[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 23 (Monday, June 14, 1993)]
[Pages 1059-1060]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Signing the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act 
of 1993

 June 10, 1993

    The President. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to welcome all those of 
you who are here today for the signing of S. 1, the National Institutes 
of Health Revitalization Act of 1993, and to especially recognize the 
bipartisan coalition which made this bill possible, led by the Senators 
and the Members of the House of Representatives who are here. I also 
want to thank the representatives of the groups who are here, including 
the Women's Health Network, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the 
American Association of Medical Colleges, the Allen Guttmacher 
Institute, the Alzheimer's Association, the Human Rights Campaign Fund, 
the Breast Cancer Coalition and the National Health Council, and perhaps 
others. If I've left anyone out, forgive me.
    This legislation highlights the importance of programs administered 
by the National Institutes of Health, programs vital to our science and 
biomedical research base. The research carried out at NIH has already 
led to a healthier and far more productive America. However, there are 
many challenges still ahead. And this legislation provides the hope that 
someday we can prevent or cure diseases such as diabetes, cancer, 
coronary heart disease, AIDS, and Alzheimer's.
    I'm particularly supportive of those provisions of S. 1 aimed at 
improving the health of women and minorities. It's important that we 
ensure that resources are devoted to increasing our knowledge about 
conditions which uniquely affect these populations. It's equally 
important that we expand opportunities and support for the inclusion of 
women and minorities in research activities.
    In the 12 years since AIDS was first reported in the United States, 
much progress has been made through NIH-supported research. Gains have 
been made in making available treatment for AIDS and AIDS-related 
conditions. And clinical trials are underway to test possible vaccines 
for prevention or treatment of HIV infection.
    Someday we're going to have a treatment for all those beepers that 
go off. [Laughter] They have to go to a vote. That's why we're hurrying 
this up.
    We still face, however, an immense undertaking to address the needs 
of the nearly 300 of our fellow citizens who become infected with HIV 
each and every day. We must improve the effectiveness of our prevention 
activity, increase access to early treatment for already infected 
individuals, and strengthen our research programs. I am pleased to say 
that S. 1 provides a framework for the increased coordination and 
direction of AIDS research.
    Finally, S. 1 reinforces my action of January 22d to lift the 
moratorium on Federal funding of transplantation research involving 
human subjects using fetal tissue from induced abortions. This research 
has promising application for the treatment of life-threatening 
conditions including Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, 
Huntington's, and diabetes. At the same time, S. 1 puts in place 
important safeguards to ensure against possible abuses by providing a 
clear separation between research and abortion.
    In signing the legislation, I underscore our commitment to address 
the immeasurable cost to our society and the suffering of our citizens 
from illness and disability. By strengthening and enhancing biomedical 
and behavioral research, this National Institutes of Health 
Revitalization Act is an important step in fulfilling our commitment to 
promote the health and well-being of all Americans.

[[Page 1060]]

    And again, let me say a profound thanks on behalf of our Nation to 
the Senators and Members of Congress who are here and to those not here 
who provided important leadership in this effort.

[At this point, the President signed the bill.]

    Q. Mr. President, what about the provision barring immigration by 
HIV-positive individuals in this bill?
    The President. That's the will of the Congress. That's part of the 
law. I don't think in any way it undermines the overall importance of 
this law. We have to learn to deal with AIDS better for all of our 
people and for those who are here within our borders who are not 
citizens, we've got all we can do to do that. And I think we could 
benefit people all around if we can make progress in dealing with AIDS.
    I think everybody who played a part in the developing of this 
legislation thinks that it's on balance still a dramatic step forward.
    Let me just say on the fetal tissue issue alone, I can't tell you 
how many people I met all over this country in 1992 from both political 
parties who came to my campaign and supported me simply because I wanted 
to put a scientific basis back in our decisions on fetal tissue, I mean, 
people with parents with Parkinson's, with children with diabetes. One 
person who became a very close friend of mine and is now in our 
administration as the Director of the Small Business Administration in 
part came to my campaign because he had a child with diabetes.
    This is a very, very important bill. And I thank all of you for what 
you did.

Note: The President spoke at 5:37 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. S. 1, approved June 10, was assigned Public Law No. 103-43.