    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [May 2, 1996]
    [Page 687]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing Legislation Making Technical Corrections to the
    Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996
    May 2, 1996

        Today I have signed into law Senate Joint Resolution 53
    (``Resolution''). This Resolution makes technical corrections to Public
    Law 104-134, the ``Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations
    Act of 1996'' (``Act''), which I signed into law on April 26, 1996.
        Two of the corrections merit comment.
        The Resolution repeals two paragraphs relating to the Tongass
    National Forest, which were mistakenly not deleted when the operative
    language was moved to another section.
        The Resolution also includes the repeal of section 21104 of the Act,
    which relates to international population assistance programs and which
    was inadvertently included in the Act. Nevertheless, I believe that the
    level of funding that the Congress has provided for FY 1996 for these
    programs remains inadequate, given the critical importance of these
    services to protecting the health of women, strengthening families, and
    preventing unwanted pregnancies and abortions. I regret that the House
    and Senate were unable to come to an agreement to lift the severe
    limitations placed on U.S. programs by the FY 1996 Foreign Operations
    appropriations act. It is my hope that the Congress will remove these
    limitations and provide full funding for these programs in the FY 1997
    appropriations process.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    May 2, 1996.

    Note: S.J. Res. 53, approved May 2, was assigned Public Law No. 104-140.
    This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on May
    3.