[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.