later than the end of this year.
106
31
-- all heads of business and professional firms to include
community service among the factors considered in
making hiring, compensation and promotion decisions;
-- newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations,
cable systems, and other media institutions to identify
service opportunities, spotlight successful service
initiatives and profile outstanding community leaders
regularly;
-- all state and local education boards to uphold the
value of service and to encourage students, faculty and
personnel to serve others;
-- college and university presidents to recognize the
value of community service in considering applicants,
and to encourage and uphold the value of community
service; and
-- not-for-profit service organizations to build the
capacity to absorb increasing numbers of volunteers in
purposeful roles.
Swery
Identifying, Enlarging, and Recreating Replicating What is Working: The
has proposed
President announced the formation of a foundation called the
Points of Light Initiative, of which he will serve as
Honorary Chairman. Formed to identify and build upon what
is working, the Foundation will act as a magnet for the best
ideas and brightest programs in community service and then
serve as a catalyst to project these ideas into every corner
32
of the nation. The Administration will ask Congress for $25
million annually to support this initiative, which will, in
turn, seek matching funds from the private sector. The
President has also encouraged all governors nationwide to
join the movement by forming State and local Points of Light
working groups composed of outstanding leaders.
-- Through a Foundation initiative called the ServNet
Project, professional firms, corporations, unions,
schools, religious, civic and not-for-profit groups
will be asked to donate the services of some of their
most talented and promising people for a period of
time. Peer-to-peer working groups will be formed to
bring examples of successful initiatives and provide
training, technical assistance and other support to
enable other institutions to devise similar
initiatives.
-- Another Foundation initiative, the ServLink Project,
will help improve existing methods of matching would-be
volunteers with purposeful service opportunities.
ServLink will stimulate the development, through
private sector resources, of "technology links" like
telephones, computers and other mechanisms between
those who wish to serve and those needing service in
the inquirer's own community.
33
-- The Foundation will also discover and encourage new
leaders by recognizing them through two new
Presidential Awards:
--
The National Service Youth Leadership Awards will
be given each year to individuals.
-- The President's Build A Community Awards will
honor those people and institutions who have
worked together to rebuild families or to
revitalize communities.
WELFARE REFORM
The Administration has developed a major new education and
job training program to help recipients of Aid to Families with
Dependent Children move off welfare and become economically self-
sufficient.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Welfare reform: The Administration issued proposed rules on
April 18 to implement the major provisions of the Family
Support Act of 1988. The proposed rules are designed to:
--
Target job training assistance to those who are most
likely to benefit and who are most at risk for long-
term welfare dependency.
34
-- Provide maximum level of flexibility to AFDC parents in
obtaining the type of child care that best suits their
needs, consistent with the Administration's legislative
proposals on child care.
JOBS Program: The Administration is proposing to spend $3.3
billion over the next five years implementing the JOBS
program. The changes will pay benefits in the future by
reducing the number of individuals on welfare. It is
estimated that 138,000 families will be able to leave
tolers estimates midger since
Jamary
welfare rolls over the next five years as a result of this
new
program.
EXPANSION OF MEDICAID
The President is committed to health care for disadvantaged
mothers and children, the disabled, and poor, aged Americans and
has called for full funding of Medicaid This will mean $37.6 39.
4.8
billion for FY 1990, an increase of $3.3 billion, or 9.6 percent
over the FY 1989 level.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Expanding Medicaid: On April 18, the Administration
forwarded to Congress proposed legislation to make federal
programs better serve pregnant women, infants and children.
The legislation would expand the population Medicaid serves,
35
making Medicaid available to 1.9 million more women when
they become pregnant. The legislation would:
:
Increase by 374,000 the number of pregnant women and
children eligible for Medicaid.
-- Foster greater participation in Medicaid by eligible
pregnant women by providing services to pregnant women
who are presumed eligible for Medicaid before a formal
eligibility determination is made% and by requiring
States to operate outreach programs in areas of high
infant mortality.
