November 13, 1985
Today I have signed S. 1570, the ``Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1985.'' This law once
again permits State and local governments and their employees the flexibility to serve their
citizens effectively. It is the culmination of a vigorous effort by State and local governments, their
employees, and a bipartisan coalition in the Congress. All these efforts have had the strong
support of my administration. While this law does not fully restore State and local governments to
the position they held prior to the Supreme Court's decision in Garcia v. San Antonio
Metropolitan Transit Authority, it does recognize, in significant measure, their special burdens,
responsibilities, and character.
Without this legislation, the cost of services that State and local governments provide -- police,
firefighters, and other services necessary to the success of any community -- would have increased
by as much as $3 billion per year. The new law provides important relief to State and local
governments, their employees, and all American taxpayers. The law contains an effective date of
April 15, 1986, eliminating the unexpected back pay liability for overtime pay dating from the
court's decision. It enables all State and local governments to accept offers of voluntary service
from civic-minded citizens, and it allows the continuation of a longstanding practice by
legitimizing the use of compensatory time as a substitute for cash in paying overtime hours.
Although real improvement has been brought about by this legislation, I believe the constitutional
principles of federalism must be recognized so that limits are placed on Federal regulation of State
and local governments in a manner consistent with their special status in our system of
government. In this and in other regards, federalism will remain a major priority of my
administration.
I commend all those officials and workers in State and local governments and all those in the
Congress who worked to secure this much-needed legislative success. Secretary of Labor William
Brock; Attorney General Edwin Meese III; Senators Orrin Hatch, Don Nickles, Howard
Metzenbaum, and Pete Wilson; Representatives Gus Hawkins, Jim Jeffords, Austin Murphy, Tom
Petri, and Steve Bartlett all provided essential leadership. I am especially grateful to Senator
Nickles, whose early leadership and hard work were essential to the enactment of the
legislation.
Note: The President signed the bill at 2:30 p.m. at a ceremony in the Oval Office at the White
House. S. 1570, approved November 13, was assigned Public Law No. 99 - 150.