Sign in Subscribe
Clinton, Bill

Clinton to Sign $243 Billion Defense Appropriations Bill

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

President Clinton has informed lawmakers that he will not veto the $243 billion FY '96 Defense Appropriations Bill, setting it to become law unless he acts by midnight. This decision comes after months of warnings from Clinton that he would veto the bill due to its $7 billion excess over the administration's request. The move is seen as a potential attempt to secure support for sending US troops to Bosnia on a peacekeeping mission. Despite previous threats, Clinton has now indicated he will ask Congress to vote in support of the deployment next week.

Key Takeaways:

  • The $243 billion FY '96 Defense Appropriations Bill is set to become law after President Clinton announced he will not veto it, citing its excess of $7 billion over the administration's request.
  • The bill contains $645 million that could be used for US operations in Bosnia, with an additional $500 million potentially available.
  • House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chair C.W. "Bill" Young (R-Fla.) stated his willingness to work with the president to ensure the operation is funded if Congress gives the go-ahead.
  • Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kans.) has also expressed a willingness to work with the president on the deployment, despite possible opposition within the Republican party.
  • Under current law, the president does not have the power to "tinker with legislation" by moving funding without congressional approval.

Statistics:

  • $243 billion: Amount of the FY '96 Defense Appropriations Bill
  • $7 billion: Excess of the bill over the administration's request
  • $645 million: Potential funding available for US operations in Bosnia within the current bill
  • $500 million: Additional potential funding available for Bosnia, according to Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole
  • $2.56 billion: Amount requested by the administration for emergency supplemental funding to cover operations in Somalia and Haiti
  • 2.56: Billion (exact figure may vary)

Sources:

  • House and Senate lawmakers and their aides
  • White House officials
  • House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chair C.W. "Bill" Young (R-Fla.)
  • Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kans.)
  • Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chair Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
  • Defense Daily, Feb. 23, March 2

Read more