Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 13, 1994 TAG: 9402130058
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Clinton approved the country's largest disaster aid package in an Oval Office signing ceremony just 26 days after the quake, which has been blamed for 61 deaths and $20 billion in property damage.
He said the size of the package and the speed with which it was approved "indicates the generosity of the American people when tragedy strikes."
"I'm glad to be signing it today and I'm glad that the benefits will begin flowing tomorrow," he said.
The bill also contains money for a number of other things, bringing the total to $11 billion. Aside from earthquake aid, the largest single chunk was $1.2 billion for Pentagon operations in Bosnia, Somalia, Haiti and Iraq.
After the signing ceremony, Clinton was flying to Arkansas for two days of rest and reflection with family and friends. It was his first trip to Arkansas since the funeral of his mother, Virginia Kelley, a month ago.
The earthquake legislation won final congressional approval late Friday when Congress stayed in session despite a storm that coated the capital with ice and snow.
Clinton praised members of Congress for their quick action and "for recognizing that this is a national problem."
"What we now have to demonstrate is that we have the consistency of commitment to stay until this matter is put back together," he said.
He pledged the federal government would continue "working on the long-term repair work to make sure that the people of California do not believe that this is just short-term effort on our part."
In his weekly radio address, Clinton said the federal aid would "help our people recover from this tragedy and get on with the business of everyday life."
He also took note of the cold, snowy weather plaguing many others in the United States, urging Americans, "please, take care of yourselves and your neighbors when they need help."
Noting that Saturday was the 185th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Clinton added, "When we respond to others in need, we show that bad weather or earthquakes or floods can bring out, in the words of President Abraham Lincoln, the better angels of our nature."
He urged Americans to live up to Lincoln's legacy, which showed people from ordinary backgrounds can "rise in life and accomplish extraordinary things."
"Today,that work goes on," he said, citing his goals of strengthening the middle class, fighting crime, reforming health care and welfare.
by CNB