--
Entitle all children under age 6, who are receiving
Food Stamps, to receive Medicaid coverage for
immunizations.
-- Make the Federal match rate for State administration
expenses a uniform 50 percent by gradually reducing
special administrative match rates that currently range
from 75 to 100 percent. The savings that would result
would allow the legislative eligibility changes
proposed by the President to be implemented within the
current program's spending level.
AIDS INITIATIVES
The Administration is moving on a number of fronts to combat
the spread of AIDS.
36
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service: The Administration
developed a computerized listing though which AIDS patients
and their doctors can get up-to-date information on clinical
trials of AIDS drugs and vaccines -- whether federally or
privately sponsored.
Experimental AIDS Drugs: The Administration unveiled a
proposal to allow wider availability of experimental
therapeutic drugs used to treat people with AIDS.
AIDS Prevention Guide: The Administration joined the
National Parent Teachers Association in announcing the
distribution of 500,000 copies of the "AIDS Prevention
Guide" for use by parents and teachers nationwide.
$5 Million Transferred to States -- AIDS Treatment: The
Administration transferred $5 million from currently
appropriated AIDS funds to assist needy individuals in the
purchase of treatment drugs for AIDS and related conditions.
37
HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS
President Bush has taken a number of steps to create an
"opportunity society" of jobs, growth, housing and hope for
Americans in need of a helping hand.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Homelessness: In his FY 1990 budget, the President has
proposed to provide over $1 billion in federal resources to
help end homelessness and pave the way to jobs, permanent
housing, health care and human dignity. President Bush's
proposal calls for fully funding the McKinney Homeless
Assistance Act and for a new $50 million matching grant
program to promote public/private partnerships to assist
homeless families and the mentally ill.
Affordable housing: President Bush is committed to making
housing more affordable for low-income families, and to
provide homeownership opportunities to the disadvantaged and
through HUD subsidiyed Housery programs,
to young families. President Bush proposes to assist
109,000 new families HUD in need of low-income housing, and has
pledged to maintain assistance to those families already
being helped. President Bush has also signalled his
commitment to helping poor residents in public housing to
38
become homeowners through resident management and ownership
programs.
OPPORTUNITY
Enterprise zones: President Bush has called for enactment of
enterprise zone legislation, to give urban and rural areas
the opportunity for jobs and hope for the future. President
Bush asked Congress to enact labor and capital-based
incentives to create jobs and entrepreneurial activity in
our most distressed communities.
Seveney
7362
Job training: The President has sent to the Congress a
proposal to improve the Job Training Partnership Act by
targeting its resources on the poor and at risk youth and
adults who most need job training to get jobs and become
economically self-sufficient.
CIVIL RIGHTS
The Bush Administration is committed to reaching out to
minorities, and to striking down barriers to free and open
access. The President has made it clear that this Administration
will not tolerate discrimination, bigotry or bias of any kind.
39
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Civil rights: The Administration has taken a number of
actions to protect the civil rights of all Americans,
including several court actions in key civil rights cases.
-- The President has called upon Congress to reauthorize
the Commission on Civil Rights.
-- The Administration endorsed the Hate Crimes Bill, which
provides for the collection of data about crimes
motivated by race, religion, or ethnicity.
-- On March 13, Attorney General Thornburgh announced the
filing of Federal housing discrimination lawsuits
seeking monetary damages and civil penalties under the
expanded enforcement authority of the Fair Housing
Amendments Act of 1988.
Disabled Americans: The Administration has reached a
consensus with key Senators on legislation that would
fulfill the President's commitment to seek legislation
extending civil rights protections to disabled Americans.
The legislation, called the Americans with Disabilities Act,
would represent the most significant expansion of federal
civil rights laws in the past two decades.
--
The legislation would provide unprecedented protections
against discrimination in the area of employment,
OMB
40
requiring reasonable accommodation be made by employers
for disabled potential employees.
amy
Most traco
Sween
736
-- All new buildings would be required to be accessible to
7362
is
the disabled.
