Statement on Signing Supplemental Appropriations Act Including
Mideast Aid
(August 16, 1985)
I have signed H.R. 2577, the Supplemental Appropriations
Act for 1985. The act provides additional funding for a number of important
programs, including economic aid to several nations in the Middle East,
essential humanitarian aid to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance,
funding for improving security at our Embassies and facilities abroad,
and start-up funding for several water projects.
H.R. 2577 provides funds that I requested to support
the Nation's foreign policy. It will contribute significantly to our
ability to provide urgently required aid to our friends in the Middle
East and will support our efforts to bring peace to the region. I would
note in particular the funds it appropriates for both Israel and Egypt,
as well as for Jordan. All three of these nations have a vital role
to play if there is to be peace in the Middle East.
Moreover, the act contains $27 million in funding for
humanitarian assistance to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance. While
the program that has been approved is more modest than I believe necessary,
we have clearly won bipartisan support on this very critical issue as
well as recognition and humanitarian support for those fighting the
Sandinista dictatorship. This is an important element in our overall
effort to assist neighboring countries to defend themselves against
Nicaraguan attack and subversion. Unfortunately, the provision unduly
and unnecessarily restricts efficient management and administration
of the program. Nevertheless, I will continue to work with the Congress
to carry out the program as effectively as possible and will take care
to ensure that the law is faithfully executed.
H.R. 2577 is also an important first step in reforming
and revitalizing the Nation's water resources development program. Little
progress has been achieved in recent years due mainly to the impasse
over the proper Federal role in water projects and the amount of cost
sharing that local project sponsors should assume. This act acknowledges
that the traditional Federal role is no longer appropriate and that
project beneficiaries must contribute a larger share of costs for water
projects. It allows for progressive and essential new approaches to
the financing of projects, while retaining a significant Federal role
and demonstrating commitment to implementation of viable water projects.
I commend the Congress' efforts in this matter. The act represents only
the first of two steps that must be taken to reform national water policy.
I anticipate that the Congress will soon be addressing a comprehensive
water policy and project authorization bill that could set national
policy for years to come. This administration has already demonstrated
flexibility in working out a reasonably implementable cost-sharing agreement
with the Congress. I am confident that the Congress will act in this
matter in a prompt and responsible manner.
I am concerned that the act mandates a specific and
excessive number of new grants to be awarded by the National Institutes
of Health (NIH). Such requirements not only undermine the flexibility
essential to the continued success of the NIH but also threaten the
long-run stability of biomedical research funding. In signing this bill,
it is my understanding that the Congress will take future appropriations
action to restore programmatic flexibility and budgetary stability to
the NIH.
This act authorizes the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) to establish a national board to oversee an emergency
food program. I am deeply concerned about the membership of the board.
If read literally, the act would permit six private organizations to
appoint members of the board. As members, these persons would be officers
of the executive branch because the board will perform executive functions.
Such appointments by private organizations is in clear violation of
the Appointments Clause of the Constitution (U.S. Constitution, Article
II, Section 2, Clause 2). In order to avoid this constitutional infirmity,
I direct the Director of FEMA to construe this provision as granting
him complete discretionary authority to determine who should be appointed
to the national board. The organizations mentioned in the act may make
recommendations, but only the Director, as the ``head of a department,''
id., is authorized to appoint members to the board.
I am disappointed that the bill provides more funds
than I believe necessary. I must urge the Congress to exercise greater
restraint if Federal spending is to be brought under effective control.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |