[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.