    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [May 21, 1999]
    [Pages 825-826]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing Legislation Authorizing Appropriations for the
    Peace Corps
    May 21, 1999

        Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 669, a bill authorizing
    appropriations for the Peace Corps for Fiscal Years 2000 through 2003,
    which passed the Congress with bipartisan support. This legislation
    represents a major step toward a goal that the Congress established for
    the Peace Corps in 1985, and that I reaffirmed in January 1998:
    expanding the Peace Corps to 10,000 volunteers. This is an important day
    in the history of the Peace Corps, and I wish to thank the many Members
    of the Congress who helped make passage of this legislation possible. I
    also wish to congratulate Mark Gearan for his
    leadership and outstanding work as the Director of the Peace Corps.
        The Peace Corps and the women and men who serve our country as
    volunteers embody some of our finest traditions and values--a spirit of
    service, a strong sense of altruism, and an enduring commitment to make
    the world a better place. Peace Corps volunteers have touched the lives
    of many people in more than 130 countries, and every American can take
    great pride in their service.
        This bill will help ensure that many more of our citizens can offer
    their skills and serve our country as Peace Corps volunteers. This
    legislation is a strong statement of our Government's continued,
    bipartisan support for the work of our volunteers and their
    contributions to international understanding. In particular, I thank
    Senators Jesse Helms, Joseph Biden, and Paul Coverdell,
    who served as Director of the Peace Corps under President Bush, and
    Christopher Dodd, who served as Peace
    Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic. I also express my
    appreciation to Representatives Ben Gilman, Sam Gejdenson, Tom
    Campbell, David Bonior, Donald Payne, and Earl
    Pomeroy. I also want to express my gratitude to
    the other returned Peace Corps volunteers who have continued their
    service to our country as Members of Congress: Representatives Tony
    Hall, Sam Farr, James
    Walsh, Christopher Shays, and Tom Petri.

    [[Page 826]]

        Finally, I wish to thank the thousands of Peace Corps volunteers who
    are serving our country around the world. At the end of this fiscal
    year, more volunteers will be serve overseas than at any time in the
    last 25 years. Our country owes you a debt of gratitude for your
    service.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    May 21, 1999.

    Note: H.R. 669, approved May 21, was assigned Public Law No. 106-30.