[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 31 (Monday, August 3, 1998)]
[Pages 1535-1536]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the National Science Foundation Authorization Act 
of 1998

July 29, 1998

    Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 1273, the ``National 
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998.''
    Science, engineering, and technology are potent forces for progress 
and achievement. Over the past century, advances in science

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and technology have driven much of our economic growth and shaped the 
lives of every generation of Americans in previously unimaginable ways. 
As we approach the 21st Century, many of our society's expectations for 
a better future are dependent upon advances in science and technology.
    The science and engineering investments made by the National Science 
Foundation (NSF) will create new knowledge, spur innovations, foster 
future breakthroughs, and provide cutting-edge research facilities to 
help power our Nation in the next century. These investments will help 
secure the continued prosperity of our economy, improvements in health 
care and our standards of living, and better education and training for 
America's students and workers.
    This Act will enable the NSF to continue to play an important 
leadership role in sustaining scientific and technological progress. I 
am pleased to note that the appropriation authorization levels in H.R. 
1273 are the same as proposed in my FY 1999 Budget, and I urge that 
these amounts be appropriated. The proposed funding for the NSF is part 
of my Administration's broader, aggressive agenda for science and 
technology investments throughout the Federal Government, which includes 
the NSF's participation in the Global Observations to Benefit the 
Environment Initiative, the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles 
Program, and the Education and Training Technology Initiative. I 
especially commend the Congress for authorizing the NSF's participation 
in the Next Generation Internet Program. This multi-agency program will 
push the frontiers of computation and communications and help fuel the 
revolution in information technology.
    I want to acknowledge the bipartisan efforts in the House and the 
Senate that produced this important legislation and, in particular, 
remember the contributions of the late Steve Schiff of New Mexico, 
Chairman of the House Basic Research Subcommittee. Throughout his life 
and career, Steve Schiff dedicated his time and talents to make life 
better for the people of New Mexico and for this fellow Americans. Even 
as he waged his final courageous battle against cancer, he continued his 
efforts to make life better for families across this country. This Act 
is just one piece of his legacy and demonstrates how the Congress and 
the Administration can work together to help continue U.S. leadership in 
science and technology. I am pleased to sign it into law.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
July 29, 1998.

Note: H.R. 1273, approved July 29, was assigned Public Law No. 105-207.