[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[October 27, 1998]
[Pages 1882-1883]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and 
Training and Educational Services Act of 1998
October 27, 1998

    Today I am pleased to sign into law S. 2206, the ``Community 
Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act 
of 1998.'' This legislation reauthorizes and amends Head Start, 
Community Services Block Grants (CSBGs), and the Low-Income Home Energy 
Assistance Program (LIHEAP). In addition, this bill effectively 
completes the community empowerment agenda I proposed in 1992 by 
establishing a new Individual Development Account (IDA) demonstration 
program to empower low-income individuals and families by helping them 
accumulate assets for their futures.
    I particularly want to thank the chief sponsors of this legislation, 
Senators Coats, Jeffords, Kennedy, and Dodd and Representatives 
Goodling, Martinez, and Clay. Let me also thank Senator Harkin and 
Representative Tony Hall for their efforts to champion the IDA 
demonstration project.
    More than 33 years have passed since President Johnson signed the 
legislation that began the historic experiment in child development 
called Head Start. I am proud that since I became President, we have 
raised Head Start funding by more than 50 percent; increased 
dramatically the number of children served; and improved the quality of 
the program significantly. I am particularly proud that we launched 
Early Head Start to bring Head Start services to children through age 
three.
    As we approach the 21st century, S. 2206 strengthens and expands 
Head Start--renewing our commitment to prepare our neediest children for 
school and helping parents to teach and support them. The legislation 
continues to build on the themes first expressed in the 1994 Report of 
the Advisory Committee on Head Start Quality and Expansion: improving 
program quality and accountability, responding to family needs, and 
strengthening partnerships with other community services. It raises 
qualifications for Head Start teachers; invests additional dollars in 
program quality improvement by increasing teacher salaries, benefits and 
training; and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to 
study the effects of these investments on children.
    The bill also incorporates my recommendation to double the funding 
set-aside for the Early Head Start program. In light of new research on 
the significance of the earliest years, this expansion is an essential 
step to reach more of our most vulnerable infants and toddlers with 
critical services.
    S. 2206 also includes a number of other important provisions to 
address the needs of low-

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income families. The IDA demonstration program provides incentives 
through Federal matching funds for low-income individuals and families 
to invest in their futures by saving for higher education, a first home, 
or to start a new small business. In addition, the bill's CSBG and 
LIHEAP provisions will help to address the need for critical urban and 
rural community development projects and heating and cooling assistance 
for vulnerable senior citizens, children, and persons with disabilities.
    The Department of Justice advises, however, that the provision that 
allows religiously affiliated organizations to be providers under CSBG 
would be unconstitutional if and to the extent it were construed to 
permit governmental funding of ``pervasively sectarian'' organizations, 
as that term has been defined by the courts. Accordingly, I construe the 
Act as forbidding the funding of pervasively sectarian organizations and 
as permitting Federal, State, and local governments involved in 
disbursing CSBG funds to take into account the structure and operations 
of a religious organization in determining whether such an organization 
is pervasively sectarian.
    Overall, the bill is a fine example of the good that can be achieved 
when the Congress and the Administration join together to support 
programs that can break the cycle of poverty and despair and create 
economic opportunities for our Nation's neediest families. It is with 
great pleasure that I sign this legislation.

                                                      William J. Clinton

The White House,

October 27, 1998.

Note: S. 2206, approved October 27, was assigned Public Law No. 105-285.