morning. Clinton participated in a town hall meeting with Ostankino television station during the afternoon. The United States and Russia release a joint statement on their agreement toward human rights. January 15 – Clinton delivers an address at the Academy of Sciences during the afternoon. January 16 – Clinton holds his forty-fifth news conference with President of Syria Hafiz al-Assad at the Intercontinental Hotel during the afternoon. January 17 – Clinton issued a statement on the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Clinton speaks with reporters on the subject of the Northridge earthquake in the Oval Office during the afternoon. January 19 – Clinton engaged in a discussion on the Northridge earthquake at the Hollywood-Burbank Airport during the afternoon. January 21 – Clinton speaks with reporters on his foreign policy in the Oval Office during the morning. January 22 – A recording of Clinton discussing a variety of issues airs on the radio. January 25 – Clinton delivers his annual State of the Union Address before a joint session of Congress. January 26 – Clinton announced his appointment of Gil Coronado for Deputy Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Legislative Affairs. January 27 – Clinton announced the nomination of ten individuals for placement on the federal bench by serving on both the U.S. Courts of Appeals and U.S. District Courts. January 28 – Clinton delivers an address to the National Conference of Mayors in the East Room during the afternoon. Clinton issued a statement regarding the choice made by Governor of Oregon Barbara Roberts to not seek re-election. January 31 – Clinton delivers an address to the National Governors Association in the East Room during the morning. Clinton gave a speech at a dinner for the Democratic Governors Association at the Omni Shoreham Hotel during the evening. February February 1 – Clinton delivers an address to the American Hospital Association at the Washington Hilton during the morning. Clinton announced the nomination of Deval Patrick for United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and answers questions from reporters in the Oval Office during the afternoon. February 12 – Clinton signs federal disaster relief for California in response to the Northridge earthquake in the Oval Office during the morning. Clinton then answers questions from reporters about American foreign policy. Clinton issued a statement announcing his distribution of "$200 million in budget authority for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program."