--
Stores, providers of services, restaurants and other
public accommodations would be required to serve
disabled Americans to the same extent they serve able
Americans.
Whistleblower protection: On April 10, the President signed
S. 20, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989. This law
will strengthen the protections and procedural rights
available to those federal employees who report misdeeds and
mismanagement.
--
This new law will enhance the authority of the Office
of Special Counsel, and whistleblowers will also now be
allowed to take their cases to the Merit Systems
Protection Board.
--
The statute alters the legal burdens of proof, making
it easier for employees to be vindicated when they are
wrongfully penalized by their supervisors for
whistleblowing activities.
41
ETHICS
High ethical standards for all Americans are central to this
Administration, and we will enforce them -- strictly,
comprehensively, fairly, and to the letter and spirit of the law.
ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION:
Campaign Finance Reform: The President's comprehensive
campaign finance reform proposal is designed to lessen the
power of special economic interests and restore competition
to American Congressional elections. The package, which
seeks to enhance the role of individuals and the political
parties in elections. Below are proposal highlights:
-- Eliminating political action committees (PACs)
supported by corporations, unions or trade
associations, and prohibiting such entities from paying
for the overhead or administrative costs of any
independent PAC.
--
Strengthening political parties by increasing the
amounts they can spend on behalf of congressional
candidates. This source of funds would permit
legislators to spend less time fundraising, would
ensure that challengers have greater resources with
which to challenge incumbents, and would further limit
the role of special economic interests in elections.
42
-- Addressing the problem of the "permanent Congress" by
reforms designed to reduce the unwarranted advantages
of incumbency. Specifically, the proposals would
prohibit the personal use of excess campaign funds
drastically reduce Congressional mailings under the
frank, ban the rollover of campaign funds from one
election cycle to the next, and legislate fair neutral
criteria for the redistricting of Congressional and
legislative lines that will follow the 1990 census.
--
Fully disclosing all soft money spent by the political
state
parties and all labor unions, corporations and trade
associations to influence a federal election.
--
Prohibition of the conversion of political
contributions for personal or office use.
Ethics: The President issued an Executive Order creating
the President's Commission on Federal Ethics Law Reform,
which submitted its recommendations to the President on
March 9. Responding to the Commission's work, the
President, on April 12, sent to Congress a sweeping ethics
bill and simultaneously issued an Executive Order announcing
ethical principles for the conduct of executive branch
employees. The President's proposals include:
-- Expanded financial disclosure for all three branches of
government.
44
--
A ban on outside earned income for full-time non-career
Presidential appointees in the executive branch,
including non-career employees in the immediate White
House Office.
# # #
18
THE ENVIRONMENT
President Bush, a long-time environmentalist, has taken
strong action to protect the environment. He believes that
environmental protection, conservation and wise management of our
national
a high priority on our national
Gracly
Grady 4844
- Ipage to
1 July 26, the President signed into
come
1 Act of 1989, which ends all
Mr
on natural gas. This will phase
trols on natural gas by January 1,
Clean Air legislation: President Bush transmitted to the
Congress a sweeping program to ensure clean air for all
Americans. The President's plan, transmitted to Congress on
July 21, 1989, calls for the first revisions to the Clean
\
Air Act since 1977 and is designed to curb three major
threats to the nation's environment: acid rain, urban air
pollution, and toxic air emissions.
-- Acid Rain: Sulfur dioxide emissions that cause acid
rain will be cut in half, by ten million tons, and
frm 1980 levels +
nitrogen oxide levels cut by two million tons -- by the
Mr
All
<
The President's landfasts the
which has 156 cosponsors the House
most protection from aid ram of day major capeting hill.
