    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [July 3, 1996]
    [Page 1071]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996
    July 3, 1996

        Today I have signed into law H.R. 3525, the ``Church Arson
    Prevention Act of 1996,'' which will make it easier to prosecute those
    who set fire to churches. I applaud the Congress' swift, unanimous, and
    bipartisan passage of this bill. I have signed it promptly upon its
    transmittal to me so that the new law can go into effect as soon as
    possible, but I plan to acknowledge the Congress' role more formally and
    discuss the importance of this measure at an appropriate occasion next
    week.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    July 3, 1996.

    Note: H.R. 3525, approved July 3, was assigned Public Law No. 104-155.