    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [December 2, 1993]
    [Page 2093]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act of
    1993
    December 2, 1993

        Today I have signed into law H.R. 3378, the ``International Parental
    Kidnapping Crime Act of 1993.'' This legislation underscores the
    seriousness with which the United States regards international child
    abduction. It makes this crime, for the first time, a Federal felony
    offense.
        H.R. 3378 recognizes that the international community has created a
    mechanism to promote the resolution of international parental kidnapping
    by civil means. This mechanism is the Hague Convention on the Civil
    Aspects of International Child Abduction. H.R. 3378 reflects the
    Congress' awareness that the Hague Convention has resulted in the return
    of many children and the Congress' desire to ensure that the creation of
    a Federal child abduction felony offense does not and should not
    interfere with the Convention's continued successful operation.
        This Act expresses the sense of the Congress that proceedings under
    the Hague Convention, where available, should be the ``option of first
    choice'' for the left-behind parent. H.R. 3378 should be read and used
    in a manner consistent with the Congress' strong expressed preference
    for resolving these difficult cases, if at all possible, through civil
    remedies.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    December 2, 1993.

    Note: H.R. 3378, approved December 2, was assigned Public Law No. 103-
    173. This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    December 3.