Grady 4844
19 The Admin. butd bill is Heanly one
which imposes
end of this century. Companies will be allowed to a cap on
trade credits among themselves for reductions they emissions after the
make, so that they can decide how to bring aggregate toinsure
yr. 2000
that a 10mton
emissions down as cost-effectively as possible.
red. is
-- Urban Air Pollution: By employing a mix of federal maintained
measures and state initiatives, this legislation will
sharply cut air pollution in our cities by the year
2000. The federal measures alone will cut hydrocarbon
emissions -- which contribute to urban ozone -- by
Grady 4844
OK RPA
almost half.
bet 80 and 100
Currently, 81 cities don't meet Federal air
The Presibut's
quality standards. This legislation will bring clean
into attainment with the ozone standard
air to all but 4 cities by 2000 -- and within 20 years,
even
plan tough emissiow contains factories. standards Arries.
new
from automobiles, automobi
Los Angeles, Houston, New York, and Chicago will be in attainment.
In the nine urban areas with the greatest smog
a fusls
the introduction of
problems, smog will be cut through alternative fuels
and clean-fueled vehicles. The President is calling
for the phased-in introduction of a half a million
clean-fueled vehicles in 1995, building up to sales of a million clean-frele
Cars a year in 1997 through 2004.
stet
To the maximum extent feasible, automobile and
fuel companies will be allowed to trade reduction
credits among themselves.
-- Toxic Air Emissions: All categories of airborne toxic
chemicals should be cut by 75 percent by the year 2000.
4
In its first phase, this initiative should eliminate
the Prestent, plan
move to next PP- 1 insert A
14
20
about three-quarters of the needless deaths from cancer
that are suspected to have been caused by toxic
industrial air emissions.
Insert cont'd
Until now, because of an unworkable law, the EPA
has been able to regulate only seven of the 280 known
air toxics. The President's plan will allow EPA to do
its job better, and will apply the most advanced
industrial technology available to control these
airborne poisons. The legislation promises certifiable
progress in regulating sources of toxic air emissions
on a set schedule.
Insert
A
Insert B
Alaskan oil spill: A Cabinet-level team was sent to assess
the Alaskan oil spill, and a joint federal-state resource
recovery team was convened. The National Transportation
Safety Board is investigating the accident. Exxon has
accepted responsibility for paying for the cleanup, and for
employing local civilian personnel necessary to control
further damage. The Departments of Transportation and
Interior, as well as the EPA, are coordinating the long-
range planning to restore the environment of Prince William
Gradysy
Sound, and the President has ordered a review of existing
contingency plans for accidents such as this.
D
Cleaning youric warte3:
program to improve its speed & offectiveness - cleaning ~P verify toxic wastes.
The president directed a 90-day friarity review of the Superfund
The President followed up do the review by adding 500
new man year
to the BPA staff to beef up enforcement of toxic waste
Lane of also that sollutere DM, (slots) 500 new. work years
23
Wetlands: The President is also committed to "no net loss of
wetlands" and is directing his executive branch agencies,
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through an interagency task force, to make recommendations
to achieve that goal. He has also proposed $206 million in
his budget to expand our parks and wildlife refuges.
Natual gas deconted
Asbestos Ban: On July 7, EPA announced an almost total
phase-out of all uses of asbestos by 1997. The ban will
prohibit importation, manufacture and processing of
asbestos, a carcinogen linked to lung cancer and
CFC's mesothelioma (lung and chest cancer) world wide phase at of CFC production CFC's
0
M The the president year 2000, proposed to the extent substitutes are available. are known to deplete
Improved Forecasting: The Commerce Department announced that the
beginning in Fiscal Year 1990, the National Weather Service earth's
ozone layer in
will modernize and restructure its operations to provide the ppl
improved forecasting and weather warning systems. The new atmosphere
system will include advanced weather radar, observation
automation, and a new communications system.
COMBATTING VIOLENT CRIME
The President is working to strengthen the nation's criminal
justice system and the Federal, state, and local law enforcement
partnership.
Four principles underlie the goals of our criminal justice
system and the means for accomplishing them: First, to protect