    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [December 9, 1999]
    [Page 2245]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing Legislation To Establish Federal Criminal Penalties
    for Commerce in Depiction of Animal Cruelty
    December 9, 1999

        Today I have signed into law H.R. 1887, a bill that would establish
    Federal criminal penalties for the ``creation, sale, or possession'' of
    ``a depiction of animal cruelty'' with the intent to distribute such a
    depiction in interstate or foreign commerce, except when the depiction
    has ``serious religious, political, scientific, educational,
    journalistic, historical, or artistic value.''
        I strongly support the objectives of this legislation. Its enactment
    should assist in reducing or eliminating some of the deplorable and
    indefensible practices that were identified during the Congress's
    deliberations on the bill and described in the House Judiciary Committee
    report on the bill.
        Concerns were raised, however, during congressional consideration of
    H.R. 1887 that its application in certain contexts may violate the First
    Amendment of the Constitution. It is important to avoid constitutional
    challenge to this legislation and to ensure that the Act does not chill
    protected speech. Accordingly, I will broadly construe the Act's
    exception and will interpret it to require a determination of the value
    of the depiction as part of a work or communication, taken as a whole.
    So construed, the Act would prohibit the types of depictions, described
    in the statute's legislative history, of wanton cruelty to animals
    designed to appeal to a prurient interest in sex. I will direct the
    Department of Justice to enforce the Act accordingly.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    December 9, 1999.

    Note: H.R. 1887, approved December 9, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
    152.