    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [April 30, 1997]
    [Pages 515-516]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of
    1997
    April 30, 1997

        Today I am signing into law H.R. 1003, the ``Assisted Suicide
    Funding Restriction Act of 1997,'' which reaffirms current Federal
    policy banning the use of Federal funds to pay for assisted suicide,
    euthanasia, or mercy killing.
        This is appropriate legislation. Over the years, I have clearly
    expressed my personal opposition to assisted suicide, and I continue to
    believe that assisted suicide is wrong. While I have deep sympathy for
    those who suffer greatly from incurable illness, I believe that to
    endorse assisted suicide would set us on a disturbing and perhaps
    dangerous path. This legislation will ensure that taxpayer dollars will
    not be used to subsidize or promote assisted suicide. The Act will,
    among other things, ban the funding of assisted suicide,

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    euthanasia, or mercy killing through Medicaid, Medicare, military and
    Federal employee health plans, the veterans health care system, and
    other Federally funded programs.
        Section 5(a)(3) of the Act also assures that taxpayer funds will not
    be used to subsidize legal assistance or other forms of advocacy in
    support of legal protection for assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy
    killing. The restrictions on the use of funds contained in this section,
    properly construed, will allow the Federal Government to speak with a
    clear voice in opposing these practices. The Department of Justice has
    advised, however, that a broad construction of this section would raise
    serious First Amendment concerns. I am therefore instructing the Federal
    agencies that they should construe section 5(a)(3) only to prohibit
    Federal funding for activities and services that provide legal
    assistance for the purpose of advocating a right to assisted suicide, or
    that have as their purpose the advocacy of assisted suicide, and not to
    restrict Federal funding for other activities, such as those that
    provide forums for the free exchange of ideas. In addition, I emphasize
    that section 5(a)(3) imposes no restriction on the use of nonfederal
    funds.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    April 30, 1997.

    Note: H.R. 1003, approved April 30, was assigned Public Law No. 105-12.