Letter to the Speaker
and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on the Continuing
Appropriations Resolution
Dear
Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. Leader:)
This
is to register my concerns with the provisions of H.J. Res. 395, the Continuing
Resolution, which I understand is scheduled to be considered in the House in
the near future. While members of the House and Senate are working to develop
legislation that would implement our bipartisan budget agreement, it would be
counterproductive for the Congress to act on a measure that clearly violates
both the spirit and the terms of that agreement.
Let
me also point out there are many extraneous provisions included in the
Resolution to which I must take exception. In addition I am informed that
further objectionable measures may be incorporated into the Resolution by the
Rules Committee.
It
is imperative in my view that essential nonlethal aid
to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance be continued in the Resolution. To fail
to provide such assistance at this critical time would undercut the peace
process and undermine our commitment to democracy in
I
trust that we can continue our bipartisan effort and work toward implementation
of the agreement reached last month. I urge you and your colleagues to develop
a Continuing Resolution that is faithful to our agreement.
We
are working to carry out the Administration's part of this agreement, and I
trust the House will do the same. If H.J. Res. 395 were sent to me in its
current form for signature, I would have no hesitation in vetoing the measure.
Sincerely,
Ronald
Reagan
Note: Identical letters
were sent to Jim Wright, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Robert H.
Michel, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The original was not
available for verification of the content of this letter.