[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[September 22, 2000]
[Pages 1905-1906]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized 
Persons Act of 2000
September 22, 2000

    Today I am pleased to sign into law S. 2869, the ``Religious Land 
Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000,'' which will provide 
important protections for religious exercise in America. This Act will, 
in certain cases, forbid State and local governments from imposing a 
substantial burden on the exercise of religion unless they could 
demonstrate that imposition of such a burden is the least restrictive 
means of furthering a compelling governmental interest. The Act would 
protect the exercise of religion in two situations: (1) where State and 
local governments seek to impose or implement a zoning or landmark law 
in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on religious exercise and 
(2) where State and local governments seek to impose a substantial 
burden on the religious exercise of persons residing or confined to 
certain institutions.
    I applaud the Congress, particularly Senators Kennedy, Hatch, Reid, and Schumer, and 
Representatives Canady and Nadler for their hard work in passing this legislation. The 
Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act will provide 
protection for one of our country's greatest liberties--the exercise of 
religion--while carefully preserving the civil rights of all Americans. 
Just as I fully supported the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993, 
I support Senator Kennedy's and Hatch's bill. Religious liberty is a 
constitutional value of the highest order, and the Framers of the 
Constitution

[[Page 1906]]

included protection for the free exercise of religion in the very first 
Amendment. This Act recognizes the importance the free exercise of 
religion plays in our democratic society.
    I also want to thank the Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion 
and the civil rights community for the central role they played in 
crafting this legislation. Their work in passing this legislation once 
again demonstrates that people of all political bents and faiths can 
work together for a common purpose that benefits all Americans.

                                                      William J. Clinton

The White House,

September 22, 2000.

Note: S. 2869, approved September 22, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
274.