[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 47 (Monday, November 24, 1997)]
[Pages 1854-1855]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998

November 18, 1997

    I am pleased to have signed into law today H.R. 2160, the 
``Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998.''
    The Act provides $13.6 billion in discretionary budget authority for 
programs of the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug 
Administration. These programs include the Special Supplemental Feeding 
Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); food safety programs; 
efforts to reduce children's access to tobacco products; and various 
programs to protect and support rural communities.
    The Act provides a total of $35.3 billion for the Food Stamp 
program, the Child Nutrition program, the Commodity Credit Corporation, 
and other mandatory programs.
    I am disappointed that the Congress failed to provide the full 
amount of my requested increase for the WIC program in order to reach a 
full participation level of 7.5 million women, infants, and children. 
Full participation in WIC is one of my highest priorities, and the 
funding level that this Act provides does not assure that we can achieve 
this goal in FY 1998.
    I am concerned about the provision of this bill that alters the 
administration and funding for research on nutrition programs serving 
the poor and disadvantaged. The research needs of these important 
programs should continue to be addressed in the context of the programs' 
administration. I am asking the Secretary of Agriculture to look into 
this matter and to work with the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget on the most effective approach to address my concerns.
    I am pleased, however, that the Act includes nearly all of my 
request for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The funding

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provided for meat and poultry inspection will ensure adequate inspection 
coverage and allow the agency to further implement the modernization of 
the inspection system that I announced on July 6, 1996. I am also 
pleased that the Act provides almost all of the requested level for my 
Administration's food safety initiative and the requested level for our 
efforts to reduce children's access to tobacco products.
    In addition, the Act provides significant increases in rural 
development programs to improve the quality of life in rural America and 
help diversify the rural economy. The Act also includes a portion of my 
proposal to create a Rural Development Performance Partnership, which 
will provide greater flexibility to tailor Federal assistance to local 
needs, reflecting my Administration's belief that there is no ``one-
size-fits-all'' solution to the economic challenges facing rural areas. 
I will continue to seek authority to utilize the full flexibility that 
was authorized for these programs in the 1996 Farm Bill.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
November 18, 1997.

Note: H.R. 2160, approved November 18, was assigned Public Law 105-86.