    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 46 (Monday, November 17, 1997)]
    [Page 1800]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on Signing the Departments of Labor, Health and Human
    Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998

    November 13, 1997

        Today I have signed into law H.R. 2264, the ``Departments of Labor,
    Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
    Appropriations Act, 1998.''
        This Act provides over $80 billion in discretionary budget authority
    to fund important education, training, and health programs. I am pleased
    that H.R. 2264 funds a number of my highest domestic priorities at or
    above my request.
        The Act provides $29.6 billion for the Department of Education,
    which will allow us to prepare tomorrow's leaders for the challenges of
    the future. I am very pleased to see such strong support for Education
    programs by the Congress, support I hope will only grow stronger in the
    coming years. First, I am pleased that the Congress has voted to fund
    the development of voluntary national tests linked to high academic
    standards in reading and math. I am also very pleased that the Act
    increases the maximum Pell grant award to my request of $3,000. This
    increase, in conjunction with a $1.4 billion increase in funding, will
    ease the burden of increasing college costs for low- and middle-income
    families. Finally, I am very pleased that the Act nearly doubles the
    Federal investment in educational technology and funds 500 new Charter
    Schools. I am concerned, however, about the inadequate funding provided
    for my America Reads Challenge literacy initiative in FY 1998. I am
    committed to working with the Congress to enact authorizing legislation
    for a child literacy initiative that will use the $210 million
    contingently provided in the bill for FY 1999.
        The Act provides $33.8 billion for the Department of Health and
    Human Services, providing large increases to a variety of important
    public health programs. Funding for biomedical research through the
    National Institutes of Health is increased dramatically. Support for
    AIDS programs, including programs to assist in the acquisition and
    provision of break-through AIDS treatments, is stronger than ever.
    Funding provided in the Act for Head Start moves us closer to achieving
    my goal of placing 1,000,000 children in Head Start by the year 2002.
    Head Start provides early childhood development and other social
    services to children, and this funding level will allow the program to
    add at least 36,000 new slots.
        The Department of Labor receives $10.7 billion for FY 1998. This
    will provide strong support for important programs such as assistance to
    dislocated workers, Summer Jobs, and Job Corps. My Administration will
    work with the Congress to ensure enactment of training reform
    legislation by July 1, 1998, to use the $250 million provided as an
    advance appropriation in FY 1999 for targeted projects to improve
    employment among out-of-school youth in high poverty areas. The Act also
    funds critical worker protection programs, championing the rights of the
    men and women who keep America working.
                                                William J. Clinton
    The White House,
    November 13, 1997.

    Note: H.R. 2264, approved November 13, was assigned Public Law No. 105-
    78.