[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 44 (Monday, November 2, 1998)]
[Page 2170]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Noncitizen Benefit Clarification and Other 
Technical Amendments Act of 1998

October 28, 1998

    Today I have signed into law H.R. 4558, the ``Noncitizen Benefit 
Clarification and Other Technical Amendments Act of 1998.'' This 
legislation will further the efforts that I have undertaken to reverse 
unduly harsh benefit restrictions on legal immigrants that have nothing 
to do with moving people from welfare to work. H.R. 4558 will ensure 
that thousands of elderly and disabled legal immigrants who are 
dependent on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid will 
continue to receive such benefits.
    The Act also contains several warranted technical amendments. Most 
significantly, H.R. 4558 will clarify that (i) eligible children with 
life-threatening conditions may continue to receive limited cash awards 
from tax-exempt organizations without losing SSI benefits, and (ii) will 
amend implementation time-frames for certain Welfare-to-Work funds.
    I applaud the bipartisan spirit of H.R. 4558 and am pleased to sign 
this important legislation.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
October 28, 1998.

Note: H.R. 4558, approved October 28, was assigned Public Law No. 105-
306. An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this statement.