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Remarks Upon Vetoing the Education Division and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1976

July 25, 1975

I am today returning without my approval H.R. 5901, the education appropriation act, 1976.

Throughout my public life, I have believed--and still believe--that education is one of the strong foundation stones of our Republic. But that is not the issue in this appropriation bill.

The real issue is whether we are going to impose fiscal discipline on ourselves or whether we are going to spend ourselves into fiscal insolvency. This is the first major appropriation bill passed by the Congress this year. It would provide $7.9 billion--$1.5 billion over the budget which was submitted in January.

Earlier this year, I drew a line on the budget deficit for fiscal year 1976 at $60 billion. Even that deficit is too high. But on May 14, the Congress drew its own line at an even higher deficit level of $69 billion. Today, the Congress' own July 21 budget scorekeeping report estimates a possible deficit this year of over $83 billion.

I cannot in good conscience support a huge deficit of that magnitude, nor can the people of this country afford the inflation that would inevitably result this year, next year, and the year thereafter. Money appropriated by the Congress inevitably is taken from the people--either through higher taxes or by inflation or both.

This appropriation bill is too much to ask the American people and our economy to bear. I urge the Members of the House and the Senate to sustain my veto of this bill, and then we can work together, as we have before, to achieve a responsible compromise.

Note: The President spoke at 1:55 p.m. to reporters assembled in the Cabinet Room at the White House.

Gerald R. Ford, Remarks Upon Vetoing the Education Division and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1976 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/256389

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